A textile laminate for covering diverse substrates includes a backing layer to be placed adjacent to the substrate, a substantially non-shrinkable fibrous layer coextensive with the backing layer and an adhesive component to bind the fibrous layer to the backing layer. The adhesive component is activated to adhere the fibrous and backing layers only at selected bonding points in a pattern bond. The backing layer is a material adapted to irreversibly shrink by at least about 25% such that after the backing layer shrinks, the fibrous layer separates from the backing layer at locations away from the bonding points and forms pile-like loops that protrude in a direction normal to the plane of the textile laminate.

Pile type fabrics are textile products characterized by an exposed face that has fibers or groups of fibers, i.e., yarns, standing upright in the direction perpendicular to the plane of the product. In so-called loop piles the fibers form upstanding loops with the ends of the loops attached to a support and the bend of the loop presented outwardly from the support. In other, so-called, cut piles, the bends of the loops are shaved so that free ends of the fibers point outward from the support. Pile type fabrics are generally more resilient and abrasive resistant than textile products of similar composition that are formed from fibers that largely lie parallel to the plane of the textile product.
One method of fabricating conventional pile type fabrics uses adhesives to glue the fibers to the support. A variety of this method is called flocking. It involves depositing chopped fibers oriented with their ends penetrating to a shallow depth into a bed of adhesive. In general, flocked fabrics are too delicate to deploy in high energy absorbing utilities such as flooring products and have other drawbacks such as reduced options for coloring or texturing.
Other pile fabrics are made by mechanically attaching the fibers, such as by tightly weaving or knotting the fibers into a support sheet. These fabrics are more robust than flocked fabrics and can be made into carpets. However, the processes for making such mechanically attached pile fabrics are generally slow and expensive. Some pile fabrics, such as stitched, needled, knitted, and tufted piles, use both mechanical attachment and copious quantities of adhesive applied to the support on its side opposite the pile for increased fabric stability. Despite technological advances for making these, fabrication complexity and adhesive systems provided to reduce fabric weight contribute to high cost of manufacture.
Pile fabrics formed by crimping yarns and attaching them to a support sheet are also available.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,708,384 discloses pile fabric formed by sonically inducing fusion bonding thermoplastic yarns to a thermoplastic backing on a bond line formed in the cross machine direction. The composite is advanced in the machine direction while the yarn supply is pushed toward the previously formed bond line to form a crimped pile and these steps are repeated.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,787,571 discloses a process in which intertwined fibers in warp yarns are intermittently adhesive bonded to a stretched backing layer. The warp yarns are attached only where the surface of the fibers contact the backing. When the backing is relaxed, the unbonded segments of the warp yarn fibers are forced into upstanding pile loops.
My U.S. Pat. No. 5,707,710 discloses a composite sheet suited for artificial leather which is made by impregnating a fabric having an interior yarn network and an outer layer of well separated fibers that loop in and out of the yarn network with an elastomeric resin. The method of making the composite sheet involves stitchbonding, knitting or weaving a fabric with elastic yarns and contracting the fabric to increase the number of tie points per centimeter.
My International Publication No. WO 94/19523 discloses an abrasion-resistant composite sheet of a resin-impregnated fabric formed from a lightweight nonwoven fibrous layer attached to a contracted planar network of yarns.
Conventional pile structured fabrics share the basic problem that dust and dirt tend to penetrate into the interstices between the fibers or yarns forming the pile. These contaminants collect at the roots of the pile and promote bacterial growth that creates a health hazard. To remove the dirt and sanitize the product the pile elements must be bent and parted so as to provide access to a cleaning tool. Additionally, spilled liquids can flow through the pile to the substrate and cause delamination. Solid sublayers that block liquid from passing to the substrate exacerbate wetness at the pile roots. This can increase the growth of bacteria and prevent moisture escape from wet subflooring such as drying concrete, and thereby contribute to separation of the floor covering product from the subfloor.
Traditional pile structured products also frequently suffer from excessive matting, that is, the collapsing of the pile under the load or repetitively applied weights, such as that which results from heavy foot traffic applied to carpets. Matting causes the pile to compact that makes dirt removal more difficult and gives the product a flat, undesirable prematurely worn appearance. The customary solutions to matting of piles have been to utilize high denier fibers that are stiff and more resilient but which detract from softness of the surface, and to shorten the height or the pile and/or to pack the pile elements closely together to give each other support. Short pile structures tend to lack a plush feel and closely packed pile elements add to the gross weight and cost of the product.
Laminate structures with relatively dense and flat face layers to resist dust penetration and pile collapse have recently been developed. These include using dense fibrous structures that are partially or fully filled with a resin, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,035,215 (Goldstone), and U.S. Pat. No. 6,063,473 (Zafiroglu) and a film to cover the pile, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,860,469 (Gregorian et al.). These laminate structures also lack a plush textile feel and decorative diversity of traditional pile materials.
Certain products made of flat textile fabrics laminated onto adhesive layer-coated reinforcing underlayers are described in WO 99/19557 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,965,232 (Vinod). These provide improved resistance to dust infiltration and bacterial growth but lack the plush hand of pile structured fabric and are susceptible to delamination and edge-fraying.
U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/307,186, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein, is directed to a textured composite having a fibrous outer layer bonded at selected parts of its area with an adhesive layer such that the fibers of the outer layer are fully embedded in the adhesive within the bonded parts. Elevated areas between the bonded parts are substantially adhesive free and have loop pile like qualities.
It is desirable to obtain a textile product that has densely populated, deep (i.e., tall element) pile structure that is simple and inexpensive to fabricate, provides enhanced blocking of dirt infiltration and resistance to bacterial growth, resistance to matting without using very high pile density and stiff pile yarns, is easily sanitized, and which can use a broader selection of fibrous materials than heretofore available while providing plush, resilient, soft textile feel and good abrasion resistant properties of true pile structure.

Method of making a textile laminate having pile-like surface


A ram air canopy includes a top skin, a bottom skin, a plurality of ribs between the top skin and the bottom skin forming a plurality of cells. A leading edge of a cell includes an opening to allow air to enter the cell. A glide vent is disposed in the top skin to allow air the exit the cell.

Parachutes have evolved over the years into highly sophisticated systems, and include features that improve the safety, maneuverability, and overall reliability of the parachutes. A ram-air canopy or gliding ram air parachute is a form of a self-inflating "ram-air" canopy or airfoil, also know as a parafoil. Such ram air canopies improve the control of speed and direction of parachute type devices.
The U.S. Army Defense Department makes use of airdrop for troop resupply and humanitarian aid. Aircraft vulnerability requires the deployment of gliding ram air parachutes to offset the aircraft at a safe distance and altitude. Once these ram air canopies are open, they are able to glide to the targeted "drop zone" using guidance systems that are GPS controlled. Improving the glide ratio of the ram air canopy provides aircraft commanders with more options and improves aircraft survivability. Increased glide can also offer larger payload capabilities.
The ram air canopy parachute, generally referred to as a ram air canopy, is formed of two layers of material, often referred to as a top skin and a bottom skin. The skins or layers may have different shapes but are commonly rectangular or elliptical. The top and bottom layers are connected by airfoil-shaped, vertically oriented, fabric ribs to form cells. The cells fill with high pressure air from vents that face forward on the leading edge of the airfoil. The fabric is shaped and the parachute lines trimmed under load such that the ballooning fabric inflates into an airfoil shape
The canopy of the ram air parachute functions as a wing to provide lift and forward motion. Guide lines operated by a parachutist allows for the deformation of the canopy to control direction and speed. Ram air parachutes have a high degree of maneuverability.
FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate aspects of a typical ram air canopy 100. FIG. 1 illustrates a spanwise inflated ram air canopy 100. FIG. 2 is the inflated spanwise view of a ram air wing 110 of the ram air canopy 100, looking into an open leading edge 102 of the ram air wing 110.
Two-dimensional numerical simulations of the airflow around ram air canopies, such as the ram air canopy 100 of FIG. 2, have shown a region 120 of separated flow on the lower lip 104 of the open leading edge 102. This region 120 of separated flow, also referred to as a region of low pressure, or flow separation bubble, is caused by the lower lip 104 or edge of the ram air wing 110. This flow separation bubble 120 is generally due to the inability of the flow of air to negotiate the sharp turn at the lower lip or edge 104. Low pressure areas, such as region 120 attached to the lower surface or lip 104 of an airfoil 110, are generally detrimental to the glide ratio.
As is shown in the example of FIG. 2, a vortex 106 forms on an inside of the canopy wing 110, just inside the open leading edge 102. This vortex 106 directs the flow of air toward the lower lip 104 during steady flight, and the opening 108 in the leading edge 102 makes the ram air wing 110 less aerodynamic. In the illustration of FIG. 1, looking into the open leading edges 102 of the ram air canopy 100, the area of separation 120 is shown along the span of the lower canopy surface 112. This flow separation region 120 is quite large when viewed three-dimensionally and produces a large reduction in glide ratio. It would be advantageous to reduce or eliminate the leading edge separation bubble in order to improve the aerodynamic efficiency of a ram air canopy.
There have been various attempts to improve glide capability of ram air canopies by various means. A good example is adding inflatable bladders into the canopy cells. This method adds stiffness to the ram air canopy and provides a leading edge that resembles a rounded wing geometry. This approach has been shown to result in increased performance. However, this method adds complexity to the ram air canopy system with additional hardware for pressure inflation.
Accordingly, it would be desirable to provide a ram air canopy that addresses at least some of the problems identified above.

Method to improve aerodynamic glide of a ram air canopy

The United States of America as Represented by the Secretary of the Army


A transcutaneous electrode is disclosed having a sheet electrode of an electrically-conductive material with an electrically conductive layer affixed to a major portion of the lower surface thereof. A pad of electrically-conductive gel is applied to the lower surface of the sheet electrode over the electrically-conductive layer. An electrical conductor having an unsheathed end portion is secured to the upper surface of the sheet electrode by an electrically-conductive adhesive. A high dielectric cover overlays the end out portion of the electrical conductor, and is secured to the sheet electrode by the conductive adhesive. A method for making the electrode is also disclosed.

In my prior U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,571,165, 5,733,324, and 5,824,033, which are incorporated herein by reference, I have disclosed disposable transcutaneous electrodes which are X-ray transparent and capable of conducting energy sufficient for defibrillation, as well as being capable of monitoring. These electrodes have an improved current density distribution between the electrode and the skin surface of the patient to efficiently deliver the energy without burning the patient's skin.
The patents more specifically disclose electrodes comprising a polymeric sheet member having an electrically conductive metal/metal chloride coating on a lower side thereof, a pad of electrically conductive gel underlying the polymeric sheet member, and a current distributing mat affixed to the sheet member and conductively connected to the metal/metal chloride coating. The current distributing mat is configured to be electrically conductive both along and transverse to the surface of the mat so as to transfer and distribute energy to the metal/metal chloride coating of the sheet electrode member. In one embodiment, the current distributing mat includes an open mesh metallized carbon fiber web having a carbon impregnated pressure sensitive adhesive composition on the upper and lower sides of the web. In a further embodiment, the current distributing mat comprises a conductive metal foil coated on its upper and lower sides with a conductive polymer adhesive.
The metal/metal chloride coated portion of the polymeric sheet member has an area sufficiently large to achieve adequate current density distribution between the electrode and the skin of the patient. The conductive mat has an area smaller than the area of the metal/metal chloride coating. The metal/metal chloride coating on the underside of the polymeric sheet has an outer perimeter that is configured to reduce the current density at the outer perimeter of the electrode member.
Electrical energy is conducted to or from the upper surface of the conductive mat and a medical device. In applications where radio translucency of the wires is important, the wires may be advantageously formed of an X-ray transparent metal coated carbon fiber tow. For applications in which radio translucency of the conductors is not essential, the conductors may be multi-strand metal wires in which the strands can be spread out and bonded to the upper surface of the mat. Alternatively, a reinforced metallic tab or a metallic or conductive plastic post stud may be used for the conductor.
One of the difficulties in the manufacturing of electrodes, including those described above, has been the attachment of the current-carrying wire to the electrode body. Prior to the inventions disclosed in my above-identified patents, the standard method of wire attachment was a wire crimp connection to the current-carrying wire from the defibrillation equipment. While this method is still used by some manufacturers, its use is more likely to result in patient burns and an increased risk of failure of the defibrillation electrode. This was solved in the electrodes disclosed in my patents by utilizing the current distributing mat. The current distributing mat transfers normally high levels of electricity from the current-carrying wire through the electrode body and conductive gel so that the resultant electrode meets and exceeds all applicable AAMI and medical FDA standards. However, while this wire attachment method has proven to work very well, has been difficult to automate. The process of encapsulating the current-carrying wire and placing it on the electrode body is presently a hand process, which is both time consuming and expensive.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a medical electrode in which the current-carrying wire is secured thereto in a manner that both provides for an even current distribution and is susceptible to automation.

Multifunction electrode and method of making same


A stent delivery system which has a stent, a catheter, and a tether. The catheter has a balloon with at least one fold. The balloon and the stent both have unexpanded configurations with smaller diameters and expanded configurations with greater diameters. The tether defines a length and has a first end connected to the unexpanded stent and a contacting span enwrapped within the fold of the unexpanded balloon. The tether holds the unexpanded stent to the unexpanded balloon and releases the expanded stent from the expanded balloon.

1. Field of the Invention
In some embodiments this invention relates to implantable medical devices, their manufacture, and methods of use. Some embodiments are directed to delivery systems, such as catheter systems of all types, which are utilized in the delivery of such devices.
2. Description of the Related Art
A stent is an elongated device used to support an intraluminal wall. Typically, a stent is implanted in a blood vessel at the site of a stenosis or aneurysm endoluminally, i.e. by so-called "minimally invasive techniques" in which the stent, restrained in a radially compressed configuration by a sheath or catheter, is delivered by a stent delivery system or "introducer" to the site where it is required. The introducer may enter the body from an access location outside the body, such as through the patient's skin, or by a "cut down" technique in which the entry blood vessel is exposed by minor surgical means.
Stents, grafts, stent-grafts, vena cava filters, expandable frameworks and similar implantable medical devices, collectively referred to hereinafter as stents, are radially expandable endoprostheses which are typically intravascular implants capable of being implanted transluminally and enlarged radially after being introduced percutaneously. Stents may be implanted in a variety of body lumens or vessels such as within the vascular system, urinary tracts, bile ducts, etc. Stents may be used to reinforce body vessels and to prevent restenosis following angioplasty in the vascular system. They may be self-expanding, such as a nitinol shape memory stent, mechanically expandable, such as a balloon expandable stent, or hybrid expandable.
Stents may be created by methods including cutting or etching a design from a tubular stock, from a flat sheet which is cut or etched and which is subsequently rolled or from one or more interwoven wires or braids.
Inflation expandable stents are well-known and widely available. Inflation expandable stents (also known as balloon expandable stents) are crimped to their reduced diameter about a balloon or other expandable device mounted on the delivery catheter, positioned at the deployment site, and then expanded to their deployed diameter within the vessel by fluid inflation of the balloon.
The art referred to and/or described above is not intended to constitute an admission that any patent, publication or other information referred to herein is "prior art" with respect to this invention.
All US patents and applications and all other published documents mentioned anywhere in this application are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.
Without limiting the scope of the invention a brief summary of some of the claimed embodiments of the invention is set forth below. Additional details of the summarized embodiments of the invention and/or additional embodiments of the invention may be found in the Detailed Description of the Invention below.
A brief abstract of the technical disclosure in the specification is provided as well only for the purposes of complying with 37 C.F.R. 1.72. The abstract is not intended to be used for interpreting the scope of the claims.


A separating membrane for use particularly in pressure sensors, for separating between a process fluid and a pressure-transferring hydraulic oil, is described. The separating membrane is in the form of a thin foil covering an opening into a volume containing the oil, with the foil being fastened to the edges of the opening, and is characterized in that the separating membrane is fastened at the edges of the opening in such a manner that it, in at least one region of its area, exhibits a transition from a concave to convex bulging, whereby the membrane is able to accommodate a volume change of the oil through a non-energy requiring translation of the transition(s). Also described are a method of manufacturing the separating membrane as well as a pressure sensor comprising the separating membrane.

Measuring pressures in an application with large temperature variations presents great challenges to the measurement equipment and the dimensioning thereof. Moreover, the taking of such pressure measurements is often desired in a difficult environment, such as in connection with subsea oil installations and processing facilities, for example. Under such conditions it is common to effectuate the measurement remotely from the location where the measurement is desired. Often, a transfer medium in the form of hydraulic oil located in long lines is used. These long lines extend to a pressure gauge positioned at a distance from the desired measurement location. Even though such lines are thin, the total volume of oil within these long lines is large. It is common to use large, thin membranes (diameter larger than 50 mm) of a corrugated metal for separating the process fluid to be measured from the pressure-transferring hydraulic oil transferring the pressure to the sensor.
However, it is usually desired to have the membranes as small as possible, so as to save costs, weight, and size. In addition, the hydraulic forces are significantly smaller if the diameter of the pressure connection is small. The problem of having small dimensions (less than 20 mm), however, is that the membrane becomes too rigid and causes measuring errors which are not stable over time. This is particularly a problem when measuring pressure in the presence of large pressure and temperature differences, such as in oil installations and processing facilities, for example.


A universal IFF technique and system utilizes a real-time communication l established between both parties allowing the approximate immediate transferral of digital information with positive direction and identification of both parties achieved. A pump laser emits a first signal at a first position and a remote laser beacon emits a second signal at a second position, both signals at nominally the same wavelength. A MPPCM receives the first signal which establishes a beam fan. The MPPCM and first signal scans about a region of interest to intercept the second signal. The second signal provides a second input signal into the MPPCM so that a two-way phase conjugation signal builds up and lock-on is established.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to remote optical sensing and more specifically, to a mutually pumped phase conjugator remote optical sensing technique and system utilized as a real time communications link for Identification of Friend or Foe (IFF).
2. Description of Prior Art
The diverse deployment of highly sophisticated weapon systems by numerous participants on the modern battlefield can pose a problem not only to battlefield tactics but also to friendly forces in battlefield engagements. Digital signals permit the integration of speech, data, pictures, or any other information in a universal communications format. A real-time communication link which cannot be easily countermeasured is crucial to battlefield success. This fact has led to a greater dependence on updated information only available through digital information transmission.
A communications link is especially crucial in preventing accidental engagement of friendly forces on the battlefield which creates tremendous morale problems and reduces the overall effectiveness of any engagement. In the area of IFF it is essential to positively identify friendly forces quickly and accurately with absolute assurance in order to effectively engage unfriendly forces. The uncertainty in the identification of forces on the battlefield and subsequent hesitation in engagements can lead to an ineffective encounter (fratricide in the worst case). Some of the problems, past solutions and their defects in IFF can be described in the context of engagements that occurred during Desert Storm.
In Desert Storm, ranges of 2-4 km for tank engagements and as much as 8 km for some guided munitions reduced the target seen by the soldier to a "blob". The desert terrain presents an uncluttered extended view, with few visual spatial cues, and no natural places of concealment. Flags, inverted Vee and other identifying symbols fabricated using paint/tape, and orange panels were placed on vehicles to aid in daylight visual recognition. Heavy overcast days, smoke, and nighttime encounters led to the aforementioned solutions as being unusable, and also could easily be countermeasured since special equipment was not required to determine the presence of such measures. Numerous nighttime engagements required use of infrared imaging devices which also suffered from problems due to the surroundings.
Thermal terrain images in the Dessert differ from more temperate terrains because of low thermal scene contrast and large target contrast swings due to diurnal cycles which make thermal imaging difficult. Temperature cycles as large as 70 degree F. occur from day to night. When gain/contrast controls of thermal imaging devices are set to maximize brightness, recognition cues are severely reduced. Temporary solutions, such as pulsing near IR beacons were utilized on vehicles but was not appropriate for a longer conflict since the enemy also had limited night vision devices. These types of solutions have a fixed recognition which cannot be readily updated, and allow for a less complicated countermeasure to be designed since each party requires only a transmitter or a receiver.
While the prior art has reported using IFF systems and techniques none have established a basis for a specific apparatus that is dedicated to the task of resolving the particular problem at hand. What is needed in this instance is a universal IFF apparatus and technique which includes: wavelengths utilized not in the visible spectrum, recognition requirements that can be continually updated, requires transmitting and receiving devices for both parties (universal) which must be nominally of the same wavelength allows for the immediate transferral of digital information between both parties, and not substantially dependent on environmental conditions.

Mutually pumped phase conjugator for remote identification

The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army


Apparatus is disclosed for rapidly collecting aerosols containing solid particles and micro organisms, such as viruses and bacteria, from relatively large volumes of air and concentrating these particulates as samples in water. This apparatus operates under conditions conducive to preserving the integrity and viability of the collected micro organisms. Ambient air containing aerosols drawn into and through the collector's interior by an air mover, is mixed with very warm air saturated with moisture and then with cold air, to cause the resulting vapor mixture to become supersaturated. This supersaturated water vapor rapidly condenses onto the incoming aerosol particles to form droplets with particles at their centers. The airstream carrying these droplets enters a cloud of air ions produced by a corona generator or, alternately, by a radioactive source emitting alpha particles. The air ions transfer their charges to the droplets which are then attracted from the airstream to temporarily adhere to the collector screens which may carry a charge of polarity opposite of that imparted on the droplets or be grounded. The airstream then continues through the system and is vented. The particles collected on the screens are continuously or periodically washed off by a low volume flow or spray of water. The resulting highly concentrated particle suspension passes through a funnel and a peristaltic pump to an output port to yield time-sequential aliquots for external analysis. Using a multi-stage filtration and back flush process, additional particle size classification within aliquots is possible before analysis.

Currently, and in the recent past, numerous types of sampling devices have been advanced and are available for collection of airborne microorganisms (bioaerosols) from both outdoor and indoor environments. Each device has certain advantages and disadvantages, depending on the particular environment in which it is used and the type of sample to be collected. A reference list of recent comparative studies of bioaerosol sampling instruments (particularly for allergen collection) is provided in a recent article by Cage, et al..sup.1, which focuses on an evaluation of four bioaerosol samplers for use in outdoor environment. The samplers the authors compare include a Rotorod, a Kramer-Collins suction trap, an all-glass impinger (AGI-30), and the Spincon high-volume cyclonic liquid impinger. None of these samplers operates on a continuous or semi-continuous basis to provide samples for rapid or short-time analyses which are of considerable interest to the users.
The literature contains numerous other reviews of bioaerosol samplers and collectors. Chatigny.sup.2, for example, provides a rather full listing of commercially available devices most frequently used in sampling microbial aerosols of various types, sizes, and concentrations.
Both the Andersen multi-stage cascade impactor.sup.3,4 and the AGI-30 all-glass impinger.sup.5,6 have been recommended in the literature for use as laboratory standard samplers. The Andersen Viable Sampler is a well-known, six-stage, multi-orifice cascade impactor-type unit designed specifically for collection of airborne, viable bacteria on nutrient-filled Petri dishes. The resultant colonies can then be subjected to standard microbiological analyses.
The Andersen impactor can provide some direct classification of sizes in incoming particles, as the larger particles entering each successive stage cannot follow the air flow in jets directed at each nutrient treated impaction surface. Rather, the larger particles in each case impact on the surfaces, while the smaller ones pass onto the next stage designed to capture particles of smaller absolute size. The principal shortcoming of these (and typically other impactors, as well) is that the incoming particles are not collected in liquid and, therefore, the particles are subjected to considerable shock forces on impact, which may affect their viability. Further, the samples are not well suited to be subjected to subsequent manipulation that is often required to facilitate some of the instrumental bioparticle analysis techniques to be applied in a timely fashion. Two secondary weaknesses are that only relatively low intake air-flow rates (about 28 liters/min or less) are provided and there is no easy means to collect sequential samples to characterize particulates on a time-dependent basis.
The AGI-30 impinger, is an all-glass unit that operates by drawing aerosols through an inlet tube curved to simulate the human nasal passage. This tube forms all air-jet output. In operation, a one-half atmosphere vacuum is drawn across the jet tube so that a choked-flow condition is maintained, with a typical flow rate of about 12.5 l/min. This flow rate has been found to be useful for collecting microbial particles in the respirable size range of about 0.8 to 15 .mu.m. The jet is directed into a collecting medium of water, typically about 20 ml in volume, but it can be smaller to achieve an increased concentration of microorganisms. The very low intake air flow rate can be a drawback in using this sampler, especially if very low concentrations of particulates in the outdoor environment need to be sampled in a short time frame of a few minutes. No known provision currently exists to operate this type of sampler on a continuous or semi-continuous basis to provide a sequence of collected samples to indicate relatively short-term behavior of an ambient outdoor aerosol.
In these samplers--as well as in a wide variety other collectors.sup.7,8,9,10,11 --a primary concern has been to maintain the viability of the collected bioparticles. According to Cox.sup.12, some attempts to develop improved impingers (in particular) that overcome such problems have been made by other workers, including Shipe.sup.11, et al. and May, and these efforts have been at least partially successful. Cox notes (op. cit.) in the case of May's impinger ". . . the design represents a marked advance over more conventional impingers, but unfortunately, its complex construction in glass and ensuing cost represent disadvantages over classical impingers . . . ".
An additional shortcoming of the various impactors and impingers mentioned so far, is that neither continuous nor short-term integrated samples of the collected microorganisms are made readily available for further analysis. This shortcoming has been addressed, however, by the "sequential" and "tape" samplers. These include the Casella "Airborne Bacterial Sampler-MKII" and the New Brunswick "Microbiological Sampler.".sup.13 These devices operate with a fixed narrow slit providing a particle-laden air jet of known velocity, which impacts on a nutrient agar-filled Petri dish that is mounted on a slowly rotating turntable. Following incubation, the exposed dishes permit colony counts to be made and correlated with time and sampling rate. A "Moving Slide" impactor from Meteorology Research, Inc., can deposit two samples from two identical slits onto a moving slide.sup.14 for subsequent time and concentration analysis. These types of samplers show only limited capability to provide sequential samples suitable for timely instrumental analysis.
Errington and Powell.sup.15 developed a cyclone sampler with an air-particle inlet into which was metered a low flow of suitable liquid that formed a thin liquid layer on the inside wall of the cyclone. The impacted particles on the cyclone wall were then carried by the liquid to the bottom of the unit. Typically, a cyclone collector can provide a somewhat milder stress environment on impacting particles than is usually available in a straight jet or virtual impactor systems.sup.16,17. This device is more effective with larger particles than with smaller ones.
Another technique explored and reported in the literature is the use of electrostatic-based samplers. Rather than using mechanical forces to separate the particles from the air stream, electrical forces are used; these electrical forces may provide further help in collecting the particles on some types of collection media. Typically, the charging of the particles to be sampled is done by passing the sample through the drift region of a high-voltage corona discharge. Either negative or positive coronas can be used, and the charges produced in the drift field are correspondingly also negative or positive.sup.18. Additional details of the utilization of coronas in charging aerosol particles to enhance particle collection are given by Ogawa.sup.19, Lippmann.sup.20, and Swift and Lippmann.sup.21.
In the use of electrostatic precipitators for the collection of biological aerosols the effect, must be considered, which ultraviolet radiation, ozone, or nitrogen oxides, produced during corona generation, may have on the viability of the collected biological materials.
Despite the intense activity in the past to advance and develop bioaerosol samplers, a need remains for a bioaerosol collector that incorporates into a single device a number of features to achieve both improved process performance and greater overall capability than is exhibited by any of the instruments previously noted.
One of the problems with prior art devices mentioned above has been the inability to achieve high collection efficiencies of airborne microorganisms whose sizes are smaller than about 2 .mu.m. Thus, the present invention has as a purpose to provide particle collection with a higher aerosol collection efficiency than with prior art devices, especially for submicron particles.
The second problem has been to be able to rapidly sample and process a sufficient volume of ambient air to ensure that a relatively large number of specific microorganisms of interest are collected (and ultimately concentrated) in a liquid to form a representative sample over a short time period of about two minutes or less. Increased sampling air flow in the collector and concentrator will be another purpose of this invention.
A third purpose will be to provide a continuous, uninterrupted sampling process to ensure that a time sequence of two minute samples over a much longer duration, suitably of the order of hours, will be available.
A fourth purpose will be to provide for partial or total separation of the particles collected, in liquid into one or more size classes to facilitate, the identification and analysis of particles of interest from the much larger total number of collected particles, which includes those representative of the natural ambient microorganisms.
A fifth purpose will be to concentrate the particles in each individual particle size range and thereby develop a time series of aliquots for further analysis of any microorganisms that might be present.
Finally, because many of the aerosol collectors tend to be unreliable and complex in their design, therefore expensive and difficult to operate, a sixth purpose will be to provide a collector/concentrator that will overcome these shortcomings.


Disclosed is an antimicrobial silicone rubber, functional macromolecules being chemically bonded to the surface of the silicone rubber and containing vinyl or ethynyl, and the functional macromolecules being chemically bonded to the surface of the silicone rubber by means of vinyl or ethynyl; the functional macromolecules comprise polyamino acid macromolecules of which the molecular structure is as shown in (I) and (II). The antimicrobial silicone rubber of the present invention has polyamino acid macromolecules chemically bonded to the surface of the silicone rubber and serves an antimicrobial function by means of the interaction of polyamino acid macromolecules with a negatively charged cell membrane in bacteria, providing a persistent antimicrobial effect and unlikely causing bacteria to develop any drug resistance; moreover, polyamino acid macromolecules bind to the surface of the silicone rubber by means of chemical bonding, preventing macromolecules from being precipitated and entering a cell, providing good biocompatibility.

Silicone rubber has excellent bio-safety and mechanical properties. It has been widely used in medical, health care, cosmetics and other fields for its products such as urethral catheters, drainage tubes, respiratory catheters, cervical occlusion devices, and wound dressings. However, silicone rubber needs to be in contact with human tissues such as the urethra and skin for a long time during use. As an exogenous artificial material, the surface of the silicone rubber is prone to bacterial adhesion and proliferation, and even forming a biofilm, and as the silicone rubber retention time increases, the probability of bacterial infection increases. The biofilm, as a "protective umbrella" for microorganisms, can resist the effects of antibiotics on microorganisms, and even enter human blood to cause sepsis and even endanger the lives of patients. Statistically, the bacterial infection caused by the use of silicone rubber accounts for 40% of the total number of infections in the hospital each year, and is increasing year by year. Hence, the antimicrobial property of silicone rubber surface is of great importance. The development of antimicrobial silicone rubber and its products is of great significance for improving the retention period of silicone rubber, increasing the comfort of use, reducing the workload of medical care, and ensuring the safety of patients.
At present, there are two main ways to research and develop antimicrobial silicone rubber:
1) incorporating an antibiotic or an organic antimicrobial agent with silicone rubber by means of bulk addition or surface coating to inhibit the proliferation of bacteria by a specific antimicrobial group of the antibiotic. For example: in the Chinese patent CN201558397U "silicone rubber loaded with slow-release amikacin", polylactic acid-polyglycolic acid loaded with amikacin is coated on the surface of the silicone rubber to obtain the antimicrobial effect by the slow-release of amikacin. However, a large amount of antibiotics needs to be added to ensure an antimicrobial effect since the silicone rubber may indwell for a long period of time, which would cause bacteria to develop drug resistance, resulting in antibiotic failure. In the Chinese patent application CN201431691Y "An antimicrobial hydrophilic coating silicone rubber", chitin or chitosan derivatives were coated on the surface of silicone rubber to prepare antimicrobial silicone rubber. However, the chitin or chitosan derivative has a poor antimicrobial effect and has no covalent bonding with the surface of silicon rubber, causing a weak bonding force and easily fell off; and
2) compounding an inorganic silver, copper or zinc-loaded antimicrobial agent with the silicone rubber, and realizing antimicrobial effect by means of the action of the released antimicrobial metal ions (Ag+, Cu2+ or Zn2+) or nanoparticles thereof to bacteria on the surface of the silicone rubber. For example: in the Chinese patent application CN2778285Y, "antimicrobial silicone rubber", antimicrobial silicone rubber is prepared by coating nano silver on the surface of silicone rubber; And in the Chinese patent application CN101912638A "Nano silver-loaded silica urinary catheter and production method thereof", nano silver-loaded silica is mixed into silica gel, and subjected to vulcanization and other processes to prepare an antimicrobial silicone rubber urinary catheter. However, the continuous precipitation and accumulation of antimicrobial metal ions or nanoparticles would destroy the microenvironment balance of surrounding tissues, interfere with the normal growth of surrounding cells, promote the content of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) to increase, produce cytotoxicity, and lead to poor biocompatibility of silicone rubber.
It can be seen, the problem of cytotoxicity caused by bacterial resistance or separation of antimicrobial active substances cannot be avoided in the prior art.

Antimicrobial silicone rubber, preparation method therefor and use thereof

Suzhou DOBION Medical Technology Co., Ltd.


An indoor air quality module includes an ultraviolet light source located between two titanium dioxide coated honeycombs. Photons of ultraviolet light are absorbed by the titanium dioxide coating to form reactive hydroxyl radicals that attack and oxidize contaminants in the to water, carbon dioxide, and other substances. An outer compartment is attached to an air duct and an HVAC unit, and an inner compartment supports the honeycombs, a particle filter, and the ultraviolet light source. When the module is in the working position and the honeycombs and the particle filter are correctly installed, the components contact switches on the outer compartment, and the ultraviolet light source is activated. When the inner compartment is pivoted relative to the outer compartment during servicing or if any of the components are incorrectly installed or not installed, one of the components does not engage the corresponding switch, deactivating the ultraviolet light source.

The present invention relates generally to an indoor air quality module that deactivates an ultraviolet light source if the module is being serviced or if the internal components are installed incorrectly or not installed.
Indoor air can include trace amounts of contaminants, including biospecies, dust, particles, odors, carbon monoxide, ozone, and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) such as formaldehyde, acetaldehyde, toluene, propanol, butene, etc. Indoor air quality modules are used to purify the air by destroying contaminants. The module includes a titanium dioxide coated monolith, such as a honeycomb, and an ultraviolet light source.
Titanium dioxide operates as a photocatalyst to destroy contaminants when illuminated with ultraviolet light. Photons of the ultraviolet light are absorbed by the titanium dioxide, promoting an electron from the valence band to the conduction band, thus producing a hole in the valence band and adding an electron in the conduction band. The promoted electron reacts with oxygen, and the hole remaining in the valence band reacts with water, forming reactive hydroxyl radicals. When contaminants in the air flow through the honeycomb and are adsorbed onto the titanium dioxide coating, the hydroxyl radicals attack and oxidize the contaminants to water, carbon dioxide, and other substances. The ultraviolet light also irradiates and kills the biospecies in the airflow.
If the honeycombs or an air filter are incorrectly installed or not installed in the module, ultraviolet light can leak from the module. Additionally, ultraviolet light can irradiate into the surrounding area during servicing of the module. Ultraviolet light may have several negative effects. For one, it may be harmful to the skin and to the eyes in high doses. Additionally, if ultraviolet light leaks from the module, less ultraviolet light is directed toward the titanium dioxide coating, reducing the number of hydroxyl radials and the photocatalytic effect of the titanium dioxide coating.
Hence, there is a need for an indoor air quality module that deactivates the ultraviolet light source if the module is being serviced or if the internal components are installed incorrectly or not installed.

Indoor air quality module with safety switches to deactivate ultraviolet light


An adjustable exercise bar comprises a bar (145) and one or more rails (100, 105) upon which one or more bar retainers are constrained to move. The rails are secured to a vertical surface such as a wall or post (110). A plunger assembly (400) contained within the bar retainers is coupled to the bar by a stiff metal band that is attached to the bar. A plunger in each plunger assembly is normally inserted in a hole (115) in the rail or rails, preventing the bar retainer from moving. The plunger assembly is actuated by rotating the front of the bar upward (from the user's perspective). This actuation causes the plunger (405) to be removed from the hole, enabling movement of the bar upward or downward. When the rotational force on the bar is removed, a spring (435) within the plunger assembly returns the bar to its original rotational position and returns the plunger to a hole in the rail. An optional weight (155) secured to the bar retainers by cords (160, 161) acts as a counterbalance to bar movement. An additional static bar (170) is provided to permit the performance of additional exercises.

1. Prior Art—Exercise Bars
Humans have long used exercise bars for stretching, strengthening, and toning many parts of their bodies. In general, they comprise a horizontal bar that is movably held at a predetermined height. The user grips the bar with one or both hands and bears against it from various angles, providing resistance to muscular efforts. Alternatively, the bar can be used to restrain the user's feet for use in leg, foot, back, and stomach exercises. Accessories to the bar, such as balls and benches, permit the user to attain additional postures for exercise. The height of the bar is normally adjustable to accommodate users of various sizes and to permit a variety of exercises to be performed.
The following is a list of some prior art that shows such bars.
U.S. Pat. No. Kind Issue or Patentee or or Pub. Nr.CodePub. DateApplicant2,688,289B1Sep. 07, 1954Sterling3,642,278B1Feb. 15, 1972Hinckley5,389,055B1Feb. 14, 1995Gangloff5,765,978B1Jun. 16, 1998Looker et al.6,623,409B1Sep. 23, 2003Abelbeck
Hinckley shows an adjustable floor and ceiling supported chinning bar. A bar is suspended at its ends by a pair of threaded C-clamps that are secured to foraminous vertical supports by wing nuts. The upper and lower ends of the supports are respectively springably wedged between a ceiling and floor. The vertical position of the bar is adjusted by removing the wing nuts, relocating the clamps, and replacing the wing nuts. While this apparatus is useful, adjusting the height of the bar for a series of different exercises or for different users is onerous.
Gangloff teaches a portable exercise bar device comprising a horizontal bar and pair of vertical bar supports that are secured to a flat base. In one embodiment, the supports include a plurality of holes that accept movable pins that project from the ends of the horizontal bar. In another embodiment, pins that extend from the horizontal bar slidably fit into notches in the vertical supports. This device is limited to providing support for performing pull-ups while the user is in a supine position. It must be partially disassembled when it is to be moved.
Looker et al. show a cargo track fitting with a springably liftable plunger that normally engages circular cut-outs in the track when the fitting is secured, but releases from the track when the plunger is lifted. This device is easily repositioned along the track by simply lifting the plunger. Lifting the plunger also permits removal of the device from the track. This ability is not desirable in uses where removal of the device from the track is not wanted.
Abelbeck shows an automatic locking exercise device comprising a horizontal exercise bar that is constrained to move up and down in a pair of vertical tracks. The vertical tracks each include a ratchet. The bar is rotatably coupled to a pair of spring-loaded pawls that slidably move over the ratchets when the bar is moved upward, but normally prevent the bar from moving downward. To move the bar downward, the user rotates the bar, releasing the pawls from contact with the ratchets and allowing the bar to slide downward. While it is useful in preventing weights from falling, for example, the ratchet-and-pawl component of this device limits its use to one-way vertical exercises.
2. Prior Art—Tie-Down Fittings
The ends of the above exercise bars are generally secured to vertical support members by locking devices that move slidably within channels. Such locking devices are also found in tie-down anchoring devices like those used in cargo holds of aircraft, ships, and trucks.
Sterling shows a tie-down assembly comprising a ring and clamp device that slidably moves in a channel in a released condition, and when actuated securely grips the channel. A ring that extends from the clamp is used to secure a rope that holds the cargo in place. This device provides a secure grip, but clamping and release operations would be cumbersome if the device were to be incorporated into an exercise bar that is to be moved frequently.
While the above-described devices are each useful for their intended purposes, they are not suitable for use in an exercise apparatus of the type described below.

Easily adjustable and lockable exercise bar apparatus


A planter for growing a transplantable plant includes a container having a sidewall and a bottom and further includes a retainer member for retaining a plant which has been transplanted within the container through the sidewall or bottom thereof. The retainer member defines an expandable opening which is movable between expanded and normally-collapsed conditions so that by urging a plant root system end-first against the retainer member, the expandable opening is moved to an expanded condition to permit the root system to pass through the expandable opening into the container interior. Upon passage of the root system through the expandable opening, the expandable opening is permitted to return toward its normally-collapsed condition about the stem of the plant to thereby prevent the withdrawal of the root system of the plant from the container interior through the plant retainer.

This invention relates generally to gardening accessories and relates, more particularly, to a planter within which plants are transplanted for growth.
The type of planter with which this invention is concerned includes those which are adapted to contain dirt or potting soil and into which a transplantable plant can be transplanted so that the plant continues its growth within the planter.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,171,782, on which I was named as a co-inventor, describes a planter which is adapted to be hung from an overhead support structure and into which multiple plants can be transplanted for growth out the sides of the planter. Such a planter is advantageous in that it enables multiple plants to be grown in an elevated condition above the ground (and thereby prevent the exposure of the plants, or the fruit thereof, to ground-related problems) without the need for appreciable space (e.g. ground space) for growing the plants.
It would be desirable to provide an improved planter for growing a plant or multiple plants in an elevated condition above the ground which embodies alternative means for holding the roots of a plant within the planter for growth of the stem of the plant out of the planter.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved planter for growing a plant or multiple plants in an elevated condition above the ground.
Another object of the present invention to provide such a planter having a container within which plants can be grown out the side or bottom thereof and including improved means for retaining the roots of the plants within the container.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide such a planter whose grow ports enable plants to be transplanted into the container of the planter relatively quickly.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide such a planter which is uncomplicated in structure, yet effective in operation.
One more object of the present invention is to provide a plant retaining means which can be utilized in conjunction with a grow port formed in a side or bottom of a planter for retaining a plant within the container for growth out of the grow port of the container.

Plant retainer for retaining a plant for growth from the side or bottom of a planter


A sport boot with an upper and a shell base journalled on axles has at least one reinforcement element of the shell base. The reinforcement element has an abutment zone capable of cooperating with a retractable support element which, fixedly positioned on the upper, makes it possible to block the upper in its pivoting about axles as early as its initial position or after a certain bending, and to thus transmit the forces of the upper to the shell base.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a sport boot having an upper and a shell base journalled to one another about journal axles, and whose shell base is reinforced by at least one reinforcement element of its wall. The invention also relates to the limitation of pivoting of the upper on its journal axles with respect to the reinforced shell base, as well as to the transmission of the forces of the upper on the shell base when it is within the pivoting limit.
2. Background and Material Information
Known sport boots, such as the ski boots described in the documents DE 19 21 907, CH 507 673, and CH 456 393, have reinforcement elements inserted in the wall of the shell base that are adapted to protect the flasks thereof, and some of which are adapted to provide it with further stiffness in predetermined areas. In these boots, the reinforcement elements have no influence either in the transmission of the forces or supports applied on the upper, or on the pivoting possibilities of the latter with respect to the shell base.
Other known sport boots, such as those described in the documents FR 2 063 555, EP 630 591, and EP 645 101, have an upper and a shell base, provided with a sole, which are connected and journalled to one another about journal axles in the zone corresponding to the joint of the wearer's ankle where they are joined by an at least partial overlapping on one another, via the lower edge of the upper and a collar of the shell base. Reinforcement elements are inserted in the wall of the shell base and of the upper, and are adapted, in addition to stiffening these portions of the boot, to transmit the supports or forces of the upper toward the shell base by means of the journal axles these portions. Indeed, these reinforcement elements arranged on the upper and the shell base are connected to one another solely by means of journal axles. Because of this, the forces or supports applied on the boot upper by the wearer in the transverse direction thereof, or vertically, are transmitted with relatively no power loss on the flanks of the boot toward the sole. These reinforcement elements make it possible to reach an optimum flexibility-rigidity compromise for the boot by positioning flexible portions in the location of the adjustment zones and rigid portions in the location of the zones for transmitting the impulses and supports of the wearer. However, they are inoperative in limiting the possible pivoting of the upper with respect to the shell base about its journal axles, and are therefore also inoperative in transmitting a force in the direction of the forward or rearward pivoting of the upper.

Boot with force transmission reinforcement


A wheeled container for a memory foam mattress includes a plastic container having an upper end and a lower end with a bottom surface that extends to a lower edge of the container, a pair of wheels rotatably mounted to the plastic container at the lower edge of the container, and a handle mounted to the plastic container, whereby the handle is mounted on the same side of the plastic container as the pair of wheels. A compressed memory foam mattress is disposed inside a flexible storage bag, which, in turn, is disposed inside the plastic container. The plastic container has a storage configuration in which a bottom face of the container is parallel to the ground, and a moving configuration in which the container is tilted onto the pair of wheels for rolling the container over the ground.

Mattresses are bulky items that are difficult to transport and move from a retail store to a home. Traditionally, mattresses have been packaged and sold in a flat configuration, whereby the mattresses have the same size and dimension in a store as they do when placed atop a box spring or mattress support to make a bed. Recently, there have been efforts directed to compressing mattresses before placing the mattresses in a box, and there is now an entire industry dedicated to compressing foam and coil mattresses for retail packaging.
Similarly, mattress toppers are bulky items that are difficult to transport from a retail establishment to a home. There have been a number of efforts directed to compressing mattress toppers and placing the compressed mattress toppers in packaging for retail display.
In spite of these advances there remains a need for improved containers for mattresses, mattress toppers, and bulky bedding products that make it easier for consumers to transport these items from retail stores to the home.

Wheeled containers for memory foam mattresses


An actuator for an oscillator which is capable of minimizing the fluctuation of the detection error of the oscillation condition of an electrostatic driven oscillator and shortening rise time of the oscillation amplitude of the electrostatic driven oscillator during starting. An actuator oscillates a drive frame and a detecting frame in the X-direction by outputting the drive signal to an electrode and detects the displacement of the drive frame in the X-direction as the displacement signal. The actuator generates a direct-current voltage component of the drive signal controlled to be increased or decreased based on the detected displacement signal and an alternating voltage component of the drive signal having a constant amplitude to maintain the constancy of the oscillation amplitude of the drive frame based on the detected displacement signal. During starting, the actuator generates an alternating voltage component of the drive signal having a larger amplitude compared to at normal operation condition.

This application is based on and claims priority under 35 U.S.C. xc2xa7 119 with respect to Japanese Application No. 2000-077092 on Mar. 17, 2000 and to Japanese Application No. 2001-076275 filed on Mar. 16, 2001.
The present invention generally relates to an actuator for an oscillator. More particularly, the present invention pertains to an actuator for an oscillator for oscillating electrostatic driven type oscillators provided with angular rate sensors.
A schematic illustration of related art actuators for an oscillator for oscillating electrostatic driven oscillators provided with an angular rate sensor is shown in FIG. 19. As shown in FIG. 19, a signal for the displacement of the electrostatic driven oscillator caused by the oscillation in a driving direction is outputted from a driving direction displacement detecting electrode 81 to a displacement signal detecting portion 82.
The displacement signal outputted to the displacement signal detecting portion 82 is synchronously detected at a timing synchronized to the displacement in a driving direction in a synchronous detection circuit 83 to be outputted to an amplitude adjuster 84 as oscillation amplitude data.
Simultaneously, the displacement signal outputted to the displacement signal detecting portion 82 is outputted to the amplitude adjuster 84 after being phase-shifted by approximately 90 degrees in a 90 degree phase shifter 85. By means of the phase shift of the displacement signal by approximately 90 degrees via the 90 degree phase shifter 85, an alternating voltage component of the drive signal having phase-contrast by approximately 90 degrees relative to the displacement signal is generated in the amplitude adjuster 84 to facilitate the oscillation of the electrostatic driven type oscillator.
The oscillation amplitude data outputted to the amplitude adjuster 84 is compared with a predetermined amplitude value in the amplitude adjuster 84. When the oscillation amplitude data is smaller than the predetermined amplitude value, an alternating voltage component of the drive signal having increased amplitude is generated (incremental adjustment). On the other hand, when the oscillation amplitude data is larger than the predetermined amplitude value, the alternating voltage component of the drive signal having decreased amplitude is generated (decremental adjustment). The amplitude adjustment of the alternating voltage component of the drive signal in the foregoing manner is performed for controlling the amplitude driving force of the oscillator to have constant amplitude in the driving direction of the oscillator. The alternating voltage component of the drive signal in which the amplitude is adjusted in the foregoing manner is outputted to an adder 86.
In the adder 86, a drive signal is generated by incorporating the alternating voltage component of the drive signal in which the amplitude is adjusted and the direct-current voltage component of the drive signal having a predetermined value. The drive signal generated in this manner is supplied to a drive electrode 87 fixed on a substrate. When the voltage of the drive electrode of the oscillator side is grounded (GND), the oscillator is oscillated to have constant amplitude in the driving direction by the oscillation of the electrostatic attraction generated to be proportional to the second power of the drive signal between the oscillator and the drive electrode 87.
Generally, electrostatic driven oscillators are oscillated by a drive signal consisting of the alternating voltage component and the direct-current voltage component supplied thereto. The electrostatic driven oscillators are oscillated by the oscillation of the electrostatic attraction generated proportional to the second power of the drive signal between the electrostatic driven oscillator and a drive electrode. The displacement of the electrostatic driven type oscillator according to the oscillation in a driving direction is detected as a displacement signal. The generation of the drive signal is controlled by an amplitude adjusting means to maintain the constancy of the oscillation amplitude of the electrostatic driven oscillator in a driving direction based on the detected displacement signal. By controlling the generation of the drive signal, the oscillation driving force of the electrostatic driven oscillator is controlled to maintain the constancy of the oscillation amplitude of the electrostatic driven oscillator in a driving direction.
The alternating voltage component of the drive signal is a cause of the noise of the displacement detecting signal because of the approximately same frequency with the displacement detecting signal. Thus, the alternating voltage component of the drive signal becomes a main cause of the detection error of the oscillation condition of the electrostatic driven oscillator. When an angular rate is detected during oscillation of the electrostatic driven oscillator applied to an angular rate sensor, the alternating voltage component causes a lag in the detected output.
When the amount of the noise derived from the alternating voltage component of the drive signal is stable, the detection error of the oscillation and the lag of the detected output of the angular rate maintain an approximately fixed level. When the detection error of the oscillation and the lag of the detected output of the angular rate maintain an approximately fixed level, they can be easily corrected. Therefore, when the amount of the noise derived from the alternating voltage component of the drive signal is stable, it is easy to correct the error. However, when the increase or decrease of the alternating voltage component of the drive signal is adjusted for maintaining the oscillation amplitude in a driving direction to be constant while the Q factor of the electrostatic driven oscillator in a driving direction fluctuates due to the change of the electrostatic driven oscillator due to the passage of time and the change in the environmental temperature, the amount of the noise mixed in the displacement detecting signal fluctuates. Thus, the detection error of the oscillation condition of the electrostatic driven type oscillator and the lag of the detected output of the angular rate are fluctuated by the increase or decrease of the alternating voltage component of the drive signal.
In order to minimize the fluctuation of the lag of the detecting output of the angular rate and the detection error of the oscillation condition of the electrostatic driven oscillator, it was proposed to control the oscillation drive force of the electrostatic driven oscillator to maintain the constancy of the oscillation amplitude of the electrostatic oscillator in a driving direction by increasing or decreasing only the direct-current voltage component while maintaining the constancy of the amplitude of the alternating voltage component of the drive signal.
Thus, as shown in a schematic illustration of FIG. 20, the displacement according to the oscillation of the electrostatic driven oscillator in a driven direction is outputted to a displacement signal detecting portion 92 from a driving direction displacement detecting electrode 91 as a displacement signal.
The displacement signal outputted to the displacement signal detecting portion 92 which is synchronously detected at a timing synchronized to the displacement in the driving direction in a synchronous detecting circuit 93 is outputted as the oscillation amplitude data to an oscillation adjuster 94. The oscillation amplitude data outputted to the amplitude adjuster 94 is compared to a predetermined amplitude value in the amplitude adjuster 94. When the oscillation amplitude data is smaller than the predetermined amplitude value, the direct-current voltage component of the drive signal is adjusted to be increased. On the other hand, when the oscillation amplitude data is larger than the predetermined amplitude value, the direct-current voltage component of the drive signal is decreased. The direct-current voltage component of the drive signal is adjusted to control the oscillation drive force of the electrostatic drive oscillator in order to maintain the constancy of the oscillation amplitude of the electrostatic drive oscillator in driving direction. The direct-current voltage component of the drive signal generated in the foregoing manner is outputted to the adder 95.
Simultaneously, part of the displacement signal outputted to the displacement signal detecting portion 92 is outputted to the alternating voltage component generating portion 97 after being phase-shifted by approximately 90 degrees via a 90 degree phase shifter 96. In the alternating voltage component generating portion 97, the alternating voltage component of the drive signal having the same frequency as the displacement signal, is phase-shifted approximately 90 degrees to the displacement signal, and having a constant amplitude is generated. The amplitude of the alternating voltage component of the drive signal is large enough to oscillate the oscillator at the resonant frequency. By shifting the phase of the alternating voltage component of the drive signal by approximately 90 degrees to the displacement signal, the oscillator can be driven at the most effective resonant frequency point which makes the oscillation of the oscillator easy. The alternating voltage component of the drive signal generated in the aforementioned manner is outputted to the adder 95.
In the adder 95, the adjusted direct-current voltage component Vdc of the drive signal and the alternating voltage component of the drive signal having the constant amplitude are added to generate an incorporated drive signal. The incorporated drive signal generated in the foregoing manner is supplied to the drive electrode 98. By the oscillation of the electrostatic attraction generated between the oscillator and the drive electrode 98 proportional to the second power of the drive signal, the oscillator is oscillated to maintain the constancy of the oscillation amplitude in the driving direction.
In the aforementioned actuator for an oscillator, in order to reduce the amount of the noise mixed in the displacement signal derived from the alternating voltage component of the drive signal, the alternating voltage component of the drive signal is predetermined to have a relatively small amplitude. However, in case the oscillation drive force of the oscillator is controlled only by the increase or decrease of the direct-current voltage component of the drive signal, a sufficient oscillation drive force cannot be obtained at the start at which the maximum drive force is needed compared to the force needed in a normal operation because the adjustment range of the direct-current voltage component is restricted by the capacity of the power supply voltage. Accordingly, it takes time to rise until the oscillation reaches a predetermined oscillation condition. This tendency is more remarkable in an oscillation having a higher Q-factor.
In light of the foregoing, it is an object of the present invention to provide an actuator for an oscillator to minimize unfavorable conditions such as the change of the detection error under the oscillation of an electrostatic driven oscillator.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide an actuator for an oscillator which is capable of shortening the rise time of the oscillation amplitude of an oscillator at the start.
To attain the above objects, the following technical means are provided with the actuator for an oscillator of the present invention which includes an oscillator driving means for oscillating an electrostatic driven oscillator by outputting a drive signal thereto, a displacement detecting means for detecting a displacement according to the oscillation of the electrostatic driven oscillator as a displacement signal, and an amplitude adjusting means for controlling the generation of the drive signal outputted from the oscillator driving means based on the detected displacement signal. The amplitude adjusting means comprises an alternating voltage component generating means for generating an alternating voltage component of the drive signal having a first amplitude in a normal operation and for generating the alternating voltage component of the drive signal having a second amplitude which is larger than the first amplitude at the start and a direct-current voltage component generating means for generating a direct current voltage component of the drive signal controlled to be increased or decreased based on the detected displacement signal. During the normal operation, the oscillation amplitude of the electrostatic driven oscillator is adjusted to be constant by controlling the oscillation force of the electrostatic driven oscillator based on an incorporated signal consisting of the direct-current voltage component and the alternating voltage component having a first amplitude. At the start, the oscillation amplitude of the electrostatic driven type oscillator is increased by providing a larger oscillation drive force to the electrostatic driven oscillator based on the incorporated drive signal consisting of the direct-current voltage component and the alternating voltage component having a second amplitude.
A second aspect of the technical means of the actuator for an oscillator of the present invention involves an alternating voltage component generating means comprised of an alternating voltage component generating portion for generating the alternating voltage component of a predetermined amplitude and an amplifying portion for generating the alternating voltage component of the drive signal having a first amplitude and the alternating voltage component of the drive signal having a second amplitude by amplifying the alternating voltage component of the predetermined amplitude by different amplification ratio in accordance with the distinction between a normal operation condition and a starting condition.
A third aspect of the technical means of the actuator for oscillator of the present invention involves an alternating voltage component generating means comprised of a first signal route for generating the alternating voltage component of the drire signal having a first amplitude, a second signal route for generating the alternating voltage component of the drive signal having a second amplitude, and a switching portion for switching the first signal route and the second signal route in accordance with the distinction of the normal operation condition and the starting condition.
A fourth aspect of the technical means of the actuator for oscillator of the present invention involves an oscillator driving means for oscillating the electrostatic driven oscillator by outputting a drive signal thereto, a displacement detecting means for detecting a displacement according to an oscillation of the electrostatic driven oscillator as a displacement signal, and an amplitude adjusting means for controlling the generation of the drive signal outputted from the oscillator driving means based on the detected displacement signal. The amplitude adjusting means is comprised of an alternating voltage component generating means for generating the alternating voltage component of the drive signal having a constant amplitude by phase-shifting and amplifying the displacement signal by a first amplification ratio at the normal operation and for generating the alternating voltage component of the drive signal by amplifying the displacement signal by a second amplification ratio which is larger than the first amplification ratio at a starting condition and is comprised of a direct-current voltage component generating means for generating the direct-current voltage component of the drive signal controlled to be increased or decreased based on the detected displacement signal. The oscillation amplitude of the electrostatic driven oscillator is adjusted to be constant by controlling the oscillation drive force of the electrostatic driven oscillator based on an incorporated signal consisting of the direct-current voltage component and the alternating voltage component having a constant amplitude amplified by the first amplification ratio at the normal operation. The oscillation amplitude of the electrostatic driven oscillator is increased by driving the larger oscillation drive force relative to the electrostatic driven oscillator based on an incorporated drive signal consisting of the direct-current voltage component and the alternating voltage component amplified by the second amplification ratio at the start.
A fifth aspect of the technical means of the actuator for an oscillator of the present invention involves the normal operation condition and the starting condition being distinguished by the passage of time after the start.
A sixth aspect of the technical means of the actuator for an oscillator of the present invention involves the normal operation condition and the starting condition being distinguished by the comparison between a predetermined amplitude at a start condition and the oscillation amplitude of the electrostatic driven oscillator detected based on the displacement signal.
A seventh aspect of the technical means of the actuator for an oscillator of the present invention involves the normal operation condition and the starting condition being distinguished by the comparison between the direct-current voltage component and a predetermined voltage at the start condition. The oscillation amplitude is set to be proportional to the oscillation frequency.
According to the first through the fourth aspects of the technical means, the oscillation adjusting means generates the incorporated drive signal consisting of the direct-current voltage component controlled to be increased or decreased based on the detected displacement signal and the alternating voltage component having a first amplitude by the alternating voltage component generating means and a direct-current voltage component generating means at the normal condition. Based on the incorporated drive signal, the oscillation drive force of the electrostatic driven oscillator is controlled to maintain the constancy of the oscillation amplitude of the electrostatic driven oscillator in driving direction. Thus, even when the Q factor of the electrostatic driven oscillator in a driving direction fluctuates due to the change of the electrostatic driven oscillator by the passage of time and the change of the environment temperature, only the direct-current voltage component of the drive signal is increased and decreased to maintain the constancy of the alternating voltage component (amplitude). Accordingly, even when the Q factor of the electrostatic driven oscillator in a driving direction fluctuates due to the passage of time and the change of the environment temperature, the amount of the noise in the displacement signal deriving from the alternating voltage component of the drive signal is kept stable. This helps the correction of detection error changes as long as the noise amount is stable by keeping the fixed level.
On the other hand, the oscillation adjusting means generates the incorporated drive signal consisting of the direct-current voltage component controlled to be increased or decreased based on the detected displacement signal and the alternating voltage component having the second amplitude which is larger than the first amplitude by the direct-current voltage component generating means and the alternating voltage component generating means at the start. Based on the incorporated drive signal, the oscillation amplitude of the electrostatic driven type oscillator is increased by driving the larger oscillation drive force relative to the electrostatic driven oscillator. Accordingly, the rise time of the oscillation amplitude of the electrostatic driven oscillator at the start is shortened.
Particularly, according to the fourth aspect of the technical means of the present invention, the alternating voltage component of the drive signal is generated only by phase-shifting and amplifying the displacement signal irrespective of the normal operation condition or the starting condition. When the oscillation amplitude of the electrostatic driven oscillator is kept stable, the alternating voltage component of the drive signal having the constant amplitude is generated only by phase-shifting and amplifying the displacement signal based on the oscillation of the electrostatic driven oscillator. Accordingly, the circuit structure of the alternating voltage component generating means is simplified compared to generating the alternating voltage component of the drive signal separately.
According to the fifth aspect of the technical means of the present invention, the distinction between the normal operation condition and the starting condition can be performed with simpler circuit structure based on the passage of time after the start.
According to the sixth aspect of the technical means of the present invention, the distinction between the normal operation condition and the starting condition can be performed more precisely by comparing the predetermined amplitude at the start and the oscillation amplitude which shows the actual oscillation condition of the electrostatic driven oscillator.
According to the seventh aspect of the technical means of the present invention, the distinction between the normal operation condition and the starting condition can be performed with a simpler structure and more precisely by comparing the direct current voltage component and the predetermined voltage at the start.


A so-called gap winding motor capable of preventing a rotation detector from being affected by noise generated by a stator coil connection portion and decreasing the size and cost is provided. The gap winding motor comprises a stator including a stator core, a plurality of stator coils arranged on an inner peripheral surface of the stator core, a ring-shaped coil connection board configured to connect the plurality of stator coils, and ring-shaped shield patterns provided at both surfaces of the ring-shaped coil connection board. The stator core, the coil connection board, and the shield patterns are encapsulated with resin, and a rotation detector mounting printed circuit board is arranged in a gap located at an inner side of the stator core.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a stator for a flat armature winding type brushless DC motor, the so-called gap winding type electric motor, for use in FA (Factory Automation) and OA (Office Automation), and the gap winding type electric motor using the stator.
2. Description of Related Art
The following description sets forth the inventor's knowledge of related art and problems therein and should not be construed as an admission of knowledge in the prior art.
In a conventional electric motor, a rotation detector is arranged at a position sufficiently distant from the motor electromagnetic portion. For example, such a rotation detector is attached to the non-load side bracket of the motor so as to be away from and opposite to the motor electromagnetic portion.
FIG. 4 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of a conventional motor taken along the vertical plane passing through the motor shaft. In FIG. 4, the reference numeral 41 denotes a stator, 42 denotes a rotor, 43 denotes a frame, 44 denotes a rotation detector printed circuit board, 45 denotes a bracket, 46 denotes a bracket, and 47 denotes a detector cover.
The stator 41 is formed by arranging a plurality of concentrated winding coils in the stator core at regular intervals and sealing the coils and wire connection portions with resin. This stator 41 is inserted in and fixed to the frame 43 with brackets 45 and 46 attached to the ends of the frame 43. The reference numeral 44 denotes a rotation detector printed circuit board arranged at the side of the non-loaded side bracket 45.
The frame 43 is made from a conductive material such as, e.g., iron and grounded via an external wiring. The frame 43 and the brackets 45 and 46 are electrically connected with each other to avoid leaking switching noise generated from the coil connection portion.
As discussed above, in a conventional motor, the rotation detector printed circuit board 44 is arranged outside the stator 41 as a noise prevention measure.
As such a noise prevention measure, it is also known to shield the rotation detector printed circuit board as disclosed by Japanese Unexamined Laid-open Patent Publication No. 2000-333395. However, this document is directed to a special type of a stator which easily generates noise. Specifically, in this stator, a multilayer printed circuit board is arranged at the axial end of the stator core of the motor, and wires are wound on the stator core and the multilayer printed circuit board, in a toroidal manner. In this structure, it is inevitable to shield the rotation detector printed circuit board.
On the other hand, there is another type of motor in which concentrated winding coils are arranged on the inner peripheral surface of the stator core at regular intervals, and the multilayer printed circuit board is not wound by the concentrated winding coils. In other words, the multilayer printed circuit board and the concentrated winding coils are not closely arranged. Thus, the printed circuit board is not required to be shielded as taught by the aforementioned Patent Document.
As the noise prevention measure, it is sufficient to ground the bracket to prevent the rotation detector printed circuit board 44 from being affected by noise generated from a stator coil connection portion.
Specifically, as illustrated in FIG. 4, the rotation detector printed circuit board 44 is arranged at the external side of the non-load side bracket 45. The frame 43 is electrically connected to both the brackets 45 and 46, the frame 43 and the brackets 45 and 46 being made of a conductive material such as, e.g., iron. The frame 43 is grounded via an external wiring. Thus, the leaking of switching noise can be prevented.
As explained above, in a conventional motor of this type, since the rotation detector printed circuit board 44 is arranged outside the stator 41, it was difficult to reduce the size of the motor and decrease the number of constituent parts, resulting in increased cost.
The description herein of advantages and disadvantages of various features, embodiments, methods, and apparatus disclosed in other publications is in no way intended to limit the present invention. For example, certain features of the preferred embodiments of the invention may be capable of overcoming certain disadvantages and/or providing certain advantages, such as, e.g., disadvantages and/or advantages discussed herein, while retaining some or all of the features, embodiments, methods, and apparatus disclosed therein.

Stator and gap winding motor using the same


Embodiments of the disclosure generally relate to methods of adjusting transistor flat band voltage, and transistor gates formed using the same. In one embodiment, a method sequentially includes cleaning a substrate, annealing the substrate in a nitrogen-containing environment to form silicon-nitrogen bonds, hydroxylating the substrate surface, and depositing a hafnium oxide layer over the substrate. In another embodiment, the method further includes depositing an aluminum oxide layer over the substrate prior to depositing the hafnium oxide layer, and then annealing the substrate.

1. Field of the Disclosure
Embodiments of the present disclosure generally relate to transistor gate structures and methods of forming the same.
2. Description of the Related Art
A transistor is a semiconductor device used to amplify and switch electronic signals and electrical power. It is composed of semiconductor material with at least three terminals for connection to an external circuit. A voltage or current applied to one of the transistor's terminals changes the current through another pair of terminals. For example, a voltage applied to a gate of a transistor affects the current flowing between a source terminal and a sink terminal of the transistor. The threshold voltage of the gate at which current flows between the source terminal and the sink terminal is the flat band voltage (VFB). In conventional metal-oxide-semiconductor FETs (MOSFETs), the threshold voltage often fails to meet the desired value. In some cases, electrode stacks are chosen according to work function to provide the desired characteristics, but this often does not work. Moreover, threshold voltage shifts can vary significantly from desired values resulting in undesired shifts which affect device performance.
Thus, there is a need in the art for a method and apparatus for flatband voltage tuning of high-k field effect transistors.

Method of adjusting a transistor gate flat band voltage with addition of AL