Integrated access cover arrangements for use in a portable computing devices, where the portable computing devices include a processor and are configured to house a user accessible component are presented including: a base configured to be coupled to the portable computing device; an integrated access cover housing a keyboard, the integrated access cover being slidingly connected with the base and configured to be disposed in at least a closed position and an open position with respect to the base, the user accessible component being hidden from a user when the integrated access cover is disposed in the closed position, the user accessible component being accessible by the user when the integrated access cover is disposed in the open position. In some embodiments, arrangements further include: a drive mechanism for translating the integrated access cover. Advantages include the ability to utilize lower profile configurations while maintaining functionality.

Advances in computing hardware technology continue to enable lower dimensional profile computing devices while maintaining robust processing power typically associated with larger devices. No where are these advances more apparent than in the portable computing field. Notebook computers, once a luxury with limited capability, are now full-featured computing devices that are quickly becoming ubiquitous in both the business and home markets.
Portable computing devices may be typically configured with a base housing various computer components and a display. In one such example, FIG. 1 is an illustrative representation of a portable computing device 100. As can be appreciated, some of the illustrations provided herein are shown in orthogonal view. A viewing axes 120 is provided for clarity in interpreting the figures and should not be considered limiting. Viewing axes 120 includes three axes of orientation namely: x-axis (i.e. forward and backward); y-axis (i.e. left and right); and z-axis (i.e. up and down).
Portable computing device 100 includes a base 106 and a display 104. Base 106 may house a variety of computer components including a keyboard 110, a pointing device 112, a removable disk drive 114, and a permanent disk drive 116. Base 106 may further include a variety of access ports for interfacing with other computing components including, but not limited to, a USB port (not shown), a parallel port (not shown), a serial port (not shown), a docking station interconnect (not shown), a network port (not shown) or a monitor port (not shown). Further, display 104 may be configured in any of a number of different sizes and resolutions depending on user preference.
As can be appreciated, the number and type of devices associated with a portable computing device may, in most instances, be directly related to the dimensional constraints of the portable computing device. In some examples, size limitations may require attaching a peripheral device externally. Thus, for example, a removable media drive such as a floppy drive, a CD drive, or a DVD drive may be connected externally in configurations that cannot accommodate these devices internally. However, external peripheral devices require extra storage space and extra cabling, which may not be desirable for users relying on portability and ease of use of their portable computing devices. Arrangements that allow peripheral devices to be housed within the shrinking dimensions of a portable computing device may offer significant advantages over conventional arrangements.
Therefore, integrated access covers are presented herein.


An image magnifying apparatus includes a processor configured to execute non-transitory machine readable instructions to configure the processor to, receive the image data, generate a first interpolation pixel between pixels of the image data, by applying a first interpolation method based on a high-band spectrum of the image data, generate a second interpolation pixel between pixels of the image data, by applying a second interpolation method not based on the high-band spectrum of the image data, identify a pattern of pixels of the image data by extracting peripheral pixels of an interpolation object position in the image data, select whether to apply the first interpolation method to the interpolation object position or whether to apply the second interpolation method to the interpolation object position, and output one of the first interpolation pixel and the second interpolation pixel, as an output interpolation pixel, based on the selection.

Inventive concepts relates to an image magnifying apparatus.
According to the increasing use of high-resolution imaging devices, a technique of magnifying a low-resolution video to a high-resolution video is desired. To magnify a low-resolution video to a high-resolution video, an imaging device includes an image magnifying apparatus for interpolating and outputting a pixel of an image. The image magnifying apparatus magnifies and outputs an input image by applying a process for interpolating pixels in the image.


The present invention relates to a surfactant system for general use in agricultural compositions, including, but not limited to herbicidal, fungicidal and insecticidal formulations comprised of two components: an alkoxylated polyarylphenol phosphate ester surfactant in combination with an alkoxylated lignosulfonate salt surfactant.

Alkylphenol ethoxylates (APE's) and their anionic derivatives are surfactants that are well known to industry and have historically been relied upon heavily by agricultural chemical producers. However, formulations containing APEs do not always provide the most desirable combination of design specifications, e.g. product efficacy, working parameters and cost. Traditional non-APE surfactant systems have not been readily adaptable substitutes for APE surfactants. For example, depending on the formulation requirements, calcium dodecylbenzenesulfonate used in conjunction with fatty acid ethoxylates has proven to be an unacceptable APE substitute because of poor performance within one or more design parameters such as emulsion stability, acute toxicity, temporal and thermal stability, chemical and physical stability; solution, suspension or dilution dynamics, and viscosity and suspension stabilization. The inability of industry to adapt existing technology to improve upon characteristics of surfactant systems containing APEs has prompted the development of entirely new line APE surfactants. The additional challenge faced by the scientific community has been to develop new APE surfactants which can be easily made from readily available and cost effective raw materials. Accordingly, there continues to be a need for improved APE surfactants.

Pesticide formulations containing phosphate ester surfactant and alkoxylated lignosulfonate


There are provided novel 4(2-furoyl)aminopiperidines represented by the general formula (I), their synthetic intermediates, processes for their preparation and medicaments containing them.

Opioid receptors are the receptors to which drugs having morphine-like action specifically bind, and they are found in the central nervous system or intestinal nervous system. Opioid receptors are known to include the three types of μ, δ and κ, where the primary structure of each receptor has been elucidated by cDNA cloning (Wang J-B, FEBS Lett, 338: 217-222, 1994, Simonin F, Mol Pharmacol, 46: 1015-1021, 1994, Simonin F, Proc Natl Acad Sci USA, 92: 7006-7010, 1995). Pharmacological activities of these opioid receptors differ, depending on the types of receptors (Martin W R, J Pharmacol Exp Ther. 197: 517-532, 1976). The μ receptors are involved in analgesia, respiratory depression, euphoria, psychosomatic dependence, tolerance, enterokinesis depression, bradycardia, constipation, miosis, etc. On the other hand, the δ receptors are involved in analgesia, psychosomatic dependence, emotional reaction, etc. The κ receptors are involved in analgesia, sedation, euphoria, diuresis, aversion, miosis, etc.
Morphine is a representative μ receptor agonist (Wood P L, Neuropharmacology, 20: 1215-1220, 1981) and it has been used for those patients with carcinomatous pain or postoperative pain as a potent analgesic. However, morphine exerts analgesic activity, while it causes side effects such as constipation, nausea/emesis, drowsiness, hallucination/obfuscation, respiratory depression, xerostomia/mouth dryness, perspiration, itch, dysuria, unsteadiness/dizziness, and myoclonus. Of these side effects, constipation, nausea/emesis may frequently appear, and itch is also very frequently observed in intrathecal or epidual administration (Guidelines for Alleviation of Carcinomatous Pain, Ed. by the Alleviation Medical Society of Japan, "the Committee for Drafting Guidelines for Alleviation Carcinomatous Pain", Department of Publication of Medical Books, SINKO-SYUPPAN KOUEKI Co., Ltd., 68-78, 2000).
Opioid peptide is a generic name for the peptide group having morphine-like action and binding to opioid receptors, and the opioid peptides found in the central nervous system and peripheral tissues (intestine, adrenal gland, etc.) are referred to as "endogenous opioid peptides." β-Endorphin, enkephalin and dynorphin are known as endogenous opioid peptides. Of these peptides, β-endorphin and enkephalin have affinity to μ receptors (Opioid Peptides, Ed. by Hiroo IMURA, CHYUGAI IGAKU Co., Ltd., 240-250, 1985). It has also been reported that production and release of these endogenous opioid peptides are stimulated under various stress environments (in Enkephalins and Endoephins, Ed. by Plotnikoff N P, Plenum, 1986). This has pointed out that endogenous opioid peptides may be a pathogenic cause of idiopathic constipation, postoperative ileus, paralytic ileus, irritable bowel syndrome, chronic pruritus, etc. (Orwoll E S, Endocrinology, 107: 438-442, 1980, Konturek S J, Am J Physiol, 238: G384-G389, 1980, Yamaguchi T, Jpn J Pharmacol, 78: 337-343, 1998).
It is, therefore, believed that the μ receptor antagonists are effective against side effects which are caused by the μ receptor agonists, such as constipation, nausea/emesis, and itch, or diseases such as idiopathic constipation, postoperative ileus, paralytic ileus, irritable bowel syndrome and chronic pruritus.
According to Japanese Patent Kokai No. 264460/1988 (JP-A-63264460), a drug having the action of reversing respiratory depression, one of side effects of morphine, that is, an opioid μ receptor antagonist has been identified as the compound of the formula (XI), which is an analogous compound originated from fentanyl, an opioid μ receptor agonist.
However, the opioid μ receptor antagonistic activity of this drug is weak and insufficient as a therapeutic agent for imperfect enterokinesis such as constipation and irritable bowel syndrome. Therefore, there has been a need for more potent opioid μ receptor antagonists.

4-(2-furoyl) aminopiperidines, intermediates in synthesizing the same, process for producing the same and medicinal use of the same

Abstract: In the above formula, X is OH or N, and Y is a group of the following general formula (II), formula (II-a) or formula (III):

Abstract: wherein        a, b and c are each an integer of 0-6;        Z is CH2 or NH;        W is O or S;        T is O or N—R15 wherein R15 is H, a C1-C6 alkyl group,        a benzyl group or a phenethyl group; and        R1 is H, a C1-C6 alkoxycarbonyl group, a benzyloxy-carbonyl group, or the like.

Abstract: The 4-(2-furoyl)aminopiperidine derivatives according to this invention possess opioid μ antagonistic activity and are useful for the treatment or prevention of side effects which are caused by μ receptors agonist and which are selected from constipation, nausea/emesis or itch, or for the treatment or prevention of idiopathic constipation, postoperative ileus, paralytic ileus, irritable bowel syndrome or chronic pruritus.


The purpose of this patent is to teach the methods of application and compositions of cosmetic and therapeutic products for reducing wrinkle appearance and augmenting certain compartments of the facial integument of a mammal, especially a human. These methods and compositions utilize the hypodermis-targeted release from bioadhesive oral films, pastes or patches applied to oral mucosa or teeth for the purpose of improving the appearance or health of the lips and facial skin.

Skin is our largest organ and the one that ages the most conspicuously—especially in the facial region. Often, a person's facial appearance determines the viewer's perception of that person's age.
A major area of focus for the cosmetic industry is the improvement of facial appearance. This improvement can be understood to relate to both the protection of the skin, to prevent damage caused by environmental conditions, and also to rejuvenation of the skin, to ameliorate damage which has occurred. Skin rejuvenation products are often referred to as "anti-aging" products.
While skin protection products are well known, such as topical sunblocks and moisturizers, effective skin rejuvenation or anti-aging products are not so common, and such existing products present room for improvement. Accordingly, there remains a need for safe and effective skin rejuvenation or anti-aging products and improved methods for their delivery.
One reason that the need for skin rejuvenation or anti-aging products remains unfulfilled may be that the current prevailing approach used in the cosmetic industry is naïve, consisting in applying selected active ingredients onto the epiderm, a protective barrier which specifically functions to prevent penetration and seal off the organism from the outside world. Further, even if the active ingredient is able to penetrate the epidermal barrier and reach the level of the dermal-epidermal junction, it has still only reached the very surface of the problem area. This is because in great part, skin aging is the consequence of processes unfolding in the most internal part of the integumentary system, the hypodermis, which is also known as the hypoderm, subcutaneous tissue, or superficial fascia. Here, "integumentary" means cutaneous, while "integument" means "skin and its derivatives." The hypodermis is the lowermost layer of the integumentary system, which, for the face is composed of fibrous bands anchoring the skin to the deep fascia, fat, blood vessels, lymphatic vessels, hair follicle roots, sudiferous gland structures, nerves and facial expression (panniculus carnosus) muscles. The hypodermal adipose tissue nurses and nourishes the dermal and the epidermal layers of the skin, facial expression muscles respond to nerve stimuli by contracting and folding the dermal tissue, and blood vessels supply oxygen and evacuate the metabolic waste.
In summary, skin health and appearance is greatly determined by the condition of its innermost component, the hypodermis.
Facial aging can be characterized by a progressive thinning of the hypoderm, including fat loss or lipoatrophy, resulting, among other morphological effects in substantial collapse of the facial volume especially at the level of the medial cheeks, also known as face hollowing. See, e.g., Gierloff, M., Stöhring, C., Buder, T., Gassling, V., Açil, Y., Wiltfang, J., Aging Changes of the Midfacial Fat Compartments: A Computed Tomographic Study, Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery, 2012; 129: 263. In extreme cases, such as in some AIDS treatments, lipoatrophy can progress toward nearly complete subdermal facial fat loss. See, e.g., Coleman, S., Saboeiro, A. and Sengelmann, R., A Comparison of Lipoatrophy and Aging: Volume Deficits in the Face. Aesthetic, Plastic Surgery, 2009; 33, 14. The regression of hypodermis contributes not only to face hollowing and skin thinning, but also to wrinkles, because the skin loses its source of nutrition and regeneration, while being continuously subjected to fold-unfold cycles through the action of the facial expression muscles. Accordingly, some plastic surgery rejuvenation techniques involve the use of grafts of fat tissue. See, e.g., Fernandes, D, and Kaplan, H., Blepharoplasty Gets a Lift. Plastic Surgery Practice, January 2011 (www.plasticsurgerypractice.com/issues/articles/2011-01—03.asp).
Similarly, ageing can be characterized by an overall muscle loss or sarcopenia. In that regard, facial muscle mass augmentation can be desirable in order to maintain a youthful facial appearance. The term "augmentation" as used in the present invention relates to increase in the volume of soft tissue.
The delivery of suitable active cosmetic ingredients by topical application onto the epidermis, with or without iontophoresis or electroporation, and also by subcutaneous or intradermal injections is known in the art. Another known method of delivery of skin-beneficial cosmetics is via oral delivery, i.e., by ingestion. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,224,850 discloses examples of several routes of known cosmetic product applications. However, none of prior art of which we are aware addresses the benefits of intraoral application of cosmetics through a transmucosal route for direct interaction specifically with the hypoderm, and resulting in benefits including: decrease in the unattractive visibility of gums while smiling or laughing known as "gummy smile" through hypodermal muscle relaxation in the parafiltrum (skin between the nose and the upper lip); lip plumping through the vasodilatation of hypodermal vessels, swelling or sensory stimuli; cheek plumping through the support and augmentation (increase in volume) of the hypodermal adipose tissue and hypodermal muscles; smoother skin appearance through regenerative action on the hypodermis supporting hair follicles and their muscles; prevention of skin drying through the regenerative effect on hypodermal sebaceous glands; and improved appearance of facial wrinkles through hypodermal muscle relaxation, hypodermal adipose tissue augmentation or stimulation of adipokines, which support the extracellular matrix and basement membrane components of the skin.

Transoral methods and compositions for wrinkle reduction and cosmetic lip and facial augmentation


The mold clamping device is provided with a first platen to which a stationary mold is attached. A movable mold unit is capable of approaching and moving away from the stationary mold. A second platen is linked to the first platen via a tie bar. When the movable mold unit and the stationary mold are closed, a wedge member is driven onto the movable mold unit to generate mold clamping force. The second platen has a pressure receiving surface. The pressure receiving surface receives, through the wedge member, mold opening force that is generated by filling, with a molding material, the stationary mold and the movable mold unit that are in the closed state.

Injection molding apparatuses have been known as apparatuses that inject molding material into a mold to fill the mold, thereby molding a desired article. An injection molding apparatus includes an injection device, which injects a molding material into a mold, and a mold clamping device that generates a strong mold clamping force applied to a stationary mold and a movable mold that are in a closed state. As mold clamping devices, a toggle type mold clamping device and a straight hydraulic type mold clamping device are known. To reduce the size of an injection molding apparatus, Patent Document 1 discloses a mold clamping device that is an alternative to toggle types and straight hydraulic types.
The mold clamping device of Patent Document 1 includes a pair of sandwiching members that generates mold clamping force by directly sandwiching a stationary mold and a movable mold that are in a closed state. The sandwiching members are actuated by a cylinder to sandwich the stationary mold and the movable mold.


A package for an electronic device is disclosed. The package includes a metal base, an insulating casing mounted on the metal base and having a seating metal on the top thereof, and a lid tightly enclosing a space surrounded by the base and the casing. The lid provides a sealing metal facing the sealing metal on the top of the casing with putting a brazing metal therebetween. The sealing metal of the lid has an area wider than an area of the sealing metal of the casing.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a package that encloses electronic devices and components.
2. Background Arts
A package has been used to enclose electronic devices and/or components tightly therein. One type of the package includes a casing forming a space into which the electronic devices and/or the components are installed and a lid covering the space. The lid is fixed on the casing by, for instance, the seam-sealing that melts a brazing metal. Excess amounts of the brazing metal spread on the side wall of the casing, which sometimes causes short-circuits within the casing.
One prior document has disclosed, to prevent the excess brazing metal from spreading, that the casing in at least one of inner surfaces and outer surfaces in addition to the top surface thereof provides a metal layer on which the excess brazing metal spreads.

Sumitomo Electric Device Innovations, Inc.


Compounds and methods for inhibiting cofilin activity or reducing total cofilin, improving motor deficits, attenuating LPS-induced microglial activation and inflammation, reducing microglial migration and proliferation, reducing TNF-α, reducing NF-κB, and improving motor deficits in a subject are described.

Every year, an estimated 7 million people suffer from stroke. Intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH), or hemorrhagic stroke, constitutes only about 10-15% of total stroke types, but is responsible for higher mortality rates, and suvivors of hemorrhagic stroke may suffer from severe disabilities and post-stroke cognitive impairments. There is currently no effective therapy available, and identifying signaling molecules with the potential of becoming drug targets after ICH is a difficult undertaking. Thus, there is a need in the art for new treatments for hemorrhagic stroke.

Development of a cofilin inhibitor for the treatment of hemorrhagic brain injury-induced neuroinflammation


The invention relates to honeycomb core components having an undulating configuration reinforced with structural rods or columns which provide nesting sites for indexing with the flutes or nodes of adjacent components when assembled in stacked relation. Methods are also disclosed for producing the core components and assembling them in finished honeycomb core configuration.

Civilization has been highly influenced by the emergence of very efficient structural materials (materials possessing a high strength/weight ratio). Mankind's ability to feed, clothe, shelter, transport, educate and provide adequate medical care for itself can be shown to be directly linked with structures possessing high structural efficiency.
Engineers, in their effort to design structures with superior strength/weight ratios, have relied increasingly on "sandwich" configurations consisting of low density core materials with high strength face sheets. The aircraft industry is an excellent example of where light weight, high strength structures are routinely designed. It is not uncommon for the aircraft industry to select "honeycomb" type materials as the core material. Commercially available honeycomb core materials in use today are made of bonded web materials. The web materials are either metallic foils or fiber/matrix composites.
Two existing methods for producing honeycomb structural materials are (a) the hobe method, which is the cardboard box technique of laying up layers of web material with offset stripes of glue, followed by using a jack to pull the layers apart; and (b) the corrugating method, which consists of producing corrugated sheets, registering (matching up) the nodes or the tips of the flutes, and then adhering them by spot gluing, welding or the like. The present invention is an improvement on the latter approach.
The prior art technique of corrugating sheets and then forming a core material from two or more of these sheets is illustrated in a number of U.S. Pat. for example No. 3,700,518; No. 4,935,082; and No. 4,948,445. The assembling technique involved in this method suffers from some recognized difficulties. For example, in order to join the nodes or flute tips of adjacent corrugated sheets, it is necessary for the operator to register the matching nodes by hand and eye and then use special pains to insure that, once registered correctly, the layers will not creep or slip before the adhesive sets. Also, the minimum bonding area involved in spot adhering provides a weak point in the overall strength of the core. Further, the sharp creases normally found in conventional corrugation core nodes contribute an additional weakness in the overall core strength.
It is an object of the invention to provide a honeycomb core material which substantially overcomes the several problems referred to above.
It is another object of the invention to provide honeycomb core components which have inherent indexing or nesting features permitting automatic registration of the matching nodes of adjacent components.
It is a further object to provide core components which provide greater bonding areas between adjacent components and avoid the creases of conventional corrugation techniques, whereby the strength of the core is substantially increased.
It is a further object of the invention to provide for reinforcing integral columns that will greatly add to the compression carrying capacity of the material.
It is a still further object to provide a method for producing core components, wherein the basic raw materials are processed in a continuous integrated procedure adaptable for a fully automated production system.
Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the specification proceeds.


A sealing arrangement for a valve or shaft is disclosed which is designed to respond to movements of a rotatable element in a particular manner and to increase sealing pressure with increasing fluid pressure. The seal undergoes a radial compressive type movement as the pressure within a vessel housing increases between opposed sealing sleeves and this causes an increase in the sealing pressure. This predetermined movement of the seal creates a spring bias in the seal, urging the seal to return to the original, less stressed condition. Preferably, the seal is of a composite structure and a particular component of the intermediate wall section creates this spring bias. This structure has improved operating characteristics and accommodates a wider range of resilient materials to be used for the sealing washer.

A particular gate valve sleeve is taught in U.S. Pat. No. 4,895,181. The sleeve disclosed in this patent uses a stiffening ring enclosed within the sleeve. Other arrangements for gate valve sleeves are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,257,447 (Clarkson), U.S. Pat. No. 2,873,943 (Williams), U.S. Pat. No. 3,659,822 (Nagi), U.S. Pat. No. 4,201,365 (Paptzun et al), U.S. Pat. No. 4,603,864 (Raftis), U.S. Pat. No. 4,623,122 (Gambetta), and U.S. Pat. No. 4,625,942 (Nelson).
In most cases, the gate valve includes an internal sleeve arrangement made of a rubber type material which resiliently distorts upon movement of the gate of the gate valve between the sealing member and returns to seal with a like seal member when the gate is fully withdrawn.
Gate valves are subject to widely varying operating conditions and preferably must satisfactorily operate under these widely varying conditions. For example, the gate valve could be opened and closed several times daily and, therefore, must be capable of opening and closing effectively. In other cases, the gate valve may be left in one position for a substantial period of time and then moved to a second position. The sleeve of the gate valve must be capable of responding to these changing conditions and any tendency of the material of the sleeve to maintain a particular set should be minimal. Other factors affecting the choice of the sealing material include the abrasiveness of the material being conveyed through the pipe, the temperature of the fluid, and the corrosiveness of the fluid.
These factors are also true with respect to seals about shafts including shafts of valves as well as other valve elements such as butterfly valve elements.
In the past, there has been a tendency to find an elastomeric material or composite material which effectively addresses the widely varying characteristics for the sealing element. In the case of U.S. Pat. No. 4,895,181, the rigidity adjacent the sealing end of the sleeve was improved by embedding directly therein a stiffening ring. Unfortunately, the widely varying operating conditions in combination with the material to be carried renders the choice of material for the sealing sleeve or sealing arrangement very difficult. There remains a need to provide a simple sealing sleeve arrangement which is capable of operating under widely varying conditions.


A bearing support device includes a rotor, a bearing member, and a bearing holding member. The rotor rotates about a rotation center axis. The bearing member rotatably supports the rotor within a bearing hole passing through the bearing member. The bearing holding member holds the bearing member in a secure manner within a fitting hole that passes through the bearing holding member along the center axis of the rotor via an engagement force produced by tightly fitting the bearing member. The rotor and bearing member are made of a resin. An engagement section is provided for tightly fitting the bearing member into the fitting hole relative to the bearing hole to enable an engagement force produced by the tight fitting to act in a direction that does not affect an inner diameter dimension of the bearing hole.

Conventionally, variable intake systems include technology for switching the length or cross-sectional area of an intake pipe of a multiple cylinder engine between two stages according to factors such as the engine speed and the engine load. The systems apply an inertia supercharging effect or resonance supercharging effect to the intake air to improve the output of the multiple cylinder engine. Examples of such systems are disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. Hei 07-166877 at pages 1 to 5, FIG. 1 through FIG. 7; Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. Hei 08-277717 at pages 1 to 9, FIG. 1 through FIG. 9; and Japanese Patent Application No. 2002-317718 at pages 1 to 4, FIG. 1 through FIG. 7. In such a variable intake system, as shown in FIG. 9 and FIG. 11, a butterfly valve bearing support structure that supports multiple integrated butterfly valves 104 in a freely rotatable manner (a conventional embodiment) is provided in a valve bearing section 103 of an intake manifold 102, and switches the length or cross-sectional area of intake air passages 101 connecting to each cylinder in a multiple cylinder engine.
Here, the butterfly valves 104 are supported by a single valve shaft 105 with a rotation center axis oriented in a direction orthogonal to the center axis direction of the intake air passages 101. Furthermore, opening and closing control of the butterfly valves 104 is performed by an actuator 110 to rotationally drive the valve shaft 105. A valve axis (effectively, a bearing section) 106 which covers the outer periphery of the valve shaft 105 is formed in an integrated manner at each end, in the rotation center axis direction, of each butterfly valve 104. Furthermore, the end of the valve shaft 105 nearest the actuator 110 is supported by a bearing 107 or the like, for example.
In recent years, from the viewpoints of reducing weight and improving the insulation efficiency and the level of design freedom, various trials and proposals have arisen regarding the use of a resin to form the intake manifold 102 and the butterfly valves 104, for example. However, when the components of the intake system of an engine are made of a resin, the level of molding precision is lower than that observed for metallic materials. Consequently, if there is little bearing clearance between the inner circumferential surface of the valve bearing section 103 of the resin intake manifold 102 and the outer circumferential surface of the valve axis 106 of the resin butterfly valve 104, then the sliding resistance between the valve bearing section 103 and the valve axis 106 increases. To suppress this increase in sliding resistance, it is necessary to ensure a large bearing clearance between the valve bearing section 103 and the valve axis 106. As a result, the end of the valve shaft 105 and the valve axis 106 on the opposite side to the actuator (the left side in the diagram) is a free edge, the movement of which, in a radial direction orthogonal to the rotation center axis direction, is not constrained by the valve bearing section 103.
However, intake air, which flows through the plurality of intake air passages 101, includes pulsation introduced by the rotation of the engine. Consequently, this pulsation causes each of the butterfly valves 104 provided in one of the plurality of intake air passages 101 to vibrate. In particular, when the intake pressure which accompanies the pulsation acts on the butterfly valve 104 on the opposite side to the actuator, namely, the side with the free edge, the end of the valve shaft 105 on the opposite side to the actuator undergoes a large amount of vibration. As a result, the collision speed increases between the valve bearing section 103 of the resin intake manifold 102 and the valve axis 106 of the resin butterfly valve 104. Furthermore, the outer circumference of the valve shaft 105 is covered by the valve axis 106 of the resin butterfly valve 104. Consequently, at the end of the valve shaft 105 on the opposite side to the actuator, contact occurs between the valve bearing section 103 of the resin intake manifold 102 and the valve axis 106 of the resin butterfly valve 104.
In regions where components made of a resin material contact each other, the critical PV value, which indicates slipperiness, is low. Consequently, the slidability between the valve bearing section 103 of the resin intake manifold 102 and the valve axis 106 of the resin butterfly valve 104 worsens, resulting in an extremely large amount of abrasion (see FIG. 5). As the abrasion between the valve bearing section 103 of the resin intake manifold 102 and the valve axis 106 of the resin butterfly valve 104 progresses, the bearing clearance between the valve bearing section 103 of the resin intake manifold 102 and the valve axis 106 of the resin butterfly valve 104 increases. As a result, rocking of the valve shaft 105 accompanying vibration increases, and the collision speed of the valve bearing section 103 with the valve axis 106 increases further, leading to a problem of abnormal noise generation.
Therefore, with an object of improving abrasion resistance between the valve bearing section 103 of the resin intake manifold 102 and the valve axis 106 of the resin butterfly valve 104, the inventors of the present invention have already filed Japanese Patent Application No. 2002-219765 on Jul. 29, 2002. Japanese Patent Application No. 2002-219765 discloses the bearing hole 111 side of the valve bearing section 103 of the resin intake manifold 102 being replaced with a metal sleeve 112, as shown in FIG. 10 and FIG. 12. However, because the bearing structure comprises both parts made of a metal and parts made of a resin, the level of tapping noise generated at the bearing clearance between the inner circumferential surface of the metal sleeve 112 and the outer circumferential surface of the valve axis 106 of the resin butterfly valve 104 is higher than in a bearing structure comprising only parts made of a resin, and it is therefore necessary to reduce the bearing clearance.
As a result, reducing the bearing clearance between the inner circumferential surface of the metal sleeve 112 and the outer circumferential surface of the valve axis 106 of the resin butterfly valve 104 causes the slidability and abrasion resistance between the metal sleeve 112 and the valve axis 106 of the butterfly valve 104 to deteriorate. As a countermeasure, the metal sleeve 112 is bonded to the valve bearing section 103 via an elastic body (such as fused rubber) 113. However, in this type of a butterfly valve bearing support structure (a related embodiment), the number of components and the number of assembly steps increases, which may result in lower productivity and higher costs.


A voltage generation control circuit of a semiconductor memory device and method thereof are provided. A period tD, which is delayed for a given time after an internal row active time (tRAS) is secured since an active command is input, is set as an active operating period. An internal latency period, a burst length period and a latency delay period tDLT are set as a read/write operating period after a read/write command is input. A period tDRP delayed for a given time after a precharge command is input is set as a precharge operating period. In this state, a voltage generator is controlled to generate an active voltage only in the operating periods.

This disclosure relates generally to a semiconductor memory device, and, more specifically, to a voltage generation control circuit in a semiconductor memory device and method thereof, wherein a voltage generator is controlled to generate an internal voltage only in a period where a substantial operation is performed.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a conventional circuit for controlling voltage generation. The voltage generation control circuit includes a command decoder & row control unit 10, an active voltage generation control unit 20, an active voltage generation unit 30, and a standby voltage generation unit 40.
The command decoder & row control unit 10 uses an external command CMD and a bank address BA to generate a row active-related control signal.
The active voltage generation control unit 20 receives row active signals RACTP<0:3> and row precharge signals RPCGBP<0:3> from the command decoder & row control unit 10, and generates active voltage generation control signals ACT_CTR<0:3> for controlling the operation (whether to generate active voltage) of the active voltage generation unit 30.
The active voltage generation unit 30 uses the active voltage generation control signal ACT_CTR and a reference voltage REF to generate an internal active voltage VINT_ACT.
The standby voltage generation unit 40 uses a bias voltage VBIAS and a reference voltage REF to generate an internal standby voltage VINT_STB, and is always enabled if it is not a special test condition after power-up.
FIG. 2 is a detailed circuit diagram of an active voltage generation control unit 20 shown in FIG. 1. Referring to FIG. 2, the active voltage generation control unit 20 includes PMOS transistors P1, P2, a NMOS transistor N1, inverter latches IV1, IV2, an inverter IV3, a delay unit 21, a NAND gate ND1, and inverters IV4, IV5.
If row active signals RACTP<0:3> are a high pulse, the NMOS transistor N1 is turned on and a node NA thus becomes a low level. The active voltage generation control signals ACT_CTR<0:3> are enabled to a high level. At this time, the active voltage generation unit 30 is enabled to generate the internal active voltage VINT_ACT. Thereafter, if the row precharge signals RPCGBP<0:3> are a low pulse, the PMOS transistor P1 is turned on, and the node NA thus becomes a high level. The active voltage generation control signals ACT_CTR<0:3> are disabled to a low level after delay Td. At this time, the active voltage generation unit 30 is disabled and does not operate.
FIG. 3 is a timing diagram showing waveforms of signals of the circuit for controlling voltage generation shown in FIG. 1. Referring to FIG. 3, if a bank address BA, a row address RA, and an active command ACT are input in synchronism with a rising edge of a clock signal CLK, a row active signal RACTP of a corresponding bank is generated as a high pulse, and the active voltage generation control signal ACT_CTR is enabled from a low level to a high level, so that the active voltage generation unit 30 operates to generate the internal active voltage VINT_ACT. Then, if the bank address BA and a precharge command PCG are input, the row precharge signal RPCGBP is generated as a low pulse. After delay Td, the active voltage generation control signal ACT_CTR is disabled to a low level, so that the active voltage generation unit 30 does not operate. That is, the active voltage generation unit 30 operates when the active command ACT is received, but does not operate after predetermined delay if the precharge command PCG is received.
The conventional active voltage generation unit 30 constructed above always operates even in a period where no operation is performed after being activated by the active command ACT, thus generating an active voltage. As a result, unnecessary current is consumed.

Voltage generation control circuit in semiconductor memory device, circuit using the same and method thereof


The present invention is directed to the use of antiviral compounds having the following generalized structure: ##STR1## wherein R is 2H or .dbd.O; R' is OH, H, or COOH (single substitution); and R" is OH, H, or alkyl; and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof as therapeutic substances having antiviral activity against human cytomegalovirus ("HCMV") and for treating diseases caused by HCMV. Dimeric forms of the forgoing antiviral compounds having antiviral activity against HCMV are also disclosed. Pharmaceutical compositions containing the disclosed antiviral compounds are disclosed for topical and systemic administration.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is directed to compositions having antiviral activity against the human cytomegalovirus ("HCMV"). More particularly, the present invention concerns pharmaceutical compositions containing the disclosed antiviral compounds which may be administered both topically and systemically.
2. Technology Review
Viruses are submicroscopic infective agents that are composed of either an RNA or a DNA core of genetic material encased in a protein shell. They are often further wrapped in lipid-containing envelopes, but they do not have a semipermeable membrane. Viruses multiply only within living cells; they commandeer the host cell to synthesize viral proteins and viral nucleic acids which are subsequently incorporated by final assembly into new virion particles.
There are various types of viral infections which may vary in severity from mild and transitory infections to illnesses that terminate in death. In lytic infections the virus replicates by inducing the cell to copy the viral genetic material and form additional virus particles. The infected cell is then lysed, releasing the virion particles. Lytic infections often spread rapidly throughout the population of vulnerable cells. The common cold and polio are examples of lytic infections.
In persistent infections, the virus does not always kill the infected cell. New virus particles are often released gradually; the cell survives intact and continues to divide, although its metabolism may undergo change. Persistent infections may also be characterized by a low level lytic infection involving only a small percentage of cells. In either case, a persistent infection may continue for months or years without causing overt disease. Hepatitis B virus, human leukemia viruses, and human immunodeficiency virus ("HIV") which is the cause of acquired immune deficiency syndrome ("AIDS"), are examples of viruses causing persistent infections.
Finally, in latent infections the genetic material of the virus can become integrated into the host cell's chromosomes which are reproduced during cell division and transmitted to the daughter cells. Under certain conditions latent viruses can be reactivated, thereby resulting in an active infection. Herpes viruses are characterized by periods of latency alternating with periods of active viral replication.
Human cytomegalovirus ("HCMV") is a member of the DNA herpes virus family. HCMV has been isolated from saliva, urine, breast milk, blood, semen, and vaginal secretions. It can be transmitted in utero, despite the presence of high maternal antibody titers. Once infected, the individual conserves the virus in a latent or persistent form throughout life.
Serological surveys indicate that most adults have been infected with HCMV. Following primary infection, which is almost always asymptomatic in people with normal immunity, the virus establishes latency. The virus is probably maintained in this latent state by immune surveillance mechanisms since immunosuppression frequently leads to reactivation of the virus. Re-infection with, or reactivation of, HCMV can give rise to life-threatening disease.
HCMV infections are manifested in a variety of disease states. Such infections in young children are often expressed as severe respiratory infection, and in older children and adults, they are expressed as anicteric hepatitis and mononucleosis. Infection with HCMV during pregnancy can lead to congenital malformation resulting in mental retardation and deafness.
HCMV pneumonitis is the most common single cause of death following bone marrow transplantation, and disseminated HCMV infection is a major cause of mortality and morbidity in patients with renal allografts or with AIDS. Recent evidence also suggests the possible role of HCMV as an oncogenic cofactor in certain tumors such as cervical carcinoma and Kaposi's sarcoma.
Like other herpes viruses, HCMV has a propensity to reactivate, particularly in immunosuppressed patients. Thus, HCMV infections present a major clinical problem for AIDS patients and other immunocompromised individuals such as organ transplant recipients and other patients receiving immunosuppressive drugs. Among AIDS patients, HCMV is the causative agent of certain invasive diseases such as retinitis, which is sight threatening, peripheral retinitis (an earlier form of the infection), and colitis.
In modern medical practice, HCMV is a significant pathogen whose ultimate control by means of immunization or drug therapy has become an important objective. So far, preliminary vaccination efforts have been unsuccessful, and no ideal therapeutic agent has been developed which can efficiently contain HCMV infection. Vaccination efforts are probably unsuccessful because the virus can infect one cell from another without being exposed to the cell milieu in which the vaccine-stimulated antibodies act. Prophylaxis and therapy using HCMV immune globulins have met with only moderate success. In addition, therapeutic agents developed for treating HCMV infections have the common disadvantages of some type of toxicity to the host and the inability to rid the host of latent infection.
A major obstacle in developing suitable drugs possessing antiviral activity against HCMV is the ability to distinguish between the virus and the patient's own cells. HCMV, like other viruses, can only replicate by physically invading a cell and using the cell's biochemical pathways to make new viral proteins and genetic material.
Because virus replication cycles are intimately connected with the functions of the host cell, there are few features peculiar to the virus that are not also present in the host. This makes selective attack on the virus difficult. Therefore, antiviral compounds generally represent a compromise between suppression of virus replication while minimizing adverse effects on the host.
Nucleoside analogs represent a major class of compounds which exhibit significant antiviral activity. These compounds are related to the naturally occurring precursors of DNA or RNA. Nucleoside analogs consist of heterocyclic bases linked to sugars or sugar-like groups.
Because nucleosides are necessary for normal DNA and RNA synthesis, certain chemically altered nucleosides interfere with the synthesis and function of DNA and/or RNA. Nucleoside analogs were first synthesized as potential anticancer drugs capable of slowing or blocking the accelerated DNA production of rapidly dividing cancer cells, but later some were found to also possess antiviral activity. Some of these compounds rapidly cross the cellular plasma membrane, thereby gaining rapid entry into the cell. Nevertheless, the cytotoxicity of nucleoside analogs remains a major drawback to their effectiveness and specificity for treating viral infections.
In discussing compositions effective against viruses, it is important to note the distinction between "antiviral" compositions and "virucidal" compositions. This distinction is most clearly understood with reference to the experimental procedures used to determine the activity.
In determining "virucidal" activity, the virus is exposed to the test composition before inoculating the tissue culture. The degree of virucidal activity is measured by comparing the quantity of virus plaques formed in tissue cultures inoculated by chemically treated virus with tissues cultures inoculated by untreated virus.
In determining "antiviral" activity, the tissue culture is inoculated with the virus and incubated for a period of time. The infected tissue culture is then treated with the test composition. The degree of antiviral activity is measured by comparing the quantity of virus plaques present in chemically treated tissue cultures with untreated tissue cultures.
Compositions that have virucidal activity do not necessarily have antiviral activity. Similarly, compositions that have virucidal or antiviral activity against one virus or even a class of viruses, do not necessarily have virucidal or antiviral activity against other viruses, even within the same class. Thus, there is a high degree of unpredictability in both the mode of activity and virus selectivity for virucidal and antiviral compositions.
Compositions having virucidal activity are particularly important as topical disinfectants. In general, virucidal compositions have doubtful usefulness in treating patients already infected with a virus. In contrast, antiviral compositions are primarily used to treat patients having existing viral infections.
Of the known antiviral agents, foscarnet, acyclovir, and ganciclovir (shown below) are presently undergoing clinical evaluation for effectiveness in the treatment of HCMV infections in AIDS patients. ##STR2##
Ganciclovir, a nucleoside derivative also known as "DHPG", has been approved to treat HCMV retinitis in individuals with AIDS based on the positive effects seen in short term clinical trials. Although this represents encouraging progress in the treatment of HCMV infections, ganciclovir is not an ideal chemotherapeutic agent. The drug possesses serious toxic side effects such as neutropenia (an abnormally small number of neutrophil cells in the blood) which will preclude use of ganciclovir in an estimated 40% of all AIDS HCMV patients. Recently, ganciclovir-resistent mutant viral strains have been reported in AIDS patients treated with the drug and have been associated with severe progression of the disease.
From the foregoing, it will be appreciated that what is needed in the art are active pharmaceutical compositions having novel antiviral activity against HCMV and methods of administering said compositions.
In addition, it would be a significant advancement in the art to provide non-nucleoside antiviral compositions and methods of administering said compositions which specifically attack HCMV without substantially inhibiting normal cellular metabolism.
Such antiviral compositions and administration methods are disclosed and claimed herein.

Pharmaceutical compositions having antiviral activity against human cytomegalovirus


A conduit connector provides for the movable attachment of a conduit saddle to a connector body. The connector includes a connector body having an interior for accommodating the conduit. The connector body includes a body aperture therethrough. The conduit saddle is movably supported interiorly of the body for movement into engagement with the conduit. The conduit saddle includes a saddle aperture therethrough. An elongate screw having a head at one end and an elongate shaft is employed for attaching the saddle to the body. The screw includes a first shaft section and a spaced second shaft section. Each of the first and second shaft sections include self tapping threads for self tapping respective engagement with the body and the saddle through the body aperture and the saddle aperture

In commercial and residential construction, electrical conductors which run between various locations are typically housed in an outer protective jacket. Such structures are referred to as electrical conduits. One such conduit is a flexible, metallic conduit where the conduit includes an outer helically convoluted metal jacket for enhanced flexibility. The conduit is terminated to an electrical junction or outlet box and the individual conductors are terminated to an electrical device supported in the junction box.
In order to suitably retain the conduit in the junction box, a conduit connector or fitting is employed to terminate the conduit and to mechanically and electrically support the conduit to the junction box itself. Conduit connectors of this type are well-known in the electrical connection art. These connectors typically include a cylindrical body which supports therein an end extent of the conduit. The cylindrical body is attachable to the junction box through a knock-out opening to allow passage of the conductors into the junction box. A screw may be interposed through the wall of the body to engage the conduit to securely retain the conduit within the body of the connector.
Also, in order to mechanically attach the connector to the outlet box within the opening, the cylindrical body of the connector may be of the split-shell type, where upon tightening of the screw against the conduit, the respective shells of the connector body open up slightly so as to engage the wall of the outlet box about the opening U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,147,776 and 3,556,566 are examples of this type of conduit connector.
Improvements in such conduit connectors include the use of conduit engaging saddles attached to the end of the screw interposed through the body of the connector. The saddles are designed to engage the conduit to provide further retentive securement of the conduit within the connector body. Examples of the use of saddles in combination with conduit connectors are shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,490,286 and 2,643,136.
While the saddles shown in these patents attempt to provide improved retention of the conduit within the connector body, these connectors of the prior art suffer from two distinct disadvantages.
First, the saddles themselves, while providing additional securement for the conduit within the connector body, fail to provide the axial pullout strength required in order to restrain the conduit from being easily pulled from the connector body once the connector is attached to the junction box. Additionally, as the saddles are attached to the end of the screw extending through the connector body, such attachment requires complicated manufacturing steps or modifications to the connector body in order to provide access to the end of the screw for attachment of the saddle thereto.
In above-referenced U.S. Pat. No. 2,643,136, access to the interior of the conduit connector must be provided so as to permit swaging of the tip of the screw so as to retain the saddle thereon. Further, in U.S. Pat. No. Des. 336,282 and Des. 360,188, the undersurface of the connector must be provided with an access opening to enable a tool to be inserted therein so that the saddle may be staked or connected to the end of the screw.
It is therefore desirable to provide a conduit connector which provides for increased axial pullout strength and which may be manufactured more simply and efficiently.

Self tapping screw for use with an electrical connector


A digital amplitude modulation (AM) transmitter with pulse width modulating RF drive is presented. A plurality of RF amplifiers, each, when turned on, amplifies an applied RF drive signal by the same amount to provide a unit step RF output. An encoder supplies turn-on signals to turn on a number of the RF amplifiers wherein the number varies as a function of the value of an applied audio signal. The width of the unit step RF output is varied as a function of the number of the RF amplifiers that are turned on.

This invention relates to the art of AM radio broadcasting and, more particularly, to an RF power amplifier system of the type employed in AM radio broadcasting and employing digital amplitude modulation with pulse width modulating RF drive.
The patent to H. I. Swanson (U.S. Pat. No. 4,580,111) and the patent to K. T. Luu (U.S. Pat. No. 6,294,957) disclose an amplitude modulator for use in AM radio broadcasting and wherein the modulator serves to generate an amplitude modulated signal by selectively turning on and off a plurality of RF amplifiers in a digital manner to produce amplitude modulation. The amplifiers are essentially identical and each produces a signal of the same magnitude and duration known as a unit step or big step. The amplifiers are connected together in series so that big step signals are additive when combined and applied to a load, which may include a broadcasting antenna.
A drive system supplies an RF signal which is passed and amplified by each amplifier that is turned on. This is an efficient way to generate an amplitude modulated envelope signal. The envelope has a very high fidelity and low distortion because of the benefit of the wider bandwidth and digital resolution. In the case of a modern AM broadcast transmitter, very high positive peak modulation is required. Typical, peak modulation is +125% to +150% or higher to meet some requirement with the arrival of digital radio transmission.
Implementation of this modulation technique has been accomplished by using equal steps of power amplifiers which, when turned on, provide equal big steps. However, this technique has required lots of the same power amplifiers to achieve good resolution and, hence, cost may be significant. Thus, to produce a 12-bit resolution signal, the system may require more than 1000 power amplifiers, each providing the same magnitude big step.
It has been known in the prior art to implement the above method with the use of binary weighted power amplifiers to reduce the number of power amplifiers. This type of system includes power amplifiers that provide big steps as well as some power amplifiers that provide little or fractional steps. This helps reduce the number of power amplifiers but the technique has many limitations because the power amplifiers are not exactly the same and, hence, there are variations in group delay, power gain, RF drive phase alignment with respect to each other. This may create non-linearities which are difficult to correct.
The present invention is directed toward improvements permitting the use of a plurality of power amplifiers each providing an output of the same size and, hence, eliminating the need for big step and little step amplification. This is achieved in accordance with the present invention as will be described herein.

Digital amplitude modulation transmitter with pulse width modulating RF drive


A mold for molding semiconductor devices mounted on a package substrate is provided. The mold comprises a top mold and a bottom mold. The top mold has a top runner, at least a first dummy runner and a plurality of mold cavities. The first dummy runner connects with the top runner and the top runner extends into a space between the mold cavities. The mold cavities for accommodating the semiconductor devices are connected to the top runner. The bottom mold has a bottom runner and at least a second dummy runner. The second dummy runner connects with the bottom runner. The second dummy runner is above but separated from the first dummy runner by the package substrate.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a mold and a method of molding semiconductor devices. More particularly, the present invention relates to a mold and a method of molding semiconductor devices capable of preventing a package from warping.
2. Description of the Related Art
Due to the rapid development of multi-media systems, equipment for producing digital images and processing digital images is in great demand. Many types of digital imaging products, for example, PC digital video cameras, digital cameras, optical scanners and imaging phones, are now out in the market. In all these digital products, images are captured through an image sensor. The most common types of image sensors include the charge-coupled device (CCD) and the complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) image sensor. Both types of sensors are sensitive to incident light from an object and can convert the light into a digital signal. Because all these optical devices need to receive the light from the object, the packaging method must differ from most other electronic products.
Conventionally, most optical devices are packaged using ceramic carriers, for example, the ceramic leadless chip carrier (CLCC). Because ceramics has a high thermal dissipation capacity and is resistant to moisture penetration, ceramic packages have high product reliability and are generally used in military or industrial grade products. With the rapid expansion of the electronic industry, more and more optical devices are incorporated into commercial and consumer products. However, if ceramic packages are used in consumer products, cost is a major concern. Since the concern for reliability in commercial or a consumer applications is not so strict, plastic packages are acceptable. In the conventional technique, a common plastic substrate is used in packaging the optical device. Furthermore, to prevent the plastic from affecting the optical characteristics of the package, a transparent packaging material is often used in the packaging process. Yet, the process of injecting the molding material into a mold and waiting the material to cool down often results in a warping of the plastic substrate or the molding compound. In other words, the characteristics of the optical device package may change after the molding process.
Due to market pressure and the need to lower production cost, providing a method capable of lowering the packaging cost of optical sensor while maintaining a moderately high product quality and reliability is an important issue.

Mold and method of molding semiconductor devices

Advanced Semiconductor Engineering, Inc.


In a control device, a controller sets an order condition using a plurality of sets of timing information and a plurality of index values stored in a memory. The plurality of index values is acquired from a recording device under a condition where a first cartridge is mounted in the recording device. The order condition requires that one of a latest index value and a current timing have reached corresponding one of a reference index value and a reference timing, and is set so that a second cartridge is delivered to a predetermined destination at a first timing at which the first cartridge is expected to be out of a printing agent while a tank of the recording device is expected to still accommodate the printing agent. The controller transmits an order command instructing to order the second cartridge to a relevant device after the order condition is satisfied.

Some conventional printers known in the art are capable of placing orders for cartridges that accommodate a developing agent. The printer uses the residual quantity of the developing agent in the cartridge to estimate the day on which printing using the current cartridge will become impossible and sets a signal transmission date for transmitting an order request signal on the basis of the estimated day on which printing will become impossible. The printer sends an order request signal when the current date matches the signal transmission date.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Control device setting order condition for ordering cartridge to be mounted in recording device provided with tank


A method for transition control in a videoconference comprises receiving a plurality of video streams from a plurality of cameras, displaying a first video stream of the plurality of video streams, detecting a stream selection event for display of a second video stream of the plurality of video streams, determining a transition category for a transition from the first video stream to the second video stream, and selecting a display transition based on the transition category for displaying the transition from the first video stream to the second video stream.

Film and television productions use a variety of visual transitions between scenes. Transitions may include crossfades, wipes, and cuts. A director chooses each transition, and may use selected transitions for particular purposes. For example, a transition may convey a tone or mood, may suggest a change in location, or may imply the passage of time. Transitions may also be chosen for artistic reasons. In videoconferencing only one transition is typically used. This transition, a cut, is an instant change from one scene to the next.


An apparatus for electrically operating a circuit breaker arranged such that the change-over lever movable between an electrical operation mode position and a manual operation mode position has provided therewith a blocking portion which, while allowing the operation of the manual operation handle when the change-over lever is in the manual operation mode position, engages the manual operation handle to prevent the operation of the manual operation handle when the change-over lever is at the electrical operation mode position. Therefore, the operation of the manual operation handle in the electrical operation mode can be ensured to be prevented, avoiding the damages to the electrical operating apparatus, thsu enabling to provide a highly reliable apparatus for electrically operating a circuit breaker.

This application is based on Application No. 2000-374322, filed in Japan on Dec. 8, 2000, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.
This invention relates to an apparatus for electrically operating a circuit breaker and, more particularly, to an apparatus for switching an operating handle of a circuit breaker by electrical or manual operation.
A circuit breaker, which is a device for interrupting a fault current such as a short-circuiting current flowing through an electrical circuit as an overcurrent, is equipped with an electrically operating apparatus which achieves the circuit interruption.
An example of the apparatus for electrically operating a circuit breaker of such type can be found in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 6-251687 (or U.S. Pat. No. 5,504,290) and is shown in FIGS. 8 and 9. In FIGS. 8 and 9, the reference numeral 1 is an electrically operating apparatus including a drive motor 2, 3 is a change-over lever for shifting between a manual operation mode and an electrical operation mode, the switching of the change-over switch 4 can be achieved by sliding the change-over lever 3 into the direction of an arrow B1 or an arrow B2 (to the left or right in FIG. 8). That is, when the change-over lever 3 is slid in the direction of the arrow B2 to change the mode into the electrical operation mode, an electric current is supplied to the drive motor 2 and when the change-over lever 3 is slid in the direction of the arrow B1 to change the mode into the manual operation mode, no current is supplied to the drive motor 2.
The reference numeral 5 is a manual operation handle for manually opening the circuit breaker, 6 is an ON button for closing the circuit breaker, 7 is a TRIP button for opening the circuit breaker, 8 is a main shaft for transmitting the operational force from the drive motor 2 and the manual operation handle 5, 9 are cams mounted on the main shaft 8, 10 are drive levers for transmitting a drive force on the main shaft 8 through the cams 9, 11 are rollers rotatably mounted to the drive levers 10 and brought into contact with the cams 9, 13 is an actuating pin secured to the drive levers 9 and 12 is an operation handle engaging the actuating pin 13.
In the conventional apparatus as above described, when the change-over lever 3 is slid in the direction of the arrow B1, the change-over switch 4 is opened and the manual operation mode is established.
When the manual operation handle 5 is moved up and down as shown in an arrow C in FIG. 8, the main shaft 8 rotates. Then, the drive levers 10 are rotated through the cams 9 and the actuating pin 13 causes the operation handle 12 to operate to open the circuit breaker. When the ON button 6 is depressed, the circuit breaker is closed by the action of the energy charging spring (not shown) which is charged by the rollers 11 during the rotation of the drive levers 10. When the TRIP button 7 is depressed, the trip device (not shown) initiates the trip operation (same as the operation due to an overcurrent) and the circuit breaker is opened.
On the other hand, when the change-over lever 3 is slid into the arrow B2, the change-over switch 4 is closed to establish the electrical operation mode. In this mode, the circuit breaker can be opened or closed by energizing the drive motor 2 by remote control to rotate the main shaft 8. When the change-over lever 3 is slid in the direction of the arrow B2, the change-over lever 3 engages with an engagement portion 6a disposed on the ON button 6 and an engagement portion 7a disposed on the TRIP button 7. Therefore, the ON button 6 and the TRIP button 7 are prevented from moving further by the change-over lever 3. On the other hand, the manual operation handle 5 does not have any structure that is restricted by the change-over lever 3, so that the manual operation handle 5 is in the state in which it can be freely operated.
In such the conventional apparatus for electrically operating a circuit breaker, the manual operation handle 5 is not prevented from moving by the change-over lever 5 even when the circuit breaker is being remote controlled by the drive force of the drive motor 2 in the electrical operation mode, so that the manual operation handle 5 can be moved, whereby the drive motor 2 constituting the electrical operating apparatus 1 is locked and may be damaged.
Accordingly, the chief object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for electrically operating a circuit breaker free from the above discussed problems of the conventional apparatus.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for electrically operating a circuit breaker in which not only the ON button and the TRIP button but also the manual operation handle can be prevented from being moved during the electrical operation mode, whereby the electrical operation apparatus is not damaged and a reliable operation can be ensured.
With the above objects in view, the present invention resides in an apparatus for electrically operating a circuit breaker, in which a control panel on a housing of the circuit breaker is provided therein a change-over lever for selectively changing between an electrical operation mode and a manual operation mode, and in which the circuit breaker is operated between the open and closed positions by a drive force from a drive motor during the electrical operation mode and the circuit breaker is operated between the open and closed positions by a drive force from a manual operation handle during the manual operation mode. The apparatus is arranged such that the change-over lever moves between an electrical operation mode position corresponding to the electrical operation mode and a manual operation mode position corresponding to the manual operation mode, and that the change-over lever has provided therewith a blocking portion which, while allowing the operation of the manual operation handle when the change-over lever is in the manual operation mode position, engages the manual operation handle to prevent the operation of the manual operation handle when the change-over lever is at the electrical operation mode position.
The control panel may comprise an ON button for closing the circuit breaker in the manual operation mode and a TRIP button for opening the circuit breaker in the manual operation mode, and the change-over lever may be provided with a first engagement portion and a second engagement portion engaging the ON button and the TRIP button to prevent the operations of the ON button and the TRIP button when the change-over lever is shifted into the electrical operation mode.
The change-over lever may have the blocking portion, the first engagement portion and the second engagement portion provided thereon as an integral and unitary structure.
Alternatively, apparatus for electrically operating a circuit breaker may further comprise a switch disposed in the vicinity of the change-over lever for controlling electric current supply to the drive motor in response to the position of the change-over lever, the switch supplying the current to the drive motor when the change-over lever is in the electrical operation mode position and supplying no current to the drive motor when the change-over lever is in the manual operation mode.
The manual operation handle may comprise a first link mounted to an energy charging means actuating shaft for actuating energy charging means, a second link pivotally connected to the first link and a spring for biasing the second link toward the position in which the second link is housed within the housing of the electrically operating apparatus, and the arrangement may be such that, when the manual operation handle is operated, the first link is rotated over a first rotation range in which the first link is rotated against the action of the spring until it engages with the second link as well as a second rotation range in which the first link, together with the second link, drives the energy charging means actuating shaft.

Electrically operating apparatus for circuit breaker


According to an embodiment, a liquid crystal lens device includes an optical element and a voltage controller. The optical element includes: a refractive index modulation layer of which a refractive index distribution changes according to a voltage applied thereto; and electrodes to apply a voltage to the refractive index modulation layer. In a first voltage state, the voltage controller controls voltages applied to the electrodes such that a first refractive index distribution is arranged periodically in the optical element. In a second voltage state, the voltage controller controls voltages applied to the electrodes such that a second refractive index distribution is achieved. In an intermediate voltage state, the voltage controller controls a voltage applied to a first-type electrode, to which a first voltage that is the maximum value among the voltages applied to the electrodes in the first voltage state is applied, to a second voltage lower than the first voltage.

There are known stereoscopic image display apparatuses allowing viewers to view stereoscopic images with the naked eyes without wearing special glasses. Such a stereoscopic image display apparatus displays a plurality of images from different viewpoints, and controls light beams for the images with an optical element. The controlled light beams are guided to both eyes of a viewer, who can then recognize a stereoscopic image if the viewer is at a proper viewing position. There is known an optical element using, as the optical element, a parallax barrier or a lenticular lens.
However, in the apparatus using the parallax barrier or the lenticular lens as the optical element, the resolution of the stereoscopic image or the display quality of a planar (2D) image may be degraded. In order to keep the display quality of the planar image, there is known a technique using a liquid crystal optical element or a birefringent element as an optical element capable of switching a display between a 2D display and a 3D display. However, a switching speed of switching from the 3D display to the 2D display often becomes an issue. As a technique to increase the switching speed, there is known a technique of establishing an intermediate voltage state when switching the display from the 3D display to the 2D display in a multielectrode structure in which electrodes formed on an upper substrate and electrodes formed on a lower substrate are arranged to face each other. In switching the display from the 3D display to the 2D display in this technique, a voltage state is set from a first voltage state to the intermediate voltage state. In the first voltage state, a voltage applied to each electrode is controlled in such a way that a refractive index distribution is achieved which acts as a lens array in which a lens is periodically arranged. In the intermediate voltage state, a voltage V1 applied to electrodes corresponding to the ends of the lens formed in the first voltage state and 0 V voltage are alternately applied to each electrode. Thereafter, a voltage state is set to a second voltage state in which a voltage applied to each electrode is controlled in such a way that a refractive index distribution with a fixed refractive index is achieved.
In the aforementioned related art, however, the voltage applied to first-type electrodes corresponding to the ends of the lens is the maximum among voltages applied to the electrodes in the first voltage state, thereby likely causing misorientation at the ends of the lens. Moreover, the voltage applied to the first-type electrodes in the intermediate voltage state is set to the same value (V1) as the voltage applied to the first-type electrodes in the first voltage state, whereby it has been difficult to sufficiently increase the switching speed when switching from the refractive index distribution corresponding to the first voltage state to the refractive index distribution corresponding to the second voltage state.

Liquid crystal lens device, image display apparatus, drive device, and drive method