A steam sterilization device (10) including a chamber (12) having a slidable sealable door (30). A flexible insulating plastic member (74) covers the sealable door (30). The sterilization device (10) includes a frame (20, 22, 24, 28, 50) supporting the chamber (12). A front wall (60) of molded plastic covers the frame. A stop bracket (46) is secured to a door track (36) at the appropriate location below the door to limit travel. At least one counter weight (42) is secured to the door (30) by a cable (38) and a guide member (44) surrounds the counter weight.

The present invention relates generally to the decontamination art. It finds particular application in steam sterilization, disinfection and cleaning of medical, veterinary, mortuary and laboratory instruments and equipment and will be described with particular reference thereto.
More particularly, the present invention provides a mid-size sterilization device which does not require "house steam" and is operable on a standard power supply. In this regard, the present sterilization device is suited to small laboratories, emergency care facilities, as well as doctors and dentist offices. It will be appreciated, however, that the invention and its several embodiments may be applicable to a wide variety of environments in which the sterilization of instruments and equipment is required, including hospitals and other large institutions.
Medical, dental, surgical, veterinary and laboratory equipment and instruments are often sterilized by exposure to steam or steam in combination with other vapors. In this regard, an apparatus is provided which isolates the equipment and instruments in a high pressure, high temperature steam environment for a sufficient period of time to complete sterilization. For example, the steam autoclave devices of the type described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,193,818; 4,226,642; 4,601,300, herein incorporated by reference, provide examples of steam autoclaves of the type generally related to the present invention.
Historically, most steam sterilization devices have had special installation requirements such as a source of steam and a dedicated power supply, i.e. they did not connect to "appliance type" utilities. As more small and remote providers have developed in the medical industry, the demand for lower cost, easily installed steam sterilization devices has dramatically increased. Similarly, as third world countries develop greater requirements for sterilization equipment, lower cost stand alone units which nonetheless satisfies safety and regulatory requirements have become more necessary.
The present invention provides an inventive, sterilization device which provides the requisite, safety, installation flexibility and low cost.


A low resistance package-to-die interconnect scheme for reduced die stresses includes a relatively low melting temperature and yield strength solder on the die and a relatively higher melting temperature and electrically conductive material such as copper on the substrate. A soldered joint connects the solder to the electrically conductive material to couple/connect the die and substrate to one another. The soldered joint is formed by heating the die and solder thereon to at least the melting temperature of the solder and thereafter contacting the molten solder with the conductive material on the substrate, which is at a substantially lower temperature for minimizing residual stress from soldering due to coefficient of thermal expansion mismatch between the substrate and die.

A conventional die to package interconnect architecture is illustrated in FIGS. 1–3 of the drawings. In the prior art semiconductor package 1, the interconnect scheme between die 2 and substrate 3 comprises copper bumps 4 which are electroplated on the die, and eutectic AgSn solder 5 which is paste printed on the substrate lands. Soldered joints are formed in the conventional process by placing the die with copper bumps and the substrate with contact lands or pads to which solder has been applied in contact with one another and heating the die and substrate together to a temperature higher than the solder melting temperature, followed by cooling the soldered assembly. The solder on the contact pads of the substrate is reflowed during this joining process to wet the copper standoffs on the die to form the soldered joints.
The die in the conventional package comprises thin film, inter layer dielectric (ILD) layers 6, see FIG. 4, on its front, lower surface under the copper bumps of the interconnect architecture. Due to the inherent weakness (cohesive and adhesive strengths) of the ILD material, stresses on the dielectric layers during reliability testing of the package can cause gross delamination of the ILD interfaces. A current focus for addressing the reliability issue posed by such ILD delamination in the die is on increasing the ILD material cohesive and adhesive strengths by modifying its chemistry, and by interface toughening schemes.
The ILD material that is typically used is carbon doped oxide. However, other ILD materials being evaluated for possible use are significantly weaker than the carbon doped oxide ILD material. Measurements on candidate materials indicate they are in some cases 10 to 100 times, e.g., at least about an order of magnitude, weaker than carbon doped oxide. These materials may be too weak to be accommodated in dies which are to be packaged using the current package-to-die interconnect architecture. An improved, low resistance package-to-die interconnect scheme for reducing die stresses would make it possible to use these significantly weaker ILD materials in the packaged die.

Method of interconnecting die and substrate


A method for reading a kernel log upon a kernel panic in an operation system is applicable to a computing device including a processing unit and a storage unit, coupled to the processing unit, for storing the kernel and including a log backup partition and a user data partition. The method includes the computing device performing the operating system by the kernel; the computing device generating a kernel log upon performing the operating system, and writing the kernel log into the log backup partition; and upon a kernel panic occurring and then the processing unit being reset, the computing device performing a kernel initialization procedure including reading and then writing the kernel log in the log backup partition into the user data partition, wherein the kernel log in the log backup partition includes information of a process of operating the kernel before the processing unit is reset.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to a method for reading a kernel log upon a kernel panic in an operating system, in particular to a method of retrieving the kernel log substantially completely after a processing unit being reset.
2. Description of the Related Art
Since Linux has the features of free software and open source, users or companies can use the source codes at the lowest level of a Linux kernel (or an Linux internal kernel) or modify system software and updated system software freely by following the contents of GNU General Public License (GNU GPL or GPL). Since Linux allows users (including both individual and corporate users) to customize the operating system flexibly, Linux would become a platform for different open or closed systems and be used in middleware or embedded systems. Accordingly, most of modern electronic products (e.g., computers, smart phones, navigation systems) come with system software developed and designed by applying the Linux kernel. For instance, the Android system is a representative example.
In general, if an application program has a nonfatal runtime error during the operation of Linux kernel, the Linux kernel can process the error and allows the application program to generate an error message after executing the application program. However, when a hardware error (such as irq conflict, bad block, or high temperature) occurs or the application program has an irreversible error (or fatal error) such as Divide By Zero, Access Denied or Buffer Overflow, a kernel panic may occur so that the Linux kernel may not be operated normally, thereby the system is crushed. Therefore, users generally need to read the content of the kernel log in order to find out the cause of the kernel panic so as to solve the problem successfully. The so-called "kernel log" refers to the information recorded by the system during the execution process of a (e.g. Linux) kernel, wherein the information of the execution process is saved in an internal buffer and contains date and time of the occurring event, host name or IP address of the occurring event, service name or function name activating the event, or the actual data content of the message of the occurring event, so that the users may know about the operation status of each software or hardware of a computing device.
When there is no kernel panic, the users may output the kernel log by a "cat/proc/kmsg" command to check the execution status of Linux kernel. However, when there is a kernel panic, the aforementioned "cat/proc/kmsg" command may not be able to output the whole kernel log, such that the user cannot accurately determine the cause of the kernel panic. Therefore, the Linux kernel provides a panic mechanism and a kdump mechanism for the kernel panic as described below:
(1) Panic Mechanism: When the kernel panic occurs, the Linux kernel does not know how to carry out the next step of the current program, so that the Linux kernel displays all the information available, and indeed the amount of displayed contents varies according to different causes of the kernel panic. For example, when the type of kernel panic is a hard panic, users can obtain a stack trace message by a "/var/log/messages" command and the users can further search an application program log to obtain the operation process of each application program. Finally, the users may record the dump information displayed on a screen of the computing device themselves. In addition, when the type of kernel panic is a soft panic, the Linux kernel generates dump information including kernel symbols data, and the dump information is recorded in the /var/log/messages, so that the users may generate a ksymoops file by a ksymoops tool to convert the kernel symbols data into readable data.
(2) kdump Mechanism (Kernel Panic Dumping Mechanism): When there is a kernel panic, a kexec program is executed to introduce the current kernel of the operating system, which is the kernel having the kernel panic and hereinafter referred to as the "previous" kernel, to another backup kernel. Now, the memory mirroring content of the previous kernel during operation will be saved into /proc/vmcore, so that users can copy the vmcore file to a flash drive through a "cp" or "scp" command. After the operating system is reset, an analysis tool is used to analyze the vmcore file to look up the cause for the kernel panic of the previous kernel.
In summation, related settings of the Linux kernel are required regardless of the panic mechanism or kdump mechanism, and users need to send out several commands before obtaining the kernel log, thereby being very inconvenient in operation. Therefore, it is an important subject for related industries to design a method of outputting the kernel log more conveniently without the complicated additional setup procedure of the system kernel by the users.

Method for reading kernel log upon kernel panic in operating system

Inventec Appliances (Pudong) Corporation

Inventec Appliances (Jiangning) Corporation


An insulation displacement connector having two deformable tangs forming a receiving pocket in which a wire may be placed, the deformable tangs adapted to be curled around the wire to create a secure connection that is resistant to disconnection by movement. Also disclosed is a method for creating the secure connection. A solenoid assembly that employs the disclosed insulation displacement connector that reduces the risk of a disconnection is also described. Also disclosed is a device that secures wires to the disclosed insulation displacement connector.

A conventional connector in the solenoid context provides a connection from a pair of insulated lead wires to the insulated magnet wire of the solenoid coil. This connection is made by having the conventional connector provide a mechanism for penetrating and displacing the insulation of each lead wire and making respective electrical connections between the magnet wire and the lead wire. The conventional connector includes a conductive element, which is electrically connected to the magnet wire of the solenoid. Typically, the conductive element is sized and shaped to essentially cut or bite into the insulation, and contact the conductor, of the lead wire as the lead wire is pressed into the conventional connector. Once the conventional connector has established a connection to the lead wire, it is best not to disturb its position in any way that would disrupt the position of the magnet wire or the lead wire. There are many environments where the connection of the conventional connector is lost because some external force disturbs and moves the conventional connector. The conventional connector may employ a staple to lock the lead wire in place in an effort to avoid loss of electrical connection. However, placement and deployment of the staple can be troublesome and may cause the very disturbance that the staple is supposed to prevent, i.e., due to the force the staple applies to the lead wire.
Typically, the orientation of the conventional connector in the solenoid context is such that the conventional connector is set in a bobbin that forms part of one end of the solenoid coil. The bobbin and conventional connector are located at the end of the solenoid closest to where the lead wire enters the solenoid assembly. This serves two purposes, one being the lower cost by requiring less lead wire length, and the second being the reduction in risk of short circuiting due to the lead wire contacting the magnet wire of the solenoid coil. However, the foregoing orientation is disadvantageous because the connection between the conventional connector and lead wire is susceptible to external disturbances as the connection point is situated close to the lead wire entry point.
The current use of a connector described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,991,488 is directed to insulation displacement techniques of penetrating an insulation jacket and making contact with the internal conductors. A drawback of such insulation displacement techniques, along with soldering techniques, is that the contact is hidden from normal visual examination. This means that usual inspection of the contact is done by measuring the continuity by instruments which are simply connected to the circuit. Although this method can certainly detect open and most bad contacts, it can miss some faulty contacts that will not be sustainable during field use. This is because a meter can only read what is happening at the moment it is being used to make a measurement. The meter cannot predict what will happen in the future nor can it tell if an even slight external jiggle of the wire causes an unreliable intermittent contact.
A good predictor of contact reliability is a visual comparison with what has been proved to be reliable. A skilled artisan, upon visual inspection, would readily recognize a contact which may prove to be bad in the future even though it could pass an immediate meter test.
Another disadvantage of penetrating insulation to make contact with internal conductors is that the insulation compresses into the space between the contact arms, restraining the spring-loaded arm pressure which is desirable for good contact.
A conventional approach to addressing the potential loss of connection is to attach a crimped brass clip to a stripped end of the lead wire. The crimped brass clip may be attached to both the end of the lead wire and an inner starting end of the magnet wire of the coil. The crimped brass clip acts as a key when encapsulating plastic material flows and sets rigidly around the components (including the lead wire) of the solenoid. Although this serves to provide resistance to most external forces, it does not prevent small disturbances to the connection zones which can cause an opening of the connection, such as during thermal cycling or other situations.
Moreover, the crimped brass clip presents a danger of shorting the magnet wire of the coil. A short circuit can occur if the crimped brass clip is located over the outer turns of the coil as extreme heat, pressure, and/or the spurting turbulence of the encapsulating plastic enters and surrounds the coil. Under these conditions, the brass clip may be propelled violently against the outer turns of the magnet wire of the coil and may penetrate the magnet wire insulation. To mitigate this problem, the conventional approach is to provide protective insulating tape over the coil. The theory is that the tape prevents both the short circuit and a stripping of the magnet wire insulation by the extreme heat of the encapsulating plastic. Three thicknesses of 0.007 inch tape has been accepted in the art to be sufficient to protect against short circuits, while one thickness of 0.007 inch tape has been accepted to protect against the melting (stripping) of the magnet wire insulation.
Notwithstanding the above, there is still a potential that the insulating tape will not prevent a short circuit with the lead wire. Further, as the cost of the insulating tape and the installation efforts of same are significant elements of the overall cost of solenoid assembly, there is interest is reducing the amount of tape used. If the probability of shorting is significantly reduced or eliminated, then a significant cost saving is possible by using less (or no) insulating tape.
Maintaining the connection between the lead wire and magnet wire is important for effective operation of the typical solenoid assembly, encapsulated solenoid or any other device where connectors are applied. A loose or completely disconnected lead wire is a common occurrence in a typical solenoid assembly. The current conventional approaches are prone to disconnection due to external forces and disturbances, increase the chance of short circuiting the solenoid coil, and can be costly to manufacture.
Through experimentation, it has been discovered that waggling of the strand of conductor wire as close to the electrical connector as 7.5 mm may cause longitudinal movement up to or more than 0.040″ within the insulation, relative to the insulation and the connector. Such movement is considered a severe disturbance and may lead to disconnection of the electrical connection. When a portion of lead wire that is external to the encapsulation is severely bent, the conductor wires move longitudinally relative to each other and the insulation of the lead wire. This movement is transmitted along the lead wire for a certain length until there is sufficient frictional resistance and distortion of the strands to absorb the movement. If the electrical connection between the electrical connector and lead wire is within this distance, the electrical connection will be disturbed when the lead wire is bent and risk disconnection.
Therefore, there is a need in the art for a mechanism for maintaining a tight and robust connection between the lead wire and magnet wire by connectors.


The present invention relates to iodinated resins. It relates in particular to a process for preparing a polyiodide-resin wherein an anion exchange resin is contacted with a material capable of donating a member absorbable by the resin so as to convert the resin to the polyiodide-resin. The absorbable member is selected from the group consisting of I2 and polyiodide ion having a valence of −1. In the process, conversion of the anion exchange resin to the polyiodide-resin is effected at elevated temperature and/or elevated pressure, the elevated temperature being about 100° C. or higher, the elevated pressure being greater than atmospheric pressure. The present invention also relates to a substance comprising an iodine (impregnated) resin as produced by the above process.

Diatomic halogen (such as I2, Cl2, Br2, etc.) has traditionally been used to disinfect water. Diatomic chlorine, for example, is a widely exploited disinfectant for controlling or eliminating micro-organisms which may be present in water. A disadvantage of a sterilization regime which exploits diatomic halogen is that the regime may leave behind unacceptable (residual) levels of halogen in the water once sterilization is complete.
An iodine/resin product has, however, been proposed for use as a demand disinfectant, namely a disinfectant wherein iodine is released almost entirely on a demand-action basis. U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,817,860, 3,923,665, 4,238,477 and 4,420,590 teach such a demand disinfectant wherein iodine is the active disinfectant agent; the entire contents of each of these patents is incorporated herein by reference. In accordance with the teachings of these patents the resin product may be used without fear of introducing unacceptable concentrations of diatomic iodine into the water to be sterilized.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,817,860 and 3,923,665 teach an iodine/resin demand disinfectant which is the reaction product obtained by contacting a strong base anion exchange resin with a suitable source of triiodide ions. The reaction product is taught as being very stable in the sense that the amount of iodine (e.g. I2) released into water from the reaction product is sufficiently low that the water disinfected thereby is immediately ready for use, ie. as drinking water.
In accordance with the teachings of U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,817,860 and 3,923,665 the procedure for preparing the iodine/resin comprises forming a triiodide ion (solution or sludge) by dissolving diatomic iodine in a water solution of a suitable alkali metal halide (e.g. KI, NaI, . . . ). The triiodide solution is in particular taught as being made with a minimal (i.e. minor) water content just sufficient to avoid causing the I2 to crystallize out; see example 1 of U.S. Pat. No. 3,923,665. The resulting (solution) containing the triiodide ion is then contacted with the starting resin (under ambient conditions with respect to temperature (i.e. 25 to 30° C.) and pressure), the triiodide ions exchanging with the anion of the resin (e.g. exchange with chlorine, sulfate, etc.,). The starting resin is taught as being a porous granular strong base anion exchange resin having strongly basic groups in a salt form wherein the anion thereof is exchangeable with triiodide ions. In accordance with the teachings of the above prior art references contacting is continued until the desired amount of triiodide has reacted with the strongly basic groups such that bacterially contaminated water is disinfected when passed through a bed of the obtained resin. After a suitable contact time the iodine/resin is (water) washed to remove water-elutable iodine from the resin product.
However, as indicated in U.S. Pat. No. 4,238,477, it is difficult to use the procedures outlined in the two previously mentioned U.S. patents so as to obtain a homogeneous iodine/resin product containing only triiodide anions and wherein all of the active sites of the resin have been converted to triiodide ions.
Accordingly, U.S. Pat. No. 4,238,477 teaches an alternate process whereby the iodine/resin may be produced. In accordance with this alternate impregnation/contact process, a suitable resin in the iodide form (I−) is contacted with water comprising diatomic iodine (I2) in solution, the water being recycled between a source of a predetermined amount of diatomic iodine and the resin. The process as taught by this latter patent, however, is a relatively complicated system of pumps, vessels, heaters, etc.; by exploiting a fluidized bed, it in particular may lead to a significant degree of resin bead attrition, i.e. particle breakup.
The processes as taught in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,817,860 and 3,923,665 are carried out at ambient temperature and ambient pressure conditions. U.S. Pat. No. 4,238,477 teaches that the contact may occur at a higher temperature such as 60 to 95° C. but that the temperature must be a non-boiling temperature (with respect to water); see column 3 lines 55 to 66.
The above referred to U.S. patents teach the use of the demand disinfectant iodinated resins for treating water; see also U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,298,475 and 4,995,976 which teach water purification devices or systems which exploit iodinated resins. None of these patents teaches the use of the iodinated resins for the purpose of sterilizing air.
It is also known to use iodine tincture for sterilising wounds. The sterilisation effect of iodine tincture is short lived; this means that the tincture must be reapplied on a regular basis to maintain the sterilisation effect. However, such solutions may also damage or destroy the tissue around the wound if applied too liberally and too often.
Additionally, the direct application of such solutions to a lesion or wound is usually accompanied by a painful sensation.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Iodinated anion exchange resin and process for preparing same


A vibration wave device having a resilient member, and electro-mechanical energy conversion means for inducing a travelling vibration wave in the resilient member, the travelling vibration wave being used as a drive source, includes means provided on at least one member of the vibration wave device at a location integer times or approximately integer times 1/2 of the wavelength of a vibration wave which may produce noise and making the dynamic rigidity of the member non-uniform.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a vibration wave device, and particularly to the structure of a vibration member in a travelling wave type vibration wave motor.
2. Related Backgorund Art
A vibration wave motor in which a travelling vibration wave is engendered in a resilient member and a moving member such as a rotor is moved by this vibration is compact and can provide for a high torque during a low speed and therefore has been adopted for driving the photo-taking lens of a single-lens reflex camera in recent years.
FIG. 2 of the accompanying drawings is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the photo-taking lens of a single-lens reflex camera incorporating therein a vibration wave motor for driving the photo-taking lens. The reference numeral 1 designates a circular ring-like metallic resilient member rotatable about the optic axis L of the photo-taking lens. As shown in FIG. 3 of the accompanying drawings, grooves 1A of a predetermined width t and a predetermined depth h are formed on that side of the resilient member 1 which is in contact with a rotor 3 to be described, over the entire periphery thereof. A piezo-electric element 2 such as PZT is fixed to the lower portion of the resilient member 1 by an adhesive agent. Ultrasonic driving signals of different phases are applied to the piezo-electric element 2 as an electro-mechanical energy conversion element by a conventional method, and the resilient member 1 is vibrated in response to these signals, whereby there is engendered a travelling vibration wave rotating in the circumferential direction of the resilient member 1 which forms a vibration member. The reference numeral 3 denotes a circular ring-like rotor having an end portion which is in pressure contact with the upper surface of the resilient member 1. A circular ring-like first vibration absorbing member 5 formed by rubber or like material is provided on the other end of the rotor 3 as a moving member. The reference numeral 4 designates a circular ring-like vibration insulating member formed of felt or like material. The insulating member 4 is subjected to a pressure force from two counter-sunk springs 9 superposed one upon the other with a felt bed 8 interposed therebetween.
The rotor 3 is held in close contact with a connecting plate with the aforementioned first vibration absorbing member 5 interposed therebetween. The circular ring-like connecting plate 22 is fixed to an output transmitting member 25 by six fastening screws (not shown). The output transmitting member 25 rotatable about the optic axis L constitutes a ball bearing by the use of balls 10 and ball races 13 and 14. The ball races 13 and 14 are fixed to the outer cylinder 12 of the photo-taking lens, and the outer cylinder 12 is coupled to a fixed cylinder 11 and fixed to a camera mount 19. A connecting roller 15 is fixed to the fore end of the output transmitting member 25, and is engaged with the key way (not shown) of a moving ring 17 holding a focusing lens 27 provided in the direction of the optic axis. The threaded portion 18a of a fixed inner cylinder 18 and the threaded portion 17a of the moving ring 17 are helicoid-coupled together, and by the rotational movement of the output transmitting member 25, the moving ring is movable in the direction of the optic axis while being rotated through the intermediary of the connecting roller 15.
In such a construction, a travelling vibration wave is engendered in the vibration members 1 and 2 in a conventional manner by an AF singal from the camera side or a driving signal from a manual ring 16 to thereby rotate the rotor 3 and finally move the focusing lens 27 in the direction of the optic axis, thus accomplishing focus adjustment.
In the case of such a conventional device, the vibration members 1 and 2 have been formed of a uniform material so that the travelling vibration wave for driving may be of the same amplitude and the same wavelength at any position on the vibration members, and have been of substantially uniform structure as shown in FIG. 3 of the accompanying drawings.
In the above-described conventional device, however, the error of the degree of planarity of the vibration member, the moving member or the holding member therefor has caused the irregularity of surface pressure in the surface of contact between the two (the vibration member and the moving member), and due to such a cause, a travelling vibration wave of a wavelength differing from that of the travelling vibration wave for driving has grown and thus, noise has sometimes occurred from the surface of contact between the vibration member and the moving member.
When such travelling vibration wave having a wavelength causing the production of noise has been analyzed, it has been found that in one case, this travelling vibration wave is of a single wavelength and in another case, it is of a plurality of wavelengths.


A cap for a drinking vessel, and particularly a shaker cup. The claimed cap can be securely attached to the drinking vessel or shaker cup to avoid leaks, and also includes a sealable opening through which the contents of the drinking vessel can be poured or drunk and a handle that is convenient for a user and which is attached to the cap in such a manner that the handle moves somewhat freely relative to the cap and the mechanism for closing the opening in the cap. Any non-integral components that come into contact with the contents of the vessel are easily detachable to facilitate thorough cleaning.

This invention relates, generally, to caps for shaker cups and similar drinking vessels. More specifically, this invention is an inventive, reusable cap designed to allow a user to easily and comfortably transport, as well as securely close, a shaker cup or similar vessel, allow the user to mix ingredients in the shaker cup or similar vessel without leakage, and allow the user to drink from the shaker cup or similar drinking vessel.
Various types of caps for shaker cups and similar drinking vessels have been developed. These caps generally are joined to the vessel in some manner to prevent leakage from the vessel while a user is drinking from the vessel and/or while the vessel is being transported, and/or when the vessel is being shaken to mix the contents, as in the case of a shaker cup. Typically, the cap is screwed or snapped onto the vessel once the user has placed contents such as water, ice, powders, etc. into the vessel, to provide a leak-proof enclosure.
The user can remove the cap from the vessel to drink the contents of the vessel or, if the cap is designed appropriately, the user can drink from the vessel via an opening in the cap, such as a hole, nozzle or push-pull spout. Any such opening should be sealable to avoid spilling the contents when the user is not drinking from the vessel. The opening can be sealed by, e.g., a flip top closure sealed against, or within, the spout to prevent leakage, such as the closures shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 8,833,586 and D626,838, and in co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/197,367 to Cornelius. Alternatively, the opening can be sealed by a screw top, which is more secure than a flip top closure. Screw top closures also require less effort to open than is required for a flip top, which, as Meyers et al. note in U.S. Pat. No. 8,833,586, requires the user to press upward on a front of the flip top until the upward pressure overcomes the tension holding the flip top closure sealed against the spout. Screw top closures, on the other hand, only require a user to twist the screw cap to unseal the opening in the cap. No matter the type of closure, it is preferable that the closure be connected in some fashion to the cap to avoid dropping or losing the closure when it is not secured to the spout.
In addition to sealing a vessel to avoid leakage of the contents, a cap may also provide a means for carrying the vessel via, e.g., a handle connected to, or integrated into, the cap. Such a handle allows a user to comfortably and easily carry the vessel to which the cap is connected without having to grasp the vessel, which may have a diameter and/or form that makes grasping the vessel itself uncomfortable for some users. Examples of such handles are shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. D780,516, 8,833,586, and D626,838.
It is typical for users to handle vessels, including shaker cups, roughly, e.g., by throwing the vessel into a gym bag or into the seat of a vehicle, or placing the vessel into a carrier that is knocked around during physical activity such as hiking, cycling, running, and weight training. Thus, it is important that the handle be securely connected to the cap so that the vessel, with the cap attached, does not separate from the handle, which would cause the contents to spill out of the vessel.
In addition to being securely connected to the cap to avoid unintended separation of the vessel/cap and handle, the handle must be configured so that it does not impede the user's ability to use the vessel. For example, it is highly annoying for a handle to swing down and hit the user in the face when the user tilts the vessel to drink from it. While this can be achieved by integrating the handle into the cap, as shown in, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. D780,516, or integrating the handle with the closure mechanism that seals the spout, as shown in, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 8,833,586, such configurations do not allow the handle to move independent of the vessel/cap combination when a user is carrying the vessel/cap via the handle. Furthermore, integrating the handle with the spout closure mechanism, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 8,833,586, introduces the additional problem that inadvertent downward pressure on the handle, such as when another object presses the handle or the user tosses the vessel/cap so that the vessel lands upside down, or nearly upside down, and the weight of the vessel and its contents presses on the handle, could cause the spout closure mechanism to open, spilling the contents of the vessel. This is particularly true when, as in U.S. Pat. No. 8,833,586, the closure mechanism is a flip top. Thus, it is preferred that the handle be connected to the cap in a manner that allows the handle to move independent of the closure mechanism, not only for user comfort and convenience but also to avoid inadvertent spills. Nevertheless, it remains important for the handle to not move so freely that it swings down and hits the user's face when the user is drinking from the vessel, or pouring out the contents, via the opening in the cap.
In addition to the foregoing, it is preferable that the handle be configured to allow a user to carry it easily, e.g., by inserting a finger, carabiner, belt, tie, or the like, through an opening in the handle. This makes the handle easier and more convenient to use, e.g., when the user is carrying multiple items.
Shaker cups such as the ones disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. D780,516, D736,559, D723,325, and 6,379,032, and similar vessels, allow a user to mix multiple ingredients, e.g., a protein powder and water, or a flavoring powder and water, by placing the ingredients together into the shaker cup, closing the shaker cup with a cap, and shaking the shaker cup until the ingredients are properly mixed. Such shaker cups may present additional concerns with respect to the cap used with the shaker cup. For example, shaker cups require a particularly good seal between the shaker cup and the cap due to the vigorous movement of the contents of the shaker cup, which may include a separate mixing element inside the shaker cup such as a wireframe piece, when a user is shaking the cup to mix the ingredients. Moreover, the ability to clean internal portions of the cap that come into contact with the ingredients when they are being mixed in a shaker cup is particularly important. For example, when a powder is mixed with a liquid, or two liquids are mixed together, in a vessel such as a shaker cup, small amounts of the resulting mixture tend to become trapped in internal portions of the cap, e.g., a sealing ring or screw threads, and potentially in the mechanism that seals the spout. This can cause an unsanitary condition, as well as unpleasant odors, if the cap components that come into contact with the contents mixed in the shaker cup are not thoroughly cleaned. Therefore, any components of a cap that may be used with a vessel in which ingredients are mixed should be either formed as part of the cap or easily detachable so that such components can be thoroughly cleaned.


In a method for fabricating an optical circuit, a mirror element with a protection film formed within a die of a semiconductor is connected to a substrate at a predetermined position. The mirror element with the protection film connected to the substrate is peeled from the die of the semiconductor. The protection film is removed to expose a reflection surface of a reflection film of the mirror element.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an optical circuit and a method for fabricating the same.
2. Description of the Related Art
Request for a large capacity of data transmission have been increased. A parallel transmission has been discussed for carrying out the data transmissions between computer terminals, between switches and between large computers, in a real time and in parallel. Also, the provision of an advanced information service to a home has been discussed. The spread of optical communication is desired for the sake of such large capacity of data transmission.
For the optical communication is used an optical module composed of optical elements such as an optical fiber, a semiconductor laser (LD), a light emission diode (LED), a photo-diode (PD), an optical switch, an optical isolator and an optical waveguide. The application field of the optical element used in such an optical module is expanded since its property and its function are made higher. The cost-down of not only an individual optical element but also the optical module is required to provide the advanced information service to the home. In order to attain the cost-down, the optical module is desirably fabricated in not a coaxial type module structure in which optical elements are arrayed in a form of block, but a flat type optical module structure in which a plurality of optical elements are arrayed on a same substrate.
FIG. 1 shows an optical circuit of a bi-directional communication module in a first conventional example. A semiconductor laser LD 102, a photo-diode PD 103, an optical waveguide 104, a wavelength filter 105 and an optical fiber 106 are mounted on a Si substrate 101. Light having the wavelength of 1.3 μm is emitted from the semiconductor laser LD 102 as a light source to the optical waveguide 104, travels through the wavelength filter 104 and then transmitted to a reception side through the optical fiber 106 as a transmission path. Signal light having the wavelength of 1.5 μm is sent through the optical fiber 106, and is inputted to the optical waveguide 104. The optical path of the signal light is changed to an adjacent waveguide by the wavelength filter 105, and then inputted to the photo-diode PD 103. Thus, the reception of the signal light is carried out. In this way, a small transmission/reception optical module can be attained by use of the flat optical circuit. Grooves are formed on the Si substrate 101 by use of the well-known semiconductor processing technique and used to position the optical waveguide 104, the wavelength filter 105 and the optical fiber 106.
As the optical elements are contained optical elements such as a surface light emission element, a surface light reception element, an end surface light emission element and an end surface light reception element. In the surface light emission element and the surface light reception element, an optical axis is oriented to a direction vertical to a substrate surface. In end surface light emission element and the end surface light reception element, an optical axis is oriented to a direction horizontal to a substrate surface. When two kinds of the optical elements in which the directions of the optical axes are orthogonal to each other are mixed and mounted on the same substrate, it is necessary to change or convert the optical path by 90 degrees. Masataka Itoh et al., (46-th, Electronic Component & Technology Conference, p.1) (a second conventional example) propose an optical path change technique. In this technique, as shown in FIG. 2, an optical path of output light from the optical fiber 106 is changed into the direction of the photo-diode PD 103 by reflecting the output light on a slant surface 109 formed by an anisotropic etching of the silicon substrate 101. In this method, however, the substrate material is limited to the silicon. Thus, the method cannot be applied to other substrates.
A prism for an optical path change is known from Japanese Laid Open Patent Application (JP-A-Heisei, 7-159658) (a third conventional example), as shown in FIG. 3. An optical path of a light beam 107 emitted from the optical waveguide 104 is changed by 90 degrees by a prism 108 or a reflection surface 109 of a reflection mirror. In this case, if the prism having the size of 1 mm or less is used, a fabrication cost of the prism is expensive to further increase a fabrication cost of the optical module.
FIG. 4 shows an installation example of an optical element when the optical path is not changed (a fourth conventional example). In order to mount the light receiving surface of a photo-diode PD 103 in a direction orthogonal to the surface of a substrate 101, it is necessary to newly carry out position adjustment three-dimensionally. Also, it is necessary to add another substrate 110 for supporting the photo-diode PD 103 and a part for fixing the substrate at the adjusted position. Thus, the fabrication cost is further increased.
Light emitted from a light emission element such as a light emission diode and a laser diode spreads to have a certain radiation angle. Even if a waveguide or an optical fiber is closely disposed near the emission portion of the light emission element, there may be a case that the whole emission light cannot be received. Such a case results in an optical loss. For the reduction in the optical loss, a small lens having an excellent light collection performance needs to be used. However, it is difficult to fabricate such a small lens.
In conjunction with the above-mentioned description, Japanese Laid Open Patent Application (JP-A-Showa, 59-7916) discloses a system for coupling a laser diode and a single mode of optical fiber. According to this reference, a curved surface is formed on one end surface or both end surfaces of a self-collection type lens. The lens is disposed between the laser diode and the single mode of optical fiber.
Also, Japanese Laid Open Patent Application (JP-A-Heisei, 7-159658) discloses a coupling structure between an optical waveguide and an optical element. In this reference, the optical waveguide is formed by laminating the dielectrics different from each other. The optical waveguide is formed on a dielectric substrate. In front of an end of the optical waveguide on the side on which the optical element is disposed, a groove is formed on the dielectric substrate to have a bottom surface parallel to a surface of the optical waveguide. A prism is disposed in a groove in which an optical axis of the optical waveguide is coincident with an optical axis of the disposed optical element. The optical element is mounted on the dielectric substrate so that it strides over the prism and the optical waveguide. Metallic coat is formed on one surface of the prism and the bottom surface of the groove. Moreover, a solder sheet is disposed on the surface of the metal coat on the bottom surface of the groove, or the solder layer is formed thereon. The prism is disposed in such a manner that the surface of the prism on which the metal coat is performed faces to the surface of the sheet or the top surface of a solder layer. The dielectric substrate and the prism are heated to thereby melt the solder. Thus, the prism is coupled to the dielectric substrate.
A light connection integrated circuit is disclosed in Japanese Laid Open Patent Application (JP-A-Heisei, 9-8273). In this reference, each of first and second reflective optical elements has at least three planes orthogonal to each other and a plane parallel to one of the three planes, and further has a reflection plane that is orthogonal to the two planes parallel to each other and disposed for the other plane at a preset angle. Each of the first and second reflective optical elements is formed of transparent material. A flat substrate has a flat surface on which the first and second reflective optical elements are disposed. A first integrated circuit having a light emission device for outputting an optical signal and a second integrated circuit having a light reception device for receiving the optical signal are disposed on a flat surface opposite to the flat substrate of the integrated circuit substrate. The first reflective optical element converts an orientation of the optical signal outputted by the light emission device of the first integrated circuit into an orientation parallel to the flat surface of the flat substrate. The second reflective optical element changes the orientation of the optical signal parallel to the flat surface of the flat substrate so that it is inputted to the light reception device of the second integrated circuit.
Also, an optical path changing method is disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 2,687,859. In this reference, a micro lens is disposed on a mount substrate or a sub-substrate different from the mount substrate. An outer side of the micro lens is used as a light reflection surface. Then, the optical path is converted by about 90 degrees from a horizontal direction to a vertical direction, or reverse. The outer surface of the micro lens may be a spherical surface, or metal coating may be performed on the surface of the micro lens.

Optical circuit in which fabrication is easy


Embodiments of antimicrobial chrysophaentin compounds, pharmaceutical compositions including the chrysophaentin compounds, methods for using the chrysophaentin compounds, and methods for synthesizing the chrysophaentin compounds are disclosed. Certain embodiments of the chrysophaentin compounds inhibit FtsZ protein, thereby inhibiting the growth of clinically relevant bacteria, including drug-resistant strains.

There is an ongoing need to identify new lead compounds with novel mechanisms of action to treat infections caused by multi-drug resistant bacteria. Infectious diseases are the leading cause of death worldwide, and it has been estimated that in the United States more people die from methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) related infections than from HIV. Moreover, the prevalence of invasive infections is reported to have risen with the increasing numbers of patients infected with HIV, receiving cancer therapy or treatment with broad-spectrum antibiotics. In fact 90,000 people die from hospital-acquired bacterial infections in the United States each year in part due to the fact that clinically important bacteria have developed multiple antibiotic resistance to drugs of last resort such as fluoroquinolones, vancomycin, and carbapemens. One reason for the development of antimicrobial resistance is the ability of infectious organisms to adapt quickly to new environmental conditions. The innate adaptability of microbes is complemented by the widespread and sometimes inappropriate use of antimicrobial drugs.
The dearth of new antimicrobials over the past several decades together with the increases in reported incidences of drug-resistant bacterial infections underscores the urgency of the need for new antibiotics. Disclosed herein are embodiments of novel compounds, which inhibit the growth of several bacterial strains, including drug-resistant strains.

Chrysophaentin analogs that inhibit FtsZ protein

THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AS REPRESENTED BY THE SECRETARY, DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH-OF THE COMMONWEALTH SYSTEM OF HIGHER EDUCATION


Esters of unsaturated fatty acids or mixtures thereof can be hydrogenated by a catalysed liquid-phase hydrogenation with hydrogen to give saturated or partially saturated esters of fatty acids or ester mixtures of fatty acids by carrying out the hydrogenation continuously at a pressure of 50 to 350 bar and a reaction temperature of 40 to 150.degree. C. on oxygen-free and support-free shaped bodies which are arranged in a fixed bed and made of pressed powders of elements of the iron subgroup of subgroup VIII of the Periodic Table of the Elements or their alloys with each other or their alloys with elements of subgroup VI; in addition, hydrogenation-inert elements can be present. The shaped bodies have a compressive strength of 20 to 250N on the curved shaped body surface and have an internal surface area of 10 to 90 m.sup.2 /g.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a novel, inexpensive, continuous process for the hydrogenation of esters of unsaturated fatty acids or ester mixtures of unsaturated fatty acids to give esters or ester mixtures of saturated or partially saturated fatty acids in which no undesirable higher monoalcohols or aldehydes which are characterized by an unpleasant odour or flavour are formed as by-products.
The hydrogenation of esters of unsaturated fatty acids or ester mixtures of unsaturated fatty acids allows compounds or compound mixtures having a higher or lower melting point to be prepared from the usually liquid unsaturated compounds.
From liquid vegetable or animal mixtures of glycerides of fatty acids, high-grade solid food fats can be produced in this manner which are extensively used as margarine or frying fats, but can also be used industrially (e.g. as lubricants).
2. Description of the Related Art
It is known to hydrogenate ester mixtures of unsaturated fatty acids discontinuously with hydrogen over Ni powder to give esters of saturated fatty acids (DRP 141 029).
It is further known to hydrogenate ester mixtures of unsaturated fatty acids discontinuously with hydrogen over mixed catalysts of the hydroxides, oxides or carbonates of Ni, Co, Fe with Cu or Pd, Pt or Ag to give esters of saturated fatty acids (U.S. Pat. No. 1,268,692).
It is further known to hydrogenate ester mixtures of unsaturated fatty acids semi-continuously with hydrogen in a plurality of series-connected discontinuous apparatuses using Ni powders or Ni on pulverulent kieselguhr as a support (GB 804 604, U.S. Pat. No. 2,932,658).
Moreover, it is known to hydrogenate ester mixtures of unsaturated fatty acids continuously with hydrogen on stationary Ni spirals located in a vertical column (GB 162 370, GB 203 218).
The course of the reaction can be illustrated, e.g. for the hydrogenation of methyl linoleate to give methyl stearate by the following reaction diagram: ##STR1##
In the known processes for the hydrogenation of esters of unsaturated fatty acids or ester mixtures of unsaturated fatty acids, dicontinuous suspension processes (batch processes) are almost exclusively used in which the esters of fatty acids or ester mixtures of fatty acids are hydrogenated with hydrogen over pulverulent, predominantly Ni-containing, catalysts.
Discontinuous processes have the disadvantage that their capacity is very small relative to the reaction volume and there is thus a requirement for large reaction apparatuses and storage tanks. Energy consumption and labour requirements are relatively high.
Continuous powder catalyst processes which employ a plurality of hydrogenation reactors connected in cascade avoid some of these disadvantages. However, there remains the requirement of specifically repeatedly dosing the pulverulent catalysts, circulating them by pumping and quantitatively filtering them off from the reaction product. The catalyst slurry pumps are subject to high mechanical wear. The quantitative removal of the pulverulent catalysts from the reaction product is complex. In addition, there is a great danger of relatively rapidly decreasing the catalyst activity by the additional operations. It is therefore advantageous to allow the reaction to proceed over fixed catalysts. Such catalysts must have a high activity which must not decrease over a relatively long period, because frequent changes of catalyst in fixed-bed reactions are likewise complex.
The hydrogenation of ester mixtures of unsaturated fatty acids on stationary Ni spirals (see above) situated in a vertical column has previously been described as a continuous process. However, such a process operates with low efficiency and has not proved itself in practice because the metallic Ni spirals have only a relatively low active surface area (<1 m.sup.3 /g).

Process for the hydrogenation of esters of unsaturated fatty acids


An image forming apparatus has an image bearing member on which an electrostatic latent image is formed and toner deposited to form a toner image, a heater disposed at a position out of contact with the surface of the image bearing member to output radiant heat to the image bearing member, and a heat controller for controlling rotation of the image bearing member and heat output by the heater to heat the outer peripheral surface of the image bearing member moving relative to the heater. The heater includes a lamp heater having a radiation spectrum that exhibits a major part of the peak intensity in the range of infrared wavelength from 2 to 3.5 μm.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus, such as a copying machine, a printer, or a facsimile, that forms an image by means of electrophotography.
2. Description of the Related Art
An image forming apparatus that forms an image by means of electrophotography includes a photosensitive drum serving as an image bearing member and a plurality of corona chargers arranged around the photosensitive drum. The plurality of corona chargers include a primary charger, a pre-transfer charger, a transfer charger, and a detach charger.
When activated, these corona chargers generate active substances (e.g., ozone and oxides of nitrogen). Some of these active substances change the chemical composition and the crystalline structure of the surface of the photosensitive drum. The change in the chemical composition and the crystalline structure of the surface may increase the hygroscopic property of the surface, and therefore, the electrical specific resistance of the surface area may decrease. Accordingly, the electrostatic charge retention properties of the drum may deteriorate, thus decreasing the quality of a formed image. In particular, when the photosensitive drum is left unused in a high-humidity environment for a long period of time due to being in a power-off mode or power-saving mode, moisture absorption of the photosensitive drum occurs at linear zones facing the corona chargers in a concentrated manner. Because a difference in the electrostatic charge retention function between the zones facing and not facing the corona chargers exists, uneven density or some defects may appear in the output image.
To solve this problem, it has been proposed that the photosensitive drum always be rotated to prevent the decrease in the electrostatic charge retention functions in particular zones. It has also been proposed that a heater be provided in a photosensitive drum and the heater is always in a power-on mode so as to uniformly heat the whole unoperated photosensitive drum. Thus, the photosensitive drum is prevented from absorbing moisture.
For example, a copying machine disclosed in Japanese Examined Utility Model Registration Application Publication No. 1-34205 includes a hollow photosensitive drum. Heated air is externally delivered to the hollow photosensitive drum so as to evenly heat the whole photosensitive drum.
A color printer disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 8-76641 includes a photosensitive drum having a roller-shaped heater on the outer periphery thereof. By rotating the photosensitive drum, the entire surface of the photosensitive drum can be evenly heated.
Copying machines disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 8-160821 and Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 8-171337 include a heating element having an elongated plate shape at a position slightly spaced away from a photosensitive drum so as to heat the photosensitive drum across an air layer. At start-up time, the heating element enters a power-on mode so as to heat the air layer while rotating the photosensitive drum. Thus, the entire surface of the photosensitive drum is heated so as to eliminate the moisture.
When a resistance heating heater is provided in a photosensitive drum and is always in the power-on mode, power is consumed even during power-off time of a copying machine or printer and even out of hours. Also, an increase in cooling power at the installation location is required. This power consumption does not meet the increasing demand for power and energy conservation. Accordingly, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 8-160821 discloses technology in which an image forming apparatus stops the heating during power-off time or after a predetermined unoperated time period has elapsed (i.e., in a power-saving mode). When the image forming apparatus enters the power-on mode or exits the power-saving mode, the image forming apparatus starts heating prior to its printing operation so that a photosensitive drum is preheated for about 30 seconds to a couple of minutes to eliminate the moisture.
In the case of the preheating method discussed in Japanese Examined Utility Model Registration Application Publication No. 1-34205, the heat is dissipated together with the heated air, and therefore, heating efficiency is low. In addition, the temperature of the surface of the photosensitive drum does not rise rapidly, and therefore, a lengthy warm-up time is required for starting up the apparatus and starting up the printing process.
In the case of the preheating method discussed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 8-76641, since the roller heater having a high temperature is in direct contact with the photosensitive drum, there is the possibility that toner will be heat-sealed on the surface of the photosensitive drum in the contact area or toner which inhibits heat conduction will be deposited onto the roller heater.
Additionally, in the case of the preheating method discussed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 8-160821 and Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 8-171337, the photosensitive drum is not in contact with the heater. Accordingly, the problem caused by the contact between the photosensitive drum and the heater does not occur. However, since the heat is transferred by an air layer, the heating efficiency is low. Thus, the temperature of the surface of the photosensitive drum rises slowly despite high power consumption of the heating element. If the power consumption of the heating element is increased to speed up the temperature rise, electric elements and components around the heating element are unnecessarily heated, and therefore, an additional cooling fan is required to cool an electronic circuit in the image forming apparatus.
The present inventor conducted an experiment in which the heating element was substituted by a halogen lamp heater, which was disposed at a position spaced slightly away from a photosensitive drum to eliminate the moisture by means of a radiant heating method. In this case, since the halogen lamp heater is not in contact with the photosensitive drum, the problems caused by the contact, such as a toner adhesion problem, do not occur. In addition, since the heat conduction does not rely on the air, high heating efficiency can be obtained. However, a typical halogen lamp heater equally disperses radiation throughout 360 degrees. Accordingly, in this experiment, parts and units adjacent to the halogen lamp heater (e.g., a cleaning unit and a developer unit) were unnecessarily heated, as will be described below. Thus, it was found that toner adhered to these parts and units.

Image forming apparatus with heat control of image bearing member


A transom mounted fluid hinge bracket having one mounting plate that is connected at a lower distal end to a horizontal bracket portion which extends forward and aft of the transom of a watercraft in a bow to stern axial displacement, the horizontal bracket abutting the underside of the hull of a watercraft sitting flush with the underside of the watercraft, at least one fluid hinge receiver secured to the back side of the horizontal bracket portion on which the back of the substantially planar surface of the trim tab may rest, the at least one fluid hinge receiver containing the substantially planar surface in a position of the planar surface resting about parallel to the hull of the watercraft, and the at least one fluid hinge receiver without any load from the planar surface except at rest keeping the planar surface from descending below a horizon parallel to that of a horizon of the hull.

So-called boat leveling devices of the trim-tab type have been known for many years and various forms of them have been developed in an effort to maximize attitude control, stability of the marine craft and general hydrodynamic efficiency inclusive of decrease of flow velocity under the hull and fuel efficiency.
It is known in the art to provide a trim-tab with a physical coupling takes place at the hinging point between the flat surface of the trim-tab and the hull of a watercraft to which it attaches. This physical coupling has come in the form of a pivoting hinge, as can be seen in the prior art shown in FIG. 1, or in the form of a hinge, as can be seen in the prior art shown in FIG. 2.
The prior art shown in FIG. 1, Arnseson U.S. Pat. No. 4,909,175, demonstrates the hinge common in most trim tabs, that is, a pivot hinge 1.3 that fastens the planar surface 2.3 of the trim tab to the watercraft. The pivot hinge is fixed in a specific location, and requires an actuator 5.3, mounted at an non-right angle to allow the planar surface to descend.
The prior art shown in FIG. 2, Weiler, U.S. Pat. No. 3,463,109, shows a similar issue where the planar surface 2.4 is fastened directly to the hull of the watercraft by a living hinge 7.4. This living hinge 7.4 is in a fixed location as well, and thus requires an actuator 5.4 mounted at a non-right angle, or the actuator 5.4 with a pivot mount to allow the planar surface 2.4 of the trim tab to descend.
There are significant differences between the prior art and the current invention. Primarily, the use of a living hinge as in the prior art of Arnseson U.S. Pat. No. 4,909,175 and Weiler, U.S. Pat. No. 3,463,109, do not allow an extent of slidability for the trim tabs it connects. Arnseson uses a living hinge 7.4, which is a thin flexible hinge made from the same material as the two rigid pieces it connects. Weiler uses a pivot hinge 1.3, which allows its trim tab 2.3 to raise and lower, but is limited to pivoting around its connection point. Thus, there exists a need for a fluid-hinge to allow slidability of the trim tab it connects.
These hinges in the prior art make changing a trim tab a difficult task. If a trim tab is damaged, or needs to be replaced, the operator removing the tab may further cause damage or destroy the trim-tab, as well as damage the hull of the watercraft it attaches to.
Further, an aspect that is prevalent in the prior art is the need to drill into the bottom surface of the hull of the watercraft. Not only is it a very precise process to tap holes into the bottom surface of the hull, but it requires sufficiently strong sealant to create buffers between the inside of the hull and the water. The present invention eliminates the need to drill holes in the bottom surface of the hull of a watercraft.
The present inventor has obtained patents in the general area of marine technology, such as U.S. Pat. Nos. 10,035,571 B1, and 10,005,527 B2.

Transom mounted bracket for a fluid hinge trim tab system


A vascular sealing device for effecting closure of a puncture or other opening in a blood vessel, or other body cavity, which has been entered through percutaneous techniques. The device is useable with a standard percutaneous vascular introducer. The vascular sealing device generally comprises a body or shaft, an adapter disposed at a proximal end of the shaft, and a balloon portion disposed generally at a distal end of the shaft. A core wire is connected to the distal end and extends, internally, through a lumen of the device for deflation of the balloon. A procoagulant is introduced through the introducer, or alternatively through an additional lumen and associated apertures, and to the puncture sealed by the inflated balloon. Subsequently, the balloon is deflated and the device is removed from the sealing puncture, with or without the aid of a reaccess sheath.

1. Field of the Invention.
This invention relates, generally, to medical devices. More particularly, the invention relates to hemostatic devices used for arresting the flow of blood or hemorrhage from punctures of the vascular system.
2. Background Information.
Various surgical procedures are performed by medical specialists such as cardiologists and radiologists utilizing percutaneous entry into a blood vessel or body cavity. Examples of such procedures include different techniques to recanalize atherosclerotic blood vessels, such as balloon angioplasty or atherectomy. Recently, both the types and number of procedures performed utilizing the above mentioned percutaneous access to blood vessels have increased greatly.
These procedures generally involve the percutaneous puncture with a thin walled needle into a blood vessel. Following this, a guidewire is placed through the needle into the blood vessel and the needle is withdrawn. An intravascular sheath of variable size is then advanced over the guidewire, percutaneously, into the lumen of the blood vessel. The introducer sheath is then used as an ingress/egress means during the procedure. Following completion of the procedure, the introducer sheath may be removed, but this requires the application of prolonged manual pressure over the puncture site by a physician or other suitably trained medical personnel. The time involved here is frequently extensive since patients are often treated with a variety of anticoagulant and thrombolytic agents, particularly in the setting of a heart attack. Alternatively, the sheath may be left in the puncture site for a prolonged period of time until the patient's coagulation status has returned to normal. Depending on the size of the vascular sheath, there may be an increased risk of bleeding to the patient, which may require blood transfusion. In addition, there is a significant risk for injury to the blood vessel upon removal of the sheath, particularly if the sheath has been in place for a prolonged period of time. This includes the possible development of an pseudo-aneurysm or severe hematoma. The current technique for removal of introducer sheaths is also painful to the patient and requires prolonged bed rest after removal. This adds to the discomfort for the patient, as well as prolonging hospitalization and costs.
Many of the intra-vascular procedures are performed in patients who are clinically unstable or who have the potential to become so, following completion of the procedure. Following removal of the vascular access sheath, it could be cumbersome and sometimes difficult to re-enter the blood vessel if necessary. Thus, with the current technique for removal of the sheath following the procedure, no easy, reliable method is available to allow reaccess to the lumen of the blood vessel, if necessary.
The prior art includes U.S. Pat. No. 4,744,364 to Kensey, U.S. Pat. No. 4,852,568 to Kensey, and U.S. Pat. No. 4,890,612 to Kensey, which disclose a method and device for sealing punctures in blood vessels by injection of a resorbable hemostatic plug into the puncture site. These devices and methods have a number of shortcomings and problems. U.S. Pat. No. 5,383,896 to Gershony et al. discloses a vascular sealing device having a thin conduit with a balloon at a distal end and an elastomeric seal at a proximal end.
Despite the need for a device and method in the art which overcomes the limitations and problems of the prior art, none insofar as is known has been proposed or developed.


A protective cage assembly includes a frame, a bracket assembly mounted to a first tubular member of the frame, a gusset of the bracket assembly extending between the bracket assembly and a second tubular member of the frame, and a third tubular member of the frame removably received by the bracket assembly. The protective cage assembly may be mounted within a cargo space of an electrified vehicle for both protecting the battery pack and establishing a load bearing floor of the cargo space.

The desire to reduce automotive fuel consumption and emissions has been well documented. Therefore, electrified vehicles are being developed that reduce or completely eliminate reliance on internal combustion engines. In general, electrified vehicles differ from conventional motor vehicles because they are selectively driven by one or more battery powered electric machines. Conventional motor vehicles, by contrast, rely exclusively on the internal combustion engine to propel the vehicle.
A high voltage traction battery pack typically powers the electric machines and other electrical loads of the electrified vehicle. The battery pack includes a plurality of energy storage devices, such as battery cells, that store energy for powering these electrical loads. The battery cells and various other battery components are typically packaged together inside an enclosure assembly. Depending on where it is mounted on the vehicle, the battery pack may be susceptible to damage during vehicle impact events.

Protective cage assemblies for electrified vehicle battery packs


Golf practice apparatus is for use in the practice of chip shots. The apparatus includes a bin formed of a fabric or fabric-like material, and wings which extend laterally to either side of the bin which are designed as catch fences for wayward balls. A frame is provided for supporting the bin in an erected condition, and the apparatus may be collapsed and rolled up into a bundle for storage when not in use.

THIS invention relates to a golf practice apparatus, and more particularly, to practice apparatus with which a user can practice his or her chipping.
Golf nets are well known and are used by golfers to practice their swings. Such nets are generally adapted to absorb impact of a firmly struck golf ball to thereby retain the golf ball and prevent it causing damage or becoming lost in confined or built-up areas.
A problem with conventional golf nets is that a user has no real way of knowing how the ball will travel or fly after it has been struck. As any golfer will know, a golf ball struck with any lateral spin will tend to veer off to the left or right resulting in a ball which has apparently been well struck ending up way off the intended line of flight.
Many persons who would like to practice golf have insufficient space to enable them to practice relatively short golf shots such as would be used, in a game, to chip onto the golf green from adjacent areas. Chipping is, of course, an important feature of the game golf and the player who can chip well will generally score well. In order to practice chipping a player needs to be able to see the flight of the ball after it has been struck so that distance and accuracy of chips can be gauged. Prior art catch-net type practice devices are not capable of providing this visual feedback to the practising golfer in any meaningful way.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,336,939 discloses a complex clip and putting apparatus which is suitable for permanent installation in a golf practice facility, but is unsuitable for a golfer who wishes to practice chip shots at his or her local park or sports field with a minimum of fuss. The apparatus shown in that patent is also costly and accordingly unsuitable for single home practice usage.


A cargo truck ramp load assist system comprises a hand truck engagement device disposed in a longitudinal slot in a cargo truck ramp, a first actuator coupled to the hook operable to effect displacement of the hand truck engagement device along the longitudinal slot in the ramp, a remote controller coupled to a hand truck and equipped with a first radio transceiver, a second radio transceiver coupled to the first actuator operable to receive directional/speed control signals from the remote controller, and the hand truck engagement device operable to engage the hand truck and the first actuator effecting displacement of the hand truck engagement device up and down the ramp in response to the directional/speed control signals to facilitate the hand truck going up and down the ramp.

Cargo trucks such as box trucks and semi-trailer trucks are the primary way of distributing and moving goods across land. The trucking industry provides an essential service to the American economy by transporting large quantities of raw materials, parts, and finished goods from manufacturing plants to wholesalers, distribution centers, and retail stores. Trucks are responsible for the majority of freight movement over land, and are vital components in the manufacturing, transportation, and warehousing industries.
In most cargo trucks, the floor of the cargo space is typically several feet above ground level. When loading or unloading goods using a hand truck or dolly, a ramp is often used to bridge the gap in elevation. However, for heavy or bulky loads, it is often a challenge to wheel the hand truck up and down the ramp in a safe manner. For example, due to the weight or bulk of the cargo, the hand truck may easy become out of control or gain speed down the ramp. Injury to the operator and damage to the cargo may result.

Radio-controlled cargo truck ramp load assist system


A method of calculating a system level air data parameter for an aircraft, for example aircraft angle-of-attack (AOA) and/or angle-of-sideslip (AOS), includes measuring a plurality of local static pressures pi. Next, a plurality of non-dimensional pressure ratios are each generated as a function of one of the plurality of local static pressures pi, a predicted system static pressure Pspredicted, and a predicted impact pressure qc predicted. Then, the system level air data parameter is calculated as a function of the generated plurality of non-dimensional pressure ratios. Air data systems having air data computers configured to implement the method are also disclosed. The air data systems can be Flush Air Data Systems (FADS), or other types of air data systems.

Flush air data systems are increasingly being used or proposed on air vehicles or aircraft (manned or unmanned). A FADS typically utilizes several flush or semi-flush static pressure ports on the exterior of an aircraft to measure local static pressures at various positions. The pressure or pressure values measured by the individual ports are combined using some form of algorithm(s) into system (global or aircraft level) air data parameters for the aircraft. Examples of these system air data parameters for the aircraft include angle-of-attack (AOA), angle-of-sideslip (AOS), Mach number, etc. Other well known system air data parameters for the aircraft can also be derived from estimates of static and total pressure and their rates of change.
Flush air data systems provide numerous advantages that make their use desirable for certain aircraft or in certain environments. For example, the flush or semi-flush static pressure ports can result in less drag on the aircraft than some other types of pressure sensing devices. Additionally, the flush or semi-flush static pressure sensing ports experience less ice build-up than some other types of pressure sensing devices. Other advantages of a FADS can include, for example, lower observability than some probe-style air data systems.
Suppose a FADS includes N flush static ports, each individually measuring a single local pressure value pi related to its perspective location on the aircraft. By way of example, a traditional FADS might typically include approximately five pressure sensing ports (N=5) positioned on the aircraft, though other numbers of ports can be used instead. Using one or more algorithms, these N local pressure values pi can be combined to infer the individual pieces necessary for an air data system, e.g., total pressure Pt, static pressure Ps, AOA and AOS. A wide variety of algorithms can be used provide these inferred air data parameters. For example, algorithms used in conventional five hole spherical head air data sensing probes can be used. Other algorithms that can be used include, for example, those based on multi-dimensional look-up tables, higher order multi-variable polynomial curve fitting, Kalman filters, etc. Increasingly, it has been proposed that the pressures or pressure values pi be combined using some form of artificial intelligence algorithms, e.g., neural networks (NNs), support vector machines (SVMs), etc.
One shortcoming of current approaches to FADS relates to the use of traditional methods to estimate AOA and AOS Traditional methods use only a couple of ports (which measure local static pressures pi) to estimate AOA and AOS before the estimates are refined using neural networks or other artificial intelligence algorithms. However, in this approach, if one port is lost due to a bird strike, power failure, etc., the entire system is lost. Thus, there is a need in the art to increase reliability, accuracy, and redundancy in FADS and other types of air data systems.
Embodiments of the present invention provide solutions to these and/or other problems, and offer other advantages over the prior art.

Method and apparatus for obtaining improved accuracy and range for air data parameters inferred from independent measurements of interdependent pressures


Metering device in particular for metering an additive in the field of oil exploration with a metering element adjustable by an adjusting means. To improve such a metering device in that already with minimal movement of the adjusting means in a constructive simple way a particular amount of additive is added to raw material and also to quickly interrupt the metering, the metering element comprises a metering gap and a valve means arranged behind the metering gap downstream in fluids moving direction.

The invention relates to a dosage feed device, in particular for the dosage feed of an additive fluid in crude oil production, with a dosing element adjustable by an adjustment device.
This sort of additive fluid is added in the production of both crude oil and natural gas. It is used, for example, for inhibiting the formation of hydrates, inhibiting corrosion, preventing the deposition of crusts, for the suppression of wax precipitates, etc. Normally, this type of additive fluid is termed an inhibitor. The composition of the inhibitor depends on the composition of the crude oil or natural gas and is also dosed in different quantities.
A suitable dosage feed device is known from practice, whereby the inhibitor is added relatively early in the production of the raw material using the appropriate dosing element, which generally occurs on exit from the corresponding bed of deposits. The inhibitor is later removed before further processing of the raw material occurs in a refinery or similar facility.


A device for actuating a valve including a body having a slot therein. A pin is positioned within the slot, and the pin is attachable to a valve stem of a valve, whereby when the valve stem is attached to the pin and the pin is moved within the slot, the valve stem moves therewith and actuates the valve. There is also a rotary actuator assembly including a rotary actuator, a body having a chamber therein attached to the actuator, and a valve associated therewith. A slot is provided in part of the chamber, and a pin extends through the slot for guiding movement of the valve stem of the valve when the valve stem is attached to the pin and the rotary actuator is actuated. The slot may be configured as a helical slot. A piston may be provided between the valve stem and the pin. The configuration of the slot may be varied for changing the length of movement of the pin, so as to change the length of movement of a valve stem attached thereto.

Pipes are used to transmit large volumes of fluid. In order to control flow of fluid through these pipes, valves are commonly used at specific points in the piping or between different pipes. The valves used typically include a valve seat and a valve stem moved relative to the valve seat.
The position of the valve stem affects the flow of the fluid through the pipe. In a two-way valve, the flow is restricted when the valve stem is positioned so that a valve disk, a gate, a blocking member or piston is seated in the valve seat. Alternatively, the flow is least restricted when the valve stem is positioned such that the piston is located away from the valve seat. Intermediate positions are also available depending on the position of the valve stem and, hence, the valve disk.
Similarly, in three-way and four-way valves, the position of the valve stem determines the fluid flow. This fluid flow is restricted to flowing along a first path when the piston seats in the first valve seat. Alternatively, the fluid flow is restricted to flowing along a second path when the piston seats in a second valve seat.
For larger pipes, the valve stems are correspondingly large and heavy.
Many prior art devices use rising stem actuators for vertical control of these valve stems. However, vertical movement of these known valve stems often requires great amounts of force and such vertical movement is particularly difficult to implement. A means to substitute, convert, or transfer this force into a lesser force or motion is therefore desired. Thus, there is a need to replace currently available rising stem actuators with an actuator which requires less force input to achieve the same amount of force output as known actuators.
In addition, there is a need for an actuator which has a greater variety of applications than known actuators.


The invention provides a process for producing homogeneous and storage-stable pastes, inks, paints, coverings, coatings and coating materials which comprises using ionic liquids as dispersing additives.

The use of dispersants to disperse fillers and pigments in liquid media is state of the art and involves, in principle, using such additives to fullfill the following tasks:    (1) An easier incorporation of fillers and pigments, in order to ensure shorter dispersing times at plant level or to allow the utilization of simple dispersing equipment (dissolvers rather than beadmill dispersing),    (2) A reduction in the viscosity of pigment pastes or of inks and paints, absent which the production of very highly filled pigment pastes is completely impossible,    (3) The development of optimum color strength or of optimum hiding power in the case of opaque pigments,    (4) The prevention of the propensity of pigment pastes to undergo settling when stored for a number of months, in transit and under extreme climatic exposure,    (5) The prevention of flocculation in order to produce reproducible shades, which is particularly important as a result of the use of paint-mixing machines for coloring different kinds of white base paints and base varnishes, and    (6) The establishment of compatibility with a large number of letdown binders or, additionally, of paints and inks produced from them.
The fundamental tasks of a dispersant or of such auxiliaries, described above, should first be fed independently of the question of the particular liquid medium in which a filler or pigment is to be dispersed.
In the manner in which the desired effect is achieved, however, dispersants are frequently very variable. It is necessary to consider how independently a dispersant operates from the pigment used, in other words how universally it acts in respect of different kinds of pigment and filler surfaces (organic or inorganic, hydrophobically or hydrophilically modified, etc.).
This function can often still be met by modern-day polymeric dispersant structures. Descriptions are given, for example, of water-soluble polyisocyanate adducts containing hydrophilic polyether chains (EP-A-0 731 148), hydrophilic polyurethane-polyureas (DE-A-44 16 336), poly(meth)acrylates (U.S. Pat. No. 3,980,602, WO-A-94/21701), and also specialty polyesters (WO-A-94/18260) or copolymers based on vinylic monomers (styrene, vinylimidazole, etc.) with acrylate-functional monomers (acrylic cid, BuAc, HEA), as in EP-B-0 311 157.
Besides the disruptive or even toxic residues of monomer, however, these systems frequently lack universal compatibility with the typical binder systems.
Because of molar weight, the nature of the monomers used or the long polyethylene oxide chains that are needed for water solubility, the resulting products are frequently solid and can be formulated by neutralization generally only as 40% strength aqueous solutions, thereby restricting the user in the case where highly concentrated pastes are produced.
A far greater problem, however, is that of the universality of the dispersant for different kinds of surroundings.
The fundamental assumption is that in aqueous, hydrophilic media it is necessary to take account not only of the steric stabilization of the pigment by the dispersant, but also of an electrostatic contribution to stabilization, which, if functional groups are suitably chosen, is not available in this way for dispersing in a solvent-containing environment or in other hydrophobic media such as UV systems.
In the last-mentioned systems, the action of dispersants is primarily through steric stabilization. It is therefore understandable that dispersants must have a certain compatibility with the medium surrounding them in order for there to be the steric stabilization, through the maintenance of sufficient distance between the pigment particles. Those components of dispersants (side chains in polymers and/or block components in linear structures) which take on this stabilizing function are not capable of being able to be equally effective in a hydrophilic and a hydrophobic environment, owing to the stringent requirements imposed on the different kinds of pigments. This is essentially a question of the solubility and compatibility with the surrounding matrix.
It is therefore state of the art today that, owing to the diverse efforts, different kinds of dispersant structures have been developed on one hand for aqueous and water-thinnable paints and inks and, on the other hand, that there are dispersants for solvent-borne and UV-based systems, respectively. In other words, the scheme which has come about (see, FIG. 1 which is referred herein as scheme (1)) is a different kind of color paste system for coloring the aqueous and the solvent-borne systems, respectively, on the basis of the aforementioned dispersant groups.
In light of the associated logistical effort and microeconomic expense involved in producing and storing different kinds of pigment paste systems for paint-mixing machines, there is therefore a high potential for savings, which has already been acknowledged by certain developments in more recent times, through the use of what are called universal dispersants.
So-called universal dispersants are used for formulating aqueous pigment pastes and are formulated, for example, on the basis of alkylphenol ethoxylates (J. Bieleman, PPCJ 3, 1995, 17; P. Quednau, ACT'98, Paper No. 29), oleo-block-ABC derivatives (H. Frommelius, VILF (Verband der lngenieure für Lacke und Farben) Janrestagung [annual conference] 2000, 41) or styrene-oxide-based polyether structures (6th Nuremberg Congress, Creative Advances in Coatings Technology, April 2001, 481, Vincentz K G). Nevertheless the ecotoxicologically objectional alkylphenol ethoxylates (Journal of Surfactants and Detergents, Vol.5, No.1, (2002); Critical reviews in Toxicology, 26(3): 335-364, (1996); P. Schöberl, Tenside Surfactants Detergents 25, 1988, 2, 86; K. Fent, Swiss Federal Institute for Environmental Science and Technology) are as unsuccessful as the other concepts for universal dispersants for allowing the successful coloring of all existing systems.
When used alone in water-based universal pastes (which can contain up to 20% solvent in the form, for example, of a humectant), they are only capable of tinting aqueous paints and inks, based for example on acrylate dispersions, hybrid binders or PVAc terpolymers, and of coloring a narrowly restricted, selected assortment of solvent-based inks and paints, such as conventional alkyd resin paints or PU alkyd-based systems, for example.
So-called universal pastes are completely unsuitable, however, for coloring solvent-borne paints and inks based, for example, on Pliolite (styrene-acrylates or styrene-butadienes in solution, for example, in white spirit or isoparaffins) or Isopar-based alkyd resins or systems known as high-solids alkyds. Solvent-based pastes have been employed for this function to date.
In view of the fact that in conventional paint-mixing machines there are 12 to 20 color pastes with different pigments, the market's requirement not to have to install a plurality of paint-mixing machines, each containing pastes suitable only for coloring particular white paints and varnishes, becomes clearly understandable.

Process for producing homogeneous and storage-stable pastes, inks and paints using ionic liquids as dispersing additives


In one embodiment, a network comprises a plurality of nodes that communicate with one another. A first node included in the plurality of nodes generates a plan comprising a plurality of marker states. Each marker state comprises a value for a property associated with the first node. When the first node broadcasts information indicative of a given marker state included in the plan, at least one node other than the first node verifies the value of the property included in the given marker state.

In many communication applications, when a node (also referred to here as the "transmitting" node) transmits data to ones or more "receiving" nodes in the network, each of a receiving nodes needs to determine if the data received by that node is the same data that was transmitted by the transmitting node. If that is the case, the receiving node uses the received data in processing performed by that node.
Also, in some applications, even if such a receiving node determines that data received by that node is authentic (that is, is the same data transmitted by the transmitting node), the receiving node needs a mechanism to determine if the transmitting node is "cheating" and transmitting "incorrect" data. In one such application, at least a portion of the data transmitted by the transmitting node is contextual information associated with the transmitting node (for example, a current temperature and location for the transmitting node at the time the transmitting node transmits the data). In such an application, if the transmitting cheats and transmits incorrect contextual information, the processing performed by the receiving node using such information may generate incorrect or otherwise undesirable results.

Property-based data authentication mechanism