Modified polysaccharide polymers for use as anti-scalant and dispersant. The polymers are useful in compositions used in aqueous systems. The modified polysaccharides are also useful in detergent formulations, water treatment, dispersants and oilfield applications and as fiberglass binders. Such applications include a modified polysaccharide having up to about 70 mole % carboxyl groups per mole of polysaccharide ASU and up to about 20 mole % aldehyde groups per mole of polysaccharide ASU. The applications can also include a blend of modified polysaccharides and other synthetic polymers.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is directed towards polysaccharides modified with various moieties, including carboxylate, aldehyde, sulfonate, phosphate and phosphonate moieties. The present invention is also directed towards anti-scalant and/or dispersant formulations or compositions including such polymers and their use in aqueous systems, including scale minimization.
2. Background Information
Aqueous systems, such as boiler water or steam generating systems, cooling water systems, gas scrubbing systems, pulp and paper mill systems, desalination systems, fabric, dishware and hard surface cleaning systems and downhole systems encountered during the production of gas, oil, and geothermal wells, are well known. Often the water in these systems, either naturally or by contamination, contains ingredients such as inorganic particulates and/or salts. Inorganic particulates such as mud, silt and clay, tend to settle onto surfaces, thereby restricting water flow and heat transfer unless they are effectively dispersed. The salts can cause accumulation, deposition, and fouling problems in these aqueous systems if they are not kept in a soluble, suspended or dispersed state.
The inorganic salts are typically formed by the reaction of metal cations such as calcium, magnesium or barium with inorganic anions such as phosphate, carbonate and sulfate. When formed, the salts tend to be insoluble or have low solubility in water. As their concentration in solution increases, or as the pH and/or temperature of the water containing those salts changes, the salts can precipitate from solution, crystallize and form hard deposits or scale on surfaces. Such scale formation can be problematic in equipment such as heat transfer devices, boilers, secondary oil recovery wells, and automatic dishwashers, as well as on substrates washed with such hard waters, reducing the performance and life of the equipment.
In addition to scale formation, many cooling water systems made from carbon steel such as industrial cooling towers and heat exchangers experience corrosion problems. Attempts to prevent this corrosion are often made by adding various inhibitors such as orthophosphate and/or zinc compounds to the water. However, phosphate addition increases the formation of highly insoluble phosphate salts such as calcium phosphate. The addition of zinc compounds can lead to precipitation of insoluble salts such as zinc hydroxide and zinc phosphate.
Stabilization of aqueous systems containing scale-forming salts and inorganic particulates involves a variety of mechanisms. Inhibition is the conventional mechanism for eliminating the deleterious effect of scale-forming salts. In inhibition, one or more polymers are added that increase the solubility of the scale-forming salt in the aqueous system.
In treating cooling water, phosphonates and low molecular weight homopolymers tend to be the primary calcium carbonate inhibitors. However, these additives may not be enough under stressed conditions. Therefore there is a need for a polymer that can act as a crystal growth modifier for crystals formed in stressed conditions. Inhibitors previously mentioned may not be completely effective.
Another stabilization mechanism is the dispersion of precipitated salt crystals. Synthetic polymers having carboxylic acid groups function as good dispersants for precipitated salts such as calcium carbonates. In this mechanism, the crystals stay dispersed rather than dissolving in the aqueous solution.
A third stabilization mechanism involves interference and distortion of the crystal structure of the scale by the polymer, thereby making the scale less adherent to surfaces, other forming crystals or existing particulates.
The addition of synthetic polymers to cleaning compositions can also impart many useful functions to those compositions. For example, they can function either independently or concurrently as viscosity reducers in processing powdered detergents. They can also serve as anti-redeposition agents, dispersants, scale and deposit inhibitors, crystal modifiers, and/or detergent assistants capable of partially or completely replacing materials used as builders while imparting optimum detergent action properties to surfactants.
Cleaning formulations typically contain builders such as phosphates and carbonates for boosting their cleaning performance. However, these builders can also precipitate out insoluble salts such as calcium carbonate and calcium phosphate (in the form of calcium orthophosphate). The salt precipitants form deposits on clothes and dishware, resulting in unsightly films and spots on these articles. Similarly, insoluble salts can cause major problem in downhole oil field applications. Hence, there remains a need for polymers that minimize scaling from insoluble salts found in water treatment, oil field and cleaning formulations.
Synthetic polymers have been used to minimize scale formation in aqueous treatment systems for a number of years. For example, polymers such as polyacrylic acid have been used as calcium binding or calcium carbonate inhibiting agents, co-builders and dispersants in detergent and water treatment applications for decades. However, due to rising demand and tight crude oil supplies, there has recently been a shortage of monomers used in producing these synthetic polymers, driving up production costs for the polymers. Hence, there is a need for polymers from renewable natural sources to replace these synthetic polymers. As an added benefit, polymers from renewable natural sources should have a better biodegradability profile than synthetic polymers, which tend to have very little biodegradability.
Starches, including oxidized starches as well as other modified polysaccharides, have shown potential use as detergent additives in the past. For example, it is known to use oxidized inulin as calcium binding agents. Also, polysaccharide co-builders include those produced from oxidized glucosan, oxidized dextrins for use in detergent formulations, and low molecular weight carboxylated maltodextrins, likewise for use in detergent applications. Further, it is known to use modified polysaccharides as chelating agents. However, their performance has been weak at best when compared to synthetic polymers like polyacrylic acid.
Synthetic polymers are typically produced from petroleum-based feedstocks. The price of raw materials used to produce such synthetic polymers has risen sharply in the past few years. Accordingly, modified polysaccharides according to the present invention offer a benefit over synthetic polymers on a cost-performance basis.
It is also recognized that both synthetic and natural polymers containing carboxylic acid groups function well at inhibiting calcium carbonate. Generally speaking, the greater the amount of carboxylate functionality, the greater the amount of calcium carbonate inhibition that is provided. However, in most environments the amount of scale present is usually greater than what the polymer can inhibit. Hence, there is a need for polymers that can minimize calcium carbonate scale by a dispersion or crystal growth modification.
Polysaccharides modified with carboxylated groups have been previously proposed for calcium binding and hardness control. However, these naturally derived products tend not to be as effective as synthetic polymers in such applications, which is due at least in part to the limited amount of carboxylic groups that can be introduced onto the polysaccharide backbone. Therefore, synthetic polymers such as polyacrylic acid tend to contain more carboxylic acid functionality per gram of material than even highly oxidized polysaccharides. Furthermore, as the degree of substitution or oxidation increases, the biodegradability of polysaccharides decreases. Therefore, there still is a need for polysaccharides capable of functioning as scale control agents, dispersants and/or soil suspension agents.
Blends of synthetic polymers and natural polymers tend to be incompatible. Therefore, there is also a need for synthetic and natural polymers that are compatible with one another, enabling them to be blended together.


A pipe joint connecting a first pipe having conductivity and being grounded and a second pipe including a corrugated metallic pipe member and a conductive layer having lower electric resistance than metal forming the pipe member and covering the pipe member, the pipe joint including a connection part that has conductivity and is connected to the first pipe, a housing part that has conductivity, is engaged with the connection part, and houses the second pipe inside the housing part by insertion of the second pipe along an axis direction of the second pipe, and a conductive member that includes a first part in contact at least partially with the housing part and a second part exposed to an outside of the housing part to be in contact with the conductive layer.

Some pipe joints are used to connect a corrugated pipe including a corrugated metallic pipe member and a conductive layer having lower electric resistance than metal forming the pipe member and covering the pipe member, to another pipe. The conductive layer needs to be grounded to prevent damages of a tubing member in a corrugated pipe due to transmission of a large current occurred by induction lightning. As the form of grounding, the conductive layer may be electrically connected to a preliminarily grounded pipe through a pipe joint.
The pipe joint in US patent application Laid-open No. 2014-0333066 secures a ground path of the conductive layer by bringing the conductive layer in a corrugated pipe into an inner portion of the pipe joint in the state where the pipe joint is connected to the corrugated pipe. However, in the pipe joint in US '066, the contact portion between the conductive layer and the pipe joint is inside the pipe joint in the state where the corrugated pipe is connected to the pipe joint, which causes a problem that it is not possible to confirm from the outside whether the conductive layer is actually in contact with the pipe joint. Moreover, the inside of the pipe joint has more limited space than the outside thereof. Thus, it is difficult to sufficiently secure a contact area between the conductive layer and the pipe joint, which causes a problem that it is not easy to let a large current flow from the conductive layer to the pipe joint. There has thus been a demand for the technology allowing both the confirmation from the outside whether the conductive layer is in contact with the pipe joint, and the easy flow of a large current from the conductive layer to the pipe joint.


A vehicle-carried sound reproduction system which reproduces a sound image forwardly of a passenger of a vehicle in which it is incorporated. The vehicle-carried sound reproduction apparatus includes a correction filter circuit for converting input digital audio signals XL(Z) and XR(Z) for left and right channels into digital audio signals YL(Z) and YR(Z) represented respectively by                                                         YL                                            (                Z                )                                      ·                          xe2x80x83                                                  GLL                                            (                Z                )                                              +                                    YR                                            (                Z                )                                      ·                          GLR                                            (                Z                )                                                    =                                            XL                                            (                Z                )                                      ·                          FLL                                            (                Z                )                                              +                                    XR                                            (                Z                )                                      ·                          FLR                                            (                Z                )                                                                                YR                                            (                Z                )                                      ·                          xe2x80x83                                                  GLL                                            (                Z                )                                              +                                    YL                                            (                Z                )                                      ·                          GLR                                            (                Z                )                                                    =                                            XR                                            (                Z                )                                      ·                          FLL                                            (                Z                )                                              +                                    XL                                            (                Z                )                                      ·                          FLR                                            (                Z                )

This invention relates to a vehicle-carried sound reproduction apparatus.
It is considered that, when a sound reproduction apparatus is used to reproduce music or the like, a sound image reproduced is ideally at the height of the eyes of the listener. Therefore, a speaker is usually disposed at the height of the eyes of a listener.
However, in a vehicle-carried sound reproduction apparatus, it is difficult to dispose a speaker at the height of the eyes of the listener who is a passenger such as the driver of the vehicle or a fellow passenger. Thus, a speaker is in most cases disposed at a lower portion {circle around (1)} of a front door or a lower portion {circle around (2)} of a rear door of a vehicle as shown in FIG. 9A. Accordingly, reproduced sound sounds from a low place, and a sound image is positioned below the eyes of the listener.
In order to avoid the disadvantage, an additional speaker having a comparatively small diameter for reproducing sound in a high frequency region is sometimes disposed at a position {circle around (3)} forwardly of a listener as shown in FIG. 9A. However, where an additional speaker is disposed in this manner, sound in a high frequency region and sound in a low frequency region are outputted from different positions. Therefore, the sounds sound separately from each other to the listener.
It is known that sound has a nature that, as the frequency thereof increases, it becomes more likely to be absorbed. Accordingly, where a speaker is disposed at a comparatively low position in a vehicle chamber, sound in a high frequency region is absorbed by a seat or an interior member of the vehicle. Consequently, sound that the listener actually hears is different from reproduction sound outputted from the sound reproduction apparatus.
Further, as a countermeasure against such a situation as described above, it is effective to actually measure a transfer function in a vehicle chamber and correct reproduction sound in accordance with the transfer function. The countermeasure, however, requires a digital signal processing apparatus of a high performance. Since such a digital signal processing apparatus as just mentioned is considerably expensive, it is difficult to use it for sound reproduction apparatus for consumers.
Besides, there usually is a tendency that, if reproduction sound is corrected in accordance with a transfer function, then sound in a high frequency region is emphasized. Thus, when the sound volume level is raised, the sound provides an unfamiliar feeling to the listener.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a vehicle-carried sound reproduction apparatus such as a car audio apparatus which reproduces a sound image in front of a passenger on the vehicle.
In order to attain the object described above, according to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a vehicle-carried sound reproduction apparatus, comprising: a correction filter circuit for converting input digital audio signals XL(Z) and XR(Z) for left and right channels into digital audio signals YL(Z) and YR(Z) represented, using head transfer functions, respectively by                                                         YL                                            (                Z                )                                      ·                          xe2x80x83                                                  GLL                                            (                Z                )                                              +                                    YR                                            (                Z                )                                      ·                          GLR                                            (                Z                )                                                    =                                            XL                                            (                Z                )                                      ·                          FLL                                            (                Z                )                                              +                                    XR                                            (                Z                )                                      ·                          FLR                                            (                Z                )                                                                                YR                                            (                Z                )                                      ·                          xe2x80x83                                                  GLL                                            (                Z                )                                              +                                    YL                                            (                Z                )                                      ·                          GLR                                            (                Z                )                                                    =                                            XR                                            (                Z                )                                      ·                          FLL                                            (                Z                )                                              +                                    XL                                            (                Z                )                                      ·                          FLR                                            (                Z                )
where, because the head transfer functions are leftwardly and rightwardly symmetrical with each other, the relationships of FLL(Z)=FRR(Z), FLR(Z)=FRL(Z), GLL(Z)=GRR(Z) and GLR(Z)=GRL(Z) are satisfied, and FLL(Z) is a head transfer function from a first speaker for the left channel positioned forwardly of a listener in a vehicle chamber to the left ear of the listener, FRR(Z) is a head transfer function from a first speaker for the right channel positioned forwardly of the listener to the right ear of the listener, FLR(Z) is a head transfer function from the first speaker for the left channel to the right ear of the listener, FRL(Z) is a head transfer function from the first speaker for the right channel to the left ear of the listener, GLL(Z) is a head transfer function from a second speaker for the left channel positioned at a lower position forwardly of the listener to the left ear of the listener, GRR(Z) is a head transfer function from a second speaker for the right channel positioned at a lower position forwardly of the listener to the right ear of the listener, GLR(Z) is a head transfer function from the second speaker for the left channel to the right ear of the listener, and GRL(Z) is a head transfer function from the second speaker for the right channel to the left ear of the listener; and a digital to analog converter circuit for converting the digital audio signals YL(Z) and YR(Z) outputted from the correction filter circuit into analog audio signals; the analog audio signals outputted from the digital to analog converter circuit being supplied to the second speakers for the left and right channels.
With the vehicle-carried sound reproduction apparatus, even if mounting positions of the speakers are limited, a sound image to be formed by the vehicle-carried sound reproduction apparatus can be positioned at the height of the eyes of the listener which is considered to be an ideal position. Accordingly, an imaginary speaker is disposed forwardly of the listener, and a sound field and a sound image are reproduced by the imaginary speaker. Further, the correction filter circuit has a simplified construction, and even where a digital signal processor (DSP) having a comparatively low processing capability is used for the correction filter circuit, an anticipated object can be achieved. Further, only if the transfer functions are measured, optimum correction can be performed with any model of a vehicle having any configuration.
Further, by averaging a plurality of transfer functions, a correction filter circuit which can be effectively used for a plurality of different models of vehicles can be produced. Accordingly, the correction filter circuit can be universally used as a correction filter circuit whose application is not limited to a specific model of a vehicle.
According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a vehicle-carried sound reproduction apparatus, comprising a pair of first signal lines along which a pair of digital audio signals for left and right channels are supplied, a pair of second signal lines along which the digital audio signals for the left and right channels are supplied, first and second delay circuits provided in the first signal lines for providing predetermined time delays to the digital audio signals for the left and right channels supplied along the first signal lines, third and fourth delay circuits provided in the second signal lines for providing predetermined time delays to the digital audio signals for the left and right channels supplied along the second signal lines, a pair of high frequency attenuation filters provided for the second signal lines for attenuating high frequency components of the digital audio signals for the left and right channels supplied along the second signal lines, fifth and sixth delay circuits provided for the second signal lines for providing time delays corresponding to a preceding sound effect to the digital audio signals for the left and right channels supplied along the second signal lines, a first digital to analog converter circuit for converting the digital audio signals for the left and right channels outputted from the first signal lines into analog audio signals, a second digital to analog converter circuit for converting the digital audio signals for the left and right channels outputted from the second signal lines into analog audio signals, a first pair of speakers disposed at left and right positions forwardly in a vehicle chamber for receiving the analog audio signals outputted from the first digital to analog converter circuit to reproduce sound, a second pair of speakers disposed at left and right positions rearwardly in the vehicle chamber for receiving the analog audio signals outputted from the second digital to analog converter circuit to reproduce sound, and means for controlling the delay times of the first to fourth delay circuits in response to a positional relationship between the first and second pairs of speakers and a listener.
With the vehicle-carried sound reproduction apparatus, the phases of reproduction sounds outputted from the speakers when they arrive at the listener can be adjusted by means of the first to fourth delay circuits, and accordingly, a sound image can be positioned definitely and a sound characteristic at a seated position of the listener is augmented.
Further, since high frequency components of reproduction sounds to be outputted from the second speakers are attenuated by the high frequency attenuation filters, the position of a sound image as perceived by the listener on a front seat is prevented from being displaced rearwardly, and a sound image can be positioned definitely also in this regard.
Furthermore, since the fifth and sixth delay circuits provide time delays corresponding to a preceding sound effect to the digital audio signals for the left and right channels supplied along the second signal lines, reproduction sounds outputted from the first speakers at the forward positions precede reproduction sounds outputted from the second speakers at the rearward positions relatively by approximately 10 msec to 20 msec. Consequently, the reproduction sounds outputted from the first speakers at the front positions are emphasized, and accordingly, a sound image can be positioned forwardly
The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description and the appended claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which like parts or elements denoted by like reference symbols.

Vehicle-carried sound reproduction apparatus

Abstract: where FLL(Z), FLR(Z), GLL(Z), and GLR(Z) represent head transfer functions. The vehicle-carried sound reproduction system further includes a digital to analog converter circuit for converting the digital audio signals YL(Z) and YR(Z) outputted from the correction filter circuit into analog audio signals. The analog audio signals outputted from the digital to analog converter circuit are supplied to a pair of speakers for the left and right channels.


An optical source is described. This optical source includes a semiconductor optical amplifier, with a semiconductor other than silicon, which provides an optical gain medium. In addition, a photonic chip, optically coupled to the semiconductor optical amplifier, includes: a first optical waveguide that conveys at least a portion of the optical signal, and a second optical waveguide that conveys at least another portion of the optical signal. Moreover, the photonic chip includes a distributed-Bragg-reflector (DBR) ring resonator that is optically coupled to the first optical waveguide and the second optical waveguide, and that reflects a tunable wavelength in the optical signal. Furthermore, a monitor on the photonic chip measures at least the other portion of the optical signal, and control logic on the photonic chip thermally tunes the tunable wavelength of the DBR ring resonator based on the measurement of at least the other portion of the optical signal.

Field
The present disclosure relates to the design of an optical source. More specifically, the present disclosure relates to the design of an optical source that includes a combined distributed Bragg reflector (DBR) ring resonator in an optical cavity.
Related Art
Silicon photonics is a promising technology that can provide large communication bandwidth, low latency and low power consumption for inter-chip and intra-chip connections or optical links. In order to achieve low-latency, high-bandwidth optical connectivity, a variety of optical components are needed to implement high-speed, multi-wavelength silicon photonic links, including: optical modulators, optical detectors, wavelength multiplexers/demultiplexers and optical sources (such as silicon-assisted external-cavity lasers). These optical components often include a minor integrated into a silicon optical waveguide.
One approach for implementing an integrated minor is a distributed Bragg reflector (DBR). While DBRs can select a single wavelength, they have wide bandwidth, which typically makes DBRs a poor choice for long optical cavities because there would be numerous competing optical-cavity modes inside the DBR bandwidth.
Ring-resonator mirrors are often a better choice than DBRs for providing mode-selectivity because of their sharp resonance peaks. However, ring-resonator mirrors have periodic peaks that can occur multiple times within the spectral bandwidth of an optical gain medium, and thus can introduce competing optical modes in an optical source (such as a laser).
Hence, what is needed is a technique for implementing an integrated mirror without the above-described problems.

Optical source with a grating-enhanced resonator


In one or more embodiments, an efficient scheme is provided for sampling inductor currents in a digital multiphase PWM controller used for high-bandwidth voltage regulation. Some embodiments use the data from the PWM modulator along with weighted states based on the PWM waveform and past conversions in order to prioritize which current sense input should be sampled for each conversion. In these and other embodiments, a single ADC is used to sample inductor currents from two or more phases in a multiphase PWM controller, thereby providing power and area savings, for example.

Multiphase PWM controllers generally employ a common PWM period among all phases and interleave the PWMs so that the pulses for each phase are equally spaced in time through one PWM period. Voltage regulation performance may be enhanced with high-bandwidth inductor current information. For digital controllers, this may require a high sample rate ADC to convert analog inductor current signals to a digital representation. The expense in area and power of this ADC function is significant and is generally proportional to sample rate. Accordingly, a need exists for a solution to these and other problems.

Predictive sample queueing for time-shared ADC in a multiphase PWM controller


A ratcheting tool having an axial pawl ratcheting mechanism is provided that may be used for a screwdriver or wrench and comprises a first gear including axial gear teeth on a first side providing for ratcheting in a first direction. A second bidirectional gear has axial teeth on both sides. The second gear is mounted to the first side of the first gear so that the first gear axial gear teeth engage the second gear axial gear teeth and provide an axial pawl ratchet assembly. A ratchet head is provided having an opening for receiving the axial pawl ratchet assembly therein in order to transfer torque between the ratchet head and the axial pawl ratchet assembly. An actuator is provided for adjusting the positioning of the axial pawl ratchet assembly between a first position and a second position.

Radial pawl systems are known for ratcheting mechanisms. A gear having peripheral teeth is mounted within the head of a tool and a pawl, having an individual finger, is pivotally mounted at the periphery of the gear. The pawl is biased into engagement with one or two teeth of the gear and when the head is rotated in one direction, transmits head rotation to the gear and when the head is rotated in the opposite direction, allows the head to undergo ratcheting rotation relative to the gear. The pawl generally includes a spring to bias the pawl to the engaged position against the teeth of the gear. In other embodiments, a radial pawl is provided which is a generally semicircular shaped disc having pawls formed by top corners of the disc. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,109,141 provides a reversible pawl disc that pivots between a first position, allowing ratcheting rotation in a first direction, and a second position, allowing for ratcheting rotation in a second direction. Such ratcheting pawl mechanisms have one to four teeth of the pawl engageable with the gear. Therefore, there is much vibration applied to a few teeth. As well, when the pawl engages the gear, in order to prevent rotation, there is a great amount of pressure against the teeth of the pawl. Therefore, such ratchet mechanisms provide a great amount of wear on the pawl and the lifetime of such pawls is limited.
While some pawl mechanisms are known that have teeth extending axially from a face of a disc, such systems have been very limited in their use and are not adaptable for use in most hand tools or power tools. Axial gear teeth of some prior art mechanisms are not easily adapted for bidirectional use. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,479,409 discloses a hand wrench having a crescent-shaped head portion having axial teeth formed on both sides. In order to provide for bidirectional ratcheting, the head portion must be removed completely from the wrench, inverted, and replaced on the wrench in the inverted position to provide for ratcheting in the opposite direction. Such a device is cumbersome to use and allows for the possibility that the head portion may be lost or displaced from the wrench.


An implantable medical device includes a device body at least partially formed of a polymeric material including a base polymer and a block copolymer. The block copolymer includes at least one polyethylene oxide (PEO) block and at least one polyisobutylene (PIB) block. The PEO and PIB blocks may be coupled together by a urethane or urea linkage. The block copolymer may be a triblock copolymer, PEO-PIB-PEO, and the base polymer may be a polystyrene-polyisobutylene-polystyrene triblock copolymer.

Many methods and materials have been explored to achieve biocompatibility of implantable medical devices (IMD). Implantable medical devices, as used herein, include any blood-contacting medical device that is implanted in the body, chronically or otherwise, including, but not limited to, blood-contacting surgical tools, implantable cardiac devices, implantable monitors, biological sensors, implantable drug delivery devices, catheters, artificial blood vessels and stents. For IMDs, it is especially desirable that there be minimal friction during implant to facilitate implant dynamics. To this end, IMDs have been coated with materials which increase wet lubricity, thereby reducing procedure time, insertion forces and patient discomfort. Lubricity also reduces tissue irritation and damage and provides greater control and maneuverability of the device during implant. Wet lubricity for hydrophobic surfaces may be achieved using hydrophilic coatings. Such coatings also improve biocompatibility by, for example, reducing protein adsorption and platelet adhesion and other blood interactions, as well as resisting bacterial adhesion.
For example, lead insulation materials have been surface-coated with a UV-cured polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) from SurModics, Inc. of East Prairie, Minn., using PHOTOLINK® chemistry coating technique to achieve the benefits of wet lubricity and hydrophilic coatings. This coating technique involves photochemical covalent bonding of the coating molecules to the insulation material substrate and requires several steps, including lead cleaning, PVP solution preparation, plasma treatment, lead coating, photo activation and cleaning. This process is complex and difficult to control and can lead to poor quality coatings.
Lubricious surfaces can also be prepared by chemical grafting techniques using other hydrophilic materials, such as polyethylene oxide (PEO), referred to also as polyethylene glycol (PEG), which can be grafted to the polymer substrate either as end segments or branches to the back bone of the polymer. The existing techniques and materials, however, do not provide an effective lubricious surface on a medical devices formed of a material which includes a polystyrene-polyisobutylene-polystyrene triblock copolymer (PSIBS). A polystyrene-polyisobutylene-polystyrene triblock copolymer may be employed as an insulation material on medical leads.
What are needed, therefore, are new materials to achieve highly lubricious coatings for implantable medical devices, which are particularly useful for preparing lubricious coatings on PSIBS insulated leads or other PSIBS or polyisobutylene-based polymer parts of medical devices. The present invention provides PEO and polyisobutylene (PIB) copolymers to satisfy these and other needs, and provides further related advantages, as will be made apparent by the description of the embodiments that follow.

Polyethylene oxide and polyisobutylene copolymers and their usage on medical devices


The present disclosure discloses an anti-inflammatory composition comprising turmeric alcohol extract, beta caryophyllene, 3-o-acetyl-11-keto-beta-boswellic acid, extract obtained from Kaempferia galanga and turmeric water extract. The present disclosure also describes a process of preparing the composition containing these extracts, which mainly involves extracting curcumin alcohol extract from turmeric, extracting gum resin from Boswellia serrata, AKBA is isolated from the extracted gum resin and complexed with phospholipid, beta-caryophyllene is isolated from Piper nigrum by steam distillation and subjected to fractionation for purification, flavonoids rich aqueous extract is extracted from Kaempferia galanga and turmeric water extract powder is obtained from Curcuma longa. The extracts are combined together to form a complete natural matrix, homogenized and subjected to spray drying to obtain a uniform mixture in a powdered form. The composition is useful as an anti-inflammatory agent in treatment of conditions such as acute joint pain and osteoarthritis.

Joints are the structures that connect two or more bones in the body. They are found in many parts of the body such as the hips, the knees and the hands. Kinesthetic receptors are primarily stretch receptors, which are located in the muscles and joints. The kinesthetic receptors monitor the position and movements of muscles, bones, and joints.
The principal muscle receptor in kinesthesia is the muscle spindle, which includes both the primary and secondary endings of spindles. Primary endings are responsive to the size of a muscle length change and its speed thus detecting both position and movement of the muscles whereas the secondary endings are responsive only to the sense of position.
Inflammation is a protective response of the body to any injury, irritation, or surgery, which increases the blood flow to the local area, resulting in accumulation of fluid. Generally, the symptoms of inflammation include swelling, pain and redness of the skin.
Joints are also surrounded and cushioned by soft tissues. Accumulation of fluid in these soft tissues results in inflammation or swelling. The resulting joint pain and stiffness are also associated with inflammation. Upon triggering the inflammation, the immune system releases different chemicals such as cytokines or other inflammatory compounds that transmit pain signals to the brain. These chemicals include different Interleukins (IL) namely IL-1, IL-6, IL-15, IL-17, and IL-18, Tumor Necrosis Factor (TNF), Prostraglandins (PG) and peptides.
Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis and is associated with degradation of articular cartilage, muscle weakness, synovitis, joint pain, inflammation and dysfunction. Generally, osteoarthritis affects 10%-15% of the world population and is a major cause of disability not only in elderly population but also in work force population and may be the fourth leading cause of disability by year 2020.
Generally, chondroitin and glucosamine combination is widely used in the treatment of osteoarthritis. Even though, the combination is effective in ameliorating the pain and improving the joint function, glucosamine is associated with mild gastrointestinal symptoms at high doses. Hence, phytonutrients may be helpful as alternative strategy for effective treatment of osteoarthritis. Hence, there is a need to analyze the potential effect of herbal formulation as a complementary treatment in addition to available routine therapies for improvement of symptoms of osteoarthritis.
The available treatment uses drugs, which are being developed and are intended to inhibit the activity of the different inflammatory chemicals. However, these drugs exhibit side effects such as breakdown in digestive mucus and prevention of normal healing processes. They also tend to affect cellular immune functions and secretions of various cytokines.
The U.S. Pat. No. 6,274,176 titled "Herbal compositions and their use as anti-inflammatory agents for alleviation of arthritis and gout" discloses an edible composition for use as an anti-inflammatory agent for alleviation of arthritis and gout in mammals, which comprises herbs such as Tanacetum parthenium, Zingiber officinale and Curcuma longa. This disclosure describes use of herbs as an anti-inflammatory agent for alleviation of arthritis and gout only and does not specify its use for other inflammatory conditions particularly acute joint pain.
The U.S. Pat. No. 9,101,599 titled "Synergistic anti-inflammatory compositions comprising Boswellia serrata extracts" discloses synergistic nutraceuticals or pharmaceutical or dietary supplement anti-inflammatory compositions comprising a combination of 3-O-acetyl-11-keto-β-boswellic acid (AKBA) and Boswellia serrata non-acidic resin extract (BNRE), which is used to prevent, control and treat inflammation. This disclosure relates to compositions combining only Boswellia extract, especially AKBA and BNRE for the prevention, control and treatment of inflammatory conditions. The disclosure discloses the use of Boswellia and not in combination for treatment of inflammation.
The US application number US20160113990 titled "Herbal formulation of an edible oral turmeric, its derivatives and other ingredients for the management of inflammation and chronic pain" discloses a formulation using turmeric, curcumin and Boswellia serrata for treatment of chronic pain and inflammation along with a fatty acid component namely alpha lipoic acid and other taste masking ingredients. This disclosure describes the use of edible formulation, which utilizes taste masking ingredients along with active herbal moieties.
There are many therapies available for the treatment of joint inflammation such as allopathic treatment, homeopathic treatment and herbal treatment. Allopathic treatment is a symptomatic treatment i.e., it treats the symptoms only but not the root cause. Herbal medicines are the oldest form of medicines known to humans. Herbal medicines have many advantages, which mainly include reduced side effects on the body, useful for the treatment of chronic pain, cost effective and easily available.
Presently, there are many herbal-containing compositions available for treatment of inflammation; however there is continually a need to provide alternative herbal compositions capable of reducing inflammation, which is particularly useful for the treatment of acute joint pain and osteoarthritis.
Thus, the object of the present invention is to provide a composition containing herbal medicines, which is useful for the treatment of various anti-inflammatory conditions mainly acute joint pain and osteoarthritis.

Anti-inflammatory composition for the treatment of acute joint inflammation and a process for preparation thereof


A coating composition including an inorganic sol material and an organic colorant is applied to mineral particles and cured at a temperature less than 200 degrees Celsius.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention refers to roofing granules and roofing products.
2. Brief Description of the Prior Art
Asphalt shingles are conventionally used in the United States and Canada as roofing and siding materials.
Asphalt shingles can be classified into two types of shingles according to the nature of the reinforcement. "Organic" shingles contain cellulose or wood fiber as a thick fiber felt. "Glass fiber" shingles contain a nonwoven mat of glass fibers held together by a binder that is insoluble in water.
In the manufacture of organic shingles, a continuous web of organic fiber felt is fed from a supply roll to an accumulating device made up of several rollers, and then immersed in a first liquid asphalt bath having a temperature of about 250° C. After leaving the first liquid asphalt bath, the felt passes through a second accumulating device so that the felt can absorb excess asphalt and cool slightly. The so-impregnated felt is then coated with molten asphalt on each of its two faces, which ultimately become respectively the upper and lower faces of the web. Roofing granules are distributed on the upper face, and an anti-adhesive agent, for example, talc, is applied to the lower face. The resulting web passes between the rollers of a cold calendar so as to partially embed the roofing granules in the hot asphalt layer on the upper face of the web, and the subsequently cooled product is collected in the form of rolls or of sheets cut to the desired dimensions.
Except for the first stage of impregnation, which is omitted, the manufacture of the glass fiber shingles is carried out in the same way.
In the shingle, the asphalt functions principally to make material impervious to water. It is also used to support the granules and to give strength to the material. The highly ductile character of the asphalt-impregnated felt makes it possible to obtain a flexible product. In general, the longevity of the shingle increases with the quantity of asphalt employed.
The roofing granules, in general formed from mineral materials, serve to provide the shingle with durability. They protect the asphalt from the effects of the solar radiation (in particular from the degradative effects of ultraviolet rays) and of the environment (wind, precipitation, pollution, and the like), and contribute to better reflection of incident radiation. The granules moreover are typically colored, naturally or artificially by way of the application of pigments, to meet the aesthetic requirements of the user.
Roofing granules are typically manufactured by using suitable mineral particles coated with coating compositions formed from mixtures of inorganic metal-silicate binders, extender, and metal oxide colorants. Examples of making such granules are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 2,981,636. However, such coating processes typically require curing at elevated temperatures, such as above 300 degrees Celsius, or the use of extensive acid wash to render the coating durable for roofing applications, and provide porous coatings. As a result, many colorants or functional additives, which are not resistant to high temperatures or to the corrosive acid-wash process, cannot be used. This limits the palette of colors which can be used in manufacturing roofing granules. Furthermore, the type of coating formed in the conventional process is known to be prone to the so-called "staining" problems as this type of coating tends to absorb oils from the asphalt substrate, apparently reflecting the porosity of the coating.
International Patent Publication WO 2006/106263 A2 discloses biocidal granules consisting of a mineral core coated with at least one porous inorganic coat containing at least one organic compound adapted to limit or to prevent micro-organism growth, in particular algae, as well as a method for sol-gel preparation of such biocidal granules and the use of said biocidal granules in building materials, in particular shingles and façade coatings.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,723,516 discloses inorganic particles coated with a composition including an organometallic polymeric binder and a temperature-sensitive colorant. The binder comprises the reaction product of water with at least one component of a binder precursor. The binder precursor composition can comprise an inert organic polymer and a hydrolyzable liquid organometallic solvent such as TEOS; a water reactive organic polymer dissolved in an inert organic solvent; or a water-reactive organic polymer dissolved in a hydrolyzable liquid organic solvent.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,786,965 discloses an organic pigment dispersion for coloring building material such as concrete including alkali metal silicate particles, organic pigment and a dispersant which is milled to produce a pigment particle size of from 100 to 300 nanometers.
Hence, it would be advantageous to have an inorganic coating system that can be cured in relatively low temperatures. It is further advantageous to have an inorganic coating that provides better staining resistance without the need of additional surface treatment.

Roofing granules, roofing products including such granules, and process for preparing same


A new cultivar of Lomandra plant named ‘Roma 13’ that is characterized by a compact habit, arching narrow flat variegated leaves that are grey-green with a white center stripe and white margins.

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Lomandra plant botanically known as Lomandra longifolia and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name 'Roma 13'.
'Roma 13' originated from seed collected from an open pollinated bed of unnamed Lomandra longifolia cultivars. The resulting seeds were subsequently planted and grown. The exact parent plants are unknown. The cultivar 'Roma 13' was selected by the inventor in 2008 as a single plant within the progeny in Tynong, Victoria, Australia.
Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar 'Roma 13' first occurred by division in 2008 in Tynong, Victoria, Australia. Since that time, under careful observation, the unique characteristics of the new cultivar have been uniform, stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations of asexual reproduction.


The invention relates to new polymerizable mesogenic or liquid crystalline compounds comprising a terminal cyclohexylphenyl group wherein the phenyl group has polar substituents, to polymerizable mesogenic or liquid crystalline mixtures and anisotropic polymers prepared thereof, and to the use of the new compounds and the mixtures and polymers prepared thereof in optical and electrooptical devices, adhesives, synthetic resins with anisotropic mechanical properties, cosmetics, diagnostics, liquid crystal pigments, decorative and security applications, nonlinear optics, optical information storage, electronic devices like organic field effect transistors (FET or OFET) or electroluminescent devices.

Polymerizable mesogenic or liquid crystal (LC) compounds, which are also known as reactive mesogens (RM), have been described in prior art for various purposes. For example, they can be used for the preparation of linear or crosslinked LC side chain polymers. Furthermore, they can be aligned in their LC phase and subsequently polymerized in situ to give linear or crosslinked LC polymer films with uniform orientation of high quality. These films can be used as optical elements like polarisers or compensators in flat panel displays, as described for example in EP 0 397 263, WO 98/00475, WO 98/04651 or WO 98/12584.
The polymerizable mesogenic compounds described in prior art, however, often exhibit LC phases only in a small temperature range or do not show mesophase behavior at all. Another drawback for specific applications is that prior art compounds often exhibit high values of the birefringence.
In particular where polymerizable mesogenic compounds are used in optical phase retardation, compensation or alignment layers or films for LC displays (LCD), it is desirable to have available materials of which the optical properties, such as the birefringence, optical retardation and optical dispersion (wavelength dependence of the birefringence) can be adapted to those of the LC mixture in the display cell, so that optimum compensation can be achieved.
Further to the use as optical films in displays, polymerizable mesogenic compounds have been suggested for use in the active, switchable layer of an LCD.
For example, displays are known which are switched between transparent and scattering states and comprise a low molar mass liquid crystal (LC) medium and a phase-separated polymerised LC material, like for example PDLC (polymer dispersed liquid crystal) displays as described in WO 93/22397, or polymer gel or polymer network displays of the scattering type, as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,538,768, U.S. Pat. No. 5,543,075 or EP 0 451 905.
Furthermore, displays are known wherein a low molar mass LC medium is switched between two non-scattering states, like conventional displays of e.g. the TN or STN (twisted nematic, supertwisted nematic), ECB (electrically controlled birefringence), VA (vertically aligned) or IPS (in-plane-switching) mode, and which further comprise a polymerised LC material in order to create a multidomain structure for improving the contrast at wide viewing angles or to stabilize the different switching states for reducing the driving voltage and switching times. Such displays are described for example in U.S. Pat. No. 5,189,540, U.S. Pat. No. 6,177,972, EP 0 903 392, and Hasebe et al., Jpn. J. Appl. Phys. 1994, 33, 6245. For use in the switchable layer of LCDs the polymerizable compounds are typically mixed with a low molar mass LC medium. Therefore it is required that the p F, Cl, Br, I, CN, NO2 or alkyl, alkoxy, alkylcarbonyl, alkoxycarbonyl, alkylcarbonyloxy or alkoxycarbonyloxy with 1 to 20 C atoms, wherein one or more H atoms may be substituted by F or Cl
Polymerizable compounds do not negatively affect the properties, like the LC phase range, birefringence and dielectric anisotropy of the LC medium. For use in switchable displays that are not of the scattering type, and where the polymerised material is not macroscopically phase separated from the low molar mass LC medium, the polymerizable compounds should further show good miscibility with the LC medium.
The polymerizable mesogenic compounds described in prior art, however, do often exhibit high melting points, show poor solubility in low molar mass LC media or tend to negatively influence the LC and electrooptical properties of LC media.
Thus, there is a demand for polymerizable mesogenic compounds with low melting points which are useful for the preparation of oriented LC polymer films as optical retarders, and for the use in the active layer of switchable LC devices, for example in mixture with low molar mass LC media where they should have optical and electrooptical properties adapted to those of the LC media and good solubility in the LC media.
Furthermore, regarding the broad range of applications for polymerizable compounds it is desirable for the expert to have available further compounds of this type that are easy to synthesize and fulfill the various requirements as described above.
It was an aim of the invention to provide new polymerizable mesogenic compounds with advantageous properties as mentioned above, thus extending the pool of polymerizable mesogenic compounds available to the expert. Other aims of the present invention are immediately evident to the person skilled in the art from the following detailed description.
The inventors of the present invention have found that these aims can be achieved by providing polymerizable mesogenic compounds as claimed in the present invention, comprising a terminal fluorinated phenyl group.
JP-A-07-069983 discloses polymerizable mesogenic compounds, including 4-(3,4-difluorophenyl)cyclohexyl acrylate and 4-(trans-4-3,4,5-trifluorophenyl)cyclohexyl) cyclohexyl acrylate, but does not specifically disclose compounds according to the present invention.

Polymerizable mesogenic cyclohexyl derivatives


A device for estimating reference wheel speed of each wheel of a vehicle having: a calculator for calculating slip angle of vehicle body based upon lateral acceleration, yaw rate, and vehicle speed; an estimator for estimating speed of vehicle body at its center of gravity based upon wheel speed and yaw rate; and a calculator for calculating the reference wheel speed of each of the front left, front right, rear left and rear right wheels based upon the vehicle body gravity center speed, steering angle, slip angle of vehicle body, yaw rate, a half track of a corresponding wheel, and a half wheel base of a corresponding wheel as follows: EQU Vmfl=Vbc*cos (.delta.f-.beta.)-.gamma.*T*cos .delta.f+.gamma.*sin .delta.f*Lf; EQU Vmfr=Vbc*cos (.delta.f-.beta.)+.gamma.*Tfl*cos .delta.f+.gamma.*sin .delta.f*Lf; EQU Vmrl=Vbc*cos .beta.+.gamma.*Trl EQU Vmrr=Vbc*cos .beta.-.gamma.*Trr,. wherein Vmfl, Vmfr, Vmrl and Vmrr are the reference wheel speed of front left, front right, rear left and rear right wheels, respectively, Vb is the vehicle body gravity center speed, .delta.f is the steering angle, .beta. is the vehicle body slip angle, .gamma. is the yaw rate, Tfl is a half track of the front left wheel, Tfr is a half track of the front right wheel, Trl is the half tred of the rear left wheel, Trr is the half track of the rear right wheel, Lf is the half wheel base of the front left and front right wheels. The half track of each wheel may desirably be modified against lateral biasing of the wheel tire due to centrifugal force of acting during turn of the vehicle.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to the art of turn stability control of a vehicle such as an automobile, and more particularly, to a device for estimating standard wheel speed of each of the four wheels of a four-wheeled vehicle for use in the turn stability controls thereof carried out in various manners to suppress spin and drift-out during turn running.
2. Description of the Prior Art
There have been proposed various devices for controlling the turn stability of a vehicle such that the vehicle is watched with respect to the slip angle of the vehicle body against spinning, or with respect to the slip angle of the rear wheel or the side slip of the vehicle body against drifting out, and when the watching parameter against the spinning increases beyond a threshold value determined therefor, the brake system is automatically actuated to brake the front wheel at the outside of the turn, or if the vehicle is a front drive vehicle, the traction of the front driving wheels is instantly increased, or when the watching parameter against the drifting out increases beyond a threshold value determined therefor, the brake system is automatically actuated to brake certain wheels, particularly the rear wheel at the inside of the turn, or when the vehicle is a front drive vehicle, the traction of the front driving wheels is temporarily decreased, with various modifications of actuation of the brake system or the engine output control system in relation to various other operation parameters. Various patent applications have been filed by the same assignee as the present application based upon the inventions made by the colleague of the present inventor, such as U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,704,695; 5,707,119; 5,704,696; 5,727,853; 5,707,120; and 5,709,439; as well as co-pending U.S. patent applications Nos. 08/723,757, and 08/726,412 (allowed Feb. 10, 1998). Further, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/798,465 is also co-pending as filed by the same assignee on an invention by the present inventor. The contents of those co-pending applications are hereby incorporated into the present application for reference of such art.
When a wheel or a plurality of wheels are braked or driven for the purpose of stability control, the braking or traction control is generally executed such that the slip ratio of each of the wheels is brought to the target value calculated therefor according to certain stability control calculation schedules. In the above-mentioned co-pending applications, when the target slip ratio has been calculated with respect to each of the four wheels according to the respective particular control calculation schedules, the target wheel speed Vwti (i=fl, fr, rl, rr) of each of the four wheels, i.e. front left, front right, rear left and rear right wheels, is calculated based upon the corresponding target slip ratio SLi and a reference wheel speed Vb as Vwti=Vb*(100-SLi), wherein the reference wheel speed is presumed to be common for all of the four wheels, and is generally made to be that of the front wheel at the inside of the turn, assuming that the vehicle is an automobile of the rear drive type to which the turn stability control of the present art will be mostly applied.
However, since the braking or driving for the purpose of stability control is generally light and delicate, even a slight difference in the estimation of the target wheel speed substantially affects the quality of the turn stability control, particularly when the effect of braking is exhibited as a difference between the braking of two or more wheels simultaneously braked. Therefore, it is contemplated that the reference wheel speed for the calculation of the target wheel speed should be estimated to be more reflective of particular turning conditions of each wheel for further improvement of the quality of the stability control.
Further, since the stability control depends mostly on the balance of the braking effects at respective wheels, it is contemplated that a relatively small change of a half track of each wheel, i.e. the distance of each wheel from the longitudinal center of the vehicle body (more precisely, longitudinal vertical center plane (phantom) of the vehicle body), due to a biasing deformation of the wheel tire under the action of the centrifugal force of the vehicle body during a turn running thereof, will have to be incorporated into the estimation of the reference wheel speed for further improvement of the stability control.

Device for estimating reference wheel speed of vehicle for turn stability control


A concrete block system is provided and allows for the use of a single type of non-integral connector to perform different functions in a mortarless structure, the system comprising a plurality of structural concrete blocks and a plurality of veneer units. The same connector can be used to connect veneer units to structural blocks, to retain the veneer units in different orientations; to create near vertical installations or a setback between stacked rows of structural blocks. In addition, the system provides a single structural block, which can be used for both straight portions or corners of a same structure. The structural block can also be used to create double-sided walls, with opposite lateral walls being configured to received/retain veneer units thereon.

Concrete blocks and units that are used in wall constructs, including retaining walls, columns; or in other types of constructs, such as steps, are sometimes provided with different stone appearances over exposed portions thereof.
There exist different wall systems that allow for relatively easy and flexible methods of erecting such walls. Existing systems require different types of main/structural blocks, and different types of face/veneer blocks and connectors. An example of such system is described in U.S. Pat. No. 7,410,328.
It is therefore desirable to provide a concrete block system and related components, in particular those which may be used in walls, columns, steps and other types of structures.

Concrete block system, method and connector


In a light transmitter comprises an automatic bias control circuit which automatically controls a bias for an external modulator, a part of a light output/input signal of the external modulator is branched to detect an electrical monitor signal and a gain control signal is generated in inverse proportion to the level of the monitor signal to control the gain of the automatic bias control circuit.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a light (or optical) transmitter, and in particular to a light transmitter comprising an automatic bias control circuit which automatically controls biases for external modulators which respectively modulate light inputs of various wavelengths such as a wavelength division multiplex (WDM) system.
For light modulations in a light transmitter, there are a direct modulation, an internal modulation, and an external modulation, which are currently used in relation to the kind of a laser as a light source and a communication rate etc.
In the direct modulation, the higher the transmission rate becomes the more the light signal is influenced with chirping, and therefore a long distance transmission becomes difficult due to wavelength distributions within an optical fiber.
Then, external modulators such as a Mach-Zehnder type external modulator made of LiNO.sub.3 where the chirping is not fundamentally caused or an electric field absorbing modulator have been got much attention.
For the stabilization of a light communication system with such an external modulator for a long term, it is required to stabilize optical signals against thermal variation and aging.
Moreover, as the capacity of communications are large-scaled in recent years, a technology in which the capacity is enhanced which can be transmitted via a single optical fiber by differentiating the wavelengths of modulated optical signals and multiplexing them as in the WDM system for optical communications at a high speed is applied to the light transmitter.
Therefore, it is now demanded that the technology which stabilizes the transmission of an optical signal can be applied to the WDM technology without problems.
2. Description of the Related Art
FIG. 19 shows the prior art light transmitter in the Japanese Patent Laid-open Publication No. 3-251815 or its U.S. counterpart U.S. Pat. No. 5,170,274 entitled "Optical Transmission". The disclosure of this U.S. Pat. No. 5,170,274 is incorporated herein by reference. A light source 1 provides its light output signal for an external modulator 2. The external modulator 2 has a modulation input terminal 2a and a bias input terminal 2b. To the modulation input terminal 2a is supplied a low frequency superimposed signal (driving signal) in which an input signal (logic signal) is superimposed at a driver 3 with a reference low frequency signal from an oscillator 4.
To the bias input terminal 2b is supplied a bias voltage provided by an automatic bias control circuit 11 (ABC loop) composed of an output terminal of the external modulator 2, a branch device 5, a photoelectric transducer 6, a filter (BPF) 7, an amplifier 8, a synchronous detector 9, and a bias controller 10.
In this automatic bias control circuit 11, the branch device 5 takes a part of the light output signal out of the external modulator 2 as a monitor light 1 and transduces it into a monitor signal 2 which is an electric signal and supplied to the filter 7. The filter 7 takes only a low frequency component, out of the monitor signal 2, which corresponds to the reference low frequency signal from the oscillator 4 and is sent to the amplifier 8 which generates an amp. output signal 5 amplified with a constant amp. gain.
The synchronous detector 9 compares the reference low frequency signal from the oscillator 4 with the phase of the amp. output signal 5 and sends a signal corresponding to the phase difference to the bias controller 10. The bias controller 10 provides an operating drift correction signal 6 for the bias input terminal 2b of the external modulator 2.
That is, an operating point drift is caused in the input/output characteristic of the external modulator 2 due to temperature changes and/or aging, etc, resulting in the quenching ratio of the light output signal being deteriorated The automatic bias control circuit 11 detects the frequency component of the low frequency signal output superimposed with the light output signal of the external modulator 2, compares it in phase with the reference low frequency signals from oscillator 4, and detects the drifting direction of the operating point. The operating point of the external modulator 2 is controlled according to the drifting direction, thereby compensating the operating point drift (automatic bias control).
The above-mentioned prior art light transmitter has a fixed combination of a light source and an external modulator. Once a set point of the luminescence level of the light source is adjusted so that the automatic bias control circuit may be operable, there is no need to re-adjust the set point.
That is, the prior art automatic bias control circuit is designed according to a light level at which the laser emits light.
Also, the automatic bias control circuit employs a photo device and an amplifier. Unless these circuit elements are operated linearly, the operating point of the external modulator is not correctly set. The reason is that a nonlinear phase variation and in turn a corresponding set point error are caused when the circuit operates nonlinearly because the automatic bias control circuit controls the phase relation of a modulating signal of e.g. 1 kHz detected with the synchronous detector.
Therefore, in the prior art light transmitter, the gains of the photo device and the amplifier in the automatic bias control circuit are constant so that the allowance of the automatic bias control circuit with respect to the optical level variation of the light source is narrow.
On the other hand, the following problems have now been found upon practical uses of such a circuit as the light transmitter in the WDM system where a lot of light sources with different wavelengths are combined with the external modulators.
FIG. 20 shows an example of the prior art light transmitter applied to the WDM system In this figure, reference numerals 1-1.about.3-3 denote laser light sources (LDs), 2-1.about.3-3 external modulators, 3-1.about.3-2 driving circuits (drivers), and 11-1.about.11-3 automatic bias control circuits (ABC loops), respectively. The LDs 1-1.about.1-3 emit light with different wavelengths .lambda.1.about..lambda.3.
Thus, in case that the luminescent wavelengths of the LDs 1-1.about.1-3 are differentiated, it is necessary to change bias currents applied to the LDs1-1.about.1-3. Therefore, the optical output levels of each of the LDs1-1.about.1-3 are to be different.
In this case, the amplitudes of monitor signals obtained respectively from the outputs of the external modulators 2-1.about.2-3 are different from each other according to the difference of those optical levels.
As a result, low frequency (e.g. 1 KHz) signal components in the monitor signals are influenced by level variations of the light sources because the low frequency signal components are modulated with a modulation factor, e.g. 5% with respect to that of the input signal.
That is, while the modulating signal (driving signal) from the driver is converted into an optical modulating signal by the external modulator, the amplitude of the optical modulating signal changes naturally according to the optical level of the light source. For example, when a light with the level of -3 dBm is inputted from the light source, H level of the optical modulating signal is 0 dbi, the average level -3 dBm, and L level 0 dBm (non-luminescence), respectively, in an ideal case where the loss of the external modulator is zero and the quenching ratio is infinity.
Therefore, when the low frequency signal for a gain control is superimposed with the input signal to produce a modulating signal (driving signal), the modulation factor, i.e. the amplitude of the low frequency signal component in the monitor signal will also change according to the optical level of the light source.
This will be described with reference to FIG. 21 illustrating the prior art operation.
The monitor signal 2 is provided as an output from the photoelectric transducer 6 in proportion to the level of the monitor light 1 from the branch device 5, as seen from FIG. 21A As the amplitude of the low frequency signal component of the monitor signal 2 varies, that of the output signal 5 of the amplifier 8 also varies, as seen from FIG. 21B.
Further, as the amplitude of the amp. output signal 5 varies, the operating point drift signal (compensation signal) 6 from the bias controller 10 also varies, as seen from FIG. 21C.
Thus, the detection of the monitor signal becomes difficult when the amplitude of the monitor signal varies smaller, where a normal automatic bias control is made impossible.
Therefore, when the prior art automatic bias control circuit is applied to the light WDM system, it is necessary to design the automatic bias control circuit individually corresponding to the level difference of the light sources, so that even if the amplitudes taken out of the low frequency superimposed signal are different from each other, the ABC circuit corresponding to the individual levels is realized.
Even if the ABC circuits are designed individually corresponding to the light sources, the output levels of the&lasers changes due to deteriorations etc. of the laser used for respective light sources. As a result, if the amplitude of the monitor signal becomes small, the level variation will be difficult to be dealt with.

Light transmitter having an automatic bias control circuit


This document discusses, among other things, fiducial marker devices, tools, and methods. One example illustrates a combined imagable fiducial locator and divot for receiving a positioning wand of an image-guided surgical (IGS) workstation. A further example is reflective such that it is locatable by a remote detector of an optical positioning system. A generally cylindrical (e.g., faceted cylindrical) columnar locator permits easy application of reflective tape. Other examples discusses a unitary fiducial marker with multiple divots and a swiveling and/or tilted fiducial marker divot, each of which allows manipulation of a positioning wand into a remote camera's field of view. Another example includes at least one reflector that can be aimed. A further example discusses an imagable fiducial marker carrier that is attachable to a single location on a patient's skull to reduce trauma. A keying arrangement fixedly defines the orientation of the carrier, allowing detachment and reattachment in the same orientation.

Fiducial markers that can be located and recognized by an imaging system or other system are useful in neurosurgery and other applications. Examples of imaging system modalities include, among other things, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), computed tomography (CT), positron emission tomography (PET), and single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT).
For example, in one technique, multiple fiducial markers are screwed into the patient's skull to define landmarks recognizable by an imaging system. The imaging system is used to obtain one or more preoperative images of the patient's brain. Recognizable images of the fiducial markers appear on such preoperative images. Such a bone-anchored fiducial marker typically includes an externally threaded bone-screw portion, which is driven into the skull. A threaded shaft rises up and out of the skull from the bone-screw. The threaded shaft typically receives a screwed-on imagable sphere that is visible on an MRI or CT image. The multiple fiducial markers on the patient's skull define landmarks on preoperative images that are useful to the physician for planning entry coordinates on the patient's skull and for planning a trajectory to a target location in the brain. An image-guided surgical workstation uses these preoperative images and the planning data to guide the neurosurgeon while actually performing the subsequent surgical procedure.
After the preoperative planning phase, the patient is brought into the operating room so that the planned surgical procedure can be performed. On the operating table, the patient's skull is clamped in a head-frame or otherwise immobilized. In order to use the preoperative images provided by the image-guided workstation to guide the surgeon during the surgical procedure, the patient's skull must first be "registered" to the preoperative images. The registration creates an association between (1) the actual physical location of the fiducial markers on the patient's skull in the operating room and (2) the locations of the images of the fiducial markers visible on the preoperatively-obtained images. This allows mapping between the actual space in which the patient is located to the space defined by the preoperative images.
According to one registration technique, a "wand" is used to perform this patient registration. The wand typically includes multiple light-emitting diode (LED) locators or reflective locators, which are visible to an infrared camera or other detector of an optical positioning system in the operating room. The camera and optical positioning system are operatively connected to the image-guided workstation. The locators define the position of the wand in the operating room, including the position of a sharp tip portion of the wand, which is in a known physical relationship to the locators. To register the patient, the imagable spheres are unscrewed from the fiducial marker shafts, and replaced by respective "divots" that are sized and shaped to receive the wand tip. These divots are screwed onto the respective fiducial marker shafts, such that when the wand tip is received into the maximum depression point of the divot, the wand tip then corresponds to the same location as the center of the imagable sphere when the imagable sphere was screwed onto the fiducial marker shaft. A reference divot is typically also present in the operating room at a known location, such as attached to the operating table or the patient's skull-immobilizing head-frame. During the patient registration process, the surgeon touches the wand tip to the reference divot (to provide an absolute positional reference to the image-guided workstation), and then to each fiducial marker divot. This permits the image-guided workstation to correlate the actual physical location of the patient's skull to the preoperative images. The physician can then use the wand, in conjunction with the preoperative images provided by the image-guided workstation, to locate an appropriate entry point and trajectory to the target in the brain.
The present inventors have recognized that problems with the above registration procedure include patient discomfort caused by the presence of the fiducial markers, increased trauma to the patient resulting from using multiple fiducial markers screwed into different locations of the patient's skull, the difficulty of unscrewing the imaging spheres and replacing them with the registration divots, a limited field of view of the camera used in the operating room, and the difficulty of constructing a multi-modal fiducial marker that can be recognized by more than one imaging modality or positioning system. Moreover, the present inventors have recognized the desirability of streamlining the registration process to reduce its time and cost. For these and other reasons, which will become apparent upon reading the following detailed description and viewing the drawings that form a part thereof, the present inventors have recognized an unmet need for improved fiducial marker devices, tools, and methods.

Fiducial marker devices, tools, and methods


A pressure control device, preferably for use in a control system of an automatic transmission of a motor vehicle, is shown as having a solenoid motor assembly the armature of which, through a cooperating servo orifice, is effective for varying the magnitude of pressure of a fluid medium acting upon a spool slave-like valving member which ultimately provides a fluid medium to associated fluid medium receiving structure; a spring normally urges the armature toward the servo orifice and an adjustable spring seat is operatively engaged with the spring; the adjustable spring seat is formed of at least two pieces.

Heretofore the prior art has proposed various pressure control devices for use in a control system of an automatic transmission of an automotive vehicle.
Some of such pressure control devices comprise a fluid pressure positionable spool valve, the magnitude of the fluid pressure being determined by an armature and cooperating servo-like orifice or passage means. That is, in at least some of such pressure control devices, the more nearly the armature closes the servo-like orifice the greater becomes the magnitude of fluid pressure acting upon the spool valve to cause positioning thereof.
Further, in such prior art arrangements, it is not unusual to provide spring means for resiliently urging the armature means as toward the servo orifice means. This is usually done by having a generally axially extending spring seat member engaging one end of the spring means and being threadably engaged with surrounding structure as to thereby be axially movable, relative to the surrounding structure, to bring about an adjustment of the spring means as, for example, a preload thereof.
Such prior art pressure control devices did present problems in that concentricities of various surfaces had to be maintained to critical tolerances and such tolerances could not always be met or be what was desired from a manufacturing standpoint. The problem or problems of concentricity also occurred with respect to the spring seat member of the prior art.
The invention as herein disclosed and described is primarily directed to the solution of the foregoing as well as other related and attendant problems of the prior art.

Solenoid operated pressure regulating valve


A blank for making a single or dual cavity container and the corresponding containers. In a dual cavity embodiment, the blank is scored to define a pair of bottom panels, two pairs of end panels, and a pair each of lateral and opposing side panels. The pair of opposing side panels are connected together along a mutual upper edge. A lid for each respective cavity extends from the first and second lateral side panels, and each lid terminates in a tuck flap for engaging at least one of the corresponding opposing side panels and the corresponding pair of end panels. Each adjacent pair of walls (e.g., end panel-lateral side panel; end panel-opposing side panel) has a gusset integrally formed therebetween. The gussets are appropriately folded and adhered to the outside of one of the adjacent walls. Because both cavities are formed from a unitary blank with no seams below the upper edges of the walls, leakage is prevented when the container is maintained in an upright orientation. Moreover, the single fold lid closure provides adequate containment of the food disposed within the corresponding cavity, yet simplifies the actions required to achieve closure.

(1) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a reclosable food container suitable for use in the take-out food industry. More particularly, an easily openable and reclosable food container having either one or two cavities which is erected from a single unitary blank.
(2) Related Art
The expansion of the take-out and prepared food industry over the last several years has increased demand for suitable containers. The Chinese food pail is well-known in the take-out food industry. It is preconstructed at the manufacture plant by folding the pre-cut blank and fastening the gussets with glue or metallic wire. This simplifies use by the food seller who need merely fill the container and close the lid. These Chinese food pails typically have a deep narrow configuration which makes them unsuitable for storage of food not intended to intermingle. Moreover, such pails uniformly have a four-panel lid structure which requires four different folding operations and the use of both hands to achieve closure.
Another type of food carton is fashioned in a shallower configuration and an insert divider is used to separate different foods from one another. The divider insert, if permanently attached, e.g., glued, prevents nesting of the boxes during shipment and storage, thereby increasing associated costs. If not permanently attached, the likelihood of leakage of food around the divider increases dramatically. Moreover, in the process of assembling the container, extra time is required by the food seller to locate the appropriate divider and assemble the container. The same four-fold lid structure is also employed by this type of container.
Still another type of food container is fashioned in the form of an open tray for storing a predetermined amount of food. It is erected at the point of purchase from a pre-cut, pre-scored carton blank. These blanks are typically erected by manually performing numerous time consuming folding and tucking operations at the point of sale. The resulting container often leaks at the corner formed by interlocking tabs and slots. Some variations employ glue to secure the adjacent panels, but leaking remains a problem. Such containers are unsatisfactory for packaging many prepared or take-out foods.
In view of the foregoing, it would be desirable to have a reclosable food container with a simplified lid closure. Moreover, it would be desirable to have a reclosable food container having more than a single cavity so that different foods can be segregated without further assembly requirements or cross-contamination.


Described herein are compounds of formula (I) wherein: is an optionally benzo-fused five or six member aromatic ring having zero to three hetero atoms independently selected from N, S, and O; Alk is (C1-4) alkylene or hydroxy substituted (C1-4) alkylene; X is oxygen or sulfur; R1 is hydrogen, (C1-6) fluroalkyl, (C3-6) cycloalkyl, or (C1-4) alkyl, wherein the (C1-4) alkyl is unsubstituted or substituted with hydroxy, methoxy, ethoxy, OCH2CH2OH, or —CN; R2 is H, halogen, (C1-6) fluoroalkyl, (C1-6) cycloalkyl, OR4, SR4, NO2, CN, COR4, C(O)OR4, CONR5R6, NR5R6, SO2NR5R6, NR5COR4, NR5SO2R4, optionally substituted aromatic, or (C1-6) alkyl, wherein (C1-6) alkyl is unsubstituted or substituted with a hydroxy group; R3 is hydrogen (C1-6) fluoroalkyl, (C2-6) alkenyl, Ar, (C1-4)alkyl-Ar, or (C1-4) alkyl wherein (C1-4) alkyly is unsubstituted or substituted with a phenyl; R4 is hydrogen, (C1-6) alkyl, (C1-6) fluoroalkyl, or optionally substituted aromatic; R5 and R6 are independently hydrogen, (C1-6) alkyl, or optionally substituted aromatic, R7 is hydrogen, (C1-6) alkyl, (C1-6) fluoroalkyl, or optionally substituted aromatic; R8 and R9 are independently hydrogen, (C1-6) alkyl, or optionally substituted aromatic; Ar is optionally substituted phenyl, napthyl, monocyclic heteroaromatic or bicyclic heteroaromatic; Z1 and Z2 are independently selected from hydrogen, halogen, (C1-6) alkyl, (C1-6) fluoroalkyl, OR7, SR7, NO2, CN, COR7, CONR8R9, NR8R9, and optionally substituted aromatic; and all salts, solvates, optical and geometric isomers, and crystalline forms thereof. Also, described are the use of the compounds of formula (I) as antagonists of the dopamine D2 receptor and as agents for the treatment of psychosis and bipolar disorders, and pharmaceutical formulations of the compounds of formula (I)

Currently there are many drugs available for the treatment of disorders of the central nervous system. Among these drugs is a category known as antipsychotics which are used for treating serious mental conditions such as schizophrenia and schizophreniform illnesses. Currently available treatments for such conditions are often associated with undesirable adverse events. As such, there remains a need for new compounds that control or eliminate the symptoms of such mental conditions with improved adverse event profiles.
Patients suffering from schizophrenia, a condition of unknown etiology, exhibit a group of both positive and negative symptoms. Positive symptoms include delusions, hallucinations, disordered thoughts, and disorganized speech, while negative symptoms include flat affect, anhedonia, social withdrawal, emotional detachment, cognitive deficits, and poverty of speech. Not only does schizophrenia cause personal suffering by the patient, it also severely affects the patient's occupational and social functions, so that often the patient must be institutionalized, which results in a high cost to society.
A leading hypothesis suggests that the positive symptoms of schizophrenia can be effectively treated by compounds that act as antagonists at certain dopamine receptors. Currently, five principal dopamine receptors (D1-D5) have been identified. Antipsychotic efficacy has been most closely associated with blockade of the D2 class of dopamine receptors. One class of antipsychotic agents known as "typical" antipsychotic agents (eg. haloperidol) are effective in controlling the positive symptoms of schizophrenia. However, they do not adequately treat the negative symptoms and are associated with significant adverse events, principally hyperprolactinemia, tardive dyskinesia, and extrapyramidal side effects (EPS).
One approach to developing better antipsychotic agents, involves the identification of compounds that combine D2 receptor blockade with actions at other receptors. One such agent is clozapine.
Clozapine was the first drug identified as an "atypical" antipsychotic, i.e., a drug effective in treating both the positive and negative symptoms of schizophrenia. Additionally, it has a decreased propensity to induce EPS, hyprolactinemia, and tardive dyskinesia seen with classical, "typical" antipsychotics. Although clozapine is an effective drug, its utility in treating schizophrenia has been limited because of the clinical observation that 1-2% of treated patients developed a potentially fatal blood disorder, agranulocytosis. More recently, olanzapine has been widely accepted as an atypical antipsychotic with relatively few adverse events.
However, weight gain has been observed during treatment with many of the atypical antipsychotic compounds (Wetterling, "Body Weight Gain with Atypical Antipsychotics, A Comparative Review", Drug Safety 24, 59-73 (2001); Wirshing, et al, "Novel Antipsychotics: Comparison of Weight Gain Liabilities", J. Clin. Psychiatry 60, 358-363 (1999); Allison, et al, "Antipsychotic-Induced Weight Gain: A Comprehensive Research Synthesis" Am. J. Psychiatry 156, 1686-1696 (1999); Ganguli, R. Weight gain associated with antipsychotic drugs. J. Clin. Psychiatry 60(suppl. 2), 20-24, (1999). Drugs with the clinical efficacy and safety profile of the atypical antipsychotics but with decreased propensity to induce weight gain would represent improved agents for the treatment of schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and related disorders.
Atypical antipsychotics like clozapine and olanzapine are D2 receptor antagonists but also interact with other neurotransmitter receptors, including other subtypes for dopamine, and certain receptor subclasses for serotonin, norepinephrine, histamine, and acetylcholine. It is believed that some of these additional receptor activities are responsible for the improved efficacy of the atypical antipsychotics and the adverse events of these agents may be mediated by interactions with others. In particular, it has been suggested that the weight gain effects of the atypical antipsychotics may be due to the blockade of the histamine H1 receptor (Wetterling, "Body Weight Gain with Atypical Antipsychotics, A Comparative Review", Drug Safety 24, 59-73 (2001); Wirshing, et al, "Novel Antipsychotics: Comparison of Weight Gain Liabilities" J. Clin. Psychiatry 60, 358-363 (1999); Kroeze, et al, "H1 Histamine Receptor Affinity Predicts Short-Term Weight Gain for Typical and Atypical Antipsychotic Drugs", Neuropsychopharmacology 28, 519-526 (2003); Orthen-Gambill, N. Antihistaminic drugs increase feeding, while histidine suppresses feeding in rats. Pharmacol. Biochem. Behav. 31, 81-86, (1988). Hence, the development of atypical antipsychotics with decreased affinity for the histamine H1 receptor represents one mechanism for identifying antipsychotics with improved adverse event profiles.
The present invention provides antipsychotic compounds and methods of using those compounds to treat psychotic disorders, in particular, schizophrenia and mood disorders, such as bipolar disorders. These compounds offer certain improvements and advantages over the currently available antipsychotic agents, as for example, but not limited to, improved adverse event profiles. In particular, many of the compounds of this invention have reduced propentsity to cause weight gain because of their decreased affinity for the H1 receptor.

Piperazine substituted aryl benzodiazepines


An integrated circuit includes two parallel active zones extending in a first direction, an n-type pick-up region, and a p-type pick-up region. The two parallel active zones includes a p-type active zone located in an n-type well and an n-type active zone located in a p-type well. The n-type pick-up region is located in the n-type well and configured to have a first supply voltage. The p-type pick-up region is located in the p-type well and configured to have a second supply voltage, wherein the second supply voltage is lower than the first supply voltage. The n-type pick-up region and the p-type pick-up region are separated from each other along a direction that is different from the first direction.

Some integrated circuits (ICs) are designed using, and manufactured based on, various cells including digital cells and analog cells. As the transistors in integrated circuits become smaller in physical size and more densely placed, more design consideration needs to be placed upon latchup. Latchup causes undesirable short circuits. Some integrated circuits (ICs) use tap cells to couple n-type wells to a first supply voltage VDD and to couple p-type wells or p-type substrates to a second supply voltage VSS. Tap cells having same height as standard cells between the power rails occupy valuable area in layout designs.

TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.


A recoil and blast controller (RBC), which may also be referred to as a muzzle brake, is attached to the muzzle of a firearm providing a mechanism for the specific purposes of controlling and reducing the intensity of the recoil, the muzzle rise, and the muzzle blast that occur when the firearm is discharged. The RBC includes: at least one internally-vented buffer chamber provided in at least one tubular buffer chamber housing; and a tubular depressurization chamber that is externally-vented.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to a recoil and blast controller (RBC), which may also be referred to as a muzzle brake, for a firearm that reduces the intensity of the recoil, the muzzle rise, and the muzzle blast effects produced by the high-pressure propellant gas as it flows out of the firearm barrel.
2. Description of the Background Art
A recoil and blast reducer functions by redirecting, usually to the side or the rear of the firearm, the flow of high-pressure propellant gas (produced by combustion of the propellant charge) that is emitted from the firearm's barrel in the forward direction after the passage of the bullet, thus reducing both the recoil of the firearm and the effects of the blast that occurs when the gas is released. In prior examples, the flow of the high pressure gas is directed by various structural features of the recoil and blast reducer as the gas emerges from the barrel immediately after the projectile has left the barrel. Typically, in prior examples, the combustion gas is deflected at right angles, or even slightly rearward, by its impingement on the structural features of the recoil and blast reducer. This impingement and deflection has two effects, first transferring a portion of the gas' energy to the firearm's barrel in order to aid in reducing recoil, and second acting to spread out and reduce the blast effect of the gas as it is emitted from the barrel.
The prior art discloses a muzzle brake in which the propellant gas is deflected through directed gas outlet openings onto a large baffle surface and from there to the outside, and is effectively nothing more than two muzzle brakes combined into one new muzzle brake.
Additionally, the prior art discloses a muzzle brake with rearward-deflected baffle surfaces and tubes, which are screwed onto the muzzle. For optimal recoil absorption by the muzzle brake, a portion of the propellant gas is also directed to exit from the muzzle brake in the forward direction.
Also disclosed in the prior art is a muzzle brake in which the gun barrel forms part of the muzzle brake. The muzzle brake region has openings that are covered by a tubular casing with slot-shaped gas outlet openings.
Recoil-absorbing devices for handguns are also known in which high pressure gas is deflected via nozzle openings, and a container filled with coolant is incorporated to cool the deflected gases.
Also disclosed in the prior art is a gun muzzle brake which incorporates a device that can trap the high-pressure gas and divert it toward the front of the firearm. The openings for discharging the gas are arranged so that they force the gas to flow in a direction transverse to the axis of the weapon, so that the gas flow disperses under the effects of centrifugal force.
Furthermore, a signature-reduced muzzle brake is known in which the propellant gas emerging from the barrel is diverted to gas outlet openings of the muzzle brake in order to impinge on them to absorb the recoil and then made to pass further to the rear where it is cooled in a separate device.

Recoil and muzzle blast controller for firearms