This invention describes a method of rapid detection of micro-colonies of microorganisms by changing their shape from a regular semi-sphere to a long and thin cylinder. Cells are trapped by filtration in long (diameter/length=1/10-1/100), cylindrical, parallel, micro-channels that are open from both sides, and attached to a filter from one side. A micro-channel plate houses a multiplicity of micro-channels (diameter of each channel=1-20 μm, and length 100-1000 μm). The micro-channel plate with cells trapped on the surface of the filter is attached to a nutrient media agar block. Cells produce micro-colonies of a long and thin shape according the shape of the micro-channel. The growth of microorganisms in the micro-channels permits a change in the number of cells to accomplish light absorbance. Fewer cells need a shorter time to reproduce. Thus detection and counting of cells can be accomplished in a rapid fashion.

Growing microorganisms in order to detect, enumerate and identify viable cells—bacteria, fungi, actinomycetes—is one of the most widely used procedures in microbiology. The ability to form a colony on or in an appropriate nutrient media is recognized as the most reliable criteria for cell viability. Formation of a colony requires different biochemical reactions and processes like respiration, transportation, synthesis and decomposing of different proteins, carbohydrates, lipids, enzymes, nucleic acids and many other substances, and creation of inner structures in order to finally reach cell reproduction and creation of a colony. The detection of live cells cannot be fully substituted by the simple detection of enzymes (enzymatic methods of detection), purified DNA or RNA (PCR methods), antigen-antibody interactions (Enzyme Immunological Analysis, ELISA, Immunoprecipitation, Immunofluorescence, Phagodiagnostics and others), fatty acids analysis (Chromatography), FTIR spectroscopy or other methods. This is due to the presence of specific molecules or even some working systems of the cell, which can be found in dead cells, cells under deadly stress, or cells without access to some required substances that are therefore restricted in growth potential.
Growth of microorganisms takes from hours to several days, or even weeks to form well visible colonies or a visible suspension of cells. The growth occurs either on artificial or natural nutrient media in solid or liquid form. There is a multitude of different media with selective criteria required for growth and total count of groups or species of microorganisms. These include media for growth, detection and enumeration of total number of bacteria (Tryptic Soy Agar and other), fungi, molds (Sabouraud Dextrose Agar, Potato Dextrose Agar and other), selective media for group of microorganisms like Gram-negative bacteria (MacConkey Agar, Levine EMB Agar and other), Lactobacillius (Lactobacillii MRS Agar) or Salmonella (SS Agar), certain microbes like E. coli O:157 (Sorbitol MacConkey Agar), Vibrio chelerae (TCBS Agar), Campylobacter (Triple Sugar Iron Agar) and many others. Growing periods on nutrient media is the most time consuming process in modern microbiological diagnostics. Reducing the time between the inoculation and detection of microorganisms is very important for rapid decisions in quality and process control in a multitude of industries including food, biotechnological, pharmaceutical, water treating industry, and also in medical microbiological diagnostics, environmental and biodefense control and monitoring, and scientific research. Thus, for example, significantly decreasing the time of microbiological analysis together with saving the high level of reliability (i.e., detection by growth—forming of colonies) is very important for modern medical diagnostics for early diagnostics of humans or animals infections, epidemiology, and detection of antibiotic resistant microbes and so on. Rapid analysis (analysis significantly faster than regular growth and further analysis) is also needed in food, pharmaceutical, and biotechnological industries for control and prevention of contamination in food, drugs, and medical devices and for environmental monitoring.
The term "colony" or "micro colony" in microbiology means a group of cells appearing from one single cell and consisting only from descendants of that cell. A colony or micro colony can have different shapes: semi-sphere if grown on the surface of solid agar, oval, cone or "star" if grown in solid or semi-solid agar, a dense or diffuse cloud if grown on semi-liquid or liquid media, or flat fibers growing from one center (fungi, actinomycetes, or some bacterial micro colonies).
There are several different methods and instruments employed to enhance colony visibility. The addition of special, non-toxic substances (artificial chromogenic or fluorogenic substrates) to solid nutrient media changes the color of the micro-colonies or makes them fluorescent. Some microorganisms like E. coli O:157, Staphilococcus aureus, and Salmonela grows on "Chromagars," (Hardy Diagnostics, Inc. CA, CROMagar Company, France) a solid or semi-solid nutrient media that specifically changes the color of investigated microorganisms because of artificial substrates for unique enzymes added to media. These substrates are non-toxic to the cells and allow normal growth. Toxic artificial substrates such as Tetrazolium salts, Fluorescein diacetate and other substances can not be used because stops cells growth. Chromagars' time of incubation is typically 24-120 hours, which is not considered rapid.
Detection and enumeration of colonies are done visually with a naked eye or with magnifying devices. Visual detection and enumeration using magnifying devices requires relatively big colonies; from hundreds of microns to millimeters in diameter. Microscopy helps to find micro-colonies that are smaller in size, however, these colonies must be at least tens of microns in size, contain at least several hundred cells, and require at least 10-12 hours of incubation. Additional coloration of these micro-colonies is difficult because cells spread/wash away on the surface when dye solution applied. It is also difficult to find them on a big surface of plate.
Detection of microorganisms could also be achieved by dividing a sample into many discrete zones, adding liquid nutrient media, incubating from many hours to days, adding indicator substance or counting turbid zones, and calculating concentration (U.S. Pat. No. 5,716,798). This method gives a reduction of growth of only 20-40% because employed relatively large volumes of discrete zones, consisting of large wells on the side of a special flask for growth. A 90% of zone volume related to nutrient media and therefore analyzing sample could be only several milliliters. Therefore, this method is used only for the detection of microbes in human blood because blood samples are very small and their contamination is in a range from single cells to several hundred cells per milliliter. The same idea used in SIMPLATE™ device (Biocontrol Systems, WA, USA)—device for growth of microorganisms in liquid media divided on several tens smaller volumes (U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,518,892, 5,620,895 and 5,753,456). The time of incubation in the SIMPLATE™ device is 24 hours.
The modern microbiology employs some methods to shorten time for microorganism growth and to improve the visibility of colonies, for example, employing optimal growth nutrient media, adding chemical matter in the nutrient media, or employing optical instruments or devices. However, there are no methods utilizing the shape of the colony during its growth in order to enhance its optical density (light absorbance) or fluoresence. The shape of a regular micro-colony is usually semi-sphere. See FIG. 1A. Changing a colony's shape from a regular semi-sphere with a large volume and a large amount of cells to a thin cylinder shape with a small volume and a small amount of cells will strongly reduce the time between inoculation and colony counting. Smaller amounts of cells need a shorter time for their production. The usage of chemicals producing color or fluorescence and optical instruments together with detection of cylindrical colonies would improve visibility and reduce the time required for analysis.
Therefore, there remains a need in the art for new methods and apparatus of early microorganism detection that have quicker microorganism recognition time than existing methods and apparatuses.

Method and device for rapid detection of microorganisms by changing the shape of micro-colonies in micro-channels


According to one embodiment, a display device comprises image signal lines, scanning signal lines, pixels, a display area, pixel electrodes, and common electrodes. The common electrodes are configured to detect an object and to display an image in the display area. The common electrodes include first and second common electrodes which are arranged in a first direction. A first slit is provided between the first and second common electrodes. The first and second common electrodes are supplied a signal different from each other. A second slit is provided in the first common electrode. Each of the first slit and the second slit overlaps one of the image signal lines and extends in an extension direction in which the image signal line extends.

Recently, a display device which causes a common electrode which is arranged in a display area to function as a display electrode which produces an electric filed between the display electrode and a pixel electrode and also function as a detection electrode which detects an object which is in contact with or in proximity to the display area has been developed.
For example, a liquid crystal display device including a plurality of common electrodes which extend in an extension direction of scanning signal lines (gate lines), are arranged in an extension direction of image signal lines (source lines), and are used as object detection electrodes has been known. In the liquid crystal display device, slits which extend in the extension direction of the scanning signal lines are formed between the common electrodes. Between areas in which the slits are provided and areas in which the slits are not provided, the alignment of liquid crystal molecules may differ. Therefore, it is considered that, as slits are further provided in each of the common electrodes, the impact of the slits can be averaged across the display area.
In realizing common electrodes which function as detection electrodes, if the common electrodes are arranged such that the common electrodes extend in the extension direction of the image signal lines and are arranged in the extension direction of the scanning signal lines, the frame size can be reduced. In this structure, the slit between the adjacent common electrodes extends along the image signal, and thus the electric field from the image signal line may leak through the slit and may have an impact on the display performance. Therefore, even in a display device of this kind, it is still necessary to take some measures to improve display quality.

Display device comprising a first slit separating first and second common electrodes and overlapping first and second metal lines


A water based ink set for ink-jet recording includes a yellow ink, a magenta ink, a cyan ink, a black ink, and a red ink and/or a blue ink each including at least a coloring agent, water and a water soluble organic solvent. In the water based ink set, a water soluble dye is employed as the coloring agent of each of the yellow ink, the magenta ink and the cyan ink, and a pigment is employed as the coloring agent of each of the black ink and the red ink and/or the blue ink. In an ink-jet recording method employing the water based ink set for ink-jet recording, the red ink and the magenta ink are employed together for a magenta-ink-recording portion, and the blue ink and the cyan ink are employed together for a cyan-ink-recording portion.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a water based ink set for ink-jet recording and to an ink-jet recording method.
2. Related Art of the Invention
An ink-jet recording system has been widely used for color-printing digital color image data. In such an ink-jet recording system, a water based ink set for ink-jet recording has been employed as ink-jet inks. The water based ink set comprises a yellow ink, a magenta ink and a cyan ink which are each prepared by dissolving a water soluble dye into a mixed solvent of water and water soluble organic solvents. In some cases, in order to print text data such as alphabet character data and Chinese character data, a dye based black ink is added to the water based ink set for ink-jet recording. Further, in order to implement vivid color reproducibility, it has been proposed to constitute an ink set with seven water soluble dye based color inks including a yellow ink, a magenta ink, a cyan ink, a red ink, a green ink, a blue ink and a black ink (see Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2002-241661).
When employing such an ink set, however, the number of nozzles of an ink-jet head must be increased, resulting in the problem of cost increase.
Also, when an ink set is composed of dye based inks only, there is a problem that feathering is noticeable in text. Feathering is fine scale blurring caused by the presence of fibers and spaces in a recording material such as recording paper when ink lands on the recording material to penetrate thereinto.
Recently, in addition to vivid color reproducibility, sharp text print quality has been desired in which blurring such as feathering is suppressed as much as possible. Print quality close to photo image quality has also been desired in which excellent lightfastness and ozone resistance are implemented.
In order to implement sharp text printing, Japanese Patent Publication Laid-Open No. 2001-354886 discloses an ink set for ink-jet recording comprising, in addition to the three primary color inks (yellow, magenta and cyan inks), three additional color inks (black, red and green inks), all of which are composed of pigment based inks.
However, when all of the inks of the ink set are composed of pigment based inks, despite that the additional black, red and green inks are employed together, the color reproducibility is not satisfactory as compared to that of an ink set composed of dye based three primary color inks.
Therefore, in order to implement both sharp print quality without feathering in text and vivid color reproducibility close to silver halide photograph in a color image, a commercially available ink set employs a pigment as a coloring agent for a black ink in which the print quality of text is of importance and employs water soluble dyes as coloring agents for color inks (including yellow ink, magenta ink and cyan ink) in which color reproducibility is of importance.
However, when text is printed by use of an ink set having the abovementioned ink configuration, problems have arisen in text printed in red and in blue, since red color and blue color besides black color are frequently used for emphasis, correction and the like in the actual text.
That is, the red color is expressed by superposing the dye based yellow ink and the dye based magenta ink, and the blue color is expressed by superposing the dye based magenta ink and the dye based cyan ink. Because of this, ink misplacement caused by a landing error of the superposition occurs in each of the text printed in red and in blue to cause the sharpness of the text to deteriorate. In addition, since two kinds of the dye based inks are employed for expressing the red color and the blue color as described above, the amount of the inks employed for expressing each of the colors is about twice as much as the amount of-the black pigment ink employed for printing text in black, thereby causing a problem that feathering tends to occur.
In addition, the text printed in red or in blue also has problems of low water resistance, low lightfastness and low ozone resistance. More specifically, when the water resistance of the inks is low, for example, blurring of a text document printed in an office is likely to occur due to sweat of a human hand or water such as a water drop from a drink, and also migration (i.e., blurring caused by moisture) tends to occur.
When the lightfastness is low, the fading of the red color and the blue color of the text posted for a long period of time occurs due to exposure to illumination light or sunlight, causing the text to have a short shelf life. Particularly, the lightfastness of the dye based magenta ink, which is employed to express the red color together with the dye based yellow ink, is lower than those of the yellow ink, the cyan ink and the black ink. Therefore, the color balance of the image will be disrupted after the color fading, causing the redness of the image to degrade.
Moreover, color fading of an image caused by various gases present in air (particularly by ozone) has recently been paid attention, and thus high ozone resistance has been required. However, the ozone resistance of the magenta ink employed for expressing red color and the cyan ink employed for expressing blue color is lower than those of the yellow ink and the black ink. Therefore, the color balance will be disrupted after the color fading due to aging, causing the redness and the blueness of the image to be degraded. Consequently, yellow color will mainly remain on a recording material after the fading of the magenta ink and the cyan ink due to aging, causing the yellowness of the image to be enhanced. Such disruption of the color balance after the color fading due to aging gives an unnatural impression, and this has been a serious problem in improving print quality.

Water based ink set for ink-jet recording and inkjet recording method


A telescopic table board positioned with a resilient pin is provided, which is characterized by the following features: The telescopic table board includes a left table board and a right table board slidely nested with each other; as for the left table board and the right table board, one of them is fixedly provided with a rack, while the other with a corresponding seat bore, in which is a resilient pin positioned, which is mainly composed of a positioning fastener and a spring; the positioning fastener is provided at the head with a tooth head engaged with the corresponding rack, extends at the tail through the seat bore, and is provided at the tail end with a handle; and the spring is sleeved onto the positioning fastener, and functions between the positioning fastener and the seat bore, thus constituting the resilient-pin type telescopic positioning mechanism between the left table board and the right table board. The present utility model endows the operation table board or gangplank with the telescopic function, thus enhancing versatility and satisfying different requirements for length of the table board (gangplank) on various application occasions.

A mini operation table (or a work table, or a service table) is very common in daily life and work, such as a dedicated vehicle washing table and a domestic mini scaffold. The operation table is usually composed of a table board and bracing feet, whereas it is called a gangplank when the operation table board is separately used as an apparatus. The gangplank is more flexible and convenient to use, and also has a very wide application scope, especially in the construction field. It is also usually used to connect two planes (such as a ship's gangplank used on a mini boat for getting aboard or off the boat). Therefore, the operation table and the gangplank are all current common underlaying apparatuses, which make it easy for people to operate and move aloft and bring convenience to people's lives and work.
In the prior art, the operation table board or gangplank is still a traditional piece of flat plate, which has a fixed length and is not telescopic. However, there are different requirements for the length of the work table board on different actual application occasions. For example, when the operation table is used as a footrest underlay of a domestic mini scaffold, the operation is generally performed in one position, and the operation table board is unnecessary to be too large, too large an operation table board not only occupying too much space but also increasing cost; when the operation table is used as a vehicle washing table, the table board is required to be designed longer because of the longer body of the vehicle, which permits people to move left and right on the operation table, and to avoid the trouble of getting down off the operation table before moving the operation table. However, the problem is more obvious with the gangplank. The gangplank with a fixed length cannot be flexibly spanned over various shelves, making the application scope consumedly limited. The gangplank not in use cannot be folded, either, occupying too much an area.
Therefore, the prior factory operation table boards or gangplanks are all designed for a particular application occasion, with poor versatility. While the main requirements the current consumers have for such products as domestic ladders and operation tables are high versatility, a wide application scope, and a small volume for portability. Neither the operation table board nor the gangplank of the prior art can satisfy the above requirements.

Telescopic table board positioned with resilient pin


A disposable body towel includes a tie and apertures for retaining the towel around a bather. The disposable towel comprises a flexible substantially planar non-woven laminated sheet having top, bottom and side edges and includes a plurality of fibrous water absorbent cellulose plies. The sheet includes an outer ply and an inner ply, wherein the outer ply is water absorbent. The sheet possesses sufficient structural strength when wet to resist degradation in the presence of liquids and is sized to substantially cover a body. The inner and outer plies are bonded together by biodegradable resin at the side edges, thereby reinforcing said side edges for providing additional resistance to tearing. The sheet includes an adjustable tie attached to said top edge and apertures along said top edge for securing the towel about the body as said towel is positioned to substantially cover the body.

This invention relates to the field of bath towels and more particularly to a disposable bath towel having a tie and a plurality of apertures for securing the towel around a person.
Woven cloth is commonly used for bath towels and beach towels. Frequently there are occasions where the use of a cloth towel which must be washed and dried is either impractical or inconvenient. Also the laundering of cloth towels can be costly for beauty parlors, hospitals, nursing homes, hotels, etc. A disposable bath towel would save water, detergent and labor. However, even with all of the advantages of disposable towels and disadvantages of cloth towels, the prior art disposable towels have been unable to supplant cloth towels for the bath and beach. The following patents are provided for background information.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,075,382 to Chapman, et al relates to a disposable non-woven surgical towel and method of making it. The surgical towel includes an outer tissue layer adhered to a medium density thermoplastic, long fibered, non-woven material and includes a center ply constituting a low density melt blown long fibered non-woven material. The use of the thermoplastic material significantly reduces the biodegradability of the surgical towel. The surgical towel also lacks means for securing the towel about a person.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,003,509 to Camarero discloses a disposable bath towel and dispensing device. The patent discloses a series of absorbent tear-off elongated sheets of paper imprinted to have opposite ends with simulated borders and having felted absorbent fibers extending from the imprinted surface along the length of the respective sheets with multi-color zones resembling quality textile cloth toweling. A series of sheets is shown rolled and mounted for cranking forwardly beneath a spring biased roller to a position beneath a tear blade such that the disposable simulated bath towel sheets maybe cranked to a tear-off position one at a time and torn away for use. The Camarero towel lacks a reinforcing tear resistant border, a folded stack dispenser, treatment for enhanced wet strength, quilting and lacks means for securing the towel around a bather.
The present invention is designed provide a convenient alternative to cloth towels and thereby avoid the labor and expense of washing cloth towels.

Disposable paper bath towel with integral apertures and tie


An information processing apparatus includes a housing with a top surface and a rear surface, a CPU (central processing unit) provided in the housing, a keyboard placed on the top surface of the housing and including a plurality of keys which input key data to the CPU, a display unit attached to the housing rotatably between a closed position in which the display unit covers the keyboard and an open position in which the keyboard is exposed, and at least one switch provided on the rear surface of the housing and configured to input key data to the CPU.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus such as a portable computer.
2. Description of the Related Art
Various portable computers such as notebook personal computers have recently been developed. Most of the portable computers are configured in consideration of their operability when they are used on a desk or a user's lap. All key switches of a keyboard are therefore arranged on the top surface of the housing (disclosed in, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 6,198,626B1).
In the above portable computers used on a desk or a user's lap, a user can operate a keyboard by touch-typing with both hands. In most portable computers such as hand-held computers, however, a user operates a keyboard while holding a computer with both hands. The user often depresses keys of the keyboard chiefly with both thumbs. In some computer key operations, a user has to depress two or more keys at once; however, it may be difficult for the user to depress the keys only with both thumbs.

Information processing apparatus having switch for inputting key data


A method, system, and computer-readable medium for accessing and managing an online storage system is disclosed. Access to a storage resource in a multiple server storage system is provided by sending to a lookup partitioning service server a resource identifier that is associated with a storage resource stored in a particular storage partition of a storage server. The LPS returns the looked-up partition that stores the storage resource associated with the resource identifier. Access to the storage resource is then enabled to the looked-up storage partition.

Networks are well known in the computer field. By definition, a network is a group of computers and associated devices that are connected by communication facilities or links. An internetwork, in turn, is the joining of multiple computer networks, both similar and dissimilar, by means of gateways or routers that facilitate data transfer and conversion from the multiple computer networks. A well known abbreviation for the term internetwork is "internet." As currently understood, the capitalized term "Internet" refers to the collection of networks and routers that use the Internet Protocol to communicate with one another. The Internet has recently seen increased growth by virtue of its ability to link computers located throughout the world. As will be better appreciated from the following description, embodiments of the present invention could find use in many network environments; however, for purposes of discussion, the Internet is used as an exemplary network environment for implementing embodiments of the present invention.
The Internet has quickly become a popular method of disseminating information due in large part to its ability to deliver information quickly and reliably. To retrieve stored resources or other data over the network, a user typically uses communications or network browsing software. A common way of retrieving storage resources is to use such communications or network browsing software to access storage resources at a uniform resource identifier ("URI") address, such as a uniform resource locator ("URL") address, that indicates the location of a storage resource on a server connected to the network.
Storage systems for computing devices are also well known in the computing field. Software applications and operating systems generally have access to some form of storage. Such storage may include hard drives, solid state memory, removable storage devices, etc. Most conventional computing devices have local storage. However, as the use of networks and network applications increases, so has the use of online storage that is remote from computing devices. One form of conventional online storage system is a file server in which computing devices are able to store and retrieve files. A more sophisticated form of online storage employs multiple file servers some of which may replicate other servers in order to provide redundancy in the event the main file server becomes inoperable or inaccessible While single and multiple file servers accessible by computing devices in networks have solved some of the problems of accessing online storage resources, such file servers are not designed to efficiently control and route accesses to particular resources, such as a particular user's address book, for example. As network accessible applications proliferate, so has the need for storing online resources at separate locations associated with particular network accessible applications and the users of such applications.
More specifically, advanced network applications usually accesses storage resources at a remote server over the Internet. As the Internet (and other networks) has developed, some of the functions that were formerly performed by applications running on client devices are now provided by applications running on network accessible servers. One such example is a Web-based e-mail network application. In a network accessible e-mail application, e-mails and address book information are stored on remote servers. Remote server storage eliminates the need for a user to export or synchronize their e-mail information when the user changes to a new device and/or adds a new device to the user's inventory of devices. Unfortunately, previously developed remote file servers, in particular multiple remote file servers, accessible by network applications have not provided an efficient storage system for such user dependent applications. User dependent applications, such as e-mail applications access separate online storage resources. In the past, multiple file servers have not provided enough flexibility to grow and adapt while still maintaining efficient access (or routing) to storage resources.
Some previously developed on-line file servers have used rigid hash-based allocations to segment where online storage resources should be saved. Rigid segmentation is inflexible and does not provide sufficiently fine "granularity" (level of control) when accessing resources stored in on-line servers. If a particular server is under-utilized, a rigid hash-based load balancing system is not able to efficiently adjust its load assignments to increase the load on the under utilized server. Still further, moving storage resources with such hash-based allocations requires locking entire hash buckets, which increases the difficulty of moving resource for end-users.
Accordingly, there is a need for an improved method of accessing and managing online storage systems that is efficient and sufficiently granular. It is desirable that such a method provide information in an application independent manner.

Lookup partitioning storage system and method


Apparatus and process for recovering elemental sulfur from a H2S-containing waste gas stream are disclosed. The apparatus preferably comprises a first reaction zone for carrying out the catalytic partial oxidation of H2S, a second reaction zone for the catalytic partial reduction of any incidental SO2 produced in the first reaction zone, and a cooling zone including a sulfur condenser. According to a preferred embodiment of the process, a mixture of H2S and O2 contacts a catalyst in the first reaction zone very briefly (i.e, less than about 200 milliseconds) producing primarily S0 and H2O. Some SO2 is also present in the first stage product gas mixture. A reductant gas (e.g. CO, or CH4 or natural gas) is fed together with the first stage product gas mixture to a second catalytic reaction zone where the partial reduction of the SO2 component to elemental sulfur and CO2 is carried out.

1. Technical Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to sulfur recovery processes and to apparatus for removing sulfur from H2S-containing gas streams and producing elemental sulfur. More particularly, the invention relates to processes that employ an H2S catalytic partial oxidation stage followed by a SO2 catalytic partial reduction stage, and to apparatus for carrying out such processes.
2. Description of the Related Art
Sulfur removal from H2S-containing gas streams is a field of endeavor that is receiving a great deal of attention today, particularly in the petroleum industry. Considerable quantities of H2S are created from the refining of petroleum in processes such as crude oil hydrodesulfurization, gasification of coal and desulfurization of natural gas. Removal of H2S from H2S-containing gases is a major focus of current research because utilization of the enormous supply of natural gas existing in underground reservoirs all over the world is hindered due to the presence of naturally-occurring H2S along with the methane and other light hydrocarbons that make up natural gas. Some natural gas formations contain only a relatively small concentration of H2S, yet even those types of natural gas wells typically remain shut-in today because the cost of removal of the H2S using existing methods and apparatus exceeds the market value of the gas. A further deterrent to full utilization of H2S-containing natural gas resources is the corrosive effect of the H2S component of liquefied natural gas on the transportation pipes and storage vessels that are needed to bring the H2S-containing natural gas from remote locations to existing sulfur treatment plants.
The removal of sulfur from naturally occurring and industrially produced H2S-containing gas streams is necessitated by the high demand for clean energy sources, and by increasingly stringent clean air standards for industrial emissions that restrict or prohibit the release of H2S into the environment due to its high toxicity and foul odor. Since the amount of sulfur recovered from an industrial H2S-containing stream may be quite large, the elemental sulfur product can have significant commercial value.
Many processes have been described for accomplishing the removal and recovery of sulfur from H2S-containing gases. The sulfur plants in common use today employ a modification of a process that was developed over 200 years ago in which H2S was reacted over a catalyst with air (oxygen) to form elemental sulfur and water (the Claus process). Sulfur recovery was low and the highly exothermic reaction was difficult to control. Modified Claus processes were introduced to overcome the deficiencies of the original Claus process, and today are generally referred to as "Claus Processes." In a conventional Claus process, the H2S-containing gas stream is contacted with air or a mixture of oxygen and air in a flame. One third (⅓) of the H2S is burned according to the equation:H2S+ 3/2O2→SO2+H2O  (1)The remaining ⅔ of the H2S is converted to sulfur via the (Claus) reaction:2H2S+SO2⇄3/xSx+2H2O  (2)
(x=2, 6, or 8 depending on temperature and pressure). The gases are cooled in a fire tube boiler after the burner. Typically, this step converts 55 to 70% of the H2S to elemental sulfur. The equilibrium of the reaction of equation (2), referred to as the "Claus reaction," limits the conversion. To improve the yield, elemental sulfur is condensed from the gas stream. After sulfur condensation and separation from the liquid sulfur, the unreacted gases are heated to the desired temperature, passed over a catalyst that promotes the Claus reaction, and cooled again to condense and separate the sulfur. Generally, two to three stages of Claus reheater, reactor, and condenser stages are employed. Over the years, most of the modifications to the Claus process have involved improvement of burner design, use of more active and durable catalysts, and use of different types of reheaters. Anywhere from 90 to 98% of the H2S fed to the unit is recovered as elemental sulfur. Any remaining H2S, SO2, sulfur, or other sulfur compounds in the Claus plant effluent are either incinerated to SO2 and discharged to the atmosphere, or incinerated to SO2 and absorbed by chemical reaction, or converted by hydrogen to H2S and recycled or absorbed by an alkanolamine solution. This is accomplished by various Claus "tail gas" treatment units, which improve the efficiency of sulfur removal from the gas discharged to the atmosphere.
Claus processes are generally efficient for processing large quantities of gases containing a high concentration (i.e., >40 vol. %) H2S in plants producing more than 100,000 tons of sulfur per year. The Claus-type processes are not suitable for use in cleaning up hydrogen or light hydrocarbon gases (such as natural gas) that contain H2S, however. Not only is the hydrocarbon content lost in the initial thermal combustion step of the Claus process, but carbon, carbonyl sulfide and carbon disulfide byproducts cause catalyst fouling and dark sulfur. Moreover, carbonyl sulfide is difficult to convert to elemental sulfur. In the past, others have usually addressed the problem of purifying hydrogen sulfide contaminated hydrogen or gaseous light hydrocarbon resources by employing an initial amine extraction technique.
Typically, alkanolamine absorption of the H2S component of a gas stream is performed, followed by H2S regeneration and conventional multistage Claus sulfur recovery, usually including tail gas treatments. According to conventional industrial practices, a hydrocarbon or hydrogen containing gas stream containing a low concentration of H2S is contacted with a water solution containing an alkanolamine. Alkanolamines commonly employed in the industry are monoethanolamine (MEA), diethanolamine (DEA), methyldiethanol amine (MDEA), diglycolamine (DGA), and diisopropanolamine (DIPA). These are basic nitrogen compounds. The basic alkanolamine reacts with the H2S and other gases that form acids when dissolved in water to form alkanolamine salts, according to the following generic reaction:Alkanolamine+Acid Gas=Protonated alkanolamine+weak acid anionWhen ethanolamine is the basic alkanolamine, the reaction is:H2N—CH2CH2OH+H2S→+NH3—CH2CH2OH+HS−  (3)The hydrogen or hydrocarbon gas, substantially freed of H2S, is recovered and may be used as fuel or routed to another system for processing. After absorbing the H2S from the gas, the alkanolamine solution is transported, heated, and placed in a stripping tower. Steam generated from boiling the alkanolamine solution at the bottom of the stripping tower, lowers the vapor pressure of the acid gas above the solution, reversing the equilibrium of the acid gas/alkanolamine reaction described above. The acid gases leaving the stripper are cooled to condense most of the remaining steam. The acid gas stream then goes to a Claus sulfur recovery plant, as described above.
The major problem with the Claus process is the inherent equilibrium constraint of the Claus reaction caused by the necessity of generating the SO2 intermediate. Others have addressed this problem by attempting to directly oxidize H2S to sulfur using alumina based catalysts and low temperature operating conditions. SUPERCLAUS™ processes such as the STRETFORD™ process are examples of low temperature direct oxidation methods. Typically, these processes are catalytic oxidations operating at temperatures below about 454° C., so that the reaction can be contained in ordinary carbon steel vessels. Usually these catalytic oxidation processes are limited to Claus tail gas operations or sulfur recovery from streams that have very low H2S content (i.e., about 1–3%). One reason for this limited use is that the heat evolved from the oxidation of a concentrated stream of H2S would drive the reaction temperatures well above 454° C. requiring refractory lined vessels such as the conventional Claus thermal reactor. Low concentration H2S streams will not produce enough energy release from oxidation to sustain a flame as in a thermal reactor stage. The existing catalytic oxidation technologies are thus limited to low concentration H2S-containing streams using non-refractory lined vessels. Existing processes are also limited in the amount of sulfur that can be handled because the heat transfer equipment needed to remove the heat of reaction becomes extremely large due to the low temperature differential between the process and the coolant streams.
Some techniques for improving efficiency of sulfur removal that have been described in the literature for purifying hydrogen sulfide contaminated hydrogen or gaseous light hydrocarbon resources include: 1) adsorbing sulfur cooled below the freezing point on a solid material followed by releasing the trapped sulfur as a liquid by heating the solid adsorbent; 2) selectively oxidizing the remaining H2S to sulfur using air; and 3) selectively oxidizing the H2S to sulfur employing aqueous redox chemistry utilizing chelated iron salts or nitrite salts. According to the latter methods, the H2S-contaminated hydrogen or hydrocarbon stream is contacted directly with the redox reagent such as chelated iron (III) ions. The iron (III) is reduced to iron (II) ion while the H2S is converted to elemental sulfur. The sulfur in liquid form is separated from the solution. These types of desulfurization units have been shown to be practical when the amount of sulfur to be removed from the stream is below 5 long tons per day. The SULFUROX™ and LO-CAT™ processes are examples of this type of H2S conversion process. Some of these direct oxidation processes use a liquid medium to carry out the oxidation or to act as a carrier for the oxidizer. These processes are also limited in the amount of sulfur recovered due to the heat removal constraints at low temperatures and the need to maintain low temperatures to keep the liquid from boiling. For at least these reasons, existing direct oxidation processes have not proved to be viable substitutes for the Claus process in most industrial applications.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,700,440; U.S. Pat. No. 5,807,410 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,897,850 describe some of the limitations of existing tail gas treatment (TGT) processes and the difficulty of meeting increasingly stringent government requirements for desulfurization efficiency in the industry. J. B. Hyne (Oil and Gas Journal Aug. 28, 1972: 64:78) gives an overview of available processes for effluent gas stream desulfurization and discusses economical and environmental considerations. R. H. Hass et al. (Hydrocarbon Processing May 1981:104–107) describe the BSR/Selectox™ process for conversion of residual sulfur in Claus tail gas or for pre-Claus treatment of a gas stream. K-T Li et al. (Ind. Eng. Chem. Res. 36:1480–1484 (1997)) describe the SuperClaus™ TGT system which uses vanadium antimonate catalysts to catalyze the selective oxidation of hydrogen sulfide to elemental sulfur.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,603,913 describes several oxide catalysts that have been suggested for catalyzing the reactionH2S+½O2→½S2+H2O  (4)Because reaction (4) is not a thermodynamically reversible reaction, direct oxidation techniques offer potentially higher levels of conversion than is typically obtainable with thermal and catalytic oxidation of H2S. As mentioned above, conventional direct oxidation methods are applicable to sour gas streams containing relatively small amounts of H2S and large amounts of hydrocarbons, but are not particularly well suited for handling more concentrated acid gas streams from refineries. For this reason direct oxidation methods have been generally limited to use as tail gas treatments only, and have not found general industrial applicability for first stage sulfur removal systems from gases containing large quantities of H2S.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,372,193 (Ledoux et al.) describes a process for catalytically oxidizing a gas stream containing a low concentration (up to 25 vol. %) H2S directly to sulfur over a catalytically active phase carried on a silicon carbide-based support. The catalytically active phase is an oxysulfide of Fe, Cu, Ni, Co, Cr, Mo or W.
Z. R. Ismagilov et al. (React. Kinet. Catal. Lett. (1995) 55:489–499) suggest that monolith catalysts containing oxides of Co, V, Fe, Cr, Mn or Al have activity for catalytically converting the H2S in natural gas to sulfur in a first oxidation stage. The reaction conditions include a spherical particulate vanadium catalyst in a fluid bed reactor operating at 250–300° C., O2:H2S=0.5–1.1 and tc=0.5–0.8 s. Under such conditions H2S conversion and process selectivity of 99% is reported.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,886,649 (Ismagilov, et al.) describes a two stage direct oxidation process employing fluidized catalyst beds containing MgCrO4 and Al2O3, or V2O5 and Al2O3. According to that method, oxygen is supplied to the first oxidation stage in an amount of 100–110% of the stoichiometric amount necessary for oxidation of H2S to elemental sulfur. The range of treatable H2S containing gases is extended to gases containing about 30–50 vol. % H2S. The granular catalyst in a fluidized bed with a cooling coil or jacket, allows temperature uniformity of the catalyst bed. A maximum temperature level of 250–350° C. is desired in order to avoid forming products of coking and cracking of hydrocarbon components of the feed gas. In a second stage the unreacted H2S and oxygen from the first stage are reacted at 140–155° C. in the presence of a catalyst to form elemental sulfur.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,242,673 (Flytzani-Stephanopoulos et al.) describes a process for the direct recovery of elemental sulfur from the SO2 in an off-gas stream using CO and other reducing gases and certain cerium oxide-based catalysts. Alternatively, the feed is a combustion exhaust gas stream containing SO2. Certain metal oxide composite catalysts that are active for direct elemental sulfur recovery from a SO2-containing gas stream by reacting the SO2 with a reducing gas are described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,384,301 (Flytzani-Stephanopoulos et al.).
In a recent academic study (T. Zhu et al. Catalysis Today 50 (1999) 381–397) the conversion of SO2 to S0 by reduction over certain Cu-modified ceria-based catalysts using CO or CH4 was investigated. The processes described in that study were limited to relatively low temperatures (in the range of 450–750° C.) and low SO2 concentrations and do not contemplate H2S in the feed. It is stated that the use of catalysts for the direct conversion of SO2 to elemental sulfur has been explored many times in the past, and various reductants have been used, including CO, H2, CH4 and carbon. The overall reactions between SO2 and CO or CH4 to elemental sulfur product are described as:SO2+2CO→[S]+2CO2  (5)2SO2+CH4→CO2+2H2O+2[S]  (6)where [S] represents the various elemental sulfur forms (S2, S6, S8).
H. M. Lee and J. D. Han (Ind. Eng. Chem. Res. (2002) 41: 2623–2629) describe the catalytic reduction of sulfur dioxide in a combustion product gas stream using carbon monoxide to produce elemental sulfur by employing γ-Al2O3 supported sulfide catalysts of nickel and lanthanum-nickel.
Even though the Claus process still finds widespread industrial use today for recovering elemental sulfur from H2S that is generated in many industrial processes, such as petroleum refinery processes, and for reducing sulfur emissions from refineries, the Claus process is generally viewed as relatively costly for routine use on a commercial scale. As a result, the Claus process is currently performed mainly for the purpose of complying with government mandated environmental air quality standards. Most of the existing alternative desulfurization processes and systems must resort to use of a number of additional pre-treatments or post-treatment catalytic stages and tail gas-treatment units (TGTUs) in order to adequately clean the waste gas that is vented into the air sufficiently to meet current environmental regulations for venting of cleaned H2S-containing gas streams. Multi-stage tail gas treating units (TGTUs) typically convert the H2S that did not react in the Claus unit to elemental sulfur by (a) oxidizing completely to SO2, (b) reacting the SO2 with H2S in smaller concentrations to form S0, and (c) reacting very small concentrations of H2S with oxygen to form S0 at low temperatures using a catalyst. A number of TGTUs are usually needed to achieve the 99+% conversion of H2S to S0, and involves a large initial investment and appreciable maintenance costs.
Significant capital and maintenance costs are associated with conventional multi-stage treatment units. More economical and efficient ways of recovering elemental sulfur from an H2S-containing gas stream and of removing environmentally harmful H2S from industrial vent stack exhaust gases are needed. Conventional desulfurization operations are also not practical for use at small operations such as remote well sites or on natural gas producing offshore oil platforms.
The basic SPOC™ technology, as described in co-owned U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/625,710, U.S. Pat. No. 6,579,510, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/024,679 (Publication No. 2002/0134706), and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/024,167 (Publication No. 2002/0131928), which are hereby incorporated herein by reference, provides an alternative to the conventional Claus process to handle H2S-containing fluid streams. U.S. Patent Application Publication Nos. 2002/0131928 and 2002/0134706 describe methods of selectively converting even high concentrations of hydrogen sulfide in H2S-containing gas streams to elemental sulfur via a short contact time catalytic partial oxidation process (SPOC™) that are more economic and efficient than a Claus type process. The process is carried out in a more compact system compared to a conventional Claus plant. Conversion of H2S to elemental sulfur by the SPOC™ process may be accompanied by the formation of some SO2 as a result of gas-phase reactions between H2S, S0 and O2 that occur both downstream from the catalyst zone and within the catalyst zone. This secondary production of SO2 is typically observed when higher than stoichiometric O2/H2S ratios are used to increase the H2S conversion. An apparatus and process that further improve the conversion of H2S to elemental sulfur would be valuable in the art, particularly for meeting stringent Federal environmental standards and the demands for cleaner industrial waste gas emissions as required by the Environmental Protection Agency.

Two-stage catalytic process for recovering sulfur from an H


Apparatus for reducing DC offset in a signal path of a conversion system comprising a front end circuit for providing an input signal having an a DC offset; an amplifier system coupled to the front end circuit to receive and amplify the input signal; a multi-bit sigma delta modulator for receiving the input signal from the amplifier system and providing a first bit quantizer; a DC adapt circuit coupled to the sigma delta modulator for receiving the first bit quantizer from the sigma delta modulator and for providing an operation to reduce DC offset; a digital to analog converter (DAC) coupled to the digital DC adapt circuit to provide an analog signal representative of the DC offset correction to the input of the amplifier system, wherein the digital DC adapt circuit and the DAC form a feedback path originating at the first bit of the multi bit sigma delta modulator to the input of the amplifier system.

A direct conversion receiver (DCR) is a type of radio receiver that does not use an intermediate frequency (IF). DCRs and digital very low IF receivers (DVLIF) are becoming common in cellular telephone handsets. A common problem with DCRs is that different components of the receiver may cause a DC offset voltage to be added to a received input signal. The DC offset voltage affects the operation of the receiver in a manner similar to interference. However, unlike interference, the DC offset voltage is generated internally to the receiver.
FIG. 1 illustrates, in block diagram form, a receiver 10 in accordance with the prior art. Receiver 10 includes a low IF front end 12 and a base band receiver 14. Front end 12 includes a low noise amplifier 16, a coupler 18, a mixer 20, a divider 22, and a frequency synthesiser 24. Baseband receiver 14 includes amplifier 30, active low pass filter 32, baseband sigma delta modulator 34, decimation filter 36, digital quad mixers 38, digital filter 40, digital integrator 42, and digital-to-analog converter (DAC) 44.
Each of the components of front end 12 may contribute to the DC offset voltage. For example, leakage from frequency synthesiser 24 may leak back into front end 12 through the antenna and may be mixed back into the signal path via mixer 20. Also, changing the gain of low noise amplifier 16 may change the level of leakage and DC offset.
Prior art receiver 10 uses a feedback path to reduce the DC offset. The feedback path starts at the output of digital filter 40 and feeds back into the signal path at the input of amplifier 30 via DAC 44. This type of feedback path is known as a mixed mode approach, where a digital signal is converted to an analog signal and provided at the input of base band receiver 14. A problem with this approach is that it requires a relatively long period of time to remove the DC offset because of the number of components in the feedback path that contribute to the delay.
Typically, in a cellular telephone system the DC offset is removed during a time period that is prior to the time period used for processing the input signals. In some applications, such as for example, Global System Mobile (GSM), the receiver may need to be powered up from standby mode as early as 400 microseconds prior to processing the received signals in order have enough time to reduce the DC offset. This significantly reduces standby time and increases power consumption.
European Patent Application EP-A-0 709 970 (General Electric Company) describes a DC correction arrangement for an analog-to-signal converter (ADC). The arrangement uses a single bit quantizer and has an accumulator in the feedback correction path.
United Kingdom Patent Application GB-A-2 328 353 (NEC) describes a correction system for use with a baseband receiver having two channels. A feedback signal for the DC offset estimation is provided at a second filter.
Therefore, a need exists for performing DC offset correction in a DCR or a DVLIF receiver that requires a shorter DC adapt period.

Apparatus for reducing DC offset in a receiver


Apparatuses are described for cooling the rotors of, improving the sealing of, and improving the power efficiency of twin-screw pumps. Such methods include (1) injecting liquid onto the rotor and into the rotor chambers at the point of greatest temperature accumulation, (2) implanting a heat transfer device within the rotor enclosure that can transfer heat outside of the rotor enclosure, and (3) injecting liquid into rotor chambers via energy recovery devices which reduce the total power consumption of the system.

Drilling for oil and gas is an expensive, high-risk business, even when the drilling is carried out in a proven field. Petroleum development and production must be sufficiently profitable over the long term to withstand a variety of economic uncertainties. Multiphase pumping is increasingly being used to aid in the production of wellhead fluids. Both surface and subsea installations of these pumps are increasing well production. Multiphase pumps are particularly helpful in producing remote fields and many companies are considering their use for producing remote pockets of oil and for producing deep water reservoirs from shallower water facilities. These pumps allow producers to transport wellhead fluids (oil, water, and gas) to distant processing facilities (instead of building new processing facilities near the wellheads). These pumps also allow lower final reservoir pressures before abandoning production and consequently a greater total recovery from the reservoir.
For deep water reservoirs, producers are very interested in using multiphase pumps to transport wellhead fluids from deep waters to shallow water processing facilities. While there are a number of technical difficulties in this type of production, the cost savings are very large. To build processing facilities over reservoirs in waters 6,000 to 10,000 feet deep cost tens of billions of dollars, as compared to a cost of hundreds of millions of dollars to build such facilities in moderate water depths of 400 to 600 feet. Consequently, producers would like to transport wellhead fluids from the sea-floor in deep waters through pipelines to processing facilities in moderate water depths.
Currently, transport distances of 30 to 60 miles are being considered. In many locations around the world, a 30 to 60 mile reach from the edge of the continental shelf into deeper waters significantly increases the number of oil reservoirs which could be produced. In the Gulf of Mexico, for example, such a reach typically goes to water depths of 6,000 feet and deeper. In the near future, greater reaches up to 100 miles are envisioned. Multiphase pumps are a design being considered for supplying the pressure boost required for this long-distance transport of wellhead fluids. They are typically connected at one end to a Christmas tree manifold, whose casing head is attached to the top of wells from which fluids flow as a result of indigenous reservoir energy, and at the other end to a pipeline which transports the fluids to the remote processing site.
Wellhead fluids can exhibit a wide range of chemical and physical properties. These wellhead fluid properties can differ from zone to zone within a given field and can change with time over the course of a well's life. Furthermore, well bore flow exhibits a well-known array of flow regimes including slug flow, bubble flow, stratified flow, and annular mist, depending on flow velocity, geometry, and the aforementioned fluid properties. Consequently, the ideal multiphase pump should allow for a broad range of input and output parameters without unduly compromising pumping efficiency and service life.
Pumping gas-entrained liquids of varying gas content presents a difficult design problem. Some pumps that have been used include twin-screw pumps, helico-axial pumps, counter-rotating axial-flow pumps, piston pumps, and diaphragm pumps. Twin-screw pumps are one of the favored types of pump for handling the wide range of liquid/gas ratios found in wellhead fluids. Nevertheless, this type of pump has its detractors. For example, one well-known problem for twin-screw pumps is pump seizing.
A twin-screw pump has two rotors that rotate in a close-fitting casing (rotor enclosure). For a given inlet volumetric rate, gas fraction increases result in mass rate reductions, decreases in the thermal transport capacity of the pumped fluids, and temperature elevations in the pump. Consequently, at high pressure boosts, for a given set of operating conditions, a critical gas fraction exists. Pumping at gas fractions greater than the critical gas fraction will result in excessive heating of the pump rotors causing an expansion of the rotors such that the rotors will interfere with the pump body (rotor enclosure) causing the pump to seize.
In typical oil field applications, the gas fraction (or percentage of gas content of the wellhead fluid by volume at inlet conditions) is required to be less than some upper limit for a given pump pressure boost. This limit is typically around 95 to 97% gas fraction for pressure boosts of around 900 psi. In order to ensure that wellhead fluids do not exceed this requirement, several approaches have been taken including: (1) buffer tanks have been added upstream of the pump to dampen excessive gas/liquid ratio variations, (2) liquids from the pump outlet or other liquids are commingled with the inlet stream to reduce the inlet gas fraction, or (3) combinations of 1 and 2 are used to reduce the inlet gas fraction. Method 1 extends the operational range of the pump marginally, and methods 2 and 3 extend the operating range a little more but are extremely inefficient. Even with these approaches, pump seizing may still occur.
Therefore, there is a need for an efficient means of cooling the pump rotors to prevent the excessive heat buildup that occurs when the pump encounters fluids having high gas fractions.

Apparatus for cooling high-pressure boost high gas-fraction twin-screw pumps


Disclosed are structures and features of a space frame aircraft. In particular, this disclosure relates to a space frame aircraft with a pressure membrane.

The statements in this section merely provide background information related to the present disclosure and may not constitute prior art. Space frame aircraft are known. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 7,891,608, titled "Space Frame Fuselage Structure And Related Methods," discloses embodiments of space frame aircraft and is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. In general, space frame aircraft may be used for, among other things, carrying cargo in one or more containers, such as an International Organization for Standardization ("ISO") shipping container. FIGS. 1-2 are schematic examples of portions of a space frame aircraft carrying a plurality of ISO containers.
In various configurations throughout this disclosure, a fuselage structure may accommodate inter-modal containers conforming to ISO specification 1496. ISO specification 1496 describes a family of inter-modal containers. Containers conforming to the foregoing specification have been commonly accepted throughout the world for surface vehicle use, e.g., to transport cargo on large ships, trucks and trains. A related specification, ISO specification 8323, describes an air-compatible, lightweight container. Throughout this disclosure all of the family of containers meeting either specification are collectively referred to as "ISO containers."
Typically, a space frame fuselage structure of the aircraft may include a plurality of nodes and a plurality of elements connecting the nodes to form a space frame in which to carry cargo. As disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,891,608, a space frame may generally include longitudinal elements (e.g., longerons), lateral elements, vertical elements, or other elements that are joined together at nodes. Diagonal elements (also referred to herein as trusses, braces, or bracing) may also be included and connected between nodes.
One implementation of a fuselage space frame is indicated generally in FIG. 1 by reference number 20. The space frame 20 has a front, rear, and right and left sides indicated generally by reference numbers 22, 24, 26 and 28 respectively. The space frame 20 includes a plurality of longitudinal elements 30, lateral elements 32 and vertical elements 34 joined at a plurality of nodes 36. A plurality of diagonal elements 40 are connected between some of the nodes 36. Also included, though not shown on FIG. 1, may be a number of pins or mechanisms that support ISO containers 68. In some embodiments, the pins or support mechanisms for the ISO containers 68 may be slightly displaced relative to the space frame 20 structural nodes 36 to allow for a more simple integration of the support mechanisms in the space frame structure 20. This offset feature may result in some amount of bending moment being sustained by the longitudinal members 30. For the purposes of this disclosure, the locations of the support pins will be shown as being coincident with the structural nodes 36. In some places on the figures, some nodes 36 are depicted with a larger dot which represents the nodes 36 that are connected or close to the pins that carry the ISO containers 68, and are thus places where loads (mostly vertical) are introduced into the truss. Both the depiction of coincident location of pins and nodes, and differing size dots, are for simplicity and are inconsequential to the concepts of the current disclosure.
The space frame fuselage structure 20 is included in a space frame aircraft 44 parts of which are shown schematically in FIG. 2. External struts 48 (shown in phantom) may optionally be used to link wings 52 of the aircraft 44 with a portion 54 of the fuselage in the vicinity of landing gear 55. In this disclosure, the terms "wing" and "wings" may be used interchangeably. Other portions of the space frame 20 include a cargo hold 56 and an aft fuselage portion 60. Of course, other features of aircraft 44 are also possible.
The cargo hold 56 is configured to hold one or more ISO containers 68 in one or more generally rectangular bays 72 defined by one or more decks 76a, 76b, a plurality of longitudinal columns 80, and a plurality of transverse rows 84. For example, as shown in FIG. 1, a two-high stack or block 88 of 20-foot long ISO containers are in the left-most row 84 in the third 20-foot long column 80 of a deck 76a of the space frame 20. It should be noted that a space frame 20 may have rows 84 of different lengths. For example, as shown in FIG. 1, the space frame 20 has four rows 84: two outer rows and two center rows which are longer than the outer rows by the length of two bays 72. Other row 84 configurations are also possible. Likewise, columns 80 may be of differing widths and sizes.
It also should be noted that the term "deck" as used herein does not necessarily denote the presence of a "floor" on which one may walk. In the FIG. 1 embodiment, the decks 76a, 76b do not include floor surfaces (except, e.g., for such surface areas as may be provided by longitudinal and lateral elements 30 and 32.) Rather, "deck" refers to a level of the aircraft 44 that supports the cargo containers 68 from below. Thus, e.g., in the aircraft 44 of FIG. 1, the deck 76a is an upper deck on which the containers 68 are supported above a lower deck 76b. Likewise in FIG. 1, the space frame 20 is open at the front end 22 to permit full-width loading of the cargo hold 56 as further described below. Other configurations are possible. It should be noted that the open nature of the space frame allows it to typically be non-pressurized during flight.
The word "bay" has two meanings in this document. The first meaning is the open volume within the fuselage for carrying cargo—the "cargo bay." The second meaning refers to the approximately rectangular shape formed by coplanar, approximately orthogonal primary space frame elements.
In general, a space frame 20 fuselage is designed to carry ISO containers 68 in an efficient manner. This type of fuselage is typically rectangular in cross section. If the fuselage is unpressurized, this rectangular profile is not a disadvantage. However, if the interior of the space frame 20 fuselage is required to be pressurized, the rectangular profile presents a disadvantage because pressure vessels with flat sides are inefficient from a weight standpoint compared to circular pressure vessels.
In addition, some cargo must be pressurized. In order to accommodate a wide variety of cargo types it may be desirable to have at least a portion of the fuselage to be pressurized, or partially pressurized. Therefore, for some applications there may be a need to efficiently pressurize a space frame structure 20.
One solution to pressurizing a fuselage, is present in the commercial freighters in operation today, such as the 777F and the 747F made by The Boeing Company. These freighters have the advantage that, being derivatives of a passenger commercial aircraft, pressurization is included in the original design for the benefit of the passengers. However, these aircraft are typically heavier for a comparable payload compared to a freighter purpose-built to carry ISO containers 6. The higher operating empty weight (OEW) results in higher cargo rates compared to the freighter with a space frame 20 fuselage. In addition, being originally designed for passengers, these aircraft are not the ideal shape and size for carrying one or more ISO containers in a pressurized envelope, and it would require excessive work to reconfigure the size of the pressurized portion of the aircraft.
Another solution is to use ISO containers 68 that are designed to be individually pressurized. These ISO containers 68 are typically significantly heavier than the standard ISO containers 68, which would increase the cargo rate for those containers. In addition, some operators may greatly prefer a pressurized fuselage because it may simplify their operations. For example, they may also be risk-adverse, and not want to consider problems that may occur if some cargo which requires pressurization is inadvertently shipped on an aircraft that is unpressurized. Other drawbacks also exist.

Space frame fuselage with pressure membrane


The present invention relates to a Layer 2 adapter selecting system, including a Layer 3 packet requirements extracting module, a destination Layer 2 address acquiring module, a Layer 2 adapter metric acquiring module, an appropriate Layer 2 adapter identifier selecting module, a packet caching module and a packet scheduling module; wherein the packet caching module is configured to cache a received Layer 3 packet; the Layer 3 packet requirements extracting module is configured to read the Layer 3 packet and extract the type and a parameter value of the requirements; the Layer 2 adapter metric acquiring module is configured to acquire instant metric parameter values of each of the adapters; the appropriate Layer 2 adapter identifier selecting module calculates an adapter identifier and a Layer 3 packet metric; the destination Layer 2 address acquiring module is configured to acquire a Layer 2 address of each of the adapters associated with a destination Layer 3 address; and the packet scheduling module calls an external Layer 2 adapter driver, and the Layer 2 adapter driver completes packaging and sending of the packet. The present invention may solve the problem of resource waste of multiple links, so that the multiple links may be used dynamically in parallel.

With the rapid development of internet, network operators generally deploy redundant links in consideration of network reliability, and the redundant links have two types, namely homogeneous ones and heterogeneous ones. Whatever type of redundant links is adopted, the redundant links and original ones are not included within the same transmission path; and under normal conditions, only one of two or more links between a source and a destination runs normally, so, huge waste of the link resources will be caused.
If the redundant links are arranged in a network, multiple Layer 2 adapters need to be provided at the source and the destination, but the protocols used on the layers above Layer 2 are the same. In addition, multiple adapters have been provided in terminals in practice. Accordingly, under packet switching manner, the problem of selecting the multiple Layer 2 adapters will occur. In the prior art, if the multiple Layer 2 adapters have the same Layer 3 address, then only one adapter is activated within a time period in the selecting process of the Layer 2 adapters, which leads to the waste of the link resources.

System and method for selecting layer-2 adapter

Institute of Acoustics, Chinese Academy of Sciences


A method for graphically displaying audio data within a computer system is disclosed. A frame size is first selected for an audio data file and the audio data file is divided into a multiple number of frames. Except for the last frame, each frame contains a substantially equal number of audio data samples. Then a multiple of variables is initialized. For each frame, a first data value, a high data value, a low data value, and a last data value are selected. Each of these four data values is stored in the appropriate variable. The data selection process continues until the last frame of the data file is reached. Finally, a line connecting all the selected data value points for each frame is displayed on a graphic display.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to a method and system for data processing in general, and in particular to a method for displaying graphics within a computer system. Still more particularly, the present invention relates to a method for graphically displaying audio data in a computer system.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Multimedia software allows a simultaneous presentation of sight and sound on a computer system, such that the presentation can be made in a more comprehensive manner than it could ever be with either sight or sound individually. Typically, multimedia software also provides a user the capability to edit graphical images and sound tracks so that they will both appear in a synchronized fashion as the user desired. With the increasing display resolution of graphic monitors and video adapter cards, graphical images can be displayed with satisfying results. However, this is not the case for audio data. For a sampling rate of 10 KHz, one second of speech would comprise 10,000 samples; whereas, a typical graphic monitor can only display, with present technology, about 1000 pixels in either x or y directions. Therefore, when displaying a significant amount of speech data, many consecutive waveform samples are displayed at the same pixel position on the graphic monitor. Such overplotting is not only a waste of computer time and effort, it may not even yield a true representation of the audio data trend.
There are numerous attempts intending to resolve this problem. However, these prior art algorithms, such as byte averaging and high/low/middle methodology, also do not yield a true representation of the audio data because these algorithms tend to obscure the trends in the audio data. Because the visual representation relies on the transition from silence to noise and vice versa to form its peaks and valleys, it is imperative to have the audio data displayed in a manner that best represents these transitions.
Consequently, it would be desirable to provide an improved method for graphically displaying audio data in a computer system.

Method and system for graphically displaying audio data on a monitor within a computer system

International Business Machines Corporation


Commercially available coaxial cables have been used successfully in single shot electromagnetic launcher and other pulsed power applications. The use of a coaxial cable interface between power source and pulsed power load reduces external magnetic fields and also aids in standardizing the interface, enhancing inter-changeability between a variety of power supplies and loads. As pulsed power systems continue to become more energetic and as the importance of repetitive operation increases, the use of commercially available cables becomes impractical because of the large number required for appropriate energy transfer. The cable according to the invention overcomes many problems encountered in the use of conventional cables. It incorporates a large area, flexible conductor in both the current feed and current return path, and matches these conductor cross-sections to provide uniform current paths. It also incorporates high temperature PFA TEFLON insulation capable of operating at 260 degrees C, and uses a high strength woven fiber cover to resist intense forces produced by internal currents and magnetic fields. A standardized, uniform dimension, nonarcing interface termination is also provided. The combination of components and materials easily allows this cable to be used to replace more than six conventional cables.

The present invention relates generally to a high energy coaxial cable for use in pulsed high energy systems.
Coaxial cables have long been used in the communication field and to a limited extent in pulsed power applications. Traditionally, these cables are designed for continuous transmission of relatively low power electrical signals having very broad range of frequency content. Because of the desire to transmit such signals with high fidelity, cables are carefully designed for specific uniform cross-section dimension over their length. The resulting impedance eliminates electrical mismatch when load and source impedances match the designed inter-connecting cable impedance. In such applications, transmitted electrical signals generally utilize only a thin surface layer of the conductor because of their broad spectrum and high frequency content. As a result, conductor cross-section is not a primary concern, and matched cross-section areas between inner and outer conductors are not usually considered in the design. Additionally, the insulating material used between conductors is usually selected based on its dielectric rather than thermal properties. Polyethylene, foamed polymers, and air are most frequently used.
Typically, temperature of the conductor, temperature capability of the insulator, and strength of the assembly in resisting radial stress produced by electromagnetic forces acting to repel the current carrying conductors, are of little significance in such designs.
In electromagnetic launcher and other pulsed power research, power pulses up to several tens of milliseconds duration and peak current of hundreds to thousands of kiloamperes must be transmitted between the power source and electrical load. Traditionally, power transmission is accomplished using large cross-section, high strength, rigid metal conductors. Such inter-connects require clamping mechanisms to restrain electromagnetic forces, often must resist recoil forces from high mass acceleration, and usually require inter-connections specifically designed for each installation. These inter-connections often produce intense electromagnetic fields which interfere with electronic devices and induce strong currents into other conductors, such as diagnostic cables located in the near vicinity of the current transmission path. These systems also introduce secondary problems such as high inter-connection inductance and potentially hazardous exposed electrical components.
In some system designs, commercially available coaxial cables have been used successfully to transmit power pulses described above. These designs require large numbers of cables to overcome deficiencies such as small, non-uniform conductor cross-sections and relatively low melting temperature of insulating materials. At megampere current levels and in repetitively fired systems where heating buildup is additive, the large number of conventional cables needed for an installation makes such designs impractical.
The following United States patents relate to various designs for coaxial cable.
4,987,274--Miller et al. PA1 4,960,965--Redmon et al. PA1 4,847,448--Sato PA1 4,626,810--Nixon PA1 4,614,926--Reed et al. PA1 4,584,431--Tippie et al. PA1 4,346,253--Saito et al. PA1 4,340,773--Perreault PA1 4,332,976--Hawkins
In particular, the Miller et al. patent describes a coaxial cable with insulation comprised of 60-25% fluorpolymer that is fibrillatable, 40-75% ceramic filler, and a void volume. The preferred fluropolymer matrix disclosed is PTFE, and the preferred ceramic filler is fused amorphous silica powder. The Redmon et al. patent relates to a coaxial cable with a conventional metallic center conductor and conventional polyethylene as the dielectric material. The outer conductor is formed over the dielectric layer which acts as a mandrel. The outer conductor comprises emplaced, small diameter carbon fibers which are stabilized in place by an impregnating resin. The Sato patent describes a coaxial cable having a metal deposited tape wound over the laterally wound shielding layer, which is, in turn, formed over an insulation layer about the conductor. The tape is disposed such that the metal layer is in contact with the laterally wound shielding layer. The Nixon patent relates to a low attenuation high frequency coaxial cable in which the center conductor is wrapped with a plurality of layers of low density PTFE dielectric material. In addition, at least one layer of high density, unsintered PTFE dielectric material is tightly wrapped around the low density tape. The high density material is then sintered to form an envelope to hold the low density material in position. The outer conductor comprises longitudinally extending, parallel, adjacent electrically conductive wire strands, which are applied with a slight helical lay around the dielectric of the cable. The Reed et al. patent describes a high power coaxial cable comprising an inner conductor and an outer conductor with insulated fittings disposed between the inner and outer conductors. The fittings are disposed near opposite ends of the cable to maintain a desired spacing between the inner and outer conductors. One of the insulated fittings has a plurality of longitudinal holes therethrough. The fitting is formed in two like sections joined at right angles to one another along a substantially 45 degree interface, thereby defining a short 90 degree turn for the inner conductor near the end of the cable. The fitting sections are retained in position by a surrounding mounting block. The Tippie et al. patent relates to a high voltage coaxial cable in which a room temperature curable silicone elastomeric material is applied under pressure to the outer surface of the cable braid. The material is forced between the voids of the braid and adheres to the primary insulation material at the insulation/braid interface. The Saito et al patent describes a coaxial cable comprising inner and outer conductors each provided as a corrugated tube. The conductors are arranged coaxially with a thermoplastic resin insulating member therebetween. The insulating member is composed of a spiral rib joined to an outer insulating tube. The special rib is made of high density polythylene and the insulating tube of low density polythylene. The Perreault patent relates to a dielectric system for coaxial electrical conductors. The system separates an inner and outer conductor, and is composed of a first layer of cellular polyparabanic acid. This layer directly contacts and provides a continuous skin circumferentially surrounding the inner conductor along its length. A second layer, consisting of crosslinkable polymeric laquer, provides a continuous skin enclosing the first layer. The Hawkins patent describes a dielectric system for coaxial electrical conductors. The system separates an inner and outer conductor, and is composed of a first layer of braided high tensile strength polymeric fluorocarbon filaments. The filaments form an open weave and surround the inner conductor. Surrounding the filaments is a layer of cellular polyparabanic acid tape, which is helically wound along the length of the cable. A polymeric film circumferentially surrounds the two layers, and is in turn surrounded by a continuous layer of a crosslinkable polymeric lacquer.

High energy coaxial cable for use in pulsed high energy systems


Lipophilic substances of poor oral bioavailability are mixed with at least one solid fat and phospholipid to obtain a dried solid composition suitable as an oral dosage form. The solid lipid compositions are exemplified for food additives or dietary supplements such as Coenzyme Q10 and for pharmaceuticals such as dexanabinol. The Coenzyme Q10-dry lipid mixtures shows improved drug release in vitro and enhanced oral bioavailability in vivo compared to a commercial CoQ10 formulation. The dexanabinol-dry lipid mixture similarly shows greatly enhanced oral bioavailability compared to known formulations.

Lipophilic substances possessing low water solubility often have poor oral bioavailability. These compounds, being hydrophobic by nature, show wetting difficulties and poor dissolution. These properties obviously represent a rate-limiting step in their absorption from solid oral dosage forms and, in turn, cause a subsequent reduction in their bioavailability.
To address the foregoing issues, these lipophilic substances are usually administered in the form of liquid preparations dissolved in edible oils or formulated in oil-in-water emulsions or microemulsions. Even in these formulations, however, the oral bioavailability of many of them is still very low. Thus, even today, there remains an unresolved need to provide safe and useful formulations that provide enhanced oral bioavailability for such substances.
Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10), chemically named as 2,3-dimethoxy-5-methyl-6-decaprenyl-1,4-benzoquinone and also known by the names Ubiquinone, and Vitamin Q, is classified as a fat-soluble quinone, a naturally occurring coenzyme. It has been identified as an essential component of the mitochondrial respiratory chain and, thus, a necessary part of a cell's energy production. More particularly, it constitutes a redox-link between flavoproteins and cytochromes and acts as an electron shuttle controlling the efficiency of oxidative phosphorylation. Without ubiquinone, cells cannot produce the energy necessary for all the body's many activities.
The name ubiquinone is derived from the word ubiquitous and, indeed, ubiquinone is a naturally occurring substance in almost every cell. Typically, the substance is found in small organelles called mitochondria, which act as the cell's energy factories. Mitochondria convert energy from nutritional substances to energy that is then used for all the body's activities.
CoQ10 has been previously identified as an antioxidant with potential use as a dietary supplement to protect against age-related degeneration and as an adjuvant vitamin to prevent or treat many disease states.
Supplementary Coenzyme Q10 has also reportedly shown beneficial influences in the following systems, conditions or diseases: periodontal disease, certain blood circulation diseases, impaired memory, fatigue, irregular heartbeat, high blood pressure, an immune system impairment, and the aging process. Moreover, Coenzyme Q10 has been reported to be capable of improving one's performance in sports.
Although known for many years to protect biological membranes against oxidation, CoQ10 has recaptured interest as a natural, powerful lipid-soluble antioxidant which acts as a membrane stabilizing agent. It, therefore, avoids lipid peroxidation and regulates lipid fluidity--probably by removing free radicals (Beyer R.E., The participation of coenzyme-Q in free radical production and anti-oxidation, Free Rad. Biol. Med., 8, 545-565, 1990). It is assumed that part of the substance's beneficial effect on heart disease and periodontal disease is due to its ability to neutralize free radicals in the affected tissue. Heart patients have been shown to have low levels of coenzyme Q10, and the liver's ability to produce coenzyme Q10 is debilitated as one becomes older.
The role of Coenzyme Q10 in the production of energy has also been demonstrated in the treatment of cardiomyopathy, a condition in which the actual muscle tissues of the heart are weakened, making it difficult for the heart to pump blood around the body effectively. Mortensen et al., have published results of long term coenzyme Q10 treatment for cardiomypathic patients (in Drugs under Experimental and Clinical Research, Vol 11, No. 8, pp. 581, 1985). Among 40 patients with severe heart failure, 69% showed improvements in their condition when treated with coenzyme Q10. Coenzyme Q10's beneficial affect on the heart's ability to pump is apparently due to its ability to increase the creation of the energy substance ATP in the heart. The strengthened heart is then better able to pump blood around the body.
The efficacy of coenzyme Q10 as an adjuvant therapy in heart diseases in a multicenter study has also been reported (Lampertico M., and Comis S., Italian multicenter study on the efficacy and safety of coenzyme Q10 as adjuvant therapy in heart failure, Clin. Investig., 71, S129-133, 1993). The most prevalent of all heart diseases is arteriosclerosis, a hardening of the heart's blood vessels and a condition often complicated by coronary thrombosis. Coenzyme Q10 has also been proposed to help fight this disease and strengthen the pumping action in cases where a lack of oxygen has debilitated the heart's muscle tissue.
Scientists have also investigated the effects of a dietary supplement of coenzyme Q10 on periodontitis. For example, in one study, the tissue samples of over 120 dental patients with periodontal disease were examined and were found to have a marked deficiency of CoQ10 (Wilkinson et al., Biomedical and Clinical Aspects of Coenzyme Q, pp 103-108, Elsevier/North Holland Biomedical Press, 1980). When the patients were treated with supplements containing CoQ10, the progress of the disease was not only stopped, but accelerated tissue healing was initiated as well. Such evidence appears to suggest that the spread of the disease can often be slowed down and, indeed, even stopped by coenzyme Q10. Coenzyme Q10 apparently facilitates the healing process by increasing the production of energy in the infected tissue. Coenzyme Q10 may also provide such benefits based on its antioxidant roperties which neutralize the harmful effects of free radicals.
Coenzyme Q10 has also been shown to protect cultured cerebellar neurons against age-related and excitotoxin-induced degeneration (Favit A., Nicoletti F., Scapagnini U., and Canonico P. L., Ubiquinone protects cultured neurons against spontaneous and excitotoxin-induced degeneration, J. Cerebral Blood Flow and Metab. 12, 638-645, 1992).
The recommended daily allowance for coenzyme Q10 has not been determined. Most experts agree, however, that the daily requirement lies somewhere between 30 and 60 milligrams. When treating illnesses, dosages of 100 to 300 milligrams are commonly used.
CoQ10 is a very lipophilic compound and practically insoluble in water due to its long side chain of 10 isoprenoid units. The oral bioavailability of CoQ10 is, therefore, generally very low and was found to be related to the dissolution rate of the formulation. The formulation of this substance in a suitable form affording convenient and efficient oral bioavailability is, therefore, a very desirable goal.
Emulsions and microemulsions have been shown to be advantageous vehicles for the oral delivery of lipophilic drugs, resulting in improved oral bioavailability of water-insoluble compounds (Tarr B. D. and Yalkowsky S. H., Enhanced intestinal absorption of cyclosporine in rats through the reduction of emulsion droplet size, Pharmac. Res. 6,40-43, 1989; Charman S. A., Charman W. N., Rogge M. C., Wilson T. D., Dutko F. J., and Pouton C. W., Self-dry lipid mixtures drug delivery systems: formulation and biopharmaceutic evaluation of an investigational lipophilic compound, Pharmac. Res. 9, 87-93, 1992).
Formulations of Coenzyme Q10 using lipids, in the form of emulsions, liposomes, microparticles and nanoparticles, have previously been disclosed. These known lipid formulations comprise particles dispersed in an aqueous medium, and are suitable for various routes of administration, including, primarily, intravenous administration, as disclosed in: WO 95/05164, which discloses microparticles and nanoparticles in aqueous suspension; U.S. Pat. No. 4,824,669, which discloses fatty emulsions; U.S. Pat. No. 4636381, which discloses liposomes; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,483,873, which discloses aqueous dispersions or solutions.
Other lipid formulations of Coenzyme Q10 have been disclosed for improved oral bioavailability, as in: WO 86/04503, which utilizes a high percentage of a synthetic surfactant agent together with a fat or with polyethylene glycol; JP 63188623, which discloses Coenzyme Q10 with middle chain fatty acid monoglycerine esters, and optional plant oil; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,684,520 which provides mixtures of Coenzyme Q10 with phospholipids.
Cannabinoids are one example of a family of lipophilic substances having very poor water solubility. Cannabinoids such as .DELTA..sup.1 -tetrahydrocannabinol (.DELTA..sup.1 -THC), .DELTA..sup.6 -tetrahydrocannabinol (.DELTA..sup.6 -THC), .DELTA..sup.9 -tetrahydrocannabinol (.DELTA..sup.9 -THC), cannabinol, cannabidiol, and their metabolites, are highly hydrophobic lipid soluble compounds and can be dissolved in aqueous solutions only in the range of a few micrograms/ml or less, depending upon conditions (Garret and Hunt, J. Pharm. Sci., 63:1056-1064, 1974).
In general, the systemic availability of cannabinoids after oral administration is low and mean estimates of the human bioavailability of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) following oral ingestion range from 6 to 12% depending on the vehicle used. For example, the maximal plasma levels after oral dosing of 20 mg THC in a sesame oil formulation are around 10 ng/ml (Wall et al., Clin. Pharmacol. Ther. 34:352-363, 1983).
Dexanabinol, (+)-(3S,4S)-7-hydroxy-,.DELTA..sup.6 -tetra hydrocannabinol-1,1-dimetylheptyl,(also denoted HU-211), is disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,876,276 and 5,521,215, as a synthetic non-psychoactive cannabinoid with novel neuroprotective activity in the multiple-action treatment of brain damage associated with stroke, head trauma, and cardiac arrest. The chemical structure of dexanabinol, (+)-(3S, 4S) -7-hydroxy-.DELTA..sup.6 -tetra hydrocannabinol-1,1-dimetylheptyl, is shown in Scheme 1. ##STR1## Dexanabinol is a very lipophilic compound which is practically insoluble in water (less than 50 .mu.g/ml) and, like other lipophilic drugs, exhibits poor oral bioavailability.

Solid lipid compositions of lipophilic compounds for enhanced oral bioavailability


A rechargeable battery pack system includes a charging base and rechargeable battery packs. The charging base includes an electrical connector for receiving electrical power and a set of electrical contacts. The rechargeable battery packs each include a rechargeable battery, electrical circuitry, and an inductive coil for wirelessly transmitting power to an electronic device. The rechargeable battery packs each include a first set of electrical contacts to electrically contact the charging base for receiving electrical power from the charging base when the battery pack is stacked on top. The rechargeable battery packs further include a second set of electrical contacts for providing electrical power to another rechargeable battery pack when the other rechargeable battery pack is stacked on top. The second set of electrical contacts is activated for providing the electrical power to the other rechargeable battery pack only after receiving a proper identity code from the other rechargeable battery.

Many types of portable electronic devices are available including smart phones (or smartphones), personal digital assistants (PDAs), tablet computers, laptop computers, phablets (phone/tablets), gaming devices, global positioning satellite (GPS) receivers, and multimedia players (such as mp3 players, video players, and the like). These devices typically operate using one or more batteries. In many cases, these batteries are rechargeable. These types of devices are often used in mobile or remote fashions and battery life can often be an issue. Increases in processing power and screen size often cause battery power to be consumed at an even higher rate than earlier devices. Consequently, battery life and access to a power source for recharging the batteries often become issues when using these types of devices. It is expected that the demands placed on battery-operated devices will continue to grow.
Manufacturers have developed portable power sources (e.g., portable batteries and battery packs) that can be transported and provide convenient access to power for powering or recharging various types of electronic devices. However, conventional portable batteries and power sources can sometimes be inconvenient for a variety of reasons. Conventional battery packs which use cables may be inconvenient in some circumstances for reasons such as: a need to remember carry the cable along with the battery pack, the inconvenience of storing the cable and keeping it untangled, and/or the need to attach the cable to both the battery pack and the device in order to charge the device. In addition, a user who carries his or her own battery pack with them must remember to recharge the battery pack.

Stackable battery pack system with wireless charging