The present invention provides methods for treating interstitial lung diseases, comprising administering to an individual an effective amount of an inhibitor of coagulation factor XII. The invention further provides uses and pharmaceutical kits for that treatment.

Interstitial lung disease (ILD), also known as diffuse parenchymal lung disease (DPLD), refers to a group of lung diseases affecting the interstitium (the tissue and space around the air sacs of the lungs). It concerns alveolar epithelium, pulmonary capillary endothelium, basement membrane, perivascular and perilymphatic tissues. Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is defined as a distinctive type of chronic fibrosing interstitial pneumonia of unknown cause limited to the lungs and associated with a histological pattern of usual interstitial pneumonia (UIP). IPF lungs are characterized by architectural destruction, dense scarring with honeycombing and scattered fibroblasts foci (areas of intensive fibroblasts proliferation). IPF has a progressive and usually fatal course with a medium survival of 2-3 years following diagnosis. Patients with IPF are usually between 50 to 70 years old and the incidence is 7.4 cases per 100,000 for women and 10.7 cases per 100,000 for men per year. The incidence, prevalence and death increase with age. To date, most treatment strategies have been based on eliminating or suppressing the inflammatory component. No pharmacological therapy has been proven to be effective in IPF treatment. All currently available therapeutic trials in IPF are severely limited by the lack of clear understanding of the disease etiology. The original hypothesis of the pathogenesis of IPF is that chronic inflammation in response to unknown etiological agents (idiopathic) leads to tissue destruction, initiation and propagation of wound healing responses and, subsequently, to progressive fibrosis. A recent proposal indicates that inflammation is necessary to trigger the initiation of the fibrotic process, but plays a minor role in the progression of the disease. In contrast to other forms of chronic interstitial lung diseases such as sarcoidosis and hypersensitivity pneumonitis, IPF is characterized by only limited inflammation.
Recently, it has been suggested that IPF is mainly a disorder of alveolar epithelial injury, abnormal alveolar wound repair and remodelling.
Transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) is a highly pleiotropic cytokine which plays a fundamental role in wound healing, embryonic development and disease states associated with inflammation and proliferation, for example tissue fibrosis. In the adult mice, TGF-β overexpression in the lungs leads to progressive pulmonary fibrosis. TGF-β is thought to promote fibrotic responses in the lungs mainly due to suppression of alveolar epithelial cell proliferation, stimulation of fibroblasts proliferation, activation of resident lung cells including epithelial cells, which differentiate into collagen-producing myofibroblasts. TGF-β1 enhances synthesis and inhibits degradation of extracellular matrix components. Moreover, recent studies suggest that TGF-β1 may contribute to fibrotic conditions by modulating procoagulant and fibrinolytic activities. In particular, TGF-β1 has been shown to upregulate the expression of tissue factor, the key initiator of the extrinsic coagulation pathway, and of the plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI)-1 in different cell populations including fibroblasts.
The cellular response to TGF-β1 involves ligand binding to TGF-β receptor type II (TβR-II) which phosphorylates TGF-β receptor type I (TβR-I). Activated TβR-I phosphorylates receptor associated Smads (Smad 1, 2, 3, 5, and 8), promoting their heterodimerization with common-mediator Smad (Smad 4) and translocation from the cytoplasm to the nucleus. Within the nucleus, the Smad hetero-complex interacts with canonical smad-binding elements (SBEs) of target genes to activate their transcription. Human Smad 3 and Smad 4 have been shown to bind to SBE comprising CAGA box.
Alterations of the alveolar haemostatic balance and excessive deposition of intraalveolar fibrin have been observed in the lungs of IPF patients. Intraalveolar fibrin accumulation, observed under these conditions, arises from the imbalance between locally produced pro- and anti-coagulant factors, in combination with leakage of plasma proteins (including fibrinogen) into the alveolar space. Increased procoagulant activity in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluids of patients with IPF is accompanied by a decreased fibrinolytic activity. Identical alterations of the haemostatic balance in the alveolar space have been observed in the bleomycin animal model of pulmonary fibrosis. In clinical and experimental lung fibrosis the procoagulant response is mainly attributable to tissue factor (TF) associated with factor VIIa, whereas the decreased fibrinolytic activity is ascribed to inhibition of urokinase type (u-PA) and tissue type (t-PA) plasminogen activators by plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI)-1 as well as blockage of plasmin by α2-plasmin inhibitor. Although fibrin is required for reparative processes and normal wound healing, persistent and excessive deposition of extravascular fibrin is thought to contribute to the pathomechanisms of fibrotic lung diseases in several ways. Fibrin may serve as a reservoir of profibrotic growth factors. It incorporates and inactivates pulmonary surfactant, the lung lipoprotein complex critical for maintaining low alveolar surface tension. Surfactant dysfunction leads to atelectasis and loss of lung compliance. Moreover, inactivation of the surfactant system, in conjunction with "glueing" of the adjacent alveolar walls by fibrin, is thought to provide a provisional matrix on which fibroblasts proliferate and produce collagen.
In addition, the u-PA/PAI-1 system may contribute to development of lung fibrosis by regulation of cell migration, cell adhesion and cell proliferation. Furthermore, various coagulation proteases such as thrombin, factor Xa and the TF/factor-VIIa complex exhibit cellular activities that may also contribute to fibrotic processes in the lung. Most of these functions are mediated via proteolytic activation of protease activated receptors (PARs). For instance, thrombin and factor Xa stimulate fibroblast proliferation and procollagen production in a PAR-1-dependent manner. Additionally, thrombin induces differentiation of normal lung fibroblasts to myofibroblasts via PAR-1 activation. Furthermore, activation of PAR-1 by thrombin, factor Xa and by the TF/factor VIIa complex can increase the expression of profibrotic and proinflammatory cytokines. A potential role of PAR-1 in pulmonary fibrosis is underscored by the recent finding demonstrating that PAR-1-deficient mice are protected against bleomycin-induced lung fibrosis. Additional evidence underlying the importance of cellular effects mediated by haemostatic factors in the development of lung fibrosis came from the recent observation indicating no protection against bleomycin-induced lung fibrosis in fibrinogen-null mice.

Factor XII inhibitors for treating interstitial lung disease


A heat-resistant cast steel includes, based on a total weight of the heat-resistant cast steel, 0.2 to 0.4 wt % carbon; 0.5 to 1.0 wt % silicon; 0.3 to 0.8 wt % manganese; 0.7 to 1.0 wt % nickel; 17 to 23 wt % chromium; 0.5 to 1.0 wt % niobium; 1.5 to 2.0 wt % tungsten; 0.2 to 0.5 wt % vanadium; 0.05 to 0.1 wt % cerium; 0.05 to 0.1 wt % nitrogen; and a balance of iron.

Generally, an exhaust manifold refers to an exhaust pipe collecting exhaust gas discharged from each cylinder into one flow. The manifold may experience resistance because of differences in an internal diameter of a gasket, an internal diameter of a head, and an internal diameter of the manifold.
Since the exhaust manifold is placed at a site where an exhaust gas outputted from a cylinder head is first received, the exhaust manifold may be exposed to very high heat according to the power of an engine. Because there is no cooler such as cooling water in the exhaust manifold, unlike an engine having cooling water, when the engine is accelerated, the temperature may increase to about 800 to 900° C. from the high temperature exhaust gas and may then be rapidly air-cooled to normal temperature when the engine is stopped.
Since this process is repeated several times in one day, the heat impact on the exhaust manifold may be very severe, and thus high durability of the exhaust manifold among the various parts of the engine is desired.
A turbine housing is an external case of a turbo charger, and a turbine wheel and the like are in the turbine housing. Since the turbine housing is exposed to the high temperature of the exhaust gas outputted from the exhaust manifold, the turbine housing should have high durability like the exhaust manifold.
For high durability, a material used in the exhaust manifold and the turbine housing of a diesel engine, FCD-HS and SiMo cast irons and the like are used as a high-temperature oxidation-resistant cast iron. These materials are manufactured by adding an element such as silicon (Si) and molybdenum (Mo) to an existing nodular graphite cast iron material to improve physical properties and oxidation resistance at high temperatures.
However, a general-use temperature range of an exhaust system using heat-resistant cast iron is about 630 to 800° C., and in this temperature range, the aforementioned materials have tensile strength of about 60 MPa.
However, recently, due to the development of high-performance engines to meet the trend of increased output of vehicles, and also the strengthening of exhaust regulations, exhaust gas temperatures have increased. As the standard of durability and quality is strengthened, a load applied to the exhaust system is gradually increasing.
Therefore, the present disclosure has been made in an effort to develop a heat-resistant cast steel having superior strength and oxidation resistance at high temperatures to be used in an exhaust manifold and a turbine housing of a high performance engine.

Heat resistant cast steel having superior high temperature strength and oxidation resistance


An oil level gauge structure with an oil level gauge attachment hole functioning as an oil filling opening provided in a casing of an engine with an oil level gauge for closing up the attachment hole. The oil level gauge has a columnar portion formed on the lower end side of an external thread. The columnar portion has a predetermined length and is continuous with the external thread for attaching the oil level gauge to the casing. A guide hole into which the columnar portion is fitted to restrict the position of the columnar portion is provided on the lower end side of an internal thread of an attachment hole of the casing. The columnar portion of the oil level gauge is formed to have such an axial length that the lower end of the columnar portion exceeds the depth of the internal thread of the casing.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an oil level gauge structure.
2. Description of Background Art
A conventional oil level gauge is attached to an upper portion of the crankcase cover, which necessitates an oil level gauge that is long and large. In addition, since the conventional gauges are configured such that their gauge section is guided, the length of shaft portion of the conventional gauge needs to be increased accordingly. See, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2008-38655.


Expanded metal machine includes a stationary knife and an adjustable knife which is adjustable in a vertical direction and a transverse direction. The adjustable knife includes a cutting edge with spaced-apart cutting projections in the transverse direction. A transport device for transporting a flat material in a direction of transport between the knives is provided. A cam is provided and configured for performing a periodic vertical motion. There is a transverse adjustment device configured for adjusting the transverse motion of the adjustable knife in a manner synchronized with the traveling motion. Likewise, there is an eccentric drive provided for the cam, and that is configured for guiding the cam in a circulatory motion which runs in a plane determined (e.g., bounded) by the vertical direction and the transverse direction.

Expanded metals are materials which have openings in their surface and are produced from a flat material, especially metal plates or metal strips, by making offset cuts without loss of material and concurrently undergoing stretch or expansion forming.
In this connection, the successive cycles (for a vertical alignment of the machine) are as follows:
the flat starting material is guided between knives;
the starting material is cut by the moving knife while being subjected to stretch forming;
the knife is again withdrawn vertically and then adjusted laterally by a half mesh-length;
the knife is again adjusted vertically to cut into the starting material, thereby making first meshes, and the knife is again withdrawn vertically and adjusted laterally into the starting position; and
whereupon, the starting material can again be guided back.
The expanded metal can subsequently be processed further, e.g. rolled flat.
The moving knife is attached to a tool holder, which is laterally adjusted in a synchronized manner with the traveling motion by means of a transverse adjusting device. A cam again adjusts the tool holder in the vertical direction. In this connection, the cam is guided in a sliding guide or roller guide in a conventional manner. Although a sliding guide is first of all easier to construct, it requires good lubrication and does not permit any prestress. In a roller guide, prestress can be provided to eliminate the play that would otherwise arise. However, given that the rollers are only rotated around a small portion of their circumference because of the small stroke (e.g. 3 mm) and the back and forth motion of the cam, they quickly become out-of-round and lock.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,308,597 discloses an expanded metal machine, and a method, in which the respectively movable and adjustable knife is arranged above and the stationary knife is arranged below. The flat sheet-metal material is unrolled from a feed roller, guided between the knives, guided downwards from there over another roller, and stretched and then rolled up on another roller.

Expanded metal machine and method of producing expanded metal


A position restoring apparatus for an open and close device includes a casing base, a first actuating member, a second actuating member, a first end cover, a second end cover, an output shaft and a motor. The casing base has main member with a hollow seat. The first actuating member has a first disk part with a first block and a first rack at a lateral side of the first block. The second actuating member has a second disk part with a second block and a second rack. The first end cover provides a plurality of first elastic components. The second end cover provides a plurality of second elastic components. The output shaft provides a joining part to mesh with the first and second racks. The motor shaft extends upward a rod part with an electromagnet, a stationary disk member and a movable disk member.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is related to a valve or any other open and close apparatus and particularly to a position restoring apparatus for an open and close device.
2. Brief Description of the Related Art
In order to pursue fast speed and convenience, an open and close function of electrical actuation has been developed by the manufacturers for controlling ball valve, butterfly valve or other types of valves.
However, in case of the valves being required to shut urgently under a condition of emergency and happening to power failure or power off accidentally, how to close the valves immediately is a problem bothering the manufacturers and the users. Besides, sometimes, the users desire to operate the valves manually but it is not possible for them to enter the shop to operate open or close of the valves.
U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/159,685 filed by the present inventor entitled "POSITION RETURN DEVICE FOR AN OPEN AND CLOSE APPARATUS" has been allowed. The feature of the prior art is in that a valve or any open and close apparatus can be returned to the original opening or closing state in case of power failure or power being off accidentally. However, when the valve or any open and close apparatus has to be changed to a state different from the original state before the power being on again, the prior art is incapable of dealing with the special need.

Position restoring apparatus for an open and close device


The invention relates to branched polysiloxane compositions resulting from copolymerizing under hydrosilylation conditions a component mixture comprising (a) one or more organosilicon compounds containing at least two unsaturated hydrocarbon functional groups per molecule, and (b) one or more silylhydride-containing compounds containing at least two silylhydride functional groups per molecule, with the provision that (i) at least one component (a) or (b) contains at least three functional groups per molecule; (ii) a component (a) or (b) having a higher number of functional groups per molecule is present in a molar amount equal to or lower than a molar amount of the other component (a) or (b) having a lower number of functional groups per molecule; and (iii) unsaturated hydrocarbon compounds are excluded from the component mixture.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to branched polysiloxane compositions of particular use as mist suppressants in silicone-based paper release coatings.
2. Description of the Prior Art
It is well known that in operations where silicone-based paper release coating formulations are subjected to a high enough rotational or translational motion, e.g., in high speed roll coating of flexible supports and paper, misting and/or aerosoling can become significant problems. These problems become particularly significant when applying these release coatings at roll coating speeds approaching 1000 ft/min, while the trend in the paper coating industry is to use speeds in excess of 1500 ft/min, e.g., 2000-3000 ft/min. In addition to having a deleterious effect on manufacturing operations, these mist and aerosol particles present industrial hygiene and safety issues for those people operating or working in the vicinity of the coating equipment.
Specialized chemical formulations known generically as "mist suppressants" have commonly been used to reduce the formation of mist in such operations. For example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,805,914 and 6,489,407 (hereinafter the '914 and '407 patents) disclose silicone mist suppressant compositions derived from reacting an excess of at least one organohydrogensilicone compound containing at least three silicon-bonded hydrogen groups per molecule (component (a)) with at least one compound containing at least two alkenyl groups per molecule (component (b)), wherein the ratio of the number of silicon-bonded hydrogen atoms of component (a) to the number of alkenyl groups of component (b) is at least 4.6:1, and more preferably from 4.6:1 to 500:1.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,586,535 discloses essentially the inverse of the '914 and '407 patents, i.e., silicone mist suppressant compositions derived from reacting at least one organohydrogensilicon compound containing at least two silicon-bonded hydrogen groups with an excess of at least one organoalkenylsiloxane compound containing at least three silicon-bonded alkenyl groups, wherein the ratio of the number of silicon-bonded hydrogen atoms of component (a) to the number of alkenyl groups of component (b) is less than or equal to 1:4.6, and preferably from 1:4.6 to 1:500.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,764,717 and 6,956,096 disclose silicone-based mist suppressant compositions derived from a two-step process involving: (a) reacting a hydrocarbon containing at least three aliphatic double bonds with a stoichiometric excess of organosiloxane compounds having terminal silicon-bonded hydrogen atoms, wherein the ratio of silicon-bonded hydrogen to aliphatic double bonds is from 1.3 to 10, and preferably from 1.5 to 5; and (b) reacting the resulting hydrocarbon-siloxane copolymers, which contain silicon-bonded hydrogen atoms, with a stoichiometric excess of α,ω-dialkenylsiloxane polymer, wherein the ratio of aliphatic double bonds in the α,ω-dialkenylsiloxane polymer to silicon-bonded hydrogen in the hydrocarbon-siloxane copolymer obtained in the first step is from 1.2 to 10, preferably from 1.5 to 5.0.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,887,949, 6,774,201, and 6,727,338 disclose silicone polymers as anti-mist additives wherein unsaturated hydrocarbon compounds are included in the synthesis of the silicone polymers.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,625,023 discloses mist suppressant compositions derived by reacting an organosilicon compound, an oxyalkylene-containing compound, and a catalyst.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,399,614 discloses adhesive compositions containing alkenyl-terminated polydiorganosiloxanes and silylhydride-terminated organohydrogenpolysiloxanes.
However, there remains a need for mist suppressant compositions which have at least the same or an improved capability of mist reduction while providing other benefits, such as cost savings, ease of production, ease of use, and/or broader application to a variety of end uses.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


A Harmonic Generator for audio applications and a Pre-Amplifier circuit are combined to form a Harmonic Generator and Pre-Amplifier circuit. The Harmonic Generator is formed from a Buffer Circuit responsive to an input program signal for buffering the input program signal and for providing a buffered input program signal. A Modulator Circuit is coupled to receive the buffered input program signal and generates harmonics in response to changes in amplitude of the program input signal to provide a modulated input program signal. A Summing Circuit adds the buffered input program signal and the modulated input program signal to provide a composite modulated input program signal. The Pre-Amplifier is coupled to receive the composite modulated input programing signal and process the signal in three audio frequency bands to provide a compensated output signal that includes harmonics generated by the modulator.

The above referenced issued U.S. Pat. No. 5,736,897 shows a state-variable filter used as a Pre-Amplifier that receives an input program signal and processes the input program signal to provide three band-pass signals comprising a low band-pass signal (LFRCMIPS), a mid-range band pass signal (MFRCMIPS) and a high band-pass signal (HFRCMIPS) to respective inputs of a summing amplifier. The three signal components are then summed and output as a compensated signal at its output. The '897' Patent then shows the compensated signal being processed by a "Compander" Circuit first introduced in the above referenced U.S. Pat. No. 5,510,752. Application Ser. No. 09/444,541 referenced above shows the compensated signal at the output of the state-variable filter driving an audio boost circuit.
The compensated signal is free of harmonic distortion in each of the above mentioned topologies. A determination has been made that some applications benefit from the introduction of a predetermined amount of harmonic distortion into the compensated signal out of the pre amplifier. This application provides an initial input amplifier that receives the program signal and provides a buffered program signal. The buffered program signal is sampled by a Harmonic Generator circuit. The Harmonic Generator circuit then generates a family of harmonic signals that are summed with the buffered program signal for cumulative processing by the state variable filter to provide a composite compensated signal having a predetermined component of harmonics.


Some embodiments of the present invention provide systems and methods for live data migration with automatic redirection that overcome some or all of the downfalls of typical approaches. According to some embodiments, any client applications or devices accessing the migrated data may stay live and any new requests may be automatically redirected to the destination server to which the data was migrated. This may be accomplished, for example, using a combination of Server Message Block (SMB), Service Witness Protocol (SWP), and Distributed File System Referral Protocol (DFS).

Migrating a complex database system can be a daunting task. Complex database systems are typically maintained by corporations, governments, and other large-scale entities (collectively referred to as customers) that have a limited ability to tolerate database systems being offline. As such, when mission-critical database systems are to be migrated from a first server system to a second (likely newer and more advanced) server system, the customer is likely desirable of an efficient and timely migration.

Systems and methods for live data migration with automatic redirection


Exemplary embodiments are directed to a system and method for managing a network having multiple domains. An exemplary method includes identifying a router interface connected with a switch; assigning a Layer 2 identifier to the interface, wherein the identifier uniquely identifies a Layer 2 domain within the network; and assigning the Layer 2 identifier to the switch.

Computer networks can contain a plurality of nodes, each representing a device connected within the network. The nodes can be grouped into subnetworks which include one or more virtual local area networks (VLANs).
In a network, different VLANs having different physical locations within the network can possess the same VLAN identifier. In this situation, the network management software will assume that redundant VLAN identifiers correspond to the same VLAN, irrespective of each VLAN's physical location within the network.

Method and system for managing a network having multiple domains

Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.


A vacuum brake servo includes a force input element, a control valve actuated by the force input element, a vacuum chamber connected to a vacuum source, and an operating chamber which, depending on the actuation of the force input element, can be connected to either the vacuum chamber or the surrounding atmosphere. The control valve has a control piston that can be actuated by the force input element and, together with a valve element, forms a seal seat having a seal seat diameter between the operating chamber and the surrounding atmosphere. In the area close to the seal seat, a guide channel is provided. When the seal seat is opened, air from the surrounding atmosphere flows into the operating chamber. The guide channel extends axially with a constant flow diameter over a predetermined length, wherein the flow diameter is less than or equal to the seal seat diameter.

The present invention relates to a vacuum brake booster for a motor vehicle brake system comprising a rod-like force input member, which is coupled or can be coupled with a brake pedal, a control valve, which can be actuated by means of the force input member, a chamber arrangement having a vacuum chamber, which is connectable to a vacuum source, as well as a working chamber, which is, in accordance with the actuation of the force input member, selectively connectable to the vacuum chamber and to the surrounding atmosphere, wherein the control valve has a control piston actuatable by means of the force input member, which control piston forms together with a valve element a sealing seat having a sealing seat diameter between the working chamber and the surrounding atmosphere, wherein in the region close to the sealing seat a guiding channel is provided through which, upon the opening of the sealing seat, air flows from the surrounding atmosphere into the working chamber due to a pressure difference.
In the course of technical development in the field of automotive engineering, it is becoming possible to reduce the noise level in the passenger compartment of a motor vehicle further and further. But this can also be achieved, in particular, by reducing the emission of such noises through better acoustic insulation of the passenger compartment. However, other noises produced in the vehicle, which were previously masked by the drive noises and rolling noises, are thereby more easily heard. These include, for example, the intake noise of a vacuum brake booster, which occurs when the brake booster is actuated from its rest position. Owing to the actuation, the working chamber, which is evacuated in the initial state, is connected to the surrounding atmosphere, whereupon surrounding air flows into the working chamber in some cases at high velocity in order to provide a servo assistance for the brake actuation, in a manner known per se. The relatively high flow velocities may also give rise to flow noises in frequency ranges lying in the range of human hearing. Experience has shown here that particularly noises which arise in the frequency range between 2.4 kHz and 8 kHz are felt to be disturbing.
In the prior art, various solutions are known for reducing inflow noises in vacuum brake boosters.
For instance, the generic prior art according to document DE 32 43 093 A1 discloses a vacuum brake booster in which a foam element is provided in the control valve, the geometry of which element is configured such that the cross-sectional area of the guiding channel is reduced. This prior art provides, for example, a plurality of cylindrical openings in the foam element which extend parallel to the force input member.
A comparable solution with a foam element is known from the document DE 29 18 734 A1.
Finally, the document DE 39 24 672 A1 discloses a vacuum brake booster in which a nozzle arrangement with relatively complicated geometry, intended to impart a laminar flow to the sucked-in air, is arranged in the control valve.
All the solutions from the prior art provide additional parts with relatively complicated geometry which increase the production costs of such brake boosters undesirably. Moreover, durability problems may arise when using foam parts.

Vacuum brake servo for a motor vehicle braking system


A coupling device provides galvanic isolation using a leadframe that is configured to support two integrated circuit chips in a coplanar manner. Each chip contains an inductive coupling coil. The lead frame includes a set of bond pads for attaching bond wires to couple to the two integrated circuit chips. Two separated die attach pads support the two chips. Each die attach pad is configured to support one of the two integrated circuit chips with a plurality of cantilevered fingers.

Galvanic isolation is a principle of isolating functional sections of electrical systems to prevent current flow between the sections. In order to provide galvanic isolation, no direct conduction path is permitted. Energy or information may still be exchanged between the sections by other means, such as capacitance, induction, or electromagnetic waves, or by optical, acoustic, or mechanical means.
Galvanic isolation is used where two or more electric circuits must communicate, but their grounds may be at different potentials. It is an effective method of breaking ground loops by preventing unwanted current from flowing between two units sharing a ground conductor. Galvanic isolation is also used for safety, preventing accidental current from reaching ground through a person's body.
For years, designers of industrial, medical, and other isolated systems had limited options when implementing safety isolation; the only reasonable choice was the optocoupler. Today, digital isolators offer advantages in performance, size, cost, power efficiency, and integration. Isolation imposes constraints such as delays, power consumption, cost, and size. A digital isolator's goal is to meet safety requirements while minimizing incurred penalties.
Optocouplers, a traditional isolator, incur the greatest penalties, consuming high levels of power and typically limiting data rates to below 1 Mbps. More power efficient and higher speed optocouplers are available but impose a higher cost penalty.
Digital isolators using transformer or capacitive coupling have now been available for a number of years and reduce the penalties associated with optocouplers. They may be packaged in a single integrated circuit package and may use CMOS based circuitry to offer significant cost and power savings while significantly improving data rates. Digital isolators typically use foundry CMOS processes and may be limited to materials commonly used in foundries. Nonstandard materials complicate production, resulting in poor manufacturability and higher costs. Common insulating materials include polymers such as polyimide (PI), which can be spun onto a silicon substrate as a thin film, and silicon dioxide (SiO2). Both have well known insulating properties and have been used in standard semiconductor processing for years.
Polymers have been the basis for many digital isolators, giving them an established history as a high voltage insulator. For example, a transformer may be implemented using patterned metal layers on a silicon substrate with polyimide or SiO2 insulation between the metal layers. Current pulses in a primary coil on one layer create magnetic fields to induce current on a secondary coil on a second layer. Similarly, a capacitor may be implemented with thin SiO2 isolation barrier and use capacitive electric fields to couple across the isolation barrier. These types of devices have typically been limited to about 400 V isolation working voltage.
A printed circuit board (PCB) implementation may provide coil windings designed within a PCB layer. These implantations typically have a large footprint and PCB dielectrics may be degraded with moisture conditions, thus limiting isolation barrier capability.
Discrete coil wound transformers are bulky and typically have a high cost. A typical discrete coil wound transformer may provide up to approximately 2.5 kV isolation voltage barrier.
High pressure laminate may be used to provide an insulation barrier between coils of a transformer. A typical laminate based signal transformer may be limited to about 2.5 KV isolation voltage breakdown.
Other features of the present embodiments will be apparent from the accompanying drawings and from the detailed description that follows.

Cantilevered leadframe support structure for magnetic wireless transfer between integrated circuit dies


A discrete Fourier transform (DFT) filter bank with stack shift capability, configured, for example, as an analyzer, but equally applicable to a synthesizer, and implemented as a polyphase filter. The DFT filter bank includes a complex modulator for multiplying the input signals x0(m), x1(m) . . . xM−1(m) by a complex modulator e−2πko(m). In order to keep the coefficients for the polyphase filter real, the coefficients are modulated by a DFT twiddle factor e−2πkoρ/M. The use of the DFT twiddle factor enables the hardware to be reduced significantly. For example, for an 8 phase 203 tap filter, only 8 selectable negators are required as opposed to 211 for known DFT filter banks.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a discrete Fourier transform (DFT) filter bank, and more particularly to a polyphase filter bank with stack shift capability which can be implemented with significantly less hardware than known filter banks.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Digital filter banks are generally known in the art. Examples of such digital filter banks are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,107,470; 4,393,456; 4,792,943; 4,839,889; 5,436,940; and 5,606,575, hereby incorporated by reference. Such digital filter banks are implemented with digital signal processors and are used in a wide variety of applications including telecommunications applications, for example, cellular telephone applications.
Such digital filter banks are known to be used as spectrum analyzers as illustrated in FIG. 1A and frequency synthesizers, as illustrated in FIG. 1B as discussed in detail in Multi-Rate Digital Signal Processing, by Ronald E. Crochiere and Lawrence R. Rabiner, Prentice Hall, copyright 1983, hereby incorporated by reference. As is generally known in the art, the principles relating to frequency synthesizers are normally applicable to spectrum analyzers and vice versa.
Referring to FIG. 1A, a broad-band input signal x(n) is applied to a digital filter bank, configured as a spectrum analyzer, which divides the input signal x(n) into K frequency channels, 0 through K−1, which correspond to K output signals x0(m), x1(m) . . . xk(m) . . . xK−1(m).
Similarly, the system illustrated in FIG. 1B may be used to synthesize a plurality of input signals x0(m), x1(m) . . . xk(m) . . . xK−1(m), defining K input channels, 0 through K−1. In this embodiment, K input signals x0(m), x1(m) . . . xK−1(m) representing K channels 0 through K−1 are synthesized by the digital filter bank to form a broad-band output signal x(n).
FIGS. 2A and 2B represent models for a DFT filter bank analyzer and a DFT filter bank synthesizer, respectively, as set forth in Multi-Rate Digital Signal Processing, supra. For simplicity, only a single channel is illustrated. As illustrated in FIGS. 2A and 2B, the sampling frequency of the analyzer is decimated or decreased while the sampling frequency for the synthesizer is interpolated or increased. As such, such DFT digital filter banks are multi-rate in nature.
As shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B, the DFT filter banks are modeled by a low pass filter h(n), f(n) and a complex modulator. In addition, as discussed above, the sampling frequency is either decimated by a factor M as in the case of a filter bank analyzer or interpolated by a factor M in the case of a filter bank synthesizer. As shown in FIG. 2A, in the case of the analyzer, an input signal x(n) is modulated by a complex modulator of the form e−jωkn and low pass filtered by a filter h(n). The sampling rate is then reduced or decimated by a factor M to generate the channel signals xk(m). The filter h(n) determines the width and the frequency response of each of the channels. The filters h(n) for each channel are identical.
For a DFT filter bank with uniformly spaced filters and even type stacking arrangements, the center frequency of each of the channels is given by equation 1 below:
                                          ω            k                    =                                    2                                                                                π                                                                                k                        K                          ,                  k          =          0                ,        1        ,        …                                          ,                  K          -          1                                    (        1        )            By defining WK=ej(2π/K) the complex modulation function can be rewritten as shown in equation 2 below:
                              ⅇ                                    -                                                j                                                                                ω                                                                                k                                                                  n                          =                              ⅇ                                          -                j2π                                                                                k                                                                                n                                            /                                          K                                =                      W            K                          -              kn                                                          (        2        )            The channel signals may then be expressed as set forth in equation 3:
                                                        X              K                                                  (              m              )                                =                                    ∑                              n                =                                  -                  ∞                                            ∞                                                                                h                                                  (                                      mM                    -                    n                                    )                                                                          x                                                  (                  n                  )                                                                          W                K                                  -                  kn                                                                    ,                  k          =          0                ,        1        ,        …                                          ,                  K          -          1                                    (        3        )
With respect to the DFT filter bank synthesizer, for example as shown in FIG. 2B, all of the input channel signals x0(m), x1(m) . . . xk(m) . . . xK−1(m) are interpolated to a higher sampling rate and modulated back to the original spectral location. The synthesizer then adds all of the channel signals together to produce a single output signal x(n). Each of the input channel signals x0(m), x1(m) . . . xk(m) . . . xK−1(m) are interpolated by a factor M and filtered with an interpolation filter f(n) and modulated by a complex modulation function WK−kn=e−jωkn to shift the channel signal back to its original location ωk. Equation 4 represents the output of each channel signal:
                                                                        x                ^                            k                                                  (              n              )                                =                                    W              K              kn                                                                  ∑                                  m                  =                                      -                    ∞                                                  ∞                                                                                X                      ^                                        k                                                                          (                    m                    )                                                                                f                                                        (                                          n                      -                      mM                                        )                                                                                ,                  k          =          0                ,        1        ,        …                                          ,                  K          -          1                                    (        4        )            Since the synthesizer output signal is the sum of all of the channel signals as shown in Equation 5, Equation 4 can be rewritten as shown in Equation 6:
                                          x            ^                                          (            n            )                          =                              1            k                                                        ∑                              k                =                0                                            k                -                1                                                                                x                  ^                                k                                                          (                n                )                                                                        (        5        )
                                          x            ^                                          (            n            )                          =                              ∑                          n              =                              -                ∞                                      ∞                                                        f                                            (                                  n                  -                  mM                                )                                                                1              K                                                                  ∑                                  k                  =                  0                                                  K                  -                  1                                                                                X                      ^                                        k                                                                          (                    m                    )                                                                                W                  K                  kn                                                                                (        6        )
In order to improve the efficiency of such DFT filter banks, such DFT filter banks are known to be implemented as polyphase filters. More particularly, the decimator M and low pass filter h(n) implementation of the frequency analyzer and the interpolator M and filter f(n) of the frequency synthesizer are replaced with polyphase filter structures pρ (m) as illustrated in FIGS. 3A and 3B, respectively. As mentioned above, both the analyzer and the synthesizer are multirate devices. The complex modulation as well as the polyphase filters Pρ essentially shift the frequency of the prototype filters (h(n) or f(n)), for example as shown in FIG. 4. As shown, the center frequency of each of the M frequency channels is a multiple of the sampling frequency Fs, divided by the number of channels. As shown in FIG. 4, the transition bands of the low pass filter get shifted and become gaps in the frequency response of a DFT filter bank. In order to resolve this problem of gaps in the frequency response, DFT filter banks are utilized with stack shift capability. An example of such a DFT filter bank is illustrated in FIG. 5A, a polyphase filter bank with M channels, each channel including the following twiddle factors: tap twiddle, DFT twiddle and output twiddle, as discussed in detail Multi-Rate Digital Signal Processing, supra. Each tap twiddle factor includes a complex term in the form ej2πkom, wherein ko is the stack shift factor. The tap twiddle is used to provide the stack shift. Unfortunately, such a DFT filter bank with tap twiddle requires an inordinate amount of hardware to implement. For example, to implement an 8 phase 203 tap filter as illustrated in FIG. 5A, 211 selectable negators are required to produce even/odd stack shifts. Unfortunately, this amount of hardware duly complicates the system and raises the cost. Thus, there is a need for a more hardware efficient implementation of a digital filter bank with stack shift capability.

Polyphase filter with stack shift capability


A laser target seeker device arranged to receive a laser beam reflected from an object. Detector elements are arranged to detect the reflected laser beam. A processor is arranged to determine the received radiation on the respective detector element in order to determine the origin of the laser beam. A diffractor is arranged relative to the detector elements and configured to diffract the reflected laser beam into portions prior to being detected by the detector elements. The detector elements are arranged to detect the respective portion. A flyable body is for hitting a target by means of a laser beam. A system for hitting a target by means of a laser beam. A method for detecting a laser beam reflected from an object. Use of a kinoform member in a laser target seeker for diffracting a laser beam.

A common way of providing precision controlled weapons is to point at a target by means of a laser beam and allow a flyable weapon such as a missile, bomb or the like to guide itself towards the laser spot. Consequently a laser target seeker is required, being able to distinguish the reflected laser beam in relation to the background. By laser target seeker a target seeker is intended, the task which is to detect reflected laser beams from a target pointed out in the terrain by means of a laser designator and to determine the received radiation on the respective detector element in order to determine the origin of the laser beam. The laser target seeker is also sometimes referred to as a semi-active laser sensor or a SAL-sensor.
The task of the target seeker is to inform where in the field of view of the target seeker the reflected laser spot is present. A common way of achieving this is to use a quadrant detector. A quadrant detector consists of four separate detector elements placed edge to edge in one plane, each of the detector elements being able to view a quadrant of a certain visual field. By measuring and comparing the signal intensity from the four quadrants, i.e. the amount of optical power ending up on each of the four elements, it is possible to determine where the point of balance of the laser reflex is located and thus in which direction to guide e.g. the missile. When the intensity of the signal is equally strong from all four elements the laser reflex is in the centre of the detector and the missile will hit in the middle of the laser reflex. A problem with the quadrant detector is that the accuracy is quite low, which might lead to the missile or the like missing the target.
If a higher accuracy is required in designating the target, the reflex may be focused to an area smaller than the quadrant detector. Then the centre point may be found with higher accuracy but when the reflex is located outside the centre it is not possible to determine how far from the centre it is. This leads to a guide operation which sometimes is referred to as "bang-bang", i.e. strikes are made between the end positions until the reflected beam is in the centre region, at which point a better control may be provided. This means however that a pour aim of the target is the case until the reflex is in the centre. Before that only the quadrant in which the target is located is known.
A more advanced alternative is to use a two dimensional matrix of detector elements to view the entire field of view, e.g. a detector matrix having 4×4 elements. The laser reflex will hit one or more of the elements. By comparing the intensities of the signals the position where the reflex is located may be calculated. An advantage is that a more precise determination of the position of the target in the field of view is achieved. It is also possible to create multiple "images" taken one after the other and use image processing routines to follow and chose among target candidates.
There are however some limitations in using a two dimensional matrix having more than four elements. In a quadrant detector a wire is drawn from the periferal edge of each element to a corresponding amplifier, and the wires consequently do not affect the incoming laser beam hitting the detector elements. Each amplifier can further be located close to the corresponding wire. In the case of a detector matrix having more elements, e.g. 4×4 elements, however, the wires drawn from inner elements will affect the area of the elements, i.e. the fill factor. They are usually drawn along a path where the edges of two adjacent element meet, affecting the fill factor and consequently the accuracy. The amplifiers connected to the wires drawn from the inner elements need to be placed further away, leading to a higher capacitance, which increases the noise and consequently affects the accuracy.


In accordance with the present invention, there is provided an increased efficiency strainer system which is particularly suited for use in the emergency core cooling system of a nuclear power plant. In certain embodiments of the present invention, the strainer system includes one or more strainer cassettes or cartridges, with each such cassette or cartridge including a plurality of strainer pockets disposed in side-by-side relation to each other. In these embodiments, multiple cassettes or cartridges may be assembled together to form a strainer module of the strainer system. The strainer pockets of the cartridge each define an inflow end. Within the cartridge, or the module including multiple cartridges, the inflow ends of one or more of the strainer pockets may be enclosed by an elastic metal membrane. When in a closed position, the membrane prevents liquid flow into the corresponding strainer pocket via the inflow end thereof. The membrane remains closed when only a low pressure load is exerted thereon, but is deflected or deformed into an open position when a high pressure load is exerted thereon. The movement of the membrane to its open position effectively opens the corresponding strainer pocket, thus allowing for the flow of liquid into the interior of the strainer pocket via the inflow end thereof.

1. Technical Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to strainer devices and, more particularly, to a suction strainer of modular construction which is adapted to remove entrained solids or debris from the cooling liquid in a nuclear reactor, and to reduce head loss across the strainer in the presence of liquids with such entrained solids or debris.
2. Description of the Related Art
A nuclear power plant typically includes an emergency core cooling system that circulates large quantities of cooling water to critical reactor areas in the event of accidents. A boiling water reactor or BWR commonly draws water from one or more reservoirs, known as suppression pools, in the event of a loss of coolant accident. More particularly, water is pumped from the suppression pool to the reactor core and then circulated back to the suppression pool in a closed loop. A loss of coolant accident can involve the failure of reactor components that introduce large quantities of solid matter into the cooling water, which entrains the solids and carries them back to the suppression pool. For example, if a loss of coolant accident results from the rupture of a high pressure pipe, quantities of thermal insulation, concrete, paint chips and other debris can be entrained in the cooling water.
In contrast to a BWR, a pressurized water reactor or PWR, after a loss of coolant accident, typically draws cooling water from a reactor water storage tank and, after a signal, shuts off the flow from the storage tank and recirculates this water through the reactor. In this regard, the pressurized water reactor has a containment area that is dry until it is flooded by the occurrence of an accident, with the emergency core cooling system using a pump connected to a sump in the containment area to circulate the water through the reactor. Nevertheless, the water that is pumped in the event of an accident will also usually contain entrained solids that typically include insulation, paint chips, and particulates. Thus, in both types of reactors (i.e., boiling water reactors and pressurized water reactors), cooling water is drawn from a reservoir and pumped to the reactor core, with entrained solids or debris potentially impairing cooling and damaging the emergency core cooling system pumps if permitted to circulate with the water.
In recognition of the potential problems which can occur as a result of the presence of entrained solids or debris in the coolant water of the emergency core cooling system, it is known in the prior art to place strainers in the coolant flow path upstream of the pumps, usually by immersing them in the cooling water reservoir. It is critical that these strainers be able to remove unacceptably large solids without unduly retarding the flow of coolant. In this regard, the pressure (head) loss across the strainer must be kept to a minimum. Strainers are commonly mounted to pipes that are part of the emergency core cooling system and that extend into the suppression pool or sump, with the emergency core cooling system pumps drawing water through the strainers and introducing the water to the reactor core. There has been considerable effort expended in the prior art in relation to the design of strainers to decrease head loss across the strainer for the desired coolant flow. Existing strainers often include a series of stacked perforated hollow discs or flat perforated plates and a central core through which water is drawn by the emergency core cooling system pump. The perforated discs or plates prevent debris larger than a given size from passing the strainer perforations and reaching the pumps.
As is apparent from the foregoing, large amounts of fibrous material can enter the circulating coolant water in the event of a reactor accident. This fibrous material, which often originates with reactor pipe or component insulation that is damaged and enters the emergency core cooling system coolant stream in the event of a loss of coolant accidents indicated above, typically accumulates on the strainer surfaces and captures fine particulate matter in the flow. The resulting fibrous debris bed on the strainer surfaces can quickly block the flow through the strainer, even though the trapped particulates may be small enough to pass through the strainer perforations. More particularly, the debris accumulates in a fluffy density in and on the strainer until the strainer becomes completely covered with a fiber and particulate debris bed. Once this occurs, the strainer loses its complex geometric surface advantages and becomes a simple strainer. Hours to days later, some debris typically dissolves into solution and interacts with chemicals present in the containment. At the same time, containment temperatures are trending down. This phenomenon causes certain chemical precipitates to form which eventually make their way to the strainer. Once they reach the strainer surface, the pressure drop across the strainer typically dramatically increases.
The prior art has attempted to address the above-described flow blockage effect by making the strainer larger, the goal being to distribute the trapped debris over more area, reducing the velocity through the debris bed, and further reducing the head loss across the strainer as a whole. This solution, however, is often undesirable since the available space in a reactor for a suction strainer is usually limited, and further because larger strainers are typically more costly. As a result, the situation sometimes arises wherein the expected debris load after a loss of coolant accident can dictate a need for strainers that are too large for the space allotted for them in the containment area. Moreover, large strainers are often more difficult work with and thus more costly to install. In addition, prior art emergency core cooling system strainers have been constructed in ways that make them somewhat expensive to fabricate.
The present invention addresses the aforementioned needs and overcomes many of the deficiencies associated with existing nuclear power plant strainer designs providing a strainer design which is specifically suited to reduce the differential pressure experienced across the strainer in nuclear power plants with medium to high fiber loads after chemical precipitate formation. Various features and advantages of the present invention will be described in more detail below.


Two memory cells in different memory arrays are simultaneously selected in accordance with the designation of a specific write operation mode to associate a logic 1 of a write signal with a state in which an electric charge exists in each capacitor. Further, a logic 0 of the write signal is associated with a state in which no electric charge exists in the capacitor to write the same write signal. Two dynamic memory cells in different memory arrays are simultaneously selected in accordance with the designation of a specific read operation mode to associate a state in which an electric charge exists in a capacitor of each dynamic memory cell with a logic 1 of a read signal and associate a state in which no electric charge exists in the capacitor with a logic 0 of the read signal in response to a write operation. Thus, the logics 1 of the two read signals are preferentially output.

The present invention relates to a semiconductor memory device and a memory system, and principally to a high storage capacity type dynamic RAM (Random Access Memory) and a technique effective for use in a data holding technique employed in a memory system using the dynamic RAM.
There has been known a dynamic RAM wherein an oscillator, having an oscillating period or cycle which varies depending on the temperature, is provided to vary a refresh period or cycle according to a change in temperature, thereby reducing a data holding current that flows during self-refresh. This type of dynamic RAM has been disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 5-6663. There has been also known a dynamic RAM of a type wherein a plate voltage applied to each of dynamic memory cells is lowered during self-refresh to reduce a leakage current that flows through the dynamic memory cell. This type of dynamic RAM has been disclosed in the 1995 IEEE international Solid-State Circuit Conference, ISSCC 95/SESSION 14/DRAM/PAPER FA14, 1, "A Sub-0.5.mu. A/MB DATA-Retention DRAM".
In the former dynamic RAM, the oscillator, whose oscillating cycle varies depending on the temperature, automatically sets the optimum refresh cycle with respect to a change in data holding time due to a variation in ambient temperature of the dynamic RAM in order to minimize the data holding current in the self-refresh mode.
Now, the decision of the data holding time of each dynamic memory cell is made to cope with a leakage current developed in a PN junction dependent on structures of a MOSFET and a capacitor both of which constitute each memory or at an interface between a silicon substrate and an oxide film. It has been known that ones of the memory cells in the dynamic RAM, having data-holding times that relatively greatly depend on temperatures and a source voltage, command about 0.1% of the number of the entire memory cells. Further, memory cells (hereinafter called "worst memory cells") of a small number of these memory cells, which are shortest in data holding time, will determine the whole data holding time of the dynamic RAM.

Semiconductor memory device and memory system


A micromechanical structure includes: a substrate which has a main plane of extension; and a mass which is movable relative to the substrate, the movable mass being elastically suspended via at least one coupling spring. A first subregion of the movable mass is situated, at least partially, between the substrate and the coupling spring along a vertical direction which is essentially perpendicular to the main plane of extension.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a micromechanical structure, e.g., an acceleration sensor having a seismic mass.
2. Description of the Related Art
Such structures are generally known. For example, an acceleration sensor is known from published German patent application document DE 197 19 779 A1, having a seismic mass which is movably suspended on a substrate via suspension springs. When the acceleration sensor accelerates, inertial forces act on the seismic mass which deflect the seismic mass relative to the substrate. The extent of this deflection is measured with the aid of detection means. The detection means include a comb electrode structure composed of fixed electrodes attached to the substrate and counter electrodes attached to the seismic mass. The deflection is measured by evaluating the change in electrical capacitance between the fixed electrodes and the counter electrodes. In these types of structures, the seismic mass, the suspension springs, and the counter electrodes are provided in a single functional layer made of polycrystalline silicon (referred to below as "first functional layer"), so that these structures are always situated next to one another. A printed conductor plane made of a thin polycrystalline layer, provided between the substrate and the seismic mass and separated from the substrate wafer by an insulating oxide, is used for the electrical contacting.
For producing micromechanical structures, it has also been proposed in published German patent application document DE 10 2007 060 878 A1 to use an additional functional layer made of polycrystalline silicon (referred to below as "second functional layer"). Published German patent application document DE 10 2009 000 167 A1 discloses, for example, an acceleration sensor which is constructed using two separate functional layers, while a yaw rate sensor is known from published German patent application document DE 10 2009 000 345 A1 which has Coriolis elements for measuring a rotational speed, and which is constructed using two separate functional layers. The yaw rate sensor has a first and a second Coriolis element which are connected to one another via a coupling spring, and which with the aid of drive means are excited to vibrate in phase opposition parallel to a first axis, a first and a second detection means detecting a deflection of the first and second Coriolis elements based on a Coriolis force which acts on the Coriolis elements when a yaw rate is present, so that the difference in a first detection signal of the first detection means and a second detection signal of the second detection means is a function of the Coriolis force, and thus, also a function of the rotational speed of the yaw rate sensor.

Micromechanical structure and method for manufacturing a micromechanical structure


A carrier for use in a two-component developer for developing an electrostatic latent image is provided. The carrier includes a particulate magnetic core; and a cover layer located on a surface of the particulate magnetic core and including a resin and a particulate electroconductive material. The carrier has a BET specific surface area of from 0.8 to 1.6 m2/g.

Electrophotographic image formation typically includes the following processes:
(1) forming an electrostatic latent image on an image bearing member such as photoreceptor;
(2) adhering a charged toner to the electrostatic latent image to form a toner image on the image bearing member:
(3) transferring the toner image onto a recording medium optionally via an intermediate transfer medium; and
(4) fixing the toner image to the recording medium to output an image.
Recently, electrophotographic image forming apparatuses have been rapidly changed from monochrome image forming apparatuses to full color image forming apparatuses, and the market scale of full color image forming apparatuses has been expanded.
In full color image formation, three color images such as yellow, magenta and cyan color toner images or four color images such as yellow, magenta, cyan and black color toner images are overlaid to form a full color image. In order to produce a clear full color image having good color reproducibility, it is preferable to smooth the surface of a fixed toner image to prevent light scattering on the surface of the image. Therefore, full color images formed by conventional full color image forming apparatuses typically have a medium glossiness to a high glossiness in a range of from 10 to 50%.
With respect to the fixing method, contact heat fixing methods including pressing a toner image with a fixing member such as a heated roller or belt having a smooth surface have been mainly used. Such contact heat fixing methods have advantages such that the heat efficiency is high; high speed fixing can be performed; and a good combination of glossiness and transparency can be imparted to color toner images. However, since the heated fixing member is contacted with a toner image on a recording medium upon application of pressure thereto and is then released from the toner image, an offset problem in that part of the toner image is adhered to the surface of the fixing member, followed by re-adhering to another portion of the recording medium or the following recording medium is often caused.
In order to prevent occurrence of the offset problem, fixing methods using a fixing roller whose surface is made of a material having good releasability such as silicone rubbers and fluorine containing resins and on which an oil such as silicone oils is applied to prevent fixation of toner thereon have been typically used. Such fixing methods can prevent occurrence of the offset problem, but have a drawback in that the fixing device has to be equipped with an oil applicator, and therefore the size of the fixing device increases.
Therefore, when monochromatic images are formed, an oil-less fixing system which applies no oil to the fixing member or an oil micro-coating fixing method which includes applying a small amount of oil to the fixing member is used. In such fixing methods, a toner, which includes a releasing agent and which has a large viscoelasticity when melted is used to prevent occurrence of internal fracturing of the melted toner.
Similarly to the monochromatic image formation, an oil-less fixing method is also used for full color image forming apparatus to miniaturize the fixing device of the apparatus and to simplify the structure of the fixing device. However, in full color image formation, the viscoelasticity of the melted toner has to be decreased to smooth the surface of the fixed toner image. Therefore, the offset problem tends to be caused relatively easily in full color image formation compared to a case of monochromatic image formation in which non-glossy images are formed. Accordingly, it is difficult to use an oil-less fixing method for full color image formation. In addition, when a toner including a releasing agent is used, the adhesiveness of the toner to image bearing members increases, thereby deteriorating the transferring property of toner images to recording media. Further, a toner filming problem in that a toner film is formed on an image bearing member and a carrier, and thereby the charging property of the image bearing member and the carrier is deteriorated, resulting in deterioration of the durability of the image bearing member and the carrier tends to be caused.
In order to prevent formation of a toner film on a carrier, to allow the carrier to have an even surface, to prevent oxidation of the surface of the carrier, to enhance the moisture resistance of the carrier, to extend the life of the developer, to prevent the carrier from adhering to image bearing members, to protect image bearing members (photoreceptors) from being scratched or abraded by the carrier, to control the polarity of the charged toner, and to control the charge quantity of the toner, the carrier is typically coated with a fluorine-containing resin or a silicone resin.
Specific examples of the carrier coated with a resin having low surface energy include the following.
(1) a carrier which is disclosed in JP-S55-127569-A and which is covered with a layer including a room-temperature curable silicone resin and a positively chargeable nitrogen-containing resin;
(2) a carrier which is disclosed in JP-S55-157751-A and which is covered with a material including at least a modified silicone resin;
(3) a carrier which is disclosed in JP-S56-140358-A and which is covered with a resin layer including a room-temperature curable silicone resin and a styrene-acrylic resin;
(4) a carrier which is disclosed in JP-S57-096355-A and in which the core thereof is covered with at least two layers each including a silicone resin, wherein the layers have poor adhesiveness to each other;
(5) a carrier which is disclosed in JP-S57-096356-A and in which the core thereof is covered with at least two layers each including a silicone resin;
(6) a carrier which is disclosed in JP-S58-207054-A and which is covered with a silicone resin including silicon carbide;
(7) a positively chargeable carrier which is disclosed in JP-S61-110161-A and which is coated with a material having a critical surface tension of not greater than 20 dyn/cm; and
(8) a developer which is disclosed in JP-S62-273576-A and which includes a carrier coated with a material including a fluorinated alkyl acrylate and a toner including a chromium-containing azo dye.
In addition, in order to impart good charging property to toner, carrier having a small particle diameter is typically used. However, such a small carrier tends to easily cause a carrier adhesion problem in that the carrier adheres to an image bearing member such as photoreceptors, thereby damaging the image bearing member and the fixing roller used. In order to prevent occurrence of the carrier adhesion problem, a material having high magnetic force is typically used for the core of such a small carrier.
Carriers having a small BET (Brunauer, Emmett, Teller) specific surface area and using a core having high magnetic force have been disclosed by JP-2005-309184-A, JP-4544099-B1 (JP-2007-058124-A), JP-4621639-B1 (JP-2008-026582-A), and JP-2008-040271-A.
However, these carriers have low toner bearing and feeding ability. Therefore, when an image such that a solid image is present in a half tone image is formed, a halo image such that a portion of the half tone electrostatic image around the solid image is printed as a white image as illustrated in FIG. 5B due to the edge effect (i.e., emphasis of the portion of the half tone electrostatic image), and/or such a ghost image as illustrated in FIG. 4B is often formed.
JP-2011-253007-A discloses a coated carrier having a large BET specific surface area. The coat layer of the carrier does not include a particulate electroconductive material.
JP-2006-259179-A, JP-2009-053545-A, and JP-2009-300531-A have disclosed coated carriers which are allowed to have a larger BET specific surface area than the cores thereof to increase the area of the contact portions of the carrier with toner while enhancing the charge imparting ability and toner bearing ability of the carrier.
Recently, image forming apparatuses are urged to perform high speed recording while reducing environmental burdens and costs per one print. Therefore, a need exists for a carrier having better durability than ever. In addition, there is a need for an electrophotographic image forming apparatus which can produce high quality images while having good durability so that the image forming apparatus can be used for the production printing field. Therefore, a need exists for a carrier which can be used for the developer of such a high-speed and long-life image forming apparatus.

Carrier for two-component developer, two-component developer using the carrier, and process cartridge and image forming method and apparatus using the two component developer


An ultrasonic imaging system includes a receiver which demodulates the echo signals received by a transducer array and dynamically focuses the baseband echo signals, and a color flow processor which includes an adaptive wall filter in the form of a circular convolution filter that enables a narrow band of wall signals to be removed without loss of data samples. The mean frequency of the resulting filtered baseband echo signals is used to indicate the velocity of flowing reflectors and to control color of the displayed image.

This invention relates imaging by use or vibratory energy such as acoustical energy and, in particular, to production of color flow images based on the Doppler shift of ultrasonic signals.
There are a number of modes in which vibratory energy, such as ultrasound can be used to produce images of objects. The ultrasound transmitter may be placed on one side of the object and the sound transmitted through the object to the ultrasound receiver placed on the other side ("transmission mode"). With transmission mode methods, an image may be produced in which the brightness of each pixel is a function of amplitude of the ultrasound that reaches the receiver ("attenuation" mode), or the brightness of each pixel is a function of the time required for the sound to reach the receiver ("time-of-flight" or "speed of sound" mode). In the alternative, the receiver may be positioned on the same side of the object as the transmitter and an image may be produced in which brightness of each pixel is a function of amplitude of the ultrasound reflected from the object back to the receiver ("reflection" "backscatter" or "echo" mode). The present invention relates to a backscatter method for producing ultrasound images.
There are a number of well known backscatter methods for acquiring ultrasound data. In the so-called "A-scan" method, an ultrasound pulse is directed into the object by the transducer and the amplitude of the reflected sound is recorded over a period of time. The echo signal amplitude is proportional to the scattering strength of the reflectors in the object and the time delay is proportional to the range of the reflectors from the transducer. In the so-called "B-scan" method, the transducer transmits a series of ultrasonic pulses as it is scanned across the object along a single axis of motion. The resulting echo signals are recorded as with the A-scan method and their amplitude is used to modulate the brightness of pixels on a display at the time delay. With the B-scan method, enough data are acquired from which an image of the reflectors can be reconstructed.
In the so-called C-scan method, the transducer is scanned across a plane above the object and only the echoes reflecting from the focal depth of the transducer are recorded. The sweep of the electron beam of a CRT display is synchronized to the scanning of the transducer so that the x and y coordinates of the transducer correspond to the x and y coordinates of the image.
Ultrasonic transducers for medical applications are constructed from one or more piezoelectric elements sandwiched between a pair of electrodes. Such piezoelectric elements are typically constructed of lead zirconate titanate (PZT), polyvinylidene difluoride (PVDF), or PZT ceramic/polymer composite. The electrodes are connected to a voltage source, and when a voltage waveform is applied, the piezoelectric elements change in size at a frequency corresponding to that of the applied voltage. When a voltage waveform is applied, the piezoelectric element emits an ultrasonic wave into the media to which it is coupled. Conversely, when an ultrasonic wave strikes the piezoelectric element, the element produces a corresponding voltage across its electrodes. Typically, the front of the element is covered with an acoustic matching layer that improves the coupling with the media in which the ultrasonic waves propagate. In addition, a backing material is coupled to the rear of the piezoelectric element to absorb ultrasonic waves that emerge from the back side of the element so that they do not interfere. A number of such ultrasonic transducer constructions are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,217,684; 4,425,525; 4,441,503; 4,470,305 and 4,569,231, all of which are assigned to the instant assignee.
When used for ultrasound imaging, the transducer typically has a number of piezoelectric elements arranged in an array and driven with separate voltages (apodizing). By controlling the time delay (or phase) and amplitude of the applied voltages, the ultrasonic waves produced by the piezoelectric elements combine to produce a net ultrasonic wave that travels along a preferred beam direction and is focused at a selected point along the beam. By controlling the time delay and amplitude of the applied voltages, the beam with its focal point can be moved in a plane to scan the subject.
The same principles apply when the transducer is employed to receive the reflected sound (receiver mode). That is, the voltages produced at the transducer elements in the array are summed together such that the net signal is indicative of the sound reflected from a single focal point in the subject. As with the transmission mode, this focused reception of the ultrasonic energy is achieved by imparting separate time delay (and/or phase shifts) and gains to the signal from each transducer array element.
This form of ultrasonic imaging is referred to as "phased array sector scanning", or "PASS". Such a scan is comprised of a series of measurements in which the steered ultrasonic wave is transmitted, the system switches to receive mode after a short time interval, and the reflected ultrasonic wave is received and stored. Typically, the transmission and reception are steered in the same direction (.theta.) during each measurement to acquire data from a series of points along an acoustic beam or scan line. The receiver is dynamically focused at a succession of ranges (R) along the scan line as the reflected ultrasonic waves are received. The time required to conduct the entire scan is a function of the time required to take each measurement and the number of measurements required to cover the entire region of interest at the desired resolution and signal-to-noise ratio. For example, a total of 128 scan lines may be acquired over a 90 degree sector, with each scan line being steered in increments of 0.70.degree.. A number of such ultrasonic imaging systems are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,155,258; 4,155,260; 4,154,113; 4,155,259; 4,180,790; 4,470,303; 4,662,223; 4,669,314 and 4,809,184, all of which are assigned to the instant assignee.
Techniques for measuring blood flow in the heart and vessels using the Doppler effect are well known. Whereas the amplitude of the reflected waves is employed to produce black and white anatomical images of the tissues, the frequency shift of the reflected waves may be used to measure the velocity of reflecting scatterers from tissue or blood. Color flow images are produced by superimposing a color image of the velocity of moving material, such as blood, onto the black and white anatomical image. The measured velocity of flow at each pixel determines its color.
A major difficulty in obtaining Doppler effect measurements of reflected ultrasonic waves from blood is that the received echo signal typically contains a large component produced by stationary or slowly moving tissues, whereas blood reflects ultrasound very weakly. The stationary tissues do not produce any frequency shift in the reflected waves and these components can be easily filtered out without affecting the flow measurement. However, the reflections produced by the moving tissue due to cardiac or respiratory motion are frequency shifted and may completely overwhelm signals from slowly flowing blood. Prior systems provide a "wall filter" which is manually adjusted by the operator to filter out a narrow band of frequencies in the echo signal centered on the carrier frequency where static signals lie.
If low velocity flow is to be detected, a very narrow wall filter must be used so as not to eliminate the blood flow signal. In general, a narrow filter implemented digitally requires more filter coefficients than a broad filter, and since the number of echo signal samples available at the output of the filter is the number of input samples minus the number of filter coefficients, plus 1, this means that when narrow wall filters are employed fewer echo signal samples are available to calculate flow. For example, if a signal with 16 digital samples is filtered using an 8-coefficient FIR filter, only nine samples are available at the filter output from which the flow may be estimated. This is undesirable because error in the flow estimate due to noise is reduced as the number of data samples increases. Thus, as the wall filter is narrowed to increase the signal from low velocity flow, measurement accuracy is reduced.

Wall filter using circular convolution for a color flow imaging system


A bicycle brake mechanism includes a brake operating lever, a first and a second brake calipers pivotably supported on a bicycle frame, a control cable having one end thereof connected to the brake operating lever, and the other end connected to the first brake caliper, a connecting element for engaging the control cable to be movable along the control cable, a tension element for interconnecting the second brake caliper and the connecting element, and a supporter disposed between the connecting element and the first brake caliper for maintaining a predetermined distance between the connecting element and a point at which the first brake caliper engages the control cable.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to bicycle brakes, and more particularly to the construction of a center-pull type caliper brake.
2. Description of the Related Art
In a conventional construction of a center-pull type caliper brake, as disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Publication Kokai No. 1991-64193, for example, a pair of brake calipers having brake shoes are pivotably supported independently of each other by a bicycle frame. In this example, one end of a yoke cable is connected to one of the brake calipers, while the other end of the cable is connected to the other brake caliper. Further, this yoke cable, at or adjacent a middle position thereof, is relatively movably engaged through a connecting element with a control cable connected to a brake lever.
According to this construction, the connecting element must be in a middle position transversely of a bicycle in order for the pair of brake shoes to take braking action simultaneously. If the connecting element is even slightly displaced from the middle position of the yoke cable, the two brake shoes do not contact a wheel rim simultaneously. In this case, one of the brake shoes applies a greater braking force than the other. Thus, this prior construction leaves room for improvement.
A development of the above construction is disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Publication Kokai No. 1987-187990. In this example, a control cable extends from a brake lever to one of brake calipers, and a connecting element is provided to be slidable along the control cable. The other brake caliper is connected to the connecting element through a connecting cable. This construction is capable of equalizing a distance from the connecting element to one of the calipers and a distance from the connecting element to the other caliper with ease.
According to this construction, however, the control cable is curved in the region of the connecting element to extend toward one of the calipers. Thus, a tension acts toward one of the calipers, thereby tending to move the connecting element in that direction. As a result, right and left braking forces are not applied simultaneously, impairing an optimal braking result.


A heating and cooling system includes a compressor for pumping a heat medium through a tubing device, a heat exchanger coupled to the compressor for receiving compressed heat medium from the compressor, a flowing control device coupled to the heat exchanger, another heat exchanger coupled to the flowing control device and arranged to have the flowing control device coupled between the heat exchangers, and an air conditioner coupled to the flowing control device. The flowing control device may selectively couple the heat exchangers to the air conditioner and to the compressor, or selectively couple the heat exchangers together and to selectively couple the air conditioner to the compressor.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a heating and cooling system, and more particularly to a heating and cooling system having a changeable or control device for changing the flowing of the medium, to generate heat for winter times, and to generate cold air or the like for summer times.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Typical air conditioning facilities comprise a compressor for pumping air or heat medium through an air flowing manifold, and one or more heat exchangers and one or more valves also disposed or coupled in the air flowing manifold, for generating cooling air and for air conditioning purposes. However, normally, the typical air conditioning facilities may be used for generating cooling air only, and are thus suitable for being used in summer times only, but may not be used in winter times.
The typical heaters or other heating facilities are required to be energized by electric energy, and are provided for generating heat energy to warm the house buildings. However, the typical heaters or other heating facilities are suitable for being used in winter times only, but may not be used in summer times.
The other typical air conditioning facilities may comprise a heating and cooling system for generating either hot air or cold air for different uses. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,239,838 to Tressler comprises a typical refrigeration circuit for air conditioning purposes, and further comprises a hot water system for generating heated water.
However, the additional hot water system is further required to be provided and includes a pump and a solar panel or a water heater for heating the water, such that additional piping systems are required to be provided and assembled and coupled to the typical refrigeration circuit, and such that the assembling procedures for the typical heating and cooling systems may be complicated, and such that the manufacturing cost for the typical heating and cooling systems may be greatly increased.
The present invention has arisen to mitigate and/or obviate the afore-described disadvantages of the conventional heating and cooling systems.

Neidinli Gongyeh Chu Chongli, Taoyuan Hsien


A camera system comprising a group of lenses arranged on a common first optical axis, a photographic lens including at least one movable lens member on a second optical axis and having an image plane, a main reflex mirror arranged on forward movement of the movable lens to be inserted into a space behind it on the second optical axis so that the optical axis of the photographic lens is bent, and a supplementary reflex mirror for reflecting the light beam from the main reflex mirror to the lens group.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to cameras which have made full use of the feature that the photographic lens has an axially movable lens such as a zoom lens and, more particularly, to optical systems which, though getting the camera imparted with a plurality of functions, enable the size of the camera to be minimized.
2. Description of the Related Art
Recently, technology is rapidly developing. Accordingly, cameras have many functions in an increasing variety of forms, and their use is being widely spread.
These may be classified by the type of finder used therein. According to this classification, the cameras are divided into two groups, one of which has the TTL (Through-The-Lens) type finder, so-called single-lens reflex cameras, and the other of which has the external type finder, so-called lens-shutter cameras. Another classification is based on the recording medium, giving cameras using a silver-halide film and video cameras using a CCD, or the like, photoelectric transducer means so that pictures have to be reproduced electrically.
In the former classification, the camera having the TTL type finder is free from the finder parallax because the photographing system and the observing system have a common optical axis. This constitutes a feature that, regardless of what values the object distance and the focal length take, exactly the same field of view as that seen in the finder can be photographed on the photosensitive surface (film surface).
Also, the photographing system forms a primary image whose frame is of almost the same size as that of the picture frame on the photosensitive surface, giving an additional feature that a finder image can be observed in a large frame.
In the case of employing the TTL type of optical finder, however, the particular requirement is to dispose the quick-return mirror or like mirror between the photographic lens and the focal plane to bend the optical path to the observing system. Therefore, this space cannot be occupied by the photographic lens. For example, the camera system using 35 mm film has to spare an axial length of usually 37-40 mm.
For this reason, the photographic lens must be designed always with the back focal distance assured to be more than a predetermined value. Hence, it has a tendency to increase the bulk and size of not only the photographic lens but also the camera as a whole.
The lens-shutter camera, on the other hand, has no requirement of providing a space for disposing a quick-return mirror. So, the back focal distance may be short at any rate provided the last lens surface does not come into contact with the photosensitive surface (focal plane). Hence, it has the advantage of achieving a minimization of the size of the lens itself and the whole camera.
Because the photographing system and the observing system have, however, different optical axes from each other, there exists a finder parallax.
Particularly when the focal length increases, the amount of parallax error compared to the film rapidly increases to an actually unacceptable level, and even more so when shortening of the object distance occurs simultaneously.
Meanwhile, in the latter classification, the camera which reproduces a record by using film, because the reproducibility of the image information is good owing to the film whose resolution is generally high, has a feature that it is well adapted to snap shots for recording.
However, the use of the film as the recording medium gives the reproducing method problems that the reproduction is limited to still pictures and that, because of the necessity of the developing process, it lacks instantaneity.
The electrical recording and reproducing method, on the other hand, obviates the necessity of carrying out the developing process. But, because the number of picture elements available in the photoelectric transducer means is relatively small, the quality of the reproduced image information is not always high enough, giving a problem that, for a given quality, the enlarging magnification to which, for example, a still picture is reproduced by expanding the image information for one field must be limited.
On account of such problems, for example, Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No. Sho 63-156480 proposes a camera having a photographic lens for film photography and another photographic lens for video photography arranged independently of each other. This has a problem that the entirety of the apparatus has a large size, which would sacrifice the portability.
Particularly when a zoom lens is used as the photographic lens, as it implies that the two zoom lenses are positioned side by side, the problem of increasing the size of the whole camera not only becomes serious but also there arises an additional problem of increasing the complexity of the structure of the camera.
Also, Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No. Sho 64-13532 proposes a device for selectively directing the image formed by one photographic lens to the film and an image pickup element by using a reflection mirror. But the use of the reflection mirror behind the photographic lens necessitates the creation of a long back focal distance in designing the photographic lens, as has been described before. Therefore, similar problems arise that the total length of the lens tends to get too long and that the camera itself is unavoidably of large size.