An improved method of combining active ingredients with polyvinyl acetate for use in chewing gum results in significantly less degradation of the active ingredients. After the polyvinyl acetate and one or more active ingredients have been mixed together in an extruder, the mixture is extruded through a die to form a sheet-like extrudate. The sheet like extrudate is then cooled using a series of three chilled compression rolls. The extrudate is pinched between adjacent chilled compression rolls and both surfaces of the extrudate maintain contact with at least one of the chilled compression rolls for a period of time. The extrudate is thereby cooled swiftly and thoroughly, resulting in reduced degradation of the active ingredients.

When polyvinyl acetate is combined with active ingredients to form encapsulation mixtures or gradual release structures for use in chewing gum, the ingredients are conventionally mixed using an extruder, such as a Leistritz or Werner-Pfleiderer single screw or twin screw extruder. Initially, the granular polyvinyl acetate and active ingredient are added to the extruder and heated to a temperature of about 90.degree. C. to about 110.degree. C., causing the polyvinyl acetate to melt and flow freely. The active ingredient may be a flavor ingredient, a flavor enhancing ingredient, a high intensity sweetener, or otherwise. The active ingredient is caused to mix with the polyvinyl acetate as the screws of the extruder turn and convey. The mixture is then extruded through a die, such as a slot die, to form a sheet-like extrudate. The extrudate is cooled to a solid form before being melt spun (in the case of gradual release structures) and/or ground into powder.
The initial cooling of the encapsulation mixture or gradual release structure is conventionally accomplished using an air venturi. The air venturi is an apparatus which simply aspires upon the extrudate and uses the force of air to blow it into a cooling trough. Once in the cooling trough, the extrudate is further cooled in air.
The polyvinyl acetate has a high heat capacity and heat retention, and low thermal conductivity. Accordingly, some of the polyvinyl acetate tends to remain in the molten state long after the encapsulation mixture or gradual release structure leaves the extruder. The air venturi is particularly ineffective in cooling the polyvinyl acetate which is located away from the surface, and near the core, of the extrudate. This prolonged heat history can cause undesirable degradation of the active ingredient which is being encapsulated in the polyvinyl acetate.
Active ingredients which are particularly susceptible to degradation due to prolonged heat exposure include but are not limited to sweeteners, flavors, flavor enhancers, and high intensity sweeteners such as Magnasweet. Degradation of active ingredient results in loss of activity, whether it be flavor, flavor enhancing or sweetening effect. Degradation is evidenced by an undesirable brown discoloration of the extrudate, which is normally white in appearance.
French Patent No. 2,503,989 discloses a cooling tunnel for cooling a raw extruded product, notably chewing gum. After exiting the extrusion head, the rectilinear material is conveyed in the as-extruded state by a conveyor belt along a cooling tunnel. The cooling is accomplished by evacuating the air from the internal space of the tunnel and feeding air cooled by the evaporation system of a cooling circuit.
European Patent Application No. 0,191,980 discloses the cooling of chewing gum slabs by placing the gum slabs on a metal conveyor belt which is cooled from underneath. The reference also discloses the blowing of cool air onto the surface of the gum slabs using fans.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,224,430 discloses passing a chewing gum mass between a pair of cooperating rollers disposed so as to provide a forming space therebetween for forming the gum into sticks. The peripheral walls of the rollers are cooled using a refrigerant, in order to prevent the chewing gum from sticking to the rollers, and to cause solidification of the chewing gum.
There is a need in the chewing gum industry for a cooling method which significantly increases the rates of cooling for encapsulation mixtures and gradual release structures which utilize polyvinyl acetate as the encapsulant or wall material, thereby reducing the degradation of heat sensitive active ingredients contained therein.

Method of combining active ingredients with polyvinyl acetates


Featured are methods for fixing adjacent vertebrate of a spine that utilize an implant member, which preferably is arcuate. Preferred methods of the invention for stabilizing adjacent vertebrae of the spine, include forming an aperture in each of the adjacent vertebrae and inserting an implant into the apertures formed in each of the adjacent vertebrae so that the implant extends between the adjacent vertebrae and through the intervertebral space. An alternative method for fixing adjacent vertebrae of a spine includes the step of forming a common channel in and between the adjacent vertebrae and inserting an implant in the channel so as to bridge between the adjacent vertebrae. Also featured are methods for stabilizing adjacent segments of a bone, fixation systems and fixation kits.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to methods, systems and apparatuses for bony fixation and more particularly to methods, systems and apparatuses adapted for fixing the bones of the spine.
2. Background of the Invention
Fixation or fusion of vertebral columns with bone or material, rods or plates is a common, long practiced surgical method for treating a variety of conditions. Many of the existing procedures involve the use of components that protrude outwardly, which may contact and damage a body part, such as the aorta, the vena cava, the sympathetic nerves, the lungs, the esophagus, the intestine and the ureter. Also, many constructions involve components that may loosen and cause undesirable problems, often necessitating further surgical intervention. Additionally, limiting the success of these procedures are the bio-mechanical features of the spine itself, whose structure must simultaneously provide support to regions of the body, protect the vertebral nervous system and permit motion in multiple planes.
As indicated above, spinal surgery for spine fusion generally involves using implants and instrumentation to provide support to the affected area of the spine while allowing the bones thereof to fuse. The technology initially evolved using bone chips around and on top of an area of the spine that had been roughened to simulate a fracture in its consistency. The area, having encountered the bone chips, would then proceed to heal like a fracture, incorporating the bone chips. However, surgical procedures dealing with the spine present notable challenges. For example, bioengineers have been required to identify the various elements of the complex motions that the spine performs, and the components of the complex forces it bears. This complexity has made it difficult to achieve adequate stability and effective healing in surgical procedures directed to the spine.
One surgical technique provided by Cloward, involves cutting a dowel type hole with a saw across or through the moveable intervertebral disc and replacing it with a bone graft that was harvested from the hip bone. This procedure limits motion and mobility and results in a fusion of the adjacent vertebral bodies. However, as a result of the complex motions of the spine, it is often difficult to secure the dowel from displacing. Further, it has become apparent over time, however, that this particular technique does not always yield a secure fusion.
Other techniques have been developed that involve the placement of various hardware elements, including rods and hooks, rods and screws and plates and screws. The dowel technique also has advanced over the past five years or so, with dowels being fabricated from cadaver bone or metals such as titanium or stainless steel. These techniques, whether using hardware, dowels or some combination thereof, have a common goal to enhance stability by diminishing movement, thereby resulting in or enhancing the potential of a fusion of adjacent vertebral bones. For example, in one of these other techniques, the disc is removed and adjacent vertebrae are positioned in a stable position by placing a plate against and traversing them, which plate is secured or anchored to each by means of screws.
In another procedure, cages in the form of two parallel circular or rectangular devices are made out of a material such as titanium or stainless steel and these devices are fenestrated. Bone is packed in the center of the devices that will heal to adjacent bone through each fenestration. In this procedure, the disc space is distracted so all ligamentous structures are taut and the bones are held in their normal maximal position of distraction. Because the cages are implanted in spongy bone, they are more likely to collapse the surrounding bone, thus resulting in loss of distraction and subsequently cage dislodgment.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,591,235 reports a certain spinal fixation device and technique for stabilizing vertebrae. In this technique, a hollow screw is inserted into a hole, preferably a hole saw recess, in each adjoining vertebrae. A channel is cut into the vertebrae, which is lined up with corresponding axial slots in the screw. A rod is inserted into the channel and so as to pass through the axial slots in the screw. The rod is secured to each of the screws by means of a locking cap. The rod also is arranged so as to provide a bridge between the hollow screws in the adjoining vertebrae. Certain disadvantages have been surmised using such a device and technique. For example, it has become apparent that the trough in the vertebral bodies destabilizes some of the cortex of the vertebrae body wall, which is the strongest component.
Thus, it would be desirable to provide a new apparatus, system and methods for spinal fixation that enhances healing of the bone while providing structural support to the spine. It would be particularly desirable to provide such an apparatus, system and method that would involve the use of open surgical or minimally invasive surgical techniques as well as a technique in which the implant burrows in the bone spine, traverses across the disk space, and ends in an adjacent or neighboring vertebrae or vertebras, providing limited or no protrusions. It also would be desirable to provide such an apparatus, system and method where the implant is retained within the bone without requiring contour-varying external vertebral wall fixation as compared to conventional devices, as such a device would avoid many of the problems associated with conventional devices such as blood vessel injury, erosion into organs, as well as placement near nerves.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Systems, methods, devices and device kits for fixation of bones and spinal vertebrae


A display memory system consisting of a controller and a display memory that has a read display memory cycle time that is a non-integer multiple of the write display memory update rate. The display memory being partitioned into two frames of display memory with each frame having a plurality of subframes. The controller consisting of a read display memory decoder, a read display memory next subframe generator a read display memory latch and consisting of a write display memory decoder, a write display memory next subframe generator and write display memory latch.

This invention relates to a display memory system and, more particularly, to a display memory system wherein the write display memory rate and read display memory update rate are non-integer multiples of each other, alternately known as a Gerbil Wheel Memory (GWM).
Prior art display memories cannot have a read rate and a write rate which are non-integer multiples of each other. For example, it may be advantageous to write a memory buffer with video data at an update rate of 20 Hz, while simultaneously reading video data from the same buffer at an update rate of 66 Hz. A conventional PING/PONG video memory in which the input and output update rates are integer multiples of one another (for example having a 30 Hz input rate and a 60 Hz output rate) is not a feasible solution.
A conventional PING/PONG memory configuration utilizes two full frames of dual port random access memory (RAM). The frame being updated is called write display memory. The frame being displayed is called read display memory. The write display memory device writes to one frame while a read display memory device simultaneously and synchronously reads from the other. When both devices have finished their respective memory accesses, which will occur at the same time, the read display memory device then reads from the frame previously written to by the write display memory device, and the write display memory device begins writing to the frame previously read by the read display memory device. This configuration is adequate only when the input writing rate and output reading rate are integer multiples of one another. If the frame rates are not integer multiples of one another, the update rate of the read display memory device will approach the output rate of the write display memory device, resulting in loss of data or overwriting of data.
Prior art solutions have not addressed the particular problem of input and output rates that are not equal or not equal multiples of each other. Current display memory systems demand that the write update rate be slaved to the input video source or to the rate the display requires. As a result, most, if not all current systems, use a PING/PONG configuration.


A device that includes a sensor of angular motion configured to obtain an angular ballistograph signal indicative of rotational movement of a chest of a subject. Signal processing means are configured to generate from this angular ballistocardiograph signal measured values of an output parameter, which is indicative of cardiac operation of the subject.

A heart is a hollow tissue formed of cells that are capable of producing a contraction that changes the length and shape of the cell. Heart pumps blood in cyclic contractions through a network of arteries and veins called the cardiovascular system. As shown in FIG. 1, a human heart includes four chambers, which are divided by a septum into a right side (right atrium RA and right ventricle RV) and a left side (left atrium LA and left ventricle LV). During a heartbeat cycle, the right atrium RA receives blood from the veins and pumps it into the right ventricle and the right ventricle RV pumps the blood into the lungs for oxygenation. The left atrium LA receives the oxygenated blood from the lungs and pumps it to the left ventricle LV, and the left ventricle LV pumps the blood into the veins. The apex AP of the heart is a portion formed by the inferolateral part of the left ventricle LV.
Various techniques have been developed to provide measurable parameters that are indicative of cardiac operation of a monitored subject. Many of these techniques are invasive and therefore suitable for advanced medical use only.
In the noninvasive side, echocardiography is a technique that applies ultrasound to provide an image of the heart. Echocardiography can be comfortably carried out at the bedside, and it has therefore become a widely-used tool for noninvasive studies on cardiac mechanics of diseased and healthy hearts. The produced images require, however, complex and basically immobile computer equipment and the images need to be interpreted by a highly trained physician. Ambulatory or long-term monitoring of the cardiac operation outside the clinical environment by echocardiography is practically impossible.
Electrocardiography is based on measuring electrical activity of the heart with electrodes attached to the surface of the skin of the monitored subject. In electrocardiography, wave depolarization of the heart is detected as changes of voltage between a pair of electrodes placed in specific positions on the skin. Typically a number of electrodes are used, and they are arranged in combination into pairs (leads). Electrocardiograms are very accurate and widely used, and also allow some computerized interpretation. Proper placement of the electrodes may, however, be challenging for users without medical training. In addition, the measurement system typically requires a computerized system connected with cables to a plurality of self-adhesive pads that couple through conducting gel to the skin of the monitored subject. Moving with such wiring is very limited.
Patent publication WO2010145009 discloses an apparatus for determining information indicative of physiological condition of a subject. The apparatus comprises a sensor device that obtains ballistocardiograph data indicative of heart motion of the subject, measured along a plurality of spatial axes. Ballistocardiograph data indicates the extent of mechanical movements of a body that take place in response to the myocardial activity of the heart. This ballistocardiograph data is then used to process data that is indicative of heart motion of the subject. This prior art method overcomes some of the limitations of the prior art. However, it has been noted that the linear measurement along spatial axes is strongly affected by the posture of the monitored subject during the measurement. In addition, some characteristics of the heartbeat cycle are not completely reliably measurable with the linear motion data.


A buzzer switch comprising a housing of plastic material including a laterally extending slot. A contact made of spring material is positioned in the slot and has a first portion thereof extending in cantilever fashion adjacent the upper end of the body. The body has a second slot therein for receiving a second contact. The second contact has a portion extending in cantilever fashion in generally the same direction as the cantilever portion of the first contact. An actuator is pivoted to the body and has a portion thereof adapted to engage and move the cantilever portion of the first contact inwardly of the body into contact with the second contact. A cover closes the slots in the body. The cover includes openings through which terminals extend into contact with first and second contacts.

In connection with automobiles and the like, it is become common to utilize a buzzer switch which functions to provide a signal to the operator of the automobile under various conditions, for example, when the key is left in the ignition switch or when a door is left open. Inasmuch as such a switch needs to be quite sensitive and yet must be placed in relatively confined areas, a serious problem is provided which necessitates a reliable compact easily assembled switch.
Accordingly, among the objectives of the present invention is to provide a buzzer switch which can be readily manufactured, which is compact and which can be placed in very confined areas.
In accordance with the invention, the buzzer switch comprises a housing of plastic material including a laterally extending slot, a first contact in the slot and having a portion thereof extending in cantilever fashion adjacent the upper end of the body. A second contact is provided in a second slot in the body and has a portion extending in cantilever fashion in generaly the same direction as the cantilever portion of the first contact. An actuator is pivoted to the body and has a portion thereof adapted to engage and move the cantilever portion of the first contact inwardly of the body into contact with the second contact. A cover closes the slots in the body and has openings into which terminals extend into contact with the first and second contacts.


A method for performing shale gas operation is disclosed. The method may include drilling a first well, performing a fracturing operation in the well, recovering shale gas from the first well, supplying at least part of the shale gas recovered from the well to an electrical generator, generating electricity using the generator, and transferring the generated electricity to drilling equipment used to drill a second well.

Shale gas refers to the natural gas accumulated in the dark mud shale or high-carbon mud shale and existing mainly in an absorbed or free form. Shale gas has the same physical and chemical properties as the conventional natural gas except that it adheres to and exists in the mud shale with extremely low permeability and porosity. The development depth range of shale gas is more than that of the coalbed gas, while its porosity, permeability and saturation are less than those of the coalbed gas. It thus becomes increasingly difficult to exploit shale gas to a great extent, and it is considered as non-conventional oil-gas resource by the industry.
As shale gas usually deposits in the compact rock stratum, it is considered to have high exploitation difficulty, low input-output ratio and high cost.
As shown in Neijiang Science Technology, Period 12, page 131, Table 3 (2010), for the shale gas exploitation in general, production enhancement measures and special well drilling methods need to be adopted because the shale gas is found in the shale fractures, micro-holes and stratum and such reservoir stratum typically has much lower permeability and higher gas flow resistance when compared with traditional natural gas formations.
As disclosed in Natural Gas Earth Science, Period 3, Volume 22, pages 511-516 (June, 2011), the main difference between shale gas exploitation and traditional natural gas exploitation is that in the shale gas exploitation process, horizontal well drilling and hydraulic fracturing methods are used in general. That is to say, on the basis of the provision of straight well, a horizontal well is provided as an auxiliary means to improve the collection rate. Furthermore, by combination with fracturing treatments, the permeability of the reservoir stratum can be further improved so that the gas in the stratum can flow into the well more easily.
However, the conventional shale gas operation method has the following disadvantages.
1. The operation cost is high. This is because in the multiple steps such as well drilling and fracturing, a diesel generator or an external power supply is needed as the power source for the equipment such as electric drilling machines and fracturing vehicles.
2. In general, a rigid round tank is used for storing water or for recovering liquids discharged from the well during the fracturing operation. During a fracturing operation, tens of rigid round tanks are needed for storing thousands of liters of water. Moreover, because of the large volume of the rigid tanks, they are not convenient to handle and require a large area for the well site. Also, the costs for transportation, leveling the well site, and the environmental recovery are high.
The shale gas operation method of the present disclosure addresses one or more of the problems set forth above.

Sichuan Honghua Petroleum Equipment Co. Ltd.


An interactive program guide containing schedule data for multiple channels and advertising data is provided to viewers on a screen. The advertising may be related to the programs adjacent thereto in the guide and to time slots displayed on the screen. The advertising srolls in various directions in response to the viewer's scrolling of the grid, but at a different pace and according to a different scheme than the scrolling of the schedule data itself. For example, the advertising may remain on the screen in a predetermined location while the viewer scrolls the schedule data, and then scroll off the screen to be replaced by new ads after a predetermined number of channels scroll off the screen, or on the basis of time slots and/or adjacent channels displayed on the screen. This provides for greater viewer attention to the advertising and for greater control by advertisers over the manner and length in which advertising is presented to viewers.

The present invention disclosed herein relates generally to electronic program guides. More particularly, the present invention relates to a system and method for displaying more effective banner and tune-in ads in an interactive program guide.
The number of video channels that offer various programming content, including the Internet and other on-line content, continues to increase. Channel surfing is no longer a viable solution for viewers to find an interesting program by sequentially or randomly examining every channel. As a result, electronic program guides (EPG) that continuously list channels and their content televised at a particular time will become practically indispensable for viewers.
Because of this necessity to use an electronic program guide, an opportunity is presented to advertise various products and services in the EPG contemporaneously with program schedule data. Examples of the use of advertising with programs guides are shown in International Application No. PCT/US97/23852 titled "EPG with Advertising Inserts," and U.S. Pat. No. 5,940,073 titled "Method and System for Displaying Other Information in a TV Program Guide," both of which are hereby incorporated by reference into this application. PCT application PCT/US97/23852 discusses the insertion of an advertisement between television program listings in an EPG screen. The advertisement appears as a single line in the program guide grid and scrolls or otherwise moves along with and in identical fashion as the rest of the program listings. U.S. Pat. No. 5,940,073 discusses an EPG having an area on the EPG display, separate from the program listings portion of the display, for advertising programs, products and services, where the advertising information changes as the user moves the EPG cursor from cell to cell or after the passage of a predetermined number of seconds.
In both cases, users are shown advertisements on the same screen as the program guide listings. However, neither reference is particularly sensitive to user viewing behavior, especially in the use of EPGs. Placing an advertisement in a separate region of the EPG display from the program guide listings requires a user to turn his or her eyes away from the program guide listings to view the advertisement. Since users pull up the EPG specifically to see the program guide listings, and usually only for a short period until a desired program to view is located, they are unlikely to pay any particular attention to the advertisement appearing on a separate portion of the display. Placing the advertisement in the program listings portion of the display appears to overcome this problem; however, users are likely to pay only brief attention to the ad as it scrolls past while searching through the program guide listings.
A need therefore continues to exist for an improved system and method that presents schedule data and advertising data to viewers in an effective but unobtrusive and flexible manner.

System and method for displaying advertising in an interactive program guide


A chain of end support sections are foldably linked together and hang vertically from either side of a horizontal support beam. The beam is attached to a pair of suspension cables through two motorized grip hoists rigidly attached to the beam and the cables then hang downwardly along the chains of end support sections to the ground. Work platforms extend horizontally between the end support sections and can move vertically independently of the end support sections. Means are provided for selectively attaching the ends of any work platform to the cables or the end support sections thereby enabling the independent movement of the end support sections and the work platforms during erection and disassembly of the scaffold system.

This invention relates to scaffolding systems and, more particularly, relates to systems of the type comprised of modular units which can be readily collapsed and folded into compact bundles when not in use.
There are many applications which require the use of multi-stage scaffold systems. For example, modern buildings are often constructed with the use of sheet metal panels as siding and a multi-stage scaffold system is normally used to install the siding on the building.
A great deal of time is involved in the assembly and dismantling of conventional multi-stage scaffold systems. This is due to the fact that scaffold systems typically involve the use of a plurality of parts of various kinds which must be individually connected and disconnected during assembly and disassembly of the scaffold. This circumstance, of course, adds cost to the job being performed because it involves the use of several men for long periods of time.
Another disadvantage of existing scaffold systems is that the various parts of the system can become scattered about during disassembly or during transport to a new building location. The storage of these parts tends to take up more space than is really necessary due to the lack of any scheme for their convenient and compact storage when not in use.
Still another disadvantage associated with many scaffold systems is the need to have a variety of tools such as wrenches, screwdrivers and pliers available during assembly and disassembly.
Still another disadvantage associated with existing scaffolding systems is the inability to individually change the levels of the various work platforms located thereon without dismantling a substantial part of the system itself.
The invention described herein overcomes all of the disadvantages described above. Briefly, this invention concerns itself with a cable-suspended scaffold system which employs a plurality of work platforms in combination with a chain of foldably linked end support sections in an operative relationship which permits the scaffold system to be collapsed into a relatively small bundle for storage and transportation and unfolded into its erected state for use at the building site. The system employs a method and an apparatus which permits the various work platforms to be selectively suspended from either the supporting cable or the end support sections. When the platforms are suspended from the cable, the end support sections can be drawn upwardly independently of them during assembly and each work platform can be selectively attached to the end support sections as desired levels are reached. The mechanical relationship of the work platforms and end support sections in such that they may be collapsed relatively quickly into a folded and stacked bundle which is very compact and easy to transport. While the system is in use, the levels of individual work platforms can be changed without dismantling the scaffold system.


This is a low-alloy iron having desirable magnetic characteristics suitable for electrical applications such as transformer cores. This material has improved texture and reduced core losses. The alloys contain 0.6-1.0% silicon and 0.4-0.8% chromium along with controlled levels of manganese, sulfur, carbon and oxygen. These alloys are preferably processed to about 0.006 inch (0.015 cm) final gauge using schedules with three coldrolling steps. B.sub.10 values above 19 kG and 17 kG losses below 0.72 watts per pound are obtained with these alloys.

This invention relates to an iron based alloy having an oriented grain structure which is characterized by a cube-on-edge orientation (described in Miller indices as (110) [001] grain orientation), and having a primary recrystallized and normal grain growth microstructure. Such magnetic materials are useful, for example, as core materials in power and distribution transformers.
The operating inductions of a large portion of today's transformers are limited by the saturation value of the magnetic sheet material which forms the core. In extensive use today is an iron-based alloy containing nominally 3.25 percent silicon (all composition percentages herein are in weight percent) which is processed in order to obtain cube-on-edge or (110) [001] grain orientation in the final product. A well-known example of this type of steel called type M-5. These 3.25 percent silicon steels have the final grain orientation developed by means of a secondary recrystallized microstructure. This microstructure is attained during the final box annealing in which preferentially oriented grains grow at the expense of non-preferentially oriented grains with the result that the alloy usually has an extremely large grain structure size in which the diameter usually greatly exceeds the thickness of the sheet material. Obtaining such large grains in a secondarily recrystallized microstructure requires a long time, high temperature anneal for the development of the orientation. The extensive anneal is generally also required for the reduction of residual sulfur content. Sulfur contents in excess of about 100 ppm in the finished product adversely affect the magnetic characteristics exhibited by the silicon-iron alloy.
In addition to the costly long time, high temperature anneal, the addition of 3.25 percent silicon to pure iron, while effective and generally desirable for improving the volume resistivity, nevertheless lowers the saturation value in most commercially produced 3.25% silicon containing iron alloys to generally less than 20,300 gauss. Thus, there is the obvious trade-off as the improved resistivity (which lowers core losses of the material) is obtained at the expense of saturation value (significantly lower than the saturation value of about 21,500 gauss of commercially pure iron). Moreover, since commercial iron has substantially higher core losses and substantially higher coercive force values than silicon steel, it was prudent to balance the overall magnetic characteristics and the best balance heretofore obtained was that of the 3.25-percent-silicon iron alloy which exhibited the cube-on-edge orientation.
A primary recrystallized alloy alternative to the generally used commercial alloy is described in U.S. Pat No. 3,849,212, issued Nov. 19, 1974, and the associated primary recrystallization method is described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,892,605, issued July 1, 1975 (both to Thornburg). These relate to an iron base alloy made from an ingot containing up to about 0.03 percent carbon, up to 1 percent manganese, from about 0.3 to about 4 percent of at least one of the volume resistivity improving elements selected from the group consisting of up to about 2 percent silicon, up to 2 percent chromium, and up to about 3 percent cobalt. The balance of the alloy is essentially iron with incidental impurities. Thornburg's method utilizes processing by hot working and either a two- or three-stage cold rolling operation, with the final cold rolling stage working effecting only a moderate (50-75 percent) reduction in the cross sectional area of the material being processed. These prior patents deal in relatively broad ranges of composition and do not recognize the criticality between constituents.

Oriented low-alloy iron containing critical amounts of silicon and chromium


Disclosed are a touch panel, a method for driving the same, and a display device, where patterns for performing a touch function are integrated into a transparent touch electrode pattern layer to thereby lower in effect a research and development cost of the product, and the transparent touch electrode pattern layer can be fabricated using only an photomask, so the research and development cost is very low, and the good yield of the product is very high, thus improving the competitiveness of the product. In the transparent touch electrode pattern layer, a plurality of third touch detection electrodes are arranged among touch elements to thereby make up for a blind area of touch between the touch elements, so that both the sensitivity and the uniformity throughout the touch panel can remain constant to thereby support in effect the touch panel with an active pen. Accordingly in an active pen touch detection stage, respective first touch detection electrodes, respective second touch detection electrodes, and respective third touch detection electrodes operate as touch sense electrodes to detect a touch signal transmitted by the active pen.

A touch panel is a system for positioning a touch by calculating the coordinates of the touch on a display screen, and includes a touch detector and a touch controller. The touch detector is installed in front of the display screen, and configured to detect the position of a touch by a user, and to transmit detected information to the controller, and the controller is configured to convert the information into coordinates, and then transmit the coordinates to a central processor, to receive a signal returned by the central processor, and to operate according to the signal, so that the user interacts with the touch panel.
As the touch panel is advancing, there is a demand for higher optical and electrical performance, a more pleasing appearance, and a lower cost thereof. Given a specification of the touch panel, if the cost thereof is lower, then a higher profit will be earned in an intense competition environment. Furthermore as a product carrying an active pen has emerged in the market, it is desirable to enable the touch panel to support the active pen at a low cost.

Touch panel, method for driving the same, and display device

HEFEI XINSHENG OPTOELECTRONICS TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.


In a mixer circuit, a first gate electrode of a dual gate MESFET having a pulse doped structure is connected through a filter to an LO signal input terminal, and a second gate electrode of the dual gate FET is connected through a matching circuit to an RF signal input terminal. The drain electrode of the dual gate FET is connected through a low-pass filter to an output terminal. The gate bias point of the first gate electrode 25a of the dual gate FET is set in the vicinity of the pinch-off point of the mutual conductance, and the gate bias point of the second gate electrode 25b of the dual gate FET is set in the area where the mutual conductance is unvaried with increase of the gate voltage. With this arrangement, the mixer circuit is so designed that the isolation characteristic of the RF signal and the LO signal is excellent, and a stable operational characteristic is obtained.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a mixer circuit for use in a converter (frequency converting circuit), a measuring instrument, etc.
2. Related Background Art
Through a recent attempt to rapidly develop information network system, demand for a satellite communication system has been also rapidly increased, and a frequency band has been shifted to high frequency. In this type of satellite communication system, a down converter for converting a high-frequency signal to a low-frequency signal is required, and a mixer circuit which is applied to the down converter has been also increasingly demanded. There have been conventionally utilized various types of mixer circuits, each of which uses any one of a diode, a bipolar transistor, a FET (field effect transistor), etc. as an active device thereof. An normal MESFET (Metal-semiconductor field effect transistor) or a HEMT (high electron mobility transistor) has been generally used.

Mixer circuit using a dual gate field effect transistor


A curvilinear motion rolling guide unit is such that pipe members adapted to form return passages are disposed respectively at undercuts of wings of an arcuate casing, thereby reducing working costs. A slider has a casing and end caps fixed to respective opposite ends of the casing. Pipe members adapted to form return passages are disposed at the respective undercuts formed on the wings of the casing. Cover members have longitudinally extending grooves, respectively, for covering the pipe members. Fitting grooves formed at opposite ends of the grooves of the cover members are fitted to direction changing passages provided in the respective end caps, whereby the cover members are fixed to the end caps.

In recent years, the application of a curvilinear motion rolling guide unit to sliding sections of various apparatus, such as curvilinear reciprocating motion mechanisms or the like of industrial robots, for example, has been expanding. Usually, for smooth rolling of rolling elements on a circulation passage and for good lubrication to the rolling elements, lubricant is periodically supplied from a lubrication port. However, in view of energy savings, implementation of simple structure and low cost for the apparatus, and a reduction of running cost and equipment maintenance cost, the apparatus has been required to be of maintenance-free design. In this connection, curvilinear motion rolling guide units incorporated in the apparatus have been greatly desired to implement maintenance-free design in which lubricant is not supplied in use, or to minimize the amount of use of lubricant.
Conventionally, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. S62-101914, for example, discloses a swing bearing, as a curvilinear motion rolling guide unit, used to support various swing sections of industrial robots, for example. The swing bearing is composed of a raceway member having loaded-ball grooves formed in inner and outer curved surfaces, respectively, each having a fixed radius of curvature; a bearing body having loaded-ball grooves whose radiuses of curvature are suited for the loaded-ball grooves of the raceway member and which are formed in inner surfaces of two leg portions, respectively; and unloaded-ball circulation means. Mutually opposed J-shaped tube members are used as the unloaded-ball circulation means of a bearing assembly. Attachment covers for the tube members are provided at side sections of the bearing body. Each of the tube members is in a halved structure for easy forming work and assembling work.
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2013-29116, for example, discloses a curvilinear motion guide device, as a curvilinear motion rolling guide unit, configured to allow movement of a moving member along a direction in which a curvilinearly extending raceway member extends. The curvilinear motion guide device includes the curvilinearly extending raceway member; the moving member which can move along the extending direction of the raceway member through rolling elements disposed between the moving member and the raceway member; and an infinite circulation passage formed in the moving member and allowing the rolling elements to roll therein. The infinite circulation passage is formed in such a manner as to be surrounded by a loaded-rolling-element rolling surface of the moving member and a rolling-element rolling surface of the raceway member disposed opposite the loaded-rolling-element rolling surface. The infinite circulation passage includes a loaded-rolling-element rolling passage extending curvilinearly along the extending direction of the passage member and a rolling-element return passage formed in the moving member and extending curvilinearly along the loaded-rolling-element rolling passage.
The applicant of the present invention developed a rectilinear motion guide unit in which exterior pipes used to form the return passages are disposed in outer grooves formed in wings, respectively, of a casing, and filed a patent application (see, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2013-15189) for the rectilinear motion guide unit. The rectilinear motion guide unit implements a compact, simple slider structure through employment of a unitary construction of the exterior pipes and spacers of end caps and resultant facilitation of assembling work of the slider, and thus is manufactured at low cost. The slider includes a casing composed of a flat plate-like upper section and the wings extending downward from the upper section; a pair of the end caps fixedly attached to end surfaces, respectively, of the casing; a pair of the exterior pipes disposed on outer side surfaces of the wings, respectively, of the casing and provided at the end caps; and a pair of interior pipes fitted in the respective exterior pipes and whose holes define the return passages.
The applicant of the present invention also filed a patent application for a curvilinear motion rolling guide unit in which a slider sliding on a raceway rail extending curvilinearly at a fixed radius of curvature has a well-balanced, small-sized structure and allows use of end caps of the same specifications irrespective of the specifications of the slider (see, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2001-241437). The curvilinear motion rolling guide unit is formed such that each of opposite end surfaces of a casing of the slider is in a vertical plane which passes through the center of curvature of the raceway rail and is perpendicular to the raceway rail, irrespective of the length of the casing. Common specifications can be imparted to the end caps in which direction changing passages are formed. Since linear return passages are disposed toward the inside of the casing, the casing does not have a radially excess width, whereby the casing can have a radially well-balanced, small-sized structure.
However, in the above-mentioned swing bearing, since the slider is formed into a rectangular shape, and the return passages are formed linearly, the width of the slider increases accordingly; thus, the swing bearing fails to implement a compact structure. Also, since a lubrication component is not provided, periodic lubrication is required. In the above-mentioned curvilinear motion guide device, the slider is formed into a fan shape; however, since a lubrication component is not provided as in the case of the above swing bearing, periodic lubrication is required.


Disclosed herein is a method of manufacturing a wheel nut. The method includes annealing an aluminum (Al) alloy material and preheating the annealed Al alloy material. The Al alloy material is also forged to form a wheel nut. Furthermore, the method includes performing an anodizing treatment to form a primary coating on the wheel nut and performing a vacuum deposition to form a secondary coating on the wheel nut. In addition, the method includes performing a surface treatment using powder paint to form a tertiary coating on the wheel nut.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a wheel nut, which increases corrosion resistance compared to using conventional steel materials, and to a method of manufacturing the wheel nut.
2. Description of the Related Art
Wheel nuts are configured to fix vehicle wheels and also to increase the aesthetic appearance of vehicles together with wheels. Conventional wheel nuts are manufactured by welding a cold forged body (e.g., 600 MPa grade, steel wire) and a deep drawing cap (e.g., steel plate) and performing surface treatment using Chrome (Cr) plating.
As illustrated in FIG. 1, a conventional wheel nut is formed as a two piece structure wherein a cold forged body 10 and a deep drawing cap 30 are welded together and thus a welded "S" portion is formed therebetween. In addition, a wet Cr plating process is performed to improve appearance merchantability.
Most wheel nuts typically have such a two piece structure although the structure may be formed in different shapes. However, the surface of these wheel nuts may be damaged due to tool rotation upon changing the position of tires or exchanging tires, and may cause problems such as corrosion, etc., in proportion to an increase in the distance of driving.
The conventional wheel nut is usually made of steel and thus corrodes upon damage thereto. In particular, since the nut has a two piece structure, the wheel nut may crack at the welded portions upon damage thereto, thereby increasing the speed of corrosion.

Wheel nut and method of manufacturing wheel nut


An apparatus for punching and extracting analytes from a dried biological fluid spot includes a tube and a sorbent bed. The tube includes a proximal tube opening, a distal tube opening, and a distal section. The distal section includes a tube wall having a tapered diameter that reduces down to the distal tube opening. The apparatus may also include a tube extension that includes an extension wall having a tapered diameter that reduces from a proximal extension opening to a distal extension opening. The tube extension is movable between an attached position and a detached position. At the attached position, the tube extension is secured to the tube by frictional contact between the extension wall and the tube at the distal tube opening. At the detached position the tube extension is physically separate from the tube. The sorbent bed is disposed at an axial distance from the distal tube opening and in the tube or the tube extension. The sorbent bed has a composition configured for solid phase extraction.

Dried biological fluid spot analysis such as dried blood spot (DBS) analysis is becoming increasingly popular for pharmaceutical companies in clinical trials. Collection sites for clinical trials may sample blood spots (or other types of biological fluid spots) in the field, allow the spots to dry, and then ship the spots at a lower cost than liquid samples due to the non-biohazard status of dried blood spots and the less rigorous requirements for temperature control. Blood spotting is also becoming useful in preclinical work as analytical chemists are required to store samples for Incurred Sample Reanalysis (ISR) studies, and dried blood spots have proven to be an effective way to stabilize the analytes and the matrix. Typically, DBS samples are prepared by applying drops of blood, typically obtained from venipuncture of a human or animal, to an absorbent substrate (e.g., filter paper) of an appropriate composition. The blood saturates the substrate and is air dried for a period of time (e.g., several hours) sufficient to form an array of circular dried blood spots on the substrate. The spot-containing substrate may then be stored in a plastic container and transported as needed without needing to be frozen. The dried blood spots may thereafter be separated from the bulk substrate by punching the dried blood spots to create individual dried blood spot disks. Analytes such as pharmaceutical compounds, genetic materials, etc. (i.e., small molecules or high molecular weight molecules) may then be extracted from dried blood spots by any number of techniques and subjected to analytical testing. Other types of biological fluid samples may be dried and subsequently processed in an analogous manner.
The processing of dried blood spots and other types of biological fluid spots has many problems. For instance, labs typically utilize a single punching device for multiple sample spotting procedures. Even with the use of cleaning and sterilization procedures, the repeated use of the same punching device can cause carryover and cross-contamination. In addition, the conventional punch device is typically constructed of steel so as to be hard or strong enough to punch through conventional spotting substrates. The steel punching device often must be employed with a hammer to achieve effective punching Moreover, steel is generally not considered to be readily disposable as compared to other types of materials such as various plastics. Additionally, procedures such as extraction and collection of analytes and pass-through clean-up have conventionally required the use of instruments separate from the punch device. Typically protein precipitation or solid phase extraction is utilized to transfer the sample to a suitable matrix, remove interferences and concentrate or dilute the sample as necessary. Also, conventional processing of dried biological fluid spots has not been compatible with automated assaying systems.
In view of the foregoing, there is a need for providing apparatus or device configured for performing both punching and extraction/clean-up, and methods for punching and processing dried biological fluid spots utilizing a single apparatus or device capable of being implemented for both punching and processing. Additionally, there is a need for an apparatus or device that is readily disposable and thus readily replaceable after a single use.

Apparatus for punching and solid phase extraction of dried biological fluid spot and related methods


This invention provides a connector which can readily position distal ends of terminal pins 2. The connector comprises a plurality of terminal pins 2 having ends extending perpendicularly from a connector body 1 and a comb like longitudinal positioning member 3. A comb like lateral positioning member 4 is attached to the longitudinal positioning member 3 in a vertical direction, thereby positioning distal ends of the terminal pins 2. The positioning members 3 and 4 enclose the distal ends of the terminal pins 2 in a grid manner to position the distal ends longitudinally and laterally.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a connector which is attached to a support plate by inserting a plurality of terminal pins of the connector into apertures in the support plate.
2. Statement of the Prior Art
A connector is known which connects wiring cables to terminals on a printed circuit plate or the like. This connector is provided with a plurality of projected terminal pins adapted to be inserted into holes in the terminals. Since the terminal pins must be inserted into small insertion holes at the same time upon attaching, attaching work is troublesome. For example, the connector cannot be attached to the printed circuit plate if distal ends of some of the terminal pins are deflected from the given positions. In particular, the terminal pins of the connector are made of a bendable metal strip and are projected away from the connector body. An arrangement of the distal ends is likely to go out of control and thus will misconnect with the insertion holes. Consequently, heretofore, the terminal pins have been inserted into the insertion holes while adjusting the arrangement of the pins.
In order to overcome the above problem, Japanese Patent Public Disclosure No. 62-186784 (1987) discloses a connector. For convenience of explanation, the disclosed connector will be described below by referring to FIGS. 5 and 6. FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the prior connector, illustrating a state before being assembled. FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the prior connector illustrating an assembled state. As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, a positioning plate c, which is provided with positioning holes d corresponding to insertion holes in a printed circuit plate, is attached to a connector body a. The distal ends of terminal pins b are inserted into the positioning holes d. Thus, an arrangement of the distal ends of the terminal pins b is brought into coincidence with an arrangement of the insertion holes.
However, a plurality of terminal pins which are disordered must be inserted into the positioning holes at the same time in the prior art. This is troublesome in the same manner of inserting the terminal pins into the insertion holes in the printed circuit plate without positioning the pins. Although the above work becomes easy at the stage of attaching the connector to the printed circuit plate, it is necessary to position the pins in order to attach the positioning plate c to the connector body a. Ultimately, the prior art cannot eliminate the troublesome work to insert the terminal pins into the small holes.


A silicone rubber composition comprises, as the base component thereof, a diorganopolysiloxane having the following general formula: ##STR1## wherein Rf is a perfluoroalkyl group or a perfluoroalkyl ether group, X is hydrogen, (CH.sub.3).sub.3 Si--, or (CH.sub.2 .dbd.CH)(CH.sub.3).sub.2 Si--, l and m are each an integer of 1 or above, and n is an integer of 0 or above. The silicone rubber composition has excellent resistance not only to nonpolar solvents such as benzene but also to polar solvents such as ketones, esters, etc.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a silicone rubber composition which has low swelling properties in a variety of solvents.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Silicone rubbers are excellent in electrical insulating property, heat resistance, cold resistance, weatherability, etc. and are used in various fields. However, the silicone rubbers are poor in solvent resistance. For example, upon making contact with or being immersed in a solvent, a silicone rubber swells to be deformed markedly and reduced in strength.
In order to improve the solvent resistance of the silicone rubbers, fluorosilicone rubbers containing a fluoroalkyl group such as 3,3,3-trifluoropropyl have been developed.
The fluorosilicone rubbers exhibit excellent resistance to nonpolar solvents such as benzene, but they are yet poor in resistance to polar solvents such as ketones, esters, etc. In fact, the fluorosilicone rubbers will swell extremely easily in polar solvents.


The disclosed embodiments provide a software-defined spectrum controller that may be used to dynamically and adaptively change rules and/or policies in a wireless network. The SDSC may dynamically change the rules or policies based on usage of spectrum and/or network resources or any other criterion, e.g., established by a service provider, to allow the service provider to use the spectrum and network resources more efficiently for delivering content and services to customers. In accordance with the disclosed embodiments, the SDSC may use at least one optimization algorithm to determine which policies or rules should be enforced at each of the network nodes in the wireless network. Based on the optimization algorithm, the SDSC may interact with other network nodes to dynamically change one or more of the rules or policies that are enforced in the service provider's network to provide content and services to customers.

The radio frequency (RF) spectrum is the foundation for many wireless communications systems in use today, including radar and cellular communications systems. Specified frequency ranges, sometimes identified as bands or channels, in the RF spectrum may be allocated for use by different entities, for different purposes, or in different geographic locations. As used in this disclosure, "spectrum" generally refers to any frequencies, frequency bands, and frequency channels in the RF spectrum that may be used or allocated for wireless communications.
Many service providers that provide wireless communications systems, including radar and cellular communications systems, use wireless networks to deliver various content and services to customers. A wireless network often employs predetermined spectrum, protocols, and infrastructure to support wireless communications between different network nodes and end users (e.g., customers or subscribers) in the network. As used herein, a network node may be any entity that communicates over the wireless network. Some wireless networks commonly used today include Wi-Fi, broadcast, 3G, and 4G networks. The manner in which different content and services are delivered to customers, and how the wireless networks are used to meet Quality of Service (QoS) criteria associated with such content and services, is often dictated by rules and policies that are hard-coded in one or more network nodes. By way of example, the service provider may implement a policy that prioritizes certain transmissions in the wireless network, e.g., based on the sender, receiver, or content of the transmission, and may further provide one or more rules for implementing the policy, such as, in this example, ensuring the QoS for higher-priority transmissions exceeds a minimum value.
The rules and policies in the wireless network, e.g., hard-coded in firmware, hardware, and/or software in one or more network nodes, are typically set by the service providers to enable enforcement of policies associated with the service providers. In some cellular networks, for example, such rules and policies may be stored in, and enforced by, a policy engine, such as a Policy and Charging Rules Function (PCRF), in conjunction with subscriber information that is captured by a Home Subscriber Server (HSS) in the network. Such existing systems using a PCRF and HSS, however, generally fail to deliver content and services that meet a comprehensive set of criteria established by the service providers.
In addition, because the rules and policies associated with each service provider are typically hard-coded in network nodes in the wireless network, the spectrum used for data transmissions that implement the rules and policies is often pre-assigned by the hard-coded rules or policies and cannot be changed dynamically. There is a need to improve how the service providers can deliver content (e.g., video, audio, web, email, text, and any other types of data) and services using spectrum that may be dynamically allocated without compromising criteria that needs to be met to satisfy their rules and policies.

Cloud-based network architecture centered around a software-defined spectrum controller


A temporally continuous matter wave beam splitter (14) comprising a plurality of intersecting and interfering laser beam (kr, kb), which act as waveguides for a matter wave beam. The laser beams of the waveguides each have a frequency detuned below a frequency of an internal atomic transition of the matter wave. The matter wave has a wavevector which is an integral multiple of the wavevector of the laser beams within a region of intersection of the laser beams. There is also provided an atomic interferometer (200) comprising such a continuous matter wave beam splitter, and a solid state device comprising such a continuous matter wave beam splitter, which may be part of an atomic interferometer. A cold atom gyroscope, a cold atom accelerometer or a cold atom gravimeter comprising such a solid state device are also provided. There is further provided a quantum computer comprising such a solid state device, wherein atoms of the matter wave beam are in an entangled quantum state. There is also provided a method of splitting a matter wave beam, comprising introducing the matter wave beam into a first temporally continuous laser beam, the frequency of which is detuned below a frequency of an internal atomic transition of the matter wave beam; intersecting and interfering the first continuous laser beam with a second temporally continuous laser beam, the frequency of which is also detuned below the frequency of the internal atomic transition of the matter wave beam; providing the matter wave beam with a wavevector which is an integral multiple of the wavevector of the first and second laser beams within a region of intersection of the laser beams, whereby the laser beams act as waveguides for the matter wave beam.

The main interest in matter wave interferometers is based on the very high sensitivity of these interferometers to accelerations (including gravitation and rotations) and electromagnetic fields, as described, for example, in A. D. Cronin, J. Schmiedmayer, D. E. Pritchard, "Optics and interferometry with atoms and molecules", Rev. of Mod. Phys. 81, 1051 (2009) (hereinafter called [Ref 1]). Most existing atom interferometers are based on free propagating atoms, which are coherently split by mechanical gratings or non-resonant standing light waves [Ref 1]. On the other hand, there is a great commercial interest in waveguide-type atom interferometers, in which atoms are partially or fully prevented from free falling in a gravitational field and can be integrated into portable atom chips.
Most current waveguide matter-wave interferometers are based on magnetic waveguides. One recent example of such an interferometer based on a double-well beam splitter is described in T. Schumm et al, "Matter-wave interferometry in a double well on an atom chip", Nature 1, 57 (2005) [Ref 2]. The main problem of these beam splitters is that they work only for magnetically trappable atoms. This means that any environmental magnetic fields will essentially perturb such an interferometer. In addition, the local fluctuations of the surface electric currents, which are used to form the trapping magnetic field, limit the coherence time of the atoms in such types of magnetic traps, unless the current-carrying substrate is cooled down to cryogenic temperatures.
Recently, G. L. Gattobigio et al, "Optically guided beam splitter for propagating matter waves", Phys. Rev. Lett. 109, 030403 (2012) [Ref 3] has demonstrated a beam splitter based on two crossed laser beams, which relies on chaotic trajectories of atoms and therefore can't be used for atomic interferometry.
G. D. McDonald et al, "Optically guided linear Mach-Zehnder atom interferometer", Phys. Rev. A, 87, 013632 (2013) [Ref 4] describes ultracold atoms trapped in a single laser beam waveguide. In [Ref 4], splitting of the atoms was performed in a pulsed way, by application to them of an additional optical standing wave. Therefore, this is a temporal (or pulsed) interferometer.
Other background art may be found in the following two documents: Yu. B. Ovchinnikov et al, "An atomic trap based on evanescent light waves", J. Phys. B: At. Mol. Opt. Phys. 24, 3173 (1991) [Ref 5], and A. H. Barnett et al, "Substrate-based atom waveguide using guided two-colour evanescent light fields", Phys. Rev. A 61, 1371 (2000) [Ref 6].
A technical challenge, therefore, is to design and build atom interferometer based devices with unprecedented small size, light weight, low power, high performance and low cost characteristics. Compact cold atom sensors (gravimeters, gradiometers) for ultraprecise measurements of inertial and electromagnetic forces, which are based on all-light waveguide atom interferometers of a new type, offer exciting prospects for a wide range of applications.


TV receiver including a RF signal splitter coupled to an aerial input and having first and second RF signal terminals to which first and second tuning circuits for tuning to first and second TV programs, respectively, are connected, the first and second tuning circuits being connected via first and second TV-IF signal processing circuits to a device for displaying the picture of the second TV program in the picture of the first TV program, which RF signal splitter supplies more signal energy to the first tuning circuit than to the second. To provide the possibility of a simple and inexpensive realization of the TV receiver while maintaining at least an acceptable display quality of the picture-in-picture signal, the second tuning circuit is chosen to be a circuit whose dynamic range, within which a substantially linear signal processing is possible, is smaller than that of the first tuning circuit.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a TV receiver including an RF signal splitter coupled to an aerial input and having first and second RF signal terminals to which first and second tuning circuits, for tuning to first and second TV programs, respectively, are connected, said first and second tuning circuits being connected via first and second TV-IF signal processing circuits to a device for displaying the picture of the second TV program in the picture of the first TV program, said RF signal splitter supplying more signal energy to the first tuning circuit than to the second.
2. Description of the Related Art
A TV receiver of this type is known, for example, from European Patent Application No. 229027.
The known TV receiver provides the possibility of simultaneous reception of two TV programs. To this end the received RF signal energy in the RF signal splitter is evenly distributed between the first and second signal terminals and applied via these terminals to the first and second tuning circuits. These tuning circuits are tunable at mutually different television transmission frequencies and supply first and second IF-TV program signals, respectively, which are converted via the first and second TV-IF signal processing circuits into two baseband TV programs. In the picture-in-picture display device, the video information of these two baseband TV program signals is subsequently formed to a picture-in-picture video signal with which the first TV program is displayed on the complete picture area of the TV screen, with the exception of an inset in which the second TV program is displayed.
In the known TV receiver, the signal loss of the TV-RF signal which is applied to the first tuning circuit is considerably limited at the expense of the signal energy of the TV-RF signal which is applied to the second tuning circuit. The known TV receiver comprises a broadband RF signal amplifier arranged between the second RF signal terminal and the second tuning circuit. This amplifier is not only used for amplifying the RF signal applied to the second tuning circuit, but also for preventing the oscillators of the two tuning circuits from mutually influencing each other due to the fact that the oscillator radiation is directed from these oscillators to the RF signal splitter. However, such broadband RF signal amplifiers contribute to the fact that unwanted strong signals in or near the RF-TV frequency range, such as, for example mobilophone signals, may give rise to an overload of the circuits in the TV-RF input section.

TV receiver having a RF signal splitter that supplies more signal energy to a first tuning circuit than to the second substantially according to the picture display ratio of the first and second TV programs


A base apparatus for providing engagement to advice holder is provided, including a connection unit, a fixed unit, and at least a weight unit. The connection unit is for connecting a clapper or holder of electronic device, and the fixed unit is engaged to the bottom of the connection unit. The weight unit is sandwiched between and partially contained within the boundaries of the connection unit and the fixed unit. The weight unit includes a wrap means, an anti-slip means, and at least a weight object. The boundaries of the anti-slip means and the wrap means are engaged together to form a space for accommodating the weight object.

The support rod for holding device is a common auxiliary apparatus widely used in vehicles. When in use, the support rod must be connected to a holder. Some types of support rod for holding device are directly integrated to a holder. The support rod usually consists of a plurality of linked rods that can be adjusted to various positions. The holder is for holding the electronic devices commonly used in a vehicle, such as PDA, mobile phone, video player, GPS, digital TV, and so on. However, the support rod is still not a standard option for most manufactured vehicles. The current support rod usually is engaged to places, such as windshield, surface above the dash board, or cigarette lighter, so as to provide stable standing of the support rod.
There are disadvantages for the current mechanism used by the support rod for engaging to the vehicle:                1. Plugged into the cigarette lighter: the disadvantage is to damage the cigarette lighter;        2. glued to the surface above the dash board: difficult to remove and ruin the interior decoration of the vehicle; and        3. using sucker to attach to windshield: blocking the driver's view and possible to interfere with the safety; thus some places prohibits the use of such devices.


Provided are a lightwave circuit and a method of manufacturing the same. The lightwave circuit includes a first substrate having an engraved core formation groove which is formed on an upper portion of the first substrate, a core layer which is formed inside the engraved core formation groove, a BPSG bonding layer which is formed on the first substrate including the core layer, and a second substrate which is formed on the BPSG bonding layer. Accordingly, light loss and branching uniformity of the lightwave circuit are effectively improved, and the lightwave circuit is manufactured simply and inexpensively while also further improving light loss and branching uniformity of the lightwave circuit.

Generally, an optical power splitter which is called a splitter or an optical divider which has a function of transmitting one lightwave to a plurality of subscribers (1×N) is a very important device in a broadband optical communication network (the optical power splitter of 2×N can also be used according to a configuration method of a communication network), and is used in data communication, a passive optical network (PON), fiber-to-the-home (FTTH), and so on.
Important features required in the optical power splitter are 1) excellent branching uniformity (with low variability with respect to an input optical wavelength, polarization, or temperature change), 2) low light loss, and 3) low-cost mass-producibility. However, among current technology of manufacturing the optical power splitter, planar lightwave circuit (PLC) technology has been known as the best technology of implementing the features, and the PLC technology is currently the main method used to manufacture optical power splitters.
The method is used to configure an optical circuit in which a core and a clad surrounding the core are formed by depositing multiple layers of silica or a thin polymer film while performing photolithography and etching on a silicon or quartz substrate and the optical signal is divided and mixed according to a shape of the core using a difference in a refractive index between the core and the clad.
There are various methods of configuring the optical power splitter since various structures in which one lightwave divides into a plurality of lightwaves have been proposed. The structures are largely classified as a star shape and a tree shape depending on a shape of dividing optical power, and methods of using a Y-branch lightwave circuit, a multi mode interferometer (MMI), a star coupler, a directional coupler, and so on have been offered.
However, in devices using a structure such as the MMI, the star coupler, the directional coupler, and so on, a split ratio of the optical power with respect to an incident optical wavelength or polarization change is varied. Accordingly, the structures are not used for commercial products in a market of a passive optical network (PON), etc., but are used for special products.
On the other hand, since a Y-branch optical power splitter has low wavelength dependence and enables miniaturization, the Y-branch optical power splitter is included in most commercial optical power splitters as a fundamental component. However, due to a structure in which a unit splitter of a Y-branch (1×2) is serially connected in a tree shape, a change amount of a split ratio depending on branching uniformity of output ports, manufacturing processes, temperature, wavelength, polarization, etc. increases in proportion to the connection number of trees. Accordingly, the split ratio of the unit splitter should be very exact and the change amount of the split ratio should be small.
When methods of manufacturing PLCs are classified according to a method of manufacturing a lightwave circuit core, there are 1) an embossed process method of forming an embossed core on a plane clad substrate and covering a lid clad thereon (this is currently the main method used to manufacture PLCs), and 2) an engraved process method of forming an engraved groove with a core shape, filling a core therein, planarizing the core by chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) or an etch-back process, and overlaying the lid clad.
Meanwhile, input and output cross sections of a manufactured PLC chip are polished as an inclined plane (an angle of about 8 degrees), and a polished optical fiber array block which is also polished as the inclined plane is bonded to the polished cross sections with epoxy. Here, the optical fiber array block is a block in which an optical fiber array is fixed between optical fiber fixed groove blocks including upper and lower parts. Each of the upper and lower parts has a thickness of about 1 millimeter, and the optical fiber array block has a total thickness of 2 millimeters.
Accordingly, the optical fiber array block and a PLC processed on a substrate with a thickness of about 1 millimeter have a difference in a bonding area. In order to remove distortion of epoxy bonding, a lid glass with a thickness of about 1 millimeter is added on the upper side of the substrate of the PLC. However, since the epoxy is largely different from the PLC in material characteristics, distortion or detachment may occur due to changes in temperature/humidity. Further, when bonding the substrate of the PLC and the lid glass, considerable and additional manufacturing efforts such as thickness control of the epoxy with respect to the entire surface of the substrate are required.
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a structure of a Y-branch lightwave circuit according to an embodiment of a conventional art.
Referring to FIG. 1, the Y-branch lightwave circuit according to an embodiment of a conventional art includes an input lightwave circuit 10, and first and second output lightwave circuits 20 and 30.
Here, the input lightwave circuit 10 is configured to input an optical signal through an input side cross section, and have a shape that widens toward an output side cross section.
The first and second output lightwave circuits 20 and 30 are configured to extend symmetrically with respect to a center line from the output side cross section of the input lightwave circuit 10.
The conventional Y-branch lightwave circuit optimizes a width and a length of the input lightwave circuit 10, and a branch angle of the first and second output lightwave circuits 20 and 30, and light loss is minimized when an interval between the first and second output lightwave circuits 20 and 30 is zero. However, when the lightwave circuit is manufactured, the interval between the first and second output lightwave circuits 20 and 30 which can be implemented in a photo exposure process has a minimum of 1 to 2 microns. Accordingly, certain light loss may be incurred.
Meanwhile, in the conventional embossed process method, even if the interval between the first and second output lightwave circuits 20 and 30 is minimized at a branch point, since an etching depth in a narrow gap between the first and second output lightwave circuits 20 and 30 is smaller than that of other areas due to an RIE-lag phenomenon in an etching process of a lightwave circuit core, lower portions of cross sections of the two first and second output lightwave circuits 20 and 30 are connected, and bubbles in the narrow gap are generated in a lid clad process, or the core is inclined since the two first and second output lightwave circuits 20 and 30 pull each other due to melting and sintering of the lid clad.
Accordingly, in order to solve the problem, oxide additives such as boron oxide (B2O3), phosphorus pentoxide (P2O5) are heavily doped into the lid clad material, and then the core is melted and damaged by the lid clad in the lid clad process and the light loss is increased.
Further, the lid clad process is a process requiring a long time to deposit a very thick film with a thickness of about 20 to 40 microns. Accordingly, productivity is greatly reduced, Further, the lightwave circuit core receives a stress due to a large difference in thermal expansion coefficients between two materials configuring a bottom clad substrate of a quartz glass and a heavily doped thick lid clad, and thus degradation of branching uniformity, particularly, polarization dependent loss (PDL), is increased.
The lid clad process varies in a thickness of a deposited film compared with a conventional semiconductor process with a thickness less than or equal to 1 micron. Accordingly, no commercial apparatus is appropriate for this, much time and effort are needed to deposit the thick film as an optical film with high quality, and thus the lid clad process is the most difficult process in manufacturing PLCs.

Lightwave circuit and method for manufacturing same


A metering receptacle has an elongate hollow body which at one end has a closable exit opening, and which at the other end is closable by way of a plastic plunger stopper. The plunger stopper is at the same time longitudinally displaceable in the hollow body by way of a plunger rod. The metering receptacle is configured such that the plunger stopper is formed of two parts, with a sealing stopper part of plastic which is rigidly positionable in the elongate hollow body and has a centric bore for the passage of the plunger rod, and with a longitudinally displaceable plunger part of lubricious plastic which is connected to the plunger rod.

The invention relates to a metering receptacle with an elongate hollow body which at one end comprises a closable exit opening and which at the other end is closable by way of a plastic plunger stopper which is accommodated in the hollow body in a longitudinally displaceable manner by way of a plunger rod.
Metering receptacles of this type are used in numerous application fields with a different specific design; for example for medical purposes (pharmaceutics and diagnostics) or for cosmetic applications as syringes with a syringe cylinder as a hollow body, or as plunger burettes in chemical analysis or as a dispenser.
Of particular importance with this are the prefilled disposable syringes, also called ready syringes or the prefilled disposable plunger burettes. Ready syringes of glass are for example known from DIN ISO 11040-4. Ready syringes of plastic are e.g. described in DE 44 38 360 A1. Prefilled disposable burettes are the subject-matter of DE 196 52 780.
With these prefilled ready syringes or plunger burettes it is necessary to incorporate a sliding layer onto the inside of the hollow body of the metering receptacle, in particular of the syringe body in order for the application to achieve sufficiently low friction forces on displacing the elastomer plunger. Only thus is a sufficiently fine-touch metering of the contents of the metering receptacle possible.
The incorporation of such sliding layers may be effected in various ways, as this is for example described in detail in DE 197 53 766.9 A1, which corresponds to U.S. Pat. No. 6,296,893. With glass syringes this is typically achieved by depositing and burning-in silicone emulsions at over 300°C., as is described in the article R. D. Anand, "Die Pharmazeutische Industrie" (The Pharmaceutical Industry) 54 No. 1, 1992, pages 69-73, "Spritzampullen: Em Vergleich in Zusammensetzung, Verarbeitung and Gebrauch vorgefuellter Spritzen" (Syringe ampullas: a comparison in composition, processing and use of prefilled syringes).
Sliding layers may likewise be deposited according to EP 0 202 915 B1 likewise with ionizing plasmas, wherein likewise silicon oil in the form of polydialkyl siloxane is used.
Furthermore, according to EP 0 338 671 B 1, which corresponds to U.S. Pat. No. 5,009,646, well sliding elastomer plungers may be manufactured when the elastomer plunger is coated with a special film material and has suitable dimensions. Although the use of special coating materials for elastomer plungers is a way of largely avoiding silicone as a lubricant, the manufacture of corresponding plunger stoppers is very expensive and significantly limits the geometric choice.
The use of sliding films based on silicon oil however has grave disadvantages, in particular with the use of the metering receptacle for medical purposes, in particular as a prefilled disposable syringe. Thus there may easily occur an interaction of the content substances, of the medicament with the silicon oil layer and with this essential active ingredients may be adsorbed by the silicon layer. Furthermore, a detaching of silicon oil droplets and/or flakes during the storage of the medicament may easily occur. Such problems are e.g. dicussed by V. Langlade and L. Caburet in "CURRENT ISSUES IN PACKAGING OF COMMON DILUENTS IN PREFILLED SYRINGES" PDA Fourth International Congress, Exhibition & Workshops Proceedings, page 153-page 165, 19-23 Feb. 1996.
Similiarly with prefilled plunger burettes there may occur disadvantageous interactions between the contents of the burette and the silicone layer.
By way of DE 38 83 985 T 2 there is known a syringe for medical purposes which has good sliding properties of the plunger in the syringe body and requires no silicone sliding layer.
With the known syringe the elastomer plunger at the location at which it slides on the inner wall of the syringe cylinder has a fluroplastic plastic layer with a low dynamic friction coefficient and a thickness of approx. 5 m which is deposited by the method of low-temperature plasma polymerization.
Disregarding the expensive manufacture of such a plunger stopper, the known silicone-free syringe has the disadvantage that the coating material is very expensive and to a very limited degree is compatible to medication and capable of sterilization. Furthermore the micro-sealedness is not sufficiently given since the material comprises pores and is also not flexible enough, i.e. may not conform sufficiently sealingly on the inner wall of the syringe body.