A method of knitting a knit-in rib or tubular jacquard of a double-jersey weave into a tubular body free or substantially free of a sewing process by forming a course of loops of either of the front fabric or the rear fabric with knitting needles from a first needle bed. The method includes the steps of transferring the knitted loops of the fabric at its inside portion for the knit-in jacquard to be knitted in to the knitting needles of the second needle bed facing the first needle bed so that the number of fabric wales at its inside portion is half gauge of the fabric at its outside surface, forming a course of knitted loops of the knit-in jacquard by using the needles of the first and second needle beds retaining the fabric knitted loops, transferring the knitted fabric loops of the inside portion formed with the needles of the second needle bed back to the knitting needles of the first needle bed facing the second needle bed, and knitting courses of knitted loops of the other of the front fabric and the rear fabric. The above steps are repeated to knit the the knit-in jacquard of a double-jersey weave into the tubular knitting body.

This invention relates to a method of knitting a tubular knitting fabric whose front side knitting fabric and rear side knitting fabric are knitted together at their side edges by using a flat knitting machine having at least a pair of spaced apart, opposite, front and rear needle beds. Specifically, this invention relates to a method of knitting a knit-in jacquard of a double-jersey weave, such as a tubular jacquard and a rib jacquard, in which courses of knitted loops are knitted with the needles of the front and rear needle beds, in the form of a tubular body.
Recently, attention has been attracted to a method of knitting bodies and sleeves into a tubular form with a flat knitting machine and knitting the bodies and sleeves together during the knitting to thereby produce a sweater in a substantially finished product when the knitted fabric is removed from the knitting machine. This method is advantageous in that with front sides of the sleeves and a front side of the body of the sweater retained in the front needle bed and rear sides thereof retained in the rear needle bed, a substantially tubular formed knitting fabric whose front and rear sides are knitted together at their side edges can be knitted. This method requires no sewing process or requires only a slight sewing process, if any, thus providing an advantage that troublesome work is reduced. Further, since this method provides no sewn portion, it has an advantage that elasticity, the characteristic of the knit, is not impaired. This manufacturing system is applicable not only to sweaters but also to various kinds of knitted clothing which are generally called non-sewn knit. This method is disclosed by Japanese Patent Publication No. Hei 4(1992)-15301 and Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publications No. Hei 4(1992)-153346 and No. Hei 8(1996)-113853. These publications disclose the weave of the knitting fabric of the tubular body mainly composed of a plain weave, and as the weave of the knitting fabric used therein, a pattern of the weave such as a cable stitch and a links-and-links pattern was of general interest. In addition, Japanese Patent Application No. Hei 8(1996)-150565 which is now pending discloses that the subject matter is a method of knitting a tubular body of an intersia pattern.
Japanese Patent Publication No. Hei 7(1995)-238445 discloses a method of knitting a knit-in jacquard into a tubular body, which relates to the subject matter of the invention. However, the knit-in jacquard disclosed therein is what is called a plain stitch jacquard. With the plain stitch jacquard, the knitting fabric at a side thereof for the jacquard to be knitted in is composed of a single-jersey weave which is woven with needles in either of the front or rear needle bed. Thus, this prior art document is totally silent with respect to the double-jersey weave.
The knit-in jacquard stitch, which is often used when a pattern is rendered a knitting fabric design, is knitted using a plurality of knitting yarns of different colors. The knit-in jacquard stitch generally include the rib jacquard, the tubular jacquard and the like, in addition to the plain stitch jacquard. However, it is only Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. Hei 7(1995)-238445 which discloses the method of knitting-a knit-in jacquard into a tubular body. The method of knitting a knit-in jacquard fabric of a double-jersey weave, such as a tubular jacquard and a rib jacquard, into a tubular body with needles from both the front and rear needle beds has been unknown. On the contrary, it has been considered impossible to form such a knitting with the flat knitting machine so far.
In the light of the problems mentioned above, this invention is made. The object of the invention is to provide a method of knitting a tubular jacquard or a rib jacquard in the form of a tubular body with a flat knitting machine.

Flat bed knitting machine method for forming tubular fabric with jacquard pattern


An infrared channel includes an IR transmitter circuit (302) and an IR receiver circuit (304). The transmitter circuit encodes data packets (400) which include a precursor segment, a synchronization segment, and a data field, the data field including data words, which words are bytes of data encoded by adding ones complement data bits and interleaving data subfields. The data fields are for infrared emission by the light source. A receiver circuit processor (316 or 508) is coupled to input samples to detect the presence of a precursor during a predetermined time period, and sleeping for a time interval, between inputting samples, which is substantially longer than the predetermined time period. The transmitter circuit transmits the precursor for a period of time at least as long as the sleep interval.

It is desirable to provide low current drain wireless communication means to facilitate information transfer, particularly in battery powered devices. Alternating current (AC) coupled, direct detection receivers are employed to implement optical wireless communication. Such receivers are very attractive in low current wireless data communications due to their simplicity and low cost. However, full swing noise present at the output of these receivers in the absence of received data impedes their utility.
In systems that employ a serial data format, the receiver may translate noise into false characters. In order for most systems to operate properly under noisy conditions, the danger of translating noise into data at the output of the receiver must be eliminated. There are two known methods of achieving this. One method uses hardware to "squelch" the receiver output in the presence of noise using a gate at the output of the receiver. Another method employs a software protocol to desense the system to noise.
A difficulty encountered when implementing a squelch circuit is avoiding a reduction in receiver sensitivity while gating the receiver output. By giving the squelch enough margin (such as hysterisis) to distinguish between data and noise, and to avoid "chattering" at weak signal levels, receiver sensitivity is reduced by selecting a compromise level at which squelching occurs. In low current systems, this degradation in the receiver sensitivity can not be accommodated, as no compromise level is available at which squelching can be provided without also removing data. Another problem encountered is accommodating the complexity of the squelch circuitry suitable for wireless infrared communications. In order for the squelch circuit to operate properly, it must be insensitive to the various light sources which are the main source of interference in wireless IR systems. Designing a robust squelch circuit to satisfy these requirements can be difficult and adds significantly to the cost and current demand of an otherwise simple, inexpensive, and low current receiver design.
A second method of preventing the translation of noise to data relies on a software protocol. This approach does not compromise the receiver sensitivity and avoids the additional cost and current demand of squelch circuits. Known protocols overcome the effects of noise by looking for specific data format. If random noise is encountered, the protocol is capable of recognizing the presence of such noise and responding to it accordingly. However known data formats are not well suited to implementation in low power, battery operated devices. The InfraRed Data Association (IrDA) serial communications link uses a Universal Asynchronous Receiver/Transmitter (UART) device. However, the IrDA specification requires additional circuitry to generate the IrDA signal format compatible with the UART device. Further, the IrDA specification requires that the receiving apparatus continuously monitor the infrared link for incoming data.

Apparatus for infrared channel and method therefor


A hyperfrequency interconnection device between two components is provided, each component comprising an upper face and a signal line arranged on the upper face, the planes containing the upper faces of the components being separated by a distance known as the height difference. The hyperfrequency interconnection device comprises a substrate comprising a lower face and an upper face defined by a first axis and a second axis perpendicular to the first axis, a signal line arranged on the lower face of the substrate, a projection of the signal line into the plane of the upper face forming the first axis, at least two contact pads capable of electrically connecting the signal line of the device to the signal line of the components. The upper face of the substrate is corrugated along the second axis, capable of conferring on the substrate flexibility along the first axis.

The microwave spectrum is generally defined for a range of frequencies between 0.3 and 1000 Gigahertz (GHz). For a frequency of use between 1 and 100 GHz, the term hyperfrequency is generally used. The hyperfrequency range is divided into several bands according to the various technical applications associated with them. These bands include the Q band, the frequency range of which is situated approximately between 30 and 50 GHz, and the V band, the frequency range of which is situated approximately between 50 and 75 GHz.
Hyperfrequency monolithic integrated circuits, also known by the name of MMIC (Monolithic Microwave Integrated Circuits) chip, are components used in electrical circuits having an application in the microwave field. These components are for example used in communication and navigation systems.
Each MMIC chip can include several circuits such as amplifier circuits, mixers or oscillators for example. An MMIC chip includes contact pads on its upper surface, around the edge, in order to provide the interface between hyperfrequency signals and low-frequency signals.
MMIC chips are generally mounted on a support surface, also called substrate, including metallization to ensure interconnection with the MMIC chip. The interconnection between the contact pads on the surface of the MMIC chip and the interconnection metallization of the substrate is generally achieved by wiring or microstrip.
At hyperfrequency, the connection between MMIC chips is generally made by means of wires or strips of gold. It should be noted that the invention does not apply to MMIC chips only, but more generally to active and/or passive components (for example planar filters, various transitions) present in microelectronic hybrid technology. The waveguide is a hollow mechanical part serving to propagate electromagnetic waves (the hyperfrequency signal) with a minimum of distortion, unlike planar devices and worse still, with a wired device that in this case has a considerable discontinuity, severely degrading the propagation of the wave. The main defect of these waveguides is their compatibility with components (active or passive) which are generally made using planar technology.
In hyperfrequency applications, a high interconnection density is required to allow the transmission of the requisite information. Moreover, the chips must be interconnected by means of connections that preserve the quality of the transmission line, i.e. which ensure the maintenance of the impedances of the transmission line and avoid any discontinuity causing undesirable reflections, and which are of relatively short length to minimize signal distortion.
The rise in frequency, notably in the Q and V bands, requires a considerable effort to be expended on the interconnection technology in order to limit adjustments that are generally expensive and difficult to implement. Moreover, the integration of hyperfrequency functions requires the use of heterogeneous technologies, i.e. components of different heights are integrated, which leads to consequent step heights which are unfortunately often crippling to the rise in frequency. More precisely, conventional interconnections between planar components can generate considerable electrical paths (for example up to 1 millimeter) with respect to the wavelength only in cases where the frequencies are lower.
Several interconnection technologies are known. Mention may notably be made of wired technology, which allows the connection of two components by wiring, but which has the consequence of severely limiting the bandwidth. It is also possible to use so-called "interposer" technology, but the interconnection this offers is not very reliable. Mention may be made of "flip chip" technology, which consists in flipping the chip in such a way that the contact surfaces are face to face. Flip chip technology poses technical and industrial problems that are hard to solve. Notably, control of the electromagnetic environment is problematic and spatial control and heat management are difficult. Moreover, flip chip technology does not allow for compensation for large step heights between components (typically greater than 100 μm).


A disposable cosmetics sampler package including a container and a fitment. The fitment includes an applicator held by a handle. The handle is sealed breakably to the fitment. Manipulating the handle breaks the seal and allows the applicator to be used to withdraw a product sample from the container. As the applicator is withdrawn, a metering device inside the fitment scrapes excess material off of the applicator. The handle can accept various types of applicators including mascara brushes, lip gloss paddles, and lip coloring brushes. Similarly, metering devices are interchangeable during manufacture to accommodate the type of applicator selected to dispense the product to be sampled.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to disposable sampling packages. More specifically, the present invention relates to disposable packages for sampling cosmetic products such as mascara, eye liner, blush, and lip coloring and gloss.
2. Description of the Related Art
Single-use packaging for sampling cosmetic products is desirable both to consumers and marketers. Such packages provide a convenient and economical way for products to be tested by potential customers prior to purchase. Further, single-use packages are desirable for sanitation reasons, especially in the area of cosmetic products that are applied to the body. In addition, sample packaging can be distributed to potential customers in a variety of ways, including point-of-sale, mail delivery, package inserts, and publication inserts, for example.
A sampling package should be capable of being opened easily by the consumer, while providing a sturdy package able to withstand the rigors of worldwide product distribution. Moreover, when dispensing a cosmetic product, it is desirable to provide the sample container with a metering device to assist the consumer in applying the correct amount of material.
In addition, it is desirable to provide a package that can be used and disposed of easily and conveniently. Accordingly, the opened package should present a minimum number of pieces, simplifying both use and disposal. Moreover, the pieces should be capable of being handled and discarded by the consumer without the consumer soiling his or her hands or the surrounding area.
Economy is a primary concern for sample packaging. The materials of the sampler should be inexpensive and readily available. In addition, manufacturing of the sampler should be inexpensive. Also, the package design should be flexible so that various types of consumer products can be dispensed into and by the sampler package.
Disposable sampling packages have been developed for various products, including foods and cosmetics. Cosmetic samplers include, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,109,979 to Cole; 5,112,152 to McBride; 4,982,838 to Fitjer; 4,889,228 to Gueret; 4,786,534 to Aiken; and 4,732,287 and 4,711,354 to Bennett. U.S. Pat. No. 5,377,874 to Brown discloses a sampler for food.
Many of the known samplers are too expensive to produce economically for practical application as a single-use sampler. Further, known samplers utilize packaging designs that are not easily adapted to various types of consumer products. Moreover, the known packages often have extraneous parts that must be removed and that may have excess product on them, reducing their ease of use and presenting a potential soiling hazard to the consumer and the surrounding area. In addition, the known packages often are not easily manufactured, which increases production costs, a critical factor in producing a disposable sampler.


A system and method for synchronous configuration of DHCP server and router interfaces is disclosed. A network management layer identifies a DHCP server interface and a router interface associated with the same subnet. The network management layer then determines configuration information for the DHCP server interface and the router interface. The DHCP server and the router are programmatically configured with the determined configuration information.

Mobile networking technologies are driving an evolution in the use and structure of networks. For example, users of mobile networking technologies expect to stay connected as they move from place to place and from network to network. Furthermore, users of mobile networking technologies expect easy and seamless network interface transitions as they move from place to place.
The term network component broadly refers to a node (e.g., a desktop, laptop, etc.) or a collection of nodes (e.g., a virtual private network, a subnet, a virtual local area network, etc.). The term node refers to a network component having a network interface. Examples of a node include switches, routers, servers, clients, workstations, laptops, handhelds, printers, hubs, and the like.
The movement of network components from place to place and network to network fosters constantly changing network infrastructures and topologies. Network components are typically configured to interact with particular network infrastructures and topologies. The term configuration can be used with respect to a network component or to an entire network. When used in association with a network component, configuration refers to the settings of software, hardware, and firmware that enable the network component to exchange information with a network. In a broader sense, configuring a network refers to configuring a plurality of network components to exchange information with one other.
Modern networking technologies increase the variety of network components that interact with a network and, also, the frequency at which these interactions occur. These interactions produce a combinational explosion of heterogeneous networks composed of many different network components each having a distinct configuration. This combinational explosion of heterogeneous networks is further complicated by the possibility that an initial network configuration changes over time as network components are added and removed from the network.
The term subnetwork (subnet) refers to a network that is a part of a larger network. Dividing networks into subnets is a well-known strategy to, for example, increase the performance and enhance the security of a network. Typically, network components within a subnet exchange packets with network components in other subnets (or other networks) through a router.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a router 115 interconnecting network 100 with the Internet 120. Network 100 includes subnet 105 and subnet 110. Subnet 105 includes nodes 125 and 130, as well as Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) server 160. Similarly, subnet 110 includes nodes 135 and 140. A DHCP server refers to a network component that provides network administrative services in compliance with Request For Comments 2131 entitled, "Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol," R. Droms, March 1997. Router 115 connects subnet 105 and subnet 110 to Internet 120 and to each other. Router 115 includes router interfaces 145, 150, and 155. Each router interface is configured to provide the appropriate interface. For example, router interfaces 150 and 155 are configured with the IP addresses for subnets 105 and 110, respectively. Typically, a network administrator manually configures router interfaces 145, 150, and 155 in a time consuming and error prone process.
DHCP server 160 provides network administrative services to nodes 125 and 130 through DHCP server interface 165. For example, DHCP server 160 informs nodes 125 and 130 that router interface 150 is the gateway through which nodes 125 and 130 reach Internet 120 and subnet 110. In conventional network 100, DHCP interface 165 is manually configured in a slow and error prone process that is analogous to configuring router interface 150.

System and method for synchronous configuration of DHCP server and router interfaces


Provided is a flexible organic light emitting diode display panel including: a substrate in which an opening region and a non-opening region are defined; an organic light emitting diode disposed on the substrate; a bank layer disposed in the non-opening region; and a peeling reduction layer having a reverse-tapered shape disposed in the non-opening region.

Field of Technology
The present disclosure relates to a flexible organic light emitting diode display panel, and more particularly, to a flexible organic light emitting diode display panel capable of minimizing peeling of an organic material layer and an encapsulation layer which may occur when a substrate is bent.
Description of the Related Art
An organic light emitting diode (OLED) display is a self-light emitting display panel that does not need a separate light source unlike a liquid crystal display (LCD) panel. Thus, the organic light emitting diode display panel can be manufactured into a lightweight and thin form. Further, the organic light emitting diode display panel is advantageous in terms of power consumption since it is driven with a low voltage. Also, the organic light emitting diode display panel has excellent color expression ability, a high response speed, a wide viewing angle, and a high contrast ratio (CR). Therefore, the organic light emitting diode display panel has been researched as a next-generation display.
Further, since the organic light emitting diode display panel does not need a separate light source, it is advantageous for curved and flexible display panels.
In the organic light emitting diode display panel, a pixel electrode connected with a thin film transistor, an organic light emitting layer, and a common electrode are formed on a substrate including the thin film transistor. The organic light emitting diode display panel is driven by emitting the organic light emitting layer in response to a driving signal of the thin film transistor.
The organic light emitting layer emits light when an electron and a hole injected from the pixel electrode and the common electrode meet in the organic light emitting layer and form an exciton.
Since the organic light emitting layer is sensitive particularly to moisture and oxygen, an encapsulation layer including one or more layers is formed on an organic light emitting diode in order to suppress permeation of moisture and oxygen.
In order to seal the organic light emitting diode, a thin film encapsulation technique of alternately laminating an inorganic material layer and an organic material layer is used.
As an inorganic material for a thin film encapsulation, an oxide layer such as aluminum oxide (AlOx) capable of having an excellent barrier property with small thickness has been mainly used. In particular, as the thickness of the thin film encapsulation is decreased, the flexibility of the organic light emitting diode display panel is improved. Therefore, it is advantageous in using the oxide layer as the inorganic material layer for thin film encapsulation in order to realize a flexible organic light emitting diode display panel.
However, the organic light emitting layer tends to have lower adhesion than other components constituting the organic light emitting diode display panel. Thus, peeling of the flexible organic light emitting diode display panel may occur when the display panel is bent.
Further, peeling of the encapsulation layer may occur when the display panel is bent.

Flexible organic light emitting diode display panel


A heating device (9) includes a heater (22), a holder (23), a device frame (40), a primary positioner (A), a secondary positioner (B), and a tertiary positioner (C). The heater includes a heat generator (60). The holder holds the heater. The device frame is configured to support the holder. The primary positioner is configured to position the heater and the holder in a longitudinal direction of the heater. The secondary positioner is configured to position the holder and the device frame in the longitudinal direction of the heater. The tertiary positioner is configured to position the device frame and a body of an image forming apparatus in the longitudinal direction of the heater. The primary positioner and one of the secondary positioner and the tertiary positioner are disposed on an identical side defined by a center of the heat generator in the longitudinal direction of the heater.

As a heating device used in an image forming apparatus, such as a copier or a printer, there are known, for example, a fixing device that fixes toner on a sheet under heat and a drying device that dries ink on a sheet.
In such a heating apparatus, a difference in thermal expansion coefficient between components may cause a decrease in positioning accuracy of the components.
To address such a problem, for example, JP-2016-212384-A proposes a fixing device that positions a heater holder, which holds a planer heater, in a longitudinal direction with respect to one of right and left frames.

Heating device, belt heating device, fixing device, and image forming apparatus


A method for searching a portable storage device for a rights object by using an identifier of the rights object, including a host device accessing the portable storage device, retrieving the identifier of the stored rights object from the portable storage device, storing the retrieved object identifier, searching for the stored object identifier to perform an operation associated with the rights object stored in the portable storage device, and acquiring location data of the rights object as a result of the searching.

1. Field of the Invention
Apparatuses and methods consistent with the present invention relate to searching for rights objects stored in a portable storage device using an object identifier.
2. Description of Related Arts
Recently, digital rights management (DRM) is being actively researched, developed, and used in commercial services. DRM needs to be used in commercial services because of the following various characteristics of digital content. Unlike analog data, digital content can be easily copied without loss, reused, processed and distributed. However, large amounts of money, labor, and time are needed to produce digital content. When the digital content is copied and distributed without permission, the producer of the digital content loses profit, and the motivation to produce is reduced. As a result, the development of digital content businesses may be hampered.
Several efforts have been made to protect digital content. Conventionally, digital content protection has concentrated on preventing non-permitted access to digital content, and permitting only people who have paid fees to access the digital content. However, when a person who has paid the fees intentionally distributes the digital content to other people, these people can use the digital content without paying. To solve this problem, DRM was introduced. In DRM, anyone is allowed to freely access encrypted digital content, but a license, referred to as a rights object, is needed to decrypt and execute the digital content. Accordingly, the digital content can be more effectively protected by using DRM, as compared to the conventional method.
A portable storage device is a connectable/disconnectable device such as a portable phone, a computer, or a digital camera that is portable and that can store data of various types. The portable storage device includes a storage space for storing data, and a portion performing operations and control. A multimedia card (MMC) is a portable storage device which stores multimedia data to be used for various types of digital equipment, overcoming limitations of conventional hard disks and compact disks. The MMC also includes an operational unit that is not included in conventional storage media, thereby having the ability to perform control. Recently, a security function was added to the MMC, thereby developing a secure MMC that protects the digital content from being copied during storage and transmission. With the development of the secure MMC, rights management of digital content has become possible. Hereinafter, digital equipment such as a digital camera, a portable phone, a computer and a digital camcorder will be collectively referred to as a "host device."
Recently, memory cards including a flash memory have become popular portable storage devices. They differ from a dynamic random access memory (DRAM) and a synchronization random access memory (SRAM) in that they can maintain data without a supply of power. However, a disadvantage of these devices is that they are slower at reading and writing data than DRAMs and SDRAMs.
A rights object stored in a portable storage device is information to be referenced whenever content is reproduced, which requires repetitive reading, writing and modifying operations. To effectively perform these repetitive operations, it is necessary to reduce time consumed in searching for a specific rights object.
A conventional method of providing a cache function through an SRAM to thereby increase input/output speeds of a memory card has been presented in Korean Unexamined Patent Publication No. 10-2002-0020104. In the conventional method, the SRAM is initialized when the memory card is connected to a digital device and thereafter functions as a cache memory storing specific data therein during read and write operations, thereby increasing input/output speed.
The conventional method may increase the input/output speed when searching for data that has been previously searched for, but it cannot decrease the inherent delay caused in data searching.
In particular, since the portable storage device storing rights objects therein under the DRM system repeatedly performs input/output operations for a specific rights object and searches for rights objects, there is a need for a method to improve the speeds of the inputting, outputting, and searching operations.

Method and apparatus for searching for rights objects stored in portable storage device object identifier


Systems and methods are provided for manufacturing a magnetic recording sensor for use in a magnetic reader, such as a tunneling magnetoresistance (TMR) readers. The magnetic recording sensor can be manufactured by heating a substrate in a first chamber and depositing an antiferromagnetic (AFM) layer on the heated substrate. Additionally, a first pinned layer is added onto the AFM layer, and the substrate is subsequently cooled.

In magnetic storage devices such as hard disk drives (HDD), read and write heads are used to magnetically read and write information to and from storage media. In a HDD, data may be stored on one or more disks in a series of adjacent concentric circles which may be referred to as data tracks. A HDD may include a rotary actuator, a suspension mounted on an arm of the rotary actuator, and a slider bonded to the suspension to form a head gimbal assembly (HGA). In a traditional HDD, the slider carries a write head and read head, and radially floats over the surface of the storage media, e.g., a disk, under the control of a servo control system that selectively positions a head over a specific track of the disk. In this one read head (reader) configuration, the reader is aligned over the center of a track for data read back.
As HDD storage capacities have increased, the data track separation has decreased and the density has increased. Smaller reader dimensions are required to meet these requirements of increasing track density and linear density. In tunneling magnetoresistance (TMR) readers, for example, this may involve decreasing the volume of the antiferromagnetic (AFM) layer. This reduction in volume reduces the blocking temperature distribution (TbD) and the pinning magnetic field strength (Hex) in the TMR reader, thereby worsening the thermal stability of the pinned layer. Accordingly, as the size of the TMR reader decreases, the pinning strength or exchange field needs to be increased to keep the pinned layer stable. Prior processes have focused on heating the AFM layer after its deposition to improve the pinning field. However, this process does not improve the blocking temperature.

Heated AFM layer deposition and cooling process for TMR magnetic recording sensor with high pinning field


A device and method for magnetic stimulation of muscles for the relief of a breathing disorder, such as obstructive sleep apnea is disclosed. Magnetic stimulation is used to stimulate muscles which serve to stabilize the upper airway of an individual whose nocturnal apneic events are related to diminished muscle tone. In one embodiment, a sensor monitors a physiologic characteristic of the patient, a coil is energized to stimulate the appropriate muscles associated with the upper airway, a power supply provides power for energizing the coil, and a control system controls the application of power to the coil based on the output of the sensor. A passive probed is provided in the patient to focus the magnetic field produced by the coil.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention pertains to an apparatus and method for noninvasive stimulation of muscles in the upper airway to diagnose and/or treat a breathing disorder, such as obstructive sleep apnea In particular, the present invention pertains to a magnetic stimulation device and a method of using the device to apply pulsed magnetic fields to the muscles in the neck area of a patient to induce tension in such muscles, thereby relieving the obstructive sleep apnea caused by a relaxation of such muscles. By measuring an awake patient's compliance in the presence and absence of the magnetic stimulation, the likelihood that the patient suffers from obstructive sleep apnea can be determined.
2. Description of the Related Art
Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a condition in which sleep is repeatedly interrupted by an inability to breathe due to an obstructed upper airway segment. Those afflicted with OSA experience sleep fragmentation and complete or nearly complete cessation of ventilation intermittently during sleep with potentially severe degrees of oxyhemoglobin desaturation. These symptoms may be translated clinically into extreme daytime sleepiness, cardiac arrhythmias, pulmonary-artery hypertension, congestive heart failure and/or cognitive dysfunction. Other consequences of OSA include right ventricular dysfunction, carbon dioxide retention during wakefulness, as well as during sleep, and continuous reduced arterial oxygen tension. Hypersomnolent sleep apnea patients may be at risk for excessive mortality from these factors as well as by an elevated risk for accidents while driving and/or operating potentially dangerous equipment.
Studies of the mechanism of collapse of the airway suggest that during some stages of sleep, there is a general relaxation of the muscles which stabilize the upper airway segment. This general relaxation of the muscles is believed to be a factor contributing to OSA.
Existing therapeutic remedies for treating OSA include the surgical removal of deformed, loose or swollen structures in the upper airway. It is also known to apply positive air pressure at the mouth and/or nose of the patient to "splint" the airway, thereby maintaining an open passage to the lungs. In addition, pharmacologic solutions have also been pursued.
Neither of these therapies is successful in all cases. Surgical relief is invasive, introduces a potential for surgical complications and is appropriate in only a small percentage of cases. On the other hand, the nasal mask needed to apply a positive air pressure is not tolerated by some OSA patients. Pharmacological therapy has been, in general, less than satisfactory, and side effects are frequent.
It is also known to treat OSA by electrically stimulating the musculature in the neck area associated with the upper airway. One such method of electrically stimulating the muscles in the upper airway area of a patient involves placing an electrode in direct contact with a surface of the patient and passing a current through the surface tissues of the patient contacting the electrode. For example, an intraoral appliance has been developed that applies electrical currents to the tongue, causing it to contract, thereby helping to clear the airway. Another known appliance applies electrical stimulation to the exterior surface of the patient's neck below the chin to induce contraction of the upper airway muscles.
Electrical stimulation using surface mounted electrodes creates relatively large current densities at the site of the electrodes. Because these current densities are disposed at the surface of the patient, which also contains a relatively large number of nerve endings, such electrical stimulation devices can cause unpleasant or painful sensations, possibly arousing the user from sleep.
It is also known to apply electrical stimulation to the muscles of the upper airway via electrodes implanted in the patient. Subcutaneous electrodes have the benefit of being positioned adjacent to the muscle or nerve to be stimulated to focus the electrical energy on that muscle/nerve while reducing the amount of collateral tissues effected by the high current densities near the electrode. There are also typically fewer nerve endings deep within the patient than at the surface. Thus, electrical stimulation using implanted electrodes reduces the likelihood that the electrical stimulation will induce an unpleasant or painful sensation in the patient. However, electrical muscle stimulation utilizing implanted electrodes requires surgical intervention, the permanent presence of foreign materials within the patient's neck tissue, and at least one electrical connection protruding from the patient. Consequently, there is a potential for infection or irritation at the surgical site and at the site where the electrode protrudes through the surface of the patient.

Muscle stimulating device and method for diagnosing and treating a breathing disorder


A semiconductor device exhibiting interband tunneling with a first layer with a first conduction band edge with an energy above a first valence band edge, with the difference a first band-gap. A second layer with second conduction band edge with an energy above a second valence band edge, with the difference a second band-gap, and the second layer formed permitting electron carrier tunneling transport. The second layer is between the first and a third layer, with the difference between the third valence band edge and the third conduction band edge a third band-gap. A Fermi level is nearer the first conduction band edge than the first valence band edge. The second valence band edge is beneath the first conduction band edge. The second conduction band edge is above the third valence band edge. The Fermi level is nearer the third valence band edge than to the third conduction band edge.

(1) Technical Field
This invention relates in general to semiconductor devices, and in particular to backward diodes useful in radio frequency detection and mixing.
(2) Description of Related Art
The tunnel diode is a well-known semiconductor device that conventionally includes two regions of heavily doped semiconductor material of opposite conductivity types, separated by a relatively thin junction which permits charge carriers to tunnel through upon the application of a suitable operating potential to the semiconductor regions. The p-doped and n-doped regions of tunnel diodes are so heavily doped that they are degenerate. At equilibrium, a portion of the valence band in the p-doped region of the diode is empty and a portion of the conduction band in the n-doped region is filled.
A slight forward bias brings some levels of the filled portion of the conduction band of the n-doped region into energetic alignment with empty levels of the valence band of the p-doped region. In this situation, quantum-mechanical tunneling allows electrons to flow from the n-doped region to the p-doped region, giving a positive current that first increases with increasing bias. When the filled part of the conduction band of the n-doped region is maximally aligned with the empty part of the valence band of the p-doped region, the current flow is maximized. Subsequently, the current decreases with increasing forward bias, and approaches a minimum value when the filled part of the conduction band of the n-doped region lies opposite the energy gap of the p-doped region. When a yet larger forward bias occurs, electrons and holes are injected over the barrier between the p-doped and n-doped regions, resulting in a rapid increase in current for increasing forward bias. Thus, the current-voltage has a negative differential conductance in the forward region of its characteristic curve.
Use of a heterostructure consisting of adjoining regions of GaSb1-yAsy and In1-xGaxAs interfaced with a tunneling junction is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,198,644 entitled, "Tunnel Diode," issued to Leo Esaki on Apr. 15, 1980 (hereinafter the "Esaki '644 patent"). The heterostructure presented in the Esaki '644 patent includes first and second layers of Group III-V compound semiconductor alloys wherein the first layer is an alloy including a first Group III material and a first Group V material, and the second layer is an alloy including a second Group III material different from the first Group III material and a second Group V material different from the first Group V material, and wherein the valence band of the first alloy is closer to the conduction band of the second alloy than it is to the valence band of the second alloy. The preferred embodiment identified In as the first Group III material, As as the first Group V material, Ga as the second Group III material, and Sb as the second Group V material.
Also, U.S. Pat. No. 4,371,884 entitled, "InAs-GaSb Tunnel Diode," also issued to Leo Esaki (hereinafter the "Esaki '844 patent"), provides for a tunnel diode requiring no heavy doping, and which can be readily fabricated using the process of molecular beam epitaxy. The Esaki '884 patent's tunnel diode heterostructure comprises first and second accumulation regions of relatively lightly-doped group III-V compounds, specifically consisting of In1-xGaxAs and GaSb1-y Asy, where concentrations expressed in terms of x and y are preferably zero but less than 0.3, and where the improvement consists of an interface of a relatively thin layer of a quaternary compound whose constituent materials are those of the adjoining regions. This interface provides a tunneling junction as opposed to an ohmic junction between contiguous regions of InAs and GaSb.
A need exists in the art to improve current tunneling diodes so that they may be applied to higher bandwidths, with greater dynamic range and greater sensitivity for radio frequency detection. In particular, it is desirable to provide a high degree of non-linearity near zero bias. This is in contrast to the inventions discussed above, which are designed to provide a negative resistance region near zero bias.

Type II interband heterostructure backward diodes


An ultrasound probe in combination with at least an operating unit such as a tracking sensor or receiver and/or a keypad and/or a surgical tool support, wherein the probe and the at least one operating unit are each one provided with one of two parts of a releasable joint, the said two parts of the joint being releasably engageable one with the other by magnetic force and by mechanical coupling.

Ultrasound imaging may be used for acquiring three-dimensional images, for guiding surgical tools such as biopsy needles, for navigating in real time anatomical districts in which surgical interventions has to be carried out or prosthesis has to be placed. Imaging techniques are also wide spread in which the image is generated as a combination of images of a target body or region which images acquired with different imaging techniques one these techniques being ultrasound imaging. These combined images require registration of the images acquired by the different imaging techniques before fusing, or compounding together in another way the single images.
In all the above cases, there is the need of tracking the position of the ultrasound probe and to refer this position to a common reference system.
According to an example, in acquiring three-dimensional ultrasound images, many two-dimensional images may be acquired, each one along a different slice of a plurality of adjacent slices and the relative position of each image slice is determined by tracking the displacement of the probe along the body of the target. This requires that the probe is provided in combination with a tracking system allowing to determine the probe position and/or orientation.
A further example consists in the so called virtual navigator real time fusion technology. This technology is used to enhance real-time ultrasound scans with second imaging modality 3D acquisitions, thereby supplementing MRI, CT, PET, PET/MRI, PET/CT, AngioCT, MRI TOF, 3D Ultrasound, 3D CEUS (Contrast Enhanced Ultrasound), 3D Color or Power Doppler data with morphological (B-Mode), hemodynamic (Color, Power, Continuous or Pulsed Wave Doppler), CEUS and stiffness (Elastosonography) data. Fusing together these real-time diagnostics supplied by ultrasound with the highly detailed anatomical volumes (offered by MRI or CT), or functional (offered by PET, PET/MRI, PET/CT, AngioCT, MRI TOF, 3D Color or Power Doppler, 3D CEUS), allows the operator to display in real-time a virtual space where the different imaging modes are merged and where ultrasound scanning plane spatial data is correlated with three-dimensional second imaging modality volumes. This allows for an easier navigation that is based on the geometrical and spatial relationships between the real-time data and pre-acquired data. The tool can be used for prevention, diagnosis, therapy, intervention and follow up. Virtual Navigator techniques are based on a tracking technology used in conjunction with ultrasound probes with or without biopsy instruments or other surgical tools. In some applications, also an accurate motion compensation is provided for compensating the voluntary and/or involuntary movements of the patient during imaging. According to an embodiment a motion control sensor is placed on the body being examined to counteract voluntary and/or involuntary movements and to enable continuous motion compensation which preserves the previously set co-registration between two, or more than two, imaging modes. Some examples of these techniques are disclosed for instance in document U.S. Pat. No. 9,271,682 assigned to the present applicant. In this document a method and a system are disclosed for operating an imaging device for the monitoring of an anatomical region during insertion of metallic objects or objects made at least partly of metal inside the said region, which metallic objects disturb standard tracking ultrasound probe systems. The method is based on acquisition of image data by two different imaging systems, one of which is capable of high resolution and the other of real time imaging, registering the images of the two imaging systems and using the high resolution system for imaging the anatomic district while the real time imaging system is used for imaging the metallic object to be introduced in the said anatomic district. Document EP1467317 discloses a method and an apparatus for combining first and second imaging data of an object, according to which an ultrasound detector repeatedly generates the first image data of the object and the second image data of the object are generated separately by means of a CT an MR a PET or an X-Ray apparatus. The second image data being three-dimensional image data of the object. A combination device combines the first and second image data. A tracker of the ultrasound probe being provided for tracking the position of the ultrasound probe and of the two-dimensional data generated by the ultrasound probe. The tracking device is used as a reference coordinate system in relation to which first and second image data can be registered in order to register first and second image data for combination. A certain position of the ultrasound probe and thus of the slice or section plane along which the image data is collected can be thus related to an identical section plane or slice in the three-dimensional image data allowing reconstruction of the image along the said slice or section plane by using the second image data instead of the first image data generated by the ultrasound probe. Document EP2147636 discloses a device for guiding surgical tools by ultrasonic imaging. From 3D images, 2D images are generated corresponding to a view from the tip of the tool. A tracking system is provided in combination with the ultrasound imaging system which tracking system determines the position and orientation of the probe and of the surgical tool. The tracking system comprising a tracking unit cooperating with sensors such as transponders associated to the probe and to the surgical tool.
In all the above disclosed cases, an operating unit must be secured to the ultrasound probe. When the probe motion, position and/or orientation in space has to be determined by a tracking system, the operating unit can be a sensor secured to the probe which measures parameters of a coded field permeating the space within which the probe has to be displaced or one or more markers positioned on the probe and which are sensed by a sensing unit furnishing information about position, orientation ad motion (displacement) of the probe. One known example of tracking system is a so called electromagnetic tracking system. Another example is represented by an optical tracking system.
In the electromagnetic tracking systems, a coded electromagnetic filed is generated permeating the region in which the probe has to be positioned and displaced and the probe is provided with at least one electromagnetic sensor or receiver measuring the electromagnetic filed. This measured data are transmitted to a processing unit of the tracking system determining the position of the probe in relation to a fixed reference position for example the origin of the electromagnetic field.
Optical tracking systems uses a combination of optical markers having a precise relative position on a support. The support is secured to the probe and the markers are sensed by an optical detector. The data of the relative position of the markers revealed by the optical sensor allows to determine position, orientation and displacement of the probe.
The electromagnetic system of tracking the probe, for example in real-time fusion imaging, combining ultrasound images and one or more second imaging modality/ies (MRI, CT, PET, PET/MRI, PET/CT, AngioCT, MRI TOF, 3D Ultrasound, 3D CEUS, 3D Color or Power Doppler) represents a good choice in terms of ergonomics and usability, with respect to the optical trackers. The electromagnetic tracker has the main limitation of the necessity of being close (max 78 cm) to the transmitter which generates the electromagnetic field in the region where the probe is positioned and displaced. Furthermore, electromagnetic tracking systems are influenced by metallic parts for example of the examination bed and/or by the power cords and also by external electromagnetic fields. On the other hand the electromagnetic tracking systems have the plus of having a small dimensions (usually 0.7×0.7×2.0 cm), of being easily mountable on the probe without changing in a significant and/or limiting way the probe shape and/or the weight of the probe, so that the probe maintains essentially its ergonomic features and do not alter its behavior in relation to the manipulation by the user. This effect is, instead, obtained with the optical tracking systems. Optical tracking systems have the advantage to enables to be operated quite distant from the optical detector (which has anyway to maintain the line of sight—condition not always met within the crowded clinical/interventional environments). Moreover, the optical tracker changes consistently probe dimensions and weight relationships and influence the ergonomics and the behavior of manipulation by the user. The use of a sterile cover (quite common in any interventional setting) is impossible in case of optical tracker (covering the whole probe plus tracking sensor), such as, for example, of the electromagnetic type, while it is common and easy to be used, in case of a single sensor, and easily positioned and removed (covering both probe and sensor, avoiding any disinfection/sterilization of the tracking sensor.
In any case in both tracking systems at least a sensor or at least an optical marker needs to be secured to the probe. Current solutions provide for two embodiments. According to a first embodiment the operating unit is secured to the ultrasound probe by a mechanical joint or attachment device. This embodiment may be provided in two variants in one variant the joint or the attachment device is not releasable, in the sense that one secured to the probe the sensor may not be separated anymore from the probe. The second variant provides for releasable joint or attachment devices of the operating unit to the probe, allowing the operating unit to be separated from the probe when not in use.
According to a second known embodiment the operating units, i.e. the sensors or the markers of the tracking system which has to be mounted on the probe may be integrated steadily in the probe structure.
When the probe is used as a support for a surgical tool such as a biopsy needle, the sensor or markers can be integrated or secured to the support for the surgical tool which can be secured to the probe for example by mechanical connection.
Still further embodiments require that the probe is provided with at least one button or several buttons on small keypads which are also to be secured to the probe body. Also in this case the above variants and embodiments are used and known. A button or a keypad can be steadily integrated in the structure of the probe or the button or the keypad can be secured by releasable joints or by fixed joints to the probe in a similar way as for the sensors and markers.
The most frequent position on a probe of an electromagnetic sensor or receiver of a tracking system is on the probe body and particularly on the probe handle or within the probe itself. While the construction of a probe with the tracking sensor inside is something already available on the market, this solution is far from being an industrial-optimization choice, since the costs for such a dedicated probe are too high in relation to the relatively low volumes of production.
The solution most commonly used today is the one of having the electromagnetic sensor attached externally on the probe body, by a mechanically attached sensor support. This solution is efficient in terms of sensor attachment stability, reduced weight and reduced impact on probe ergonomics and handling. On the other hand it's not easy to be attached/removed especially "on the fly" for instance if the probe and the sensor are already covered with the sterile sheet.

Ultrasound probe and ultrasound system provided with said ultrasound probe


This invention relates to compositions useful in the phototherapeutic treatment of psoriasis and other proliferative skin diseases. The compositions of the present invention comprise dihydroxyacetone and a penetration attenuator, both in a cosmetically and/or pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. Optionally, the compositions of the present invention may also contain an acidic component. The compositions of the present invention are useful in the exploitation during phototherapeutic treatment of the hyper-desquamation characteristics of the psoriatic or otherwise affected skin.

2.1. Compositions Containing Dihydroxyacetone
Dihydroxyacetone ("DHA") is a white, crystalline, hygroscopic powder having the chemical formula C.sub.3 H.sub.6 O.sub.3. DHA is a three-carbon sugar, normally found as a dimer in freshly prepared aqueous solutions. U.S. Pat. No. 2,949,403 discloses compositions and methods of using DHA as a tanning agent for the human epidermis. When applied topically, DHA penetrates superficially into the stratum corneum where it covalently binds to epidermal proteins via their amino groups, producing a cosmetically-acceptable "tan" color.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,949,403 discloses that DHA may be used in concentrations varying from 0.05 to about 90.0 percent by weight. However, commercial tanning products typically contain only up to about 5% DHA because higher concentrations do not provide an acceptable artificial tan. Occasionally, self-tanning compositions may contain as much as 7.5% DHA. The amount of DHA present in these products depends on a number of factors, including the difficulty in formulating acceptable compositions with higher concentrations of DHA. Likewise, a concentration of about 5% DHA is usually sufficient to provide the coveted artificial "tan" coloring. Many times, higher concentrations of DHA result in skin color much darker or different in color than the desired "tan" color sought to be duplicated.
Particularly, higher concentrations provide color that do not resemble natural tans or darkens the skin to an unacceptable level for the consumer.
Since the 1960's, several compositions using DHA as an active ingredient to impart an artificial tan have been disclosed. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,708,865 discloses a topical solution containing DHA and various dyes to offset the undesirable orange cast or hue which results from the use of DHA on fair skinned individuals.
Further, it is well known to formulate DHA into a variety of different carriers such as oil-in-water emulsions, preparations containing up to 50% alcohol, creamy bases and other conventional carrier systems such as lotions, ointments, dusting powders and the like. These compositions typically include a number of other optional ingredients such as perfumes, preservatives, emollients, antiseptics, pigments, dyes, humectants, as well as other materials that may be cosmetically or medicinally desirable. In particular, many commercial products contain materials which act as penetration enhancers in that they promote the absorption of the DHA deep into the skin tissue layers in order to increase the length of time the artificial tan remains.
In addition to its ability to elicit an artificial tan on human skin, it is also known that the reaction product of DHA and compounds in the skin tissue which produces the "tan" color is an effective sunscreening agent. In particular, this reaction product is known to absorb ultraviolet light in the 300-600 nanometer range, with a peak at about 350 nanometers, thus protecting the skin from damage due to exposure to such radiation.

Compositions useful in the phototherapeutic treatment of proliferative skin disorders


An instructional system for teaching music theory incorporates a human-readable harmony matrix which displays at least one repeat pattern of indicia corresponding to a particular placement of the notes of the twelve note scale. This pattern is arranged so that major or minor chords may be formed by rotations and/or inversions of a basic set of patterns. These patterns depict the interrelationship of the various chords. Transposition of chords from one key to another may be readily accomplished by moving the pattern across the matrix. The matrix pattern may also be used to depict and build chord progressions. The system operates to provide a two-dimensional representation of the relationship between musical tones and may be implemented in a variety of systems for teaching music theory.

Musical theory, including the tonal relationships between notes and chords, and concepts such as chord progressions and the like, embodies specific mathematical and tonal relationships. In many instances, the nature of these relationships is very difficult to explain and understand, even for skilled musicians who may "play by ear." Consequently, it has been difficult to teach these aspects of music theory to students, and in particular to young students.
As will be explained herein, the present invention comprises a system which presents a student with a uniquely organized set of instructional materials and aids, which illustrate the interrelationship of chords, tones and sounds in a series of patterns which may be readily, and instinctively, comprehended by the student. The system of the present invention may be implemented in various detectable modes including visual and/or tactile which operate to create harmony objects which can be readily comprehended by a student.

System and method for teaching music theory


A miter saw including: a base section; a saw blade; a cutting section; a support section; and a guiding mechanism. The support section includes a pivot support portion and a slide support portion. The pivot support portion supports the cutting section such that the cutting section is pivotally moved toward and away from the base section. The slide support portion slidably supports the pivot support portion to move the cutting section in a sliding direction that is in parallel with an upper surface of the base section and orthogonal to an axial direction of a rotational axis of the saw blade. The guiding mechanism is configured to guide a movement of the cutting section in the sliding direction in accordance with a pivotal movement of the cutting section toward the base section. The guiding mechanism is provided in association with the cutting section and the slide support portion.

Slidable miter saws have been well known in the art. One conventional slidable miter saw has been described to have a base section on which a workpiece is placed, and a cutting section provided with a circular saw for cutting the workpiece. The cutting section can be slid forward (toward the user) and rearward (away from the user) and has a handle for pivotally moving the cutting section upward and downward. When performing a slide-cutting operation with the slidable miter saw in order to cut a wide workpiece, the user begins by sliding the cutting section to its forwardmost position. With the wide workpiece resting on the base section, the user pushes down on the handle to pivotally move the cutting section downward to its lowest position, and then cuts the workpiece by sliding the cutting section rearward.

Slidable miter saw with guiding mechanism


Gasifiers for the gasification of solid carbon-based fuels are disclosed herein. An example gasifier includes an inlet chamber for introducing fuel into the gasifier and a pyrolysis region for pyrolyzing the fuel introduced into the vessel. The pyrolysis region includes first means for admission of a pyrolysis agent. The example gasifier also includes a combustion region for incinerating pyrolysis gases originating from the pyrolysis region, where the combustion region includes second means for admission of a gasifying agent. Also, the example gasifier includes a reduction region for gasifying carbonized fuel originating from the pyrolysis region, an outlet for collecting gases originating from the reduction region, and a region for collecting and discharging ashes. In addition, the example gasifier includes active transfer means to actively transfer solid material from the pyrolysis region to the reduction region. In some examples, the active transfer means is located between the pyrolysis region and the combustion region, and the active transfer means includes a transfer chamber to prevent a direct flow of the solid material from the pyrolysis region to the reduction region, where the transfer chamber is permeable to the pyrolysis gases.

Known gasifiers make it possible to produce a fuel gas from a solid carbon-based fuel, in particular from wood waste, such as that originating, for example, from saw mills or from forestry, or from agricultural byproducts (straw, and the like), or also from recycled wood. This fuel gas comprises in particular carbon monoxide and hydrogen and can subsequently be used for various purposes, such as, for example, to feed a gas turbine or an internal combustion engine, a boiler, or a furnace.
However, the majority of known cocurrent gasifiers provide a gas also comprising a not insignificant amount of tars, which can harm the satisfactory operation of the equipment in which such a gas is used as fuel. Various solutions have thus been provided in order to reduce the content of tars of the gas produced by such gasifiers.
European Patent EP 1 248 828 discloses, for example, a gasifier in which an empty space (that is to say, a region devoid of solid material) is created in the combustion region in order to obtain better combustion of the pyrolysis gases and also better gasification of the pyrolyzed mass, which makes it possible to reduce the content of tars of the gas at the outlet. In order to create this empty space, this patent proposes to equip the lower part of the reduction region with a mechanism that makes it possible to regulate the transfer of solid material between the reduction region and the region for collecting the ashes.
The lower part of the pyrolysis region is furthermore equipped with funnels and with a movable grid in order to more or less meter out the amount of solid fuel entering the combustion region.
Such a system exhibits the disadvantage that, in view of the highly random nature of the flows of solids, it is possible for material not yet completely pyrolyzed to enter the combustion region. Furthermore, it might also possibly be that material not yet completely reduced enters the region for collecting the ashes. This is because, in the case where the flow rate of material entering the combustion region is faster than anticipated, the means for transferring material to the region for collecting the ashes will open to a greater extent in order to maintain the empty space in the combustion region. In fact, this incoming flow rate can vary according to circumstances, for example as a function of the physical characteristics of the biomass used (for example particle size measurement) and/or of the momentary characteristics of the flow.
Dutch Patent NL-8200417 discloses a similar gasifier and proposes to equip the lower part of the pyrolysis region with a mechanism which makes it possible to transfer solid material from the pyrolysis region to the reduction region while leaving an empty space between these two regions. This solid material transfer mechanism comprises a cone placed at a distance from a corresponding conical narrowing of the vessel and which can be rotated and/or axially moved in order to stir the solid material in order thus to transfer it to the reduction region. Here again, in the light of the highly random nature of the flows of the solids, it is possible for fuel which has not yet been completely pyrolyzed to enter the combustion region. As for the preceding example, "chimney" and/or "avalanche" phenomena (reference was made to the nature of the solid flow) can, for example, appear in the pyrolysis region. If appropriate, solid material freshly introduced into the vessel (and thus not yet completely pyrolyzed) might be carried to the reduction region by the transfer mechanism, which will bring about an increase in the content of tars of the gas at the outlet.
Although very different in their structure and their operation, there also exist countercurrent gasifiers, such as that described in the International Patent Publication WO 2008/107727 and which also involves a movable grid in order more or less to meter out the solid material entering the reduction region. Such a movable grid exhibits the same disadvantages as those described above.


An adjusting device provided on a transmission belt to adjust the tension of the transmission belt. The adjusting device includes a housing and a fastener fixed on the housing, the fastener engaging the transmission belt so that there is no relative displacement between the fastener and the transmission belt. A sliding mechanism is disposed on the housing and is capable of sliding in a linear direction on the housing, the sliding mechanism engaging the transmission belt so that there is no relative displacement between the sliding mechanism and the transmission belt. An elastic device is fixed to the housing at a first end and fixed to the sliding mechanism at a second end for maintaining proper tension in the transmission belt.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a belt tension adjusting device, and more particularly to a device for adjusting the tension state of a transmission belt of an optical scanning apparatus.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Please refer to FIG. 1. FIG. 1 illustrates a prior art drive system 10 taught in U.S. Pat. No. 5,106,345 by Moore et al, which is herein incorporated by reference. The drive system 10 includes a belt 26 having teeth 28 adapted to engage gears 36 and 38 in a device such as a printer or a scanner. The system also includes a tensioner 32 which applies tension to the belt 26.
Please refer to FIG. 2 and FIG. 3. FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 are schematic diagrams of a resilient means 148 for maintaining proper tension in a drive belt 136. The resilient means 148 is taught in U.S. Pat. No. 5,323,407 by Wolf et al, which is herein incorporated by reference. The resilient means 148 may comprise a coiled spring 150 having a first hook portion 152 extending from one end of the coiled spring 150 and a second hook portion 154 extending from the other end of the coiled spring 150. The first hook portion 152 has a first linear portion 156 integral with the coiled spring 150, a second linear portion 158 integral with and extending in a direction substantially perpendicular to the first linear portion 156 and a hook extension 160 integral with and extending in a direction substantially perpendicular to the second linear portion 158. The second hook portion 154 has a first linear portion 162 integral with the coiled spring 150, a second linear portion 164 integral with and extending in a direction substantially perpendicular to the first linear portion 162 and a hook extension 166 integral with and extending in a direction substantially perpendicular to the second linear portion 164.
The operational relationship between a portion 168 of the drive belt 136 and the resilient means 148 is illustrated in FIG. 3. The portion 168 passes under the second linear portion 158, over the coiled spring 150 and under the second linear portion 164. As it passes under the second linear portions 158 and 164, the portion 168 is located between a portion of the first linear portions 156 and 162 and a portion of the hook extensions 160 and 166.
The frictional forces generated by the force of the coiled spring 150 urging the second linear portions 158 and 164 against the surface of the portion 168 of the drive belt 136 will be enough to prevent any substantial relative movement between the portion 168 and the second linear portions 158 and 164. However, to ensure against any substantial relative movement, the surface of the second linear portions 158 and 164 contacting the portion 168 could be provided with a friction generating rib or roughened surface. Similarly, the belt portion 168 could be provided with a ribbed or other friction increasing surface. In operation, any slackness occurring in the other portions of the drive belt 136 would permit the second linear portions 158 and 164 to move toward each other while still maintaining a substantially constant tension on the drive belt 136. Also, any shortening in other portions of the drive belt 136, such as caused by a change in temperature, would cause the second linear portions 158 and 164 to move away from each other while still maintaining a substantially constant tension on the belt.
Please refer to FIG. 4 and FIG. 5. FIG. 4 and FIG. 5 show two common ways of adjusting the tension of transmission belts of scanners. In FIG. 4, a slide block pulley type is shown. It comprises a slide block 52, a spring 51, a belt 53, a carrier 54, and pulleys 55. FIG. 5 shows a rocker arm adjusting type, which includes an adjusting wheel 63, a spring 51, a belt 53, pulleys 55, a rocker arm 62, a carrier 54, a scanner frame 71, a glass surface 72, and a document 73. In both types as shown in FIG. 4 and FIG. 5, either slide blocks or rocker arms are required. This may cause damage to the belt, and the belt may become loosened, causing the transmission state of the transmission belt to slide during adjustment. Besides, the moving parts may wear, resulting in deflection of the tension of the transmission belt and defective transmission. In addition, there are numerous parts and components, which means increase in costs and reduction in competitiveness. All of these are problems that need to be solved.


A fault-tolerant computer system employs a power supply system including a battery backup so that upon AC power failure the system can execute an orderly shutdown, saving state to disk. A restart procedure restores the state existing at the time of power failure if the AC power has been restored by the time the shutdown is completed. This powerfail/autorestart procedure may be implemented in a fault-tolerant multiprocessor configuration having multiple identical CPUs executing the same instruction stream, with multiple, identical memory modules in the address space of the CPUs storing duplicates of the same data. The system detects faults in the CPUs and memory modules, and places a faulty unit offline while continuing to operate using the good units. The multiple CPUs are loosely synchronized, as by detecting events such as memory references and stalling any CPU ahead of others until all execute the function simultaneously; interrupts can be synchronized by ensuring that all CPUs implement the interrupt at the same point in their instruction stream. Memory references via the separate CPU-to-memory busses are voted at the three separate ports of each of the memory modules. I/O functions are implemented using two identical I/O busses, each of which is separately coupled to only one of the memory modules. A number of I/O processors are coupled to both I/O busses. I/O devices are accessed through a pair of identical (redundant) I/O processors, but only one is designated to actively control a given device; in case of failure of one I/O processor, however, an I/O device can be accessed by the other one without system shutdown.

This invention relates to computer systems, and more particularly to a shutdown and restart procedure in the event of a power failure in a fault-tolerant multiprocessor system.
Highly reliable digital processing is achieved in various computer architectures employing redundancy. For example, TMR (triple modular redundancy) systems may employ three CPUs executing the same instruction stream, along with three separate main memory units and separate I/O devices which duplicate functions, so if one of each type of element fails, the system continues to operate. Another fault-tolerant type of system is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,228,496, issued to Katzman et al, for "Multiprocessor System", assigned to Tandem Computers Incorporated. Various methods have been used for synchronizing the units in redundant systems; for example, in said prior application Ser. No. 118,503, filed Nov. 9, 1987, by R. W. Horst, for "Method and Apparatus for Synchronizing a Plurality of Processors", also assigned to Tandem Computers Incorporated, a method of "loose" synchronizing is disclosed, in contrast to other systems which have employed a lock-step synchronization using a single clock, as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,453,215 for "Central Processing Apparatus for Fault-Tolerant Computing", assigned to Stratus Computer, Inc. A technique called "synchronization voting" is disclosed by Davies & Wakerly in "Synchronization and Matching in Redundant Systems", IEEE Transactions on Computers June 1978, pp. 531-539. A method for interrupt synchronization in redundant fault-tolerant systems is disclosed by Yondea et al in Proceeding of 15th Annual Symposium on Fault-Tolerant Computing, June 1985, pp. 246-251, "Implementation of Interrupt Handler for Loosely Synchronized TMR Systems". U.S. Pat. No. 4,644,498 for "Fault-Tolerant Real Time Clock" discloses a triple modular redundant clock configuration for use in a TMR computer system. U.S. Pat. No. 4,733,353 for "Frame Synchronization of Multiply Redundant Computers" discloses a synchronization method using separately-clocked CPUs which are periodically synchronized by executing a synch frame.
An important feature of a fault-tolerant computer system such as those referred to above is the ability for processes executing on the system to survive a power failure without loss or corruption of data. One way of preventing losses due to power failure is, of course, to prevent power failure; to this end, redundant AC power supplies and battery backup units may be provided. Nevertheless, there is a practical limit to the length of time power may be supplied by battery backup units, due to the cost, size and weight of storage batteries, and so it may be preferable to provide for orderly system shutdown upon AC power failure.
As high-performance microprocessor devices have become available, using higher clock speeds and providing greater capabilities, and as other elements of computer systems such as memory, disk drives, and the like have correspondingly become less expensive and of greater capability, the performance and cost of high-reliability processors has been required to follow the same trends. In addition, standardization on a few operating systems in the computer industry in general has vastly increased the availability of applications software, so a similar demand is made on the field of high-reliability systems; i.e., a standard operating system must be available.
It is therefore the principal object of this invention to provide an improved power-failure procedure in a high-reliability computer system, particularly of the fault-tolerant type. Another object is to provide improved operation of a redundant, fault-tolerant type of computing system in power-fail situations, and one in which reliability, high performance and reduced cost are possible. A further object is to provide a high-reliability computer system in which the performance, measured in reliability as well as speed and software compatibility, is improved but yet at a cost comparable to other alternatives of lower performance. An additional object is to provide a high-reliability computer system which is capable of executing an operating system which uses virtual memory management with demand paging, and having protected (supervisory or "kernel") mode; particularly an operating system also permitting execution of multiple processes; all at a high level of performance but yet in a reliable manner.

Fault-tolerant computer system with auto-restart after power-fall


The present invention provides a method for rapid identification and quantitation of bacteria by amplification of a segment of bacterial nucleic acid followed by analysis by mass spectrometry. The compositions provide for characterization of the molecular masses and base compositions of bacterial nucleic acids which are used to rapidly identify bacteria.

Coronaviruses, a genus in the family Coronoviridae, are large, enveloped RNA viruses that cause highly prevalent diseases in humans and domestic animals. Coronavirus particles are irregularly-shaped, 60-220 nm in diameter, with an outer envelope bearing distinctive, "club-shaped" peplomers. This "crown-like" appearance gives the family its name. Coronaviruses have the largest genomes of all RNA viruses and replicate by a unique mechanism which results in a high frequency of recombination. Virions mature by budding at intracellular membranes and infection with some coronaviruses induces cell fusion.
Most human coronaviruses (HcoVs) do not grow in cultured cells, therefore relatively little is known about them, but two strains (229E and OC43) grow in some cell lines and have been used as a model. Replication is slow compared to other enveloped viruses. Viral entry occurs via endocytosis and membrane fusion (probably mediated by E2) and replication occurs in the cytoplasm.
Initially, the 5′ 20 kb of the (+)sense genome is translated to produce a viral polymerase, which is believed to produce a full-length (−)sense strand which, in turn, is used as a template to produce mRNA as a "nested set" of transcripts, all with an identical 5′ non-translated leader sequence of 72 nucleotides and coincident 3′ polyadenylated ends. Each mRNA is monocistronic, the genes at the 5′ end being translated from the longest mRNA. These unusual cytoplasmic structures are produced not by splicing (post-transcriptional modification) but by the polymerase during transcription.
Coronaviruses infect a variety of mammals and birds. The exact number of human isolates is not known as many cannot be grown in culture. In humans, they cause: respiratory infections (common), including Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), and enteric infections.
Coronaviruses are transmitted by aerosols of respiratory secretions, by the fecal-oral route, and by mechanical transmission. Most virus growth occurs in epithelial cells. Occasionally the liver, kidneys, heart or eyes may be infected, as well as other cell types such as macrophages. In cold-type respiratory infections, growth appears to be localized to the epithelium of the upper respiratory tract, but there is currently no adequate animal model for the human respiratory coronaviruses. Clinically, most infections cause a mild, self-limited disease (classical "cold" or upset stomach), but there may be rare neurological complications.
Coronavirus infection is very common and occurs worldwide. The incidence of infection is strongly seasonal, with the greatest incidence in children in winter. Adult infections are less common. The number of coronavirus serotypes and the extent of antigenic variation are unknown. Re-infections appear to occur throughout life, implying multiple serotypes (at least four are known) and/or antigenic variation, hence the prospects for immunization appear bleak.
SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) is a newly-recognized type of viral pneumonia, with symptoms including fever, a dry cough, dyspnea (shortness of breath), headache, and hypoxemia (low blood oxygen concentration). Typical laboratory findings include lymphopenia (reduced lymphocyte numbers) and mildly elevated aminotransferase levels (indicating liver damage). Death may result from progressive respiratory failure due to alveolar damage.
The outbreak is believed to have originated in February 2003 in the Guangdong province of China. After initial reports that a paramyxovirus was responsible, researchers now believe SARS to causually-linked with a type of novel coronavirus with some unusual properties. For example, the SARS virus can be grown in Vero cells (a primate fibroblast cell line)—a novel property for HCoVs, most of which cannot be cultivated. In these cells, virus infection results in a cytopathic effect, and budding of coronavirus-like particles from the endoplasmic reticulum within infected cells.
Amplification of short regions of the polymerase gene, (the most strongly conserved part of the coronavirus genome) by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and nucleotide sequencing revealed that the currently evaluated examples of the SARS virus are of a novel coronavirus which has not previously been present in human populations.
Different isolates of coronaviruses that have been causally linked to SARS have been independently sequenced by BCCA Genome Sciences Center, Vancouver, Canada; the Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Academy of Military Medical Sciences/Beijing Genomics Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China; the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Atlanta; the Chinese University of Hong Kong; and the University of Hong Kong. As new SARS-linked coronavirus samples are obtained and sequenced, and as the initial SARS coronaviruses mutate, other coronavirus sequences causally-linked to SARS will emerge.
While the SARS epidemic is still at the early stages, Ruan et al have identified a number of variations in existing SARS CoV isolates that suggest the emergence of new genotypes (Y. Ruan et al., Lancet, May 9, (2003)). This phenomenon is likely to continue if SARS CoV passes through the human population and will have a detrimental impact on detection and treatment. Additional primers that flank regions of high variability could be valuable in epidemiological tracking of strain variants. Moreover, as loci important to virulence become identified, primers that flank these locations could provide valuable information.
Diagnostic tests are now available, but all have limitations as tools for bringing this outbreak quickly under control. An ELISA test detects antibodies reliably but only from about day 20 after the onset of clinical symptoms. It therefore cannot be used to detect cases at an early stage prior to spread of the infection to others. The second test, an immunofluorescence assay (IFA), detects antibodies reliably as of day 10 of infection. It shares the defect of the ELISA test in that test subjects have become infective prior to IFA-based diagnosis. Moreover, the IFA test is a demanding and comparatively slow test that requires the growth of virus in cell culture. The third test is a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) molecular test for detection of SARS virus genetic material is useful in the early stages of infection but undesirably produces false-negatives. Thus the PCR test may fail to detect persons who actually carry the virus, even in conjunction with clinical diagnostic evaluation, creating a dangerous sense of false security in the face of a potential epidemic of a virus that is known to spread easily in close person-to-person contact (WHO. Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS). Wkly Epidemiol. Rec. 2003, 78, 121-122).
Nucleic acid tests for infectious diseases are largely based upon amplifications using primers and probes designed to detect specific bioagents. Because prior knowledge of nucleic acid sequence information is required to develop these tests they are not able to identify unanticipated, newly emergent, or previously unknown infectious bioagents. Thus, the initial discovery of infectious bioagents still relies largely on culture and microscopy, which were as important in the recent identification of the SARS coronavirus as they were in the discovery of the human immunodeficiency virus two decades ago.
An alternative to single-agent tests is to do broad-range consensus priming of a gene target conserved across groups of bioagents. Broad-range priming has the potential to generate amplification products across entire genera, families, or, as with bacteria, an entire domain of life. This strategy has been successfully employed using consensus 16S ribosomal RNA primers for determining bacterial diversity, both in environmental samples (T. M. Schmidt, T. M., DeLong, E. F., Pace, N. R. J. Bact. 173, 4371-4378 (1991)) and in natural human flora (Kroes, I., Lepp, P. W., Relman, D. A. Proc Nat Acad Sci (USA) 96, 14547-14552 (1999)). The drawback of this approach for unknown bioagent detection and epidemiology is that analysis of the PCR products requires the cloning and sequencing of hundreds to thousands of colonies per sample, which is impractical to perform rapidly or on a large number of samples.
Consensus priming has also been described for detection of several viral families, including coronaviruses (Stephensen, C. B., Casebolt, D. B. Gangopadhyay, N. N. Vir. Res. 60, 181-189 (1999)), enteroviruses (M. S. Oberste, K. Maher, M. A. Pallansch, J. Virol. 76, 1244-51 (2002); M. S. Oberste, W. A. Nix, K. Maher, M. A. Pallansch, J. Clin. Virol. 26, 375-7 (2003); M. S. Oberste, W. A. Nix, D. R. Kilpatrick, M. R. Flemister, M. A. Pallansch, Virus Res. 91, 241-8(2003)), retroid viruses (D. H. Mack, J. J. Sninsky, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 85, 6977-81 (1988); W. Seifarth et al., AIDS Res. Hum. Retroviruses 16, 721-729 (2000); L. A. Donehower, R. C. Bohannon, R. J. Ford, R. A. Gibbs, J. Vir. Methods 28, 33-46 (1990)), and adenoviruses (M. Echavarria, M. Forman, J. Ticehurst, S. Dumler, P. Charache, J. Clin. Micro. 36, 3323-3326 (1998)). However, as with bacteria, there is no adequate analytical method other than sequencing to identify the viral bioagent present.
Methods of identification of bioagents are described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/798,007, filed Mar. 3, 2001; Ser. No. 10/405,756, filed Mar. 31, 2003; Ser. No. 10/660,122, filed Sep. 11, 2003; and Ser. No. 10/728,486, filed Dec. 5, 2003, all of which are commonly owned and incorporated herein by reference in entirety as essential material.
Mass spectrometry provides detailed information about the molecules being analyzed, including high mass accuracy. It is also a process that can be easily automated. However, high-resolution MS alone fails to perform against unknown or bioengineered agents, or in environments where there is a high background level of bioagents ("cluttered" background). Low-resolution MS can fail to detect some known agents, if their spectral lines are sufficiently weak or sufficiently close to those from other living organisms in the sample. DNA chips with specific probes can only determine the presence or absence of specifically anticipated organisms. Because there are hundreds of thousands of species of benign bacteria, some very similar in sequence to threat organisms, even arrays with 10,000 probes lack the breadth needed to detect a particular organism.
Antibodies face more severe diversity limitations than arrays. If antibodies are designed against highly conserved targets to increase diversity, the false alarm problem will dominate, again because threat organisms are very similar to benign ones. Antibodies are only capable of detecting known agents in relatively uncluttered environments.
Several groups have described detection of PCR products using high resolution electrospray ionization—Fourier transform—ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (ESI-FT-ICR MS). Accurate measurement of exact mass combined with knowledge of the number of at least one nucleotide allowed calculation of the total base composition for PCR duplex products of approximately 100 base pairs. (Aaserud et al., J. Am. Soc. Mass Spec. 7:1266-1269, 1996; Muddiman et al., Anal. Chem. 69:1543-1549, 1997; Wunschel et al., Anal. Chem. 70:1203-1207, 1998; Muddiman et al., Rev. Anal. Chem. 17:1-68, 1998). Electrospray ionization-Fourier transform-ion cyclotron resistance (ESI-FT-ICR) MS may be used to determine the mass of double-stranded, 500 base-pair PCR products via the average molecular mass (Hurst et al., Rapid Commun. Mass Spec. 10:377-382, 1996). The use of matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight (MALDI-TOF) mass spectrometry for characterization of PCR products has been described. (Muddiman et al., Rapid Commun. Mass Spec. 13:1201-1204, 1999). However, the degradation of DNAs over about 75 nucleotides observed with MALDI limited the utility of this method.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,849,492 describes a method for retrieval of phylogenetically informative DNA sequences which comprise searching for a highly divergent segment of genomic DNA surrounded by two highly conserved segments, designing the universal primers for PCR amplification of the highly divergent region, amplifying the genomic DNA by PCR technique using universal primers, and then sequencing the gene to determine the identity of the organism.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,965,363 discloses methods for screening nucleic acids for polymorphisms by analyzing amplified target nucleic acids using mass spectrometric techniques and to procedures for improving mass resolution and mass accuracy of these methods.
WO 99/14375 describes methods, PCR primers and kits for use in analyzing preselected DNA tandem nucleotide repeat alleles by mass spectrometry.
WO 98/12355 discloses methods of determining the mass of a target nucleic acid by mass spectrometric analysis, by cleaving the target nucleic acid to reduce its length, making the target single-stranded and using MS to determine the mass of the single-stranded shortened target. Also disclosed are methods of preparing a double-stranded target nucleic acid for MS analysis comprising amplification of the target nucleic acid, binding one of the strands to a solid support, releasing the second strand and then releasing the first strand which is then analyzed by MS. Kits for target nucleic acid preparation are also provided.
PCT WO97/33000 discloses methods for detecting mutations in a target nucleic acid by nonrandomly fragmenting the target into a set of single-stranded nonrandom length fragments and determining their masses by MS.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,605,798 describes a fast and highly accurate mass spectrometer-based process for detecting the presence of a particular nucleic acid in a biological sample for diagnostic purposes.
WO 98/21066 describes processes for determining the sequence of a particular target nucleic acid by mass spectrometry. Processes for detecting a target nucleic acid present in a biological sample by PCR amplification and mass spectrometry detection are disclosed, as are methods for detecting a target nucleic acid in a sample by amplifying the target with primers that contain restriction sites and tags, extending and cleaving the amplified nucleic acid, and detecting the presence of extended product, wherein the presence of a DNA fragment of a mass different from wild-type is indicative of a mutation. Methods of sequencing a nucleic acid via mass spectrometry methods are also described.
WO 97/37041, WO 99/31278 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,547,835 describe methods of sequencing nucleic acids using mass spectrometry. U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,622,824, 5,872,003 and 5,691,141 describe methods, systems and kits for exonuclease-mediated mass spectrometric sequencing.
The present invention provides a novel approach for rapid, sensitive, and high-throughput identification of coronaviruses and includes the capability of identification of coronaviruses not yet observed and characterized. The methods described can be applied to additional viral families to cover a broad range of potential newly emerging viruses, or to bacterial, protozoal or fungal pathogens for epidemic disease surveillance in the future.

Methods for identification of coronaviruses