A method for manufacturing a probe, includes forming a recess on a sacrificial layer with a resist matching a plane pattern of the probe and a fixing tab connected to the probe, the recess exposing the sacrificial layer, which is on a baseboard, forming the probe and the fixing tab connected to the probe by depositing a probe material in the recess, and removing the resist, removing a portion of the sacrificial layer in an etching process. The portion of the sacrificial layer under the probe is fully removed, while the portion of the sacrificial layer under the fixing tab is left to provide support portions of the sacrificial layer under the fixing tab. Then the probe is removed from the baseboard.

Semiconductor integrated circuits (ICs) are formed in a plurality on a semiconductor wafer, and are then separated into individual chips for practical use. The ICs are normally subjected to an electrical test for evaluating the performance in advance of the separation into individual chips.
In this electrical test, a probe such as a probe card provided with a plurality of probes to be electrically connected to electrodes of respective device under the test, such as the above ICs, that is, an electrically connecting device is used, and the device under test are connected to a tester, as a testing means, through the electrically connecting device.
One of known probes used for the electrically connecting device is one that includes a plate-like probe body, an arm section provided in the probe body, and a probe tip section, which is provided at the tip of the arm section and is brought into contact with the electrode of a device under the test (see, for example, JP 2008-190885 A). By forming the probe body from a sturdy yet flexible metal material, when the probe tip section is pushed on the electrode of a device under the test, it is possible to cause the probe tip to slide on the electrode of the device under the test in accordance with elastic deformation of the arm section. Due to the slide of the probe tip, it is possible that the oxide film on the electrode of the device under the test will be scratched. That is, by applying an overdrive action, which causes the probe body to be elastically deformed, and thus, it becomes possible for the probe to come into contact and to remove the oxide film on the electrode by means of the probe tip and to obtain a reliable electrical contact therebetween.
Probes like this are formed in the following manner. First, a silicon wafer is prepared as a baseboard, and a plane pattern of the entire probe area is replicated on the baseboard using a photoresist through a photolithographic technique. Next, a desired material is deposited on a recess of the baseboard, which has been replicated using the photoresist. Then, the probes can be manufactured by being removed from the baseboard after having been formed thereon as disclosed in, for example, JP 2008-164575 A and JP 2008-191027 A.
In order to remove the formed probes from the baseboard, an etching technique is utilized. On the baseboard, there is formed, for example, a sacrificial layer composed of a metal material such as, for example, copper or the like, different from the material of the probes, and the probe material is deposited on the sacrificial layer. By removing the sacrificial layer by means of, for example, wet etching using an etching liquid, the formed probes can be removed from the baseboard by peeling.
However, since plural probes are collectively formed on the baseboard, if an etching process is performed until the sacrificial layer under the probes is completely removed, the plural minute probes may float in the etching liquid, which causes difficulty in the handling thereof.
It is therefore desirable to complete the etching process for forming the probes at the state in which the sacrificial layer remains at an appropriate minimum area between the probes and the baseboard as support portions, which serves for removing the probes easily. In that case, the probes remaining on the baseboard can be respectively removed by being peeled off using a tool.
In that case, however, if the time spent for the etching process described above is short, there remains a large quantity of the sacrificial layer between the probes and the baseboard as support portions. A strong force is required to peel off the probes adhered on the baseboard due to the remaining large quantity of sacrificial layer (support portions). In addition, such a process may deform the probes.
For this reason, there is a known method in which, when forming probes on a baseboard, the recess on the baseboard, replicated using a photoresist, is configured in a predetermined shape, and the probes and fixing tabs connected thereto for fixing the probes are integrally formed by depositing the probe material on the recesses, as disclosed in JP 2008-191027 A.
FIGS. 1A and 1B are drawings for explaining a known method for manufacturing a probe; FIG. 1A is a plan view schematically showing a probe and a fixing tab, and FIG. 1B is a cross-sectional view schematically showing the probe and the fixing tab on a baseboard.
In FIGS. 1A and 1B, the shape of a probe 1001 is schematically illustrated for the sake of convenience.
As shown in FIG. 1A, the probe 1001 and a fixing tab 1002 connected to the probe 1001 via a connecting portion 1004 are formed on a baseboard (not shown in FIG. 1A).
In this known method for manufacturing the probe 1001, the sacrificial layer between the probe 1001 and the baseboard 1005 is fully removed without any of the sacrificial layer remaining by means of the etching process described above, and at the same time only one sacrificial layer portion having predetermined pattern and area is left between the baseboard 1005 and the fixing tab 1002 as a support portion 1003, as shown in FIG. 1B. The fixing tab 1002 has a plane pattern that is suitable to leave the sacrificial layer portion under the fixing tab 1002 when the sacrificial layer under the probe 1001 is removed through the etching process. Consequently, in the known method for manufacturing the probe 1001, the etching process is performed such that, with respect to the respective probes 1001 on the baseboard 1005, only one support portion 1003 is left between the baseboard 1005 and the fixing tab 1002 connected to each of the probes 1001.
After that, in the known method for manufacturing the probes 1001, each of the probes 1001 is separated from the fixing tab 1002 supported by the support portion 1003 on the baseboard 1005. The separation of the probe 1001 is implemented by decoupling the connecting portion 1004 at a predetermined position as schematically illustrated with a dotted line in FIG. 1A. As a result, the probe 1001 can be removed from the baseboard 1005 without undergoing damage during the peeling process described above.
However, in the known method for manufacturing a probe, it occasionally happens that stresses arising in a probe and/or fixing tab due to a heat treatment and the like performed during the process of manufacturing probes concentrate onto the fixing tab causing the fixing tab to become warped. As a result, it has occurred that the probe formed on a baseboard has peeled off and dropped from the baseboard in a state of still being connected with the fixing tab, which has caused the yield of manufacturing probes to be lowered.
A method for manufacturing a probe is therefore desired that enables reduction in the occurrence of the dropping of the probes, which have been formed on a baseboard, from the baseboard during the manufacturing process.
The present invention has been performed in view of the problem of dropping of probes from a baseboard, which happens in the known method for manufacturing a probe.
An object of the present invention is therefore to provide a method for manufacturing a probe that reduces the occurrence of the dropping of probes from a baseboard.
Other challenges and advantages of the present invention are apparent from the following description.


An endoscope treatment instrument stopper fitted in a channel opening of a treatment instrument insertion channel of an endoscope, includes a first stopper section having a first treatment instrument insertion hole into which a treatment instrument is inserted; a stopper frame having a stopper section fitting portion, fitted in the channel opening, having therein the first treatment instrument insertion hole of the first stopper section to be opposite the channel opening, and provided with a tearing capable of tearing the stopper frame removed from the channel opening; and a second stopper section having a second treatment instrument insertion hole into which the treatment instrument is inserted, removable from the stopper section fitting portion of the stopper frame, and formed so that the second treatment instrument insertion hole is opposite the first stopper section when the second stopper section is fitted in the stopper section fitting portion.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an endoscope treatment instrument stopper which is fitted in a channel opening of a treatment instrument insertion channel provided in an endoscope and inserts in an air-tight manner a treatment instrument from the treatment instrument insertion channel opening into the treatment instrument insertion channel and to a treatment instrument stopper section forming the endoscope treatment instrument stopper.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventionally, in observation and treatment in a body cavity using an endoscope, a liquid medicine is injected into the body cavity from a treatment instrument insertion channel provided in the endoscope and a treatment instrument is inserted thereinto to cut and extract a diseased portion.
In the treatment using an endoscope, contaminants and air in the body cavity can be flowed backward through the treatment instrument insertion channel due to changes in pressure in the body cavity to be leaked out to the outside from the channel opening of the treatment instrument insertion channel. A stopper section is fitted in the channel opening of the treatment instrument insertion channel of the endoscope to prevent the contaminants and air flowed backward through the treatment instrument insertion channel from being leaked out.
The stopper section fitted in the channel opening of the treatment instrument insertion channel is of a reuse type which can be reused by being cleaned and sterilized after use or of a disposal type which cannot be reused by collapsing the stopper section fitted in the channel opening of the treatment instrument insertion channel for use when removed from the channel opening.
The reuse type stopper section must be cleaned and sterilized for each use. Its cleaning and sterilization management is troublesome. The disposal type stopper section is preferred. The disposal type stopper section, as proposed in Japanese Utility Model Application Laid-Open (JP-U) No. H03-101908, has a stopper body formed of an elastic member and including an upper stopper body and a lower stopper body, a stopper frame formed of a member relatively harder than that of the stopper body and housing and holding the stopper body, an engagement portion formed in the stopper frame and engaging the stopper frame to a channel opening of a treatment instrument insertion channel, a tearing formed in the stopper frame and tearing the stopper frame by a force when the stopper section is removed from the channel opening, and an opening unit formed in the stopper frame to be connected to the tearing.

Endoscope treatment instrument stopper and treatment instrument stopper section


An exercise management system is disclosed for maintaining a user's level of exercise intensity (such as measured by heart rate) at a target level while exercising. In one embodiment, the system includes a movement member (such as pedals) which is engaged by the user to provide an exercise movement. The movement member is selectively adjustable to varying the intensity of exercise performed by the user. A heart rate sensor indicates the user's heart rate, and a computer adjusts the movement member in accordance with the heart rate signal to establish and maintain the user's heart rate near the target level. The user may periodically disengage the heart rate sensor for a limited time, during which time the computer maintains the user's heart rate near the target level by adjusting load in accordance with the user's rate of exercise (such as measured by rpm).

Exercise generally, and aerobic exercise in particular, is of value to individuals because it conditions and improves respiratory and circulatory systems. Exercise is characterized in part by intensity and duration. Intensity, which may be thought of as the effort expended by an individual, is reflected in the individual's physiological condition. For example, heart rate, breathing and metabolism increase with exercise intensity, and are referred to herein as the "physiological indicators of intensity."
While exercise intensity is a physiological phenomenon and is properly measured by one of the physiological indicators, it is also manifested outside the body by an individual's physical movement or by the physically measurable work performed by the individual. For example, at a fixed level of resistance, pedal rpm on stationary exercise bicycle gives some indication of the individual's level of exercise intensity. This type of indication is referred to herein as an externally observable "physical indicator of intensity."
While physical indicators of intensity such as ergometers or tachometers are easier to implement than physiological indicators of intensity, their usefulness is limited because of the subjective nature of exercise. For example, two persons riding a stationary bicycle at the same levels of speed and resistance would appear to have the same level of exercise intensity based externally observable physical indicators, such as pedal rpm. Depending upon each person's level of fitness, their respective actual levels of exercise intensity (as measured by one of the physiological indicators) could be quite different.
For effective aerobic exercise, it is necessary that physiological intensity reach a certain minimum threshold. At the same time, if exercise is too intense, it becomes primarily anaerobic (i.e., oxygen depleting). Exercise at an excessive level of intensity does not yield additional improvements in the body's aerobic fitness.
Thus, between the upper and lower thresholds of training intensity lies the aerobic training range. It is important, therefore, to monitor levels of intensity to ensure that intensity falls within this training range. To monitor intensity, a number of physiological conditions may be inspected, including heart rate, breathing as a percentage of maximal oxygen intake, and metabolism.
Typically, such monitoring requires a sensor which is placed in physical contact with an individual to measure the individual's heart rate or the like. The individual can then be apprised of his or her level of exercise intensity. One simple example of this is someone on a stationary exercise bicycle who takes his or her own pulse after a workout to determine whether he or she has reached a sufficient level of aerobic intensity.
A more sophisticated approach, however, is to employ biofeedback techniques for periodically adjusting workout intensity in response to the physiological indicators of intensity, such as heart rate. Examples of such devices are provided in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,395,698 and 3,744,480. While theoretically any of the physiological indicators may be used, it is most practical to use heart rate, and therefore the examples set forth herein all use heart rate as the physiological indicator of intensity.
Devices which employ biofeedback techniques include exercise bicycles having variable load resistance to pedal movement. This resistance can be provided by well-known mechanical and electrical devices, including alternators, which can be coupled by chains or belts to the pedals.
In such devices, a heart rate detector is coupled to the user, typically by an ear clip. A target heart rate is selected, either by the user or automatically by the device. As the user exercises, his or her pulse is periodically measured and compared to the target heart rate. If the user's heart rate is below the target, the load resistance is increased. Likewise, if the user's heart rate is above the target heart rate, the load resistance is decreased.
In this manner, these exercise devices function as "biofeedback-type systems." They adjust load resistance as a function of heart rate to establish and maintain the user's heart rate (i.e., physiological exercise intensity) at or near the desired or target level. For a variety of reasons, these devices have been less than optimal.
Specifically, for effective operation, these systems depend on the continuous availability of heart rate data. For example, if the user wears an ear clip, heart rate data is available throughout the exercise.
There have, however, been recent advances in heart rate detection technology, such as disclosed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 07/722,800 filed Jun. 28, 1991 (assigned to the assignee of this application) and incorporated herein by reference. Unlike older heart rate detection techniques which required cumbersome ear clips or the like, this new detection technology measures a user's heart rate whenever his or her hands are placed on the exercise device's handgrips. Such handgrips, for example, can be located on the handlebars of an exercise bicycle.
One disadvantage, however, of locating the detectors on the handgrips in a heart rate measurement system is that the user will tend to remove his hands from the handgrips from time to time. When the user's hands are removed, the biofeedback-type device will receive no information about the user's heart rate. To be practical, a heart rate management system should continue to operate effectively even when the flow of heart rate data is interrupted for periods as long as ninety seconds. Existing systems are not designed to handle the intermittent availability of heart rate signals.
Moreover, it has come to be appreciated that systems should not only be able to process intermittent heart rate data, but in fact periodically should also invite users to remove their hands from the handgrips (or otherwise disengage the sensor). In this manner, the user does not feel "chained" to the heart rate measuring device, and is free to wipe his or her brow, turn the pages of a book, adjust a personal tape player, or do any of the many things people riding an exercise bicycle are likely to do to divert their attention from an otherwise boring exercise.
As explained above, externally observable indicators of exercise intensity (such as pedal speed) are related to the user's actual physiological level of exercise intensity, but are of limited value as tools for measuring that intensity because they are not calibrated for each individual user. Consequently, biofeedback-type devices of the past have relied on heart rate, and have not utilized external indicators (such as pedal rpm) in conjunction with physiological data to attain the highest possible performance.
Also, in some existing devices, load changes tend to be too abrupt and too frequent. Preferably, for most people load changes should be gradual. On the other hand, it may be desirable to make load changes more dramatic for persons in better physical condition. It is also desirable that the device should anticipate changes in the user's heart rate so that load can be adjusted earlier, and therefore more gradually.

Exercise system and method for managing physiological intensity of exercise


A relay assembly comprises a relay mounted on a board. The relay may be a single or individual relay or a polyphasic relay. The relay has a housing and at least one dip solder pin extending from the housing and soldered to a circuit board. The relay is mounted on the circuit board via at least one fastening clip having a fitting part fitted into a hole in the housing, a latching part latched to a bore in the board, and a central flange between the fitting part and the latching part.

A variety of technical solutions for the distancing and fastening of relays with generally rectangular housings are already known. A relay usually has a series of connections, known as dip solder pins, pointing in one direction, by means of which the components are soldered and interconnected to a circuit board. There are also solutions where the relay is plugged in simply by means of suitable and appropriately dimensioned plug connectors. It is also known that the dip solder pins are designed cranked so that contact surfaces or contact points rest on the circuit board to allow a first positioning of the relay on a circuit board before the actual fixing by means of a dip soldering process. However, the cranked dip solder pins are generally not sufficiently stable to absorb and dissipate the forces occurring during the subsequent screwing of additional conductor connections in the circuit boards or connector boards without deformation of the pins or damage to the solder joints.
A technical solution by means of the above support elements is described in DE 295 21 179 U1, in which additional retaining arms oriented in the direction of the circuit board or suitable retaining pins protruding downwards are arranged and mounted directly on the relay housing. The retaining pins are provided with latching or clamping elements to position the relay on the circuit board before the actual soldering and also serve as a support when plugging in or fastening the electrical pathways.
Various retaining lugs and interlocking retaining clips are described in EP 0 223 622 A1, which should allow a direct stringing together or snapping together, i.e., without a distancing of the relays from each other.
Another technical solution for the fastening and positioning of a relay with rectangular housing is shown in DE 88 08 153 U1, in which a sufficient force-fitting fixing of a relay to a circuit board can be ensured before and during the contact of the relay with the circuit board, where a gap corresponding to the dimension of a fixing pin in the direction of the circuit board is arranged centrally in the circuit board.
A similar configuration of a relay with a rectangular housing is furthermore described in DE AS 2 131 478 A2. A largely dimensioned guide rod is arranged in the center of a relay in the direction of the circuit board. Further additional rods are arranged so that they work as a kind of bayonet lock and force-fittingly fasten and position the relay to a base plate.
Another technical solution to solve the problem of fastening and positioning is described in DE 89 13 276 U1. In this case, retaining brackets are configured on the rectangular housing of a relay in the direction of a base plate, on which latching teeth are arranged which engage on the back of the base plate and effect the fastening.
A technical solution is disclosed in DE 79 00 929.3 U1 in which the housings of switchgear are connected using snap-on fastening or other clamping means with an accessory device. The connection is hereby made by rivet-like latching elements that penetrate bores provided with shallow depressions and latch onto the shallow depressions with expanding heads. Here a direct interlocking of individual mutually adjacent switchgear also takes place.
Another technical solution for the connection of mutually adjacent power circuit breakers is shown in DE 199 61 242 A1. Here a connecting element with a cylindrically-shaped body is also described, wherein on both sides of the body are formed two expanding legs, springing back radially and projecting axially in opposite directions, whose outer diameter is smaller than the outer diameter of the body, and whose exposed ends on opposite jacketing lines exhibit radially projecting lugs which latch on in a suspended state behind so-called back springs into the interior of the housings to be connected and therefore ensure the connection. The disadvantage here is that in both of the housings to be connected special back springs must be designed and arranged, which results in a more expensive housing configuration. This means that the production of the housing as a whole can become more expensive.
The following generally applies to all texts encountered, that they are in each case only suitable for switchgear housings to be arranged directly adjacent or overlapping. A distancing and positioning both of housings and homogeneously designed connecting elements to electrical boards or circuit boards are hereby not possible.


Epitaxial layers of II-VI semiconductor compounds having low incidence of lattice defects such as stacking faults are produced by first depositing a fraction of a monolayer of the cation species of the compound, followed by depositing a thin layer of the compound by migration enhanced epitaxy (MEE). Growth of the remainder of the layer by MBE results in much lower defects than if the entire layer had been grown by MBE. Layers are useful in devices such as LEDs and injection lasers.

The present invention relates generally to II-VI compound semiconductor epitaxial layers such as ZnSe and Zn (S.sub.x Se.sub.l-x) having a low incidence of lattice defects, and also relates to a method for producing such layers and to devices utilizing such layers, for example, light emitting diodes and semiconductor injection lasers.
There is a continuous push toward higher data densities on optical discs. In particular, for digital storage of video data, a substantial increase over the presently attainable densities must be achieved. The information density on optical discs is largely limited by the bit size, which is in turn determined by the wavelength of the laser used to read and write the data. Current optical disc systems use infrared emitting III-V compound semiconductor lasers operating in the wavelength range of 800 to 850 nm. Decreasing the wavelength by a factor of 2, by using blue lasers operating at half the wavelength of presently used III-V lasers, could halve the laser spot diameter and therefore allow a four-fold increase in the information density. ZnSe is the most promising material so far for producing practical blue emitting semiconductor injection lasers. Such lasers emit at a wavelength near 460 nm.
As shown in FIG. 1a, a basic laser structure 10, the so-called double heterojunction semiconductor injection laser, contains an active layer 17 sandwiched between two cladding layers 15 and 19 of a wider bandgap material. Laser action takes place in the active region where electrons and holes recombine to generate coherent light. Electrons flow from the n-type cladding layer into the conduction band of the active layer. Holes flow from the p-type cladding layer into the valence band of the active layer. This process is illustrated in the energy band diagram of FIG. 1b. As is known, electrons and holes can be injected electrically where the cladding layers are doped n-type and p-type, or can be injected by optical or electron beam pumping, in which cases it is not necessary for the layers to be doped.
The cladding layers must have a bandgap higher than that of the active layer to assure effective injection of electrons and holes, and to minimize the threshold for laser action. The cladding layers also have a lower index of refraction. Therefore, the light generated is confined to the active layer, which guides the light in an intended direction, and also helps to minimize the laser threshold.
The bandgap of the semiconductor in the active layer determines the wavelength of the light generated. The II-VI semiconductors ZnSe and ZnS have relatively wide bandgap energies of 2.7 and 3.7 ev, respectively, and are therefore suitable materials for building short wavelength blue lasers. However, lattice defects in these and other laser materials, particularly stacking faults and threading dislocations, are known to adversely affect the operation of these semiconductor lasers, and it has been found to be difficult in practice to obtain epitaxial layers of the II-VI compounds with an acceptably low incidence of lattice defects by conventional deposition techniques such as molecular beam epitaxy (herein "MBE").

Method for producing II-VI compound semiconductor epitaxial layers having low defects

Philips Electronics North America Corporation


The present invention relates to acid-stable proteases homologous to those derived from strains of the genus Nocardiopsis, their use in animal feed, feed-additives and feed compositions containing such proteases, and methods for the treatment of vegetable proteins using such proteases.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to the use of acid-stable proteases in animal feed (in vivo), and to the use of such proteases for treating vegetable proteins (in vitro).
Proteins are essential nutritional factors for animals and humans. Most livestock and many human beings get the necessary proteins from vegetable protein sources. Important vegetable protein sources are e.g. oilseed crops, legumes and cereals.
When e.g. soybean meal is included in the feed of mono-gastric animals such as pigs and poultry, a significant proportion of the soybean meal solids is not digested. For example, the apparent ileal protein digestibility in piglets and growing pigs is only around 80%.
The stomach of mono-gastric animals and many fish exhibits a strongly acidic pH. Most of the protein digestion, however, occurs in the small intestine. A need therefore exists for an acid-stable protease that can survive passage of the stomach.
2. State of the Art
The use of proteases in animal feed, or to treat vegetable proteins, is known from the following documents:
WO 95/28850 discloses i.a. an animal feed additive comprising a phytase and a proteolytic enzyme. Various proteolytic enzymes are specified at p. 7.
WO 96/05739 discloses an enzyme feed additive comprising xylanase and a protease. Suitable proteases are listed at p. 25.
WO 95/02044 discloses i.a. proteases derived from Aspergillus aculeatus, as well as the use in animal feed thereof.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,966,971 discloses a process of obtaining protein from a vegetable protein source by treatment with an acid phytase and optionally a proteolytic enzyme. Suitable proteases are specified in column 2.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,073,884, 5,047,240, 3,868,448, and 3,823,072, and 3,683,069 describe protease preparations derived from various strains of Streptomyces and their use in animal feed.
These proteases, however, are not acid-stable and/or are not homologous to the to proteases described herein.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Use of acid stable protease in animal feed


A lighting device includes: a light source including a light emitting element that emits light having an emission peak wavelength in a wavelength range of 500 nm or less; and first, second and third fluorescent substances on which light emitted from the light emitting element is incident, wherein the first fluorescent substance absorbs at least light emitted from the light emitting element to emit light having a emission peak wavelength in a wavelength range of 500 nm to 580 nm, the second fluorescent substance absorbs at least light emitted from the first fluorescent substance to emit light having a emission peak wavelength in a wavelength range of 580 nm to 750 nm, and the third fluorescent substance absorbs light having a wavelength range of 500 nm or less to emit light having a emission peak wavelength in a wavelength range of 600 nm to 750 nm.

A liquid crystal display apparatus including a liquid crystal display panel can display an image with low power consumption, and thus is used as a display for various applications such as a television, a monitor, or a signage. The liquid crystal display apparatus includes a liquid crystal display panel and a backlight disposed on the back side of the liquid crystal display panel.
In recent years, an LED backlight using a light source composed of a light emitting diode (LED) has been used as a backlight of a liquid crystal display apparatus. In addition, the backlight is divided into an edge type backlight and a direct type backlight depending on an arrangement structure of the light source. Among these, the direct type LED backlight has a structure in which a plurality of LEDs are two-dimensionally arranged. For example, JP-A-2011-242488 discloses a liquid crystal display apparatus including a direct-type backlight having an LED light source composed of LEDs.
In the liquid crystal display apparatus, the backlight emits white light toward the liquid crystal display panel. There are several methods for realizing a backlight that emits the white light using LEDs.
For example, a method of obtaining white light by arranging three kinds of LED light sources, a red LED light source that emits red light, a green LED light source that emits green light, and a blue LED light source that emits blue light, and then combining three colors of light.
There is also a method of obtaining the white light by disposing a white LED light source in which a blue LED chip emitting blue light is sealed with a fluorescent substance-containing resin. In this case, as the white LED light source, a B-Y type LED light source packaged by combining a blue LED chip and a yellow fluorescent substance may be used, and a B-GR type LED light source packaged by combining a blue LED chip with a green fluorescent substance and a red fluorescent substance may be used in order to improve color reproducibility of a displayed image.
Alternatively, there is a method of obtaining white light by disposing a fluorescent sheet or a quantum dot sheet containing a fluorescent substance in front of the blue LED light source that emits the blue light. In this case, as a fluorescent sheet, there is a method of disposing a fluorescent sheet containing a yellow fluorescent substance, and in order to improve the color reproducibility of the display image, there is a method of disposing a fluorescent sheet containing a red fluorescent substance and a green fluorescent substance. For example, JP-A-2017-056679 discloses a backlight using a fluorescent sheet.

Lighting device and liquid crystal display apparatus

PANASONIC LIQUID CRYSTAL DISPLAY CO., LTD.


The invention is directed to a pressure bleed device for a hydraulic coupling which includes a male component that comprises a body, a flow passage which extends generally axially through the body, a valve seat which is formed proximate one end of the flow passage, and a valve element which is biased into sealing engagement with the valve seat to thereby close the flow passage. The pressure bleed device includes a bleed passage which extends through the body and communicates with the flow passage, and a valve for selectively opening the bleed passage when an internal pressure within the flow passage is greater than an external pressure outside the body. Thus, when the flow passage is closed, excess internal pressure within the flow passage is vented outside the body through the bleed passage.

The present invention relates to an underwater hydraulic coupling. More particularly, the invention relates to a hydraulic coupling which includes a pressure bleed device for venting excess pressure from the hydraulic line to which the coupling is connected.
Hydraulic couplings are commonly used to functionally connect separate lengths of hydraulic transmission lines. Such couplings generally include a male component which comprises a cylindrical probe and a female component which comprises a cylindrical receptacle into which the probe is inserted. Each of the male and female components typically also comprises a spring-loaded poppet valve that seals against a corresponding valve seat and a valve actuator in the form of a nose or a stem that extends longitudinally from the poppet valve. Thus, when the male and female components are connected together, the valve actuators will push against each other and force the poppet valves away from their respective valve seats to thereby allow fluid to flow through the coupling. In order to prevent hydraulic fluid from leaking into the environment, one or both of the male and female components may comprise a number of environmental seals for sealing between the probe and the receptacle.
Hydraulic couplings of this kind are often used in conjunction with underwater devices which are employed in the production of oil or gas from subsea wells. In addition, the male and female components of the couplings are usually attached to opposing plates of a manifold so that several couplings may be connected and disconnected simultaneously. In this regard, the plate to which the female components are attached is often rigidly connected to a subsea structure, while the plate to which the male components are attached is detachable so that it may be brought to the surface. Furthermore, in order to prevent an efflux of hydraulic fluid during separation of the male and female components, the couplings are designed such that the poppet valves will close before the environmental seals are disengaged.
When the male and female components are disconnected from each other, hydraulic pressure may become trapped in the lines to which these components are connected. If the hydraulic pressure is trapped subsea, the settings of the valves throughout the hydraulic system may be disrupted, which may result, for example, in failsafe-type valves being prevented from moving to the failsafe position. It is therefore desirable to bleed the hydraulic lines to relieve this trapped pressure. However, bleeding the lines may also allow seawater to enter the hydraulic system, which is undesirable.
In U.S. Pat. No. 5,365,972, an underwater hydraulic coupling is described in which at least one of the male and female components comprises a bleed passage which extends through the poppet valve and the valve actuator. To prevent the ingress of seawater, the component includes a second poppet valve which faces in the opposite direction of the main poppet valve. These two poppet valves are coupled together such that, when the actuator pushes the main poppet valve open, it also forces the second poppet valve to open. After the main poppet valve is closed, if overpressure is present in the hydraulic line, the second poppet valve will open against the force of a spring and thus allow the hydraulic pressure to escape through the bleed passage.
However, this coupling is relatively complicated and comprises several fine-tolerance components which may have an increased risk of failure. Also, the proper operation of this design relies on the balancing of a number of springs, which may result in the failure of the coupling if the springs are not properly tuned. In addition, the bleed passage will allow sea water to enter the coupling even when the main poppet valve is closed. This can lead to corrosion and scaling of the poppet valves, which may further deteriorate the function of the coupling.

Hydraulic coupling comprising a pressure bleed device


A lock system, lock and key is provided. The lock includes additional cutouts on the face plate (123), requiring the insertion of a corresponding unblocking member on the keyblade (144). The unblocking portion engages an engagement portion (162) to allow release of a corresponding sidebar (126), thereby allowing rotation of the lock. The engagement portion (162) additionally must project to the correct length to allow the engagement portion (162) to travel the correct distance to release the sidebar (126).

Locksmiths typically use several relevant terms interchangeably when referring to particular features associated with locks. To avoid confusion the following terms will be assumed to be used in the following sense throughout the description and claims.
In a lock of the pin tumbler or similar type, the lock comprises a central core or plug and an outer housing or shell, in which the core rotates, the housing being mounted in a suitable latch structure. The terms core and housing will be used in this context. Similarly, it will be appreciated that the present invention may be applied to any type of latch structure for which pin tumbler and related locks are used, for example, cam locks, door locks, phone locks and security fittings.
Although such locks afford a high degree of security, it would be desirable if the resistance of the lock to unauthorised unlocking was increased even further.
In International PCT No. PCT/AU99/00722 by Australian Lock Company Pty Ltd, a locking system is described which was an improvement on their BILOCK™ locking system. The improved system added additional locking elements to the conventional BILOCK™ lock which was engaged by an additional moveable element on the modified BILOCK™ key. The disclosure of this application is hereby incorporated by reference into the present application.
In Australian Patent Application No. 2013204413 by Camware Holdings Pty Ltd, an improved locking system was proposed utilising sliding sidebar blocking members engaged by separate components on the key.
It is an object of the present invention to provide an alternative locking system.


A new and distinct cultivar of Veronica plant named ‘Balskywink’, characterized by its medium reddish-purple colored flowers, dark green-colored foliage, and moderately vigorous, compact, upright growth habit, is disclosed.

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Veronica plant botanically known as Veronica hybrid and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name 'Balskywink'.
The new cultivar originated in a controlled breeding program in Cochranville, Pa., during November 2016. The objective of the breeding program was the development of Veronica cultivars that have attractive colored inflorescences, strong stems and a compact, upright growth habit.
The new Veronica cultivar was the result of cross-pollination. The female (seed) parent of the proprietary Veronica spicata breeding selection coded X14-6480-4, not patented, characterized by its medium pink-colored flowers, dark green-colored foliage, and moderately vigorous, compact growth habit. The male (pollen) parent of the new cultivar is First Love 'Allove', U.S. Plant Pat. No. 21,478, characterized by its intense red-purple colored flowers, medium green-colored foliage, and moderately vigorous upright, inverted triangle growth habit. The new cultivar was discovered and selected as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the above stated cross-pollination during September 2017 in a controlled environment in Cochranville, Pa.
Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by terminal stem cuttings since September 2017 in Cochranville, Pa. and Elburn, Ill. has demonstrated that the new cultivar reproduces true to type with all of the characteristics, as herein described, firmly fixed and retained through successive generations of such asexual propagation.


A method for producing a proton conductive electrolyte membrane in which proton conductivity is sufficiently high, methanol permeability is sufficiently low and physical strength is sufficient for reducing the thickness adequately. The production method includes: laminating a dispersion liquid containing inorganic particles and inflammable organic particles on an inflammable support, the inflammable organic particles having an average particle size of 100 to 450 nm; baking the inflammable support on which the dispersion liquid is laminated; and filling a porous membrane formed of the inorganic particles obtained by the baking with an proton conductive organic material.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a proton conductive electrolyte membrane and a method for producing proton conductive electrolyte membrane, and particularly relates to a fuel cell using a proton conductive electrolyte membrane as an electrolyte, which is an electrolyte membrane for a direct methanol solid polymer fuel cell.
2. Description of Related Art
A fuel cell is a power generation device generating electricity by reacting hydrogen and oxygen. Fuel cells draw attention as an energy-saving technology dealing with global environmental problems such as the warming and the ozone layer depletion because of having an excellent character that only water is formed by the generating reaction.
There are 4 types of fuel cells, a solid polymer fuel cell, a phosphoric acid fuel cell, a molten carbonate fuel cell and a solid oxide fuel cell. Among them, the solid polymer fuel cell has advantages of a low operating temperature and a solid (polymer membrane) electrolyte. The solid polymer fuel cell is classified broadly into 2 types composed of a reformer type, which change methanol into hydrogen by using a reformer, and a direct type (DMFC: Direct Methanol Polymer Fuel Cell), which uses methanol directly without using a reformer. Because no reformer is necessary for DMFCs, DMFCs can be made smaller and lighter, and have been expected to be put into practical use as a cell or a special battery of a PDA (Personal Digital Assistance) or the like for a coming ubiquitous society.
Main components of a solid polymer fuel cell are electrode catalyst, electrolyte and a separator. A polymer proton conductive electrolyte membrane is used as the electrolyte. While proton conductive electrolyte membranes are used for application such as an ion-exchange membrane or a temperature sensor, proton conductive electrolyte membranes get attention in application as electrolyte in a solid polymer fuel cell in recent years. For example, a fluororesin membrane containing a sulfonic group, which is represented by Nafion® of DuPont Corp., has been studied in use as electrolyte in a portable fuel cell.
These fluororesin proton conductive membranes known heretofore have a defect of large methanol permeability. Development of a membrane with high proton conductivity and low methanol permeability is essential for achieving the practical use of a proton conductive membrane in new application of a solid polymer fuel cell such as a DMFC. In particular, reduction of the thickness is also necessary for improving performance as a DMFC, and also the physical strength of the membrane is required.
There is proposed various methods of impregnating a porous membrane having vacancies with a proton conductive polymer to obtain a proton conductive membrane.
JP-Tokukaihei-10-312815A discloses a composite membrane in which an ion conducting polymer is embedded within a porous substrate formed of randomly oriented individual fibres for the purpose of providing a novel composite ion exchange membrane with improved dimensional stability and handlability, and in which the ionic conductivity and reactant gas cross-over have not been compromised compared to a conventional unreinforced ion exchange membrane of the same polymer and comparable thickness.
WO00/54351 pamphlet discloses an electrolyte membrane in which pores of porous substrate substantially not swelling with methanol and water are filled with a polymer having proton conductivity for the purpose of providing an electrolyte membrane suppressing methanol permeability (crossover) as much as possible and working in a high-temperature (about 130° C. or more) condition. An inorganic material such as ceramic, glass and alumina or a heat-resisting polymer such as polytetrafluoroethylene and polyimide is used as the porous substrate. It is described that preferably the porosity of the porous substrate is 10 to 95%, the average vacancy size is 0.001 to 100 μm and the thickness is in the order of magnitude of several microns.
JP-Tokukai-2002-83514A discloses a proton conductive membrane in which a polymer having a phosphate group, a phosphonate group or a phosphinate group in the side chain is supported in vacancies of a porous membrane for the purpose of a proton conductive membrane having durability and mechanical strength. Ultrahigh molecular weight polyorefin resin and fluororesin are taken as the porous membrane. It is described that preferably the porosity of the porous membrane is 30 to 85%, the average vacancy size is 0.005 to 10 μm and the thickness is 5 to 500 μm.
For making a proton conductive electrolyte membrane capable of practical use as electrolyte of a solid polymer fuel cell, it is important factors that at least proton conductivity is sufficiently high, methanol permeability is sufficiently low and physical strength is sufficient for reducing the thickness adequately. Additionally, it is desired that mass production of proton conductive electrolyte membranes with industrially stable quality becomes possible.
Since the development described in JP-Tokukaihei-10-312815A has a tendency for distribution of holes in a porous support to be uneven, it is difficult to obtain products having sufficient performance in terms of proton conductivity. The development described in WO00/54351 pamphlet is focused on improvement of methanol permeability and working in a high temperature not less than about 130° C. The development described in JP-Tokukai-2002-83514A is focused on durability and mechanical strength. Referring to WO00/54351 pamphlet and JP-Tokukai-2002-83514A cannot make it possible to obtain a proton conductive electrolyte membrane satisfying at least 3 qualities that the proton conductivity is sufficiently high, the methanol permeability is sufficiently low and the physical strength is sufficient for reducing the thickness adequately.

Proton conductive electrolyte membrane, solid polymer fuel cell and method for producing proton conductive electrolyte membrane


A lighting device for a motor vehicle includes one or more lighting units, herein during operation a respective lighting unit generates a point-shaped light source via laser light. In addition, optical device is configured and arranged with respect to the lighting unit or lighting units in such a way that a predetermined distribution of light composed of the light of the point-shaped light source is generated after it passes through the optical device.

The invention relates to a lighting device for a motor vehicle.
Nowadays, LED lighting devices are increasingly used in motor vehicles, by which suitable light distributions are generated for signal lights or headlights of the vehicle. Since the luminance for LEDs is relatively low, large installation spaces are required for the lighting device, particularly for generating light for high ranges. Lighting devices based on LEDs are not efficient in smaller installation spaces. In addition, it is difficult to generate a high-precision arbitrarily shaped light distribution by the use of LEDs.
It is an object of the invention to create a lighting device for a motor vehicle by which highly precise or efficient light distributions can be generated in small installation spaces.
This and other objects are achieved by a lighting device according to the invention for a motor vehicle, particularly for a passenger car and, if necessary, also for a truck. The lighting device includes one or more lighting units, a respective lighting unit being further developed such that, when it is operated by a laser light, it generates a punctiform light source. In this case, a punctiform light source is a light source having a small light-emitting surface and a large light flux, i.e. high luminance, which, with respect to the dimensions of the lighting device, in good approximation, may be assumed to be punctiform in that all rays of the light source originate from a single point.
The lighting device according to the invention further includes an optical device, which is further developed and arranged with respect to the lighting unit or lighting units such that a specified light distribution from the light of the punctiform light source will be generated after passing through the optical device. In this case, the optical device may, if required, be constructed of several partial units which, each separately, are assigned to a lighting unit. Likewise, there is the possibility that the optical device represents a continuous unit, on which the light of all lighting units is incident.
The lighting device according to the invention has the advantage that a punctiform light source with a very high luminance can be generated in a simple manner by way of laser light, so that the corresponding dimensions of the lighting device, particularly of the optical device for generating the specified light distribution, can be selected to be compact. In a particularly preferred embodiment, the maximal dimension of the punctiform light source in a top view, i.e. in the main radiation direction with the greatest intensity of the light source, amounts to 500 μm or less, preferably 100 μm or less, and particularly preferably 20 μm or less. Furthermore, in the top view, the punctiform light source preferably has a emitting surface of 0.5 mm2 or less, particularly of 0.01 mm2 or less, and particularly preferably of 0.0002 or less. The punctiform light source includes particularly an emitting cornered surface whose edges have a length of 500 μm or less and preferably 20 μm or less. The punctiform light source with the above-described dimensions is preferably further developed such that it generates a light flux of 100 lm or more and particularly of 200 lm or more and/or has a radiant power of 1 Watt or more and/or a luminance of at least 105 Cd/m2 particularly of 109 Cd/m2 or more. Such punctiform light sources can only be obtained by way of laser light, for example, by using laser diodes.
As a result of the use of a punctiform light source, light distributions freely shaped by the optical device connected on the output side can be generated without a problem depending on the usage purpose of the lighting device. In particular, the shape of the optical device for generating a defined light distribution can thereby be determined in an algorithmically particularly simple manner, because the corresponding calculations can be based on an ideal punctiform light source. For calculating the shape of the optical device, particularly the so-called ITWM algorithm can be used which was developed by the Fraunhofer Institut für Techno- and Wirtschaftsmathematik.
In a further development of the lighting device according to the invention, at least one lighting unit generates a punctiform white light source during the operation. This variant will be used particularly when the lighting device is to take over the function of a vehicle headlight.
In a further particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, at least one lighting unit includes one or more laser diodes, particularly one or more monochromatic laser diodes. Nowadays, such laser diodes have radiances so that punctiform light sources can be generated that have a high luminance. In this case, the direct radiance of laser diodes is significantly higher than that of conventional LEDs. The radiance of a blue laser diode currently amounts to approximately 7×105 Watts/cm2, while the radiance of an LED is only at 20 Watts/cm2. Preferably, laser diodes with a luminous power of at least 1 Watt and particularly between 1.5 and 3.0 Watts or between 1.5 and 5 Watts are used in the lighting device according to the invention.
In a further preferred embodiment, at east one lighting unit has a converter which generates white light from the monochromatic light of the laser diode or laser diodes. In this case, the converter may be a phosphor conversion layer, on which the laser radiation of the laser diode or diodes is focused by use of optics (for example, a lens), whereby the punctiform white light source is generated on the phosphor conversion layer. Phosphor conversion layers for converting monochromatic light are known per se. For example, in the case of a blue laser diode with an emission wavelength of 450 nm, a phosphor conversion layer of Ce:YAG phosphor can be used for generating white light. For violet laser light with a wavelength of 405 nm, particularly a phosphor conversion layer of cerium-doped nitride phosphor or cerium-doped oxynitride phosphor is used.
For the conversion of monochromatic laser light to white light, as required, also an optical waveguide can be used, in which the monochromatic laser radiation of several monochromatic laser diodes may be appropriately combined for generating white light. The punctiform white light source may be formed at the exit surface of the optical waveguide. Likewise, optics ay be provided which appropriately focus the white light exiting from the optical waveguide for forming a punctiform light source.
In a further development of the invention, at least one lighting unit has a single monochromatic laser diode which represents a punctiform light source. This variant will be used particularly when a light of a certain color is to be generated by means of the lighting device.
Depending on the application case, the number of lighting units built into the lighting device may vary. In a preferred embodiment, the lighting device has 10 or less lighting units, particularly 3 to 6 lighting units.
Depending on the application case, the lighting device according to the invention can take over various functionalities. In one embodiment, the lighting device is a vehicle headlight. A vehicle headlight is distinguished in that it actively illuminates the environment of the vehicle. As required, the lighting device according to the invention may also be a vehicle signal light, which is distinguished in that it is used only for signaling to other traffic participants. In a preferred embodiment, the lighting device is further developed such that it can generate a low-beam light characteristic as a specified light distribution during operation. The low-beam light characteristic is known per se and is also specified in legal norms or standards (for example, SAE Standards). A low-beam light is distinguished in that the angular distribution of the radiated light has a horizontal light-dark cutoff in order not to blind oncoming traffic participants. As a rule, the angular distribution for illuminating the side of the road has a wider layout. A low-beam light further has a finite range, which is approximately at 65 m. By means of the lighting device according to the invention, it becomes possible to generate a light-dark cutoff with a high contrast for a low-beam light.
In a further embodiment of the invention, the lighting device s further developed such that, during operation, it can generate a high-beam light characteristic during operation as a specified light distribution. The light distribution of high-beam light is known per se and is distinguished in that the light has a greater range than low-beam light and is therefore concentrated in a smaller angular area around the vehicle longitudinal axis. In particular, no range limitation is specified for high-beam light. While the light values remain the same, a reduction of the light exit surface generally results in increase of glare values to which an oncoming mild be exposed. In the case of the high-beam light function, a size reduction and thus an increase of the glare values would not be a problem because the operation of high-beam light is, as a rule, intended only when there is no oncoming traffic. Nonetheless, by means of the lighting device according to the invention, as required, a glare-free high-beam light can also be implemented which has a light distribution with a vertical bright-dark cutoff with a contrast that is as high as possible with respect to the shadow area, in which the oncoming traffic is situated. In this case, the punctiform light source allows a significantly more precise implementation of the bright-dark cutoff and therefore reduces the glare effect also in this case.
In a further preferred embodiment, one or more lighting units include, in addition to the punctiform light source generated by laser light, one or more conventional LEDs or light emitting diodes, whose generated light is not laser light. In this case, the lighting device is further developed such that it can generate a light characteristic which is composed of the light of the LED or LEDs and the light of the punctiform light source. The punctiform light source preferably generates that fraction of the light characteristic which requires particularly high precision. In particular, the light characteristic may again be a high-beam light characteristic, the punctiform light source being responsible for that fraction of the high-beam characteristic which represents the central high-beam light spot for reaching the range of the high-beam light. The light distribution around this high-beam light spot with the lower range is, in this case, generated by the LED or LEDs. If necessary, there is also the possibility that the LED or LEDs and the punctiform light source are switched separately for generating certain light distributions.
The lighting device according to the invention may also be provided for generating other light distributions. The lighting device may particularly also take over the function of several different headlights or signal lights. In particular, the lighting device may also be a daytime running light, an indicator light, a backup light, a fog light, a turn signal light, a marker light, a taillight, a brake light and/or a dynamic spot light or the like.
In a further preferred embodiment, the lighting device is further developed such that, during operation, it can generate one or more specified structures, particularly one or more laminar shapes, one or more strips, one or more spots, one or more arrows, one or more symbols and/or one or more signs, as specified light distributions.
The optical device used in the lighting device according to the invention be further developed differently depending on its usage. This device preferably comprises at least one reflector and/or at least one lens.
As mentioned above, because of the use of punctiform light sources with a high luminance, the lighting device may have compact dimensions. In a preferred embodiment, the maximal dimension of the optical device in the top view (i.e. viewed in the main radiation direction with the highest intensity), is 50 mm or less, particularly 30 mm or less.
In addition to the above-described lighting device, the invention also includes a motor vehicle, which has one or more of the lighting devices according to the invention.
Other objects, advantages and novel features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of one or more preferred embodiments when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft


A semiconductor device includes a cell. The cell includes an active area, gates, at least one gate via and at least one contact via. The active area includes forbidden regions. The gates are disposed across the active area. The at least one gate via is coupled with one of the gates. The at least one contact via is coupled with at least one conductive segment each corresponding to a source/drain of a transistor. In a layout view, one of the forbidden regions abuts a region of an abutted cell in which at least one of a gate via or a contact via of the abutted cell is disposed. In a layout view, the least one of the at least one gate via or the at least one contact via is arranged within the active area and outside of the forbidden regions. A method is also disclosed herein.

The semiconductor integrated circuit (IC) industry has experience rapid growth. In pursuit of higher device density, higher performance, and lower costs, technological advances in IC design have produced generations of ICs. Compared to previous generation, the present generation has smaller and more complex circuits. In IC evolution, the number of interconnected devices per chip area has generally increased while the smallest component or line that can be created using a fabrication process has decreased. This scaling-down process increases the complexity of designing and fabricating ICs.

Semiconductor device and method for manufacturing the same

TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.


A torsional vibration damper is provided with a drive-side transmission element which engages with a driven-side transmission element via a planetary gear set. The planetary gear set includes a planet wheel mounted on a planet carrier. The planet wheel engages another element of the planetary gear set such as a ring gear. The planet wheel has a toothing at its outer circumference which engages a toothing of the ring gear. The toothing of at least one of the planet wheel and the ring gear is made from a material which obviates the requirement of lubricating the toothing engagement between the planet wheel and the ring gear.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention is directed to a torsional vibration damper for use with a motor vehicle clutch with a drive side transmission element connected with a driven side transmission element via a planetary gear set.
2. Description of the Related Art
A prior art torsional vibration damper with a drive-side transmission element which engages with a driven-side transmission element via a planetary gear set is disclosed in German reference DE 44 44 196 A1, wherein a flywheel is associated with each of the two transmission elements. The planetary gear set includes planet wheels rotatably mounted on planet carriers and engage with other toothed wheels of the planetary gear set such, for example, as a ring gear. The latter is enclosed by damping elements in the form of springs which act in the circumferential direction and which are supported at one end at one of the transmission elements by the ring gear and are supported at the other end at the other transmission element by control means.
The toothed wheels of planetary gear sets in torsional vibration dampers of this kind are usually manufactured from steel. Accordingly, while these toothed wheels may be manufactured advantageously, the problem of extensive wear of the gear teeth or toothing occurs insofar as at least a portion of the toothed wheels is not arranged in a grease chamber which is at least partially filled with viscous medium as is described in the German reference. On the one hand, this viscous medium brings about a speed-proportional damping due to its displacement during movements of the transmission elements and toothed wheels. On the other hand, it also serves to lubricate the toothing and accordingly reduces the toothing wear mentioned above. A problem with this prior art device is that to effect the lubrication mentioned above, the amount of viscous medium in the grease chamber must be higher than would be required to achieve the speed-proportional damping alone. The reason for this is that the viscous medium must still reach at least the toothing region radially outside of the dedendum or root circle of the planet wheels even when it has been distributed in a ring-shape in the radial outer region of the grease chamber as a result of centrifugal force. Tests in this connection have shown that the amount of viscous medium for this purpose can be twice as much as that required for the speed-proportional damping. Therefore, the cost of the torsional vibration damper, as well as its weight, is increased unnecessarily.
A further problem in filling the grease chamber with a greater quantity of viscous medium is that viscous medium located in the toothing region is sprayed into a region located farther inward radially when the toothed wheels mesh with one another, wherein a seal in the above-mentioned region is intended to prevent the viscous medium from exiting the grease chamber. However, because of the radial proximity of the toothing location to the seal location and due to the high impact velocity of this sprayed grease, the seal does not have a sufficient operating reliability. A loss of viscous medium due to the insufficient seal results in increased toothing wear.

Torsional vibration damper with a planetary gear set with at least one toothing element


A dental attachment assembly is provided, including an abutment member and a male member. The abutment member may include an outer locating surface portion having at least two axially spaced retention portions having two generally rounded, annular projections. The male member for engagement over the outer locating surface of the abutment member may include an upper end and a continuous, unbroken skirt having a rounded, convex outer surface. The male member may be constructed from a rigid material and have at least two axially spaced, snap engaging formations on the inner surface of the skirt for snap engagement with the respective retention portions of the abutment member.

Standard dentures are fully removable dentures that are placed in the mouth after all teeth have been removed. Once the mouth tissue has healed, the dentures are placed. These dentures are held in place by suction contact and/or denture adhesive. For a standard denture to be placed any remaining teeth must be extracted and the patient will be fitted for the device. Without the extracted teeth's previous support, the gum ridge will begin to collapse and the mouth will develop a sunken look. Since the gum ridge flattens over time and the tongue tends to knock standard dentures loose, such a device can become a nuisance at best or even a serious inhibitor to such basic functions as eating and speaking. These and similar minor disturbances in the oral cavity can constitute a major disruption to one's quality of living.
There are generally two types of alternative dentures, fixed or removable dentures, often referred to as overdentures. Overdentures form a gum-supported base onto which a removable denture can be placed; overdenture implants are typically performed on the bottom teeth. Implants are placed into the jawbone to serve as anchors for the overdenture itself. Often the overdenture is made for the bottom teeth, since traditional dentures remain less stable on the lower palate than the upper due to the lower ridge's u-shape, lack of osmotic pressure, tongue movement, and other factors. After the implants are placed, the restoring dentist may use LOCATOR® attachment systems to attach the removable prosthetic denture to the implants. The LOCATOR attachments ensure that the denture will not dislodge unintentionally and will not inconvenience the patient by preventing sliding or shifting in the mouth. Overdentures are designed to be removable by the patient for daily hygiene maintenance.
The advantages of overdentures are manifold. Often people choose implant overdentures over conventional dentures because implants offer a conservative way to add retention, stability, and comfort to the edentulous patient. Instead of sliding freely around the gum area, the denture remains snugly in place in the mouth because it is anchored to the implants. One way this benefits the patient is by allowing her to maintain her dietary health. While someone with traditional dentures must stay away from chewy or hard foods for fear of dislodging the denture, someone with an implant-secured overdenture can maintain his ability to adhere to his regular diet, fully chew his food, and absorb vital nutrition.
Furthermore, the implants themselves help stop facial-contour deterioration, improving not only the physical but also the mental well-being of implant overdenture wearers. Ordinary dentures cause facial bone loss, perpetuating jaw collapse and premature aging. Such facial bone collapse occurs because after one's teeth are removed and one begins to wear a denture, the denture speeds up bone loss by deteriorating the bone ridges where the denture is placed. Moreover, the jaw area increasingly resorbs in the areas where the teeth have been extracted due to lack of stimulation. Overdenture implants provide support for the jaw and gum area, since the implants will naturally integrate with live gum and bone, fortifying the jaw line and preventing bone resorption and facial bone loss. Such osseointegration not only keeps the facial bones physiologically healthy, but it also improves the psychological health of wearers by allowing them to speak, eat, smile, and maintain their natural appearance with increased confidence.
Overall, implant overdentures present a more comfortable, healthy, and durable option than standard dentures. The implants keep the denture secured in place, allowing the patient to converse with confidence, participate in normal social interactions, and even enjoy a diverse diet for optimal nutritional health. Moreover, the implants keep the facial contours and jaw line from collapsing, allowing edentulous patients to maintain bone retention and actually strengthen the jaw line.
But overdentures are not without drawbacks. Dental anchoring or attachment assemblies are utilized to anchor the overdenture appliance with a dental implant or tooth root, typically by fitting two or more partially-movable components together to provide an improved fit and comfort. In some assemblies, male and female parts have mating, snap engageable formations for releasably securing the male part to the female part. For example, the female part, which resides in the appliance or prosthesis, has a socket and the male part, which is anchored to the dental implant or tooth root has a head for snap engagement in the socket. But repeated impacts of the socket and head, as the prosthesis is removed and reattached, can damage the retentive head of the male and cause wearing due to friction of the components as they move. A compressible annular ring can be provided to absorb the frictional forces and act as a cushion between the socket and the head; however, even the ring may wear out over a period of time and need to be replaced, requiring regular maintenance of the dental anchoring assembly that is uncomfortable and inconvenient for the patient. Furthermore, to allow the compressible annular ring to be easily removed and replaced, the ring can be provided with a securing mechanism on a mating surface with the socket (such as a threaded portion), which further adds to the cost and complexity of the dental anchor assembly.
FIGS. 15A and B illustrate removable overdenture assemblies. As can be seen the prosthesis 1900, comprises a gingival flange 1910 that covers and is supported by the gums 1908. Female caps 1902a, b, c, and d are placed within prosthesis 1900 and mate with male abutments 1904a, b, c, and d to anchor the prosthesis 1900. Abutments 1904a, b, c, and d are typically screwed into implants 1906a, b, c, and d. The caps 1902a, b, c, and d form a retentive force with the abutments 1904a, b, c, and d that holds the prosthesis in place; however, the retentive force is necessarily such that it can be overcome so the prosthesis can be removed for daily cleaning. While four implant assemblies are illustrated in FIG. 15A, it is not uncommon for only two implant assemblies to be used for removable overdentures.
FIG. 15B is another example of a removable denture assembly that uses a bar 1914 to form an implant-supported, removable denture assembly. As can be seen the bar includes, or couples with implants 1906a, b, c, and d, and can accommodate abutments 1904a, b, c, and d. Prosthesis 1900, with flange 1910, can then "snap" down on abutments 1904a, b, c, and d. The assembly of FIG. 15A is referred to as an implant-retained denture assembly, while the assembly of FIG. 15B is an implant-supported denture assembly.
As noted above, an annular ring (not shown), or retention head as described below with respect to FIGS. 6-10, can be included within the caps 1902a, b, c, and d. But issues may still persist as described.
Another problem with removable denture assemblies is that overtime the tissue can recede.
These issues can be addressed with permanent or fixed dentures, which are basically denture devices that consist of a row of prosthetic teeth connected to a framework that is held in position by dental implants and is only removable by a clinician. A typical procedure for placement of permanent dentures involves an oral examination of the patient's dentition, followed by scanning of the jawbone to determine the precise locations for implant placements—two in the anterior region and two at the back of the jawbone at minimum. The permanent dentures will be affixed to the implants following the healing period, during which time the implants would biologically fuse to the jawbone via osseointegration.
FIGS. 16A and B illustrate various example fixed denture assemblies. As can be seen in FIG. 16A, prosthesis 2000 is similar to prosthesis 1900, but does not include a gingival flange. This is because prosthesis 2000 does not come out and there must be some room to clean under prosthesis 2000 and over gums 2008. But as with prosthesis 1900, prosthesis 2000 can be attached to abutments 2004a, b, c, and d, which can in turn be screwed or otherwise couple with implants 2006a, b, c, and d. But again, unlike the assembly of FIGS. 15A and B, prosthesis 2000 is typically affixed to the abutments 2004a, b, c, and d via screws 2012 that screw into abutments 2004a, b, c, and d form the top of prosthesis 2000.
FIG. 16B is another example of a fixed denture assembly that uses a bar 2014, which is common. As can be seen the bar includes, or couples with implants 2006a, b, c, and d, and can accommodate abutments 2004a, b, c, and d.
The screws 2012, abutments 2004a, b, c, and d, and implants 2006a, b, c, and d, are metal, which raises the cost, but also result in several metal on metal interfaces that can lead to alignment and seating issues. While the idea is that the fixed appliance 2000 is tightly coupled to the base assemblies, i.e., abutments 2004, b, c, and d, and implants 2006, b, c, and d, such that the appliance 2000 cannot move, there are always, e.g., cantilever and other forces that act on the appliance 2000. Moreover, it is sometimes necessary to remove a fixed dental appliance, which can create wear on the metal on metal interfaces. Because the metal on metal interfaces are so rigid, and the appliance is not supported by soft tissue as in the case of removable, these forces are dissipated through the weaker appliance 2000, which can eventually lead to cracking of the appliance 2000.
FIG. 16B illustrated another example fixed denture assembly that includes additional metal, screw retained parts 2005, which can increase costs even further and further exacerbate the problems described.
Another problem with conventional fixed denture assemblies is the need to remove up to 15 mm of vertical bone height to accommodate the stacked components and make room for the prosthesis.
Another problem with conventional fixed denture assemblies is related to the labor intensive clinician appointment for hygiene. Retaining screws must be located, uncovered and removed to free the appliance for cleaning. The process then must be repeated in reverse to reattach the appliance. This procedure has a risk of appliance fracture due to the through holes required for screw access and is often avoided unless another problem requires it. This is a disadvantage for the patient and their overall oral hygiene.

Fixed hybrid dental attachment assembly and methods of use


A process for the preparation of a soil inoculating composition comprising the steps of a) loading a vermicompost into a tank, b) adding a sufficient amount of water and molasses to vermicompost, c) breeding of microorganism in the mixture obtained in the step b), by adjusting the temperature to a range between 25-27° C. and by providing air into the mixture, d) forcing microorganism in the mixture obtained in the step c), to dormant state by d) adding a sufficient amount of molasses, e) bottling the composition obtained in the step d), for storage, f) resuscitating of microorganism in the stored composition from the dormant state to active state by diluting the composition with a sufficient amount of water before soil inoculation. An apparatus for producing soil inoculating composition comprising two concentric tanks wherein the inner tanks (104) holds the composition and the outer tank (101) acting as an heating system holds a liquid kept at a desired temperature by an heat control system (106).

Years of aggressive growing practices worldwide that focus solely on chemically inoculated crops using inorganic fertilizers to accelerate rapid and voluminous plant growth produced measurably poor nutrient values in the crops. As a side effect, when this process is repeated over and over, the soil is depleted from its natural plant-growing microorganisms, as a result of which the soil quality is severely degraded. Unfortunately, soil and water pollution from chemical agriculture has been devastating healthy and natural ecosystem in their ability to support life, which indirectly leads to poor human and animal health.
A fertilizer is any substance used to add nutrients to the soil to promote soilfertility and to increase plant growth. Soil health, however, is not as simple as soil fertility. Soil health relies on a balance of macronutrients and micronutrients, as well as microbial health. It is vastly more complicated than simply adding nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium (NPK) to the ground. Until recently scientists have focused almost exclusively on NPK and not on soil health. Unfortunately, as unsustainable farming practices with chemical fertilizers continue, soil is stripped of its health. Chemical fertilizers, mostly derived from petroleum, are inorganic and can be absorbed by the roots of plants. They kill and cause population change of soil microbes, build up unused residues, which run into the water streams, and create harmful tissue changes in the plants which humans consume as food and medicine. In addition, the use of chemical fertilizers is known to promote the incidence of plant pathogens such as powdery Mildew, Erwinia, Fusarium, Pythium. The farmer ends up in a vicious circle of using one chemical after another to control the effects brought on by the others.
The biggest issue facing the use of chemical fertilizers is groundwater contamination. Nitrogen fertilizers break down into nitrates and travel easily through the soil. Because it is water-soluble and can remain in groundwater for decades, the addition of more nitrogen over the years has an accumulative effect. The contaminated water causes many known diseases.
There is a serious need for soil enrichment to transport the mineral richness of food to restore human and animal health and reverse the alarming rise in related diseases and chronic conditions. Finding solutions to effectively transition from these depleting methods of farming and forestry to a sustainable and healthier feeding practice while maintaining productive crops is important. Recycling natural resources to enrich the soil in an inexpensive, highly scalable and efficient way is a key aspect of this invention, which also addresses a major farming shortcoming of our current times.
There are miscomprehensions in farming that when fertilizer is added to soil that it is directly feeding plants. In actuality, one must feed the microorganisms in the soil, which convert organic nutrients into a form that can be easily used up by the roots of plants. So the idea that feeding plants when they appear to need nitrogen with a fertilizer deemed high in nitrogen is wrong. We must feed the soil microorganisms, which in turn feed the plants.
Soil inoculation is a method of adding microbes directly to the soil to improve soil health. These new microbes have to compete with microbes already living in the soil that are already adapted to local conditions and greatly outnumber the new microbes. Inoculants of mixed cultures of beneficial microbes have considerable potential for controlling the soil microbiological equilibrium and providing a more favorable environment for plant growth and protection.
Improvement of soil is achieved by balancing and revitalizing the natural composition of the soil which contains microorganisms (e.g., bacteria, fungi and protozea), microfauna (e.g., nematoes), and macrofauna (e.g., earthworms, ants and beetles). A microbial analysis of soil showing the amounts and composition of these components of soil is used as an indication for a healthy replenishment of the soil. Here are the key players of the soil health:
Fungi—The main role of fungi is to breakdown the hard materials from plant remains (such as dead roots, branches and leaves). The bacteria feed on such material released by fungi.
Bacteria—The activities of decomposing bacteria are responsible for the circulation of carbon, which is necessary for life on earth. They are also main players in cycling nutrients.
Protozoa—It plays an important role in mineralizing nutrients, making them available for use by plants and other soil organisms. The three main protozoa are amoebae, ciliates and flagellates. Ultimately they all serve a similar purpose by releasing the nutrients bound in the soil by the bacteria and fungi. Protozoa have a lower concentration of nitrogen in their cells than the bacteria they eat. When protozoa eat bacteria, it releases too much nitrogen for the amount of carbon protozoa actually needs. They release the excess nitrogen in the form of ammonium (NH4+). This usually occurs near the roots of a plant. Bacteria and other organisms rapidly take up most of the ammonium, but remaining is used by the plant's root. Protozoa also regulates bacteria populations. When they graze on bacteria, protozoa stimulate growth of the bacterial population and, in turn, decomposition rates and soil aggregation.
Nematodes—Nematodes are non-segmented tiny worms that enhance soil quality in four major areas: regulate the populations of other soil organisms, mineralize nutrients into plant-available forms, provide a food source for other soil organisms and consume plant pathogenic micro-organisms. When nematodes consume bacteria or fungi they release excess ammonium (NH4+). Bacteria and fungi both have more ammonium than what the nematode needs. Therefore, the extra is released in a plant-available form.
In summary, the plant photosynthesis (use of light) results in the plant's internal production of carbon to create and reinforce tissue as it grows. The plant needs nitrogen (N) in the form of ammonia, and other macro and micronutrients, which it receives through the root system. Research has shown that when a plant needs to uptake N from the soil it sends out some of its precious carbon through its root system as a feed for bacteria. When the bacterial population has increased in response to the carbons excreted by the roots, protozoa and nematodes are attracted to the region and multiply rapidly. The protozoa and nematodes in turn consume the bacteria and release, as waste, the ammonia, which the roots can then absorb. The multiplication rate of the bacteria increases in response to this predation. This cycle in prior art is called the 'microbial cycle'. Enhancing the microbial loop by enriching the soil with the needed microorganisms and micro and macro fauna is therefore essential.
Several nitrogen-based fertilizers have been developed in prior art by employing microbial sources such as animal manure and plant products (e.g., soybeans), however due to intermediate processes and synthetic chemicals used, these fertilizers have failed to adhere to the organic standards. The organic standards device the use of the following organic material as fertilizers:                Compost derived animal waste or other materials        Fresh plants material for incorporating nitrogen fixing into the soil        Animal manure        Animal and plant material such as fish meal, fish emulsion, blood meal, feather meal and soybean meal        Non-synthetic amino acids produced by plants, animals and microorganisms that have not been genetically modified.
Vermicomposting is a bio-oxidative process well known in prior art that involves earthworms and associated microbes. It is a biological organic waste decomposition process that yields a biofertilizer called Vermicomposf, which is a peat like material with high porosity, good aeration, and microbial activity. It enhances soil biodiversity by promoting the beneficial microbes, which in turn enhances plant growth. Furthermore, it controls plant pathogens, nematodes and other pests, thereby enhances plant health and improves yield.
Compost tea is known in prior art and has many different preparations made using organic compost as a starting material and producing a liquid extract or, in some cases, a "liquid version" of the original compost. Compost tea is a readily available form of compost that will impact plants more quickly than compost or dry versions of compost mixed into the soil. Compost teas are applied either to the soil or directly to the plant foliage. Nutrients carried in the tea add microorganisms to soil for soil inoculation. Compost tea acts as a weak liquid fertilizer, low in nitrogen but extremely high in microbes.
A special compost tea derived from the vermicomposting process by using earthworms as well as organic compost is also well known in prior art. Simply, earthworms ingest organic waste and then excrete casts, a dark and odorless nutrient, and organically rich soil mud granules that make an excellent soil conditioner. The gut of earthworm consists of mucus containing protein and polysaccharides, organic and mineral matter, amino acids, bacteria, protozoa and fungi. The increased organic carbon, nitrogen and moisture content in the earthworm gut provide an optimal environment for the activation of dormant microbes. A wide array of digestive enzymes such as amylase, cellulase, protease, lipase, chitinase and urease were reported from earthworm's alimentary canal. As crushed organic matter passes through the gut, it get mixed up with the gut associated microbes and the digestive enzymes, and finally leaves the gut in partially digested form as "casts" after which the microbes takes up the process of decomposition and contributing to the maturation phase.
Positive effects of vermicomposting on pH, electrical conductivity (EC), C:N ratio and other nutrients have also been extensively documented in prior art. Earthworm activity is reported to reduce pH and C:N ratio in manure. Chemical analysis showed that a vermicompost had a lower pH, EC, organic carbon, C:N ratio, and higher amounts of total phosphorous and micronutrients compared to the parent material. Earthworm casts are a ready-to-use fertilizer that can be used at a higher rate of application than compost, since nutrients are released at rates that growing plants prefer.
Vermicasting (or vermicomposting) can be done on a small scale by homeowners with household organic wastes, on a large-scale by farmers with manure or by the food industry using organic wastes such as fruit and vegetable materials. Through proper design, vermicasting is also an effective method of waste handling that is clean, socially acceptable with little to no odor, requires no energy input for aeration and considerably reduces the mass of waste.
Although there are a number of techniques for producing compost teas, they generally all include the use of high quality compost, which builds a complex microbiologically-enhanced aqueous complex from which the organic species are extracted. For example, microorganism sources such as worm casting, compost, and leaf mold are added to a liquid medium, which can also include the inoculation of bacteria, fungi, protozoa and nematodes and nutrient sources for the microorganisms. The beneficial microorganisms are then extracted from the liquid form, first by culturing through an aeration process in vessels filled with pure water. Such techniques are well known to prior art. In this regard, reference is made to U.S. Pat. No. 6,767,381.
Although the use of compost tea in the agricultural industry is well known, their use is not without recognized limitations. Compost teas are traditionally maintained in a liquid state, applied as a soil drench, or sprayed on leaf and plant surfaces. If most of the microorganisms are dormant, they will not be effective. Furthermore, application temperature must be considered while applying. Too hot or too cold prematurely kills the microbes. Another issue is extending the shelf life of the fertilizer once bottled by preventing pathogen formation within the liquid over time due to lack of oxygen circulation. This invention addresses all these shortcomings of current methods.
In US patent application 20140130744 A1, Toet describes a method and device for transferring heat from decomposing manure to a worm growth zone for vermicomposting. The worm growth bed supports a plurality of worms substantively covered by a layer of manure. Vermicast passes through a supporting grid of the worm growth bed and deposits on a floor or a bottom of the second area. Similarly, in US 20120214223 A1, Hughes describes a vermiculture device to prepare a vermi-compost. Although Toet and Hughes describe different types of vermicomposting bins, they do not teach how to make a liquid fertilizer from vermicast that can be efficiently delivered to soil.
PCT Patent application WO2013/019933 claims organic fertilizer compositions of 1-6% nitrogen and 1-5% phosphorus comprising an effective amount of a non-genetically modified, enzymatically hydrolyzed plant protein as a nitrogen source and phytic acid as a phosphorus source for delivery to plants. However the essential element concentrations provided by the compositions are low and the source of hydrolyzed plant protein is not mentioned.

Efficient delivery of microorganisms produced from vermicomposting to soil