A method of estimating the upper airway resistance of a patient using a gas delivery system includes delivering a flow of breathing gas to the patient through the patient circuit of the gas delivery system, superimposing an oscillatory pressure on the flow of breathing gas during an expiratory phase of the patient, determining a first amplitude of an oscillatory component of a gas pressure provided to the patient at an end of the expiratory phase, determining a second amplitude of an oscillatory component of a gas flow provided to the patient at the end of the expiratory phase, determining a first resistance value based on the ratio of the first amplitude to the second amplitude, and determining an upper airway resistance value based on the first resistance value.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to gas delivery systems, such as pressure support systems and other ventilator (invasive or non-invasive) systems, and, more particularly, to a method for estimating the upper airway resistance of a subject using the gas delivery system, and a gas delivery system employing such a method.
2. Description of the Related Art
As is well known in the art, there are numerous situations where it is necessary or desirable to deliver a flow of breathing gas non-invasively to the airway of a patient, i.e., without intubating the patient or surgically inserting a tracheal tube in his or her esophagus. Such therapies are commonly referred to as non-invasive ventilation (NIV) therapies. For example, it is known to non-invasively deliver continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) or variable airway pressure, which varies with the patient's respiratory cycle, to treat a medical disorder, such as sleep apnea syndrome, in particular, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), or congestive heart failure. NIV therapies involve the placement of a patient interface device including a mask component on the face of a patient, wherein the patient interface device interfaces the ventilator or pressure support device with the airway of the patient. As is also well known in the art, there are also a number of situations where it is necessary or desirable deliver a flow of breathing gas to the airway of a patient invasively, i.e., wherein the patient is intubated or has a surgically inserted tracheal tube.
In providing ventilatory assistance to patients, such as in the various ventilation therapies described above, it is often helpful and/or necessary to be able to obtain an estimate of the upper airway resistance of the patient. However, estimating upper airway resistance in mechanically ventilated patients who have spontaneous respiratory efforts is rather complex, primarily due to that fact that knowledge of the force applied to the respiratory system is required and the fact that, in ventilated patients who have spontaneous respiratory efforts, that force includes a component related to pressure generated by respiratory muscles (Pmus), which continuously changes during the inflation phase of ventilation.
While there are a number of known methods for patient airway resistance measurement/estimation, including the well known interrupter and forced oscillation techniques, such methods have their drawbacks and limitations. In particular, such known methods can be adversely affected by non-ideal instrumentation and/or leaks in the patient circuit. There is thus room for improvement in the area of patient airway resistance measurement/estimation and a need for a system and method for effectively estimating airway resistance that is not adversely affected by non-ideal instrumentation and/or flow leaks.

Upper airway resistance measurement device


A nebulizer determines the pressure and flow direction of the receiving gas for atomized liquid. A member of the apparatus is subjected to pressure exerted by the gas. The member is coupled to a bi-directional mechanical-electrical conversion element, such as a piezoelectric element, to form a pressure transducer. The member exerts a mechanical loading on the element responsive to the gas pressure to which it is subjected. In one embodiment, the element mechanically vibrates responsive to alternating electrical energization to discharge the liquid into the gas. The electrical admittance of the element is alterable by the mechanical loading applied to the element by the member. The difference between admittances measured in the loaded condition of the element and in an unloaded condition at the selected energization frequency is an indication of the pressure of the gas. By observing whether the magnitude of the admittance in the loaded state is greater or less than that in the unloaded state, the flow direction of the gas may also be determined. Or the flow direction may be determined by observing the changes in admittance as the frequency of the electrical energization is varied. In another embodiment, the piezoelectric element is not energized. The electrical output of the element, when subjected to a mechanical loading from the gas pressure, is used to detect gas pressures and/or as an indication of the gas pressure.

The present invention relates to an improved apparatus, such as a nebulizer apparatus, for discharging fluids, and to a method of operating same. Nebulizers, or atomizers, are devices that generate a fine spray or aerosol, usually of a liquid. A particularly useful application for nebulizers is to provide a fine spray containing a dissolved or suspended particulate or colloidal pharmaceutical agent for administration to a subject by inhalation. Such inhalation treatment is highly effective for conditions affecting the subject's respiratory organs. Further, since the lungs are close to the heart and the circulatory system of the body, drug administration by inhalation provides an effective and rapid delivery system for a drug to all organs of the body. In other applications, nebulizers provide a fine spray of water for humidification.
When used to dispense a pharmaceutical agent to a subject, a nebulizer in the form of an inhaler may be placed directly in the mouth or nose of the subject so that the spray can be entrained in the respiratory gases which are inhaled during normal, spontaneous breathing of the subject.
In other applications, the subject breathes with the aid of a respiratory ventilator. A typical ventilator has a breathing circuit comprising an inhalation limb and an exhalation limb connected to two arms of a Y-connector. The third arm of the Y-connector is connected, via a patient limb, to a mouthpiece, mask, or endotracheal tube for the subject. The ventilator provides a complete or partial supply of breathing gas to the subject through the inhalation limb during inhalation. The contraction of the subject's lungs discharges gases through the exhalation limb during exhalation. When a nebulizer is employed in conjunction with a ventilator, it is typically placed in the patient limb to discharge into the breathing gases inhaled by the subject but it can also be placed in the inhalation limb of the breathing circuit.
Nebulizers are currently in use that generate the spray either pneumatically or by means of ultrasonic vibrations. Pneumatic nebulizers are typically used with a liquid, such as an aqueous drug solution. High pressure driving gas is conducted through a nozzle to draw the drug from a drug supply to the nebulizer. The drug is discharged against a baffle or other similar separating means in a gas space of the nebulizer, breaking the liquid into a fine spray. The gas space is in fluid communication with the inhaled gas pathway for the subject so that the gas flow expelled from the nozzle along with the nebulized drug is conducted from the gas space to the pathway and ultimately to the subject.
Disadvantages in the use of pneumatic nebulizers include the following. If the nebulizer adds a significant quantity of gas, for example, up to five (5) liters/minute, into the breathing gases, the overall breathing gas composition to the subject may be significantly altered. Further, due to passage of the driving gas through the nozzle, the impingement of the drug on the baffle, etc., pneumatic nebulizers tend to be noisy. And, controlling the commencing and stopping of a drug spray is difficult and is not very accurate. This may result in wastage of the drug.
The foregoing shortcomings of pneumatic nebulizers have led to the use of ultrasonic nebulizers in which a fine spray is produced by ultrasonic vibration of the liquid containing the drug, as through the use of a piezoelectric crystal. The breathing gas composition and the on-off operation are easier to control with ultrasonic nebulizers than with a pneumatic nebulizer. However, ultrasonic devices require a large, bulky electrical power supply to power the crystal and may not be able to nebulizer colloidal or particulate suspensions.
In one type of ultrasonic nebulizer, the fine spray is produced by dropping the liquid on, or otherwise applying it to, the vibrating element. See Koeh et al. U.S. Pat. No. 5,443,059. Michaels et al., U.S. Pat. No. 3,812,854, describe another type of nebulizer for inhalation therapy in which the spray is generated on the front surface of a vibrating, porous body. The pores in the body form a network of passages that enable the liquid to flow through the body. The liquid to be nebulized is supplied under pressure from a liquid supply through a liquid conduit to the pores, and forced through the pores to the front surface of the porous body where it is discharged as a spray. Robertson et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,487,378, describe a nebulizer in which the aerosol is formed using a mesh plate instead of a porous solid body. The mesh plate has a plurality of orifices through which the liquid can pass. Either the liquid or the mesh plate is vibrated ultrasonically by a piezoelectric element to nebulizer the liquid as it passes through the mesh plate.
A general shortcoming of current nebulizers is the efficiency with which the aerosol is transported into the subject's lungs. To increase the efficiency, the nebulizer may be operated so as to function in phase with the ventilator so that the aerosol is produced by the nebulizer either during, or partly during, inspiration by the subject. The proper timing can be achieved by switching the nebulizer on at the beginning of inspiration in response to a signal coming from the ventilator, or in response to information coming from a flow sensor as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,964,219 to Pekka Merilainen.
However, a disadvantage currently exists in that to ensure that the nebulizer functions properly to achieve the best efficiency, a separate device is required to generate the necessary signal or information for optimal timing of the nebulization. This adds to the cost and complexity of the nebulizer and/or ventilator. For example, Ivri et al., U.S. Pat. No. 6,085,740, describe a nebulizer of the inhaler type in which the inhalation flow is detected from an audible signal produced during inhalation, which signal is then used to control the nebulization. In addition to cost and complexity, this approach may exhibit a sensitivity to external noise.

Vibrating element liquid discharging apparatus having gas pressure sensing


The present invention is directed to an anti-prion monoclonal antibody and its use for the treatment of conditions associated with or mediated by proteins or peptides having a toxic oligomeric form. These conditions include, but are not limited to, Alzheimer's disease, frontotemporal dementias, traumatic brain injury, and chronic traumatic encephalopathy.

Neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs), a hallmark lesion in Alzheimer's disease (AD), are composed mainly of paired helical filaments (PHF), which have a hyperphosphorylated form of the microtubule associated protein tau as the major component (Nelson et al., "Correlation of Alzheimer's Disease Neuropathologic Changes With Cognitive Status: A Review of the Literature," JNEN 71:362-381 (2012)). Tau hyperphosphorylation and associated aggregation/oligomerization is thought to be a critical event linked to microtubule disorganization, and the subsequent generation of neurofibrillary tangles which are associated with neuronal toxicity, dysfunction and synaptic loss (Braak et al., "Stages of the Pathologic Process in Alzheimer Disease: Age Categories From 1 to 100 Years," J Neuropathol. Exp. Neurol 70(11):960-9 (2011)). Oligomeric species of tau are thought to be critical for the "prion-like" spread of pathology and for neuronal toxicity (Guo and Lee, "Cell-to-cell Transmission of Pathogenic Proteins in Neurodegenerative Diseases," Nat Med 20:130-138 (2014)). Numerous studies have been performed to gain a better understanding of the role of aggregated Aβ species on AD pathology; however, recently there has been much more focus on tau related pathology with the published failure of several amyloid β targeted therapeutic approaches in phase III clinical trials (Drummond and Wisniewski, "Alzheimer's Disease: Experimental Models and Reality," Acta Neuropathol 133:155-175 (2017)).
The present invention is directed to overcoming these and other deficiencies in the art.

Monoclonal antibody to treat alzheimer's disease, prion disease, frontotemporal dementias and traumatic brain injury/chronic traumatic encephalopathy


An optical waveguide structure includes a substrate and a core structure disposed on the substrate. The substrate includes a first waveguide region, a second waveguide region, and a transition region between the first waveguide region and the second waveguide region. The core structure includes first core segments arranged in a first direction and a second direction crossing the first direction on the transition region. The core structure includes second core segments arranged in the first direction and the second direction on the second waveguide region. The first direction and the second direction are parallel to a top surface of the substrate.

The present disclosure herein relates to a planar waveguide, and more particularly, to an optical mode size conversion technique of a planar waveguide.
When an end of a planar optical waveguide is optically connected to an end of an optical fiber or another planar optical waveguide, an optical mode size conversion technique of the optical waveguide is required to minimize an optical power loss.
As an example of the optical mode size conversion technique, there is a method of converting an optical mode size by gradually reducing a width of a core in an optical mode size conversion region. However, in this technique, the optical mode size may significantly increases as the width of the core decreases. In this case, when the optical waveguide is manufactured, it may be difficult to precisely control the width of the core at an end of the optical waveguide so as to approach a design value.
As another example of the optical mode size conversion technique, there is a method of converting the optical mode size by using a segmented core structure one-dimensionally arranged in the optical mode size conversion region. This technique has three design variables (a width and a length of each of segmented cores and a distance between the segmented cores), but it is difficult to derive a satisfactory design in terms of an optical mode size and shape.

ELECTRONICS AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS RESEARCH INSTITUTE


The invention relates to an assay for the identification of a compound having immunosuppressant activity, wherein a candidate compound is analyzed whether it blocks the Ca2+ flux in coronin 1 expressing cells and/or in coronin 1 negative cells. A candidate compound is identified as having immunosuppressant activity if it blocks the Ca2+ flux specifically in coronin 1 expressing cells. Further described are upstream assays wherein the impact of a candidate compound on coronin 1 trimerization is measured, and downstream assays wherein the impact of a candidate compound on diacyl glycerol (DAG) generation, phosphatidylinositol-4,5-biphosphate (PIP2) levels and/or inositol-1,4,5-triphosphate (InsP3) generation or on nuclear factor of activated T cells (NFAT) nuclear localization is determined.

T cells normally get activated upon stimulation of their T cell receptors (TCR) present on their cell surface. Physiologically this happens when a T cell encounters an antigen presenting cell, like dendritic cells or B cells, displaying major histocompatibility complex (MHC) molecules loaded with antigenic peptide fragments. This in turn results in recruitment and activation of multiple cytosolic proteins such as phospholipase C (PLC), linker for activation of T cells (LAT) and src homology (SH)2 domain-containing leukocyte-specific phosphoprotein of 76 kDa (SLP-76). Activation of PLC leads to the generation of inositol-1,4,5-triphosphate (InsP3) from phosphatidylinositol-4,5-biphosphate (PIP2), in turn binding to InsP3 receptors (InsP3R) in order to trigger Ca2+ release from intracellular endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stores (Gallo et al., Nat. Immunol. 7:25-32, 2006; Lewis et al., Annu. Rev. Immunol. 19:497-521, 2001), which results in an increase in cytosolic calcium levels that is dependent on the presence of coronin 1 (Jayachandran et al., Cell 130:37-50, 2007). Increase in cytosolic calcium results in the activation of calcineurin, which induces translocation of NFAT (nuclear factor of activated T cells) into the nucleus, where it activates genes essential for T cell activation and T cell immune responses (see FIG. 1). Inhibition of the calcineurin pathway results in reduced T cell mediated immune responses. Inhibitors of this pathway are commonly used to treat patients with autoimmune disorders as well as in prevention of immune responses following an organ transplantation that often results in the rejection of transplanted organ. The most widely used are the calcineurin inhibitors cyclosporin A (CsA) and FK506, which form complexes that ultimately inhibit calcineurin function. WO 2007/110385 describes the use of coronin 1 and coronin 1 modulators for the treatment of autoimmune and lymphoproliferative disorders and mycobacterial infections.

Screening for compounds having immunosuppressant activity by testing impact on leukocyte-specific calcium fluxes


A line delay generator including a packetizing circuit, one port RAM and a RAM controller. The RAM controller provides the one port RAM with a write command to write packet data generated by the packetizing circuit, and with a read command to read any one or more packet data currently stored in the one port RAM, and output them as line delay data. The line delay generator can solve a problem involved in a conventional line delay generator in that because m (positive integer) two-port FIFOs must be connected in cascade to generate m line delay data, the FIFO memory becomes bulky.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a line delay generator for delaying image data by temporarily storing it.
2. Description of Related Art
FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing a conventional line delay generator. In FIG. 9, the reference numeral 1 designates a controller that outputs an image data enable signal DENB by detecting the effective period of image data ID from a line synchronization signal LSYNC, and outputs a line reset signal LRST by detecting the ineffective period of the image data ID from the line synchronization signal LSYNC; and 2 designates a FIFO memory that loads the image data ID on a pixel by pixel basis in response to the image data enable signal DENB output from the controller 1, and outputs first to m-th line delay data Q1-Qm. The FIFO memory 2 consists of m two-port FIFOs connected in cascade.
Next, the operation of the conventional line delay generator will be described.
The line delay generator generates line delay data by temporarily storing the image data. The example as shown in FIG. 9 generates m line delay data with different delay times.
More specifically, the controller 1 monitors the signal level of the line synchronization signal LSYNC, and while the signal level is at the H (high) level, the controller 1 makes a decision that the current image data is effective, and supplies the FIFO memory 2 with the image data enable signal DENB.
In contrast, while the signal level of the line synchronization signal LSYNC is at the L (low) level, the controller 1 makes a decision that the current image data is ineffective, and supplies the FIFO memory 2 with the line reset signal LRST.
Then, as long as the controller 1 is outputting the image data enable signal DENB, the FIFO (1) of the FIFO memory 2 loads on a pixel by pixel basis the image data which is supplied in synchronization with an image clock signal ICLK, and simultaneously outputs the previously loaded image data as one-line delay data Q1.
Likewise, as long as the controller 1 is outputting the image data enable signal DENB, FIFO(2)-FIFO(m) of the FIFO memory 2 which are connected in cascade each load on a pixel by pixel basis the line delay data output from the previous FIFO, and output the previously loaded line delay data as two-line delay data Q2-m-line delay data Qm.
With the foregoing configuration, the conventional line delay generator can produce from the FIFO memory 2 the m line delay data Q1-Qm with different delay times. However, it has a drawback that the FIFO memory 2 becomes bulky because it consists of m two-port FIFOs connected in cascade to generate m line delay data.
On the other hand, Japanese patent application laid-open No. 5-135161/1993 discloses a technique that employs a single one-port DRAM instead of the FIFO memory consisting of m two-port FIFOs connected in cascade, thereby implementing a small line delay generator. However, it only discloses a technique that generates the line delay data by sequentially delaying the image data. It does not disclose a technique to output any of the delay line data during the write operation of one packet data, that is, to select any desired line delay data from among the one-line to m-line delay data stored in the one-port RAM. In addition, it does not disclose a technique to simultaneously output m line delay data with different delay times.
The present invention is implemented to solve the foregoing problem. It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a line delay generator capable of reducing its packing area, and of producing any of the line delay data.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a line delay generator capable of simultaneously output a plurality of line delay data with different delay times.
According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a line delay generator comprising: a packetizing circuit for packetizing image data to packet data; one port RAM for storing the packet data generated by the packetizing circuit; and a RAM controller for providing the one port RAM with a write command to write the packet data generated by the packetizing circuit, and with a read command to read any one or more packet data currently stored in the one port RAM.
Here, the RAM controller may provide the one port RAM with the read command to read the data currently stored in the one port RAM, and subsequently with the write command to write the packet data generated by the packetizing circuit.
The one port RAM may have a read/write bus with a width of 128 or more bits.
The packetizing circuit, the RAM controller and the one port RAM may be formed in one chip on a semiconductor substrate.
According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a line delay generator comprising: a packetizing circuit for packetizing image data to packet data; one port RAM for storing the packet data generated by the packetizing circuit; a RAM controller for providing the one port RAM with a write command to write the packet data generated by the packetizing circuit, and with a read command to read packet data currently stored in the one port RAM; and an absorbing circuit for absorbing phase shift of the packet data read from the one port RAM.
Here, the RAM controller may provide the one port RAM with the read command to read the data currently stored in the one port RAM, and subsequently with the write command to write the packet data generated by the packetizing circuit.
The line delay generator may further comprise a processing circuit for processing the packet data whose phase shift is absorbed by the absorbing circuit, to generate processed image data.
The packetizing circuit may generate the packet data by packetizing the image data and the processed image data, and the absorbing circuit may split the packet data into the image data and the processed image data.
The line delay generator may further comprise a reprocessing circuit for reprocessing the processed image data split apart by the absorbing circuit.
The one port RAM may have a read/write bus with a width of 128 or more bits.
The packetizing circuit, the RAM controller, the one port RAM and the absorbing circuit may be formed in one chip on a semiconductor substrate.
The packetizing circuit, the RAM controller, the one port RAM, the absorbing circuit and the processing circuit may be formed in one chip on a semiconductor substrate.


A computer tomograph system comprises a rotating part for accommodating at least one X-ray tube and a detector arrangement, and a stationary part rotatably supporting the rotating part, and comprising a DC-to-AC converters for generating an alternating current for supplying current to a conductor arrangement. To supply energy to the rotating part, the rotating part comprises at least one inductive coupler for engaging, exclusively in dependence upon position, with a section of the entire length of the conductor arrangement, and for coupling electrical energy out of the conductor arrangement. Alternatively, the conductor arrangement may be disposed on the rotating part, and the inductive coupler may be disposed on the stationary part.

1. Technical Field
The invention relates to a computer tomograph with non-contacting transmission of energy. In this, the transmission of the energy needed by an X-ray tube is effected without contact between a stationary current supply and an X-ray tube disposed to be rotatable. Simultaneously, current may be supplied to other consumers such as detectors or data processing systems on the rotating part.
2. Description of the Prior Art
With conventional computer tomographs a transmission of electrical energy between a stationary current supply and a rotating part is effected by means of mechanical slip-ring systems. In this, a brush, preferably of a carbon material, slides along a slide track, for example of brass. Disadvantages of this arrangement are a low lifetime, regular servicing intervals in which the brushes must be changed, and contamination by abrasion of the carbons.
An improvement is disclosed, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,912,735. In this, the computer tomograph system is configured to be a rotating data transmission device. A primary winding, fed by a primarily disposed alternating current source, is located on a stationary side. A secondary winding is mounted opposite to this on a rotating side. For better coupling between the primary winding and the secondary winding, these are surrounded by rotationally symmetrical cores of magnetically soft materials. However, this device is not suitable for transmitting high power in a range of 100 kilowatts, as would be necessary to energize modern X-ray tubes. This is because the transmission device has a high stray inductance owing to unavoidable air gaps between the stationary and the rotating side. Electrically this acts like a series inductance and thus represents a high series impedance for the current to be transmitted, which limits the transmittable power.
Another improvement is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,608,771. Here the stray inductance of the transmission is supplemented by another inductance and a capacity to form a resonance circuit. At the same time, the high voltage transmitter is connected directly to the secondary winding of the rotating part. With this arrangement, a certain stray inductance can now be tolerated. However, a very high coupling factor of the rotating data transmission device is needed, because otherwise too large a part of the current would flow through the primary winding of the transmission device as a reactive current. Moreover, with high stray inductance a reasonable matching to the high voltage transmitter would hardly be possible.
A disadvantage of both above-mentioned arrangements is a high outlay of material in the form of costly, highly-permeable ferromagnetic materials. Thus, with typical dimensioning, a few 100 kilograms of iron or ferrite material would be needed. These also would substantially increase the total weight of the computer tomograph. Especially troublesome is the large mass of the rotating part, because this also requires a design of bearing means of suitable strength. Another disadvantage results from the high demands made on mechanical tolerances during rotation between the rotating and the stationary part. Thus, an air gap between the primary side in the stationary part, and the secondary side in the rotating part, should be ideally within a range of a few tenths of a millimeter. However, typical tolerances that can be attained in computer tomographs are larger by almost one order of magnitude. Particularly critical is an operation of a rotating part that is inclined to a horizontal axis, because here the rotating part tilts from its normal position with respect to the stationary part.

Computer tomograph with non-contacting energy transmission


An apparatus, system, and method provides blind and vision impaired (B/VI) persons with improved Detectible Guidance Markers (DGMs) for navigation in a wide variety of environments, providing information regarding the presence, type, direction, and proximity of various navigational obstacles. A representative but non-exclusive example of an invented unitary DGM includes a plurality of tactually-detectable informational members, including a base member and one or more integral directional members configured to be disposed at a surface of a navigational substrate. A discrete number of directional members conveys an obstacle identity, while different lengths of directional members, and characteristics of other informational members, convey a direction and/or a proximity to an obstacle. Additionally, numerous structural alterations to a surrounding substrate surface cooperatively supplement the detectability and information-conveying benefits of a DGM.

The invention relates generally to the field of navigational aid structures for blind and visually impaired (B/VI) persons. More particularly, the invention relates to environmentally-placed systems and devices for facilitating tactile navigation by B/VI persons within a structurally-varied environment.
Blind and visually impaired (B/VI) persons face substantial challenges navigating in complex environments, particularly in urban environments. This is largely due to the large number and variety of obstacles presented to them, and can be further complicated by the cacophony of noises which may be difficult to differentiate, locate, and identify. Examples of navigational obstacles include abrupt changes in the elevation of a walking surface (e.g., stairs, curbs, etc.), building entries, transit vehicle embarkation points (e.g., bus stops, train platforms, etc.), crosswalks, and others. Many types of obstacles are themselves a destination, and must be successfully located, navigated to, and transited in order to reach an intended destination.
Sighted persons can quickly and easily visually differentiate one type of obstacle from another, determine an approach direction to and distance from an obstacle, and successfully navigate throughout their physical environment relying almost solely on sight. For B/VI persons, however, tactile navigation is a critical method for self-guided navigation. Examples of tactile navigation include detecting surface mounted markers underfoot, feeling along elevated structures (e.g., walls, railings, etc.), or more commonly, using a cane or similar device to sweep an approach path and feel for the presence (and/or absence) of structural obstacles.
Numerous forms of tactile navigational aid structures and/or systems have been proposed and/or implemented. One example includes providing a plurality of raised bumps or linear segments arranged at a surface of a walking path, extending longitudinally along the path to continuously guide a B/VI person along the length of the path. As long as the person can feel the bumps underfoot, they know they are still approximately centered within the path. However, such linear pathway guides provide only a means and/or method to keep a person following a prescribed course, and generally do not provide information or guidance regarding surrounding obstacles, nor how to locate an entrance to the path in the first instance.
Another similar walking-surface-located guidance structure includes the commonly seen array of small domes, or 'truncated' domes, typically placed at or near an entry to a crosswalk. A B/VI person arriving at such an array can detect elevations (typically) present at the walking surface. However, the arrays are both overly complex, and insufficiently informative. The large number of individual bumps does not provide much information except to convey, for example, "You have arrived near an obstacle". The B/VI person is left to discern the environment through various cues, such as listening for audible indications (e.g., presence of passing traffic, etc.) and/or searching for structural details in the environment to determine the nature of the obstacle, which direction to navigate, etc.
One concept, described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,964,244 ('244) entails a plurality of parallel, substantially identical longitudinally-elongated elevated structures forming a pattern. According to '244, a pattern can include, for example, two identical parallel structures disposed at a surface of a walking path to indicate one type of obstacle, and three identical parallel structures to indicate another type of obstacle.
Additionally, the '244 structures are typically arranged to longitudinally 'point' in a direction corresponding to a subsequent direction of travel so that a user will arrive at the obstacle so marked. While the '244 concept does differentiate some types of obstacles from others, and provide some amount of directional guidance, it does not solve all problems of the prior art.
First, although the described patterns provide some directional information, they equally and simultaneously direct B/VI persons both toward an obstacle as well as 180-degrees away from the obstacle. The patterns tell a person to either go left or right along a longitudinal direction of the pattern structures, for example, but include no further indicia of which direction is proper.
Secondly, each structure within a pattern is identical to each other structure in the pattern, all of which are simply longitudinally-elongated stripes. As a logical consequence, each tactually-detectable portion of each structure is exactly like each other portion of the structure, as well as of each other structure. Therefore, the structures provide no integral indicia of proximity to an obstacle, and in particular, no progressive indicator(s) of proximity as a person more closely approaches an obstacle. Any sweep of a pattern of structures reveals the same as each prior sweep, leaving the user again to search for and rely upon extrinsic environmental cues (e.g., structures, sounds, etc.) to determine proximity to an obstacle. The unfortunate reality not comprehended by '244 is that environmental cues are inconsistent throughout any environment in which a B/VI person attempts to navigate, and can vary at any single location from one particular time to another time (e.g., as objects are moved, types and volumes of sounds vary, etc.).
Further frustrating determination of proximity, beyond setting a minimum preferred length of the structure, '244 provides no link between any particular length of the structure and any relationship to surrounding structures. Rather, '244 requires (only) that the structure of a pattern be 'substantially identical'.
Additionally, the '244 patterns are self-contained, including no indicia at a surrounding walking surface to guide a B/VI person to the pattern. The '244 patent entirely leaves detection of its patterns and guidance system to chance, and this omission in '244 is not accidental. Rather, '244 expressly and unambiguously requires that all areas of an underlying walking surface surrounding and extending from any of its described patterns remain entirely unaffected and unaltered by the guidance system. Of course, a person derives benefit from the '244 patterns only after first being able to encounter and detect them.
Thus, numerous navigational challenges presented to B/VI persons each day remain unaddressed by, and in substantial ways further complicated by, the prior art.

Detectable guidance markers for tactile navigation, including indicia of obstacle presence, type, dimensions, direction, and/or proximity


Closed, unilamellar vesicles are spontaneously formed by adding a cholesteryl compound substituted with a hydroxyl terminated polyethylene oxide containing 1 to 4 ethylene oxide groups to a polar liquid. Multilamellar vesicles are formed by sonicating a cholesteryl compound containing polyethylene oxide or polyamine side-chains. The vesicles can be utilized to dispense polar, non-polar or ampholphilic compounds.

This invention relates to substituted cholesterol derivatives and, more particularly, to unilamellar and multilamellar vesicles as encapsulants for polar compounds, particularly, therapeutical agents.
Encapsulation is utilized to isolate sensitive materials from chemically aggressive environments and/or to control release of the encapsulated material at a particular time at a specified rate or at a specified site of delivery. Encapsulation can be utilized to dispense household products such as insecticides, cosmetic products such as topical products, chemical warfare agents and pharmaceuticals. Any material compatible with the encapsulant can be processed into an encapsulated form.
The microencapsulation of drugs holds great potential for increasing the efficacy of pharmaceutical therapies while reducing unwanted systemic effects by targeting specific organs for drug release. Numerous studies have employed phospholipids, both as model membranes and as carriers for a variety of biologically active materials. For example, enzymes, chelating agents, viral nucleic acids, anti-tumor drugs, antifiotics, immunogens and hormones have all been successfully encapsulated with liposome systems. Phospholipid-containing systems are inherently attractive for encapsulation since they contain lipids analogous to those found in cell membrane and thus are stabilized by the same forces that maintain cell integrity in vivo. However, these lipids are also susceptible to enzymatic degradation and may display antigenic surfaces, which can give rise to a subsequent immunological response. A major obstacle to the use of circulating liposome carriers has been their rapid uptake and removal by the liver.
The development of artificial materials for encapsulation offers an alternative approach to resolving problems of liposome instability, while increasing the versatility of these systems. Although most liposome studies have been conducted with diacyl phosphatidylcholine bilayers, a number of investigators have reported liposome formation using other amphiphiles, such as dihexadecylphosphate. Non-bilayer forming lipids, such as cholesterol or phosphatidylethanolamine have been found to form closed vesicles upon the addition of other compounds such as ceramides and fatty acids, nonionic detergents, bile acids and lysophosphatidylcholine. Bilayered structures have also been formed by single lipid molecules, containing two polar groups connected by an alkyl moiety.
Several approaches have been taken to deliver selectively liposome encapsulated materials to specific organs or types of tissues. Modification of lipid acyl groups to alter the liposome phase transition temperature can induce the preferential release of encapsulated materials at sites of inflammation and infection where the pH is slightly below the physiological level.
Alternatively, one can change the surface properties of liposomes so that they will interact specifically with cell surface groups on the targeted tissue. Successful demonstrations of this approach include the attachment of tumor cell specific antibodies to a vesicle surface and incorporation of lipid containing charged groups or carbohydrates which alter the liposome surface and tissue distribution.
These artificial materials were based on the use of fluid, acyl chains and were mainly based on phospholipid containing systems. Encapsulation was accomplished by extensive sonication to form multilayer vesicles. Sonication results in heating the vesicles which results in deactivation of thermally sensitive materials.

Lamellar vesicles formed of cholesterol derivatives


Apparatus for insulating hot sodium in a reactor vessel in a pool-type nuclear reactor. The apparatus includes a flow isolated plenum in the reactor vessel for holding a stagnant quantity of sodium. The flow isolated plenum is located between a second plenum for holding hot sodium and the structural load bearing members of the reactor. The flow isolated plenum forms a thermally insulating field barrier between the hot sodium and the structural members.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention generally relates to sodium cooled pool-type nuclear reactors and, more particularly, to an arrangement for thermally isolating the hot sodium used in these reactors from the structural components of the reactor.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Pool-type nuclear reactors are characterized by the placement of a reactor core, a main circulating pump and a main heat exchanger within a single primary system boundary which acts as a container. Typically these reactors are designed for use with liquid metal coolant and the primary system boundary or reactor vessel holds all of the components in a pool of sodium much like a large cup.
Generally, in pool-type reactors, the coolant is pumped from a cold plenum through and into the core and is thereafter discharged into a hot plenum. From the hot plenum the coolant flows through the main heat exchangers and transfers the heat energy picked up in the reactor core to a secondary coolant. The primary coolant is thereafter discharged back into the cold plenum. The secondary coolant is pumped out of the reactor vessel and is used for power generation.
In sodium cooled pool-type nuclear reactors there is a major design problem in isolating the pool of hot sodium from the load bearing, structural members of the reactor. Sodium cooled pool-type reactors are presently designed to operate with a hot plenum pool temperature in excess of 800.degree. F. and the design disclosed herein for a super-heated steam cycle operates with a hot pool temperature of 950.degree. F. These temperatures are all substantially above the nominal maximum design temperature of 800.degree. F. for stainless steel. Above this temperature stainless steel commences to creep and the reactor must be designed to thermally insulate the high temperature sodium from contacting the load bearing components of the reactor.
Over the years there have been many solutions to this problem including the use of an insulated internal tank for separating the hot coolant in the hot plenum from the reactor vessel wall. In one existing pool reactor design a plenum separator in the form of a cylindrical shell is arranged to place low temperature sodium coolant in an annular region between the hot coolant and the reactor vessel wall. A portion of the flow from the main coolant pumps is diverted into the cylindrical shell and cold sodium is pumped past the reactor vessel wall and thereby cooling it.
The present application relates to the application entitled "Plenum Separator System for Pool-Type Nuclear Reactors" by John E. Sharbaugh, Ser. No. 938,628, filed Aug. 31, 1978, and now abandoned.

Apparatus for insulating hot sodium in pool-type nuclear reactors


A hand-held aerosolized inhaler that delivers an aerosolized solution to the user on demand when he or she inhales is provided. A pressure or flow sensor within the invention detects the change in air flow as the user inhales and triggers spraying the aerosol solution only when the inhaled breath stream will optimally entrain the sprayed aerosol. The pressure or flow sensor sends an electronic signal to turn on or off liquid and air pumps as the user breathes. Liquid, or liquid and air are pumped to the nozzle inside the invention to create an aerosolized mixture.

Aerosolized inhalers are used on a daily basis for a wide range of medical treatments. Conventional inhalers use volatile organic compounds, pressurized gases, or large amounts of heat to produce vaporization and deliver of aerosols. Needs exist for an aerosolized delivery inhaler that optimizes the delivery of aerosol without requiring volatile compounds, pressurized gases, or large amounts of heat.


Embodiments relate to vector memory access instructions for big-endian (BE) element ordered computer code and little-endian (LE) element ordered computer code. An aspect includes determining a mode of a computer system comprising one of a BE mode and an LE mode. Another aspect includes determining a code type comprising one of BE code and LE code. Another aspect includes determining a data type of data in a main memory that is associated with the object code comprising one of BE data and LE data. Another aspect includes based on the mode, code type, and data type, inserting a memory access instruction into the object code to perform a memory access associated with the vector in the object code, such that the memory access instruction performs element ordering of elements of the vector, and data ordering within the elements of the vector, in accordance with the determined mode, code type, and data type.

The present invention relates generally to computer systems, and more specifically, to vector memory access instructions for big-endian (BE) element ordered and little-endian (LE) element ordered computer code and data.
A computer system may implement a big-endian (BE) or a little-endian (LE) architecture. In a BE system, the most significant byte of an element in storage is stored in the smallest address in the element's memory location, and the least significant byte is stored in the largest address. In a LE system, the least significant byte of the element is stored in the smallest address in the element's memory location, and the most significant byte is stored in the largest address. For example, Intel™ systems are LE systems, while IBM z/Achitecture™ systems are BE systems. Complexity is introduced with the emergence of vector processing where a single vector storage access involves a plurality of values. BE systems have traditionally implemented vector comprised of a plurality of elements that are numbered 0 to N−1 from the leftmost element to the rightmost element, LE systems have traditionally implemented vector comprised of a plurality of elements that are numbered 0 to N−1 from the rightmost element to the leftmost element. The ordering of elements in a vector becomes an issue for certain vector operations that reference an element of the vector. BE systems will typically implement these instructions to reference the element as an index from the leftmost element, while LE systems will typically implement these instructions to reference the element as an index from the rightmost element.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Vector memory access instructions for big-endian element ordered and little-endian element ordered computer code and data

INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION


Two-way exchange vending can be performed by a two-way exchange based vending machine. The two-way exchange based vending machine can vend rechargeable batteries. The two-way exchange based vending machine can include different modules to perform different functionalities. The two-way exchange based vending machine can include a communications module, a dispensing module, a rejection module, and a receiving module. The communications module can communicate information to and receive inputs from a user. The dispensing module can dispense one or more rechargeable batteries or other requested products to a user. The receiving module can receive one or more rechargeable batteries from a user.

Field of the Invention
This relates to the field of vending, and particularly to the field of two-way exchange based vending of reusable or recyclable products, such as, for example, rechargeable batteries.
Description of the Related Art
Batteries power a variety of devices. As more devices become battery powered, consumer demand for batteries increases. This results in the manufacturing and disposal of ever greater numbers of batteries, which can include precious metals or toxic materials such as, mercury, cadmium, or lead. Some people have begun using rechargeable batteries to save money and to minimize battery waste. However, rechargeable batteries require careful recharging, optimally achieved with expensive chargers, and are generally considered not to be as convenient as disposable batteries.


A method and apparatus are provided for maximum-likelihood data detection in a partial-response (PR) data channel including a head and disk assembly providing an analog signal coupled to an analog to digital converter (ADC) providing digital samples. A plurality of digital samples are received from the ADC. The received digital samples are applied to a selected first filter and a selected second filter. The first filtered digital samples are applied to a first data detector, and the second filtered digital samples are applied to a second data detector. A predetermined parameter is identified, and at least one of the first and second data detectors is selected responsive to the identified predetermined parameter.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates generally to data detection methods and apparatus, and more particularly to methods and apparatus for partial-response maximum-likelihood (PRML), extended partial-response maximum-likelihood (EPRML), and Viterbi data detection in a direct access storage device (DASD).
2. Description of the Prior Art
Partial-response signaling with maximum-likelihood sequence detection techniques are known for digital data communication and recording applications. Achievement of high-data density and high-data rates has resulted in the use of a PPML channel for writing and reading digital data on the disks.
Known commercial disk drives which include a PRML channel benefit from the fact that, with proper choice of the data rate, binary partial-response class-4 (PR4) signaling with maximum-likelihood sequence detection (MLSD) or PRML provides nearly optimal performance at the presently used linear recording densities. Typically magnetic recording channels operate with 0.8T/R<p.sub.w50 <1.6T/R where T is the channel encoded bit period, R is the code rate and p.sub.w50 is the width at the 50%-level of the channel's step response. For example, p.sub.w50 =(.beta..sub.user /(.pi.R))T where .beta. user represents normalized user data rate and R is the code rate specific to each scheme, for example, such as, PRML advantageously uses R=8/9.
The performance loss of PRML with digital filter equalization caused by noise enhancement due to the equalizing filter becomes increasingly significant when the channel operates at linear recording densities such as p.sub.w50 >1.6T/R. As a consequence, PMRL may fail to meet product specifications at greater linear recording densities.
To increase area storage density, mainly by means of increasing the linear density, requires that the PRML channel be replaced or complemented with a more powerful scheme in order to meet competitive product specifications. However, development and implementation of an entirely new channel architecture is a complex and costly task whose scope contradicts today's requirement for cost-effective and quick-to-market solutions.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,786,890 discloses a class-IV PRML channel using a run-length limited (RLL) code. The disclosed class-IV partial response channel polynomial equals (1-D.sup.2), where D is a one-bit interval delay operator and D.sup.2 is a delay of two-bit interval delay operator and the channel response output waveform is described by taking the input waveform and subtracting from it the same waveform delayed by a two-bit interval. A (0,k=3/k1=5) PRML modulation code is utilized to encode 8 bit binary data into codewords comprised of 9 bit code sequences, where the maximum number k of consecutive zeroes allowed within a code sequence is 3 and the maximum number k1 of consecutive zeroes in the all-even or all-odd sequences is 5.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,196,849 discloses rate 8/9 block codes having maximum ones and run length constraints for use in a class-IV PRML channel.
Trellis coding techniques are used to provide a coding gain required in noisy or otherwise degraded channels. U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,888,775 and 4,888,779 describe trellis codes for PRML channels which provide significantly improved coding gains for transmission of digital data over PRML channels.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,609,907 discloses a method for bandwidth compression using partial response and run length limited coding. A first 1-D.sup.2 channel is used for detection of data with a 1+D channel for clocking.
A conventional EPRML channel design including extended (EPR4) equalization, timing and gain control represents a large jump in complexity as compared to a PRML channel. By conventional implementation methods, PRML and EPRML share very few common functional blocks. The conventional approach is considered unacceptable from a size, power and speed viewpoint. For EPRML, the calculations required for the 5-level gain and timing loops are more complex and slower. Also, the 5-level timing gradient calculation is considered to be less robust than the 3-level calculation for PRML. EPRML requires an 8-state non-interleaved Viterbi detector which by conventional implementation methods is not acceptable from a size, power and speed viewpoint. It is desirable to provide an EPRML implementation that allows for an acceptable size, cost and power to be achieved.
With a goal of increased linear density, it is desirable to implement an EPRML/PRML combination system to provide optimal performance over the entire disk radius.

Data detection methods and apparatus for a direct access storage device

International Business Machines Corporation


Magnetic recording media exhibiting high SNR and high thermal stability are produced by sputter depositing a magnetic alloy overlying a non-magnetic substrate, e.g., on an underlayer, heating to eliminate thermally unstable small grains thereby increasing the average grain size of the magnetic alloy layer but narrowing the grain size distribution, depositing a layer comprising a non-ferromagnetic element, and then heating to diffuse the non-ferromagnetic element into the grain boundaries of the heat treated magnetic alloy layer. Embodiments include sputter depositing a magnetic alloy layer comprising Co and Pt on an underlayer, heating at a temperature of about 150xc2x0 C. to about 600xc2x0 C. to increase the average grain size to about 8 to about 10 nm, depositing a layer comprising Cr, Mn or Ta, at a thickness up to about 25 xc3x85, e.g., up to about 10 xc3x85, on the magnetic alloy layer and heating to diffuse the Cr, Mn or Ta into the grain boundaries of the magnetic alloy layer. Embodiments further include heating to diffuse the non-ferromagnetic element leaving a layer comprising the non-ferromagnetic element, at a thickness up to about 3 xc3x85, on the magnetic alloy layer, with the amount of the non-ferromagnetic element diffused into the grain boundaries of the magnetic alloy layer gradually decreasing from the upper surface of the magnetic alloy layer toward the underlayer.

The present invention relates to the recording, storage and reading of magnetic data, particularly rotatable magnetic recording media, such as thin film magnetic disks. The invention has particular applicability to high areal density magnetic recording media exhibiting high coercivity and thermal stability.
Thin film magnetic recording disks and disk drives are conventionally employed for storing large amounts of data in magnetizable form. Data are written onto and read from a rapidly rotating recording disk by means of a magnetic head transducer assembly that flies closely over the surface of the disk. The escalating requirements for high linear recording density and increasingly smaller disk drives impose increasingly demanding requirements on thin film magnetic recording media in terms of coercivity, remanence, coercivity squareness, low medium noise and narrow track recording performance. Considerable effort has been expended in recent years to produce magnetic recording media having high linear recording densities while satisfying such demanding requirements, particularly for longitudinal recording. However, it is extremely difficult to produce a magnetic recording medium satisfying such demanding requirements, particularly a high density magnetic rigid disk medium.
In order to realize ultra-high linear recording density, magnetic recording media with high coercivity and small Mrt (magnetic remanencexc3x97film thickness) are needed. However, this objective can only be accomplished by decreasing the medium noise, as by maintaining very fine magnetically noncoupled grains. Medium noise typically measured as the signal to noise ratio (SNR), is a dominant factor restricting increased recording density of high density magnetic hard disk drives. Medium noise in thin films is attributed primarily to inhomogeneous grain size and intergranular exchange coupling. Therefore, in order to increase linear density, medium noise must be minimized by suitable microstructure control.
A conventional longitudinal recording disk medium is depicted in FIG. 1 and typically comprises a non-magnetic substrate 10 having sequentially deposited thereon an underlayer 11, such as chromium (Cr) or a Cr-alloy, a magnetic layer 12, typically comprising a cobalt (Co) alloy, a protective overcoat 13, typically containing carbon, and a lubricant topcoat 14. Underlayer 11, magnetic layer 12 and protective overcoat 13 are typically deposited by sputtering techniques. The Co alloy magnetic layer normally comprises polycrystallities epitaxially grown on the polycrystal Cr or Cr-alloy underlayer. Conventional magnetic recording media comprise a cobalt (Co)-based magnetic alloy layer, such as polycrystalline cobalt-chromium-tantalum (CoCrTa), cobalt-chromium-platinum (CoCrPt), cobalt-chromium-tantalum-platinum (CoCrTaPt) and cobalt-chromium-platinum-boron (CoCrPtB). The underlayer 11 schematically illustrated in FIG. 1 can comprise a plurality of seedlayers and/or underlayers. Although layers 11 through 14 are shown formed on top of substrate 10, it should be recognized that such layers 11 through 14 are conventionally formed sequentially on both sides of substrate 10.
Major sources of recording noise from magnetic thin film media can be attributed to the zigzag transition boundary due to finite grain size, resulting from bits polarized in opposite directions, and intergranular magnetic coupling. Prior attempts to suppress such noise sources have focused on educing grain size and isolating grains. Grain size reduction can effectively educe the magnetic transition width, and thereby reduce noise. However, the reduction in noise benefits to be achieved by grain size reduction is limited by the superparamagnetic limit commonly referred to as the thermal stability limit. Basically, when a grain within a magnetic thin film becomes too small, it begins to loose its ability to resist thermal perturbation and maintain the orientation of its magnetization. Once a ferromagnetic material becomes thermally unstable, it can no longer be employed as a medium for permanent data storage. At any given temperature, the exact grain size at which a ferromagnetic material becomes thermally unstable is to a large extent dependent upon the particular material. For example, typical cobalt (Co)-based alloys can remain thermally stable at normal disk drive operating temperatures, i.e., about 75xc2x0 C., if the grain diameter is not significantly lower than about 7 to about 8 nm.
However, not all grains within a magnetic thin film exhibit the same grain size. In fact, the grain size distribution typically follows a log-normal distribution, as shown in FIG. 2. Accordingly, a reduction in grain size typically means a reduction in the average grain size, i.e., a downward shift of the entire grain size distribution. For a given distribution, there are inevitably some grains that are too small to remain thermally stable at the disk drive operating temperature. These small grains are often referred to as xe2x80x9cthermal idiotsxe2x80x9d. As the overall grain size distribution of a magnetic film shifts downwardly, there will be more and more thermal idiots in the film. When a significant portion of grains become thermal idiots, the film is, manifestly, no longer capable of storing data permanently.
As a result of magnetic coupling between grains, a magnetic switching unit in a thin film media may typically consist of a cluster of grains, which could lead to broad transition even if each individual grain is small. To isolate grains, non-ferromagnetic elements such as chromium (Cr), manganese (Mn) and tantalum (Ta), are usually introduced to the Co-based magnetic alloys. Such non-ferromagnetic elements tend to segregate at the grain boundaries by diffusion. As a result of such segregation, the magnetic interactions among neighboring grains are impaired. In order to increase the effectiveness of grain boundary segregation, the concentration of the non-ferromagnetic elements in the alloy must be sufficiently high to ensure an adequate driving force for diffusion. However, the addition of such non-ferromagnetic elements produces undesirable side effects, such as diluting the magnetic moment within the grain since not all of the non-ferromagnetic atoms diffuse to the grain boundaries. Consequently, the magnetic signal is reduced. Such non-ferromagnetic elements also lower the magnetic anisotropy of the material, leading to lower coercivity and reduced thermal stability. There is, therefore, a fundamental conflict between producing a magnetic recording medium exhibiting lower noise and producing a magnetic recording media exhibiting high thermal stability.
Accordingly, a need exists for a magnetic recording media exhibiting high thermal stability and low media noise and for enabling methodology. There exists a particular need for such media capable of high areal recording density exhibiting high coercivity.
An aspect of the present invention is a magnetic recording medium exhibiting a high SNR and high thermal stability.
Another aspect of the present invention is a method of manufacturing a magnetic recording medium exhibiting a high SNR and high thermal stability.
Additional aspects and other features of the present invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows and in part will become apparent to those having ordinary skill in the art upon examination of the following or may be learned from the practice of the present invention. The aspects of the present invention may be realized and obtained as particularly pointed out in the appended claims.
According to the present invention, the foregoing and other aspects are achieved in part by a method of manufacturing a magnetic recording medium, the method comprising sequentially; depositing a magnetic alloy layer over a non-magnetic substrate, the magnetic alloy layer having an upper surface, a lower surface and comprising grains separated by grain boundaries; heating to increase the average grain size of the magnetic alloy layer; depositing a layer, comprising a non-ferromagnetic element, on the upper surface of the magnetic alloy layer; and heating to diffuse the non-ferromagnetic element into the grain boundaries of the magnetic alloy layer.
Embodiments of the present invention comprise depositing a magnetic alloy layer comprising Co and platinum (Pt), containing no more than 20 at. % of non-ferromagnetic elements, depositing a thin layer comprising a non-ferromagnetic element, e.g., Cr, Mn or Ta, at a thickness up to about 25 xc3x85, e.g., at a thickness up to about 10 xc3x85. Embodiments of the present invention also comprise heating to increase the average grain size of the magnetic alloy layer at a temperature of about 150xc2x0 C. to about 600xc2x0 C., and subsequently heating at a temperature of about 150xc2x0 C. to about 600xc2x0 C. to diffuse the non-ferromagnetic element into the grain boundaries. Embodiments of the present invention further comprise heating to diffuse the non-ferromagnetic element leaving a layer of the non-ferromagnetic element, as at a thickness up to about 3 xc3x85, on the upper surface of the magnetic layer.
Another aspect of the present invention is a magnetic recording medium comprising: a non-magnetic substrate; and a magnetic alloy layer overlying the substrate, the magnetic alloy layer having an upper surface, a lower surface and grains separated by grain boundaries, the magnetic alloy layer comprising a non-ferromagnetic element diffused into the grain boundaries in an amount gradually decreasing from the upper surface to the lower surface. Embodiments of the present invention further include a magnetic recording medium comprising a layer of the non-ferromagnetic element, at a thickness up to about 3 xc3x85, on the upper surface of a magnetic alloy layer.
Additional aspects of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description, wherein embodiments of the present invention are described, simply by way of illustration of the best mode contemplated for carrying out the invention. As will be realized, the present invention is capable of other and different embodiments, and its several details are capable of modifications in various obvious respects, all without departing from the present invention. Accordingly, the drawings and description are to be regarded as illustrative in nature, and not as restrictive.

Method of manufacturing magnetic recording media with high SNR and high thermal stability


This invention relates to an integrated sub-assembly for installation of a steering column and/or steering wheel of an automatic vehicle. A plurality of building units arranged in the area of the steering column and/or steering wheel are integrated with each other in terms of space for purpose of simplified manufacture and assembly so that, in this way, it is possible to economize on housing walls as well as on mechanical and electrical interfaces. Advantageous further developments deal with the drive of components within the building units by the steering wheel.

This invention relates generally to angle sensors and more particularly to angle sensors used to sense the wheel angular position of a vehicle steering wheel.
In automotive vehicles, subassemblies are installed which feature more and more electric circuitry serving the safety and/or the comfort or relief of the driver. ABS, slip control and yawing moment control are examples in this respect. Thus, electronic subassemblies constitute an ever increasing part in the manufacture and price formation of the vehicles. Therefore, endeavors are made to integrate more and more subassemblies with each other in order to reduce assembly steps and costs.
In addition to the prior art steering column switches, in the area of the steering wheel/steering column of a vehicle, there have been added devices for heating the steering wheel, the airbag, the hazard warning signal flasher, the steering angle sensor and the transmission device for supplying electric power to the subassemblies, flanged to the rotating steering wheel, from the electric power supply unit assembled fast with the chassis. The appropriate subassemblies are supplied by different manufacturers in separate housings which, then, are stacked on top of one another and are connected with one another both mechanically and electrically. Consequently, a series of mechanical and electrical interfaces results which not only are expensive to manufacture but which also require a comparatively large space and considerable effort and cost for the coordinating and tolerance rating of the individual subassemblies.
It is thus an object of this invention to suggest measures for simplifying the manufacture and assembly efforts of the subassemblies installed in the area of the steering column/steering wheel.
This invention consists in the constructional combination of the transmission unit and of the steering angle sensor in that one housing part of the electric power transmission unit simultaneously forms a housing part of the steering angle sensor. In an integrating process, it is, in principle, possible to proceed in such a manner as to captively support both the rotatable code disk and the rotatable lid of the electric power transmission unit each in one housing half and to then close the two housing halves, with the rotating parts facing each other, so that they are accommodated in a joint housing shut off against the outside. In doing so, however, attention has to be paid to the fact that the drive of the components to be rotatably driven, the code disk and the connection device for the airbag contacts, has to be effected via the cylindrical center aperture of the subassemblies in the area of the steering column. In order to have sufficient space for the mechanical and electrical interfaces of the electric power transmission unit, the individual units such as electric power transmission unit and steering angle sensor are placed on top of each other so that the lid of the one unit simultaneously at least forms one part of the bottom of the unit lying on top thereof. The inventive system, moreover, grants full freedom as regards whether or not all the units belonging to the system are actually installed. For instance, it is possible to install the electric power transmission unit even without the steering angle sensor by only mounting an appropriate bottom part instead of the steering angle sensor. As it must be taken into account that more and more subassemblies will be integrated into the steering wheel in order to achieve a simplified operability of the instruments and improve the safety of the vehicle, it is preferred to have the electric power transmission unit directly connected to the steering wheel while it will be possible to selectively couple the following building units to the transmission unit, with a steering column switch being coupled to the electric power transmission unit in addition to the steering angle sensor or instead of the same.
In a preferred embodiment, building units are arranged centrally relative to the steering column. The individual subassemblies essentially feature the shape of hollow annular bodies that may be inserted into, or rather interlocked within, each other or just be stacked on top of each other. As far as the housing lid must be rotatable relative to the housing bottom lying beneath it such as is the case with regard to the lid of the electric power transmission unit the locking system should be chosen so as to keep the lid rotatable relative to the bottom. This may be done, e.g., by providing a surrounding groove in the lid engaged by an appropriate projection of the bottom.
A steering angle sensor can be one of the building units. This enables the code disk to be directly driven by the steering wheel in a relatively simple way. With the housing lid being formed by the lid of the electric power transmission unit, a dual function will be achieved as the lid serves as mechanical and electrical interface, on the one hand, and simultaneously drives the code disk of the second-building-unit steering angle sensor placed underneath thereof, on the other hand.
In a further embodiment, a steering column switch is selected as a building unit into the subassembly in addition to the steering angle sensor. The steering column switch, too, is provided with elements actuatable by the rotation of the steering wheel such as the reset cam of the direction indicator reset device. The mode of operation of such a resetting action is described for instance in the applicant""s patent application P 44 18 328.3. Thus, e.g., the lid of the electric power transmission unit cannot only drive the code disk of the steering angle sensor but also the reset cam of the steering column switch. It is thus recommendable to coordinate the design of the housing parts so that either the tongue of the electric power transmission unit will drive both the code disk of the steering angle sensor and the reset cam of the steering column switch or so that the steering angle sensor is dispensed with and the electric power transmission unit, without any constructional change to it, will only drive the reset cam of the steering column switch in case there is no need for a steering angle sensor in the vehicle. As a result, this means that the housing lid of the steering column switch should feature the same configuration as the lid of the steering angle sensor so that the steering angle sensor and the steering column switch are interchangeable relative to the electric power transmission unit.
Preferably, the steering column switch is located beneath the steering angle sensor and the electric power transmission unit. As in many cases, however, no use is made of a steering angle sensor it may likewise be expedient to design the steering column switch so as to enable additional assembly of the steering angle sensor beneath the steering column switch in case of demand.
Preferably, at least two building units are jointly activated by one drive segment coupled to the steering wheel. The use of one drive segment can be achieved by using an actuating tongue to drive both the code disk of the steering column switch and the reset cam of the steering column switch.

Integrated subassembly mountable on the steering column or on the steering wheel of a motor vehicle


A security barrier for use in a water location includes a plurality of barrier units, each having a plurality of individual panels; toppers attached between the barrier units for connecting the barrier units to one another and for disengaging the barrier units from one another when an impact occurs on the security barrier; butt plates attached between the toppers; a rope and a tube containing the rope for connecting individual panels; and a vertical pin for engaging the toppers and the butt plates.

This invention concerns a security system/barrier on water and/or land, preferably deployed on water.
Structures for use on both land and/or water as security systems/barriers are well known in the art. Such structures, intended to stop intruding objects, range from thick, solid walls blocking the object's progress to systems for disabling the propelling mechanism of the object.
Although these structures often accomplish their purpose, partially or completely, they commonly exhibit noticeable shortcomings. First, these structures may be very cumbersome and time-consuming to install and erect as and where desired. Second, they may be difficult, or even impossible, to maintain, especially to repair after they have sustained the impact of an intruding object. Third, they are often not adaptable to different needs and conditions. These and other shortcomings are well known in the relevant art.
Therefore, it is desired to have an improved security system/barrier which remains effective while overcoming such shortcomings.


A device to aid an individual in climbing a tree and to provide shelter to the individual when in the tree. The device comprises a lower platform including a lower ring of steel tubing. The lower ring has a top, a bottom, a first side and a second side. A floor is bolted to the top of the lower ring. The floor has a top and a bottom. A set of nylon straps are bolted to the top of the floor. A lower climbing assembly is adapted to be secured about a tree trunk. The lower climbing assembly is secured to the lower ring. An upper ring of steel tubing is included in the device. The upper ring has a top, a bottom, a first side and a second side. An upper climbing assembly is adapted to be secured about a tree trunk. The upper climbing assembly is secured to the upper ring. A tubular cloth blind having a first end with a first perimeter, and a second end with a second perimeter is included in the device. The first perimeter is secured to the upper ring and second perimeter is secured to the lower ring.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to climbing tree blind and more particularly pertains to a device to aid a user in climbing a tree, and to provide a user shelter when in the tree.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The use of tree stands is known in the prior art. More specifically, tree stands heretofore devised and utilized for the purpose of climbing a tree are known to consist basically of familiar, expected, and obvious structural configurations, notwithstanding the myriad of designs encompassed by the crowded prior art which has been developed for the fulfillment of countless objectives and requirements.
For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,417,645 to Untz discloses a portable tree climbing device. The device includes two assemblies, a main body supporting member and a foot supporting assembly.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,460,649 to Baker et al. discloses a tree climbing-hunting platform.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,156,236 to Gardner et al. discloses a climbing tree stand. The apparatus has two frames, each frame having a rigid base portion with a flexible adjustable tree encircling band mounted thereon.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,987,972 to Helms discloses a tree climbing stand. The stand has two separate climbing assemblies.
Finally, U.S. Pat. No. 5,143,176 to Burdette discloses a climbing apparatus which provides a mechanical means of ascending or descending any generally vertical member such as a tree.
In this respect, the climbing tree blind according to the present invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art, and in doing so provides an apparatus primarily developed for the purpose of climbing a tree, and for providing the user shelter when in the tree.
Therefore, it can be appreciated that there exists a continuing need for new and improved climbing tree blind which can be used for providing a user shelter when in a tree. In this regard, the present invention substantially fulfills this need.


A composite sheet metal component for an automobile comprises an inner metal sheet, an outer metal sheet and an intermediate polymer sheet arranged between the inner and the outer metal sheet. The intermediate polymer sheet comprises a semiconductor device and the outer metal sheet comprises at least one functional area.

Currently, the automotive industry has been making tremendous efforts to provide multifunctional parts as well as to reduce the number of assembly parts.
In conventional vehicles, composite sheet metal components used as body panels for car bodies, for example, car doors or tailgates, are generally configured as lightweight parts primarily to protect vehicle occupants. Typically, the conventional composite sheet metal components do not provide an integrated function, such as a switch, within the composite sheet metal components.
Consequently, there is a need to integrate further functional components within the composite sheet metal components such that a reduction of numbers of components in a vehicle can be inter alia realized.
Therefore, there exists a need to provide a composite sheet metal component that has inter alia a supporting, protecting as well as a functional property and is easily fully integrated as a body panel of a car. The composite sheet metal component for the body panel can be manufactured with conventional manufacturing processes for composite sheet metal components.

Composite sheet metal component and body panel

Hyundai Motor Europe Technical Center GmbH


Adhesive compositions are provided that include a crosslinked silicone gel, a hydrophilic component dispersed in the silicone gel, and an antimicrobial agent dispersed in the silicone gel. The adhesive composition is readily applied to (and removed from) skin, and has desirable hydrophilic and antimicrobial properties. Advantageously, the hydrophilic component in the crosslinked silicone gel is not readily extractable (e.g., into a pH 7 buffer). Surprisingly, the combination of hydrophilic component with antimicrobial agent in the crosslinked silicone gel can provide a synergistic level of antimicrobial activity.

The application of pressure sensitive adhesives (PSAs), including silicone pressure sensitive adhesives, for adhering to skin is known in the art and many examples are commercially available. However, some properties of PSAs limit their application for adhesion to skin. For instance, skin damage may result during the removal of a PSA that exhibits too high a level of adhesive strength. Alternatively, if the adhesive strength is reduced, the PSA may lack sufficient holding power to be useful or will lose sufficient tackiness at room temperature to be useful. Additionally, PSAs that are relatively rigid or non-conformable compared to skin typically result in considerable patient discomfort during use. Also, even adhesives that have a measured low peel adhesion to skin may cause discomfort during removal, e.g., if the adhesive becomes entangled with hair.

Silicone gel adhesive with hydrophillic and antimicrobial properties


A method of making a multilayered chromonic structure comprises (a) preparing a first aqueous mixture comprising (i) a first continuous water-soluble polymer phase and (ii) a first discontinuous chromonic phase comprising a chromonic material, to form chromonic nanoparticles; (b) non-covalently crosslinking the resulting chromonic nanoparticles with a multivalent cation salt; (c) dispersing the resulting crosslinked chromonic nanoparticles in a composition comprising a chromonic material to form a chromonic nanoparticle dispersion; and (d) preparing a second aqueous mixture comprising (i) a second discontinuous chromonic phase comprising the chromonic nanoparticle dispersion and (ii) a second continuous water-soluble polymer phase, to encapsulate the chromonic nanoparticles; wherein at least one of the first discontinuous chromonic phase and the second discontinuous chromonic phase further comprises a guest compound.

Encapsulation and controlled release of a substance or material may be achieved by a number of methods. Typically, a polymeric coating may be used to either surround a substance or to form a mixture with a substance. Another common approach uses macroscopic structures having openings or membranes that allow for release of a substance. Encapsulation and controlled release finds broad utility, but is particularly useful in the field of controlled release drug delivery.
PCT Publication WO 2005/012488 describes encapsulating a guest molecule (for example, a drug) in a chromonic matrix so that it can be subsequently released. The chromonic matrix can protect a drug from certain environmental conditions and then controllably deliver the drug under other environmental conditions.


A method for ascertaining a closing state of a house door or of a house window, having the following method steps: acquisition of a rate of rotation of the house door or of the house window using a first acquisition device, and calculation of an opening angle of the house door or of the house window on the basis of the acquired rate of rotation, and ascertaining whether the calculated opening angle falls below a prespecified angular threshold value; acquisition of a rate of vibration of the house door or of the house window using a second acquisition device, and ascertaining whether the acquired rate of vibration exceeds a prespecified rate of vibration threshold value within a prespecified first time span; and ascertaining whether the acquired rate of rotation exceeds a prespecified rate of rotation threshold value within a prespecified second time span since the exceeding of the vibration rate threshold value.

In the existing art, various devices are known.
German Published Patent Application No. 10 2004 053 522 describes a monitoring device for transported goods having a carrier via which the monitoring device can be fixed. In addition, the monitoring device described there includes signal-emitting and/or signal-receiving components that are situated on the carrier, and connecting lines between the components situated on the carrier.
German Published Patent Application No. 10 2005 001 582 describes a device and a method for registering the opening of locks of rooms that are to be secured, having a sealing module that contains a sensor, a microprocessor, a memory unit, and a device for wireless communication that can be attached to the lock in such a way that the sensor recognizes a movement.
In addition, the device described there includes an acquisition device and at least one device for wireless communication, a microprocessor, and a memory unit.
The present invention creates a method for ascertaining a closing state of a house door or of a house window , and a device for ascertaining a closing state of a house door or of a house window.

Device and method for determining the closing state of a house door or of a house window


The present application relates to fluid liners. One example includes first and second recycled geosynthetic sheets having overlapping portions. A heat welded splice is formed along the overlapping portions creates a fluid seal between the first and second recycled geosynthetic sheets so that the first and second geosynthetic sheets collectively function as a fluid liner.

The use of geomembranes in lining and covering fluid containment structures, e.g., irrigation canals, can mitigate water loss due to seepage and evaporation. However, current membranes are associated with several disadvantages regarding their durability, installation, and cost.
With respect to durability, current geomembranes can be covered with concrete or other similar material when installed as fluid liners. This can increase the durability of these membranes over the long term, e.g., over 5-10 years more, as compared to geomembranes that are left uncovered and thus exposed. This is because exposed geomembranes are susceptible to damage from external forces such as animal traffic, construction equipment, vandalism, and the like. In addition, typical materials used for geomembranes differ in their ability to lay flat and remain flat as temperatures change, in their ability to conform to rough sub-grades and adjust to soil settlement without leaking, in their resistance to UV weathering and oxidation, in their ability to be properly and easily installed while maintaining watertight integrity, and in their ability to be repaired effectively with reasonable cost and effort.
With respect to installation, surveys suggest that approximately 25% of membrane leaks result from the process of installing these geomembranes in waterways or other fluid containment structures. Installation methods have been developed for these geomembranes in an attempt to achieve strong watertight splices. However, some methods require expensive tools while others use chemical (adhesive) bonding systems that may be sensitive to weather, temperature, humidity, and/or rain. Regardless of the splicing method used, field splicing can become the determining factor for the speed by which a lining can be installed and ultimately the success of the installation. Further, repairs during the life of the liner are often neglected or performed poorly because of the lack of equipment and/or experience of the person assigned to make the repairs. Furthermore, once current geomembranes reach the end of their lifecycle, they need to be disposed of, thus adding to the environmental concerns associated with disposing of this type of waste.
With respect to cost, current geomembrane materials used for fluid liners typically include: high density polyethylene (HDPE), linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE), polyvinylchloride (PVC), flexible polypropylene (fPP), chlorosulphonated polyethylene (CSPE), ethylene-propylene diene monomer (EPDM), bituminous geomembrane (BGM), polyurea (PU), and/or Hypalon®. These materials are petroleum-derived products. As such, the cost of these materials closely correlates and depends on petroleum prices, which have been and will likely continue to be volatile. For example, oil prices spiked beyond $150/barrel during 2008. As such, the cost of current geomembrane materials is relatively unpredictable and likely to be relatively expensive.

Fluid liner fabrication and installation


A structure particularly suited for use in aerospace industries comprising a base plate, a cover plate, and an orthogonally corrugated core including a pair of core plates formed of a superplastic alloy interposed between the base plate and the cover plate, in sandwiched relation therewith and bonded thereto, each of the core plates being characterized by a plurality of protrusions comprising square-based, truncated pyramids uniformly aligned along orthogonally related axes perpendicularly bisecting the legs of the bases of the pyramids and alternately inverted along orthogonally related planes diagonally bisecting the pyramids, whereby an orthogonally corrugated core is provided.

The invention generally relates to sandwich structures and more particularly to superplastically formed, diffusion bonded, orthogonally corrugated core sandwich panels.
Ever since the first successful application of the sandwich structures in the British all-wood "Mosquito" aircraft during World War II, sandwich structures have attained widespread usage, particularly in the aerospace industry, in the wings, wall panels, webs of beams, empennage structures and the like.
The common sandwich structure usually consists of two relatively thin, high strength face sheets separated by and bonded to a relatively thick, low density, low strength core. This type of composite structure generally is characterized by low-mass as well as high flexural stiffness characteristics.
The most extensively used sandwich structure found in the aerospace technology is the so-called honeycomb core sandwich. Usually, this structure includes a core of aluminum or titanium conforming to a honeycomb cell generatrix disposed between rigid face sheets. In such structures, the honeycomb cell generatrix is arranged perpendicularly to the face sheets and, therefore, the bonding between the honeycomb core and the face sheets can only be achieved by line-contact. As is well known, honeycomb structures sometimes fail to meet existing needs because the line-contact bonding, established between the honeycomb cell cross section and the face sheets, can and frequently does lose bonding integrity, due in part to the effects of corrosion or the like.
In recent years, a revolutionary new process known generally as superplastic forming with concurrent diffusion bonding has emerged in the fabrication of sandwich structures. This process utilizes two inherent phenomena which tend to occur concurrently in titanium alloys. The first phenomenon is the ability of a material, such as a titanium alloy, to undergo large, up to 1000% strain, plastic deformations at high temperatures without localized thinning, or necking. This phenomenon often is referred to as superplasticity. The second phenomenon relates to the capability of being joined under pressures at elevated temperatures, without melting or the use of bonding agents, herein referred to simply as diffusion bonding.
By employing the above-mentioned phenomena, sandwich structures frequently are fabricated by a diffusion-bonding of at least three superplastic alloy sheets, at selected areas, and then superplastically expanding or separating the face sheets by internal pressurization. Pressurization is achieved through a use of inert gases, such as argon, introduced into the core cavity in order to impart a final configuration to the structure. This known process tends to eliminate the use of bonding agents and facilitates surface-contact bonding, instead of line-contact bonding as occurs in the formation of the aforementioned honeycomb sandwich structures.
Through the new technique, aforedescribed, it now has become possible to provide a relatively large number of new shapes and symmetries for sandwich cores. These new shapes and symmetries include the so-called truss cores, dimpled cores, sine-wave cores, egg-box-shaped cores, truncated cores, hollow truncated square hexogonal pyramids arrayed in square or hexogonal patterns. The truss core has a relatively high flexural stiffness in the direction of the corrugation but tend to be characterized by a very low flexural stiffness in directions transverse to the axes of corrugation. Other types of the cores aforementioned also tend to be characterized by weak bending stiffness. For example, dimpled core structures tend to exhibit very low out-of-plane bending stiffness in any in-plane direction.
Typifying the methods and structures of the prior art are those disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,766,514; 3,369,288; 3,924,793; 3,927,037; and 4,087,037. It is believed that U.S. Pat. No. 3,927,037 probably contains teachings more pertinent to the instant invention than the teachings of the remaining listed patents, since this patent discloses the use of four panel members interconnected for forming a metallic sandwich structure. However, it is believed to be apparent that the structure therein disclosed lacks the structural strength characteristics which tend to characterize the sandwich structure hereinafter more fully described.
It should now be apparent that there persists a need for an expanded metallic cellular structure which tends to overcome the aforementioned difficulties and disadvantages, without impairing the utility thereof.
It is therefore the purpose of the instant invention to provide an improved core structure having enhanced bending stiffness, in any in-plane direction, and one which can readily and economically be fabricated utilizing the known characteristics of superplastic alloys.

Superplastically formed diffusion bonded metallic structure

The United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration