A multiband radio antenna device (1) for a radio communication terminal, comprising a flat ground substrate (2), and in a plane parallel to said ground substrate a flat parasitic element (7) and a flat antenna element (3). Said antenna element has a longitudinal member (4), a first transverse member (5) extending from a first end portion of said longitudinal member, and a second transverse member (6) extending from a centre portion of said longitudinal member, wherein said parasitic element extends adjacent to an outer portion of and parallel to said second transverse member. A feeding point (8) is disposed at a center portion of said second transverse member. The parasitic element has a first ground connection (9) adjacent to said feeding point, a second ground connection (10) is disposed at an end portion of said second transverse member, and a third ground connection (11) is disposed at a center portion of said first transverse member.

Since the end of the 20th century the cellular telephone industry has had enormous development in the world. From the initial analogue systems, such as those defined by the standards AMPS (Advanced Mobile Phone System) and NMT (Nordic Mobile Telephone), the development has during recent years been almost exclusively focused on standards for digital solutions for cellular radio network systems, such as D-AMPS (e.g., as specified in EIA/TIA-IS-54-B and IS-136) and GSM (Global System for Mobile Communications). Different digital transmission schemes are used in different systems, e.g. time division multiple access (TDMA) or code division multiple access (CDMA). Currently, the cellular technology is entering the so-called 3rd generation, providing several advantages over the former, 2nd generation, digital systems referred to above. Among those advantages an increased bandwidth will be provided, allowing effective communication of more complex data. The 3rd generation of mobile systems has been referred to as the UMTS (Universal Mobile Telephony System) in Europe and CDMA2000 in the USA, and is already implemented in Japan to some extent. Furthermore, it is widely believed that the first generation of Personal Communication Networks (PCNs), employing low cost, pocket-sized, cordless telephones that can be carried comfortably and used to make or receive calls in the home, office, street, car, etc., will be provided by, for example, cellular carriers using the next generation digital cellular system infrastructure.
One evolution in cellular communication services involves the adoption of additional frequency bands for use in handling mobile communications, e.g., for Personal Communication Services (PCS) services. Taking the U.S. as an example, the Cellular hyperband is assigned two frequency bands (commonly referred to as the A frequency band and the B frequency band) for carrying and controlling communications in the 800 MHz region. The PCS hyperband, on the other hand, is specified in the United States to include six different frequency bands (A, B, C, D, E and F) in the 1900 MHz region. Thus, eight frequency bands are now available in any given service area of the U.S. to facilitate communication services. Certain standards have been approved for the PCS hyperband (e.g., PCS1900 (J-STD-007)), while others have been approved for the Cellular hyperband (e.g., D-AS (IS-136)). Other frequency bands in which these devices will be operating include GPS (operating in the 1.5 GHz range) and UMTS (operating in the 2.0 GHz range). Each one of the frequency bands specified for the Cellular and PCS hyperbands is allocated a plurality of traffic channels and at least one access or control channel. The control channel is used to control or supervise the operation of mobile stations by means of information transmitted to and received from the mobile stations. Such information may include incoming call signals, outgoing call signals, page signals, page response signals, location registration signals, voice channel assignments, maintenance instructions, hand-off, and cell selection or reselection instructions as a mobile station travels out of the radio coverage of one cell and into the radio coverage of another cell. The control and voice channels may operate using either analogue modulation or digital modulation.
The signals transmitted by a base station in the downlink over the traffic and control channels are received by mobile or portable terminals, each of which have at least one antenna. Historically, portable terminals have employed a number of different types of antennas to receive and transmit signals over the air interface. For example, monopole antennas mounted perpendicularly to a conducting surface have been found to provide good radiation characteristics, desirable drive point impedance and relatively simple construction. Monopole antennas can be created in various physical forms. For example, rod or whip antennas have frequently been used in conjunction with portable terminals. For high frequency applications where an antenna's length is to be minimised, another choice is the helical antenna. In addition, mobile terminal manufacturers encounter a constant demand for smaller and smaller terminals. This demand for miniaturisation is combined with desire for additional functionality such as having the ability to use the terminal at different frequency bands and different cellular systems.
It is commercially desirable to offer portable terminals which are capable of operating in widely different frequency bands, e.g., bands located in the 1500 MHz, 1800 MHz, 1900 MHz, 2.0 GHz and 2.45 GHz regions. Accordingly, antennas which provide adequate gain and bandwidth in a plurality of these frequency bands will need to be employed in portable terminals. Several attempts have been made to create such antennas.
In order to reduce the size of the portable radio terminals, built-in antennas have been implemented over the last couple of years. The general desire today is to have an antenna, which is not visible to the customer. Today different kinds of patches are used, with or without parasitic elements. The most common built-in antennas currently in use in mobile phones are the so-called planar inverted-F antennas (PIFA). This name has been adopted due to the fact that the antenna looks like the letter F tilted 90 degrees in profile. Such an antenna needs a feeding point as well as a around connection. If one or several parasitic elements are included nearby, they can be either grounded or dielectrically separated from ground. The geometry of a conventional PIFA antenna includes a radiating element, a feeding pin for the radiating element, a ground pin for the radiating element, and a ground substrate commonly arranged on a printed circuit board (PCB). Both the feeding pin and the ground pin are arranged perpendicular to the ground plane, and radiating element is suspended above the ground plane in such a manner that the ground plane covers the area under the radiating element. This type of antenna, however, generally has a fairly small bandwidth in the order of 100 MHz. In order to increase the bandwidth for an antenna of this design, the vertical distance between the radiating element and the PCB ground has to be increased, i.e. the height at which the radiating element is placed above the PCB is increased. Another solution to this problem is to add a dielectric element between the antenna and the PCB, in order to make the electrical distance longer than the physical distance.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,326,921 to Ying et al discloses a built-in, low-profile antenna with an inverted planar inverted F-type (PIFA) antenna and a meandering parasitic element, and having a wide bandwidth to facilitate communications within a plurality of frequency bands. A main element is placed at a predetermined height above a substrate of a communication device and the parasitic element is placed on the same substrate as the main antenna element and is grounded at one end. The feeding pin of the PIFA is proximal to the ground pin of the parasitic element. The coupling of the meandering, parasitic element to the main antenna results in two resonances. These two resonances are adjusted to be adjacent to each other in order to realise a broader resonance encompassing the DCS (Digital Cellular System), PCS and UMTS frequency ranges.
Today, the concept of built-in antennas is well known and extensively used by the mobile phone manufacturers. However, it is a fairly new concept, and the performance of such antennas is still a problem when even wider band capabilities are desired. Consequently, prior art antenna designs will still be a limiting factor when developing radio terminals with adequate bandwidth to cover plural bands, such as for example AS, EGSM (Extended GSM), DCS and PCS. A more general problem with built-in antennas is not only small band width, but also significantly worse gain performance than a traditional external antenna i.e. some kind of stub antenna.

Multiband radio antenna with a flat parasitic element


The present invention provides an assembly unit of frame structure which comprises a column body, a cover body, and a fastening element. By assembling a predetermined number of the assembly units to incorporate with a plurality of supporting frame through an easy and prompt assembly process, a frame structure of desired shape can be quickly and easily constructed for use. The frame structure can be construct by the assembly unit of the present invention into various shape, such as rectangular shape or right triangular shape, without any special tools or technology.

The conventional structure of a supporting frame of any type is commonly constructed by angle irons (as shown in FIG. 1) as the assembly units. At both sides of the angle iron, two series of screw hole are evenly provided to enable a plurality of screws to secure the angle irons with each other to form the supporting frame. The adjustability of the frame is thus limited to the space between each screw hole provided on the angle iron, so that fine adjustment is impossible and not all the height requirement can be met. Moreover, when the user needs to re-adjust the height of the supporting frame, he or she must entirely unscrew all the connection screws to release all the lateral angle irons from the vertical angle irons and rescrew them to the vertical angle irons at desired height again. The adjusting operation is time consuming and really troublesome.
Since metal is the most common construction material for framework, after a certain period of time, rust may easily form on the surface of the framework due to the fact that the framework is unavoidably in contact with air and exploded under the radiance of the sunlight. Therefore the rigidity of the framework may seriously affect and the loading ability of the framework structure also decreases, that may relatively increase the chance of accident. Although the framework assembled by such angle irons can be assembled into various desired shapes by bending the angle irons to adequate shapes in order to fit the connection, it may simultaneously cause a defective that the loading ability of such framework structure would also be greatly lowered.


An implantable medical device, such as an implantable pulse generator (IPG) used with a spinal cord stimulation (SCS) system, includes a rechargeable lithium-ion battery having an anode electrode with a substrate made substantially from titanium. Such battery construction allows the rechargeable battery to be discharged down to zero volts without damage to the battery. The implantable medical device includes battery charging and protection circuitry that controls the charging of the battery so as to assure its reliable and safe operation. A multi-rate charge algorithm is employed that minimizes charging time while ensuring the battery cell is safely charged. Fast charging occurs at safer lower battery voltages (e.g., battery voltage above about 2.5 V), and slower charging occurs when the battery nears full charge higher battery voltages (e.g., above about 4.0 V). When potentially less-than-safe very low voltages are encountered (e.g., less than 2.5 V), then very slow (trickle) charging occurs to bring the battery voltage back up to the safer voltage levels where more rapid charging can safely occur. The battery charging and protection circuitry also continuously monitors the battery voltage and current. If the battery operates outside of a predetermined range of voltage or current, the battery protection circuitry disconnects the battery from the particular fault, i.e. charging circuitry or load circuits.

The present invention relates generally to implantable pulse generators, e.g., a pulse generator used within a Spinal Cord Stimulation (SCS) system or other type of neural stimulation system. More particularly, the present invention relates to the use of a rechargeable zero-volt technology lithium-ion battery within such an implantable pulse generator.
Implantable pulse generators (IPG) are devices that generate electrical stimuli to body nerves and tissues for the therapy of various biological disorders, such as pacemakers to treat cardiac arrhythmia, defibrillators to treat cardiac fibrillation, cochlear stimulators to treat deafness, retinal stimulators to treat blindness, muscle stimulators to produce coordinated limb movement, spinal cord stimulators to treat chronic pain, cortical and deep brain stimulators to treat motor and psychological disorders, and other neural stimulators to treat urinary incontinence, sleep apnea, shoulder sublaxation, etc. The present invention may find applicability in all such applications, although the description that follows will generally focus on the use of the invention within a spinal cord stimulation system. A spinal cord stimulation system is a programmable implantable pulse generating system used to treat chronic pain by providing electrical stimulation pulses from an electrode array placed epidurally near a patient's spine. SCS systems consist of several components, including implantable and external components, surgical tools, and software. The present invention provides an overview an SCS system and emphasizes the use of a rechargeable zero volt technology battery within such a system, including the charging system used for charging the rechargeable battery.
Spinal cord stimulation is a well-accepted clinical method for reducing pain in certain populations of patients. SCS systems typically include an implantable pulse generator, lead wires, and electrodes connected to the lead wires. The pulse generator delivers electrical pulses to the dorsal column fibers within the spinal cord through the electrodes implanted along the dura of the spinal cord. The attached lead wires exit the spinal cord and are tunneled around the torso of the patient to a subcutaneous pocket where the pulse generator is implanted.
Spinal cord and other stimulation systems are known in the art, however, to applicants' knowledge, none teach the use of a rechargeable zero-volt technology battery within the implanted portion of the system, with accompanying charging and protection circuitry, as proposed herein. For example, in U.S. Pat. No. 3,646,940, there is disclosed an implantable electronic stimulator that provides timed sequenced electrical impulses to a plurality of electrodes so that only one electrode has a voltage applied to it at any given time. Thus, the electrical stimuli provided by the apparatus taught in the '940 patent comprise sequential, or non-overlapping, stimuli.
In U.S. Pat. No. 3,724,467, an electrode implant is disclosed for the neural stimulation of the spinal cord. A relatively thin and flexible strip of physiologically inert plastic is provided with a plurality of electrodes formed thereon. The electrodes are connected by leads to a RF receiver, which is also implanted and controlled by an external controller. The implanted RF receiver has no power storage means, and must be coupled to the external controller in order for neural stimulation to occur.
In U.S. Pat. No. 3,822,708, another type of electrical spinal cord stimulating device is shown. The device has five aligned electrodes that are positioned longitudinally on the spinal cord and transversely to the nerves entering the spinal cord. Current pulses applied to the electrodes are said to block sensed intractable pain, while allowing passage of other sensations. The stimulation pulses applied to the electrodes are approximately 250 microseconds in width with a repetition rate of from 5 to 200 pulses per second. A patient-operable switch allows the patient to change which electrodes are activated, i.e., which electrodes receive the current stimulus, so that the area between the activated electrodes on the spinal cord can be adjusted, as required, to better block the pain. Other representative patents that show spinal cord stimulation systems or electrodes include U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,338,945; 4,379,462; 5,121,754; 5,417,719 and 5,501,703.
The dominant SCS products that are presently commercially available attempt to respond to three basic requirements for such systems: (1) providing multiple stimulation electrodes to address variable stimulation parameter requirements and multiple sites of electrical stimulation signal delivery; (2) allowing modest to high stimulation currents for those patients who need it; and (3) incorporating an internal power source with sufficient energy storage capacity to provide several years of reliable service to the patient. Unfortunately, not all of these features are available in any one device. For example, one known device has a limited battery life at only modest current outputs, and has only a single voltage source, and hence only a single stimulation channel (programmable voltage regulated output source), which provides a single fixed pattern to up to four electrode contacts. Another known device offers higher currents that can be delivered to the patient, but does not have a battery, and thus requires the patient to wear an external power source and controller. Even then, such device still has only one voltage source, and hence only a single stimulation channel, for delivery of the current stimulus to multiple electrodes through a multiplexer. Yet a third known device provides multiple channels of modest current capability, but does not have an internal power source, and thus also forces the patient to wear an external power source and controller. It is thus seen that each of the systems, or components, disclosed or described above suffers from one or more shortcomings, e.g., no internal power storage capability, a short operating life, none or limited programming features, large physical size, the need to always wear an external power source and controller, the need to use difficult or unwieldy surgical techniques and/or tools, unreliable connections, and the like. What is clearly needed, therefore, is a spinal cord stimulation system that is superior to existing systems by providing longer life through the use of a rechargeable battery, easier programming and more stimulating features in a smaller package without compromising reliability.
Regardless of the application, all implantable pulse generators are active devices requiring energy for operation, either powered by an implanted battery or an external power source. It is desirable for the implantable pulse generator to operate for extended periods of time with little intervention by the patient or caregiver. However, devices powered by primary (non-rechargeable) batteries have a finite lifetime before the device must be surgically removed and replaced. Frequent surgical replacement is not an acceptable alternative for many patients. If a battery is used as the energy source, it must have a large enough storage capacity to operate the device for a reasonable length of time. For low-power devices (less than 100 μW) such as cardiac pacemakers, a primary battery may operate for a reasonable length of time, often up to ten years. However, in many neural stimulation applications such as SCS, the power requirements are considerably greater due to higher stimulation rates, pulse widths, or stimulation thresholds. Powering these devices with conventional primary batteries would require considerably larger capacity batteries to operate them for a reasonable length of time, resulting in devices so large that they may be difficult to implant or, at the very least, reduce patient comfort. Therefore, in order to maintain a device size that is conducive to implantation, improved primary batteries with significantly higher energy densities are needed. However, given the state of the art in battery technology, the required energy density is not achievable at the present time.
If an implanted battery is not used as the power source, then a method is required to transcutaneously supply power to the IPG on a continuous basis. For applications that require large amounts of power such as heart pumps and other heart-assist devices, an external power source is the preferred choice. Power can be supplied to the device via a percutaneous cable, or more preferably and less invasively, coupled to the device through electromagnetic induction. The external power source can be an AC outlet or a DC battery pack, which may be recharged or replaced with new batteries when depleted. However, these systems obviously require the patient to continually wear an external device to power the implanted pulse generator, which may be unacceptable for many patients because they are often bulky and uncomfortable to wear, and naturally, limit patient mobility.
One alternative power source is the secondary, or rechargeable battery, where the energy in these batteries can be replenished by recharging the batteries on a periodic basis. It is known in the art to use a rechargeable battery within an implant device. See, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 4,082,097, entitled "Multimode Recharging System for Living Tissue Stimulators", and applicant Carla Mann Wood's U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/048,826, filed Mar. 25, 1998, entitled "System of Implantable Devices For Monitoring and/or Affecting Body Parameters", now U.S. Pat. No. 6,208,894 which patent and patent application are likewise incorporated herein by reference. The devices and methods taught in this patent and application, however, comprise specialized devices, e.g., microstimulators, or relate to specific applications, e.g., cardiac pacing, which impose unique requirements not applicable to many IPG applications. Cardiac pacemakers with rechargeable batteries have been developed in the past; see U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,454,012; 3,824,129; 3,867,950; 3,888,260; and 4,014,346. However, these devices were met with limited success in regards to battery performance and market acceptance. Many of these devices were powered by nickel-cadmium (NiCd) batteries. NiCd's low volumetric energy density of 100 Wh/liter provided limited energy storage, and frequent charging was required. Also, its low nominal cell voltage of 1.2 V required many cells to be stacked in series, requiring cells to be closely matched for optimum performance. NiCd batteries also suffered from a phenomenon called "memory effect," which causes the cell to lose capacity if cycled at shallow discharge depths. Moreover, NiCd batteries have a high self-discharge rate, losing approximately 30% of their capacity per month at body temperatures. Also, cycle life performance was poor, as NiCd batteries typically lasted fewer than 300 cycles. In addition, charging NiCd batteries was often problematic because the standard charge termination method for NiCd batteries is somewhat complicated, requiring the need to detect a zero or negative voltage slope (dV/dt) and/or temperature slope (dT/dt). When NiCd batteries are overcharged, an exothermic reaction occurs: oxygen gas given off at the nickel electrode recombines with the cadmium electrode to form cadmium hydroxide. Cell leakage or venting can occur as a result of the pressure increase in the cell. Furthermore, there may be disposal issues with NiCd batteries, as cadmium is highly toxic to the environment.
Newer battery technologies have been developed in recent years. The Nickel Metal-Hydride (NiMH) battery was developed to improve upon NiCd performance. NiMH batteries were first commercially introduced in 1990, and are in many ways similar to NiCd batteries. The main exception is the replacement of the cadmium electrode with a metal-hydride alloy, resulting in more than twice the volumetric energy density (>200 Wh/liter). In addition, the metal-hydride is less toxic than cadmium. However, NiMH batteries suffer from some of the same drawbacks as well, including low cell voltage (1.2 V), high self-discharge (>30% per month), difficult charge termination, low cycle life (<300 cycles), and to a lesser extent, memory effect.
Rechargeable lithium-based batteries were first developed in the 1970s using lithium metal as the active electrode material. Lithium has great promise as a battery material because it is the lightest of all metals, with high cell voltage (>3 V) and high energy density. However, lithium metal in its pure form is extremely reactive, and proved to be very unstable as a battery electrode as employed in early designs. In 1990, however, Sony Corporation introduced a safer rechargeable lithium-based battery called lithium-ion (Li-ion), which used a lithium composite oxide (LiCoO2) cathode and a lithium-intercalating graphite anode. Lithium ions, or Li+, instead of lithium metal, are shuttled back and forth between the electrodes (hence the nick-name, "rocking-chair" battery). Lithium-ion is superior to other rechargeable battery chemistries, with the highest volumetric energy density (>300 Wh/liter) and gravimetric energy density (>100 Wh/kg). In addition, Lithium-ion batteries have a high nominal voltage of 3.6 V, as well as low self-discharge (less than 10% per month), long cycle life (>500), and no memory effect. Charge termination for Lithium-ion batteries is also simpler than that of NiCd and NiMH batteries, requiring only a constant voltage cutoff. However, Lithium-ion batteries are not as tolerant to overcharging and overdischarging. If significantly overcharged, Lithium-ion batteries may go into "thermal runaway," a state in which the voltage is sufficiently high to cause the electrode/electrolyte interface to breakdown and evolve gas, leading to self-sustaining exothermic reactions. As a result, cell leakage or venting can occur. If Lithium-ion batteries are over-discharged (<1 V), the negative electrode may dissolve and cause plating of the electrodes. This can lead to internal shorts within the cell, as well as possible thermal runaway. Therefore, careful monitoring of the cell voltage is paramount, and battery protection circuitry is necessary to keep the cell in a safe operating region.
It is known in the art to use a Lithium-ion battery in an implantable medical device, see. e.g., U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,411,537 and 5,690,693. However, such disclosed use requires careful avoidance of overcharge and overdischarging conditions, as outlined above, else the implant battery, and hence the implant device, is rendered useless.
The most recent development in rechargeable battery technology is the Lithium-ion polymer battery. Lithium-ion polymer batteries promise higher energy density, lower self-discharge and longer cycle life compared to conventional aqueous electrolyte Lithium-ion batteries. Its chemical composition is nearly identical to that of conventional Lithium-ion batteries with the exception of a polymerized electrolyte in place of the aqueous electrolyte. The polymer electrolyte enables the battery to be made lighter and thinner than conventional Lithium-ion batteries by utilizing foil packaging instead of a metal can, thus allowing it to be conformable to many form factors. Lithium-ion polymer batteries are also theoretically safer since the polymer electrolyte behaves more benignly when overcharged, generating less heat and lower internal cell pressure. Unfortunately, commercial realization of Lithium-ion polymer batteries has been slow and fraught with early production problems. Only recently have the major battery manufacturers (Sony, Panasonic, Sanyo) announced plans for Lithium-ion polymer battery production.
What is clearly needed for neural stimulation applications is a physically-small power source that either provides a large energy reservoir so that the device may operate over a sufficiently length of time, or a replenishable power source that still provides sufficient energy storage capacity to allow operation of the device over relatively long period of time, and which then provides a convenient, easy and safe way to refill the energy reservoir, i.e., recharge the battery, so that the device may again operate over a relatively long period of time before another refilling of the reservoir (recharging of the battery) is required.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Implantable devices using rechargeable zero-volt technology lithium-ion batteries


A candle snuffer having a handle, a body and a hook. The hook submerges a lit candle wick into the adjacent melted wax channel thereby extinguishing said wick. The hook is then used to retrieve the extinguished wick from the melted wax and returning it to its original position.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for extinguishing lit candles. More specifically, an apparatus method for extinguishing a lit candle while at the same time preventing the extinguished candle from smoking.
2. Prior Art
When a candle is extinguished, the wick will typically continue to emit smoke until such time that it has sufficiently cooled. During this time, the smoke creates an undesirable smell. The prior art discloses devices used to extinguish candles by placing a cap or cone shaped device over the end of a lit candle until such time as candle has been extinguished. These devices, however, do not prevent residual smoke from being emitted from the extinguished candle.
In the prior art, there exists a device which attempts to extinguish the lit candle while at the same preventing residual smoke. Ray (U.S. Pat. No. 5,282,737) discloses a device comprising a tonged shaped snuffer and a water containing vessel. The ends of the tonged shaped snuffer are moistened by the water which is stored within the vessel. The tongs are then pressed against a lit candle, thus extinguishing the flame while attempting to prevent smoke from emitting therefrom. The device has several disadvantages. By utilizing water to extinguish the wick portion of the candle requires the candle to be dried sufficiently before it can be relit. Further, by requiring water, the device becomes cumbersome to transport and operate.
There is a need for a simple snuffing device which can extinguish a flame while simultaneously preventing smoke from emitting therefrom while at the same time being easily transportable and noncumbersome to use.


An optical/electrical transducer device has housing, formed of a thermally conductive section and an optically transmissive member. The section and member are connected together to form a seal for a vapor tight chamber. Pressure within the chamber configures a working fluid to absorb heat during operation of the device, to vaporize at a relatively hot location as it absorbs heat, to transfer heat to and condense at a relatively cold location, and to return as a liquid to the relatively hot location. The transducer device also includes a wicking structure mounted within the chamber to facilitate flow of condensed liquid of the working fluid from the cold location to the hot location. At least a portion of the wicking structure comprises semiconductor nanowires, configured as part of an optical/electrical transducer within the chamber for emitting light through and/or driven by light received via the transmissive member.

Many different types of active optical elements for emitting or responding to light used in optical/electrical transducers require effective dissipation of heat. Consider a semiconductor light emitter, such as a light emitting diode (LED) or laser diode, as a first example. To generate more light, the device is driven harder by a higher power drive current. However, the device then generates more heat.
The semiconductor may be damaged or break down if healed to or above a certain temperature. If the temperature gets too high, the device may burn out instantly. All semiconductor light emitters decline in efficiency of light generation as they are operated over time. However, even if the temperature is not high enough to burn out the device quickly, operating a semiconductor light emitter at relatively high temperatures (but below the burn-out temperature) for an extended period will cause the semiconductor light emitter to degrade more quickly than if operated at lower temperatures. Even when a device is running within its rated temperature, the hotter it gets, the less efficient it becomes. Conversely, the cooler the device operates, the more efficient it is.
Many available types of LEDs fail at ˜150° C. LED performance data typically is based on junction temperature of 25° C. However, at more typical junction temperatures (˜100° C.), operating performance is degraded by ˜20% from the specified performance data.
As a solid state light emitter device such as a LED operates, the semiconductor generates heat. The heat must be effectively dissipated and/or the electrical drive power (and thus light output) must be kept low enough, to avoid breakdown or rapid performance degradation and/or to maintain operating efficiency. The package or enclosure of the semiconductor light emitter device typically includes a heat slug of a high thermal conductivity, which is thermally coupled to the actual semiconductor that generates the light. In operation, the slug is thermally coupled to a cooling mechanism outside the device package, such as a heat pipe and/or a heat sink. External active cooling may also be provided.
To increase the intensity of the light generated, the semiconductor light emitter may be driven with a higher intensity electrical current. Alternatively, an overall system or lighting device may include a number of semiconductor light emitters which together can produce a desired quantity of light output. With either approach, the increase in intensity of generated light increases the amount of heat that needs to be dissipated to avoid breakdown or rapid performance degradation and/or to maintain operating efficiency.
The examples above relate to light generation devices or systems. However, similar heat dissipation issues may arise in devices or systems that convert light to other forms of energy such as electricity. For example light sensors or detectors and/or photovoltaic devices may degrade or breakdown if overheated, e.g. if subject to particularly intense input light of if subject to high light input over extended time periods. Even when a device is running within its rated temperature, the hotter it gets, the less efficient it becomes. Conversely, the cooler the device operates, the more efficient it is.
For these and other types of active optical elements for emitting or responding to light, there is a continuing need for ever more effective dissipation of heat. Improved heat dissipation may provide a longer operating life for the active optical element. Improved heat dissipation may allow a light emitter to be driven harder to emit more light or allow a detector/second or photovoltaic to receive and process more intense light.
Many thermal strategies have been tried to dissipate heat from and cool active optical elements. Many systems or devices that incorporate active optical elements use a heat sink to receive and dissipate heat from the active optical element(s). A heat sink is a component or assembly that transfers generated heat to a lower temperature medium. Although the lower temperature medium may be a liquid, the lower temperature medium often is air.
A larger heat sink with more surface area dissipates more heat to the ambient atmosphere. However, there is often a tension or trade off between the size and effectiveness of the heat sink versus the commercially viable size of the device that must incorporate the sink. For example, if a LED based lamp must conform to the standard form factor of an A-lamp, that form factor limits the size of the heat sink. To improve thermal performance for some applications, an active cooling element may be used, to dissipate heat from a heat sink or from another thermal element that receives heat from the active optical element(s). Examples of active cooling elements include fans, Peltier devices, membronic cooling elements and the like.
Other thermal strategies for equipment that use active optical elements have utilized heat pipes or other devices based on principles of a thermal conductivity and phase transition heat transfer mechanism. A heat pipe or the like may be used alone or in combination with a heat sink and/or an active cooling element.
A device such as a heat pipe relies on thermal conductivity and phase transition between evaporation and condensation to transfer heat between two interfaces. Such a device includes a vapor chamber and working fluid within the chamber, typically at a pressure somewhat lower than atmospheric pressure. The working fluid, in its liquid state, contacts the hot interface where the device receives heat input. As the liquid absorbs the heat, it vaporizes. The vapor fills the otherwise empty volume of the chamber. Where the chamber wall is cool enough (the cold interface), the vapor releases heat to the wall of the chamber and condenses back into a liquid. Thermal conductivity at the cold interface allows heat transfer away from the mechanism, e.g. to a heat sink or to ambient air. By gravity or a wicking structure, the liquid form of the fluid flows back to the hot interface. In operation, the working fluid goes through this evaporation, condensation and return flow to form a repeating thermal cycle that effectively transfers the heat from the hot interface to the cold interface. Devices like heat pipes can be more effective than passive elements like heat sinks, and they do not require power or mechanical parts as do active cooling elements. It is best to get the heat away from the active optical element as fast as possible, and the heat pipe improves heat transfer away from the active optical element, even where transferring the heat to other heat dissipation elements.
Although these prior technologies do address the thermal issues somewhat, there is still room for further improvement.
For example, passive cooling elements, active cooling elements and heat transfer mechanisms that rely on thermal conductivity and phase transition have been implemented outside of the devices that incorporate active optical elements. A light processing device may include one or more elements coupled to the actual active optical element to transfer heat to the external thermal processing device. In our LED example, heat passes through of the layers of the semiconductor, to the heat slug and then to the external thermal processing device(s). The need to transfer the heat through so many elements and the various interfaces between those elements reduces efficiency in cooling the thermally susceptible component(s) of the active optical element. Again referencing the LED example, the need to transfer the heat through so many elements reduces efficiency in cooling the LED chip, particularly cooling at the internal the layer/point in the semiconductor chip where the light is actually generated.
It has been suggested that a heat pipe type mechanism could be incorporated at the package level with the LED (WO 2007/069119 (A1)). However, even in that device, a heat spreader and a light transmissive collimator encapsulate the actual LED chip and separate the chip from the working fluid. Heat from the LED chip structure is transferred through the heat spreader to the working fluid much like the prior examples that used an external heat pipe coupled to the heat slug of the LED package.
There is an increasing desire for higher, more efficient operation (light output or response to light input) in ever smaller packages. As outlined above, thermal capacity is a limiting technical factor. Thermal capacity may require control of heat at the device level (e.g. transducer package level and/or macro device level such as in a lamp or fixture).
Hence, it may be advantageous to reduce the distance and/or number elements and interfaces that the heat must pass through from the active optical element. Also, improvement in technologies to more effectively dissipate heat from active optical elements may help to meet increasing performance demands with respect to the various types of equipment that use the active optical elements.

Optical/electrical transducer using semiconductor nanowire wicking structure in a thermal conductivity and phase transition heat transfer mechanism


An all terrain vehicle includes a pair of right and left front wheels, at least a pair of right and left rear wheels, a vehicle body frame, a pair of right and left first roof supports, a pair of right and left second roof supports, a pair of right and left roof members, a seat, a front panel, a front upper cover, a meter unit and a cover. The front upper cover is connected to an upper portion of the front panel and extends forward in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle. The meter unit includes a display. The meter unit is disposed on the front panel such that the display is viewable from the seat. The meter unit is positioned in a transversely center portion of the vehicle. The cover extends from the front upper cover to the front panel so as to cover at least an upper portion of the meter unit. The cover is disposed in a higher position than an upper surface of the front panel in the transverse direction of the vehicle.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an all terrain vehicle, especially to an all terrain vehicle in which a meter unit is provided in a front panel.
2. Description of the Related Art
US Patent Publication No. 2008/0015066 A1 discloses an example of a conventional all terrain vehicle. The vehicle is provided with a cabin in which a seat is disposed. The cabin is disposed between front wheels and rear wheels in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle. Furthermore, a front panel is disposed forward of the cabin in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. The front panel is opposed to the seat.
The vehicle of this type has a structure in which the cabin opens outward. The structure makes a driver feel openness of the cabin. However, soil, water, dust and the like enter the cabin due to its openness.
Additionally, according to the vehicle disclosed in the aforementioned patent application, a meter unit is disposed on a portion of the front panel. Specifically, the meter unit is opposed to a driver when he/she takes a seat. A variety of instruments (e.g., a speedometer) are disposed in the meter unit. The meter unit thus includes electric components, and is thereby required to be protected from intrusion of soil, water, dust and the like.


An improved apparatus and method provide a portable fuel supply for a vehicle. The apparatus comprises a vessel that is a source of fuel and a conduit that is operatively connected with the vessel at one end. There is also a coupling pin arrangement connected with the vessel. The coupling pin arrangement comprises a coupling pin and is mutually engageable with a fifth wheel coupling device. An end opposite the one end of the conduit operatively connects with a fuel system of the vehicle such that the vessel is in fluid communication with the fuel system and the vehicle operates with the fuel from the vessel.

Dealers of alternative fuel vehicles, and especially trucks motoring from fuels such as liquefied natural gas (LNG) or liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), conduct service on these vehicles when required to fulfill warranty obligations. In order to safely service the engine the fuel should be purged from the fuel system, which normally involves defueling by transferring to another tank or venting. Depending on the length of the repair or the amount of fuel available it may not be practical or possible to reuse the fuel as it evaporates over time. After servicing is completed the trucks must be refuelled (with LNG or LPG) before being returned to the operator. Service locations are normally not equipped with an LNG/LPG fuelling station due to the economic costs and operating license requirements associated with such a facility. Instead, dealers have employed a number of alternative strategies to refuel trucks after servicing.
In certain situations it is possible that LNG/LPG can be transferred from the fuel tank of the truck to a secondary storage vessel before servicing begins, and then after repairs are completed the LNG/LPG can be transferred back to the truck. This method requires specialized equipment to perform the transfer, and typically involves substantial venting and waste of fuel to the atmosphere. Another approach that obviates the need for specialized equipment involves transporting LNG/LPG to the service location such that the truck can be refuelled by a mobile refuelling facility. The operator of the mobile refuelling facility requires a permit to transport LNG/LPG fuel which increases the cost of repair. There is also an inconvenience associated with waiting for the mobile refuelling facility to arrive at the service location.
Another solution involves CNG or LNG cylinders that are strapped onto the truck in a temporary arrangement. The cylinder strap-on arrangements are typically in locations that do not comply with vehicle installation codes related to regulations governing fuel tanks. Cylinders containing LNG are most commonly employed in this regard, and using these cylinders results in excessive fuel wastage from venting to atmosphere. Due to the disadvantages associated with the above methods, trucks are normally refuelled by towing them to a fuelling station. This solution does not require licensing or permits, and does not involve expensive specialized equipment. However, the cost associated with towing can be considerable which increases the warranty cost to dealers that ultimately leads to greater costs for truck operators as well.
The present method and apparatus refuel a vehicle after servicing without significantly wasting fuel through venting and without incurring a significant economic cost.

Apparatus and method for a portable fuel supply for a vehicle


A water base ink for ink-jet recording contains a coloring agent, water, a penetrant, and a surfactant, wherein the penetrant includes diethylene glycol n-hexyl ether (A), the surfactant includes an acetylene glycol-based surfactant (B1) and sodium polyoxyethylene alkyl ether sulfate (B2), and (A), (B1), and (B2) are blended at ratios respectively to fulfill a predetermined condition. Accordingly, the water base ink for ink-jet recording is provided, which is excellent in the permeability, the vaporization characteristic, and the water repellence and which does not deteriorate any resin material forming a casing or the like of an ink jet recording apparatus.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a water base ink for ink-jet recording, an ink cartridge, and an ink jet recording apparatus.
2. Description of the Related Art
In recent years, a high printing speed, which is equivalent to that of the laser printing, is required to be realized in the printing on the plain paper or regular paper in the field of the ink-jet printing. A method, in which the printing dot number is decreased for the plain paper to enhance the permeability of the ink, is exemplified as a method for achieving the realization of the high printing speed. The permeability of the ink can be enhanced by adding a penetrant to the ink. For example, an ink has been suggested, in which diethylene glycol n-hexyl ether (DEGHE) is used as the penetrant (see U.S. Pat. No. 4,985,077 (corresponding to Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 1-266173), Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 3-14881, Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 4-153279, Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 8-67840, Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 11-166144, Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 11-256087, U.S. Pat. No. 5,952,414 (corresponding to Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 9-111165), United States Patent Application Publication No. 2007/0263058A1 (corresponding to Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2007-302802), Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2007-302810, Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2008-31260, Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2008-120977, Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 11-124524, Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 11-116863, and United States Patent Application Publication No. 2006/0176349A1 (corresponding to Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2005-89713)).
However, if a large amount of DEGHE is added to the ink, the vaporization characteristic of the ink is deteriorated to cause the solidification of the ink, the precipitation of a coloring agent, and the aggregation (coagulation or cohesion). Consequently, the nozzle of the ink jet head tends to suffer the clog-up, and the discharge failure or undischarge (unsatisfactory discharge) is caused. Further, if a large amount of DEGHE is added to the ink, it is difficult to remove the ink, for example, from a casing or the like when the ink adheres to a resin material forming the casing or the like of an ink-jet recording apparatus; and a state tends to be given, in which ink dirt (stain) adheres to the casing or the like and the ink dirt remains as it is. If the ink adheres and remains as it is for a long period of time, the deterioration of the resin material forming the casing or the like is caused thereby. Further, DEGHE exhibits a poor water solubility. Therefore, a problem arises such that an amount of DEGHE, which is required to obtain the sufficient permeating power (penetrating power), cannot be added into the ink. Further, DEGHE exhibits a low water repellence. Therefore, an ink using DEGHE tends to adhere to a wall surface of the ink cartridge. Such an ink causes such a problem that the residual amount of the ink cannot be confirmed from the outside and such a problem that the ink is wasted.

Water base ink for ink-jet recording, ink cartridge, and ink-jet recording apparatus


A portable telephone having a cover to which a functional module such as an electronic calculator or a clock module is detachably mounted. The cover is rotatably mounted to a body of the portable telephone. Plural kinds of functional modules are replaceably mounted to the cover, thereby making the portable telephone multifunctional. Also disclosed herein is a construction that a multifunctional module mounting member is rotatably mounted to the body of the portable telephone, and a desired functional module is mounted to this mounting member by plug-in connection employing connectors.

An ultimate object of communication is, of course, to enable intention or information to be transmitted or exchanged at once anytime, from anywhere, and by anybody. In addition to a conventional intercommunication between fixed points, a mobile communication has been gradually developed. The mobile communication means a communication between a mobile body such as ship, automobile, or airplane and a fixed point such as home or office, and also means an intercommunication between two mobile bodies. In recent years, a portable telephone or a cordless telephone as a kind of means for carrying out the mobile communication has been extensively developed.
In general, a telephone is used with a receiver section put to the ear and a transmitter section kept near the mouth. So also in a portable telephone, it is necessary to ensure a sufficient distance between the receiver section and the transmitter section. In this circumstance, a conventional portable telephone itself is long and large in size to some extent. The portable telephone is provided with a switch section having a dialing function and a display section. It is known that a protective cover for protecting the switch section only or both the switch section and the display section is foldably mounted to the portable telephone.
However, the conventional protective cover merely has an original function of protecting the switch section only or both the switch section and the display section when not using the portable telephone, and it is of little utility value when using the portable telephone.

Portable telephone having a detachable functional module


A particulate matter oxidizing catalyst includes: at least one metal selected from the group consisting of: gallium, manganese, iron, cobalt, nickel, copper, yttrium, zirconium, niobium, molybdenum, silver, lanthanum, praseodymium, neodymium and gold; and cerium, wherein a first oxide includes: the cerium, and a first metal which is at least one element selected from the group consisting of: gallium, manganese, iron, cobalt and nickel, wherein a second oxide includes: the cerium, and a second metal which is at least one element selected from the group consisting of: praseodymium, zirconium and aluminum, and wherein the second oxide and the first oxide have a content ratio of second oxide/(first oxide+second oxide)=0.1 by mass to 0.8 by mass.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a particulate matter (PM) oxidizing catalyst. More in detail, the present invention relates to a PM oxidizing catalyst capable of continuously oxidizing or combusting PM from a relatively low temperature during an engine operation.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventionally known method for a diesel engine includes the following operations. An electric power and the like is inputted to a collected particulate matter (PM) or fuel is consumed to thereby increase temperature of the collected particle, then, oxidation or combustion reproduces a particulate filter. However, the reproduction by the electric power and the like requires a great energy quantity, while the reproduction by the fuel decreases fuel economy (i.e., increasing fuel consumption) of the engine.
With the above background, a catalyst capable of oxidizing PM at a relatively low temperature to thereby decrease the consumed electric power and improve fuel economy is used, and the material and component of such catalyst are improved.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,355,220 (family of laid-open JP2000507877T and examined JP3657620) proposes use of Cex—Zry—Prx (x=0 mol % to 0.3 mol %) as 3-way catalyst.
Moreover, EP1504815 (family of laid-open JP2003334443=examined JP3528839) proposes use of Ce—Zr-M (M=La, Sm, Nd, Gd, Sc, Y).
However, for oxidizing the PM from a relatively low temperature, the above conventional methods each have a room for improvement.

Particulate matter (PM) oxidizing catalyst


An antenna for a remote controlled toy comprises a conductor made of a metal wire and a cap portion anchored in an end of the conductor, wherein said conductor has a hook portion with a U-shaped end, a first flared portion articulated with said hook portion and provided crookedly for projecting in the perpendicular direction to said hook portion, a second flared portion articulated with the first flared portion and provided crookedly for projecting in the opposite direction from said first flared portion with regard to said hook portion, said cap portion has a T-shaped groove comprised of a horizontal groove housing said first flared portion and said second flared portion, a perpendicular groove housing said hook portion, and a hook locking part is provided inside the T-shaped groove.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an antenna for a remote controlled toy, an antenna cap and a remote controlled toy, in particular, to an antenna, an antenna cap and a remote controlled toy capable of being anchored only by insertion of an antenna and an antenna cap, which have further definite strength.
2. Description of Related Art
The conventional remote controlled toy adopts an antenna cap which is formed with a thermo-plastics and provided with a flat elongated insertion hole opening on the lower face, wherein the point of the antenna heated to the necessary temperature is inserted into said insertion hole so that the point is rotated for mounting with the antenna cap integrally by means of thermal welding.
There are, however, some problems, for example, necessity of skills for mounting operation, weak coupling and low efficiency of mounting operation. Japanese laid-open utility model publication No. 59-808, therefore, proposes an antenna cap anchored by a pin hole and loop portion.

Antenna for remote controlled toy, antenna cap and remote controlled toy


An ultrasonic probe includes a light irradiating portion configured to radiate light for generating ultrasonic waves from a light absorber, an ultrasonic transducing portion configured to transduce the ultrasonic waves to an electric signal, and a light guide member configured to introduce light from a light source to the light irradiating portion. A light irradiating region of the light irradiating portion is included within an ultrasonic receiving region of the ultrasonic transducing portion.

Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an ultrasonic probe suitable for use in an inspection utilizing a photoacoustic effect, and also relates to an inspection apparatus equipped with the ultrasonic probe.
Description of the Related Art
An inspection apparatus capable of obtaining a tomographic image or a three-dimensional image of a sample by utilizing a photoacoustic effect is proposed, for example, as described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,385,634. Such a technique is generally known as PhotoAcoustic Tomography and is called a "PAT technique".
A process of taking an image by the PAT technique is performed as follows:                1) Light is irradiated to a sample from the exterior.        2) The light propagates inside the sample.        3) The light is absorbed by a portion inside the sample where a light absorption coefficient is large.        4) The portion inside the sample is heated by the light absorption.        5) The heated portion expands.        6) Ultrasonic waves are generated upon the expansion.        7) The ultrasonic waves propagate inside the sample.        8) The propagating ultrasonic waves are received by an ultrasonic probe.        9) A tomographic image or a three-dimensional image of the sample is reconstructed by analyzing, e.g., time differences between the arrived ultrasonic waves.
Thus, the PAT technique has been so far studied primarily by research institutes in view of advantages resulting from the fact that the technique is based on comparatively simple processing, and that components such as a light source and an ultrasonic probe, which are already used for other purposes, can be employed as they are. In particular, an application to a biological information inspection apparatus for obtaining a high-resolution tomographic image is expected.
However, the PAT technique has the problem that, despite a demand for irradiating light to an inspection target from a position as close as possible to the target, the ultrasonic probe serving as a receiving unit impedes satisfaction of the demand by itself.
To overcome this problem, U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2005/0004458 proposes an ultrasonic probe 1100 shown in FIG. 11.
In FIG. 11, ultrasonic transducing units (ultrasonic transducers) 1110 are arrayed at a predetermined interval. Optical fibers (light irradiating units) 1120 are disposed in gaps between the ultrasonic transducers 1110 adjacent to each other, and a predetermined light is radiated toward an inspection target from the optical fibers 1120. Ultrasonic waves generated upon absorption of the light by tissues (i.e., light absorbers) inside the inspection target are transduced to an electric signal by the ultrasonic transducers 1110.
Because the ultrasonic probe 1100 proposed in U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2005/0004458 includes light irradiating regions each formed between ultrasonic receiving regions, an effect of the shade of the ultrasonic probe 1100 can be reduced in comparison with the case of irradiating the light from a position around the ultrasonic probe 1100.
Even with the ultrasonic probe proposed in U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2005/0004458, however, since the ultrasonic receiving regions and the light irradiating regions are disposed at different positions, a further improvement of sensitivity is demanded, for example, when observing capillary vessels that are positioned in the shallowest portion under the skin of a living body. Also, when the ultrasonic probe having the structure of FIG. 11 is used with a capacitive micromachined ultrasonic transducer (CMUT) using a silicon substrate, which is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,619,476, it is difficult to fabricate the ultrasonic probe due to the necessity of boring a through hole in the silicon substrate.

Ultrasonic probe and inspection apparatus equipped with the ultrasonic probe


The present invention relates to co-crystals of tadalafil with hydroxyl-substituted benzoic acid coformers having the following structure.

The present invention relates to new solid forms (NSF) of phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors, particularly to complex crystals, which have a constant quality and which may have improved physicochemical properties such as the physical and chemical stability and a modified dissolution rate.
For the present invention, the new solid phases (NSP), are also called cocrystals and are obtained by means of technical experimentation. The cocrystals are chemical entities with physicochemical properties differing from those of the salts or polymorphs of the base active ingredient, including their salts and/or their polymorphs, due to the nature of the intermolecular interactions between the active molecule and a second solid constituent called coformer.
A cocrystal is a crystal formed by two or more non-identical molecules, in which the starting components are solid at room conditions when they are in their pure form, and wherein the two or more cocrystal components form aggregates that are characterized by being linked by intermolecular interactions—such as the Van der Waals forces, π-stacking, hydrogen bonding or electrostatic interactions—but without forming covalent bonds. By using crystal engineering techniques, a new compound with modified physicochemical properties differing from the polymorphs, salts, hydrates and/or the existing solvates, can be obtained. The adjustable screening parameters are higher, thus in the case of pharmaceutical ingredients, the physical and chemical properties of the active ingredient with clinical relevance may be optimized.
The pharmaceutical cocrystals are cocrystals containing at least one therapeutic molecule and a pharmaceutically acceptable coformer. In these crystals, their components—the active ingredient and the coformer—coexist in a well-defined stoichiometric ratio. The cocrystals in solid form tend to be more stable than the existing solvates or hydrates.
The present invention describes cocrystals which will be called "complex cocrystals", obtained from a phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitor—tadalafil—and a neutral coformer, where both are solids at room temperature. The obtained cocrystals have a constant quality and may have improved physicochemical properties, such as a higher solubility and dissolution rate, enhanced flow properties and enhanced stability.
The phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors are a group of drugs used in the treatment of erectile dysfunction and for the treatment of pulmonary arterial hypertension. Structurally, they consist of heterocycles with nitrogen atoms, aromatic groups and carbonyl groups. The phosphodiesterease type 5 inhibitors used in the clinical practice are: tadalafil, sidenafil and vardenafil. In the present invention, a method for obtaining cocrystals and other solid forms based on one of these phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors, e.g., tadalafil, is developed.
The tadalafil molecule, as well as other phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors, is structurally comprised by heterocycles, aromatic groups and carbonyl groups. Tadalafil has an indole group, a pyrazine group and a benzodioxole attached to C6 as shown in Scheme I.

In the commercial pharmaceutical preparations, tadalafil is in neutral form and consists of the D+ isomer (6R,12R), which is almost insoluble in water. The absolute bioavailability of tadalafil after its oral delivery has not been yet determined. In therapeutic concentrations, 94% of the plasmatic tadalafil is bonded to proteins, it has a half life of 17.5 hours, and is eliminated by the hepatic metabolism, predominantly as metabolites, mainly in faeces (approximately 61% of the dose) and to a lesser extent in urine (approximately 36% of the dose). Tadalafil inhibits phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE5) and enhances the erectile function by increasing the amount of the cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP). The cGMP determines the relaxation of smooth muscle and increases the blood flow in the corpora cavernosa. Its delivery is by oral route in daily doses of 5, 10 or 20 mg.
Side effects of tadalafil are usually mild or moderate, transient, and improve without medical treatment. The most frequent side effects are: headache, dyspepsia, backache, myalgia, nasal stuffiness, flushing, dizziness and limb pain.
The drugs that inhibit CYP3A4 such as ketoconazole, ritonavir, erythromycin and itriconazole increase the exposure to tadalafil, as tadalafil is the CYP3A4 substrate, and are mainly metabolized by this route. On the other hand, the drugs that induce CYP3A4 such as rifampicine, carbamazepine, phenytoin and phenobarbital may decrease tadalafil exposure. Simultaneous delivery of an antacid such as aluminum hydroxide/magnesium hydroxide slows the tadalafil absorption rate. A substantial alcohol consumption (more than 5 units) in combination with tadalafil may increase the risk of orthostatic signs and symptoms, including increased heart rate, decreased blood pressure on standing, dizziness and headaches. When tadalafil is administered jointly with alpha-blocking agents such as tamsulosine, doxazosine or other anti-hypertensive agents such as amlodipine, metoprolol, bendrofluazide, enalapril or angiotensin II blockers, they may mutually enhance, in greater or lesser extent, its hypotensive effect.
Document US20090131667A1, describes the obtention and the process for manufacturing an amorphous form of tadalafil by assisted evaporation, with distillation of a tadalafil solution in an organic solvent. It also describes the obtention and the process for manufacturing the pure crystalline form B of tadalafil by precipitation of a tadalafil solution in a ketone solvent; and describes the preparation of a mixture of tadalafil form A and form B by precipitation of a tadalafil solution in an ester solvent.
Document US2006/0111571A1 (MX/a/2007/003719), describes the obtention and the process for making crystalline forms (polymorphs) I, II, III, IV, V, VI, VII and VIII of tadalafil by crystallization and/or precipitation in organic solvents; it describes the method of preparing the crystalline tadalafil form I by crystallizing tadalafil solutions in organic solvents such as 2-methoxyethanol, ethanol, acetonitrile, 1-propanol, isopropanol, ethyl acetate, toluene, dimethyl sulfoxide, n-butanol, methanol, chloroform, tetrahydrofuran, acetone and/or methyl ethyl ketone, and by precipitation when combining these solutions with solvents such as petroleum ether, cyclohexane, toluene, xylene, benzene and methyl-tert-butyl-ether, until obtaining a precipitate which was isolated. It describes the method for obtaining the crystalline form I starting from crystalline forms II, III and IV under certain humidity and temperature conditions; it describes the method for obtaining the crystalline form II from the crystallization of a tadalafil solution in acetone or methyl ethyl ketone or by precipitation adding a solvent such as petroleum ether, cyclohexane or methyl tert-butyl ether, to the methylethyl ketone solution; it describes the method for obtaining the crystalline form III of tadalafil, starting from the crystalline form II by heating at 65° C.; it describes the method for preparing the crystalline form IV, by crystallizing a tadalafil solution in methylene chloride or by precipitation from this solution with the addition of petroleum ether; it describes the method for obtaining of the crystalline form V from an acetic acid solution; it describes the obtention of the crystalline form VI using form IV by slurry in methanol and drying at 65° C.; it describes the obtention of tadalafil form VII using forms II, IV and V by slurry in toluene and drying at 65° C.; it describes the method for preparing the crystalline form VIII from the crystalline form IV in a range of 50-70° C.
The present invention, unlike the crystals cited in documents US20090131667A1 and US20060111571A1, comprises "complex" cocrystals which are obtained from a phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitor such as tadalafil, using its polymorph I. The cocrystals of the present invention are obtained with coformers such as 3-hydroxybenzoic acid, 4-hydroxybenzoic acid, 2,3-dihydroxybenzoic acid, 2,5-dihydroxybenzoic acid, 3,4,5-trihydroxybenzoic acid, D-malic acid and L-tartaric acid. These coformers have one or more hydroxyl and carboxyl groups, forming an aggregate by hydrogen bonding and van der Waals interactions with tadalafil or other active ingredients that have structural similarities, such as sildenafil and vardenafil.
The application WO20120099323 describes the formation of tadalafil cocrystals with oxalic acid, salicylic acid, 4-hydroxybenzoic acid, malonic acid, 3-phenylpropanoic acid, methylparaben and propylparaben. Document Weyna et al., "Crystal engineering of multiple-component organic solids: Pharmaceutical cocrystals of tadalafil with persistent hydrogen bonding motifs", CrystEngComm, 2012. 14, 2377 describes the synthesis of tadalafil cocrystals with methylparaben, propylparaben, cinnamic acid and 4-hydroxybenzoic acid.
Although it is true that documents WO20120099323 and the Weyna et al. article describe the existence of tadalafil cocrystals, and even when during the process of obtaining cocrystals one may envisage a great amount of combinations with the possible coformers, not all the combinations produce a cocrystal or a stable solid form, as shown in the specification of the present application.
The present invention comprises new solid phases of tadalafil which may show enhanced physicochemical properties, such as a enhanced solubility, dissolution rate, bioavailability, stability and/or flow properties.

Co-crystals of tadalafil and a hydroxy-substituted benzoic acid coformer as phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors

Abstract: Said co-crystals can be used to produce a pharmaceutical composition containing the same as the useful active ingredient. Said co-crystals can exhibit a constant storage stability.


Aspects of the present disclosure relate to techniques for minimizing the effects of RowHammer and induced charge leakage. In examples, systems and methods for preventing access pattern attacks in random-access memory (RAM) are provided. In aspects, a data request associated with a page table may be determined to be a potential security risk and such potential security risk may be mitigated by randomly selecting a memory region from a subset of memory regions, copying data stored in a memory region associated with a page table entry in the page table to the second memory region, disassociating the second memory region from the subset of memory regions and associating the memory region associated with the page table to the second memory region, and updating the page table entry in the page table to refer to the second memory region.

Maintaining the integrity of data stored in random-access memory (RAM) is important, not only in the context of reliability, but also for security considerations. However, in some instances, RAM may be susceptible to induced charge leakage (also known as RAM disturbances), which may cause one or more bits of the RAM to "flip" or change from their original value in response to other activity in the RAM. Such charge leakage may result in data loss or corruption, or may introduce potential security issues (e.g., if the bits relate to memory access permissions, are outside of an applications sandbox, etc.).
It is with respect to these and other general considerations that embodiments have been described. Also, although relatively specific problems have been discussed, it should be understood that the embodiments should not be limited to solving the specific problems identified in the background.

Prevention of RAM access pattern attacks via selective data movement


A back adjustable electrical bed frame comprises a head panel, a back panel, a buttocks panel, a thigh panel, a shank panel, a back pusher motor and a leg pusher motor. The leg pusher motor drives the buttocks panel through a scissor support assembly. The shank panel, parallel to the base, moves back and forth. The back panel has a back panel pivot at a quarter to a half of its lower part. The back panel is fixed to the base by a column having one end fixed to the base and the other end connected to the back panel pivot. The back pusher motor has a front end pivot connected with the back panel and a rear end pivot fixedly connected with the base. The front end pivot, the rear end pivot and the back panel pivot form a triangle to position an angle of the back panel.

The bed is an indispensable piece of furniture for every family. With the gradual improvement of living standards, people also have a higher pursuit on the aesthetics, comfort and functionality of the bed.
Electric bed is one of the more functional of a modern home bed. The head of the bed plate or the foot height of the electric bed can be controlled and the degree of bending of the bed can be freely adjusted. Electric bed can be divided into two different types of skeleton and bed plate, the skeleton type is called European electric bed, and the bed plate type is called American electric bed.
Head and tail lifting function: compared with the use of health care, the lifting function is more perfect and diversified. According to ergonomics there is five body segmentation joints in the bed frame (that is, the bending point of the human body), the bed frame angle can be adjusted through remote control operation to adapt to the various parts of the body bending angle and adjust the body posture freely, so that the neck pressure can be reduced, sitting, lying or only raise the feet to promote blood circulation.
A variety of mattresses can be placed on the electric mats to combine into a modern home bed. The electric beds of the existing domestic production, generally are American four state or five state, which are divided into the head, back, buttocks, thigh, shank and head and back together.
The existing electric bed is already with reasonable function and simple structure. Compared with ordinary flat bed, the existing electric bed is more comfortable and humanized. But there are still several problems or flaws to be improved and upgraded.
First, the existing electric bed is single-axis rotation, the section of the joints and the mattress are significantly disengaged, not posted and left an increasing gap when the back rest is raised with a large angle, the reason is the mattress has a certain hardness which can not be completely folded into a dead end, and the thicker and harder the mattress is, the outer diameter of its bending is greater. However, the folding angle R is basically 0, so there will be a triangular gap at the bending part of the buttocks and back which will affect the aesthetics but will not affect the use of functionality.
Second is the mismatch problem, as the mattress has a certain thickness, hardness, there will be a certain bending radius after bending. For example, the middle layer of the sponge bed with 2 meters long and 20 centimeters, the back bends 70 degrees, the thigh bends 30 degrees, the length of lower side of the extension reaches 2.14 meters, however, the total length of the bed frame is only 2 meters, the dislocation is nearly 14 centimeters, that is, the mattress will protrude a distance from the bed frame after the rise of the bedside which will affect the aesthetics.
Third is the push back friction: whether it is state four or state five, currently the pivot of the back of the electric bed is configured at the bottom of the backrest bracket. As shown in FIG. 1, the back panel pivot 14 is at the bottom of the back panel 2. After the mattress is behind the buttocks waist, when the back pusher motor 8 be pushed back, the backrest bracket and mattress relative displacement, coupled with the relative thickness of the human body with the mattress produced, the process of getting up, the body back side and mattresses have a strong friction, that is, the back of the human to be up, the clothes were pulled by the mattress which will be very uncomfortable. Get up the process of action, to constantly move the buttocks and back to eliminate the friction. This defect is prevalent in all electric beds on the market now.

Zhejiang Sidoo Electrical Appliances Co., Ltd.


A structural innovation of cord retriever, a structural design for multiple-step control of pulling length of a cord, to achieve the purpose of making adjustment of a cord length as required by the user and fast and smooth retrieving thereof.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a structural innovation of a cord retriever, a structural design for multiple-step control of pulling a length of a cord, applicable to winding and retrieving control of cords in various electronic products, and computer and communication appliances.
2. Description of the Related Art
With the advancement of modern-day technology, the structures of computer, electric appliances, and communication equipment have been seeking improvement to satisfy market demand. Among them, the retrieval of cords in various appliances has always causes trouble to most users. To address that shortcoming, manufacturers have designed various types of cord retrieving devices for the purpose of retrieving cords and controlling the length of use of cords.
With the abovementioned cord retrievers, two ends of the cord are pulled out directly by hand for ready use. But the length so pulled is only in one step. In other words, the entire length of the cord shall be pulled out completely before the pulled length is fixed for use. To retrieve the cord, the user has to pull on two ends of the cord before releasing it, and then the cord will be automatically retrieved. However, its retrieving force would be too powerful, and the end of the cord would swing violently because of too fast cord retrieving speed, which may cause injury to the user's hand.
There is another type of cord retriever designed in multiple steps of pulled cord length. Though that design enables multiple steps of cord length to be stopped, but it is unable to stop the cord at a length required by the user, nor will it make fine adjustment of the length. Furthermore, the pulling operation in cord retrieving process is more sophisticated and unsure, so it requires multiple pulling operations to completely retrieve the cord.
To seek possible solution to the above shortcoming, the present inventor has been dedicated to repeated experiments and research and has finally come up with the present invention with its sophisticated structural design to enhance better convenience and applicability of cord retriever.
For better understanding of the structure, performance, objectives, approach and spirit of the present invention, please refer to the following drawings and detailed description of preferred embodiment.


There is provided a disc player which can be reduced in the number of parts and in cost, and which can be designed to be thin and provided with a function of sufficiently self-holding a lock state.

A conventional disc player supports a drive unit inside a chassis while floating the drive unit, and loads a disc to the drive unit to reproduce the disc. In addition, at least at a disc eject or loading standby time, the disc player releases the floating of the drive unit and locks the drive unit to the chassis (for example, see Patent Document 1).
Patent Document 1: WO/2001/091119

Abstract: A drive unit 9 is constructed by a base plate 13 and a swing plate 17 for pinching a disc in cooperation with the base plate 13, and a lock mechanism 260 is disposed between the base plate 13 and the swing plate 17, and the operation of the lock mechanism 260 is interlocked with the operation of the swing plate 17.


A signature generation and verification system including a signature generation apparatus and a signature verification apparatus is provided. Based on signer certification information possessed by a signer, the signature generation apparatus generates a digital signature and verification data corresponding to a given electronic document and outputs the set of the digital signature and the verification data as signature data. Upon receipt of the electronic document and the signature data, the signature verification apparatus verifies the digital signature using the verification data to verify the integrity of the electronic document. As needed, the signature verification apparatus performs user identification ex-post facto by authenticating that the signer certification information from which the verification data was generated belongs to a legitimate user without knowledge of the signer certification information.

The present invention relates to a digital signature system that generates and verifies a digital signature for the purpose of attesting to the integrity of an electronic document and certifying the person who prepared that document.
Digital signatures are used extensively for preventing the fabrication or falsification of electronic documents (attestation of integrity) and for personal authentication. With ordinary digital signature systems, the signer generates his or her own secret key paired with a public key in advance, and has the public key made public. Generally, the secret key is stored on an IC card or the like and managed personally by the signer so that the key may be used only by the signer and kept secret to other people. The signer can generate his or her signature on a given electronic document using the secret key. The verifier can verify the signature paired with the electronic document (both not fabricated or falsified) using the public key. For example, the algorithms for such digital signatures include RSA signature, DSA, ElGamal signature, Schnorr signature, elliptic curve DSA, elliptic curve ElGamal signature, and elliptic curve Schnorr signature.
With the digital signature system, however, if the owner of the public key is falsely impersonated, the validity of the signature is lost. For example, suppose that a document prepared and signed by signer A is falsified by wrongdoer B, that the signature of signer A is replaced with that of wrongdoer B, and that the public key of wrongdoer B is made public falsely as the public key of signer A. In such a case, the verifier of signature will accept the document falsified by wrongdoer B as a valid document prepared by signer A.
In order to circumvent the above problem, PKI (Public Key Infrastructure) has been utilized (see Non Patent Literature 1). With PKI, a set of a public key and data such as the ID of the public key owner is provided with a signature by a trustworthy third party (certification authority). This signature is given as a certificate. The verifier first verifies the signature of the certification authority included in the signer's certificate, and verifies the signature of the electronic document of interest using the public key included in the certificate. In order to further ensure the validity of the public key from the certification authority, a signature of a higher-order certification authority is attached to the signature of the certification authority. In this manner, PKI predicates overall trustworthiness on the assumption that, with dependencies of trust generally formed in a tree structure, all signers place their confidence in the certificates of the highest-order certification authority. (Non Patent Literature 1: Carlisle Adams and Steve Lloyd, "Understanding Public-key Infrastructure: Concepts, Standards, and Deployment Considerations," Published by Macmillan Technical Publishing 1999)
Also, PGP (Pretty Good Privacy) is used as software and a standard primarily for encrypting and signing e-mails (see Non Patent Literature 2). PGP adopts the concept "Web-of-trust," to be discussed below, as a solution different from that of PKI to the above problem. Using his or her secret key, a PGP user may attach his or her signature to the public key of any other user. For example, user A may identify user B using some appropriate method and attach his or her signature to user B's public key. User C is assumed to identify user A using some suitable method and thus trust the public key of this user. Suppose now that user B sends user C an e-mail signed with user B's secret key along with user B's public key signed with user A's secret key. Even though user C does not know (trust) user B, user C trusts user A's public key, so that user B's signed public key may be verified using user A's public key, whereby the validity of user B's public key and that of the e-mail verified using that public key are ascertained. This is the concept of "Web-of-trust," which means that the public key signed by a trustworthy user can be trusted. (Non Patent Literature 2: Zimmermann, P. "The Official PGP User's Guide," Cambridge, Mass.: MIT Press, 1997 (fourth printing).)
Also proposed has been a digital signature method (ID-based signature) whereby the user ID (e.g., user's mail address) itself is used as a public key (see Non Patent Literature 3). With the ID-based signature scheme, the user ID serves as the public key of each user. For this reason, there is no need to issue a certificate for the public key. However, the signer needs to have a trustworthy third party, called the Private Key Generator (PKG), generate and issue a secret key corresponding to the user ID. At this point, the PKG using some suitable method needs to verify that the person applying for a secret key is indeed the person in possession of the user ID in question. (Non Patent Literature 3: Adi Shamir, "Identity-Based Cryptosystems and Signature Schemes," Advances in Cryptology: Proceedings of CRYPTO 84, Lecture Notes in Computer Science, Vol. 196, 1985, pp. 47-53).
JP-2003-323116-A (Patent Literature 1) discloses a method aimed at simplifying the identification procedure for allowing a user to register a public key with PKI. The disclosed method involves carrying out the following process for generating a secret key (SK) for public key encryption using biometric data B and secrete data R and for identifying the user in question upon receipt of a public key certificate issued by the certification authority: With regard to the secret key SK for RSA public key encryption generated using the secret data R and first biometric data B of the user, second biometric data B′ of the user is obtained. And using the second biometric data B′, it is verified whether the secret key SK has been generated from the secret data R and the first biometric data B.

Signature generation and verification system and signature verification apparatus