Disclosed is an abnormality-cause identifying apparatus including: a retrieving unit for retrieving quality data conforming to retrieving conditions; and a computing unit for computing mean values and standard deviations of the retrieved quality data, the computing unit further computing the likelihood of abnormality of each of manufacturing apparatuses, on the basis of the mean values and the standard deviations.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to abnormality-cause identifying apparatuses and methods and, more particularly, to an abnormality-cause identifying apparatus and an abnormality-cause identifying method for identifying a manufacturing apparatus or the like that causes an abnormality.
2. Description of the Related Art
FIG. 8 is a flowchart of steps constituting a conventional abnormality-cause identifying method. In FIG. 8, step ST1 is carried out to set conditions (search criteria) for retrieving quality data and history data. Step ST2 is performed to retrieve from a database the quality data and history data conforming to the retrieving conditions. Step ST3 is executed to compute a mean value of quality data relating to each of manufacturing apparatuses constituting a production line. Step ST4 is effected to compare the mean value of quality data relating to each of the manufacturing apparatuses with the currently stored applicable normal-state data (data in effect when no abnormality is present). If the mean value is judged to significantly deviate from the normal-state data, it is estimated that the corresponding manufacturing apparatus causes the abnormality.
Given below is a description of the operation involved in abnormality-cause identification according to the related art.
For example, a semiconductor device is fabricated using a plurality of manufacturing apparatuses in a plurality of processes as shown in FIG. 9.
The products are inspected in intermediate and final stages of the manufacturing. If an abnormality is found in any of the products, manufacturing apparatuses that cause the abnormality are identified.
More specifically, step ST1 is first carried out to set conditions for retrieving quality data (e.g., data subject to computation in an intermediate inspection process and denoting a fraction defective of the manufacturing apparatuses) and history data relating to each manufacturing process (e.g. data indicative of processing results of the manufacturing apparatuses) such that the retrieved data are used to identify an apparatus suspected to have caused the abnormality, the quality data and history data being collected in diverse manufacturing processes and stored in a database. The retrieving conditions illustratively include products to be manufactured, processes to be inspected, periods to be covered, applicable quality items, history of applicable processes, and processing units involved.
In step ST2, the quality data and history data conforming to the established conditions are retrieved from the database. For example, if a part or all of the processes in FIG. 9 are suspected, then a part or all of the processes may be designated as the retrieving conditions. Then, the quality data and history data relating to the manufacturing apparatuses involved in the designated part or all of the processes are retrieved.
Step ST3 is then executed to compute a mean value of the quality data relating to each of the manufacturing apparatuses involved in the designated part or all of the processes. Illustratively, if the manufacturing apparatuses A and B are involved, a mean value of the quality data relating to the manufacturing apparatus A and a mean value of the quality data relating to the manufacturing apparatus B are computed.
Finally, step ST4 is carried out to compare the mean value of the quality data relating to each manufacturing apparatus with the currently stored normal-state data. Illustratively, where the manufacturing apparatuses A and B are involved in part or all of the manufacturing processes, a comparison is made between the mean value of the quality data relating to the manufacturing apparatus A and the normal-state data relevant to the apparatus A, and another comparison is made between the mean value of the quality data relating to the manufacturing apparatus B and the normal-state data relevant to the apparatus B.
If the comparison yields a difference of, for example, at least 20 percent between the normal-state data and the quality data mean value of a given manufacturing apparatus, that apparatus is identified as having caused the abnormality. The outcome of the identification is printed or otherwise displayed.
After the suspected manufacturing apparatus has been identified as described, the user determines whether or not the abnormality has indeed occurred on the basis of various history data relating to the apparatus in question.
Since the conventional abnormality-cause identifying method is constituted as outlined above, a small number of quality data items on manufacturing apparatuses tend to lower the accuracy of quality data mean values serving as a pointer to an apparatus suspected of the abnormality (hereinafter, such an apparatus will also be referred to as a defective apparatus). Where a defective apparatus cannot be identified accurately, there is a likelihood that manufacturing apparatuses that are not the cause of the abnormality may be processed for determination of the cause of abnormality in advance of the defective apparatus, thus making it difficult to efficiently identify the apparatus that caused the abnormality.
FIG. 10 is a graphic representation of an exemplary fraction defective distribution of manufacturing apparatuses. In the example of FIG. 10, the manufacturing apparatus having a fraction defective of about 3.5 percent is most likely to caused the abnormality. In that case, the apparatus with the fraction defective of 3.5 percent should be identified as causing the abnormality. However, as the mean values of quality data decline in their accuracy, a manufacturing apparatus with a fraction defective of about 2.3 percent may be mistakenly identified as having caused the abnormality.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to overcome the above and other deficiencies of the prior art and, more particularly, to provide an abnormality-cause identifying apparatus and an abnormality-cause identifying method for efficiently identifying an apparatus causing an abnormality.
The aforementioned objects can be achieved by an abnormality-cause identifying apparatus comprising: setting means for setting conditions for retrieving quality data; retrieving means for retrieving quality data conforming to the retrieving conditions set by the setting means; and computing means for computing mean values and standard deviations of the conforming quality data retrieved by the retrieving means, and for computing a likelihood of abnormality of each of candidates that could have caused an abnormality, on the basis of the mean values and standard deviations.
The abnormality-cause identifying apparatus may further comprise determining means for subjecting the candidates to determination as to abnormality, in a descending order of magnitude of likelihood of abnormality.
If an upper limit and a lower limit of quality data are set by the setting means, then the retrieving means may retrieve, from the conforming quality data, quality data in excess of the upper limit and quality data below the lower limit before outputting the retrieved quality data.
The abnormality-cause identifying apparatus may further comprise test value computing means for computing a test value and a fraction defective of each of the candidates, on the basis of the mean values and standard deviations of the quality data, and for computing the likelihood of abnormality of the candidates, on the basis of the test value and the fraction defective.
The aforementioned objects can be achieved by an abnormality-cause identifying method comprising the steps of: setting conditions for retrieving quality data; retrieving quality data conforming to the retrieving conditions; and computing mean values and standard deviations of the conforming quality data, and computing a likelihood of abnormality of each of candidates that could have caused an abnormality, on the basis of the mean values and standard deviations.
The abnormality-cause identifying method may further comprise the step of subjecting the candidates to determination as to abnormality, in a descending order of magnitude of likelihood of abnormality.
The abnormality-cause identifying method may further comprise the step of retrieving, if an upper limit and a lower limit of quality data are set, from the conforming quality data, quality data in excess of the upper limit and quality data below the lower limit before outputting the retrieved quality data.
The abnormality-cause identifying method may further comprise the steps of computing a test value and a fraction defective of each of the candidates, on the basis of the mean values and standard deviations of the quality data, and computing the likelihood of abnormality of the candidates, on the basis of the test value and the fraction defective.
A plurality of manufacturing apparatuses may be considered as the candidates.
A plurality of manufacturing materials may be considered as the candidates.
A plurality of manufacturing conditions may be considered as the candidates.

Abnormality-cause identifying apparatus and method


A computer enclosure includes a chassis (10) having bottom, side and rear panels (20, 30, 40), and first and second mounting brackets (50, 60) attached to the chassis. The bottom panel forms a rib (21). The rear panel defines a horizontal opening (42) and an engaging portion (44). Latch slots (32) are defined in the side panel. The first mounting bracket includes a vertical expansion slot (53), a bent plate (54) and a blocking tab (55). The second mounting bracket includes: a top plate (61) having latches (612) engaging in the latch slots, and catches (613) sandwiching a top edge portion of the rear panel; and a rear plate (62) having horizontal expansion slots (621), a hook (622) slidably engaging with the bent plate, a stop plate (626) abutting against the engaging portion, a stop portion (625) abutting against the rib, and a projection (624) engaging with the blocking tab.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to computer enclosures, and particularly to a computer enclosure having mounting brackets for receiving of expansion cards of great height in the enclosure.
2. Related Art
Many contemporary computer systems comprise not only a motherboard, but also one or more expansion cards which provide specialized functions. A rear panel of a personal computer system enclosure typically defines a plurality of expansion slots therein. Each expansion card typically comprises a slot cover attached at one of the expansion slots, to correctly position the corresponding expansion card. Such expansion slots are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,564,930 and 6,349,029. The expansion slots are defined perpendicular to the motherboard, because the expansion cards are perpendicularly attached to the motherboard. Some expansion cards extend very long distances from the motherboard. For such expansion cards, more space in the enclosure in a direction perpendicular to the motherboard must be reserved. Thus, a size of the computer enclosure is inevitably increased. This militates against the modem trend toward reducing the size of a computer.
An improved configuration for a computer enclosure which overcomes the above-mentioned problems is desired.

Computer enclosure with perpendicular expansion slots


A direct smelting process for producing iron and/or ferroalloys is provided, which involves forming a molten bath in a metallurgical vessel, supplying feed materials, injecting oxygen containing gas, generating upward movement of the molten material from the molten bath, wherein the oxygen-containing gas is injected by three or more lances, and entraining into the jets of oxygen containing gas a volume of top space gas that is 2-6 times the volume of the injected gas.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a process and an apparatus for producing iron and/or ferroalloys from ferruginous material, including iron ores, other ores containing iron such as chromite ores, partially reduced ores, and iron-containing waste streams such as steel reverts.
The present invention relates particularly to a molten metal bath-based direct smelting process and an apparatus for producing molten iron and/or ferroalloys.
2. Description of Related Art
One known molten bath-based direct smelting process for producing molten iron is the DIOS process. The DIOS process includes a pre-reduction stage and a smelt reduction stage. In the DIOS process ore (xe2x88x928 mm) is pre-heated (750xc2x0 C.) and pre-reduced (10 to 30%) in bubbling fluidised beds using offgas from a smelt reduction vessel which contains a molten bath of iron and slag, with the slag forming a deep layer on the iron. The fine (xe2x88x920.3 mm) and coarse (xe2x88x928 mm) components of the ore are separated in the pre-reduction stage of the process and the xe2x88x920.3 mm component is collected in a cyclone and injected into the smelt reduction vessel with nitrogen whilst the coarse ore is charged by gravity. Pre-dried coal is charged directly to the smelt reduction vessel from the top of the vessel. The coal decomposes into char and volatile matter in the slag layer and the ore dissolves in the molten slag and forms FeO. The FeO is reduced at the slag/iron and slag/char interfaces to produce iron. The carbon monoxide generated at the iron/slag and slag/char interfaces generates a foaming slag. Oxygen is blown through a specially designed lance that introduces the oxygen inside the foamed slag and improves secondary combustion. Oxygen jets burn carbon monoxide that is generated with the smelting reduction reactions, thereby generating heat that is transferred first to the molten slag and then to the slag/iron interface by the strong stirring effect of bottom blowing gas. The stirring gas introduced into the hot iron bath from the bottom or side of the smelt reduction vessel improves heat transfer efficiency and increases the slag/iron interface for reduction and therefore the vessel productivity and thermal efficiency. However, injection rates must be limited as strong stirring lowers secondary combustion due to increased interaction between the oxygen jet and iron droplets in the slag with subsequent lowering of productivity and increased refractory wear. Slag and iron are tapped periodically.
Another known direct smelting process for producing molten iron is the Romelt process. The Romelt process is based on the use of a large volume, highly agitated slag bath as the medium for smelting ferruginous feed material to iron in a smelt reduction vessel and for post-combusting gaseous reaction products and transferring the heat as required to continue smelting ferruginous feed material. The ferruginous feed material, coal, and fluxes are gravity fed into the slag bath via an opening in the roof of the vessel. The Romelt process includes injecting a primary blast of oxygen-enriched air into the slag via a lower row of tuyeres to cause necessary slag agitation and injection of oxygen-enriched air or oxygen into the slag via an upper row of tuyeres to promote post-combustion. The molten iron produced in the slag moves downwardly and forms an iron layer and is discharged via a forehearth. In the Romelt process the iron layer is not an important reaction medium.
Another known direct smelting process for producing molten iron is the AISI process. The AISI process includes a pre-reduction stage and a smelt reduction stage. In the AISI process pre-heated and partially pre-reduced iron ore pellets, coal or coke breeze and fluxes are top charged into a pressurised smelt reactor which contains a molten bath of iron and slag. The coal devolatilises in the slag layer and the iron ore pellets dissolve in the slag and then are reduced by carbon (char) in the slag. The process conditions result in slag foaming. Carbon monoxide and hydrogen generated in the process are post combusted in or just above the slag layer to provide the energy required for the endothermic reduction reactions. Oxygen is top blown through a central, water cooled lance and nitrogen is injected through tuyeres at the bottom of the reactor to ensure sufficient stirring to facilitate heat transfer of the post combustion energy to the bath. The process offgas is de-dusted in a hot cyclone before being fed to a shaft type furnace for pre-heating and pre-reduction of the pellets to FeO or wustite.
Another known direct smelting process, which relies on a molten iron layer as a reaction medium, and is generally referred to as the HIsmelt process, is described in International application PCT/AU96/00197 (WO 96/31627) in the name of the applicant.
The HIsmelt process as described in the International application includes:
(a) forming a bath of molten iron and slag in a vessel;
(b) injecting into the bath:
(i) ferruginous feed material, typically iron oxides; and
(ii) a solid carbonaceous material, typically coal, which acts as a reductant of the iron oxides and a source of energy; and
(c) smelting the metalliferous feed material to metal in the iron layer.
The HIsmelt process also includes injecting oxygen-containing gas into a space above the bath and post-combusting reaction gases, such as CO and H2, released from the bath and transferring the heat generated to the bath to contribute to the thermal energy required to smelt the metalliferous feed materials.
The HIsmelt process also includes forming a transition zone in the space above the nominal quiescent surface of the bath in which there is a favourable mass of ascending and thereafter descending droplets or splashes or streams of molten material that provide an effective medium to transfer to the bath the thermal energy generated by post-combusting reaction gases above the bath.
The applicant has carried out extensive research and development work on direct smelting processes including research and development work on the requirements for commercially operating processes and has made a series of significant findings in relation to such processes.
The focus of the present invention is on post combustion of reaction gases.
Without adequate post combustion of reaction gases and subsequent transfer of heat back to the molten bath, such molten bath based direct smelting processes, particularly those without a pre-reduction stage, become uneconomic and in many cases unworkable because of the endothermic nature of the reduction of ferruginous materials.
A further issue is that good post combustion must not be at the expense of re-oxidising significant amounts of molten metal in the molten bath as the process becomes inefficient, with excessive amounts of solid carbonaceous material being needed to counter such oxidation.
As well, excessively high amounts of liquid FeO in the molten bath are particularly detrimental to refractory wear around the region of the nominal quiescent level of the molten metal.
In general terms, the present invention is a direct smelting process for producing iron and/or ferroalloys which operates on a commercial scale in a metallurgical vessel that has a hearth, side walls, and a roof, and a minimum width dimension of the interior of the hearth of at least 4 meters, more preferably at least 6 meters.
In more specific terms, the direct smelting process includes the steps of:
(a) forming a molten bath containing molten metal and molten slag;
(b) supplying feed materials being ferruginous material, carbonaceous material, and fluxes into the vessel;
(c) smelting ferruginous feed material to molten metal in the molten bath and generating gases in the bath;
(d) injecting oxygen-containing gas being air or air with up to 50% oxygen into a space above the quiescent surface of the molten bath (the xe2x80x9ctop spacexe2x80x9d) and combusting gases generated in the process; and
(e) generating upward movement of molten material from the molten bath into the top space to facilitate heat transfer to the bath and to minimise heat loss from the vessel;
and which process is characterised by injecting the oxygen-containing gas through 3 or more lances and controlling the process by entraining a volume of top space gas into the jets of oxygen-containing gas injected into the vessel that is 2-6 times the volume of the injected gas.
The present invention is based on the realisation that entraining a volume of top space gas into the injected gas jets that is 2-6 times the volume of the injected gas makes it possible to achieve good post combustion of top space gas and good heat transfer to the molten bath and without unacceptable levels of re-oxidation of molten metal.
The present invention is also based on the realisation that it is possible to achieve entrainment of volumes of top space gas into the injected oxygen-containing gas within the range described above by injecting the oxygen-containing gas through lances having outlet ends of internal diameter of 0.6 m or less at a velocity of at least 150 m/s.
Accordingly, preferably the process is characterised by injecting jets of oxygen-containing gas through lances having outlet ends of internal diameter of 0.6 m or less at a velocity of at least 150 m/s.
Preferably the velocity is at least 200 m/s.
Preferably the process includes preheating the oxygen-containing gas to a temperature of 800-1400xc2x0 C.
The use of 3 or more lances for injecting jets of oxygen containing gas allows the roof of the smelting vessel to be lower than otherwise would be the case with a single lance having the same total internal cross-sectional area as the multiple lances. This is due to the increase in surface-to-volume ratio of the gas jets emanating from the ends of the smaller multiple lances. Less free space for gas entrainment is needed, hence less vertical height in the metallurgical vessel. The result is a more compact, cost effective direct smelting process with lower heat losses from the vessel.
Preferably the process includes injecting oxygen-containing gas into the vessel in a swirling motion.
Swirl increases the suction rate of top space gas into the injected gas jets. Therefore, the use of swirl makes it possible for the height of the outlet ends of the oxygen-containing gas injection lances above the molten bath to be less than the height of non-swirl lances. Thus, a vessel that has a given number of swirl lances of a given internal diameter can be a lower height than a vessel that has the same number of non-swirl lances of the same internal diameter. This is an important consideration in terms of further minimising vessel height and thus surface area through which heat can be lost from the vessel.
Further, for a vessel of any given height, the use of swirl means that the number of lances for injecting jets of oxygen containing gas can be less than the number of non-swirl lances. However there is a limitation on the extent to which it is desirable to reduce the number of swirl lances. Specifically, as the number of lances is reduced in a vessel of a given size, the internal diameter of the lances must be increased significantly. With increasing internal diameter it becomes more difficult to cool the swirl apparatus within such lances, with the result that they have an increased tendency to burn away, particularly when using oxygen enriched preheated air. It is expected that lances of greater than about 0.6 meters internal diameter are unlikely to be able to support such swirl apparatus for the operating life needed i.e a minimum of 6 months and more desirably 12 months. The use of high heat conducting materials such as copper for the swirl apparatus is thought to be not viable given the tendency of pre-heated air to be carrying small abrasive particles with it, which quickly erodes soft material like copper.
Preferably when using swirl apparatus the number of lances used is from 3 to 6, whereas without swirl apparatus the number of lances is preferably 6 or more.
Preferably step (b) includes supplying feed materials by injecting feed materials into the molten bath through 3 or more downwardly extending solids injection lances and thereby generating a gas flow which causes:
(i) the formation of an expanded molten bath zone; and
(ii) splashes, droplets and streams of molten material to be projected upwardly from the expanded molten bath zone.
The injection of feed materials and the resultant gas flow arising from the injection of the feed materials and reactions of the feed materials in the molten bath causes substantial movement of material into and from the expanded molten bath zone.
Preferably the process includes periodically or continuously tapping molten slag from the vessel.
Preferably the process also includes periodically or continuously tapping molten iron and/or ferroalloys from the vessel.
The ferruginous materials may include iron ores, other ores containing iron such as chromite ores, partially reduced ores, and iron-containing waste streams such as steel reverts. It is noted that whilst ferrous material, ie material in which iron is the principal component, is the preferred ferruginous material, the invention is not limited to the use of ferrous material.
Preferably the process includes injecting at least 80% by weight of the total weight of solid material required to operate the process through the solids injection lances.
Preferably the process includes injecting feed materials into the molten bath at a velocity of at least 40 m/s through the solids injection lances.
Preferably the velocity is in the range of 80-100 m/s.
Preferably the process includes injecting feed materials into the molten bath through the solids injection lances at a mass flow rate of up to 2.0 t/m2/s where m2 relates to the cross-sectional area of the lance delivery tube.
Preferably the process includes injecting feed materials into the molten bath through the solids injection lances at a solids/gas ratio of 10-18 kg/Nm3.
In the context of the present invention the term xe2x80x9csmeltingxe2x80x9d is understood herein to mean thermal processing wherein chemical reactions that reduce the feed materials take place to produce liquid iron and/or ferroalloys.
In the context of the present invention the term xe2x80x9clancexe2x80x9d is understood herein to be a gas/material injection device that protrudes to some extent into the interior of the vessel.
Preferably the gas flow generated in the molten bath is at least 0.35 Nm3/s/m2 (where m2 relates to the area of a horizontal cross section through the hearth at its minimum width).
Preferably the gas flow generated in the molten bath is at least 0.5 Nm3/s/m2.
Preferably the gas flow rate generated in the molten bath is less than 2 Nm3/s/m2.
The gas flow generated in the molten bath may be generated in part as a result of bottom and/or side wall injection of a gas into the molten bath.
The molten material may form a xe2x80x9cwetxe2x80x9d layer or a xe2x80x9cdryxe2x80x9d layer on the side walls. A xe2x80x9cwetxe2x80x9d layer comprises a frozen layer that adheres to the side walls, a semi-solid (mush) layer, and an outer liquid film. A xe2x80x9cdryxe2x80x9d layer is one in which substantially all of the slag is frozen.
The production of slag in the vessel may be controlled by varying the feed rates of ferruginous material, carbonaceous material, and fluxes to the vessel and operating parameters such as oxygen-containing gas injection rates.
In situations where the process is concerned with producing iron, preferably the process includes controlling the level of dissolved carbon in molten iron to be at least 3 wt % and maintaining the slag in a strongly reducing condition leading to iron oxide levels of less than 6 wt %, more preferably less than 5 wt % (measured as the amount of iron in iron oxides in the slag tapped from the vessel).
The injection of ferrous material and carbonaceous material may be through the same or separate lances.
Preferably the level of post-combustion is at least 40%, where post-combustion is defined as:             [              C                          xe2x80x83                                  O          2                    ]        +          [                        H          2                        O            ]                  [              C                          xe2x80x83                                  O          2                    ]        +          [                        H          2                        O            ]        +          [              C                          xe2x80x83                        O            ]        +          [              H        2            ]
where:
[CO2]=volume % of CO2 in off-gas
[H2O ]=volume % of H2O in off-gas
[CO]=volume % of CO in off-gas
[H2]=volume % of H2 in off-gas
In general terms the present invention also provides an apparatus which produces iron and/or ferroalloys by a direct smelting process, which apparatus includes a fixed non-tiltable metallurgical vessel that has a hearth, side walls, and a roof, and a minimum width dimension of at least 4 meters, preferably at least 6 meters, in the interior of the hearth and contains a molten bath of iron and slag that includes a metal-rich zone and an expanded molten bath zone above the metal-rich zone.
In more specific terms:
(a) the hearth is formed of refractory material and has a base and sides in contact with the molten metal;
(b) the side walls extend upwardly from the sides of the hearth and are in contact with the expanded molten bath zone, wherein the side walls that contact the expanded molten bath zone include water cooled panels and a layer of molten material on the panels;
(c) 3 or more lances extending downwardly into the vessel and injecting jets of oxygen-containing gas being air or air enriched with up to 50% oxygen into a region of the vessel above the molten bath;
(d) a means for supplying feed materials being ferruginous material and/or carbonaceous material and carrier gas into the molten bath; and
(e) a means for tapping molten metal and slag from the vessel.
In more specific terms each oxygen-containing gas injection lance has an outlet end of internal diameter of 0.6 m or less, protrudes at least a distance equivalent to its internal diameter into the vessel, and the oxygen-containing gas is injected therethrough at a velocity of at least 150 m/s.
Preferably the velocity is at least 200 m/s.
Preferably the oxygen-containing gas injection region is a central region of the vessel.
Preferably the outlet ends of the oxygen-containing gas injection lances are no more than 7 m above a quiescent surface of the molten bath.
It is highly desirable that the placement of the lances and the length of protrusion into the vessel be selected so as to prevent the flame caused by post-combustion from tracking along the side walls or roof of the vessel.
Preferably step (d) includes injecting the feed materials through at least 3 solids injection lances into the molten bath.
Preferably the numbers of the solids injection and oxygen-containing gas injection lances and the relative positions of these lances and the operating conditions of the process are selected so that:
(i) the expanded molten bath zone includes a raised region around the oxygen-containing gas injection region of the vessel between the region and the side walls;
(ii) splashes, droplets and streams of molten material project upwardly from the raised region and form a curtain around the oxygen gas injection region between the region and the side walls and wet the side walls; and
(iii) a xe2x80x9cfreexe2x80x9d space forms around a lower end of each oxygen-containing gas injection lance, the free space having a concentration of molten material that is lower than the molten material concentration in the expanded molten bath zone.
Preferably the solids injection lances extend through water cooled panels in the side walls of the vessel and downwardly and inwardly to the hearth region of the vessel.


A rotor for an automotive alternator includes a rotary shaft, first and second magnetic pole cores each having a plurality of magnetic pole claws, a bobbin, a field coil, a plurality of permanent magnets, and a positioning mechanism. The magnetic pole claws of the first magnetic pole core are interleaved with those of the second magnetic pole core. The field coil is wound around the first and second magnetic pole cores via the bobbin. The permanent magnets are interposed between the first and second magnetic pole cores. The positioning mechanism, which is made up of at least one of the rotary shaft, the first and second magnetic pole cores, and the bobbin, functions to position the first and second magnetic pole cores in the circumferential direction of the rotary shaft with intervals between adjacent pairs of the magnetic pole claws of the first and second magnetic pole cores being even.

1. Technical Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to rotating electrical machines, such as electric generators and motors. More particularly, the invention relates to a rotor for an automotive alternator which includes a mechanism for positioning magnetic pole cores, and a method of manufacturing the rotor.
2. Description of the Related Art
There is known, for example from U.S. Pat. No. 6,486,585 B1, an automotive alternator that includes a plurality of permanent magnets each of which is interposed between two adjacent magnetic pole claws of a rotor to reduce the magnetic flux leakage between the two magnetic pole claws. With the reduction in the magnetic flux leakage, an increased amount of magnetic flux will be accordingly introduced from the rotor to a stator, thereby increasing the output power of the alternator.
However, referring to FIG. 14, in the automotive alternator disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,486,585 B1, the magnetic pole claws are formed by: first assembling a pair of magnetic pole cores 2 and 3 onto a rotary shaft (not shown) of the rotor; and then machining the magnetic pole cores 2 and 3, leaving collar portions 2a and 3a on the respective outer peripheries of the magnetic pole cores 2 and 3. In addition, in FIG. 14, the reference numeral 24 indicates a milling tool that is used for machining the magnetic pole cores 2 and 3.
Accordingly, if the magnetic pole cores 2 and 3 could not be accurately positioned in the circumferential direction of the rotary shaft in the assembly step, the intervals between adjacent pairs of the magnetic pole claws in the circumferential direction would vary greatly. Thus, for a particular adjacent pair of the magnetic pole claws which have a large interval therebetween, the respective collar portions 2a and 2b would be left small in the subsequent machining step. Consequently, during high-speed rotation of the rotor, it would be difficult to securely hold the permanent magnet (not shown) interposed between the pair of the magnetic pole claws against centrifugal force. As a result, the permanent magnet would fly out of the space between the pair of the magnetic pole claws, causing a failure of the automotive alternator; for example, the permanent magnet may damage other components of the alternator, such as the stator and the field coil, or be caught in a small gap between the rotor and the stator, thereby locking the rotor.
To solve the above problem, one may consider machining the magnetic pole cores 2 and 3 prior to assembling those onto the rotary shaft. However, in this case, it is still necessary to accurately position the magnetic pole cores 2 and 3 in the circumferential direction in the assembly step, so as to make the intervals between adjacent pairs of the magnetic pole claws even. Accordingly, depending on the way of positioning the magnetic pole cores 2 and 3, a guidance device may be required to guide the magnetic pole cores 2 and 3 to desired positions in the assembly step, making the manufacturing process complicated and thus increasing the manufacturing cost of the rotor.

Rotor for automotive alternator having mechanism for positioning magnetic pole cores


According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a light diffusion member which includes a light diffusion film, a polarizing film, and a retardation film. The light diffusion film includes a first substrate, a light diffusion portion, and a light shielding layer. The polarizing film includes a second substrate and a polarization layer. The retardation film includes a third substrate and a retardation layer. The retardation layer is formed from a birefringence body which has optically-negative uniaxiality. An alignment direction of the birefringence body is different in a thickness direction thereof. A slow axis of the retardation layer is positioned at azimuth between a transmission axis and an absorption axis of the polarization layer.

In general, a liquid crystal display device is widely used as a display for portable electronic equipment such as a portable telephone, a television, a personal computer, or the like. Generally, the liquid crystal display device has excellent viewability from the front, but has a narrow viewing angle. Thus, various considerations for widening the viewing angle have been performed. As one of the considerations, a configuration in which a member for controlling a diffusion angle of light emitted from a display body such as a liquid crystal panel is provided on a viewing side of the display body is proposed. The member for controlling the diffusion angle of light is referred to as a light diffusion member below.
The following PTL 1 discloses a light diffusion sheet in which a groove having a V-shaped cross-section is provided in a light diffusion layer, and a light absorptive layer is provided at a portion of the groove. Transparent sheets formed from polyethylene terephthalate (PET) are disposed on a light incoming side and the light outgoing side of the light diffusion layer in the light diffusion sheet. A portion of light which has been vertically incident to the light diffusion layer is totally reflected by a wall surface of the groove, and then is emitted. Thus, light emitted from the light diffusion sheet is diffused.
The following PTL 2 discloses that an optical compensation film which contains a liquid crystal compound formed from a discotic compound is disposed between a liquid crystal cell and a polarization layer, in order to improve contrast in a liquid crystal display device of the twisted-nematic (below abbreviated to TN) mode.

Light diffusion member, base material for light diffusion member production, display device using same and method for producing light diffusion member


A new composition of titanyl phthalocyanine is provided. This composition has in its infrared absorption spectrum characteristically strong absorptions at absorption wavenumbers (in unit of cm.sup.-1) of 1490.+-.2, 1415.+-.2, 1332.+-.2, 1119.+-.2, 1072.+-.2, 1060.+-.2, 961.+-.2, 893.+-.2, 780.+-.2, 751.+-.2 and 730.+-.2, and has an extremely high solvent stability and dispersibility, and a large photoelectric conversion efficiency. The new form of composition can be obtained by adding to titanyl phthalocyanine, compounds of other phthalocyanines or naphthalocyanines as additives, and treating the amorphous composition of the mixture to crystallize the composition. By applying an appropriate binder, with the novel composition crystals as a charge generation agent, on a substrate, it is possible to obtain an electrophotographic photosensitive material that has a charge generation layer with an extremely high dispersibility and an extremely large photoelectric conversion efficiency.

The present invention relates to a titanyl phthalocyanine composition having a new crystal form, a process for its manufacture and its use as a highly photosensitive material for electrophotography.
It is well known that phthalocyanines, particularly metallo-phthalocyanines, have an excellent photoconductive property and some of them have been used for preparation of electrophotographic photosensitive materials. Recently, high definition and high speed electrophotographic type optical printers that use a laser beam or a light emitting diode as the light source have been in widespread use accompanying advances in the nonimpact printing technology, and an active development in photosensitive bodies that can meet the requirements of these devices is under way.
Particularly when a laser beam is used as a light source, there is a need to obtain a photosensitive material having a photosensitivity up to a near infrared region. It is because mostly a semiconductor laser diode is used owing to the merits of compactness, cheapness and simplicity, but their oscillation wavelength is now limited to a relatively longer wavelength range of a near infrared region. Accordingly, it is not appropriate to use conventional photosensitive materials, which have been used for electrophotographic copying machines and have a sensitivity in a visible region, with a semiconductor laser light source.
It is known that some organic materials satisfy the need as described above mentioned. They are, for example, squaric acid methine dyes, indoline dyes, cyanine dyes, pyrylium dyes, polyazo dyes, phthalocyanine dyes, naphthoquinone dyes, etc. At present, however, the squaric acid methine dyes, indoline dyes, cyanine dyes and pyrylium dyes enable to obtain a longer wavelength range but are lacking in a utilizable stability, that is, repeating property; the polyazo dyes are difficult to obtain a longer wavelength range and also have disadvantages in their production; and naphthoquinone dyes have a problem in their sensitivity.
On the other hand, the phthalocyanine dyes have spectrum sensitivity peaks in the long wavelength region of not less than 600 nm, have high sensitivities and further change their spectrum sensitivities in accordance with the kinds of their center metals and their crystal forms. They are therefore considered as suitable for dyes for use with a semiconductor laser light source, and so research and development of phthalocyanine dyes have been intensively conducted.
Among the phthalocyanine compounds studied hitherto, particularly as those showing high sensitivities in the long wavelength region of not less than 780 nm, there may be mentioned, x-type non-metalo-phthalocyanine, E-type copper phthalocyanine, vanadyl phthalocyanine, etc.
In order to obtain a higher sensitivity, it has been attempted to use a vacuum evaporated film of phthalocyanine as a charge generation layer to produce a laminated type photosensitive material. In effect, some phthalocyanines of relatively high sensitivities have been obtained by using metals of groups IIIa and IV of the periodic table as center metals. Such metalo-phthalocyanines are described in, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-open Nos. 211,149/82, 148,745/82, 36,254/84, 44,054/84, 30,541/84, 31,965/84, 166,959/84, etc. Such organic photosensitive materials as above, however, necessarily become expensive, since the production of the vacuum evaporated film requires a high vacuum discharge apparatus and thus a high cost of installation.
It has also been attempted to use a resin dispersion layer of phthalocyanine, in place of said vacuum evaporated film of phthalocyanine, as a charge generation layer and to make a coating of a charge transfer layer thereon to produce a composite type photosensitive material. As for such composite type photosensitive material, there may be mentioned, for example, the photosensitive material using non-metalo-phthalocyanine as described in Japanese Patent Laid-open No. 182639/83 and that using indium phthalocyanine as described in Japanese Patent Laid-open No. 155851/84. These two are relatively high sensitivity photosensitive materials, but the former is disadvantageous in that its sensitivity is rapidly reduced in a long wavelength region of not less than 800 nm, and the latter is disadvantegeous in that its sensitivity is not sufficient for utilization, when the charge generation layer is produced by means of the resin dispersion system.
It has also been attempted in these days to use titanyl phthalocyanines having relatively high sensitive electrophotographic properties as described in Japanese Patent Laid-open Nos. 49,544/84,, 23,928/86, 109,056/86 and 275,272/87. According to this literature, it is understood that their properties are different owing to their crystal forms and that in order to produce these various crystal forms, special purification and special solvent treatment are required. Further, the solvent to be used for such treatment is one that is different from the solvent to be used in forming the dispersion coating film. It is because the various crystals to be formed have a tendency to easily grow in the solvent for the crystal growing treatment. Thus, if such solvent is used also as the solvent for the coating, it is difficult to control the crystal form and the particle size. This causes low stability of the coating material and eventually the electrostatic properties are significantly damaged. Therefore, ordinarily in the treatment of forming the coating material, a chlorine series solvent such as chloroform, which does not substantially promote the crystal growth, is used. This solvent however does not always show a good dispersion property for the titanyl phthalocyanine, and thus causes some problems in the dispersion stability of the coating material.

Titanyl phthaloycyanine crystal, method of manufacture thereof and its use for electrophotographic photosensitive material


A method and apparatus for restoring communications in a network. The network includes a plurality of nodes, with each pair of nodes connected by a link, and with each link having information channels and restoration channels. An idle signal is sent on each restoration channel for each link. The failure of a link is detected, with the failed link connecting an originating node with a terminating node. In addition, the failed link includes at least one information channel carrying information signals. An alternate path through the network is determined for the information signals using restoration and idle signals sent over the restoration channels. The information signals are then routed from the originating node to the terminating node in accordance with the alternate path.

The invention relates to network restoration techniques in general. More particularly, the invention relates to a method and apparatus for restoring network communications when a node or link of the network fails.
It is a fairly accepted truism that communications is the lifeblood of business. As domestic and international businesses continue to expand at an extrodinary pace, these businesses become increasingly reliant upon telecommunications services to remain competitive in a global marketplace. Whether it is talking to a customer over the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN), sending an electronic mail message over the Internet, or trading product specifications over a local area network, disruptions to a communications network can mean significant losses to a business. Extended outages are particularly harmful, but even brief outages can be bothersome. The result is ever increasing demands by telecommunications customers for a virtually uninterruptible network.
One element to creating a virtually uninterruptible network is to correct network outages as rapidly as they occur. At a very high level, a network can be viewed as a pattern of communications nodes interconnected by communications links. The communications nodes can include electronic or optical cross-connects (xe2x80x9cswitchesxe2x80x9d), personal computers, servers, printers, or any other type of network device. The communications links include some type of media for transporting communications signals, such as optical fiber, twisted-pair copper wires, co-axial cable, radio frequencies, and so forth. An example of a communications network would be a set of communications switches (xe2x80x9cswitching fabricxe2x80x9d) connected together by optical fibers (xe2x80x9coptical linksxe2x80x9d). If an optical link is damaged, as frequently occurs such as when a construction company digs in the area where the optical link is buried, the communications signals carried by the optical link must be quickly re-routed. This is also true if a switching fabric becomes inoperable, although the problem of re-routing the communications signals becomes an even greater challenge in this case.
Several conventional techniques have been developed to restore communications in the event of a link or node failure on a network. These techniques are loosely referred to as xe2x80x9cnetwork restoration techniques,xe2x80x9d and in most cases refer to an algorithm for re-routing the communications signals carried by the failed link, or switched by the inoperative node. For example, a class of algorithms have been developed that are referred to as xe2x80x9cflooding algorithms.xe2x80x9d Communication messages for service restoration in case of a failure in the network are transmitted through links between the switches. The switches then electronically process these messages to take appropriate action to restore the failed traffic in the event of, for example, a link failure.
There are basically two types of flooding algorithms for restoring the failed traffic in the event of a link failure. The first is referred to as xe2x80x9clink based restoration,xe2x80x9d while the second is referred to as xe2x80x9cpath-based restoration. Path based restoration attempts to re-route failed circuits between the originating node and destination node of the individual circuits in the failed link. By way of contrast, link based restoration attempts to re-route all traffic around the failed link regardless of the origination and destination of the bearer traffic on the failed link.
Link based restoration and path based restoration each have their advantages and disadvantages. For example, link based restoration is typically faster than path based restoration, but is less efficient in terms of restoration capacity utilization. Conversely, path based restoration is slower than link based restoration, but utilizes restoration resources more efficiently since the origination and destination nodes of the failed nodes are typically distributed throughout the system.
These techniques, however, are unsatisfactory for a number of reasons. For example, a completely optical layer network above the Synchronous Optical Network (SONET) layer is fast becoming a reality. The optical network is being driven both by the commercial availability of dense wavelength division multiplex (DWDM) technology and the continuing growth of traffic.
Current DWDM systems are offering sixteen or more OC-48 channels on a pair of fibers. In the future it may grow to more than one hundred wavelengths, and the channel capacity may increase to at least 10 Gigabytes per second (Gbps). When a substantial number of links are deployed in the network, it will be necessary to manage the network at the optical layer. This management will require the capability to restore the network in the optical layer. Networking and restoration at the optical layer is highly desirable for optical switching systems. No signal will undergo optical to electrical conversion at these optical cross-connect systems. Therefore, restoration from a failure in the network will either require communication and processing messages between the optical cross-connect systems in the optical domain or an auxiliary optical channel which will undergo optical to electrical conversion and processing just for messaging. It is desirable to eliminate the need of an auxiliary channel for the purpose of restoration. Even if it is required for other purposes, it is extremely important that the processing required at each node remains simple for implementing a fast restoration technique in an optical network. Conventional network restoration techniques fail to address any of these concerns, and are not designed to perform network restoration in the optical domain.
In view of the foregoing, it can be appreciated that a substantial needs exists for a method and appartus for providing fast restoration from a link or a node failure in a network, that solves the above-discussed problems.
The present invention includes a method and apparatus for restoring communications in a network. The network includes a plurality of nodes, with each pair of nodes connected by a link, and with each link having information channels and restoration channels. An idle signal is sent on each restoration channel for each link. The failure of a link is detected, with the failed link connecting an originating node with a terminating node. In addition, the failed link includes at least one information channel carrying information signals. An alternate path through the network is determined for the information signals using restoration and idle signals sent over the restoration channels. The information signals are then routed from the originating node to the terminating node in accordance with the alternate path.

Method and apparatus for restoring a network


An efficient erasure is performed. The voltage of a source line SL is manipulated in units of a sector providing a plurality of memory cells. An erase command is received for the desired memory cells to be erased in a plurality of word line WL units arranged within a sector and all data within the sector, which includes the desired memory cells to be erased, is saved in a separate memory. Erasure is then performed for the entire sector, and among the saved data the data outside the desired memory cells to be erased is returned to the memory cells.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a non-volatile memory control circuit for controlling erasure of non-volatile memory where source line voltage is manipulated in units of a sector composed of a predetermined plurality of memory cells.
2. Description of the Related Art
Heretofore, flash memory has become widely popular as non-volatile memory to which data can be rewritten. Data erasure in flash memory is accomplished by applying a high voltage HV to a word line (WL) and removing electrons held in a floating gate (FG) of the memory.
On the other hand, in a programming operation for writing data, a high voltage is applied to the source line. Since the high voltage is also applied to memory cells that are not to be programmed, electrons enter the floating gate (FG) in accordance with the total application time of the high voltage and may cause a transfer to a program state, namely, a program disturb may occur, such as due to reverse tunneling phenomenon. When the program disturb occurs, data cannot be normally retrieved during read operations.
Consequently, when rewriting data to flash memory, erasure is performed in sector units formed from a plurality of memory cells of the same source line after which programming is performed. As a result, both erasure and programming are performed at the same sector unit so as to prevent the non-retrieval of normal data during read operations due to the influence of program disturb.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. Hei 11-328985 discloses the related art.
Here a sector is a relatively large unit resulting in a problem where an entire sector must be erased and a large amount of data must be exchanged to rewrite data even when it is desirable to erase only a small amount of data.
Furthermore, the life of flash memory is often determined by the number of erasures. There is also a demand to decrease the number of erasures in cellular telephones where the data rewrite frequency of flash memory is extremely high.

Semiconductor Components Industries, LLC


A collapsible article carrier (c) of the basket type, includes opposed side walls (22, 48), opposed end walls (28,44; 30,46), a base (12), a medial partition structure (62,64; 120,122) connecting together the opposed end walls and disposed substantially centrally of the carrier and a plurality of transverse partition panels (84,86; 100,102) connecting the medial partition structure with each of the side walls and thereby creating a number of article receiving cells within the carrier. Corner panels (32, 34, 50, 52) are provided between each of the end walls and side walls of the carrier to form a bevelled corner arrangement and the relationship between the dimensions of the various panels defining each corner cell is such as to allow the carrier to collapse. The transverse partition panels are set at an inclined angle (other than 90.degree.) between the medial partition structure and the associated side wall.

This invention relates to a collapsible cellular article carrier of the basket type preferably for accommodating a number of bottles. The carrier usually is formed from a single blank of e.g. paperboard and comprises a series of cells provided on opposite sides of a longitudal medial partition which incorporates a handle structure by which the carrier can be grasped and carried. Each cell in each series is separated from an adjacent cell in the same cell series by means of a hingable transverse partition structure which extends from the medial partition and is secured to an adjacent side wall of the carrier by means of an anchoring tab carried by the transverse partition struction. This form of collapsible article carrier for bottles is well known. In some applications however, article carriers of this general description are adapted for use with plastics bottle crates. In this connection the crates are utilized to accommodate several such article carriers filled with bottles or, alternatively, a multiplicity of single ie. unpackaged bottles.
It is known specifically to adapt article carriers to be received in plastics bottle crates and for this purpose the bottom wall panels of such article carriers include apertures by which the carriers can be received on retaining posts upstanding from the bottom of a crate.
It has been found that difficulties would arise with the collapsibility of this type of article carrier when adapted for fitment into certain forms of these crates. The compatibility between the basket type article carrier and the crate can be enhanced if the article carrier is better adapted to conform to the configuration of the internal structure of the crate. An article carrier according to the present invention is formed so that each of its corners (where a side wall meets an end wall) is formed, by the provision of an additional corner panel, to provide a "bevelled" corner arrangement. Not only does this arrangement improve, in certain important instances, the compatibility between the basket type article carrier and the crate but also provides an improved appearance to the carton.
However, such a bevelled corner structure can make collapse of the carton into a flat form for shipment unattainable. Bevelled corner panels in these types of bottle carrier are known per se, for example, from U.S. Pat. No. 2,433,676.

Collapsible basket style article carrier


A chemotaxis assay procedure which is non-destructive of the cells being studied, which permits the ready performance of kinetic or time-dependent study of cell migration from the same sample, and which produces objective measurements includes the steps of:(a)labeling cells with a dye; (b) placing the labeled cells in a first chamber; (c) placing a chemical agent in a second chamber adjacent to said first chamber; (d) separating said first chamber from said second chamber with a radiation opaque membrane, said radiation opaque membrane having a plurality of substantially perpendicular transverse pores therein; (e) stimulating the labeled cells on the side of the membrane closest to said second chamber with electromagnetic radiation of a first wavelength whereby said labeled cells will emit electromagnetic radiation of a second wavelength; and (f) measuring the emitted electromagnetic radiation from the side of the radiation opaque membrane closest to the second chamber; wherein said radiation opaque membrane comprises a film which is not substantially transmissive to at least one of said first and second wavelengths of electromagnetic radiation. The radiation opaque membrane may comprise a dyed film or a film which has at least one radiation blocking layer applied thereto.

Chemotaxis is broadly defined as the orientation or movement of an organism or cell in relation to a chemical agent. Chemotaxis assays, particularly in vitro chemotaxis assays, are widely used procedures in medical, biological, pharmaceutical and toxicological research. Such assays are perhaps most widely used to determine the effect of a chemical agent on the inflammatory process, either as a stimulant or inhibitor of that process.
The currently used chemotaxis assay procedure derives from that originally developed by S. Boyden in 1962. (See, S. Boyden, The Chemotactic Effect of Mixtures of Antibody and Antigen on Polymorphonuclear Leucocytes, J. Exp. Med. 115: pp. 453-466, 1962). Essentially, the procedure involves placing a suspension of neutrophils and a chemical agent in two separate chambers, which chambers are separated by a polycarbonate filter. The neutrophils are typically either human polymorphonuclear neutrophils ("PMN's") prepared from the peripheral blood of volunteers or PMN's prepared from the peritoneal fluid of animals, such as guinea pigs or rabbits.
After a predetermined period of time, the filter is removed and cells on the filter surface closest to the chamber containing the cell suspension are carefully removed. The remaining cells on the filter are then fixed and stained. Using a high power microscope, the filter is examined and the number of cells appearing on the underside of the filter (i.e., the side of the filter closest to the chamber containing the chemical agent) are counted manually. A positive chemotactic response is indicated by the cells having migrated or "crawled" through the filter to the side closest to the chamber containing the chemical agent. Because of the time required to do so, typically the entire filter is not examined. Rather, representative sample areas are examined and counted.
There are several disadvantages to this procedure. The examination and counting of the cells on the filter is time-consuming, tedious and expensive. It is also highly subjective because it necessarily involves the exercise of judgment in determining whether to count a cell that has only partially migrated across the filter. In addition, the time and expense associated with examining the entire filter necessitates that only representative areas, selected at random, be counted, thus rendering the results less accurate than would otherwise be the case if the entire filter were examined and counted.
Perhaps the most important disadvantage in this procedure is that the fixing step kills the cells. That is, the procedure is destructive of the cell sample. Thus, in order to determine a time-dependent relationship of the chemotactic response; that is, a kinetic study, of a particular chemical agent, it is necessary to run multiple samples for each of multiple time periods. When one considers that multiple samples, as well as positive and negative controls, are necessary to obtain reliable data, a single chemotaxis assay can produce dozens of filters, each of which needs to be individually examined and counted. The time and expense associated with a time-dependent study is usually prohibitive of conducting such a study using the Boyden procedure.
Alternatives to the Boyden assay have been proposed to overcome some of the above disadvantages. See generally, P. Wilkinson, Micropore Filter Methods for Leukocyte Chemotaxis, Methods in Enzymology, Vol. 162, (Academic Press, Inc. 1988), pp. 38-50. See also, Goodwin, U.S. Pat. No. 5,302,515; Guiruis et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,912,057; Goodwin, U.S. Pat. No. 5,284,753; and Goodwin, U.S. Pat. No. 5,210,021. Although the chernotaxis devices and procedures described in these references have some advantages over the original Boyden procedure and apparatus, they are not without their shortcomings. For example, all of these procedures, like Boyden, require that the filter be removed and the non-migrated cells wiped or brushed from the filter before the migrated cells can be counted. In addition, most of these procedures require fixing and staining the cells and none of them permit the kinetic or time-dependent study of the chemotactic response of the same cell sample.

Philadelphia College of Pharmacy and Science, 600 S. 43rd St.


Atherogenesis and restenosis are treated by long term administration of physiologically acceptable compounds which enhance the level of endogenous nitric oxide in the host. Alternatively, or in combination, other compounds may be administered which provide for short term enhancement of nitric oxide, either directly or by physiological processes. In addition, cells may be genetically engineered to provide a component in the synthetic pathway to nitric oxide, so as drive the process to enhance nitric oxide concentration, particularly in conjunction with the administration of a nitric oxide precursor.

Atherosclerosis and vascular thrombosis are a major cause of morbidity and mortality, leading to coronary artery disease, myocardial infarction, and stroke. Atherosclerosis begins with an alteration in the endothelium, which lines the blood vessels. The endothelial alteration results in adherence of monocytes, which penetrate the endothelial lining and take up residence in the subintimal space between the endothelium and the vascular smooth muscle of the blood vessels. The monocytes absorb increasing amounts of cholesterol (largely in the form of oxidized or modified low-density lipoprotein) to form foam cells. Oxidized low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol alters the endothelium, and the underlying foam cells distort and eventually may even rupture through the endothelium.
Platelets adhere to the area of endothelial disruption and release a number of growth factors, including platelet derived growth factor (PDGF). PDGF, which is also released by foam cells and altered endothelial cells, stimulates migration and proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells into the lesion. These smooth muscle cells release extracellular matrix (collagen and elastin) and the lesion continues to expand. Macrophages in the lesion elaborate proteases, and the resulting cell damage creates a necrotic core filled with cellular debris and lipid. The lesion is then referred to as a "complex lesion." Rupture of this lesion can lead to thrombosis and occlusion of the blood vessel. In the case of a coronary artery, rupture of a complex lesion may precipitate a myocardial infarction, whereas in the case of a carotid artery, stroke may ensue.
One of the treatments that cardiologists and other interventionalists employ to reopen a blood vessel which is narrowed by plaque is balloon angioplasty (approximately 300,000 coronary and 100,000 peripheral angioplasties are performed annually). Although balloon angioplasty is successful in a high percentage of the cases in opening the vessel, it unfortunately denudes the endothelium and injures the vessel in the process. This damage causes the migration and proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells of the blood vessel into the area of injury to form a lesion, known as myointimal hyperplasia or restenosis. This new lesion leads to a recurrence of symptoms within three to six months after the angioplasty in a significant proportion of patients (30-40%).
Because of their great prevalence and serious consequences, it is critically important to find therapies which can diminish the incidence of atherosclerosis, vascular thrombosis and restenosis. Ideally, such therapies would inhibit the pathological processes associated with atherosclerosis, thereby providing prophylaxis or retarding the progression of the degenerative process.
As briefly summarized above, these pathological processes are extremely complex, involving a variety of different cells which undergo changes in their character, composition, and activity, as well as in the nature of the factors which they secrete and the receptors that are up- or down-regulated. A substance released by the endothelium, "endothelium derived relaxing factor" (EDRF), may play an important role in inhibiting these pathologic processes EDRF is now known to be nitric oxide (NO) or a labile nitroso compound which liberates NO. (For purposes of the subject invention, unless otherwise indicated, nitric oxide (NO) shall intend nitric oxide or the labile precursor.) This substance has been reported to relax vascular smooth muscle, inhibit platelet aggregations, inhibit mitogenesis and proliferation of cultured vascular smooth muscle, and leukocyte adherence. NO may have other effects, either direct or indirect, on the various cells associated with vascular walls and degenerative diseases of the vessel.
Relevant Literature
Girerd, et al. (1990) Circulation Research 67, 1301-1308 report that intravenous administration of L-arginine potentiates endothelium-dependent relaxation in the hind limb of cholesterol-fed rabbits. The authors conclude that synthesis of EDRF can be increased by L-arginine in hypercholesterolemia. Rossitch, et al. (1991) J. Clin. Invst. 87, 1295-1299 report that in vitro administration of L-arginine to basilar arteries of hypercholesterolemic rabbits reverses the impairment of endothelium-dependent vasodilation and reduces vasoconstriction. They conclude that the abnormal vascular responses in hypercholesterolemic animals is due to a reversible reduction in intracellular arginine availability for metabolism to nitric oxide.
Creager, et al. (1992) J. Clin. Invest. 90, 1248-1253, report that intravenous administration of L-arginine improves endothelium-derived NO-dependent vasodilation in hypercholesterolemic patients.
Cooke, et al., "Endothelial Dysfunction in Hypercholesterolemia is Corrected by L-arginine," Endothelial Mechanisms of Vasomotor Control, eds. Drexler, Zeiher, Bassenge, and Just; Steinkopff Verlag Darmstadt, 1991, pp. 173-181, review the results of the earlier references and suggest, "If the result of these investigations may be extrapolated, exogenous administration of L-arginine (i.e., in the form of dietary supplements) might represent a therapeutic adjunct in the treatment and/or prevention of atherosclerosis."
Cooke, (1990) Current Opinion in Cardiology 5, 637-644 discusses the role of the endothelium in the atherosclerosis and restenosis, and the effect that these disorders have on endothelial function.
Cooke (1992) J. Clin. Invest. 90, 1168-1172, describe the effect of chronic administration of oral L-arginine in hypercholesterolemic animals on atherosclerosis. This is the first demonstration that oral L-arginine supplements can improve the release of NO from the vessel wall. The increase in NO release from the vessel wall was associated with a striking reduction in atherosclerosis in hypercholesterolemic animals. This is the first evidence to support the hypothesis that increasing NO production by the vessel wall inhibits the development of atherosclerosis.
Cooke and Tsao, (1992) Current Opinion in Cardiology 7, 799-804 describe the mechanism of the progression of atherosclerosis and suggest that inhibition of nitric oxide may disturb vascular homeostasis and contribute to atherogenesis.
Cooke and Santosa, (1993) In: Steroid Hormones and Dysfunctional Bleeding, AAAS Press, review the activities of EDRF in a variety of roles and suggest that reversibility of endothelial dysfunction may be affected by the stage of atherosclerosis. They conclude that EDRF is a potent vasodilator, plays a key role in modulating conduit and resistance vessel tone, has important effects on cell growth and interactions of circulatory blood cells with a vessel wall, and that disturbances of EDRF activity may initiate or contribute to septic shock, hypertension, vasospasm, toxemia and atherosclerosis.
Other references which refer to activities attributed to NO or its precursor include: Pohl and Busse (1989) Circ. Res. 65:1798-1803; Radomski et al. (1987) Br. J. Pharmacol. 92:181-1187; and Stamler et al. (1989) Circ. Res. 65:789-795; anti-platelet activity); Garg and Hassid (1989) J. Clin. Invest. 83:1774-1777; and Weidinger et al, (1990) Circulation 81:1667-1679; NO activity in relation to vascular smooth muscle growth); Ross (1986) N. Engl. J. Med. 314:488-500; Bath et al. (1991) Arterioscler. Thromb. 11:254-260; Kubes et al. (1991) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 89:6348-6352; Lefer et al. (1990) In: Endothelium-Derived Contracting Factors. Basel, S. Karger, pp. 190-197; NO activity in relation to leukocyte adhesion and migration); Heistad et al. (1984) Circ. Res. 43:711-718; Rossitch et al. (1991) J. Clin. Invest. 87:1295-1299; Yamamoto et al. (1988)ibid 81:1752-1758; Andrews et al. (1987) Nature 327:237-239; Tomita et al. (1990)Circ. Res. 66:18-27; Kugiyama et al. (1990) Nature 344:160-162; Mitchell et al. (1992) J. Vasc. Res. 29:169 (abst.); and Minor et al. (1990) J. Clin. Invest. 86:2109-2116; NO activity in relation to hypercholesterolemia); Tanner et al. (1991) Circulation 83:2012-2020; Kuo et al. (1992) Circ. Res. 70:f465-476; Drexler et al. (1991) Lancet 338:1546-1550; and Nakanishi et al. (1992) In: Scientific Conference on Functional and Structural Mechanisms of Vascular Control, Snowbird, UT, p. 86 (abstsr.); relation of L-arginine to NO-dependent vasodilation.

Treatment of vascular degenerative diseases by modulation of endogenous nitric oxide production of activity

The Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University


An object detection system is configured to detect location of an object proximate a first surface of a vehicle. A beacon is configured to be positioned and repositioned relative to the vehicle. A controller is configured to process data from the object detection system and position data from the beacon. The controller is configured to define a first zone of interest relative to the first surface of the vehicle body structure without the beacon and further process object location data from the object detection system and output the object location data to the display relative to the first zone of interest. The controller determines current location of the beacon relative to the first surface of the vehicle body structure, defines a second zone of interest relative to the beacon and outputs the object location data to a display relative to the second zone of interest.

Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to vehicle object monitoring system that includes a manually positionable locator beacon. More specifically, the present invention relates to an object monitoring system that monitors objects approaching a vehicle in a first zone of interest relative to the vehicle with the beacon deactivated and monitors a second zone of interest relative to the vehicle and the beacon with the beacon activated.
Background Information
Object monitoring systems typically include at least one camera that is focused on and monitors an area adjacent to a vehicle. The object monitoring system usually includes a video display within the vehicle that provides captured images from the camera to a vehicle operator. The video display can include computer generated and/or computer manipulated images of the areas surrounding the vehicle based on the captured images. The vehicle operator uses the images on the video display to determine whether or not there is an object in the display with the vehicle moving and approaching the object.


An improved manifold for an aerosol system may include a valve interface (120) capable of flexing to fit with a valve stem of an aerosol system and form a seal and methods for making a manifold may include a gate (106) positioned to improve contact between steel defining a fluid flow path in the manifold.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to manifolds and manifold configurations for aerosol systems and more particularly to manifold geometries and interfaces and to methods for making manifolds for aerosol systems.
2. State of the Art
Aerosol delivery systems are well known and have traditionally included an actuating button used to both actuate a valve of an aerosol system and to deliver the product released from the valve in a desired direction. For example, push-button type actuating buttons may include a fluid flow path through the button with a valve interface on one end and an orifice or opening at an opposite end of the fluid flow path. The push-button may be press-fit or slip-fit over a valve stem of an aerosol system such that the valve interface mates with the valve stem through the press-fit or slip-fit configuration.
More recently, trigger actuated aerosol systems are being employed to deliver a desired product from an aerosol system. For example, trigger actuated aerosol systems such as those disclosed in U.S. Patent Application Publication 2007/0062980 have been commercialized. In the trigger actuated aerosol systems a manifold is typically used to transport a product released from a valve or valve stem of an aerosol system to an orifice integrated with the manifold. A manifold typically includes a valve interface, a first fluid flow path, a second fluid flow path in communication with the first fluid flow path, and a nozzle or exit on an end opposite the valve interface. The valve interface is typically slip-fit or press-fit over a valve stem of an aerosol system such that when the manifold is actuated or pressed down, the valve interface actuates the valve stem, releasing product from the valve which then flows through the first fluid flow path and second fluid flow path where it is released through the nozzle or exit of the manifold.
While manifolds have been used with trigger actuated aerosol systems, problems exist with the conventional manifold systems. For example, a manifold (or conduit) such as that described in U.S. Patent Application Publication 2007/0062980 must be press-fit to a valve stem of an aerosol system. The press-fit must either take place during the assembly of the aerosol trigger sprayer to the aerosol system or upon the first actuation of the aerosol system by a user. In those instances where the press-fit is accomplished during assembly of a trigger sprayer to an aerosol system, the press-fit of the manifold valve interface to the valve stem of the aerosol system invariably actuates the valve stem, thereby releasing a portion of the product into the manifold. The assembly of the trigger sprayer and aerosol device therefore requires or results in an actuation of the product which is undesirable.
In other instances, the assembly of the trigger sprayer and manifold to the aerosol system may leave the manifold valve interface in a position just above the valve stem of the aerosol system such that upon the first actuation of the trigger sprayer the manifold valve interface will slide over the valve stem and engage the valve stem to form a press-fit type seal with the valve stem. However, the forces required to initiate a sufficient press-fit of the manifold valve interface upon actuation are typically very high and most users do not apply sufficient force to ensure that the manifold and valve stem are sufficiently sealed. As a result, the manifold valve interface may slip off of the valve stem and residual product in the manifold may flow out of the valve interface resulting in a leak within the trigger sprayer system which is undesirable.
Therefore, improved manifold interfaces with valve stems are desirable.

Aerosol manifold and method of its fabrication


An endoscopic scissors includes a clevis having a relatively large diameter bore in its first arm and relatively smaller diameter bore in its second arm. A pair of scissor elements having mounting/pivot holes are mounted between the clevis arms. Either the small diameter bore in the second clevis arm or the mounting/pivot hole in the scissor element closest to the second clevis arm is threaded. A stepped diameter axle pin having a threaded portion is inserted with its smaller end entering the larger diameter bore of the first clevis arm. The threaded portion of the axle pin threadably engages either the threaded bore in the second clevis arm or the threaded mounting/pivot hole of the scissor element closest to the second clevis arm. In one embodiment, the bore in the second clevis arm is not threaded and the threaded portion of the axle pin engages only the threaded threaded mounting/pivot hole of the scissor element closest to the second clevis arm. Both ends of the axle pin float in respective clevis arm bores. In another embodiment where the scissor element closest to the second clevis arm is kept stationary, the threaded portion of the axle pin engages the threaded bore in the second clevis arm. The larger end of the axle pin floats in the large diameter bore of the first clevis arm. In a third embodiment, a washer is placed between the second clevis arm and the scissor element closest to it and the axle pin engages the threaded bore in the second clevis arm.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to endoscopic scissors. More particularly, the invention relates to an endoscopic scissors having scissor elements and a clevis where the scissor elements are held tightly to each other at their pivot point, but are loosely engaged with the clevis.
2. State of the Art
Endoscopic surgery is widely practiced throughout the world today and its acceptance is growing rapidly. In general, endoscopic surgery involves one or more incisions made by trocars where trocar tubes are left in place so that endoscopic surgical instruments may be inserted through the tubes. A camera, magnifying lens, or other optical instrument is often inserted through one trocar tube, while a scissors, dissector, or other surgical instrument is inserted through another trocar tube for purposes of manipulating and/or cutting the internal organ. Sometimes it is desirable to have several trocar tubes in place at once in order to receive several surgical instruments. In this manner, organs or tissue may be grasped with one surgical instrument, and simultaneously may be cut with another surgical instrument; all under view of the surgeon.
By 1996, it is expected that more than two million additional endosurgeries will be performed per year that, in 1990, were done via open surgery (MedPRO Month, I:12, p. 178). The advantages of endoscopic surgery are clear in that it is less invasive, less traumatic and recovery is typically quicker. As a result, many new instruments and devices for use in endosurgery are introduced every year.
Endoscopic surgical instruments generally include a tube, a push rod which extends through the tube, an actuating means engaging the tube and the push rod for imparting reciprocal axial motion to the push rod, end effector means coupled to the push rod by linkage means, and a clevis coupled to the tube at its proximal end and to the end effector means at its distal end, wherein axial movement of the push rod effects movement of the end effector means in a plane parallel to the longitudinal axis of the push rod. For purposes herein, the "distal end" of a surgical instrument or any part thereof, is the end most distant from the surgeon and closest to the surgical site, while the "proximal end" of the instrument or any part thereof, is the end most proximate the surgeon and farthest from the surgical site.
End effectors for endoscopic surgical instruments take many forms and scissors are common among them. Endoscopic scissors, like all scissors, include a pair of scissor elements (blades) attached to the clevis by a threaded pivot axle. Endoscopic scissors may be single acting or double acting. In a single acting endoscopic scissors, a first scissor element is held stationary relative to the clevis and a second scissor element is rotated about the pivot axle relative to the first scissor element. As one or both of the scissor elements are rotated relative to each other about the axle, a moving point of contact between the cutting edges of the scissor elements effects cutting of an object in its path. In endoscopic scissors, as with any kind of scissors it is important to keep the cutting edges tightly pressed against each other at their moving point of contact. It has been known generally in the art of scissors to hold the cutting edges of the scissor elements tightly together by tightening a threaded pivot axle via a screwing action. With endoscopic scissors, however, tightening the threaded pivot axle has an unwanted side effect. Since the pivot axle on which endoscopic scissors rotate is coupled to the clevis, tightening the axle to press the scissor elements together also presses the arms of the clevis together. This results in large frictional forces being generated between the scissor elements and the clevis, thereby making operation of the endoscopic scissors difficult.

Endoscopic scissors having scissor elements loosely engaged with a clevis


An automatic valve includes a housing having an inlet passage and a passage to outlet, a linearly movable shaft disposed in the housing having two stops separated by a predetermined distance, a hydraulic unit connected to the housing and to the linearly movable shaft, and a sealing flange having at least one aperture accommodating the linearly movable shaft. The sealing flange being movable on the linearly movable shaft to close and open the passage to outlet through force of one of the stops on the sealing flange, the linearly movable shaft being biased to urge the sealing flange toward the passage to outlet by contact with one of the stops wherein the sealing flange in position to close the passage to outlet from the inlet passage despite limited movement of the linearly movable shaft.

The present invention relates to valves and particularly to automatic valves and the method for using same with filters operating with filter aid material, such as diatomaceous earth, in order to prevent such filters from transferring fine particles to the filtered fluid area at the beginning of the filtering operation when the cake is not yet uniformly disposed around the filter element and to assist the distribution and the uniformity of the filter aid material on the filter element surface area and in many other applications.
Automatic valves have many industrial uses and are common in all kinds of assemblies. Most of the valves are manually operated. In order to operate the valves automatically, an electric or hydraulic motor, or an actuator, must be mounted on the valves to shift the interconnection and communication between the valve passages. Actuators and electric motors are both unwieldy, expensive and complex. There are automatic valves with timing mechanism for the use in a system with a Diatomaceous Earth filter, e.g. U.S. Pat. No. 5,899,231 to Drori which discloses an automatic three way valve with timing mechanism for delaying the opening of the flow. U.S. Pat. No. 6,171,495 to Drori also discloses an automatic three way valve with a time delay mechanism. The problem regarding the distribution of filter aid material on the filter element surface in an homogeneous layer is known in the field.
It is the object of the present invention to provide an improved automatic valve constructed to transfer for a pre-determined time low flow at the beginning of operation to assist the build-up of a uniform layer of the filter aid material porous material on the filter element surface in order to receive fine filtration and to prevent fine particles to penetrate through the filter element. After such a predetermined time, the valve is open automatically to full flow.
In accordance with a broad aspect of a preferred embodiments of the present invention, there is provided a method and apparatus incorporating an automatic valve, preferably a three-way valve constructed of a housing having inlet, outlet and drain passages and including an internal close-open timing mechanism. The timing mechanism is adjusted to a predetermined period of time in order to close the drain passage and open the outlet passage or to close the outlet passage and open the drain passage. The opening and closing of passages occurs automatically after a predetermined period of time in response to the starting or stopping of an external source of pressurized fluid such as a pump which provides pressurized fluid to the three way valve.
The automatic three way valve, in accordance with the present invention, comprises a housing having inlet, outlet and drain passages and an hydraulic unit connected to the housing and to an internal movable shaft moving with two stops set apart a predetermined distance and between drain passage and outlet passage. A sealing flange is located around the movable shaft and disposed between the two stops. The stops are adjusted with respect to each other so that the sealing flange moves into sealing relationship with either the outlet or the drain passages. The movable shaft is adjusted to move linearly and freely through a central aperture located on the central area of the sealing flange. The movement of the shaft is limited to the distance traveled until one of the two stops pushes against the sealing flange in order to open either one of the outlet or drain passages and closing the other one of the passages. Controlling the period of time between the entering of pressurized fluid to the inlet passage of the three way valve from a source of pressurized fluid which flows through the inlet passage to the drain passage until the opening of the outlet passage and the closing of the drain passage is an important aspect of the present invention. This period of time is controlled by adjusting the distance between the two stops located on the movable shaft and the size of the passage of pressurized fluid located on the hydraulic unit. A control valve, preferably of a relatively small size, is connected to the pressurized fluid passage located on the hydraulic unit. The control valve is provided in order to control the size of the opening of the pressurized fluid passage and the period of time between the opening or closing of the pressurized fluid flow to the valve and the time of the opening or closing of the outlet or the drain passages.
The method and apparatus of the automatic three way valve described and claimed in the present invention are preferably for the use with filters using filter aid material, such as diatomaceous earth (DE), to prevent penetration of fine particles, usually sediments, to the filtered fluid area which would result in the filtered fluid being contaminated with the fine particles during the first stages of filtration when the cake of filter aid material has still not yet or not completely built itself up around the filter element. The present invention provides features allowing the fine particles to drain separately from the filtered fluid for a predetermined time. After the predetermined period of time has passed, the drain passage automatically closes and the flow of filtered fluid from the filter is directed through the outlet passage to a filtered fluid collection area, such as a pool.
In accordance with a broad aspect of the preferred embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a method and apparatus incorporating an automatic valve adapted to reduce the flow for a pre-determined time in order to assist the filter aid material in the filter to be distributed uniformly on the filter element surface area and automatically open the full flow after said filter aid material is uniformly distributed on the filter element.