A gas flow control system for molten metal molds with permeable perimeter walls, wherein an approximately constant gas mass flow is maintained in individual molds and approximately equal gas mass flows are maintained in molds on the same mold table. A PLC is utilized in combination with a gas mass flow controller to continually monitor and maintain the approximately desired mass flow of gas to the mold cavities.

Metal ingots, billets and other castparts may be formed by a casting process which utilizes a vertically oriented mold situated above a large casting pit beneath the floor level of the metal casting facility, although this invention may also be utilized in horizontal molds. The lower component of the vertical casting mold is a starting block. When the casting process begins, the starting blocks are in their upward-most position and in the molds. As molten metal is poured into the mold bore or cavity and cooled (typically by water), the starting block is slowly lowered at a pre-determined rate by a hydraulic cylinder or other device. As the starting block is lowered, solidified metal or aluminum emerges from the bottom of the mold and ingots, rounds or billets of various geometries are formed, which may also be referred to herein as castparts.
Around the mold outlet of some of these molds is a permeable perimeter wall, which in the case of circular diameter castparts, is a circular ring. Any one of a number of different shapes may be utilized in the casting mold, with no one in particular being required to practice this invention. While the permeable perimeter wall is typically made from graphite, it may also be made from other material. The permeability of the perimeter wall allows a gas and/or a lubricant to be forced through the wall and provide a gas force around the mold on the castpart being molded. The gas and the lubricant enhance the molding process and the quality of the castpart.
While the invention applies to the casting of metals in general, including without limitation aluminum, brass, lead, zinc, magnesium, copper, steel, etc., the examples given and preferred embodiment disclosed may be directed to aluminum, and therefore the term aluminum or molten metal may be used throughout for consistency even though the invention applies more generally to metals.
While there are numerous ways to achieve and configure a vertical casting arrangement, FIG. 1 illustrates one example. In FIG. 1, the vertical casting of aluminum generally occurs beneath the elevation level of the factory floor in a casting pit. Directly beneath the casting pit floor 101a is a caisson 103, in which the hydraulic cylinder barrel 102 for the hydraulic cylinder is placed.
As shown in FIG. 1, the components of the lower portion of a typical vertical aluminum casting apparatus, shown within a casting pit 101 and a caisson 103, are a hydraulic cylinder barrel 102, a ram 106, a mounting base housing 105, a platen 107 and a starting block base 108 (also referred to as a starting head or bottom block), all shown at elevations below the casting facility floor 104.
The mounting base housing 105 is mounted to the floor 101a of the casting pit 101, below which is the caisson 103. The caisson 103 is defined by its side walls 103b and its floor 103a.
A typical mold table assembly 110 is also shown in FIG. 1, which can be tilted as shown by hydraulic cylinder 111 pushing mold table tilt arm 110a such that it pivots about point 112 and thereby raises and rotates the main casting frame assembly, as shown in FIG. 1. There, are also mold table carriages which allow the mold table assemblies to be moved to and from the casting position above the casting pit.
FIG. 1 further shows the platen 107 and starting block base 108 partially descended into the casting pit 101 with castpart or billet 113 being partially formed. Ingot 113 is on the starting block base 108, which may include a starting head or bottom block, which usually (but not always) sits on the starting block base 108, all of which is known in the art and need not therefore be shown or described in greater detail. While the term starting block is used for item 108, it should be noted that the terms bottom block and starting head are also used in the industry to refer to item 108, bottom block typically used when an ingot is being cast and starting head when a billet is being cast.
While the starting block base 108 in FIG. 1 only shows one starting block 108 and pedestal 115, there are typically several of each mounted on each starting block base, which simultaneously cast billets, special shapes or ingots as the starting block is lowered during the casting process.
When hydraulic fluid is introduced into the hydraulic cylinder at sufficient pressure, the ram 106, and consequently the starting block 108, are raised to the desired elevation start level for the casting process, which is when the starting blocks are within the mold table assembly 110.
The lowering of the starting block 108 is accomplished by metering the hydraulic fluid from the cylinder at a pre-determined rate, thereby lowering the ram 106 and consequently the starting block at a pre-determined and controlled rate. The mold is controllably cooled during the process to assist in the solidification of the emerging ingots or billets, typically using water cooling means.
There are numerous mold and casting technologies that fit into mold tables, and no one in particular is required to practice the various embodiments of this invention, since they are known by those of ordinary skill in the art.
The upper side of the typical mold table operatively connects to, or interacts with, the metal distribution system. The typical mold table also operatively connects to the molds which it houses.
When metal is cast using a continuous cast vertical mold, the molten metal is cooled in the mold and continuously emerges from the lower end of the mold as the starting block base is lowered. The emerging billet, ingot or other configuration is intended to be sufficiently solidified such that it maintains its desired shape. There is an air gap between the emerging solidified metal and the permeable ring wall. Below that, there is also a mold air cavity between the emerging solidified metal and the lower portion of the mold and related equipment.
After a particular cast is completed, as described above, the mold table is typically tilted upward and away from the top of the casting pit, as shown in FIG. 1. When the mold table is tilted or pivoted, and without a lubricant control system, the lubricant tends to drain out of the conduits and leaks either into the casting pit or on the floor of the casting facility.
The use of a permeable or porous perimeter wall has proven to be an effective and efficient way to distribute lubricant and gas to the inside surface of a continuous casting mold, one example of which is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,598,763 to Wagstaff, which is hereby incorporated herein by this reference as though fully set forth herein.
In the typical use of a permeable perimeter wall, lubricant and gas are delivered to the perimeter wall under pressure through grooves or delivery conduits around the perimeter wall, typically using one delivery conduit (if grooves are used for the delivery of lubricant) and one or two delivery conduits (grooves) for the delivery of gas. The preferred lubricants are synthetic oils, whereas the current preferred gas is air. The lubricant and gas then permeate through the perimeter wall and are delivered to the interior of the mold as part of the casting process.
The perimeter walls on existing mold tables each have delivery conduits to deliver the lubricant and/or gas, and the delivery conduits may be circumferential groove-shaped delivery conduits with the same depth and width, or they may be holes partially drilled through the perimeter walls, or any other delivery means for that matter. The typical perimeter wall has a separate lubricant delivery conduit and a gas conduit.
Although embodiments and aspects of this invention are directed to graphite rings, applications of this are not limited to graphite. Graphite has proven to be the preferred permeable material for use as the perimeter wall material or media.
It is desired in some embodiments of this invention to have the same mass flow of gas through each permeable ring on a given mold table. In the typical prior art mold the pressure at which gas was supplied to each ring was generally the same pressure, although the pressure was raised and/or lowered to all permeable perimeter walls before, during and after startup.
No two permeable rings are identical and each allows the passage of gas or gas flow a little differently. Furthermore as the life of a particular permeable ring passes, its permeability decreases due to any one of a number of different factors (clogging, varnishing, or simply the characteristics of that individual permeable ring, etc.).
Prior art pressure based systems which force the gas through the permeable rings generally provide the same pressure gas to all the permeable rings. While it is desirable to achieve the same mass flow rate of gas through each permeable ring on a mold table, the practicalities of the differences in each permeable ring and the rate at which their permeability decreases, creates a situation in which the mass flow rate of gas through the different permeable rings differs or varies. This is especially true if the gas flow supplied to all permeable rings on a mold table is the same. Trying then to achieve approximately equal flow generally requires operator adjustment of the pressure at each mold, which requires operators to spend more time at the casting pit than desired.
Since the inlet pressure for the table provides one pressure for the gas flow, if the pressure valve is manually turned up to increase the flow to the permeable rings which are clogging first, then this also has the undesirable affect of increasing the pressure and consequently the flow to the other permeable rings which are allowing more flow through.
In the prior art, typically on or just before the startup of casting on a given mold table, the pressure regulator would be manually set to a particular pressure, such as sixty pounds per square inch for the entire table. On startup the pressure would be turned up for example to one hundred pounds per square inch, and then after the startup phase, the pressure would be turned back down to seventy or eighty pounds per square inch for the run pressure. It has typically been a pressure based operation for achieving gas flow to the individual molds on a mold table which utilize permeable perimeter walls. This generally required personnel in or around the casting pit.
It is an object of some embodiments of this invention to provide a gas flow system which provides a more uniform gas mass flow rate or gas flow rate through the permeable perimeter walls in the molds on a given mold table.
It is also an objective of some embodiments of this invention to provide a gas mass flow control system which controls the flow of gas to each individual mold on a table more closely and in a more automated fashion, thereby requiring less operator presence at or around the casting pit.
Some embodiments or aspects of this invention provide a mass flow meter which can be positioned outside of the casting pit area if desired. Embodiments of this invention key on the measurement the mass flow of the gas, which results in a more consistent mass flow of gas through each permeable ring and a more equal flow rate to each of the plurality of permeable perimeter walls on a given mold table.
It will also be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art how this invention's utilization of a Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition ("SCADA") data logging system which logs critical and non-critical mold operating parameters may be utilized in the overall casting process control and allow for the establishment of set points for one or more of the parameters for better process control and failure prevention. The recording and monitoring of casting gas flows and mold "back-pressure" for instance provides the ability for process improvement and mold condition evaluation. This type of data gathering may be used to provide the operator alarms for any one or more of numerous action items, such as providing an alarm that the mold is ready to be removed from the casting table and replaced.
Other objects, features, and advantages of this invention will appear from the specification, claims, and accompanying drawings which form a part hereof. In carrying out the objects of this invention, it is to be understood that its essential features are susceptible to change in design and structural arrangement, with only one practical, and preferred embodiment being illustrated in the accompanying drawings, as required.

Gas flow control system for molten metal molds with permeable perimeter walls


The invention relates to a component for spatial grid supporting systems comprising filler material, especially for retaining walls and/or noise-abatement walls. Said component comprises the following characteristics: a closed or open, single-element or multi-element frame body (RK) is provided, said frame body comprising at least one longitudinal member (LTF) which extends essentially along the front of the supporting system on the front side in relation to the mounting position. The frame body also comprises at least one cross member (QT) which extends at an angle, especially at a right angle, in relation to the longitudinal member. Said longitudinal member (LTF) has, at least in sections, a polygonal, especially square, cross-section which is defined by longitudinal surfaces which are essentially, or at least in sections, plane, said cross-section extending in a normal direction (N) to a frame plane (E—E) which is defined by the longitudinal member and the cross member. In view of the above criteria and others, including those relating to the aesthetic design of large-surface wall facades, to the multiple possibilities for use, including in hydraulic architecture, to resource economy and sustainability in addition to rational productivity, the aim of the invention is to create components which enable progress to be made in terms of at least one of the aforementioned criteria. In order to achieve this, the front surface (OF) and the rear surface (OR) of the longitudinal member (LTF) together form an angle between 2° and 15° which opens downwards in relation to the mounting position, and/or the front surface (OF) of the longitudinal member (LTF) is arranged in an inclined manner, ascending towards the inner part of the frame at an angle of between 2° and 15°, at least in sections as far as the normal direction (N) of the frame is concerned.

Components of this type are common in the prior art. In the effort to use these structures for exposed retaining walls and/or noise abatement walls which are more highly stressed due to soil pressure for one thing, however there has been the necessity of undesirably large dimensions and material costs. With respect to this and other aspects, among others also aspects of aesthetic configuration of large-area wall fronts, versatility also in hydraulic construction and saving of resources and durability, and efficient manufacturing capacity, the object of this invention is to devise components which enable progress with respect to at least one of these criteria.

Component for spatial grid supporting systems comprising filler material especially for retaining walls or noise-abatement walls, and corresponding structure


A method of fabricating a semiconductor device wherein after forming a titanium silicide thin film on a silicon substrate, dopant impurities are implanted into the silicon substrate through the titanium silicide thin film so as to form shallow p.sup.+ -n junctions in the silicon substrate. At least one of the following conditions (1) to (3) is satisfied: (1) forty to seventy percent of the total implant dose is within the n-type silicon substrate; (2) the projected range is set at the depth corresponding to 90% to 125% of the titanium silicide film thickness; and (3) the dopant dose that comes to rest within the n-type silicon substrate is in the range of 2.0.times.10.sup.15 /cm.sup.2 to 3.5.times.10.sup.15 /cm.sup.2.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a method of fabricating a high-integration, high-speed semiconductor device.
2. Description of the Prior Art
As the packing density of semiconductor integrated circuit devices increases, the size of circuit elements such as MOS transistors reduces. In such devices, the depth of the source/drain p-n junction also must be reduced if proper transistor operation is to be guaranteed. This requirement, however, involves an increase in the parasitic source/drain resistance, and is hence contradictory to the fabrication of MOS transistors with higher operating speeds.
Among methods to solve the above problem, recent attention has been directed to a technique (silicided junction method) whereby a low-resistance, refractory metal silicide layer is formed on a highly doped diffusion layer of a silicon substrate in self-alignment with an exposed region of the silicon substrate. In this method, ion implantation is often used to introduce dopants (impurities for generating electric carriers). When the introduction of dopants is viewed in terms of time relationship to the formation of the silicide layer, a method wherein the dopant implantation is performed after the formation of the silicide layer is proposed, for example, in the 1986 Symposium on VLSI Technology, Digest of Technical Papers (1986), pp. 49-50.
According to the proposed method, ion implantation is carried out in such a manner that most of the total dose comes to rest within the titanium silicide thin film, and a shallow junction is formed by subsequent drive-in (activation) heat treatment. Therefore, this method can serve to minimize the damage done to the silicon substrate by ion implantation, and is said to be very effective in forming shallow p-n junctions.
However, with the above method, the dopant (boron or arsenic) implanted into the titanium silicide layer may become reacted with the constituent metal element (titanium in the case of titanium silicide) in the silicide during the drive-in heat treatment, forming a compound (TiB.sub.2 or TiAs) with the dopant, and thus significantly reducing the implanted dose that can be electrically activated in the silicon substrate.
This situation is illustrated in FIG. 4 taking, as an example, a p.sup.+ -n junction formed by boron implantation. The figure also shows a characteristic curve for the depth versus the boron density of the ion implantation. Under this ion implantation condition, most of the boron (more than 80% of the total implant dose) rests within a titanium silicide layer 5. These boron atoms react with the constituent metal element (titanium) in the titanium silicide to form titanium boride 13 (e.g., TiB.sub.2) which is deposited at the titanium silicide/silicon substrate interface. This results in a significant reduction in the amount of boron that can be electrically activated in the silicon substrate 1. Consequently, the density of carriers 14 (holes) existing at the surface region of the n-type silicon substrate 1 is reduced to less than 20% of the total implant dose. The resulting problem is an crease in the contact resistance at the titanium silicide/silicon substrate interface or the inability to form ohmic contacts. In the figure, the reference numeral 15 indicates the p.sup.+ -n junction.
The above problem is reported, for example, in Applied Physics Letters 52 (1988), pp. 1803-1805.

Method of fabricating semiconductor device

Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.


An electrolyte in a lithium secondary battery includes an alkyl ammonium salt having a cation of the following Formula 1, a lithium salt, and an organic solvent:

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an electrolyte for a lithium secondary battery and a lithium secondary battery comprising the same, and more specifically, to an electrolyte for use in a lithium-sulfur battery having excellent electrochemical properties such as battery capacity, high rate performance, cycle life, and energy density due to improved average discharge voltage.
2. Description of the Related Art
The development of portable electronic devices has led to a corresponding increase in the demand for secondary batteries having both a lighter weight and a higher capacity. To satisfy these demands, the most promising approach is a lithium-sulfur battery with a positive electrode made of sulfur-based compounds.
Lithium-sulfur batteries use sulfur-based compounds with sulfur-sulfur bonds as a positive active material, and a lithium metal or a carbon-based compound as a negative active material. The carbon-based compound is one which can reversibly intercalate or deintercalate metal ions, such as lithium ions. Upon discharging (i.e., electrochemical reduction), the sulfur-sulfur bonds are cleaved, resulting in a decrease in the oxidation number of sulfur (S). Upon recharging (i.e., electrochemical oxidation), the sulfur-sulfur bonds are re-formed, resulting in an increase in the oxidation number of the S. The electrical energy is stored in the battery as chemical energy during charging, and is converted back to electrical energy during discharging.
With respect to specific density, the lithium-sulfur battery is the most attractive among the currently developing batteries since lithium has a specific capacity of 3,830 mAh/g, and sulfur has a specific capacity of 1,675 mAh/g. Further, the sulfur-based compounds are less costly than other materials and are environmentally friendly.
Nevertheless, no lithium-sulfur batteries have yet been made widely commercially available . One reason these batteries have not been able to be commercialized is due to the poor sulfur utilization over repeated cycling, resulting in a low capacity. The sulfur utilization is referred to as a ratio of the amount of the sulfur involved in the electrochemical redox reaction of batteries to the amount of total injected sulfur. Further, the sulfur is diffused away to electrolytes upon the redox reaction, deteriorating the cycle life characteristics. Accordingly, unless the electrolyte is suitable, the reduced product of the sulfur, lithium sulfide (Li2S), is deposited, and as a result does not participate in further electrochemical reactions.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,030,720 describes liquid electrolyte solvents, including a main solvent having the general formula R1(CH2CH2O)nR2, where n ranges between 2 and 10, R1 and R2 are different or identical alkyl or alkoxy groups, and having a donor solvent of a donor number of 15 or more. Further, the main solvent includes a liquid electrolyte solvent that includes a solvent having at least one of a crown ether, a cryptand, and a donor solvent, which are solvents generating a catholyte after discharging. Despite using this kind of electrolyte, however, lithium-sulfur batteries have failed to obtain satisfactory capacity, high rate performance, or cycle life characteristics.
According to current research, an electrolyte of salts and an organic solvent may provide lithium ion batteries with a high ion conductivity and a high oxidation potential. In such lithium ion batteries, lithium salts such as LiClO4, LiBF4, or LiPF6 are mainly used. U.S. Pat. No. 5,827,602 describes non-aqueous batteries having lithium salts comprising triflate, imide, or methide-based anions. The aforementioned electrolyte shows good performance for lithium ion batteries. However, in lithium-sulfur batteries, the electrolyte causes problems by deteriorating the battery performance. This deterioration is due to the electrochemical reaction of the polysulfide being very unstable in a carbonate-based electrolyte, which is the most commonly used electrolyte in lithium-ion batteries. Thus, the lithium-sulfur batteries cannot effectively use the electrolyte present in the lithium-ion batteries. The electrolyte usable in lithium-sulfur batteries requires a stable electrochemical reaction with the polysulfide and requires the highly concentrated polysulfide generated by the reaction to be dissolvable. The characteristics of a lithium secondary battery depend on the kind and composition of salts and solvents. Up to now, the correct kind and composition of salts and solvents capable of improving cycle life and high rate characteristics of a lithium secondary battery, particularly a lithium-sulfur battery, have not been developed.

Electrolyte for lithium secondary batteries and lithium secondary battery comprising the same

Abstract: wherein R1 to R4 are independently a C1 to C6 alkyl, a C2 to C6 alkenyl, or substituents thereof. The lithium secondary battery has improved cycle life, high rate characteristics, and a high energy density due to an increase of the average discharge voltage at a high rate.


A method for completing a project includes several steps. A request for completing a project is received, including first information regarding the project. At least one person for completing the project is determined based on the first information. Second information regarding the project is also received, and instructions for completing the project are identified based on analysis of the second information. The instructions include a plurality of actions to be performed by the at least one person, including the creation of at least one document using a standardized template. The performance of the actions by the at least one person in completing the project is automatically tracked. A system suitable for performing the method is also disclosed, including a processor, a memory, and several components for performing the steps.

Institutions, including banks and other financial institutions, often have a large number of employees organized into many divisions and groups. With such a large number of employees, such institutions may encounter problems with consistent record keeping, as different divisions, groups, or individual employees may keep records differently. Similarly, business practices across the institution may also vary. Accordingly, a standardized record keeping process and a standardized process for completing work across the institution are desirable. Additionally, paper record keeping and traditional computerized workflow engines often result in inefficiency and the expenditure of unnecessary money and work hours. Accordingly, greater automation and a streamlined, centralized system controlling workflow can result in great financial benefit, particularly to a large institution. Smaller institutions would realize benefits from improvements in these areas as well.


Embodiments can provide a system, a wheel localizer, a wheel localization device, a method or a computer program for locating a position of wheel and/or for determining an acceleration of a wheel of a vehicle. The system for locating a position of at least one out of a plurality of wheels of a vehicle includes a detector configured to obtain information related to a tangential acceleration of the at least one wheel of the vehicle and a unit configured to obtain information related to angular rotations of the plurality of wheels. The system further includes a locator configured to determine the position of the at least one wheel based on the information related to the tangential acceleration of the at least one wheel and the information related to the angular rotations of the plurality of wheels.

Tire Pressure Monitoring Systems (TPMS) are designed to monitor the air pressure inside of pneumatic tires on various types of vehicles. Therefore pressure sensors are used in the tires and the system may report the tire pressure information to the driver of the vehicle. Wireless transmission can be used to transmit information on the pressure data to a centralized receiver component in the vehicle. Such a configuration can enable the system to report or signal pressure losses of the tires to the driver. Some known TPMS provide localization information on the tire or wheel on top of pressure information so as to indicate to a driver of a vehicle the position of a wheel having a pressure loss. Examples are indications on whether a pressure loss of a tire of a wheel of a car is on the Front Left (FL) tire, the Front Right (FR) tire, the Rear Left (RL) tire, and/or the Rear Right (RR) tire. After replacement of a wheel or tire, assignment or re-assignment of the sensor signals to the positions on the vehicle may be necessary. Such assignment can be carried out manually, for example, by using a Low-Frequency (LF) initializer, which is used to initialize each individual sensor upon indication from a system receiver. The initialization can be affected by sequentially activating an LF-initiator in the proximity of the respective sensor and receiving an according response with a unique identification from the sensor.
Some known TPMS systems utilize multiple LF-initializers, e.g. in terms of transmitter coils or inductors, for initialization of each individual sensor or wheel, for example, and they can be mounted in the wheel housing of each wheel. The number of involved LF-initializers may render such an approach uneconomic. Other concepts make use of different reception levels of the LF-radio signals using transmitter coils at different locations asymmetric to the wheels, e.g. one in the front and one in the back. These concepts are expensive and unsuitable for after-market installation. Further concepts make use of the varying reception power of the RF-signals transmitted by the sensors. The reception power of such an RF-signal can be measured and the different locations can be distinguished by the different reception levels, e.g. evoked by different distances of the wheels. The larger the distance between a wheel and the corresponding receiver the lower the reception power. In some cars a distinction between the signals from the front and the signals from the back is possible, as the receiver is located at an asymmetric position i.e. close to a rear axis, a distinction between signals from the left and right is rather difficult. This concept may suffer from the complex propagation paths of the wireless signals, which may render an assignment of a reception level of a signal to a certain wheel difficult. Some concepts may use a set of acceleration sensors, which are installed in an orthogonal manner in each wheel to determine the rotational direction of the wheels to distinguish left and right wheels.
Another concept uses ABS (Anti-lock Braking System) signals to determine rotational frequencies of the wheels and relates or correlates them to rotational frequencies determined based on TPMS signals, which may make use of radial acceleration sensors determining the acceleration changes as the sensor rotates with the wheel causing centrifugal acceleration on top of gravitation.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Wheel localizer, wheel localization device, system, method and computer program for locating a position of a wheel


A power converter includes at least one leg having a first string operatively coupled to a second string via a first connecting node and a second connecting node. The first string includes a first branch and a second branch operatively coupled via a third connecting node. Each of the branches has a plurality of switching units, a controllable semiconductor switch and the first connecting node and the second connecting node. The first string is operatively coupled across a first bus and a second bus. Furthermore, the second string includes a plurality of controllable semiconductor switches.

The invention relates generally to power converters and more specifically to a multilevel converter.
In the last few decades, the field of power conversion has grown tremendously due to its imminent advantages in motor drives, renewable energy systems, high voltage direct current (HVDC) systems, and the like. For example, a subsea oil and gas production system which requires hundreds of megawatts of electric power may employ a HVDC transmission and distribution system for delivery of electric power. Such HVDC systems typically include a land-based or topside converter substation where the AC-to-DC power conversion is performed. The multilevel converter is emerging as a promising power conversion technology for such medium and high voltage applications.
Multilevel converters offer several advantages over ordinary two-level converters. For example, the power quality of the multilevel converter is better than that of two level converters. Also, the multilevel converters are ideal for interface between a grid and renewable energy sources such as photovoltaics (PV), fuel cells, wind turbines, and the like. In addition, the efficiency of the multilevel converter is relatively higher as a result of its minimum switching frequency.
In the recent times, the multilevel converters having a modular structure and without transformers have been designed. The modular structure of the converters, allows stacking of these converters to an almost unlimited number of levels. Also, the modular structure aids in scaling up to different power and voltage levels. However, certain currently available multilevel converters such as modular multilevel converters (MMC) typically employ a large number of fully controllable semiconductor switches, such as insulated gate bipolar transistors (IGBTs).


A long-sleeved full-skirt coat that may be manually converted into a shoulder tote bag. A shoulder strap is formed from the long sleeves by attaching their free ends together. The bag is formed by transversely folding the flattened body of the coat with the arms spread-eagled to either side. The body is folded in approximately three sections from top to bottom. The bottom third skirt section has its corners folded inward to form a generally pointed bottom which is folded over the top third and fastened to the front of the coat body. The free ends of the sleeves are then fastened together to form a shoulder strap extending from either end of the folded and fastened together body. The front center of the coat has zippered pockets which are accessible and usable when the coat is converted to a shoulder bag.

When a coat comes off and there is no where to put it, there is a need to minimize the number of items that the bearer must carry. Whether shopping, attending a sports event, traveling, or walking with small children, it is preferable not to have to hold onto both a coat and a handbag as separate items.
Several inventors have addressed the need to combine the functions of a coat and a handbag into one item. U.S. Pat. No. 4,862,520 (1989) shows a coat with a backpack element covering the full back portion of the coat, thus, compromising the fashion integrity of the coat itself for the purpose of utility. U.S. Pat. No. 4,475,251 (1984) displays the handle means and several components of the handbag attached to the inside of the jacket, rendering the fashion of the jacket's interior compromised when the jacket is opened. U.S. Pat. No. 4,055,853 (1977) discloses the belt of the coat as handle means when the garment is converted into a tote bag. This method cannot accommodate coats without belts. Other prior art references of possible interest are U.S. Pat. Nos: 1,948,177; 2,109,951; 3,846,844; 4,426,740; 4,637,076; 4,651,348 and 5,097,534. There is therefore a need for a convertible garment/shoulder tote bag which can be formed from a long-sleeved coat that may be beltless; in addition to a need for increased focused upon fashion integrity--along with utility--of the invention.


A single nucleotide polymorphism occurring on a leptin receptor gene is analyzed and an inflammatory disease is examined on the basis of the analytical data. Further, a substance capable of changing the interaction between the leptin receptor and galectin-2 is selected to thereby screen a remedy for an inflammatory disease.

In recent years, risks of death in coronary diseases such as myocardial infarction have increased with changes in life styles (Non-patent Document 1 or 2). Therefore, a method of diagnosing a critical risk for any of those diseases at an early stage has been expected to be developed.
The possibilities of development of coronary diseases such as myocardial infarction due to genetic predispositions have been suggested in the art. Several methods of diagnosing myocardial infarction on the basis of the presence or absence of a gene mutation have been known in the art. For instance, a method of diagnosing a risk of the onset of myocardial infarction by analyzing the polymorphism of a prostacyclin synthase gene has been known (Patent Document 1). However, for diagnosing more precisely, another method for the diagnosis has been expected to be developed.
A leptin receptor is a single-spanning membrane receptor that transmits a signal of leptin that is involved in regulation of food intake and energy expenditure (Non-patent Document 3). It has been known that polymorphisms in some regions of a gene encoding leption receptor are associated with metabolic diseases such as obesity (Non-patent Document 3). Polymorphisms in several portions of a gene that encodes the leptin receptor have been known to relate to asthma (a polymorphism that replaces Q with R: Non-patent Document 4). However, there is no finding with respect to the relationship between the polymorphism of the leptin receptor gene and inflammatory diseases such as myocardial infarction.
Galectins are proteins having affinities for galactose. In mammals, at present, 10 different galectins are known. Among those, galectin-2 is known to form a noncovalent homodimer composed of a 14 KDa subunit and it is self-aggregated to lose its activity in the absence of a reducing agent. In addition, the details of physiological functions of galectin-2 have not been known even though in many cases the expression of galectin-2 is found in epithelial cells in normal adult human tissues, mainly in the lower part of the small intestine (Non-patent Document 5).    Patent Document 1: JP2002-136291    Non-patent Document 1: Nature Medicine, 1997, vol. 3, p 600-601    Non-patent Document 2: New England Journal of Medicine, 1997, vol. 337, p 1360-1369    Non-patent Document 3: Cell, 1995, vol. 83, p 1263-1271    Non-patent Document 4: Hum Genet., 2001, vol. 108(3), p 233-236    Non-patent Document 5: Trends in Glycoscience and Glycotechnology, 1997, vol. 9, No. 45, p 87-93

Method of examining inflammatory disease and method of screening remedy for inflammatory disease


A switching power supply controller has a nominal loop gain and transient loop gain that is only activated in response to an abrupt load change in one direction. The transient loop gain may be implemented with a series-connected diode and resistor combination arranged in a feedback configuration with an error amplifier. A large load change in one direction may swing the output of the error amplifier and forward bias the diode to create a non-linear gain change.

FIG. 1 illustrates a prior art switching power supply. The system of FIG. 1 includes a modulator 20 that generates switching control signals SC1 and SC2 to drive switch circuits 10 and 12, thereby controlling the amount of power delivered to the load 22 through inductors 14 and 16. An output filter 21 includes a series resistor/capacitor combination to filter the output from the inductors. A voltage mode error amplifier circuit 17 generates an error signal VERR in response to the output voltage VOUT so the modulator can modulate the switch signals to maintain a constant output voltage regardless of the amount of current consumed by the load. The sensed output voltage is combined with an input signal Vref to generate the error signal that is applied to the modulator for closed-loop control of the output. The modulator 20 shown in FIG. 1 is assumed to provide pulse-width modulation (PWM), but other modulation schemes such as pulse frequency modulation (PFM), hysteretic control (ripple regulation), etc., may be used.
The system of FIG. 1 also includes a current sensing circuit 18 to generate a signal VCS that provides a measure of the total combined output current delivered to the load. The current sense signal may be used in numerous ways. For example, it may be used to provide over-current shutdown, it may be used to implement current-mode regulation, or it may be combined with voltage feedback to establish a droop impedance for adaptive voltage positioning (AVP) control schemes.
The system of FIG. 1 is known as a multi-phase switching power supply because the power components including the switches and inductors are repeated to produce multiple output currents that are summed together to provide the total output current. This increases the amount of current available from the power supply.
Although the circuit of FIG. 1 provides good regulation and transient response in many applications, switching power supplies for microprocessors are subject to ever more demanding performance requirements. For example, under certain operating conditions, the supply current demanded by a high performance processor may drop from full load down to 30 percent and then immediately go back up to full load at frequencies of hundreds of kilohertz (kHz). The power supply must be able to supply these rapidly changing currents while still maintaining the supply voltage within a very narrow range.
An example of a problem caused by high frequency load transients is saturation of the error amplifier. That is, when the output load current changes rapidly from a low to high or high to low level, the output signal from the error amplifier changes rapidly to force the PWM output to compensate for the given load change. Since the error amplifier is non-ideal, it has some limited minimum and maximum voltage range that can be reached if there is a large error signal generated at the output, as would be the case for very large output load changes. This may drive the error amplifier into saturation with the output at one of the voltage rail limits. Once in saturation, it takes additional time for the error amplifier to swing its output voltage back from the rail once the output voltage of the power supply has come back into regulation.
Some efforts have been made to clamp the output of the error amplifier with a diode. Although this may prevent saturation, it may also cause overshoot in response to an abrupt load change in the opposite direction, thus causing the power supply output to exceed the specified voltage range, and possibly damaging the processor which is very sensitive to supply voltage variations.
Compounding these problems is the asymmetric slew rate of the output inductors as they are typically configured in switching power supplies. PWM based DC power supplies convert an input voltage to an output voltage via a switched inductor and output filter. The input to output ratio determines the system duty cycle. However, the large signal slew rate is typically asymmetric, so large load changes may drive the PWM stage into saturation at its minimum or maximum duty cycle, and this may cause a different response and non-linear operating point depending on the direction of the load change.

Switching power supply controller with unidirectional transient gain change

Semiconductor Components Industries, LLC


A wiping board apparatus for cleaning the rectal area of a person following defecation includes a generally planar base that is mountable on a toilet seat. The base is adapted for holding an elongate rail that extends longitudinally in a generally front to back orientation relative to the underlying toilet seat. One or more wiping sheets may be attached to at least one of the base and the rail element for covering the rail element. Following defecation, a user sits on the base and slides over the rail to wipe and clean fecal material from the rectal area.

For over 150 years, traditional hand wiping with toilet paper has been by far the most common technique for cleaning a person's rectal area following defecation. This practice presents many shortcomings. It can be both aesthetically unpleasant and unsanitary. Germs and resulting illnesses can be spread, particularly if the person performing the hand wiping does not immediately and properly wash their hands. Conventional toilet paper wiping also has adverse environmental and economic impacts. Typically, the user employs far more sheets of toilet paper than are actually needed for wiping. Multiple ply toilet paper only adds to this waste. Studies have reported that an average of 57 sheets of paper per person are used and discarded daily. Not only is this quite costly for the individual consumer, it also consumes approximately 27,000 trees per day. Flushed toilet paper must also be processed by municipal and private sewerage and septic systems designed to handle the used and discarded toilet paper.
Hand wiping can also be especially problematic for the elderly, infirmed, young children and other persons with disabilities such as autism and other physical limitations such as rheumatoid arthritis and obesity. Such persons may find it difficult, painful or even impossible to perform the physical movements such as turning, bending, reaching and wiping involved in normal hand wiping.
I have determined that a significant need exists for an apparatus and technique that will allow virtually all persons, including, but not necessarily limited to those described above, to perform post-defecation wiping of the rectal area in a hygienic, environmentally friendly and economically efficient manner superior to conventional hand wiping.
I have also determined that obese persons have a particularly difficult time with defecation and cleaning following defecation due to the relatively wide opening (typically 8-9 inches) formed through most toilet seats. Ideally, the weight of a person seated on the toilet should be borne by the ischial tuberosities bones located at the lower end of the skeletal torso and on respective sides of the anus. These bones are located about 4″ apart. However, the opening formed in the typical oval toilet seat, causes the user's weight to be supported largely by the femur bones of the user's legs, which are usually about 10″ apart. When an obese person having a considerable amount of fatty tissue sits upon the toilet seat, the fatty tissue surrounding the rectum is compressed to restrict the rectal passageway. As a result, an increased amount of excrement contacts the skin and more tedious, time consuming and unpleasant cleaning effort is required. A solution to this problem is needed.


A method for making a trunnion for a rocker arm or a finger lever of an internal combustion engine from a piece of rod-shaped ground stock by removal of a peripheral section to produce a flat bearing surface including forming the round stock into a barrel-shaped blank by upsetting, shaping the barrel-shaped blank into a rotationally symmetrical element including a central shoulder having a uniform diameter which is greater than the diameter of the trunnion and removing the peripheral section at any point from the central shoulder by shearing from two sides thereof in an axial direction of the rotationally symmetrical element whereby any cutting plane material from the central shoulder is directed towards a sheared surface whereby the bearing surface is a hardened surface.

A trunnion of the above type for mounting a rocker arm is known from DE-U 19 38 943 and comprises a surface which is parallel to the central axis of the trunnion and constitutes a bearing surface for a fixing screw which is inserted through a bore perpendicular to the central axis. The screw head or the retaining nut of the screw bears against the bearing surface. It is also known in the art to make such trunnions as rotationally non-symmetrical parts with bearing surfaces by an upsetting procedure. A drawback of this method is that, due to an insufficient flux of material during the forming process, the bearing surface is inadequately configured, i.e. it slopes downwards towards its edges leaving a smaller effective bearing surface for the fixing screw. A remedy for this is sought in milling flat the bearing surface but this is an additional work step which increases the manufacturing costs. A further drawback is that a bearing surface post-milled in this way experiences no increase in hardness, that is to say, it is too soft.


A device for snugging a balloon of a catheter against an inner wall of an intra-corporeal lumen or surface serviced by the catheter includes a hollow column having a top end and a bottom end, forming a throughway sized to accommodate a tube of the catheter, and a flange extending from the bottom end of the hollow column generally perpendicularly to length of the hollow column. A slit is formed in the hollow column and the flange through which the hollow column is connectable to the tube of the catheter. The catheter is tugged to contact the balloon to the inner wall of the lumen, and the device is fixed to the tube of the catheter atop the skin of a body serviced by the catheter to tension pressure of the balloon against the inner wall.

In many medical, surgical and related applications, ostomy, conduits or tubes are placed within real or potential body lumens or spaces, so as to drain or inject fluids or particulate matter. Conventional ostomy practices include surgical creation of a passageway through the external covering, body wall muscles and/or integument and into intracorporeal body organs, spaces and potential space. The ostomy may be employed, for example, for access to or within an organ, vessel or other intra-corporeal feature, such as, for example, the bladder, stomach, kidney, intestine or other organ or feature. Various catheters or other intubation may be lodged and/or secured within the ostomy to aid drainage and/or injection.
Conventional catheters and other intubation devices can include balloons for retaining and/or immobilizing and securing the catheter or intubation device within the lumen of an organ, vessel or other intracorporeal space or feature. The balloon is inflated once the catheter or other intubation is positioned within the desired space or lumen. These catheters and other intubations can be prone to leakage from lack of water tightness with the lumen or space. This can cause cross-contamination of intra-lumen fluids with other body components and external features. These problems can lead to infection and egress of fluids or particulate matter into other organs, spaces or tissues.
It would therefore be desirable, and a significant improvement in the art and technology, to provide snugger systems and methods for retaining the balloon of a catheter or other intubation in contact with lumen mucosa to effectively seal the catheter or intubation against the mucosa.


The present document relates to an optical communication system. In particular, the present document relates to the alignment of the laser frequency at a transmitter of the optical communication system and the local oscillator frequency at a coherent receiver of the optical communication system. A coherent optical receiver (222) is described. The receiver (222) comprises a reception unit adapted to convert a received optical signal at a carrier frequency into a digital signal using a local oscillator, referred to as LO, having an LO frequency; a spectral analysis unit adapted to estimate a degree of asymmetry of a spectrum of the received optical signal, based on the digital signal; and a transmission unit adapted to transmit an indication of the degree of asymmetry to a near-end transponder (210) comprising a transmitter (211) of the received optical signal.

In current wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) optical communication systems, the tolerance of a nominal central frequency (e.g. +−1.5 GHz) of the laser at a transmitter of the WDM communication system is typically tolerable, because the ratio between the spacing (or bandwidth) of the optical communication channels (i.e. of the WDM channels) and the baud-rate per channel is relatively large. A typical channel spacing of DWDM (Dense WDM) systems is 50 GHz and typical baud-rates (e.g. using QPSK symbols) are at 28 Gbaud. Hence, typical spacing/baud-rate ratios are in the range of 1.8 or greater. Moreover, the frequency offset between the laser source at the transmitter and the local oscillator at a coherent receiver may typically be corrected by digital signal processing at the receiver. The digital signal processing for offset compensation can typically tolerate a pre-determined maximum frequency offset. For example, with QPSK symbols at 28 Gbaud (or Giga symbols/second) the maximum tolerable frequency offset with a channel spacing of 50 GHz is typically +/−3.5 GHz. In view of the above mentioned tolerances of laser sources in current coherent systems, frequency offsets between the laser source at the transmitter and the local oscillator at the coherent receiver may be compensated using digital signal processing.
On the other hand, in ultra-dense WDM systems, the channel spacing of the WDM channels is expected to be close to the symbol-rate (with a spacing/baud-rate ratio <1.2). Such ultra-dense WDM systems are expected to make use of narrow-band optical filters within the WDM channels (e.g. at the transmitter) in order to minimize or reduce the cross-talk between adjacent WDM channels. The narrow-band optical fibers are expected to provide a ratio bandwidth/baud-rate <1.2. In such ultra-dense WDM systems, the frequency stability of the laser source at the transmitter and in particular the alignment of the frequency of the laser source with respect to the central frequency of the narrow-band optical filters are expected to be a technical challenge.
As indicated above, the laser sources employed in optical communication systems typically have a tolerance of + or −1.5 GHz. These tolerances are too high with respect to the requirements of future optical systems (having a baud-rate in the range of >32.5 GBaud, and a channel spacing in the range of approx. 33.3 GHz). This is illustrated in the Q2-factor penalty vs. frequency offset diagram 100 of FIG. 1. It can be seen that in case of no or a wide-band optical filtering at the transmitter (reference numeral 101), the communication system supports relatively high offsets between the frequency at the transmitter and the local oscillator (LO) frequency at the receiver. On the other hand, in case of narrow-band optical with the WDM channel (as is the case in ultra-dense WDM systems), even small deviations of the frequencies at the transmitter and the receiver lead to significant bit error rates (reference numeral 102). Hence, when operating with a signal bandwidth close to the baud-rate, a relatively small mismatch between the central frequency of the transmitted signal and the central frequency of the optical filter translates into a significant penalty.
The present document addresses the above mentioned technical issues. In particular, the present document describes a method and a system for aligning the frequencies of the laser source (at the transmitter) and the local oscillator (at the receiver), in order to allow for the implementation of ultra-dense WDM systems which a reduced channel spacing/baud-rate ratio compared to present optical WDM communication systems.

Coherent transponder with enhanced frequency locking


A data distribution apparatus installed in a data center transmits data to a data acquisition apparatus installed in a store via a communication network. The data acquisition apparatus receives authentication information, such as the fingerprint, ID card or the like of a user, for user authentication, and the data distribution apparatus authenticates the user according to the authentication method selected from among multiple authentication methods and corresponding to the authentication information received by the data acquisition apparatus. The data distribution apparatus transmits data changed in format according to the authentication method used to the data acquisition apparatus. In the case of an authentication method being high in security, data is made changeable, and in the case of an authentication method being lower in security, data is changed so as to have an unchangeable format, whereby the unauthorized use of data is prevented.

The present invention relates to a data distribution system and a data distribution apparatus that distributes data via a communication network after user authentication.
Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2002-32205 discloses a network printing system comprising a server connected to a communication network, a terminal requesting data storage and multiple printers. When the terminal requests the server to store data, this system issues the identification data of the data to be stored. A user requests data by inputting the identification data in a printer installed in a store, such as a convenience store or a stationery store, on a city street. The data transmitted from the server via the communication network is printed by the printer, whereby the user acquires the data. Furthermore, this system includes a technology for carrying out charging processing according to the capacity and storage time of the data stored.
Such a technology as described above is known wherein a wide area communication network, such as the Internet, is used, data has been stored in the server, and an image recording apparatus, such as a copier, installed at a destination of the user acquires data from the server via the communication network, and thereby can record the image of the data. With this kind of technology, necessary data, such as business documents, has been stored in the server beforehand, and the user whose location is uncertain, such as a businessperson who travels to visit customers, can acquire necessary data as necessary using the image recording apparatus installed in a store on a city street. When data is distributed using this kind of technology, user authentication is required to be carried out to prevent the unauthorized use of data. As methods for user authentication, inputting the password of the user, inputting the information on the ID card carried by the user, etc. are used generally.
In addition, a technology is known wherein various fees are settled via a communication network. Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 11-232360(1999) discloses a technology wherein the information recorded on the user's ID card is captured via a communication network, and public utility fees are settled by the deduction of the public utility fees from the user's salary.
As methods for personal authentication, various methods are known, for example, a method wherein personal memory using a password or the like is used, a method wherein personal possession using an ID card, a seal or the like is used, and a method wherein personal biometric information using the pattern of a fingerprint, a retina or the like is used. These various authentication methods differ from one another in the capability of preventing personal identity theft, that is, security. The method wherein an ID card is used is higher in security than the method wherein a password is used. The method wherein a fingerprint is used is higher in security than the method wherein an ID card is used. Hence, for the protection of data to be distributed via a communication network, it is conceivable that data of higher importance should be distributed only when the user is authenticated by an authentication method being higher in security. However, the use of the authentication method being higher in security is limited by time and location because of the necessity of using special devices or other reasons. Furthermore, the authentication method being higher in security is characterized in that the number of users who can be authenticated is limited. For these reasons, the advantage of the technology of distributing data via a communication network, that is, the advantage wherein necessary data can be acquired as necessary, is impaired.

Data distribution system and data distribution apparatus


A bow accessory for assisting a user in small water craft portage activities is described. The accessory includes a pair of struts that are removably and rotationally linked to a pair of gunwale adapters that engage the watercraft gunwales. The struts converge towards a wheel assembly that includes a keel chock. When rotated into a portage position, the watercraft keel rests in the chock and the weight of the watercraft bow portion is supported thereby. A feature of the invention permits the user to adjust the relative angle of the wheel assembly so that appropriate alignment with the ground can be made. When the wheel assembly is rotated towards the bow of the watercraft and into a stowed position, the wheel assembly and major portions of the struts are disposed below the gunwales and may reside in the watercraft bilge area. Alternatively, the struts may be conveniently removed from the gunwale adapters and stowed separately. To facilitate convenient engagement and disengagement of the major portions of the accessory from the gunwales, each adapter has a slotted flange to receive a cross member joining the upper portions of the struts. A hasp rotationally linked to the flange ensures that the assembly is not accidentally disengaged. Several embodiments of gunwale adapters as well as strut configurations are disclosed in addition to the basic embodiment.

The use of wheeled accessories to assist in moving a watercraft over land is quite old. The most common accessory is a trailer wherein the watercraft is cradled by the trailer and moved, either by mechanical assistance or by human power, to a desired location. However, where small watercraft are involved, particularly dinghies, it is not necessary to have a trailer as the weight of such craft are generally less than 300 pounds. While it may be possible for many users of such craft to carry or drag it to a desired location, if the distance involved is far or the user does not desire to do so, it become impracticable to carry or drag the craft. Thus, wheeled assistance of some form is necessary.
With respect to dinghies, a common transportation scenario involves the user loading the dinghy atop a transportation vehicle such as a camper or in a pickup truck bed, transporting the dinghy to the desired launch location, removing the dinghy from the transportation vehicle, and moving by hand the dinghy to the launch ramp or shore. It is during this last step that many users become frustrated due to the difficulty in moving the dinghy by hand to the ramp or shore. In view of this difficulty, several solutions have been proposed. Since dinghies such as row boats or the like are not sensitive to speed issues, boat drag is of only slight concern. Therefore, proposed solutions include the attachment of wheels to the stern transom section of the boat. These wheels extend past the bottom hull portion of the dinghy and may be removable from brackets affixed thereon or may be permanently attached thereto. The user is then required to elevate the bow of the dinghy and pull it to the desired location, with the transom wheels supporting the stern of the craft.
Obviously, the foregoing solution is not without drawbacks. The primary drawback is that the user must still elevate the bow portion of the dinghy in order to transport it. Thus, the user is required to elevate the craft and propel the craft. In view of this drawback, prior efforts have focused on providing for a bow wheeled support assembly. Examples of these efforts can be found in U.S. Pat. Nos. 1,109,520, 3,567,241, 3,687,476, and 5,203,580. As early as 1914, solutions have been proposed that relied on a dolly approach to address the noted drawbacks. For example, many of the referenced patents rely on a dolly type approach wherein the weight of the dinghy is directed exclusively to the wheel and gunwale supports is used for alignment and securement of the dolly, e.g., U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,567,241, 3,687,476, and 5,203,580. Referring to the noted patents, this class of dolly wheeling device must be installed and removed for transportation and use of the craft.
An alternative design relies on using the gunwale supports as a weight bearing member. This approach is best shown in U.S. Pat. No. 1,109,520. With this invention, a fulcrum support is made by having the keel support act as a fulcrum point with the wheel and the gunwale being the extended load supports. In the '520 invention, the body supports are loosely fitted to the gunwales and extend forwardly and exteriorly of the boat sides. A keel supporting cross member links the two supports as does a wheel axle located near the end of the supports. When the keel rests upon the cross member and the weight of the boat supported by the wheel, the supports are compressively held against the gunwales. However, as with the dolly type inventions, the '520 invention must be removed after use and stored somewhere.
It is therefore apparent that a wheeled type portage accessory is needed that can be easily used to support the bow of a dinghy or like watercraft, easily stowed when not in use, and simple to manufacture and use. In view of these objectives, the following invention was made.


A tubular extension, particularly for electric household appliances and cleaning machines in general, comprising at least two tubular elements telescopically associated with each other, a first one of these tubular elements being associated coaxially with a second one having a smaller cross-section and being slideable inside the first tubular element, one of these first and second tubular elements having at least one sliding portion whereat the outer or inner lateral surface is shaped so as to form at least one step, wherefrom the cross-section gradually increases radially and along a given peripheral arc, a longitudinal cavity being formed at the peripheral arc, and a tooth having a similar shape fitting snugly and reversibly in the cavity after sliding over a portion of the surface relative to the peripheral arc, the tooth being formed at the inner or outer surface of the other one of the first and second tubular elements on the side where mutual coupling occurs upon assembly. During the sliding of the first and second tubular elements with respect to each other, the tooth is adjacent to the corresponding step, which is thus adapted to form a stroke limiter.

The present invention relates to a tubular extension particularly but not exclusively useful for electric household appliances and for cleaning machines in general.
It is known that electric household appliances for aspirating dust and liquids are currently particularly used and appreciated.
In particular, these electric household appliances, in order to be used advantageously and effectively, must allow a good working range without forcing the operator to change the power source, which is usually a mains outlet.
These electric household appliances must also have a structure which allows easy and ergonomic positions for the operator even in situations in which it is necessary to clean surfaces which are particularly difficult because of their location (consider for example the cleaning of a ceiling or of particularly hard to access corners, or floors whereon pieces of furniture are provided which have a fixed base or are in any case difficult to move).
In order to extend the working range of these electric household appliances, extensions are currently used which have substantially similar structures despite their differences in embodiment.
In particular, the solution which provides for the mutual insertion coupling of tubular segments which are interconnected by simple interlocking or by means of couplings, for example bayonet couplings, is particularly used in commercially available electric household appliances.
This solution with mutually insertion-coupled segments, though performing its function, is not free from drawbacks, the main one being the fact that the ducts are extended by preset segments the length whereof cannot be very limited since the operator might then be forced to assemble an excessively large number of segments, wasting time and producing structures which are not perfectly stable.
Telescopic extensions, in which the associated tubular elements are kept locked by pressing the free ends of threaded elements whose screwing and unscrewing movement produces length adjustment and allows actual use of the extension, are more rarely commercially available.
However, even this last solution entails drawbacks, one of which is a certain constructive complexity and a sometimes ineffective positional stability during use.

Telescopic tubular extension particularly for electric household appliances and cleaning machines in general


Lighting devices are disclosed having a light-transmissive resin sheet and one or more light sources disposed within the light-emitting resin sheet. The light sources may, in some embodiments, be oriented so that a large portion of light emitted from the light sources exhibits total internal reflection within the light-transmissive resin sheet and is trapped inside the sheet. This total internal reflection may, for example, advantageously provide a more uniform light emitted from the lighting device when scattered from objects inside the sheet. Methods of making and using the lighting device are also disclosed.

Light emitting diodes (or LEDS) have been used in various lighting systems, such as lamps, flash lights, and display devices. Light emitting diodes are often selected for various lighting applications because they provide improved energy efficiency relative to other light sources, such as incandescent lights. In general, light emitting diodes emit a narrow beam of light that can lead to poor light distribution.

Lighting device and methods of making the same


A monitor that has multiple ioniziation sources that can be switched between different modes. The monitor may have an electrostatic ionizer and a photoionizer that ionize at approximately atmospheric pressure. Activation of the ionizers is controlled by a switch. The switch can activate the ionizers in accordance with a plurality of modes. For example, the switch may create modes where the ionizers are activated sequentially or simultaneously. The monitor may further have a chemical ionizer that is controlled by the switch to activate in a plurality of modes. The modes may be switched to detect different trace molecules of a sample loaded into an ionization chamber. The ionizers are preferably located at orthogonal angles relative to each other.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a monitor such as a mass spectrometer that can detect trace molecules from a sample.
2. Background Information
Mass spectrometers are typically used to detect one or more trace molecules from a sample. For example, a mass spectrometer can be used to detect the existence of toxic or otherwise dangerous compounds in a room. Mass spectrometers are also used to analyze drug compounds in solvents. Mass spectrometers typically ionize trace molecules from a gas sample and then deflect the ionized molecules into a detector. The molecules may be contained in a liquid sample which is typically volatilized using heat and a flow of gas such as nitrogen to help break up the liquid stream into small aerosol particles. The gaseous molecules can then be ionized by techniques such as atmospheric pressure photoionization (APPI) and atmospheric pressure chemical ionization (APCI). Another method for ionizing molecules in liquid is by electrospray ionization (ESI). In the ESI method a liquid stream is charged by a voltage and the ionized molecules are released from the liquid stream in a process that creates aerosol droplets. The aerosol droplets can be further evaporated into isolated ions.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,211,516 and 6,329,653 issued to Syage et al. disclose a mass spectrometer that contains a photoionizer. The photoionizer includes a light source that can emit a light beam into a gas sample. The light beam has an energy that will ionize constituent molecules without creating an undesirable amount of fragmentation. The molecules can be ionized at pressures ranging from low to above atmospheric pressure. U.S. application Ser. No. 596,307 filed in the name of Syage et al. discloses embodiments of APPI sources. U.S. Pat. No. 6,534,765 issued to Robb. et al discloses an atmospheric pressure photoionization source that uses dopant molecules to increase ionization efficiency. APPI is emerging as an important technique in mass spectrometry.
It is generally desirable to provide a mass spectrometer; that can detect a number of different compounds; provides a strong parent molecular ion signal with minimal fragmentation; is minimally susceptible to interference and gives a linear response with concentration.
It would be desirable to provide a photoionizer that can handle large quantities of sample to use with various liquid flow sources such as liquid chromatography (LC) and separation columns. It would also be desirable to provide a photoionizer that ionizes analyte in liquid samples by a means other than thermal vaporization.
Finally it would be desirable to combine a photoionizer with other ionizers to extend the range of molecules that can be ionized. It is also desirable to simultaneously operate more than one ionizer and do so in a manner that provides rapid switching between different modes of operation.

Multiple ion sources involving atmospheric pressure photoionization


The present invention provides a bovine adeno-associated virus (BAAV) virus and vectors and particles derived therefrom. In addition, the present invention provides methods of delivering a nucleic acid to a cell using the BAAV vectors and particles.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention provides bovine adeno-associated virus (BAAV) and vectors derived therefrom. Thus, the present invention relates to BAAV vectors for and methods of delivering nucleic acids to cells of subjects.
2. Background Art
Adeno-associated virus (AAV) is a member of the Parvoviridae, a virus family characterized by a single stranded linear DNA genome and a small icosahedral shaped capsid measuring about 20 nm in diameter. AAV was first described as a contamination of tissue culture grown simian virus 15, a simian adenovirus and was found dependent on adenovirus for measurable replication. This lead to its name, adeno-associated virus, and its classification in the genus Dependovirus (reviewed in Hoggan et al., 1970). AAV is a common contaminant of adenovirus samples and has been isolated from human virus samples (AAV2, AAV3, AAV5), from samples of simian virus-15 infected cells (AAV1, AAV4) as well as from stocks of avian (AAAV) (Bossis and Chiorini, 2003), bovine, canine and ovine adenovirus and laboratory adenovirus type 5 stock (AAV6). DNA spanning the entire rep-cap ORFs of AAV7 and AAV8 was amplified by PCR from heart tissue of rhesus monkeys (Gao et al., 2002).
With the exception of AAVs 1 and 6, all cloned AAV isolates appear to be serologically distinct. Nine isolates have been cloned, and recombinant viral stocks have been generated from each isolated virus.
AAV appears to commonly infect humans. 50%-80% of adults in North America are seropositive for AAV. A steep rise in antibody response against AAV 1-3 was observed in the age group between 1-10 years (Blacklow et al., 1968). AAV 2 and 3 were readily isolated from anal and throat specimens from children (Blacklow et al., 1967) whereas isolation from adults was not observed. It appears that AAV spreads primarily in the young population (Hoggan, 1970). Prevalence of antibodies against AAV was found to be similar in Europe, Brazil and Japan, which suggests a global spread of AAV (Erles et al., 1999). Infection with AAV appears to be benign in man and laboratory animals. Currently, no disease has been associated with AAV infections.
AAV2 is the best characterized adeno-associated virus and will be discussed as an AAV prototype. The AAV2 genome consists of a linear single stranded DNA of 4,780 nucleotides. Both polarities of DNA are encapsulated by AAV with equal efficiency. The AAV2 genome contains 2 open reading frames (ORF) named rep and cap. The rep ORF encodes the non-structural proteins that are essential for viral DNA replication, packaging and AAV integration. The cap ORF encodes the capsid proteins. The rep ORF is transcribed from promoters at map units P5 and P19. The rep transcripts contain an intron close to the 3′ end of the rep ORF and can be alternatively spliced. The rep ORF is therefore expressed as 4 partially overlapping proteins, which were termed according to their molecular weight Rep78, 68, 52 and 40. The cap ORF is expressed from a single promoter at P40. By alternative splicing and utilization of an alternative ACG start codon, cap is expressed into the capsid proteins VP1-3 which range in size from 65-86 kDa. VP3 is the most abundant capsid protein and constitutes 80% of the AAV2 capsid. All viral transcripts terminate at a polyA signal at map unit 96.
During a productive AAV2 infection, unspliced mRNAs from the p5 promoter encoding Rep78 are the first detectable viral transcripts. In the course of infection, expression from P5, P19 and P40 increase to 1:3:18 levels respectively. The levels of spliced transcripts increased to 50% for P5, P19 products and 90% of P40 expressed RNA (Mouw and Pintel, 2000).
The AAV2 genome is terminated on both sides by inverted terminal repeats (ITRs) of 145 nucleotides (nt). 125 nt of the ITR constitute a palindrome which contains 2 internal palindromes of 21 nt each. The ITR can fold back on itself to generate a T-shaped hairpin with only 7 non-paired bases. The stem of the ITR contains a Rep binding site (RBS) and a sequence that is site and strand specifically cleaved by Rep—the terminal resolution site (TRS). The ITR is essential for AAV2 genome replication, integration and contains the packaging signals.
The single-stranded AAV2 genome is packaged into a non-enveloped icosahedral shaped capsid of about 20-25 nm diameter. The virion consists of 26% DNA and 74% protein and has a density of 1.41 g/cm3. AAV2 particles are extremely stable and can withstand heating to 60° C. for 1 hour, extreme ph, and extraction with organic solvents.
Rep proteins are involved in almost every step of AAV2 replication including AAV2 genome replication, integration, and packaging. Rep78 and Rep68 possess ATPase, 3′-5′ helicase, ligase and nicking activities and bind specifically to DNA. Rep52 and Rep40 appear to be involved in the encapsidation process and encode ATPase and 3′-5′ helicase activities. Mutational analysis suggests a domain structure for Rep78. The N-terminal 225 aa are involved in DNA binding, DNA nicking and ligation. Rep78 and Rep68 recognize a GCTC repeat motif in the ITR as well as in a linear truncated form of the ITR (Chiorini et al., 1994) with similar efficiencies. Rep78 and Rep68 possess a sequence and strand specific endonuclease activity, which cleaves the ITR at the terminal resolution site (TRS). Rep endonuclease activity is dependent on nucleoside triphosphate hydrolysis and presence of metal cations. Rep 78 and 68 can also bind and cleave single stranded DNA in a NTP independent matter. In addition, Rep78 catalyzes rejoining of single stranded DNA substrates originating from the AAV2 origin of replication—i.e., sequences containing a rep binding and terminal resolution element.
The central region of AAV2 Rep78, which represents the N-terminus of Rep52 and Rep40, contains the ATPase and 3′-5′ helicase activities as well as nuclear localization signals. The helicase activity unwinds DNA-DNA and DNA-RNA duplexes, but not RNA-RNA. The ATPase activity is constitutive and independent of a DNA substrate. The C-terminus of Rep78 contains a potential zinc-finger domain and can inhibit the cellular serine/threonine kinase activity of PKA as well as its homolog PRKX by pseudosubstrate inhibition. Rep68 which is translated from a spliced mRNA that encodes the N-terminal 529 amino acids (aa) of Rep78 fused to 7 aa unique for Rep68, doesn't inhibit either PKA or PRKX. In addition to these biochemical activities, Rep can affect intracellular conditions by protein-protein interactions. Rep78 binds to a variety of cellular proteins including transcription factors like SP-1, high-mobility-group non-histone protein 1 (HMG-1) and the oncosuppressor p53. Overexpression of Rep results in pleiotrophic effects. Rep78 disrupts cell cycle progression and inhibits transformation by cellular and viral oncogenes. In susceptible cell lines, overexpression of Rep resulted in apoptosis and cell death. Several of Rep78 activities contribute to cytotoxicity, including its constitutive ATPase activity, interference with cellular gene expression and protein interactions.
The first step of an AAV infection is binding to the cell surface. Receptors and coreceptors for AAV2 include heparan sulfate proteoglycan, fibroblast growth factor receptor-1, and αvβ5 integrins whereas N-linked 2,3-linked sialic acid is required for AAV5 binding and transduction (Walters et al., 2001). In HeLa cells, fluorescently labeled AAV2 particles appear to enter the cell via receptor-mediated endocytosis in clathrin coated pits. More than 60% of bound virus was internalized within 10 min after infection. Labeled AAV particles are observed to have escaped from the endosome, been trafficked via the cytoplasm to the cell nucleus and accumulated perinuclear, before entering the nucleus, probably via nuclear pore complex (NPC). AAV2 particles have been detected in the nucleus, suggesting that uncoating takes place in the nucleus (Bartlett et al., 2000; Sanlioglu et al., 2000). AAV5 is internalized in HeLa cells predominantly by clathrin coated vesicles, but to a lesser degree also in noncoated pits. AAV particles can also be trafficked intercellularly via the Golgi apparatus (Bantel-Schaal et al., 2002). At least partial uncoating of AAV5 was suggested to take place before entering the nucleus since intact AAV5 particles could not be detected in the nucleus (Bantel-Schaal et al., 2002) After uncoating, the single stranded genome is converted into duplex DNA either by leading strand synthesis or annealing of input DNA of opposite polarity. AAV replication takes place within the nucleus.
During a co-infection with a helper virus such as Adenovirus, herpes simplex virus or cytomegalovirus, AAV is capable of an efficient productive replication. The helper functions provided by Adenovirus have been studied in great detail. In human embryonic kidney 293 cells, which constitutively express the Adenovirus E1A and E1B genes, the early Adenovirus gene products of E2A, E4 and VA were found sufficient to allow replication of recombinant AAV. Allen et al. reported that efficient production of rAAV is possible in 293 cells transfected with only an E4orf6 expression plasmid (Allen et al., 2000). E1A stimulates S phase entry and induces unscheduled DNA synthesis by inactivating the pRB checkpoint at the G1/S border by interaction with pRB family proteins which results in the release of E2F (reviewed in (Ben-Israel and Kleinberger, 2002). This leads to either induction or activation of enzymes involved in nucleotide synthesis and DNA replication. Since unscheduled DNA synthesis is a strong apoptotic signal, anti-apoptotic functions are required. E1B-19k is a Bcl-2 homolog and E1B-55k is a p53 antagonist. Both proteins have anti-apoptotic functions. E4orf6 forms a complex with E1B-55k and results in degradation of p53. It is also reported to cause S-phase arrest (Ben-Israel and Kleinberger, 2002). E2A encodes a single strand DNA binding protein, which appears to be non-essential for DNA replication but effects gene expression (Chang and Shenk, 1990) (Fields 39, 40). The VA transcription unit affects AAV2 RNA stability and translation (Janik et al., 1989). E1A has a more direct effect on AAV2 gene expression. The cellular transcription factor YY-1 binds and inhibits the viral P5 promoter. E1A relieves this transcriptional block. None of the late Ad gene products have been found to be essential for AAV2 replication. The main function of the helper virus appears to be the generation of a cellular environment with active DNA replication machinery and blocked pro-apoptotic functions that allows high-level AAV replication rather than a direct involvement in AAV replication.
While AAV is usually dependent on a helper virus for efficient replication, low level AAV replication was observed under conditions of genotoxic stress (Yakinoglu et al., 1988; Yakobson et al., 1989). AAV DNA replication and particle formation was also observed in differentiating keratinocytes in the absence of helper virus infection (Meyers et al., 2000). This demonstrates that AAV is not defective per se but rather depends on the helper virus to establish the favorable cellular condition and to provide factors for efficient replication
The ability of AAV vectors to infect dividing and non-dividing cells, establish long-term transgene expression, and the lack of pathogenicity has made them attractive for use in gene therapy applications. Lack of cross competition in binding experiments suggests that each AAV serotype may have a distinct mechanism of cell entry. Comparison of the cap ORFs from different serotypes has identified blocks of conserved and divergent sequence, with most of the latter residing on the exterior of the virion, thus explaining the altered tissue tropism among serotypes (19-21, 48, 56). Vectors based on new AAV serotypes may have different host range and different immunological properties, thus allowing for more efficient transduction in certain cell types. In addition, characterization of new serotypes will aid in identifying viral elements required for altered tissue tropism.
Hearing and balance depend on the function of inner ear sensory epithelia, which consists of hair cells and a number of supporting cells that provide mechanical support for the sensory cells. The development of efficient transgene delivery for the inner ear is an important step towards potential application of gene-based therapies for cochlear disorders. Recently, a number of genes implicated in inherited peripheral hearing and vestibular disorders that affect specific cell types have been described. For example, a mutation of espin causes stereocilia degeneration (Naz, S., et al. J Med Genet. 2004 August; 41(8):591-5), while mutations in connexins disrupt junctions between supporting cells (Kelsell, D. P., et al. Nature. 1997 May 1; 387(6628):80-3), these references herein incorporated by reference for the teaching of these mutations.
Some hereditary hearing loss disorders as well as progressive forms of deafness such as age-related hearing loss comprise excellent targets for gene therapy.
Currently, methods for introducing transgenes into neuroepithelial cells in the inner ear are unsatisfactory. Several gene transfer vectors including adeno-, lenti-, herpes simplex, and adenoassociated virus were characterized both in vivo and in vitro using cultured inner ear sensory epithelia explants. While promising, each system had limitations concerning transduction efficiency, tropism, or non-specific pathology induced by the vector (Holt 2002)(Derby, Sena-Esteves et al. 1999; Holt, Johns et al. 1999). Conventional transfection methods using cationic lipids, DEAE-Dextran or calcium phosphate or electroporation are not effective in inner ear epithelia and cause tissue degeneration. Transgenes may be introduced into sensory and nonsensory cells using a Gene Gun™, where plasmids precipitated on gold carriers are introduced into cells using high-pressure helium. While this approach offers the advantage of rapid and simultaneous gene expression in all transfected cells, and the ability to use easily manipulated plasmid DNA's, the extremely low yield of transfection as well as nonspecific structural damage to epithelia restricts its utility.
Provided is a vector comprising the BAAV virus or a vector comprising subparts of the virus, as well as BAAV viral particles. While BAAV is similar to AAV1-8, the viruses are found herein to be physically and genetically distinct. These differences endow BAAV with some unique properties and advantages, which better suit it as a vector for gene therapy or gene transfer applications.
As shown herein, BAAV capsid proteins are distinct from primate and avian AAV capsid proteins and BAAV exhibits a distinct cell tropism, thus making BAAV capsid-containing particles suitable for transducing cell types for which primate or avian recombinant AAV particles are unsuited or less well-suited. BAAV is serologically distinct from other AAVs and humans are not reported to have neutralizing antibodies against BAAV, thus in a gene therapy application, BAAV would allow for transduction of a patient who already possesses neutralizing antibodies to primate isolates either as a result of natural immunological defense or from prior exposure to other vectors. Thus, by providing these new recombinant vectors and particles based on BAAV, a new and highly useful series of vectors and methods of using them are provided.

Bovine adeno-associated viral (BAAV) vector and uses thereof

The United States of America, as represented by the Secretary, Department of Health and Human Services


An improved high-performance vertical sync separator which can reliably operate during high frequency and non-standard video signal conditions and that utilizes a device-independent methodology. The synch separator includes a signal separator circuit having an input port for receiving a composite signal. A measuring device connected to the input port measures a first and second characteristic of the composite signal. A processor receives and compares the first and second characteristics, and recovers a vertical sync signal from the composite signal.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates generally to devices and methods for processing synchronization signals used to coordinate scanning in video devices and, more particularly, to a digital vertical sync separator that can separate a vertical synchronization signal from a high frequency and nonstandard input video signal.
2. Discussion
A typical video signal contains a composite synchronization signal that coordinates the horizontal and vertical sweeping action of an image scanning beam. The scanning beam generates a video image by drawing a series of horizontal lines starting at the top of the image in a left to right direction. When the video image has been completely generated by the scanning beam, the scanning beam returns to the upper left-hand corner of the image, and the scanning process is repeated. The horizontal and vertical sweeping action allows the video image be displayed in raster-like fashion on a screen or other viewing surface.
Embedded within the composite synchronization signal are horizontal and vertical synchronizing, or sync, pulses. These sync pulses occur, as the scanning beam is retraced, to effectively create horizontal and vertical blanking intervals. To properly blank the scanning beam, however, the vertical sync pulse must be separated from the horizontal sync pulse.
The separation of composite synchronization signals into their component parts has long been performed in the video arts using a variety of analog and digital methods and devices. Many of these methods are inflexible, in that they rely on particular timing characteristics of components used to effect the separation. Other methods process the composite synchronization signal by comparing an input sync signal with a reference signal having a known standard format. Such a methodology cannot reliably separate the composite synchronization signal into its component parts when the input signal is of a non-standard format. Still other sync separation methodologies cannot operate when the vertical sync frequency exceeds a certain value. For example, many sync separation devices cannot reliably separate a vertical sync signal when the frequency of the vertical sync signal is higher than 150 Hz. In addition, the circuitry required to implement these synch separation devices often requires numerous components and complicated circuit design.
Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide for a vertical sync separator utilizing a device-independent methodology that minimizes the size and complexity of the associated separator circuitry.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide an improved high-performance vertical sync separator which can reliably operate during high frequency and non-standard input signal conditions.
From the subsequent detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and subjoined claims, other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art.


A method and apparatus for downscaling video images to a lower resolution (e.g. from HDTV to SDTV) is presented. The method comprising the steps of frequency domain anti-aliasing filtering and downscaling the first video signal in a first direction corresponding with a line direction in the first video signal to obtain a downscaled video signal, and spatial domain downscaling the downscaled video signal in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction to obtain the second video signal. The method and apparatus of the invention are suitable for efficient and high quality decoding both progressive and any-type encoded interlaced signals.

Television, since its introduction into the commercial markets, has become a ubiquitous product that has reached into every comer of daily life. Television, whether broadcast television or cable television, provides viewers with more information about changes in the world than any other news form or media. As such the number of televisions sets that are in operation is in the hundreds of millions.
Current television technology, termed Standard Definition Television (SDTV), is based on an analog technology that was developed and standardized in the mid-portion of the 20th century. These long established television broadcast standards for frequency allocation, format, etc., impose limits upon the amount of information that can be transmitted and, consequently, viewed by a user. Newer digital television technology, termed High Definition Television (HDTV), designed to overcome the limitations of SDTV, is able to increase the amount of the data transmitted by digitizing and compressing the television signal before transmission. A significant advantage of HDTV over SDTV is that the increased data transmission improves the clarity of the viewed image. The clarity is improved by transmitting an image having greater resolution than SDTV transmission.
As the number of HDTV transmissions begin to increase in conjunction with the existing SDTV transmissions, hundreds of millions of SDTV television sets must be adapted to receive the new HDTV signals. Adapting SDTV television sets to HDTV formats may be easily accomplished by adding a converter box, e.g., a set-top box, to spatially downscale the received HDTV signal to a format acceptable for viewing on the SDTV television set. Techniques to spatially downscale from HDTV to SDTV are well known in the art.
WO97/14252-A1 discloses a method and apparatus using the discrete cosine transform (DCT) to resize the image. To reduce an image, the method and apparatus exploit the convolution-multiplication property of the DCT to implement the anti-aliasing filter in the DCT domain, then the filter coefficients are operated on to produce DCT coefficients of the reduced-size image.
EP 0 781 052-A2 discloses a decoder for decoding MPEG video bitstreams encoded in any color space encoding format and outputting the decoded video bitstream to different size windows. Both MPEG decompression and color space decoding and conversion are performed on the bitstreams within the same decoder. The disclosed decoder may be programmed to output the decoded video bitstream in any of three primary color space formats comprising YUV 4:2:0, YUV 4:2:2 and YUV 4:4:4. The decoder may also output the decoded bitstream to different sized windows using DCT based image resizing.