The present invention provides a thermosensitive and biodegradable microgel and a method of synthesizing such microgels. The thermosensitive and biodegradable microgel is synthesized from a macromer comprising a thermosensitive block polymer co-polymerized with a biodegradable moiety encapped with a cross-linkable or polymerizable moiety at either end. The microgels of the present invention are synthesized by inverse suspension polymerization of the macromers. The microgels are biodegradable into components that are non-toxic and easily removed from the body. The microgel of the present invention is temperature sensitive and is “intelligent” as well as biodegradable. The microgels are preferably used for the controlled release of a drug or in tissue engineering. Most preferably, the microgels are suitable for the control release of biologically active substances such as proteins.

Controlled Release of Recombinant Proteins
With the rapid advances made in biotechnology and genetic engineering, a growing number of proteins and peptides have been produced by recombinant DNA technology for use as pharmaceutical therapeutic agents. Such proteins include erythropoietin (EPO), granulocyte-colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF and GM-CSF), interferons (alpha, beta, gamma, and consensus), insulin and interleukin-1 etc. In addition to these proteins, several hundred other proteins are currently undergoing clinical trials as drugs. Because proteins have generally short in vivo half-lives and negligible oral bioavailability, they are typically administered by frequent injection, a procedure that is hard to accept for most patients. It has been conjectured that the employment of controlled release technology for the administration of such therapeutic agents can alleviate such a problem to a degree. Hence, it is highly desirable to develop sustained-release systems.
Tissue engineering is another area of biomedical research that is much pursued. The goal of tissue engineering is to employ the techniques of modern biotechnology to regenerate or replace lost or damaged tissues and organs. In addition to cells and their scaffolds, a class of proteins called growth factors are frequently required for tissue engineering. These include nerve growth factor (NGF), platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF), fibroblast growth factor (FGF), epidermal growth factor (EGF), tumor necrosis factor (TNF) etc. Growth factors, most of which are globular, are effective in the process for supplying the oxygen and nutrients which are necessary for the survival of the transplanted cells in organ transplants (Lanza et al., 2000).
Cell growth factors are usually injected locally and active targeting of the agent is not absolutely necessary. However, it has been found that direct single-time injection of a growth factor solution into a regeneration site is less effective, as the injected growth factor rapidly diffuses away from the site. Repeated injection is, of course, inconvenient. Novel drug delivery systems are thus desired. The projection is that controlled delivery systems for recombinant proteins will be a major technology in tissue engineering during the next century. (Yasuhiko, (2000) Pharmaceutical Science & Technology Today, 3: 80–89)
Microparticles as Controlled-release Carriers
Microparticles has held promises in many areas of medicine. In recent years, microparticles have garnered growing attention and have been the subject of investigation as an ideal drug carrier. Up to the present, microparticles have found application in more than thirty different drugs, including antipyretic analgesic, antibiotic, fibrin and anticancer drugs, etc. Biomolecules such as proteins, enzymes, hormones and peptides, are sensitive and easily degraded. The most promising controlled-release approach would be to encapsulate such materials within microparticles. A principal advantage of formulating these sensitive biomolecules in microparticles is that they may be administrated by injection, and does not require formal surgical procedure for their administration.
Materials that are useful for making into microparticles can be grouped into three categories: natural polymers such as glutin, alginate and chitosan; semisynthetic polymers such as carboxymethyl cellulose, cellulose acetate phthalate, methyl cellulose and ethyl cellulose; and synthetic polymers such as polyamide, poly(acrylic acid), poly(vinyl alcohol), polycarbonate, poly(amino acid), poly(lactic acid), poly(lactide-co-glycolide) and poly(d,l-lactide)-poly(ethylene glycol) copolymer. Natural polymers are abundant and usually biodegradable. However, the principal disadvantage is in the difficulty of their modification and purification. There are significant batch to batch and source to source variations, due to the need to isolate these materials from living organisms.
The requirements for materials used for encapsulation are suitable drug release rates, stability, non-toxicity, absence of interference with the pharmacological action, strength, suitable hydrophilicity, plasticity, permeability and solubility. In addition, it would be desirable to have microparticles made from biodegradable polymers to eliminate the need for their removal after the agent has been released. Synthetic polymers are available in a wide range of compositions with readily adjustable properties. Therefore, much attention has been paid to the use of biodegradable materials. Synthetic polyesters have, especially, been widely investigated. See, Blanco et al., (1998) Eur. J. Pharm. Biopharm. 45: 285–294, Zhu et al., (1999) Eur. Polym. J. 35: 1821–1828.
Up to the present, most researchers have concentrated on the use of hydrophobic biodegradable polymers. Singh et al., (2001) J Control. Release 70: 21–28, reported the in vitro and in vivo release behavior of polylactide-co-glycolide microparticles with entrapped insulin growth factor (rhIGF-I). Jain et al., (2000) Eur. J. Pharm. Biopharm, 50: 257–262, investigated the release behavior of bovine heart cytochrome C and heart skeletal muscle myoglobin from injectable PLGA microparticles.
There are various problems associated with the applications of such polymers. The problems are: the difficulty of the homogeneous dispersal of the hydrophilic drug within the polymer matrices, the inability of certain macromolecules to diffuse out through the polymer matrix, the unpredictability of drug release behavior, the deterioration of the drug, e.g., denaturation caused by the presence of organic solvents, and irritation to the organism due to side effects caused by the presence of organic solvents.
Degradable polymers containing water-soluble polymers have also been investigated. Copolymerization of lactide, glycolide and caprolactone with the polyether such as polyethylene glycol (PEG) was expected to partially overcome the above drawbacks, while taking advantage of the virtues of both biodegradable and hydrophilic polymers. Sawhney et al., (1990) J Biomed. Mater. Res, 24(10): 1397–1411, Casey et al., (U.S. Pat. No. 4,716,203) describes the synthesis of a block copolymer of PGA (poly(glycolic acid)) and PEG. Cho et al (2001) J. Control. Release 76: 275–284, applied the W/O/W double emulsion method to prepare PLLA-PEG copolymer microparticles, where bovine serum albumin (BSA) was used as the model drug. Although the copolymers have improved hydrophilicity, most of the biodegradable synthetic polymers reported so far can only be processed in organic solvents which are harmful to protein activity. For these reasons, it is desirable to have a hydrogel as a preferable candidate as a protein drug carrier.
Use of Hydrogel as Protein Carriers
Hydrogels have been intensely investigated as protein drug vehicles because of their excellent biocompatibility and hydrophilicity. Compared with other synthetic biomaterials such as PLGA, hydrogels more closely resemble natural living tissues because of their high water contents and soft and rubbery consistency. The nature of hydrogels minimizes irritation to surrounding tissues. Furthermore, hydrogels are useful in protecting the drug from hostile environments, e.g., the presence of enzymes or the low pH in the stomach. Some biodegradable hydrogels have been reported, Sawhney et al., (1993) Macromolecules, 26:581–587, and Hubbell et al., U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,986,043, 6,060,582, and 6,306,922. However, the hydrogels were synthesized via ultraviolet polymerization or photopolymerization, which are not suitable for entrapping ultraviolet-sensitive proteins.
There are many different physical forms of hydrogels, such as microgel, bulk gel etc. Since microparticles are injectable, microgel would be a good carrier for proteins. Drug delivery systems in the form of microparticles may enable the release of the therapeutic agent in a specified area or over a specified time period. Kim S W et al., (1997) Nature 388: 860–862, studied injectable hydrogel. During the process of loading drug, the use of any organic solvent which can denature the protein was avoided. However, in this case, bulk gels instead of gel particles were used, and the encapsulation temperature was higher than human body temperature.
Cross-linked glutin and collagen have also been employed as a hydrogel to encapsulate peptides of opposite charges. Alginates have been shown to be able to encapsulate biological materials. Lim, U.S. Pat. No. 4,352,883. But the rates of degradation of both kinds of gels were not easily controlled over a wide range of conditions.
In addition to swelling, some hydrogels also show changes in response to stimuli. The present inventors explored these characteristics for developing novel ways for drug loading and drug release.
There have been many studies on materials for drug release. These materials are either merely biodegradable as reported by Cohen et al., (1991) Pharm. Res., 8: 713–720, Langer et al., (1998) Nature 392: 5–10, Bawa et al., (1985) J. Control. Release, 1: 259–267, Li et al., (2002) J. Polym. Sci. part A: Polym. Chem. 40(24): 4550–4555, Fu J. et al., (1997, 1998) Chemical Journal of Chinese Universities, 18(10):1706–1710,19(5):813–816; or merely responsive to environmental stimuli, see e.g, Wu et al., (1995, 1996) Macromolecules 28(15): 5388–5390, 29(5):1574–1578, Wu, U.S. Pat. No. 6,030,634; Zhou et al., (2003) J. Polym. Sci. part A: Polym. Chem. 41(1):152–159. There have been a few reports about a material having a combination of both properties, Shah, U.S. Pat. No. 6,541,033, and Shah et al., U.S. Pat. No. 0,099,709. From these few reports, the use of biodegradable and thermosensitive microgels in a drug delivery system is still quite limited.
RealGel™ is a block copolymer with temperature-sensitivity and degradability, Zentner et al., (2001) J. Control. Release, 72: 203–215. It is not a chemical gel but a physical gel. The term of "chemical gel" represents a gel in which gellation is due to chemical crosslinking, while the term of "physical gel" denotes a gel in which gellation is induced by physical parameter such as temperature. In addition, this gel is a liquid at high temperature, and forms a semi-solid gel when it can be used to encapsulate a drug at a lower temperature. However, the positive temperature sensitivity may lead to denaturation of the protein when it is being encapsulated at a high temperature before gelation. A negative temperature sensitive biodegradable chemical hydrogel has been reported by Hubbell et al., (2000) U.S. Pat. No. 6,129,761, but it was a bulk gel, wherein an ultraviolet initiation method was used. There are difficulties in applying this type of bulk gel in an inverse suspension polymerization process.
In accordance with the present invention, a thermosensitive, biodegradable microgel for the sustained delivery of drugs is provided. The drug is released at a controlled rate from the microgel, which eventually biodegrade into non-toxic products. The rate of degradation can also be adjusted by adjusting the composition of the biodegradable groups.
Drug Loading
In order to encapsulate protein molecules within microparticles, most researchers utilize a solvent evaporation method because this method is useful for achieving a high level of encapsulation. There are basically two different approaches for encapsulation: a water/oil/water double emulsion or a single emulsion in which the micronized protein powder is dispersed into an organic solvent phase containing the dissolved polymer. However, many proteins are irreversibly denatured by contact with organic solvents necessary for dissolving the polymer. Thus, one of the main problems of such methods is the partial or complete loss of biological activity. There are some additives, such as albumin and polysaccharides, which can be used to stabilize the proteins to a certain degree and affect the release behavior, Baldwin et al., (1998) Adv. Drug. Deliv. Rev., 33: 71–86. The alternative, but less frequently reported method is loading the proteins or peptides into a microgel by swelling the microgels in an aqueous solution and subsequent drying. However, this method provides only a low level of encapsulation efficiency. Thus, a further object of the present invention is to provide a process of manufacturing a microgel and loading a protein drug into the microgel with a relatively high loading level.
Compared to in situ encapsulation of the drug, absorption of the drug AFTER the preparation of the gel or hydrogel provides several striking advantages: (1) The biocompatibility of the polymeric material may be enhanced because gel without protein loaded can be easily cleaned to wash out any residual monomers, initiators etc.; (2) the steps of preparing the microgel followed by encapsulation of the protein are separate steps, making it much easier to control each of the two steps independently. On its face, it has been considered impractical to adsorb the proteins after the preparation of the gel or microgel. The reasoning was that if a drug can penetrate the gel easily, it would not be released slowly; whereas, if drug release can be controlled well, it would be hard to adsorb the drug into the gel after gel formation and would lead to a very low loading level.
In accordance with the present invention, the hydrogels of the present invention have been designed to be "intelligent" to overcome the difficulties encountered previously. The "intelligent" hydrogels of our invention comes from the temperature sensitivity of the polymeric material in a particular solvent media. The gel swells at a low temperature and is ready for drug absorption at this low temperature. However, the gel contracts or gelates at a higher temperature, such as the body temperature, and provides a unique way for controlling the release of the drug after injection into the body.
The object and features of the present invention will be made apparent from the following description.

Thermosensitive and biodegradable microgel and a method for the preparation thereof


A mesh panel for throwable and/or grippable objects such as footballs, baseballs, basketballs, baseball bats, etc. The mesh panel is formed from polyvinylchloride (PVC) and includes a plurality of openings surrounded by a plurality of connecting portions. The outer surface of the mesh panel is such that each of the connecting portions includes a plurality of rib portions which further enhance the ability to grip the mesh panel. The inside surface of the mesh panel has an adhesive coating which bonds to an outer surface of the object to which the mesh panel is attached when heat is applied to the mesh panel. The heating of the mesh panel also causes a sticky, resin-like outer surface to be formed. The mesh panel enables various objects such as footballs, baseballs, basketballs, baseball bats, etc. to be much more easily grasped, thrown and caught by individuals of all ages and sizes, and particularly by individuals such as small adults and children having relatively small hands. The mesh panel is durable, does not add appreciable weight to the object to which it is attached or otherwise significantly affect the aerodynamics or trajectory of throwable objects to which the mesh panel is attached.

1. Technical Field
This invention relates to a grippable surface for throwable objects such as a football, baseball, etc. which enhances the ease with which the object may be grasped and thrown, especially by young individuals having relatively small hands.
2. Discussion
Objects such as footballs, baseballs, basketballs, etc. are used in a wide variety of recreational activities by both adults and children. When used by children or small adults, such throwable objects often are not easily grasped if the adult's or child's hands are relatively small. Often, such objects are also difficult to catch for individuals having small hands, and even for individuals having relatively large hands due to the relatively slippery or smooth outer surfaces of many throwable objects. Attempts to remedy this problem have involved making the throwable objects considerably smaller in dimensions in an effort to make same more easily graspable. However, making footballs, basketballs, baseballs and other like objects smaller can also serve to make such objects more difficult to throw properly.
It is therefore a principal object of the present invention to provide a grippable surface which may be applied to a wide variety of throwable objects such as footballs, basketballs, baseballs, and also to other objects such as baseball bat handles, etc., which make it easier for a child or adult to grasp the object when throwing or handling it.
It is still another object of the present invention to provide a grippable surface for a throwable object such as a football, basketball, baseball, etc., which can be applied to the object quickly and easily, and relatively inexpensively, without adding appreciably to the overall cost, outer dimensions or weight of the object.
It is still another object of the present invention to provide a grippable surface which is durable and light in weight so as not to otherwise hinder throwing of the object by young children.


A method and apparatus for making a hinged lid side-by-side vertically hinged cigarette pack (10) having a first bundle (22) and a second bundle (23) of cigarettes is described. The machinery includes a first machine (30) to form a first foil wrapped bundle surrounded by a first inner frame, a second machine (31) for forming a second foil wrapped bundle surrounded by a second inner frame and a third machine (32) for combining the first and second foil wrapped bundle into a single hinged lid side-by-side vertically hinged pack.

This invention relates to apparatus and methods for packaging smoking articles such as cigars, cigarillos and cigarettes, all of which articles will be referred to herein for simplicity as "cigarettes".
The present invention is concerned, in particular, with a cigarette wrapping machine which forms a hinged lid, hinged side-by-side carton or pack of cigarettes wherein a first foil wrapped bundle is placed in hinged side-by-side relationship with a second foil wrapped bundle, an example of such a carton or pack being described in our co-pending application WO 2004/080844, which application is incorporated herein by reference.
WO 2004/080844 describes a smoking article blank, the blank comprising a lid portion and a base portion, the lid portion and the base portion being interconnected along a hinge line and the base portion comprising a first main panel, a second main panel and a bottom panel, each panel being defined by longitudinal side margins, the first and the second main panels each having side panels, which side panels depend from the longitudinal margins of the first and second main panels, at least one of the side panels having a side flap depending from a longitudinal margin thereof, the bottom panel having a line of perforation extending between the longitudinal margins thereof, and the side flap being connected to the adjacent side panel by a hinge line. There is also provided a plurality of inner blanks, which inner blanks may be used in combination with the above-describe smoking article blank. When erected, each inner blank is capable of enwrapping a bundle of smoking articles

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Apparatus and method for packing smoking articles

British American Tobacco (Investments) Limited


A uranium adsorbent is prepared by reacting a polymer containing nitrile groups with hydroxylamine, wherein the amount of imidedioxime groups formed is relatively larger than that of amidoxime groups formed in terms of the integral values of areas of peaks respectively assigned to imidedioxime groups and amidoxime groups in the .sup.13 C-NMR spectrum chart of the adsorbent. The reaction may be effected: 1) in an organic solvent containing water under substantially neutral or weakly alkaline conditions, or 2) under acidic conditions. The uranium adsorptivity of the adsorbent is improved by hydrolyzing its residual nitrile groups under alkaline conditions.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a uranium adsorbent for use in trapping uranyl ions, and more particularly to a uranium adsorbent for use in trapping uranyl ions contained in aqueous solutions such as seawater.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
Attempts to recover uranyl ions from aqueous solutions containing uranyl ions, such as seawater and water drained from dams, have recently been made in various quarters. Uranyl ions have been attracting attention as a fuel material of the atomic energy which has accounted for an increasing proportion among the various sources of energy production these days. Thus, developed nations have been competing in research with a view to developing effective methods of recovering uranyl ions from inexhaustible seawater.
Conventional methods of trapping uranyl ions contained in an aqueous solution such as seawater include a process comprising the step of contacting an aqueous solution such as seawater with an adsorbent such as a polymer adsorbent bearing an inorganic metallic oxide (e.g. titanic acid) or a macrocyclic hexacarboxylic acid, or an amidoxime-containing adsorbent prepared by reacting a nitrile-containing polymer with hydroxylamine, and the step of eluting uranyl ions adsorbed on the adsorbent.
There are a number of known serviceable forms of amidoxime-containing adsorbents, examples of which include not only grainy and fibrous adsorbents prepared using as a starting material a nitrile-containing polymer available at a low price, but also composite adsorbents comprising an amidoxime-containing substance in powdery form incorporated into a polymer matrix.
As described above, an adsorbent containing amidoxime groups is prepared by a reaction of a polymer containing nitrile groups with hydroxylamine. It has been said that, when hydroxylamine is used in the form of an aqueous solution thereof in the above-mentioned reaction, a large number of functional groups such as hydroxamic acid groups, carboxylic amido groups and carboxylic acid groups, which take little part in adsorption of uranium, are formed as by-products through hydrolysis of amidoxime groups in addition to formation of amidoxime groups, which have heretofore been believed to take direct part in adsorption of uranium. In view of this, it has been recommended that hydroxylamine should be used in the form of a methanol solution thereof rather than an aqueous solution thereof in order to secure amidoxime groups (see Egawa, Nippon Kagaku Kaishi, 1980, p. 1767).
However, an amidoxime-containing adsorbent prepared using a methanol solution of hydroxylamine is generally poor in the capacity of adsorbing uranyl ions contained in seawater (hereinafter referred to as the "uranium adsorptivity"). A treatment of the above-mentioned amidoxime-containing adsorbent with an alkali to improve the uranium adsorptivity thereof was proposed (see Kato et al., Bulletin of the Society of Sea Water Science, Japan, Vol. 35, p. 156 (1881), and Japanese Patent Publication No. 16,812/1884). The reason for such an improvement in the uranium adsorptivity of an amidoxime-containing adsorbent through a treatment thereof with an alkali has not thoroughly been elucidated yet, but an increase in the hydrophilicity of the adsorbent through hydrolysis of nitrile groups remaining in the above-mentioned amidoxime-containing adsorbent is claimed to be responsible for the improvement (Kato et al, Nippon Kagaku Kaishi, 1982, p. 1455).


A motivational device having an enclosure comprising an electronics receiving area, a closure plate, at least four sides and a door within a front plate. The electronics receiving area has a top surface, a bottom plate, a front plate and sides and contains a microprocessor programmable with primary user-determined criteria and an access code and providing data entry and data display. The at least four sides are connected to the electronics receiving area and closure plate and enable viewing of the interior of the enclosure while preventing access. The unlocking and locking of the door is electronically controlled and also enables viewing of the interior of the enclosure.

Motivation can be difficult for both children and adults and many methods have been used in an attempt to increase motivation. In children the lack of motivation is generally focused around the areas of behavior and education.
Motivating a child to exhibit good behavior is a challenge faced by every parent. Parents often resort to punishment for bad behavior as a means for motivating good behavior. However, child development specialists generally agree that negative rewards for bad behavior are not as effective as positive rewards for good behavior.
In an attempt to increase reward motivation in education, computer programs and freestanding machines have been developed. Most of these, as used in education to motivate student learning, reward the student for correct answers using only intangible rewards.
A diversity of educationally oriented commercial copyright software, shareware software, and public domain software exists and can be found in the homes of most owners of personal computers. These educational programs quiz students with questions on a variety of subjects including spelling, language, math, and other subjects. A large percentage of the educational software includes graphic effects, tallying of scores, printed readouts, and special audio effects to reward students upon successful completion of the problem and motivate continued utilization of the software. However, students frequently become less and less motivated by these pseudo-rewards due to their intangible and repetitive nature. In fact, many students tend to stop using the educational software programs altogether.
One issue with computer games, marbles in the jar, and other reward systems on the market is the lack of reward tangibility. Especially for children, the promise of a reward they cannot see or touch makes it difficult to focus on the objective and be motivated to continue the positive behavior.
Other examples of reward systems would be Use Your Marbles, Smilemiles.com and sticker charts. Use Your Marbles is a very simple reward system with the reward written on a board instead of being in an enclosure or having a picture of the reward. It consists of a jar of marbles and two shot glass size glasses which hold 4 marbles per day. The kids lose their marbles for bad behavior during the day. The marbles remaining at the end of the day go into the big jar. After the marbles reach the reward line, they get the reward. This system does not have the visual stimulation or the usefulness of the disclosed system and it is doubtful that anyone would use this system other than for young children. Online reward systems such as Smilemiles.com require a computer and do not provide the tangible reward as with the disclosed system.
Entry of data may also be delayed if the computer is in use or otherwise inaccessible. Sticker charts can be fun for younger children however as the children get older there is little appeal to getting a star on a chart. Further, not many adults would consider using sticker charts for themselves. Even small children become bored quickly and lose interest in sticker charts.


A method and a system is disclosed for controlling a sleep mode in broadband wireless access communication system. The subscriber terminals are managed by grouping the subscriber terminals in a broadband wireless access communication system, so an efficiency for controlling the sleep mode of the broadband wireless access communication system may increase. A further advantage is provided that each point of time for transmitting a paging message of each group is established differently from each other within a unit time slot for controlling the sleep mode, such that subscriber terminals are managed according to groups. Another advantage is provided that the base station can previously find subscriber terminals awaking at each point of time for transmission the paging message of each other from among subscriber terminals having the sleep mode, so an efficiency for controlling the sleep mode of the broadband wireless access communication system may increase.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a broadband wireless access communication systems, and more particularly to a method and a system for controlling a sleep mode in a broadband wireless access communication system.
2. Description of the Related Art
In conventional cellular networks, such as CDMA (Code Division Multiplex Access) and GSM (Global System for Mobile communication) networks, a sleep mode is realized by means of a slotted paging manner. That is, terminals operated in the conventional cellular networks may stay in a sleep mode having little power consumption if a terminal mode is not an active mode. In this state, the terminals often awake to check whether or not a paging message has been transmitted to the terminals. In a case in which the paging message has been transmitted to the terminals, the terminal mode is shifted from the sleep mode into the active mode. In addition, if the paging message is not transmitted to the terminals, the terminals enter into the sleep mode again.
At this time, since a paging slot is assigned between a base station and the terminals, each terminal awakes at a predetermined paging slot assigned thereto in order to check the paging message transmitted thereto. That is, a terminal in a CDMA network has an assigned paging slot and a terminal in a GSM network has an assigned paging group, so that it is enough for the terminals of the CDMA and GSM networks to awake once for a predetermined time period. Also, since the predetermined time period is fixed by a system, the system can easily manage the operation of the terminals.
However, it is difficult to control the sleep mode in a broadband wireless access communication system (called "4th generation communication system") which has been actively studied and developed in order to support a high-speed service. The reason is that a sleep interval exponentially increases in the sleep mode proposed by an IEEE 802.16e communication system which is achieved by supplementing an IEEE 802.16a communication system with mobility of subscribers. That is, since the sleep interval exponentially increases in the IEEE 802.16e communication system, it is difficult for the IEEE 802.16e communication system to manage a start time of a sleep mode, a sleep interval, and an awaking point. Accordingly, it is difficult for the IEEE 802.16e to control the sleep mode.
FIG. 1 is a view schematically showing a procedure for controlling a sleep mode proposed by an IEEE 802.16e communication system. Conventionally, a sleep mode of the IEEE 802.16e communication system is started according to either a request of a subscriber terminal or a control command of a base station. FIG. 1 shows a method of starting the sleep mode according to the request the subscriber terminal request.
Referring to FIG. 1, a subscriber terminal 10 transmits a sleep request message (SLP-REQ message) to a base station 20 in order to enter into the sleep mode (S31). At this time, the subscriber terminal sends a required minimum size value (e.g., a min-window), a required maximum size value (e.g., a max-window), and a required value of a listening interval, which is a time slot where a corresponding terminal awakes to check whether a page message was transmitted to the subscriber terminal. A unit of each value is a frame.
Then, the base station 20 receiving the SLP-REQ message carries out a sleep time scheduling with reference to preset sleep control information (e.g. an admittable min-window, an admittable max-window, and an admittable listening interval) (S32). In addition, the base station 20 sends a sleep response message (SLP-RSP message) to the subscriber terminal 10 (S33). At this time, the base station transmits the number of frames remaining until the subscriber terminal 10 enters into the sleep mode (which is referred to start-time), a minimum time slot value (min-window value), a maximum time slot value (max-window), and a listening interval value, which are approved by the base station. In this case, a unit of each value is a frame.
Meanwhile, the subscriber terminal 10 receiving the SLP-RSP message enters into the sleep mode at the start time included in the SLP-RSP message (S34). Also, the subscriber terminal 10 awakes after the sleep interval elapses, and checks whether any packet data (PDU) has been transmitted from the base station 20. That is, the subscriber terminal 10 enters into the awake mode after the sleep interval has been passed (S35), and confirms a traffic indication message (TRF-IND message, also called a paging message) broadcasted from the base station 20 during the listening interval (S36). The TRF-IND message is information broadcast to the subscriber terminal 10 by the base station 20 and includes basic Connection IDentifiers (CIDs) of subscriber terminals receiving PDU data.
The subscriber terminal 10 determines whether or not its basic CID is included in the TRF-IND message so as to decide whether or not the subscriber terminal 10 should awake. That is, if a BCID of the subscriber terminal 10 is included in the received TRF-IND message, the subscriber terminal 10 will recognize the existence of PDU data that was transmitted to the subscriber terminal, and the subscriber terminal 10 will awaken. That is, if the TRF-IND message received by the subscriber terminal 10 is a positive traffic indication (S37), the subscriber terminal 10 performs a state transition into the active mode (S38).
In contrast, if the BCID of the subscriber terminal 10 is not included in the received TRF-IND message, the subscriber terminal 10 determines that no PDU data was transmitted to the subscriber terminal, the subscriber terminal 10 will enter the sleep mode again. That is, if the TRF-IND message received by the subscriber terminal 10 is a negative traffic indication, the state of the subscriber terminal 10 is shifted into the sleep mode (S34), and the base station 20 waits for the subscriber terminal 10 to awake during the sleep interval.
At this time, the subscriber terminal 10 increases the sleep interval to twice as long as the previous sleep interval, and keeps the sleep mode (S34) during the increased sleep interval. The subscriber terminal 10 repeatedly performs the sleep mode and the awake mode until the state of the subscriber terminal 10 is shifted into the active mode. Whenever the subscriber terminal 10 repeatedly performs the sleep mode and the awake mode, the subscriber terminal 10 increases the sleep interval to twice as long as the previous sleep interval in such a manner that the sleep interval reaches the maximum time slot allotted to the subscriber terminal 10 by the base station 20.
As described above, the IEEE 802.16e communication system executes a sleep mode while increasing the sleep interval twice as long as the previous sleep interval according to a sleep update algorithm. Accordingly, since the IEEE 802.16e communication system exponentially increases the sleep interval, it is difficult for the base station to integrally manage the sleep intervals of subscriber terminals.
Meanwhile, the IEEE 802.16e communication system defines three message types communicated between the subscriber terminal and the base station for allowing the subscriber terminal to enter into the sleep mode. That is, the three message types include a sleep request message (SLP-REQ message), a sleep response message (SLP-RSP message), and a traffic indication message (TRF-IND message).
FIGS. 2a to 2d show the format of messages communicated between the base station and the subscriber terminal in order to control the sleep mode, as described above. FIG. 2a shows a format of a sleep request message 40, FIG. 2b shows a format of a sleep response message 50a when rejecting sleep, and FIG. 2c shows a format of a sleep response message 50b when approving sleep. Also, FIG. 2d shows a traffic indication message format 60.
Referring to FIG. 2a, the SLP-REQ message 40 includes a management message type (MANAGEMENT MESSAGE TYPE; 8 bits) 41, a minimum window (MIN-WINDOW; 6 bits) 42, a maximum window (MAX-WINDOW; 10 bits) 43, and a listening interval (LISTENING INTERVAL; 8 bits) 44. The SLP-REQ message 40 is a dedicated message which is transmitted based on a connection identification (CID) of the subscriber terminal, and it is a message notifying that the subscriber terminal requests sleep.
At this time, the management message type (MANAGEMENT MESSAGE TYPE) 41 is information representing a type of a message which is currently transmitted. If the management message type is '45' (MANAGEMENT MESSAGE TYPE=45), the currently transmitted message is the SLP-REQ message. The management message type 41 is realized with 8 bits.
The minimum window MIN-WINDOW (that is, a minimum time slot) 42 represents a requested start value for the sleep interval (measured in frames) and the maximum window MAX-WINDOW (that is, a maximum time slot) 43 represents a requested stop value for the sleep interval (measured in frames). That is, the sleep interval is updated and exponentially increases from the minimum window value 42 to the maximum window value 43.
The listening interval LISTENING INTERVAL 44 represents a requested LISTENING INTERVAL (measured in frames).
At this time, the minimum window 42, the maximum window 43, and the listening interval 44 are established as a frame unit.
Referring to FIG. 2b, the SLP-RSP message 50a used for rejecting a sleep request includes a management message type (8 bits) 51a, a sleep approval SLEEP-APPROVED (1 bit) 52a, and a reserved field RESERVED (7 bits) 53a. Such a SLP-RSP message 50a is also a dedicated message which is transmitted based on a connection identification (CID) of the subscriber terminal. The SLP-RSP message 50a is a message for determining a sleep timing of the subscriber terminal after the base station scheduling a sleep time of the subscriber terminal.
At this time, the management message type 51a represents a type of a currently transmitted message. If the management message type is '46' (MANAGEMENT MESSAGE TYPE=46), the currently transmitted message is the SLP-RSP message.
The sleep approval (SLEEP-APPROVED) 52a is represented with one bit. The sleep approval 52a '0' represents that it is impossible to shift into the sleep mode (SLEEP-MODE REQUEST DENIED).
The reserved field (RESERVED) 53a is a field reserved for other use.
Referring to FIG. 2c, when the base station approves the sleep request, the SLP-RSP message 50b transmitted to the subscriber terminal includes a management message type (8 bits) 51b, a sleep approval (SLEEP-APPROVED: 1 bit) 52b, a start time (START-TIME: 7 bits) 53b, a minimum window (MIN-WINDOW) 54b, a maximum window (MAX-WINDOW) 55b, and a listening interval (LISTENING INTERVAL) 56b.
At this time, the management message type 51b represents a type of a currently transmitted message. If the management message type is '46' (MANAGEMENT MESSAGE TYPE=46), the currently transmitted message is the sleep response message.
The sleep approval (SLEEP-APPROVED) 52b is represented with one bit. The sleep approval '1' (SLEEP-MODE REQUEST APPROVED) represents that it is possible to shift into a sleep mode.
The start time START-TIME 53b is frame values before the subscriber terminal enters into the first sleep interval (the first SLEEP INTERVAL), in which a value of a frame receiving the sleep response message is not included in the frame values. That is, the subscriber terminal will perform the state transition into the sleep mode after both a frame next to the frame during which the sleep response message is received and one or more of the adjacent frames, as specified by the START-TIME elapse.
The minimum window 54b represents a start value for the SLEEP INTERVAL (measured in frames), and the maximum window 55b represents a stop value for the SLEEP INTERVAL (measured in frames). The listening interval 56b is a value for LISTENING INTERVAL (measured in frames).
Referring to FIG. 2d, the TRF-IND message 60 includes a management message type (8 bits) 61, the number of positive subscribers NUM-POSITIVE (8 bits) 62, and connection identifications of the positive subscribers (CIDs 63 and 64), each of which is represented by 16 bits. Such a TRF-IND message 60 is transmitted in a broadcasting method, which is different from the transmitting methods for the SLP-REQ message and the SLP-RSP message.
First, the management message type 61 represents a type of a message which is currently transmitted. The management message type 61 '47' (MANAGEMENT MESSAGE TYPE=47) represents that the currently transmitted message is the TRF-IND message.
The number of the positive subscribers 62 represents the number of subscriber terminals to which packet data must be transmitted. The connection identifiers (CIDs 63 and 64) of the positive subscribers include connection identification information corresponding to the number of the positive subscribers.
FIG. 3 explains a sleep interval update algorithm which is proposed for the IEEE 802.16e communication system. In FIG. 3, 'SS' refers to a subscriber terminal and 'BS' refers to a base station. Also, boxes including 'SS' and 'BS' refer to frames.
Referring to FIG. 3, the subscriber terminal SS requests the sleep mode to the base station BS in an nth frame (S71) and the base station BS responds to the request for the sleep mode in n+1th frame (S72) by specifying the start time of the sleep mode as n+3th frame. In this case, the subscriber terminal SS repeats the sleep interval and the listening interval. As shown in FIG. 3, an initial sleep interval has 2 frames, and a second sleep interval has 4 frames which are double to the number of frames of the initial sleep interval.
As described above, in the conventional IEEE 802.16e communication system, since subscriber terminals request sleep at different points of time and sleep intervals of subscriber terminals exponentially increase, it is difficult for the base station to manage the sleep intervals of the subscriber terminals and to manage the subscriber terminals by grouping the subscriber terminals.

Method and system for controlling sleep mode in broadband wireless access communication system


According to one embodiment, an electronic device includes a power supply circuit configured to supply, to a battery, a first charge current for a quick charge and a second charge current for a normal charge smaller than the first charge current, the first charge current and the second charge current being generated from a power from the external power supply, and a controller configured to supply the first charge current to the battery to perform a quick charge when a difference value between a first voltage value of the external power supply wherein the power supply circuit supplies a third charge current smaller than the second charge current to the battery and a second voltage value of the external power supply wherein the power supply circuit does not supply the charge current to the battery is smaller than a threshold.

1. Field
One embodiment of the present invention relates to an electronic device which controls a charge of a battery for driving an electronic device such as a personal computer.
2. Description of the Related Art
A battery for driving an electronic device such as a personal computer generally uses a chargeable secondary cell. Such a battery is charged using, e.g., an AC adapter serving as an external power supply. If both the AC adapter and the battery support a quick charge, the battery can be charged in a short time. For example, Jpn. Pat. Appln. KOKAI Publication No. 2003-189501 discloses a technique of shortening the battery charge time by making the charge current large without making the supply current of the AC adapter exceed the rated value.
In Jpn. Pat. Appln. KOKAI Publication No. 2003-189501, however, only one kind of AC adapter is used. It is impossible to discriminate a large AC adapter supporting a quick charge and a compact portable AC adapter capable of performing only normal charge and to appropriately control the charge of the battery.


A method for the treatment of mucous membrane trauma disease or condition for the relief of pain associated therewith comprising administering topically an effective amount of a composition comprising an N.S.A.I.D. and a form of hyaluronic acid selected from hyaluronic acid, pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, fragments thereof and/or subunits thereof.

Mention is made in "Recurrent Aphthous Ulceration: Diagnosis and Therapy" by R. J. Conklin et. al. in the March/April 1994 issue of Canadian Journal of Dermatology, of the use of anti-inflammatory therapy in cases of aphthous and other oral ulceration.
As is known, Benzydamine is already accepted as a symptomatic treatment for oral inflammation. Being an N.S.A.I.D., Benzydamine would also be expected to have superficial analgesic action. In fact, TANTUM.TM. containing Benzydamine is widely known and is accepted as a symptomatic treatment for oral and specifically, tonsillar inflammation with purported superficial analgesic action. However, the action of this drug and other known regimens of treatment are not fast enough and are not, in other respects, entirely satisfactory. For example, while Benzydamine has been available as a local treatment for real pain, it suffers many disadvantages in its format being an untargeted native N.S.A.I.D. Despite the disadvantages, Benzydamine has gained a worldwide use as a topical oral anti-inflammatory agent.
Tetracycline oral suspension has also been used. However, the treatment has side effects and is usually ineffective.
Applicants are also aware of the product Kenalog in Orabase. Kenalog is the trademark of E. R. Squibb for the steroid triaincinolone acetonide. Triaincinolone Acetonide is a steroidal anti-inflammatory agent. Orabase base acts as a vehicle for the triaimcinolone acetonide and sealant. This product has been used in the management of painful mucosal lesions in the mouth. However, the preparation does not have a fast analgesic action. Nor is the use of a steroid desirable. Particularly, use of a steroid reduces the body's response to infection and although widely used scientifically, it is contra-indicated to use a steroid in the presence of a viral or bacterial infection.
It is therefore, an object of the invention to provide improved treatment for mucous membrane injury and disease including viral and traumatic mucosal injury.
It is further an object of the invention to provide an improved treatment of aphthous and other oral ulceration.
It is still a further object of this invention to provide an improved treatment of leukoplakia and other conditions of the mouth.
It is a further object of this invention to provide an improved treatment for the oral, pulmonary and vaginal cavities injured by disease or injury and the pain associated therewith.
It is still a further object of this invention to provide pharmaceutical compositions and dosage amounts of the pharmaceutical compositions suitable for use with such treatments.
Further and other objects of the invention will be realized by those skilled in the art from the following summary of invention and detailed description of embodiments thereof.

Treatment of mucous membrane disease, trauma or condition and for the relief of pain thereof


Disclosed is a powder antifoaming agent containing: (A) a hydrophobic organopolysiloxane that has a viscosity at 25° C. of 10-100,000 mm2/s; (B) a fine silica powder; (C) a surfactant; and (D) a water-soluble encapsulating agent that is in a solid state at 25° C. This powder antifoaming agent is characterized by being obtained by spray drying a dispersion liquid that is obtained by dispersing a silicone oil compound, which is obtained by mixing the component (A) and the component (B), and the component (D) in water in the presence of the component (C), and is also characterized in that the silicone oil compound is encapsulated by the component (D) that serves as an outer shell. Since the present powder antifoaming agent does not contain water by being produced by a spray drying method, the powder antifoaming agent is free from problems of emulsion antifoaming agents such as separation and putrefaction.

Silicone-based antifoaming agents have many superior properties to other antifoaming agents and are used in a wide variety of applications including foam-generating manufacturing steps involved in chemical, food, oil, textile, paper making, paper/pulp, and pharmaceutical industries and effluent and sewage treatments. Of the silicone-based antifoaming agents, antifoaming agents of emulsion type are commonly used which are obtained by mixing silicone oil such as dimethylpolysiloxane with finely divided silica and dispersing the oil compound in water together with a surfactant. Since the emulsion antifoaming agents are readily dispersible in foaming liquids, they exert antifoaming effect as soon as they are applied to foaming spots.
However, the emulsion antifoaming agents are so sensitive to temperature changes that problems may often arise during storage, such as compositional gradation, separation due to breaking of emulsion particles, and putrefaction. Therefore, they are unsuitable for long-term storage, with restrictions on their storage conditions.
To overcome these problems, Patent Document 1 (JP-A S60-106507) and Patent Document 2 (JP 4224535) propose powder antifoaming agents comprising antifoaming components adsorbed to oil-absorbing porous powder such as silica, aluminum oxide or talc.
However, the powder antifoaming agents having antifoaming components adsorbed to oil-absorbing porous powder such as silica, aluminum oxide or talc leave a noticeable amount of residual powder because of their composition. They are useful in effluent treatment and chemical and agrochemical industries, but not suitable in the food industry where the amount of food additives is restricted. Another drawback of the powder antifoaming agents comprising porous powder is that they are significantly inferior in water dispersibility and rapid action to the emulsion antifoaming agents.

Powder antifoaming agent and method for producing same


Detection of errors in the results of turbo decoding is performed while decoding is being repeated. If absence of errors is detected, the results of decoding are output, even though repetition of the decoding operation is in progress, and further decoding is discontinued. Further, the number of times errors are detected in decoded results when decoding has been performed a set number of times is monitored and the decoding operation is executed again if the number of times errors are detected is equal to or less than a set value. Further, one of first and second decoded results output from first and second elementary decoders that construct a turbo decoder is selected as appropriate and is then output.

Error correction codes, which are for the purpose of correcting error contained in received information or in reconstructed information so that the original information can be decoded correctly, are applied to a variety of systems. For example, error correction codes are applied in cases where data is to be transmitted without error when performing mobile communication, FAX or other data communication, and in cases where data is to be reconstructed without error from a large-capacity storage medium such as a magnetic disk or CD.
Among the available error correction codes, it has been decided to adopt turbo codes (see the specification of U.S. Pat. No. 5,446,747) for standardization in next-generation mobile communications. FIG. 14 is a block diagram of a communication system that includes a turbo encoder and a turbo decoder. Numeral 11 denotes the turbo encoder, which is provided on the data transmitting side, and numeral 12 denotes the turbo decoder, which is provided on the data receiving side. Numeral 13 denotes a data communication path. Further, character u represents transmit information data of length N; xa, xb, xc represent encoded data obtained by encoding the information data u by the turbo encoder 11; ya, yb, yc denote received signals that have been influenced by noise and fading as a result of propagation of the encoded data xa, xb, xc through the communication path 13; and u′ represents results of decoding obtained by decoding the received data ya, yb, yc by the turbo decoder 12. These items of data are as expressed below. It should be noted that decoded results u′ include "results of decisions" and "likelihood".
Original data: u={u1, u2, u3, . . . , UN}
Encoded data: xa={xa1, xa2, xa3, . . . , xak, . . . , xaN}                : xb={xb1, xb2, xb3, . . . , xbk, . . . , xbN}        : xc={xc1, xc2, xc3, . . . , xck, . . . , xcN}
Receive data: ya={ya1, ya2, ya3, . . . , yak, . . . , yaN}                : yb={yb1, yb2, yb3, . . . , ybk, . . . , ybN}        : yc={yc1, yc2, yc3, . . . , yck, . . . , ycN}
The turbo encoder 11 encodes the information data u of information length N and outputs the encoded data xa, xb, xc. The encoded data xa is the information data u per se, the encoded data xb is data obtained by the convolutional encoding of the information data u by an encoder ENC1, and the encoded data xc is data obtained by the interleaving (π) of the information data u and convolutional encoding of the interleaved results xa′ by an encoder ENC2. In other words, a turbo code is obtained by combining two convolutional codes. It should be noted that an interleaved output xa′ differs from the encoded data xa only in terms of its sequence and therefore is not output.
FIG. 15 is a diagram showing the details of the turbo encoder 11. Numerals 11a, 11b denote convolutional encoders (ENC1, ENC2) that are identically constructed, and numeral 11c denotes an interleaving unit (π). The convolutional encoders 11a, 11b, which are adapted to output recursive systematic convolutional codes, are each constructed by connecting two flip-flops FF1, FF2 and three exclusive-OR gates EXOR1˜EXOR3 in the manner illustrated. The flip-flops FF1, FF2 take on four states (00), (01), (10), (1,1). If 0 or 1 is input in each of these states, the states undergo a transition as illustrated in FIG. 16 and the encoder ENC1 outputs xa, xb. In FIG. 16, the left side indicates the state prior to input of receive data, the right side the state after the input, the solid lines the path of the state transition when "0" is input and the dashed lines the path of the state transition when "1" is input, and 00, 11, 10, 01 on the paths indicate the values of the output signals xa, xb. By way of example, if "0" is input in the state 0(00), the output is 00 and the state becomes 0(00); if "1" is input, the output is 11 and the state becomes 1(10).
FIG. 17 is a block diagram of the turbo decoder. Turbo decoding is performed by a first elementary decoder (DEC1) 12a using ya and yb first among the received signals ya, yb, yc. The elementary decoder 12a is a soft-output elementary decoder and outputs the likelihood of decoded results. Next, similar decoding is performed by a second elementary decoder (DEC2) 12b using the likelihood, which is output from the first elementary decoder 12a, and yc. That is, the second elementary decoder 12b also is a soft-output elementary decoder and outputs the likelihood of decoded results. Here yc is a received signal corresponding to xc, which was obtained by interleaving the information data u and encoding the interleaved results. Accordingly, the likelihood that is output from the first elementary decoder 12a is interleaved by an interleaver (π) 12c before it enters the second elementary decoder DEC2.
The likelihood output from the second elementary decoder 12b is deinterleaved by a deinterleaver (π−1) 12d and then is fed back as the input to the first elementary decoder 12a. Further, u′ is decoded data (results of decoding) obtained by rendering a "0", "1" decision regarding the deinterleaved results from the second elementary decoder 12b. Error rate is reduced by repeating the above-described decoding operation a prescribed number of times.
With turbo decoding, errors in results of decoding decline whenever decoding processing is repeated. However, there are instances where the number of repetitions needed to eliminate errors in decoded results varies depending upon the state of the communication path, etc. As a consequence, if data is decoded correctly with a small number of repetitions, from this point onward the turbo decoder repeats unnecessary decoding operations until a set number of operations is executed.
Further, with turbo decoding, errors in results of decoding decline whenever decoding processing is repeated. However, there are cases where not all errors are corrected and errors remain even though decoding processing is executed the set number of times. In such cases there are instances where error is reduced considerably and if decoding processing is executed one more time, there is a good possibility that all errors will be corrected. With the conventional turbo decoder, decoded results containing error are output as is, without taking the above-mentioned possibility into account, when decoding has been performed the set number of times.
Further in the conventional turbo decoder, the first and second elementary decoders 12a, 12b execute first and second decoding processes with regard to a combination of different received signals. The decoding operations, however, are exactly the same. Accordingly, there is the possibility that one elementary decoder can be used for both the first and second decoding processes. With the prior art, however, the arrangement is such that two, i.e., the first and second, elementary decoders are used for the first and second decoding processes. This results in a large amount of hardware. A problem arises also in terms of power consumption.
As shown in FIG. 17, the output of the turbo decoder is the result of deinterleaving the output of the second elementary decoder 12b. As a result, if errors remain in the decoded data, the errors are randomized by deinterleaving. As shown in (a) of FIG. 18, there are many cases where the units of the turbo code are very long, and in such cases a single unit of turbo code includes a plurality of information blocks. If errors are randomized by deinterleaving in such cases, the errors are dispersed over a plurality of information blocks, as shown at (b) of FIG. 18, the error rate on a per-information-block basis increases and, if resend control is carried out in units of the information blocks, a problem that arises is an increase in number of resends.
Further, in next-generation mobile communications, information transmitted will be a mix of information of various properties and, depending upon the type of data transmitted, there will be instances where it would be better for the error patterns in the decoded data to be bursty and instances where it would be better for the error patterns to be random. With the conventional turbo decoder, however, error patterns contained in the decoded data that is output cannot be make bursty or random as necessary.
Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to so arrange it that if all errors have been corrected before the number of repetitions of decoding attains a set number, the results of decoding are output immediately and the decoding operation is halted.
Another object of the present invention is to so arrange it that when there is a possibility that all errors will be corrected if decoding processing is executed one more time in an instance where all errors have not been not corrected and a prescribed number of errors remain despite the fact that decoding processing has been executed a set number of times, the decoding operation will not be halted and will be executed one more time.
A further object of the present invention is to make it possible to use one elementary decoder for both the first and second decoding processes of the prior art.
Still another object of the present invention is to so arrange it that an error generation pattern contained in decoded data is rendered bursty.
Still another object of the present invention is to so arrange it that an error pattern contained in decoded data to be output can be made bursty or random as necessary.


A high pressure mandrel for joining a metal tube to a wall of a metal sheet surrounding an annular bore of the metal sheet. The metal tube enters the bore of the metal sheet. The metal tube is joined to the metal sheet by high pressure fluid in an annular expansion gap by expanding radially the metal tube for forming a joint with the wall of the metal sheet surrounding the bore of the metal sheet. Toward this end, spaced O-rings are disposed on a shaft of a mandrel that is disposed axially in the metal tube. Outboard of the O-rings, backup rights are respectively disposed on the shaft. Outboard of the backup rings are disposed segmented ring assemblies which are also disposed on the shaft. Facing opposite ends of each segmented ring assemblies are cam rings. The cam rings are disposed on the shaft. High pressure fluid by means of a conduit provides a high pressure fluid to the inner wall of the metal tube to expand radially the metal tube to form a joint with the wall of the sheet of metal surrounding the bore formed in the metal sheet. Simultaneously therewith, the high pressure fluid urges the O-rings outwardly toward the associated backup rings, respectively. In turn, the backup rings are urged outwardly toward the associated segmented ring assemblies, respectively. Facing each of the segmented ring assemblies are cam rings. Each set of cam rings are disposed on the shaft. Each set of cam rings expand radially its associated segmented ring assembly in response to the high pressure fluid.

The present invention relates in general to high pressure expansion mandrels and, more particularly, to a high pressure expansion mandrel for use in the radial expansion of a metal tube for providing a leak-proof joint between a metal tube and a sheet of metal.
In the patent to Kelly, U.S. Pat. No. 4,502,308, issued on Mar. 5, 1985, for Swaging Apparatus Having Elastically Deformable Members With Segmented Supports, there is disclosed a swaging mandrel to be inserted into a tubular structure that is radially expandable. A pair of seals define the axial boundaries of an annular pressure zone between the swaging mandrel and the tubular structure. The seals include an annular support formed by arcuate segments elastically held together. The annular support is formed at one end with a camming surface. At the other end of the annular support is a band which restrains axial movement of the annular support. At the one end of the annular support is a cam which engages the camming surface of the annular support to expand the annular support radially in response to swaging pressure.
The patent to Kelly, U.S. Pat. No. 4,414,739, issued on Nov. 15, 1983, for Apparatus For Hydraulically Forming Joints Between Tubes And Tube Sheets, discloses a mandrel. The mandrel includes an elongated, generally cylindrical body and a head. The mandrel is inserted into a tube that is positioned in the bore of a tube sheet. Pressurized hydraulic fluid is supplied through an axial passageway in the body that is continued by a cross-bore permitting hydraulic fluid to enter an annular volume between the body and the interior wall of the tube. The outer boundaries of the annular volume are between spaced O-rings which encircle the body.

High pressure expansion mandrel with cams engaging oppositely directed ends of an expandable segmented ring


A golf ball dimple having a plurality of arms wherein each arm includes a leading edge, a trailing edge, side walls, and a sloped floor. The dimples of the invention may be included in a dimple pattern that may also include other types of dimples.

A NACA duct is a common form of low-drag intake design, originally developed by the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics during the 1940s. In particular, a NACA duct is a flush mounted inlet or scoop that is commonly used to supply cooling, ventilation, or combustion air to the mechanical systems of air and land vehicles. Since the NACA duct is a depression in the body's surface, as opposed to a traditional scoop that protrudes outside the body, the duct produces less drag. However, a disadvantage of such a configuration is that, since the duct does not reach out into the high energy air farther away from the body, a large proportion of low energy boundary layer air, i.e., the layer of air that clings to the surface or a moving body, is drawn in which reduces the effectiveness of the duct. NACA ducts partially counteract this disadvantage by incorporating certain geometric features. For example, a NACA duct consists of a ramp that gently slopes downward into the body. In addition, the ramp is narrow at its leading edge, but widens dramatically at its trailing edge. The increasing width is bounded by vertical or near-vertical side walls that have a characteristic reflex curvature. These S-shaped walk are a defining characteristic of the NACA duct and are believed to generate a pair of counter-rotating vortices that efficiently draw higher energy air from outside the boundary layer into the duct.
Race cars designers typically employ NACA ducts on lateral surfaces of the both to draw in air for less demanding applications such as ventilation or cooling. Aeronautical engineers employ NACA ducts on various types of aircraft for similar purposes. Applications such as combustion that require large volumes of high energy air are usually best served by conventional protruding scoops on the lateral surfaces of the body or inlets on the front-facing surfaces.
The shape and depth change of the duct are critical for proper operation. When properly implemented, it allows fluid (usually air) to be drawn into an internal duct, with a minimal disturbance to the flow or increase in drag.
Golf ball dimples work by inducing turbulence in the boundary layer of the air adjacent to the surface of the golf ball. Compared to laminar boundary layers, turbulent boundary layers are better able to remain attached to the ball surface. Thus, the size of the wake behind the golf ball can be reduced if the boundary layer is turbulent rather than laminar, resulting in a reduction of pressure drag acting on the golf ball. Although turbulent boundary layers generate greater skin friction drag, this is dramatically outweighed by the reduction of pressure drag. However, manufacturers are still dedicated in their efforts to reducing pressure drag and minimize the corresponding increase in skin friction drag to maximize the net benefit. Accordingly, there is a need in the art for improved dimple designs and geometry that induce turbulence in the boundary layer by drawing the air flow into the dimples. The present invention relates to such dimple designs and geometry.

Multi-arm dimple and dimple patterns including same


An apparatus for inducing of the index of refraction of a substrate sensitive to electromagnetic radiation. The apparatus is capable of generating a first beam of electromagnetic radiation and a second beam of electromagnetic radiation that is different from the first beam. The first and the second beams converge toward a treatment area on the substrate, which is illuminated with electromagnetic radiation. The first beam and the second beam interact to create an interference pattern over a limited portion of the treatment area.

An optical waveguide, such as an optical fiber is formed by a core section transporting the electromagnetic radiation, such as a light beam, and a cladding section that surrounds the core to confine the electromagnetic is radiation to the core. The electromagnetic radiation remains captive in the core by virtue of the difference between the refractive indexes of the core and the cladding sections and their geometries. In an optical fiber, the core section is cylindrical and the cladding surrounding it is tubular and in contact with the cylindrical core.
A Bragg grating is an axial periodical change of the refractive index (n) between the core and the cladding that induces harmonic back reflections of the light beam at a certain wavelength (λ) called the Bragg wavelength. The Bragg wavelength is related to the period length (Λ) of the refractive index change by λ=2nΛ.
Since Bragg gratings have a short period length (Λ) of index change, this periodic index change is usually created by interfering two coherent energy beams to form a stationary energy interference pattern along a section of the core of the waveguide. This stationary energy interference pattern will induce a periodic change in the material structure of the exposed section of the core, leading to the axial periodical change of the effective refractive index (n) between the core and the cladding. A known approach to form a grating in a waveguide, particularly in an optical fiber, is to expose the core of the waveguide to a stationary interference pattern generated by the crossing over of two Ultra Violet (UV) coherent laser beams, where the interference angle dictates the period. The exposure to the, interference pattern initiates semi-permanent material structure changes in the core region. By using proper annealing, one can remove the most unstable part of this semi-permanent material structure changes and obtain, in practice, a permanent grating.
A periodical change of the refractive index in amplitude, as shown in FIG. 1, will create a Bragg grating with a specific reflection spectrum shape, shown in FIG. 2. The percentage of light reflected will follow a Gaussian distribution shape around the Bragg wavelength, with pre-determined side lobe positions and relative levels. As the level of amplitude increases, the Gaussian distribution saturates at the maximal 100% reflection, and the side lobe relative levels increase, as shown in FIG. 3.
A distribution in amplitude of the periodical change of the refractive index, also called apodization, will change the shape, or distribution, of the reflection spectrum of the Bragg grating, as well as the relative levels of the side lobes. FIG. 4 shows a Gaussian type apodization, or axial amplitude profile of the periodical change of the refractive index, and FIG. 5 shows the corresponding reflection spectrum for a saturated Bragg grating. It can be seen that the effect of the Gaussian apodization is to increase the slope of the reflection spectrum and to lower the side lobes level. However, this type of Gaussian apodization produces a non-uniform base value index change, of Gaussian shape, which creates a resonant cavity effect at lower wavelengths and produces one or more undesirable bumps in thee reflection spectrum. In FIG. 4, the base refractive index value is shown as a continous thick line superimposed over the Gaussian type apodization. To compensate for the base level change of the refractive index, one can use a double Gaussian amplitude distribution around the uniform average refractive index, such as shown in FIG. 6. In this instance, the base refractive index value is constant, as shown by the straight continuous thick line in the graph. The associated reflection spectrum, shown in FIG. 7, will then be symmetrical against the Bragg wavelength with sharper slopes and lower side lobe levels.
Currently available methods to create an apodization on a waveguide, such as the one depicted in FIG. 6 are unsatisfactory for a variety of reasons and there is a need in the industry to provide an improved technique and an associated apparatus to perform such operations.

Method and apparatus for inducing an index of refraction change on a substrate sensitive to electromagnetic radiation


A cleaning device for a shaving apparatus includes a chassis supporting a cleaning container for receiving the shaving head region of the shaving apparatus. A detent device is movably suspended on the chassis and is biased by means of a resilient element toward a first end position in which the detent device fixedly secures a replaceable reservoir holding a supply of cleaning liquid to the chassis in a positive engagement relationship therewith.

Cleaning devices for shaving apparatus serve to remove hair and other particles adhering to the region of the shaving head. Cleaning devices of this type are known in a variety of functions and designs, which are operated both manually and electrically.
EP 0 743 883 B1 discloses is a manually operated cleaning device for flushing objects such as a shaving unit of a rotary dry shaver. The cleaning device includes two containers for a flushing liquid. One of the containers has a variable volume, enabling the flushing liquid to be pumped between the containers by variation of the volume with the liquid current being used for flushing the shaving unit disposed in a receptacle between the containers. To retain contaminants, provision is made for a filter through which the liquid current is forced in a direction of flow predetermined by a valve arrangement.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,172,416 discloses a cleaning device for an electric razor which has a casing with an opening for receiving the cutter portion of the razor. The casing accommodates a motor-driven impelling assembly for generating a circulating current of a cleaning liquid, and an assembly for collecting hair and other particles. For cleaning, cleaning liquid is caused to flow through the cutter portion while the razor connected to the cleaning device is set in operation.
DE 44 02 238 C2 discloses a cleaning device for the shaving head of a dry shaver. The cleaning device includes a receptacle for the shaving head of the shaving apparatus and at least one cleaning liquid container. The receptacle is disposed above the liquid level of the cleaning liquid and is adapted to be supplied with cleaning liquid from the cleaning liquid container by means of a motor-driven conveying device. The receptacle is connected with the cleaning liquid container through an overflow device and/or at least one outlet opening.
DE 690 21 898 T2 discloses a dry shaving apparatus having a drivable cutter element and a vibratory device adapted to be driven separately to clean a shaving head of the shaving apparatus without an external cleaning device. The vibratory device serves to dislodge hair particles and other contaminants adhering to the cutter element or other parts of the shaving apparatus. The vibratory device is set in operation by reversing the direction of rotation of the shaver's electric motor from the direction of rotation used during the shaving mode. With the direction of rotation thus reversed, a claw coupling driving the cutter element in the presence of a normal direction of rotation operates to produce a vibrating motion. To reverse the direction of rotation, a reversing switch is provided on the shaving apparatus. It is also possible for the electric motor to be set in operation in the reverse direction of rotation automatically for a short period of time after the shaving apparatus is turned off.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a cleaning device for a shaving apparatus in such manner as to be economically manufacturable, to afford ease of handling when replacing the cleaning liquid, and to produce very good cleaning results.
The present invention can provide good cleaning results with improvements in the technical implementation of assembly and demounting of a replaceable cleaning fluid reservoir.


A system and method for regulating one or more physiological functions controlled by a hypothalamus of an individual. In one embodiment, a stimulation is applied to at least a portion of a vestibular system of the individual, a subjective input is received from the individual based upon the individual's perceived response of the hypothalamus in regulating the one or more physiological functions, and the stimulation is adjusted based on the received subjective input.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to the treatment of a patient to regulate one or more physiological and/or psychological functions controlled by the hypothalamus by means of vestibular stimulation.
2. Description of the Related Art
Known systems and methods of vestibular stimulation are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,748,275 and 6,314,324 to Lattner et al. These patents disclose an apparatus and method in which the portions of the labyrinth associated with the labyrinthine sense and/or the nerves associated therewith are stimulated to augment or control a patient's respiratory function, open the patient's airway, induce or promote sleep, counteract vertigo, or a combination of these functions. For example, the treatment of insomnia is achieved by stimulating the vestibular system such that the patient perceives a rocking sensation. The present inventor recognized that there are further applications for use of vestibular stimulation above and beyond that taught by these patents.

System and method for controlling hypothalamic function via vestibular stimulation


A method of supporting a unidirectional link from a first router to a second router, the first and second routers existing in an area of a communication network, the method comprising: the second router receiving a hello packet from the first router; the second router determining that its topology information for the communication network is incomplete; the second router encapsulating an open shortest path first (OSPF) packet into an Opaque link state advertisement (LSA); and the second router flooding the Opaque LSA over the area.

Open Shortest Path First (OSPF) is a routing protocol developed for Internet Protocol (IP) networks. OSPF is a link-state routing protocol that calls for the sending of link-state advertisements (LSAs) to all other routers within the same hierarchical area. Information on attached interfaces, metrics used, and other variables, is included in OSPF LSAs. As OSPF routers accumulate link-state information, they use algorithms that calculate the shortest path to various routers (network nodes). The largest entity within the hierarchy is an autonomous system (AS), which is a collection of networks under a common administration that share a common routing strategy. OSPF is an intra-AS (interior gateway) routing protocol, although it is capable of receiving routes from and sending routes to other ASs. An AS can be divided into a number of areas—groups of contiguous networks and attached hosts. Routers with multiple interfaces can participate in multiple areas. These routers, which are called Area Border Routers, maintain separate topological databases for each area. A topological database is essentially an overall picture of networks in relationship to routers. The topological database contains the collection of LSAs received from all routers in the same area. Because routers within the same area share the same information, they have identical topological databases.
The Shortest Path First (SPF) routing algorithm is the basis for OSPF operations. When a router using the SPF algorithm is powered up, it initializes its routing-protocol data structures and then waits for indications from lower-layer protocols that its interfaces are functional. After a router is assured that its interfaces are functioning, it uses the OSPF Hello protocol to acquire neighbors, which are routers with interfaces to a common network. The router sends hello packets to its neighbors and receives their hello packets. In addition to helping acquire neighbors, hello packets also act as "keepalives," messages that let routers know that other routers are still functional. On multi-access networks (networks supporting more than two routers), the Hello protocol elects a designated router and a backup designated router. Among other things, the designated router is responsible for generating LSAs for the entire multi-access network. Designated routers allow a reduction in network traffic and in the size of the topological database.
When the topological databases of two neighboring routers are synchronized, the routers are said to be adjacent or collectively form an adjacency. Adjacencies control the distribution of routing-protocol packets, which are sent and received only on adjacencies. Each router periodically sends its LSAs to provide information on a router's adjacencies or to inform others when a router's state changes. By comparing established adjacencies to link states, failed routers can be detected quickly, and the network's topology can be altered appropriately. From the topological database generated from LSAs, each router calculates a shortest-path tree (SPT), with itself as root. The SPT, in turn, yields a routing table.
There are network deployments where a communication link between routers can be only unidirectional (UD) and there is a requirement for routing protocols to forward traffic over it. Routing protocols such as OSPF and ISIS can be extended in order to run directly over UD links.
One of the assumptions for support of a UD link from point A to point B is that there is an alternative path from B to A so that a control packet could follow the alternative path. If the alternative path is bidirectional then the flooding over UD link is unnecessary as the alternative path assures the flooding between A and B. However, this assumption may not always be true or upon link failure the topology could consist of an alternative path that contains unidirectional links. What is needed is a mechanism to be able to flood updates over UD links.
Opaque LSAs belong to a class of link-state advertisement used as a generalized mechanism to enable OSPF extensions. Opaque LSAs include typically an LSA header followed by a 32-bit aligned application-specific information field. Like other LSAs, an opaque LSA uses a LS-database distribution mechanism that allows and defines flooding information throughout the domain.

OSPF unidirectional link support for unidirectional return paths


The communication device which includes a TV phone pausing visual data selecting implementer, a TV phone implementer, a TV phone pausing visual data transferring implementer, and an audio playback implementer.

The invention relates to communication device and more particularly to the communication device which is capable to communicate with another communication device in a wireless fashion.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,397,054 is introduced as prior art of the present invention of which the summary is the following: "A method is provided for communicating emergency messages using non-voice connections. An emergency short message service is added to digital wireless standards, such as GSM-based standards. This service allows users to place an emergency call with the specific purpose of sending an emergency data message using Short Message Service (SMS). Such data messages might include the caller's geographical position, electronic mail messages, or possibly, diagnostic information. As a result, the emergency data messaging will be given the same access conditions as voice emergency calls in a cellular or satellite communications system." However, the foregoing prior art does not disclose the communication device which includes a TV phone pausing visual data selecting implementer, a TV phone implementer, a TV phone pausing visual data transferring implementer, and an audio playback implementer.


An optical transceiver, optical network and methods for using the same are disclosed. The optical transceiver and/or optical network and related methods may be useful for independently monitoring the optical transceiver and/or optical network. The optical transceiver generally includes an optical receiver configured to receive optical information; circuitry configured to calculate signal strength values of the received optical information from a plurality of remote optical transmitters; logic configured to process the signal strength values for each of the plurality of remote optical transmitters; and one or more memories configured to store the signal strength values. Optionally, the optical transceiver may notify a system or host when the transceiver, network or component thereof is operating outside a predetermined threshold.

A passive optical network (PON) provides for the optical transmission of data between a central office and one or more users. Typically, the central office comprises an optical line terminal (OLT) or optical transceiver that transmits and receives optical data via fiber optic media between the OLT and a user node, which utilizes a transceiver often referred to as either an optical network unit (ONU) or optical network terminal (ONT).
FIG. 1 includes an optical network 100 comprising one OLT 105 optically transmitting data to and receiving data from a single ONU 110. In the one-to-one configuration, shown in FIG. 1, the transceivers 105 and 110 alternate transmitting data along a single communication channel 115.
FIG. 2 shows a flow chart 200 illustrating a method of evaluating communications received from an ONU. The evaluation begins at 205. At 210, a received signal strength indication (RSSI) is determined for a signal received from the ONT in an OLT receiving the signal. At 215, the OLT stores a single RSSI value for the signal received from the ONU in memory. At 220, the OLT receives a request from the OLT system (i.e., hardware representing one or more layers of the network higher than the OLT) to send the RSSI to the OLT system. At 225, the OLT sends the RSSI to the OLT system. At 230, if the OLT system requests another RSSI, the flow returns to 210. If the flow returns to 210, the flow continues, and at 215, the memory is flushed and the newly obtained RSSI replaces the previous RSSI in the memory. When the OLT system does not request another RSSI, the method ends at 235. Based on the RSSI values, the OLT system can then decide whether the network or a particular ONU is operating properly or is in need of adjustment or repair.
Such an approach is not ideal for a one-to-many network. Under the approach of FIGS. 1-2, the OLT system evaluates a particular ONU at a particular point in time, rather than the OLT itself evaluating RSSI values. Further, an optical transceiver in the OLT under this approach has no independent capability to determine and evaluate RSSI data, or notify the system when network components (including the OLT) are operating outside of predetermined parameter thresholds.
This "Discussion of the Background" section is provided for background information only. The statements in this "Discussion of the Background" are not an admission that the subject matter disclosed in this "Discussion of the Background" section constitutes prior art to the present disclosure, and no part of this "Discussion of the Background" section may be used as an admission that any part of this application, including this "Discussion of the Background" section, constitutes prior art to the present disclosure.

Methods, apparatuses, and systems for monitoring signal strength in an optical network


An inverted pressure vessel system for conducting automated industrial processes requiring elevated pressure and temperatures has a vertically movable pedestal for opening and closing the underside loading port, with pedestal drive system and locking mechanism located below the pedestal top and isolated from the chamber opening. The chamber is connectible to a pressure control and process fluid supply system, and has heat exchangers connected to an external source for temperature control. Process fluids are distributed across a central process cavity through divergent inflow and convergent outflow process fluid channels.

1. Technical Field of the Invention
This invention relates to pressure vessels used in process operations requiring extreme cleanliness and operated at elevated pressures and temperatures, and in particular to pressure vessel design and shielded closure mechanisms that facilitate easier and cleaner loading and closing of pressure vessels used in automated wafer treatment processes in a production environment.
2. Background Art
There is a general requirement in the semiconductor industry, and in other industries as well such as the medical industry, for conducting processes that require enclosures or pressure vessels that can be loaded with wafers or other objects to be processed, permit the admittance and removal of process fluids or materials necessary to the process after the enclosure is sealed, and be elevated and ranged in pressure and temperature. Some processes are much more critical as to contamination, and require quick and close control of temperature, pressure, and the volume and timing of the introduction of process fluids to the pressure vessel. Add to that the demand for conducting these processes in a production mode, and the growing sophistication of the processes themselves, and it is amply clear that improvements in pressure vessels are needed.
This disclosure relates in particular to pressure vessels used in operations requiring extreme cleanliness and operated at elevated or high pressures up to 10,000 psi (pounds per square inch) or more, and further, to pressure vessel design and isolated lid locking mechanisms that facilitate easier and cleaner loading and locking of pressure vessels used in automated wafer treatment processes in a production environment.
An example of a process to which these criteria apply, there is the manufacture of MEMS (Micro Electro Mechanical Systems) devices where the process agent is carbon dioxide, used in both liquid and supercritical form. Other actual and prospective process agents operated in supercritical phase conditions which require much higher temperature and pressure than does carbon dioxide. Other semiconductor related applications with strict cleanliness requirements, such as photoresist stripping, wafer cleaning, particulate removal, dry resist developing, and material deposition, all suffer from the same pressure vessel deficiencies, which include particle generation upon closing that causes contamination, closure mechanisms that are not suited for quick and automated closing, problems with automatically loading and unloading the vessel, and problems with the integration of the apparatus in a production line.
In many laboratory and production setups currently in use, the pressure vessel is loaded by vertical placement through an open top port of the same or larger diameter of the wafers being processed, and is unloaded by reverse action. The vessel is typically closed by manually bolting or mechanically clamping the process vessel flanges and its cover flanges together around the perimeter to form a pressure seal. This apparatus and methodology is both slow and prone to introducing particulate contamination due to the mechanical interface and constant wearing of mating surfaces. The particulate is generated immediately within the loading and processing environment, and inevitably contaminates the materials being processed to some degree.
These contaminants are of particular concern in the semiconductor industry, as even trace amounts are sufficient to plague product quality and production efficiencies. When these perimeter flange latching mechanisms are semi-automated for faster closure or production purposes, the contamination problem is simply placed in a free-running mode that gets progressively worse if unattended.
There are many examples in prior art. One such example is an autoclave with a quick opening door assembly. It typically consists of a chamber flange, a rotating locking ring and the door flange. The door and vessel are clamped and unclamped by the rotation of the locking ring only. As the ring rotates, surfaces of the mating wedges force the chamber flange tight against the gasket providing a leak proof static seal. Due to the contact of the wedges sliding across each other, particles are generated and debris put into motion that eventually contaminate the process beyond acceptable tolerances.
A further problem with traditional pressure vessels in a production environment is the difficulty in adapting them to the standard wafer handling robots of the semiconductor industry. Complex carriage systems are often necessary for automation of the loading and extracting of materials being processed, involving complex transitions between horizontal and vertical transport of the wafers between processing stations. Newer industry standards anticipate and provide for cluster tool arrangements, where rotary transport systems move wafers between connected wafer processing machines. It is this need and this environment to which the following disclosure is addressed.
It is an object of the invention to provide an inverted pressure vessel system with shielded closure mechanisms for conducting automated industrial processes under elevated pressure and temperatures. To that end, there is disclosed a pressure chamber with an underside loading port, a vertically movable pedestal arranged directly below the pressure chamber for opening and closing the loading port, the top of the pedestal functioning as the floor of the pressure chamber when the pedestal is raised to a closed position and as a loading platform when the pedestal is lowered to an open position.
There is included a motor and vertical drive system for moving the pedestal between open and closed positions, and a pedestal locking system consisting of another motor and lateral drive system for wedge locking the pedestal in a sealing relationship with the pressure chamber so as to define a process volume within which to conduct the processes.
It being another goal to avoid contamination of the processing environment by loosened particles and debris put in motion by the closing and locking systems, there is provided a shield between the loading and unloading area encompassing the pedestal top and pressure chamber, and the pedestal lateral support structure, and vertical drive and closed position locking mechanisms.
It being a further goal to provide for handling processes requiring control of pressure and temperature within the chamber, there is provided an inlet manifold and an outlet manifold communicating with the process volume within the chamber, the manifolds being connectable to a process fluid control source for delivering process fluids under controlled pressure to the process volume and removing byproducts therefrom. There is also provided a heat exchanging platen in the roof of the process volume which is connectible by fluid lines to an external fluid temperature control system, a heat exchanging platen incorporated onto the pedestal and likewise connectible by fluid lines to the external fluid temperature control system, and a thermocouple sensor configured for sensing temperature in the process volume and connectible for communicating with the external fluid temperature control system.
It is yet another goal of the invention to provide for optimal flow and distribution of the process fluids through the central processing cavity of the pressure chamber. To this end, there are provided divergent inflow channels connecting the inlet manifold to the central processing cavity, and convergent outflow channels connecting the cavity to the outlet manifold.
In further support of the goal of reducing contamination of the process, there is a horizontal shelf structure vertically positioned below the top of the pedestal and with a center hole through which the pedestal operates, with lateral support for the pedestal being attached thereto. There is a vertically collapsible bellows, the upper end thereof being attached by an upper bellows flange around the top of the pedestal and the lower end thereof being attached by a lower bellows flange to the perimeter of the hole in the shelf so as to encircle the pedestal and isolate the lateral support structure and drive and lock mechanisms from the loading and processing environment above.
Still other objects and advantages of the present invention will become readily apparent to those skilled in this art from the following detailed description, wherein we have shown and described only a preferred embodiment of the invention, simply by way of illustration of the best mode contemplated by us on carrying out the invention. As will be realized, the invention is capable of other and different embodiments, and its several details are capable of modifications in various obvious respects, all without departing from the invention.

Inverted pressure vessel with shielded closure mechanism