An apparatus, method, and pack of tabless, self-opening bags with flapless aperture cutouts pack. In the apparatus and method, cylindrical dies connected to a vacuum source are used to cut out plugs of holes, and the plugs are evacuated to a receptacle. Compression bars, or a relatively shallow bevel cut on the cylindrical die, are used to form area of frangible bonding in the central tab portion of the bag pack. The pack of tabless, self-opening bags with flapless aperture cutouts has no flap portions which might inadvertently detach from bag pack.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to plastic bags, and more particularly to an apparatus and method for forming flapless aperture cutouts in a pack of plastic bags and the pack of bags made by the apparatus and method.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Many groceries stores and other merchants use a style of plastic bag to bag groceries and other merchandise commonly referred to as T-shirt bags. T-shirt bags are pleated bags which are closed, by heat sealing, at a bottom edge, and have a pair of integral loop handles extending upwardly from side edges to define an open mouth of the bag therebetween. T-shirt bags are normally provided in packs of aligned bags and these packs of bags are typically used with bagging racks.
T-shirt bags are manufactured by the following process. A continuous tube of high density polyethylene ("HDPE") plastic, or other plastic materials having the desired color, thickness, and diameter (such as low or linear low density polyethylene ("LDPE" or "LLDPE") or any of the polyolefins) is formed on a extruding machine. The continuous plastic tube is then passed over rollers to roll the continuous plastic tube onto a spool. If the bags to be formed from the continuous tube of HDPE are to be printed on one or both sides, the newly formed continuous plastic tube will be subjected to corona surface treatment, wherein the side or sides of the continuous flattened tube of plastic to be later printed will be passed by high voltage corona discharge electrodes. Corona surface treatment affects electrical and chemical changes on the plastic's outer surface to prepare that surface of the bag for printing. Regardless of whether the bags will be printed on one or both sides, it is a common practice in the plastic bag manufacturing industry to corona surface treat the entire outer surface of the rolls of continuous plastic tubing so that printing can be done on either one or both either sides, as later may be required. Corona surface treatment also helps contribute to frangible bonding between adjacent surfaces of corona treated plastic sheet material when these surfaces are compressed together.
After being corona surface treated (if the bags might be printed), the roll of continuous plastic tube is pleated on a pleated machine. Following this, a bagging machine heat seams and cuts sections of the pleated tube at top and bottom edges to form closed and flattened pleated bags of a desired length and width, with the pleated sides being at both sides of the flattened pleated bags. These sections are often referred to as "pillowcases." Further downstream of the heat seaming and cutting step, the pillowcases are stacked in aligned stacks. Thereafter, hydraulic die cutting or other cutting methods are utilized to cut, compresses, serrate, and remove material at the stacked pillowcases' top portions to form the various cuts, areas of compression, serration, and the like, to form these features in the finished bags of the bag pack. For example, cutting removes material to form the shape of the handles and the outline of the mouth and mouth tab, and forms desired apertures through the handles and mouth tab. Blunt blades, cold or heat posts and pins, and other means can be used to frangibly or permanently hold together portions of the bag. These can be combined with cutting means to compress the bag material together, and to form apertures in the bag pack. The apertures in the handles and the apertures in the mouth tab are provided for use in supporting the pack of self-opening bags on hooks positioned on a bagging rack. Each loop handle will comprise four layers of plastic material since they are cut out from the pleated side portions of the bag. It is this portion of the method that is the focus of Applicants' invention.
The apertures in handles and central mouth tab can be relatively straight, curved, horseshoe shaped, hooked, J-shaped, or have other shapes. When a cut line consist of a shape other than a substantially straight line, and no two points of a cut line intersect, a flap is formed. These flaps can be variously used to allow a portion of a bag pack, for example such as a handle or mouth tab, to be mounted on a suspension arm or hook of a bagging rack. The stack of flaps will be pushed away to accept the suspension arm or hook, and can provide additional friction to retain a portion of the bag pack in place without sliding around. There are problems associated with having flaps, however. When a single bag is removed from the stack of bags on a bagging rack these flaps can flop around and appear unsightly. Another problem is that if these flaps are pulled or get caught on something, the cut line defining the flap can migrate from the terminal ends of the cut line, causing unintended tearing of the bag, and also possible separation of the flap from the bag. Straight or relatively straight cuts do not have the problem of flaps becoming separated, but straight cuts tend to propagate and can cause unintentional tearing. For this reason, sometimes tear guards are provided at or adjacent the terminal end of cut lines, which can consist of curved cut line. The alternative to providing either a slit bag design problem or forming openings in a stack of bags during the manufacturing relatively straight cut line or flaps, is to eliminate flaps entirely by forming cutout. These cutouts can be circular or have some other shape. However, forming cutouts though stacks of thin film material has been difficult from a manufacturing standpoint since these small cutout tend to become scattered and fly around the manufacturing facility and are difficult to collect.
Turning again to bag styles, there are at two major styles of central tab arrangements. In a one style, which will be termed a "tabbed" style, the central suspension tab provided above the mouth region of the bag between the arms has an aperture formed therethrough. This aperture is used to support the center of the bag pack on a hook of a bagging rack. A slit, tearing line, or perforation, or some combination of these, is located below the suspension tab. In front-side free bag styles, the slit extends entirely across the front wall of the bag, but some material remains on the rear wall of material to hold the tab to the bag and therefore support the bag pack. In the more typical tabbed style, the front side of the bag is not cut all the way through. In tabbed bag packs, the stack of suspension tabs are generally fixed together, such as with a heat weld, to form a "book". When a single bag is pulled forward from the bagging rack to remove it from the stack of bags retained there, the portion of the bag below the slit or tearing line will tear through, separated the bag mouth from the book, but leaving the book on the bagging rack. As bags are used, the remaining books must be periodically removed and discarded, which is inconvenient.
In a second major style of central mouth tabs, termed a "tabless" style, no book portion remains on the bagging rack after use. In this style, the suspension aperture is also designed to tear through, to thereby free the mouth portion of a bag from the stack of bags on the rack. Typically, with the tabless style of bag, a portion of the bag remains attached to the mouth portion of the bag, be it a flap portion or some other extension portion. This flap or extension portion can pose a tear through problem, can become separated from the bag pack, and can sometimes look unsightly. There is accordingly an advantage in providing a cutout or cutouts through the central tab, and/or through the handles, for that matter, which leave no flaps, in lieu of utilized flapped apertures.
In order to prepare a T-shirt bag for loading with merchandise, only the first layer of the bag material of the top bag, and no other layers must be pulled forward, thereby opening just the top bag. Since the HDPE and other typical bag materials are very thin, typically between 1 to 0.5 mil thick (0.001 and 0.0005 inches), it is sometimes difficult for the checkout clerk or box person to grasp just the top layer of bag material. One can often see a sponge, or source of tacky material, such as a glue stick, retained at the top of bagging racks, with which the checkout clerk or box person can dampen his or her fingers to aid in grasping just the top layer of material of the bag. However, this takes additional time and effort in the bagging process. This cycle will have to be repeated with each successive bag to be loaded.
Several approaches have been taken to overcome the lack of a self-opening feature problem. U.S. Pat. No. RE 33,264 to Baxley et al. discloses a pack of T-shirt bags wherein spots of adhesive are placed between the rear wall of the forwardly lying bags and the front wall of the rearwardly lying bags. The use of these spots of adhesive is intended to provide for self-opening of the bags as each successive bag is pulled off the pack of bags on the bagging rack. However, the use of spots of adhesive is undesirable from a cost and reliability standpoint because an extra manufacturing step of depositing spots of adhesive on the growing stack of pillowcases as each subsequent pillowcases is stacked thereon is required. Handle flaps are formed in the bag handles which are heat sealed together in the pack of bags. These handle flaps will preferably sever from the pack of bags when the bag pack is loaded on the rack, leaving holes. In the event the flaps do not sever from the handles upon loading the pack on the rack, severing of the removed bags handle flaps will take place as each bag is removed from the bag pack on the rack.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,074,674 to Kuklies et al. discloses a packs of bags similar to that of Baxley, et al. wherein the front wall of each bag is either relieved or removed in the region of the central tab so as not to be retained by the tab receiving hook on the bagging rack, purportedly allowing the front wall of the bag to be grasped more easily to open the bag. However, this style also requires an extra, and difficult manufacturing step of removing or relieving a portion of only the front wall of each bag. The pack of bags of Kuklies et al. does not provide for self-opening of the bags.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,877,473 to Snowden et al. discloses a pack of bags wherein the tearing line has a central arched portion which forms a sub tab. This sub tab can be easily grasped and pulled forward to pull the front wall of each bag to open that particular bag. However, each subsequent bag in the pack of bags must be opened in the same manner, and thus the desired self-opening feature is absent.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,087,234 to Prader et al. discloses a method of forming a pack of easy-open T-shirt bags, wherein the bags have been corona discharge treated in the handle and bag mouth regions and such that the pressure and cutting action applied during the formation of the pack of bags will cause adjacent facing cut edges to releasably act here together until a moderate force separates them. During the step of removing a topmost bag from a pack of bags on the rack, at least a portion of the cut edge of the mouth and handle region of the front wall of the next bag will follow the bag being removed for a short distance before separating. This opens the next bag, readying it ready for loading. Prader et al. states that the pressure necessary to effect the adhesion of the treated surface is supplied during the cutting step and that any pressure involved in the formation of the handles in the bag mouth and is satisfactory for adhesion. Accordingly, by Prader et al, one would expect light frangible bonding to be formed all along the cut edges of the bag packs handle, handle apertures and central mouth tab. In contrast, Applicant has found that the frangible bonding inherently formed when corona discharge treated plastic bag packs are cut does not result in a reliable self-opening feature.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,183,158 to Boyd et al. discloses a bag pack which includes a self-opening feature, arising out plural, i.e. upper and lower, releasable means between adjacent bags. The releasable means arises out of forming compression areas through the bag stack. Boyd et al. discloses three types of suitable releasable means as including the use of low-tack pressure sensitive adhesive, the use of corona discharge treatment in combination with the application of pressure, and the application of considerable pressure through layers of adjacent bags. In Boyd, the preferred embodiment is to utilize considerable pressure through the layers of the bag pack in order to achieve a reasonable adhesion between the rear portion and front portion of each bag.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,188,235 to Pierce, et al. discloses a bag pack system with a central mounting tab on the mouth of the multiple stacked bags with a vertical perforation extending between a generally horizontal central mounting aperture and the bag mouth, to permit a bag to be removed without leaving the "book" portion of the central mounting tab on the bagging rack. In the Pierce, et al. bag pack cold pin holes are made through the handles above the handle apertures and through the central mounting tab on either side of the vertical perforation. The cold pin holes near the vertical perforation are said to provide a self-opening feature for the bags. However, in Applicant's experience, cold pin holes do not provide adequate frangible bonding necessary for a reliable self-opening feature.
Both U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,335,788 and 5,562,580 to Beasley et al. disclose self-opening polyethylene bag stacks, (composed of at least 50% by weight of high density polyethylene) and process for forming the packs, which rely on the stack of bags being formed of corona treated polyethylene film which has been compressed under high pressure in localized, upper regions under the bag mouth, and preferably spaced below the cut lines forming the bag mouth, to thus form an area of frangible bonding which is available to create the self-opening feature. The Beasley et al bags are tabbed bags, and leave a book of tabs on the bagging rack as each bag is sequentially removed from the bagging rack. U.S. Pat. No. 5,562,580 to Beasley et al. was filed as a divisional of U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,335,788 to Beasley et al., with the subject matter of U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,335,788 being directed to self-opening bag pack and with the subject matter of U.S. Pat. No. 5,562,580 being directed to a process for manufacturing a self-opening bag pack. The Beasley et al. patents stress that the conditions of heat and pressure that readily cause blocking in corona treated low density polyethylene (LDPE) and linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE) are insufficient for high density polyethylene (HDPE). The Beasley et al. patents further state that even when the cutting blades are dulled in order to increase the degree of pressure exerted on the bags during the cutting process, self-adhesion of adjacent bags for self-opening is not achieved with HDPE. In the divisional patent, the patent states, in its claim 1, that "said mouth openings defining an upper end of said bag stack". The inventors herein believe that given the narrow language of the specification, and the clear nature of the drawings, this language cannot be interpreted to broaden the meaning of "mouth" to encompass the central tab.
There are numerous bag designs which incorporate holes at top regions of the bag packs to suspend the bag on a rack. U.S. Pat. No. 2,790,591 to Rosen discloses a handleless bag having a single hole located at its top edge for suspension on a single arm of a rack, for filing with commodities.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,352,411 to Schwarzkopt discloses a bag pack with tear off portion(s) at its upper, which tear off portions can have hole, or holes formed therethrough. The tear off portions remain on the rack as each individual bag is removed from the rack.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,380,579 to Pinto discloses a handleless bag pack with a pair of holes formed in a top edge, with the pack riveted together.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,747,298 to Lieberman and U.S. Pat. No. 4,106,733 to Walitalo disclose bag dispensing units for use with handleless bags with holes adjacent a top edge of the bag packs. The holes are for use in suspending the bags on the bagging racks' arms.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,480,750 to Darcy discloses a style of handles bags wherein detachable mounting tabs are located on inside edges of the bag handles in the packs. Mounting apertures are formed in the mounting tabs, and are said to be preferably formed by a heated pin to weld the tabs together, so that as each bag is removed from the bag pack, they can be torn free from the stack of heat welded together mounting tabs which remain on the rack. The Darcy rack does not disclose a self-opening feature.
Lastly, U.S. Pat. No. 4,785,938 to Benoit, Jr. et al., discloses a bag pack with handles, where holes are formed in each handle for suspension of the handles on a rack. The Benoit, Jr. et al. bag packs employ a front-side-free bag design where the front tab is either completely from the front wall of the bag, or comparatively weakly connected thereto, while the rear tab is connected to the rear wall through a localized line of film weakening which is comparatively stronger than the front tab-front wall connection. The disclosed method of manufacturing the bag require forming individual bags first, processing the individual bags to form the front-side-free feature, and then stacking the bags and heat sealing them together.
Despite the attempts to overcome the problems associated with these presently available bags, there remains a need for an apparatus and method to manufacture, and the improved pack of T-shirt bag pack formed thereby, which (1) can be easily loaded on a bagging rack, (2) does not leave a book of plastic tabs on the bagging rack, (3) does not have flap formed in its suspension apertures, and (4) includes a reliable self-opening feature.

Apparatus and method for forming aperture cutouts for a pack of self-opening plastic bags


A thickening system containing an amorphous silica and xanthan gum in a silica/xanthan gum weight ratio from 160:1 to 2:1, preferably 100:1 to 5:1, most preferably 30:1 to 6.5:1 can be used to stabilise and thicken cosmetic compositions containing alpha-hydroxy carboxylic acids.

Aqueous cosmetic compositions often require thickeners to give them an aesthetically pleasing viscosity. Also for a cosmetic to be effective, it is desirable to be substantive to the skin. Thickeners provide this substantivity. Furthermore, even though the products may be effective to the consumer, ineffectiveness can be indicated if the system has watery consistency i.e. low viscosity. Products of watery consistency are also aesthetically displeasing to consumers with expectations of rich and creamy products.
Formulators of cosmetic compositions are increasingly recognising the numerous benefits that alpha-hydroxy acids have to offer. The reported benefits attainable from the use of alpha-hydroxy acids include a tighter skin-feel and emollient action, giving the skin a softer and smoother aspect and also a healthier and more even-looking complexion with a useful and visible reduction of facial lines.
Some cosmetic formulations are extremely difficult to thicken and even when initially thickened may have storage stability problems. Low pH systems such as cosmetic formulations containing alpha-hydroxy acids (AHA in the rest of the description) are particularly sensitive and difficult.
Currently, thickeners used for low pH systems are limited to Magnesium Aluminium Silicate (obtainable from R. T. Vanderbilt Company Inc. under the trade name Veegum), Xanthan gum (obtainable from Kelco International under the trade name Keltrol 1000), Hydroxyethylcellulose (obtainable from Aqualon BV under the trade name Natrosol 25OHHR) and Polyacrylamide.
Cosmetic compositions containing AHAs and above mentioned thickeners are for example disclosed in W095/03811 or W094/27574. These materials deliver a degree of rheological control in low pH formulations, but are not ideal. The problems with these materials include:
(i) Poor viscosity control of magnesium aluminium silicate at low pH. PA1 (ii) A stringy/tacky characteristic of the cellulose. PA1 (iii) A definite "gummy" feel on the skin during rub out of the xanthan and cellulose. PA1 (iv) A degree of unpredictability relating to the procedure for addition of the polyacrylamide to the formulation. PA1 i) from about 0.01 to 20% by weight, preferably 0.1 to 10%, most preferably 3 to 8%, of C.sub.1 -C.sub.25 alpha-hydroxy carboxylic acids and their salts and mixtures thereof; PA1 ii) from about 0.05 to 0.5% by weight, preferably 0.1 to 0.3% of xanthan gum; PA1 iii) from about 0.5 to 8% by weight, preferably 1 to 5%, most preferably 2 to 4%, of an amorphous silica; PA1 v) a cosmetically acceptable carrier. PA1 i) from about 0.01 to 20% by weight, preferably 0.1 to 10%, most preferably 3 to 8.0%, of C.sub.1 -C.sub.25 alpha-hydroxy carboxylic acids and their salts and mixtures thereof, PA1 ii) a cosmetically acceptable carrier, PA1 iii) less than 0.5% by weight, preferably less than 0.1% by weight, of magnesium aluminium silicate, this cosmetic composition having a viscosity range from about 2,000 Pa s.sup.- to 80,000 Pa s.sup.-1, preferably 4,000 Pa s.sup.-1 to 45,000 Pa s.sup.-1, most preferably 8,000 Pa s.sup.-1 to 30,000 Pa s.sup.-1.
There is therefore a need for a thickener which is easily dispersed in the water phase of the formulation; is unaffected by high processing temperatures (75.degree.-800.degree. C.); is unaffected by acidic pH (3 to 5) and more importantly yields a thixotropic formulation. In addition, the final cosmetic formulation must deliver a "rich and creamy" skin-feel, which is easily absorbed into the stratum corneum and leaves little or no after-feel.
It is therefore a goal of the present invention to develop a thickening system which is effective at low pH and also stabilises oil and water emulsions to prevent syneresis. It is also a goal of the present invention to develop cosmetic compositions, which are stable at high temperatures.
It is a further goal of the present invention to develop a cosmetic composition containing AHA which delivers a "rich and creamy" skin-feel, is easily absorbed into the stratum corneum and leaves little or no after-feel.
It has now been found that a system comprising an amorphous silica and xanthan gum can be particularly effective.
Definitions, Tests and Procedures
i. Nitrogen surface area--pore volume
Nitrogen surface area is determined by standard nitrogen adsorption methods of Brunauer, Emmett and Teller (BET) using a multi point method with an ASAP 2400 apparatus supplied by Micromeritics of the U.S.A.. The samples are outgassed under vacuum at 270.degree. C. for at least one hour before measurement. Surface area is calculated from the volume of nitrogen gas adsorbed at p/po 0.98. This apparatus also provides the pore size distribution from which it is possible to get the pore size (D.sub.10) for which 10% of the pores are below this pore size. In the same manner, it is possible to get the pore size for which 50% (D.sub.50) and 90% (D.sub.90) of the pores are below this pore size. Additionally the pore volume (cm.sup.3 /g) for a given range of pore size can be obtained from the desorption curve. It is therefore possible to obtain the percentage of the pore volume contained in pores having a diameter between 10 and 30 nanometers.
ii. Rheology Analysis
Creams and lotions are generally viscoelastic materials possessing a yield point and shear thinning behaviour. The yield value of a material is defined as the stress required to shear or deform the material. Hence, a dynamic stress rheometer was used to determine the linear viscoelastic region, which is a measure of the inherent strength of the structure of the emulsion.
The Theological properties were measured using a Dynamic Stress Rheometer supplied by Rheometrics Inc. Epsom, England. Parallel plates were used having a diameter of 40 mm and a gap set at 0.542 mm with an auto-calibrated tool inertia value of 367.5 g/cm.sup.2. A dynamic stress sweep test was used to determine the dynamic viscoelastic properties of the AHA compositions at 25.degree. C. The dynamic stress sweep test increased linearly from 0 to 500 Pa at a frequency of 0.1 rad s.sup.-1 and increments of 50. A 60 second delay was employed prior to test to ensure consistency of sample application.
A 3D graph of storage or elastic modulus (G'), loss or viscous modulus (G") and viscosity was plotted against shear stress, for all compositions to determine the products' flow characteristics.
The shear stress contribution by gravity is approximately 20 Pa (Bell, 1988), therefore products with yield points below this will flow readily by themselves and hence appear runny. A lotion or cream with a yield value above 20 Pa will flow more slowly, giving the impression of `body`. However a product which retains its elasticity (G') at high stresses can be perceived as stringy/too viscous.
iii. Weight mean particle size
The weight mean particle size is determined with the aid of a Malvern Mastersizer using 45 mm path length lens. This instrument, made by Malvern Instruments, Worcestershire uses the principle of Mie scattering, utilising a low power He/Ne laser. Before measurement the sample was dispersed ultrasonically in water for a period of 7 minutes to form an aqueous suspension. The Malvern Mastersizer measures the weight particle size distribution of the silica. The weight mean particle size (d.sub.50), the 10 percentile (d.sub.10) and the 90 percentile (d.sub.90) are easily obtained from the data generated by the instrument.
iv. CTAB surface area
This method determines the specific surface area of samples, exclusive of area contained in micropores too small to admit hexadecyltrimethyl ammonium bromide (cetyltrimethyl ammonium bromide, commonly referred to as CTAB) molecules.
The isotherm for adsorption of an aqueous solution of CTAB at a charged surface has a long horizontal plateau corresponding to a bilayer coverage of the substrate surface. Rapid equilibration is achieved by using mechanical agitation. Titration with sodium dodecyl sulphate solution is used to determine the unadsorbed CTAB after removal of the dispersed silica by centrifugation.
Into a 50 cm.sup.3 screw-cap jar weight between 0.10 and 0.25 g of silica, depending upon surface area to be determined. For high surface areas, which lead to low CTAB titrations, the lower weight is employed. Add 25 cm.sup.3 of 0.01 mol.dm.sup.-3 CTAB solution and bring the pH of the mixture to 9.0 with 0.1 mol.dm.sup.-3 NaOH solution. Stopper the jar and agitate for 1 hour in a water bath set at 25.degree. C. Settle the suspension centrifugally and transfer 5 cm.sup.3 of the supernatant into a 50 cm.sup.3 measuring cylinder. Add 10 cm.sup.3 of deionised water, 15 cm.sup.3 of chloroform, 10 cm.sup.3 of mixed indicator solution (dimidium bromide/disulphine blue obtainable from BDH Ltd, Poole, Dorset, England) and titrate with 0.005 mol.dm.sup.-3 sodium dodecyl sulphate solution, previously calibrated by a standard CTAB solution. The titration end point is that point at which the chloroform layer becomes pale-pink. Record the volume of sodium dodecyl sulphate to reach the end point as V.sub.2 cm.sup.3. Conduct a blank titration in a similar manner on 5 cm.sup.3 of the stock CTAB solution and record the volume of sodium dodecyl sulphate as V.sub.1 cm.sup.3.
Calculate the CTAB surface per gram of silica by the following equation in which the calculation is based on a molecular cross section of the bromide of 35 .ANG..sup.2 : ##EQU1## Where W=Weight of silica sample (in grams) 0.5 accounts for bi-layer formation.


Disclosed are methods for acquiring a forward channel in a point-to-multipoint CDMA system. One method includes the steps of (a) despreading a received CDMA signal with a first pn code that is known to be present in the received CDMA signal and obtaining a first measure of received signal level; (b) despreading the received CDMA signal with a second pn code that is known not to be present in the received CDMA signal and obtaining a second measure of received signal level; and (c) synchronizing to a desired channel using a difference between the first and second signal levels. In this method the first step of despreading despreads a continuously transmitted side-channel, and the step of synchronizing synchronizes to the side-channel. Also, the step of obtaining a first measure of received signal level obtains a correlation peak, and the step of obtaining a second measure of received signal level obtains a correlation null. Preferably, the steps of despreading and obtaining are accomplished iteratively over a range of n first pn code phase states and over a range of n second pn code phase states.

In a CDMA communications system a plurality of user communication signals can be transmitted within, i.e., share, a same portion of the frequency spectrum. This is accomplished by providing a plurality of different pseudonoise (pn) binary code sequences (e.g., one for each user) that modulate a carrier, thereby "spreading" the spectrum of the resulting waveform. In a given receiver all of the user signals are received, and one is selected by applying an assigned one of the pn binary code sequences to a correlator to extract only the signal energy intended for the receiver, thereby "despreading" the received CDMA transmission. All other (uncorrelated) user transmissions appear as noise.
One type of CDMA communication system is specified by a document referred to as EIA/TIA/IS-95. The system as specified uses a plurality of base stations that establish and maintain bidirectional direct-sequence (DS) CDMA links with a plurality of mobile stations (e.g., cellular telephones). One feature of the IS-95 system is the presence of a pilot channel that is transmitted by each base station.
The pilot channel is an unmodulated, direct-sequence spread spectrum signal that is transmitted continuously by each CDMA base station. The pilot channel allows a mobile station to acquire the timing of the Forward CDMA channel (i.e., from the base station to the mobile station), provides a phase reference for coherent demodulation, and provides a reference for signal strength comparisons between base stations for determining when to handoff. The pilot pn sequence is defined as a pair of modified maximal length PN sequences with period 2.sup.15 that are used to spread the Forward CDMA channel and the Reverse CDMA channel. Different base stations are identified by different pilot PN sequence offsets. A pilot pn sequence offset index is defined to be in units of 64 pn chips, relative to a zero offset pilot pn sequence. A pn chip is defined as one bit in the pn sequence. The pilot strength is defined as the ratio of received pilot energy to overall received energy.
Walsh functions are a class of 2.sup.N time orthogonal binary functions that are used to establish orthogonality between the different pn binary code sequences used by the pilot and user channels.
The use of the pilot channels, while providing certain advantages in a CDMA system intended for use with mobile stations, may present disadvantages as well, particularly in systems where the user transceivers are fixed as opposed to mobile. For example, the pilot channels consume some amount of the available pn code sequences and signal energy, all of which could be otherwise allocated to the users of the system.
Also, in many detection approaches synchronization to the pn code timing must be achieved before carrier phase-lock can occur. In this case a non-coherent detection algorithm must be employed. Generally, non-coherent detectors rely on energy detection within a fixed bandwidth, as a range of code timing cells are searched. Upon locating the correct code timing, the detector energy level rises above a predetermined threshold level. A bit-sync loop then takes over to obtain the finer-resolution bit timing.
However, standard acquisition approaches are known to fail when the number of users becomes large. This is due to the fact that the noise power becomes comparable to the signal power when the user of a synchronous type of CDMA system is not synchronized. As a result, it becomes very difficult for the user's receiver to distinguish the correct pn timing phase from the incorrect phases resulting from the increased noise.
As can be appreciated, the acquisition technique is an important aspect of the receiver, in that its operation impacts the overall speed at which synchronization to the forward link occurs. If the time required to synchronize the user's receiver becomes excessive, the delay may be considered as objectional by the user.

Multi-user acquisition procedure for point-to-multipoint synchronous CDMA systems


A control circuit is provided that enables a register to provide a synchronous initialization capability as well as an asynchronous capability despite the register having no asynchronous input.

The die area demands for registers depends upon their complexity. If the register is relatively simple, it may be constructed with fewer transistors and thus demands less die space. On the other hand, a user may require greater functionality from a register such as a clock enable (CE), a synchronous set/reset, and an asynchronous set/reset capability. It is conventional to provide such a rich set of functionality to a register using a relatively large number of transistors. But the resulting design then suffers from loss of density. In addition, a conventional register implements a clock enable function by recycling its registered output signal as an input signal that is then registered responsive to the clock. The register is thus cycling according to the clock even when the clock enable signal is de-asserted, which wastes power.
Accordingly, there is a need in the art for more robust register architectures that provides a full set of controls with increased density and low power consumption.
Embodiments of the present disclosure and their advantages are best understood by referring to the detailed description that follows. It should be appreciated that like reference numerals are used to identify like elements illustrated in one or more of the figures.

Shared logic for multiple registers with asynchronous initialization


The present invention relates to a fingerprints detection apparatus by a capacitance detection method. The fingerprints detection apparatus of the present invention includes a sensor portion in which an insulating protection film is formed so as to cover detection electrodes arranged like an array, and the detection electrodes and the wiring beneath the detection electrodes are formed of a refractory metal or a compound of the refractory metal. This structure heightens the Vickers hardness of the detection electrodes and the wiring. This makes it possible to provide a highly reliable fingerprints detection apparatus in which a tolerance to cracks of the insulating protection film in the sensor portion is improved.

A fingerprints detection apparatus by a capacitance detection method as shown in FIG. 7 is known (see, for example, Gazette of U.S. Pat. No. 5,325,442). The fingerprints detection apparatus includes a sensor portion, what is called a fingerprints sensor chip 2 in which a plurality of detection electrodes 4 are arranged like an array on the surface of a semiconductor substrate 3 through an insulation film 5, and an insulating protection film (surface protection film) 6 is formed so as to cover those detection electrodes 4. With this fingerprints detection apparatus, when a finger 1 is put on the protection film 6 of the fingerprints sensor chip 2, a capacitance Cs [Cs1, Cs2] formed between the detection electrodes 4 and the surface of the finger 1 depending on unevenness of a fingerprints is detected, whereby a so-called fingerprints pattern is lifted.
The capacitance Cs formed between the detection electrodes 4 and the surface of finger 1 becomes larger in its value at a protuberance of the fingerprints because of a shorter distance between the protuberance and detection electrodes 4, whereas it becomes smaller in its value at a recess of the fingerprints because of a longer distance between the recess and detection electrodes 4. Therefore, by detecting the capacitance Cs, the fingerprints detection apparatus can lift the fingerprints pattern 7.
The surface of the fingerprints sensor chip 2 described above is exposed because of its structure in which the surface of the chip is touched by a finger. Accordingly, a ball-point pen, a coin and the like may bump against the chip surface. For this reason, the protection film 6 needs to have a sufficient mechanical strength. Besides, the protection film 6 is required to have a high dielectric constant and also have a stopping performance against mobile ions for preventing the invasion of those ions. An example of the mobile ions is Na ions contained in sweat on the surface of finger.
At present, the protection film of silicon nitride, polyimide and the like are generally used in the semiconductor process. However, when these films are used for the protection film 6 of the fingerprints sensor chip 2 described above, a problem is raised that a crack will occur by, for example, an act of pricking the surface of the film with a pen point. If a crack occurs in the protection film 6, the mobile ions can not be prevented from invading, so that characteristics of a semiconductor device connected to each detection electrode 4, namely, a switching device (e.g. MOS transistor) formed on the semiconductor substrate 3 will change.
It is due to an insufficient mechanical strength of the protection film 6 itself that a crack occurs in the protection film 6, but a main cause thereof is insufficient Vickers hardness of the detection electrodes 4.
At present, wiring materials of aluminum or copper are generally used in the semiconductor process, but they are small in the Vickers hardness as compared with the protection film of silicon nitride, etc. If aluminum or copper is used in the detection electrodes, when an external stress F is applied thereto as shown in FIG. 5, then the detection electrodes 4 will bend first. Depending on the bending amount of the detection electrodes 4, the protection film 6 also bends and cracks 8 will occur in the protection film 6, further in the insulation film 5 thereunder.
In other words, a tolerance to crack of the protection film 6 depends on the Vickers hardness of detection electrodes 4 rather than on the mechanical strength of protection film 6 itself, and thus the tolerance goes smaller than the ability of protection film 6. This raises another problem.
The same is applicable to the wiring 9 beneath the detection electrodes 4. As is shown in FIG. 6, even if materials of high Vickers hardness is employed in the detection electrodes 4, when the Vickers hardness of wiring 9 is small, the wiring 9 will bend first if an external force F is applied. Depending on the bending amount of wiring 9, the detection electrodes 4 and also the protection film 6 will bend, thereby causing cracks 8 to be occurred in the protection film 6 and insulation film 5.


Provided are a pixel driving circuit, a display panel and a driving method, the pixel driving circuit includes a first initialization device, a first threshold compensation device, a first data writing device, a first light emitting control device and a light emitting adjustment device. The first initialization device includes a first initialization signal terminal, a first initialization control terminal and a first scanning signal terminal, and is electrically connected to a first node and a second node. The first threshold compensation device includes a first power signal terminal, and is electrically connected to the first scanning signal terminal, the first node and a third node. The first data writing device includes a first data signal terminal, a second scanning signal terminal and a light emitting duration control signal terminal, and is electrically connected to the second node.

A current-driven display panel, such as an organic light emitting diode (OLED) display panel and a light emitting diode (LED) display panel, has many advantages such as an all solid state, a wide viewing angle, a fast response, and the like and has a great application prospect in the display field.
Each pixel unit of the current-driven display panel includes pixel driving circuits and light emitting elements, the light emitting elements are current-driven devices, and the pixel driving circuits provide a driving current for each light emitting element, that is, the pixel driving circuits control light emitting brightness of the light emitting element by controlling the driving current. However, when light emitting elements of a same color are driven, due to different driving currents, which may cause differences in light emitting chromaticity of different light emitting elements, affecting display effects of the display panel. In one embodiment, according to requirements on image display, light emitting brightness of a red light emitting element A is LA, light emitting brightness of a red light emitting element B is LB, and LA is not equal to LB. If different driving currents are provided for the red light emitting element A and the red light emitting element B, which will cause differences in light emitting chromaticity between the red light emitting element A and the red light emitting element B.

Pixel driving circuit, display panel and driving method

XIAMEN TIANMA MICRO-ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.


The in-loop filtering method performed by a video decoding apparatus includes: classifying reconstructed samples according to an absolute classification standard or relative classification standard; acquiring offset data on the basis of results of classifying the reconstructed samples; adding an offset value to the reconstructed samples by referencing the acquired offset data; and outputting the offset value-added reconstructed samples. Accordingly, errors in the reconstructed image can be corrected.

The organizations called ISO/ISE MPEG (Moving Picture Experts Group) and ITU-T VCEG (Video Coding Experts Group) have organized the Joint Collaborative Team on Video Coding (JCT-VC), and JCT-VC created video coding standard technology that is ISO/IEC MPEG-H HEVC (High Efficiency Video Coding)/ITU-T H.265. In addition, in order to satisfy the trend where high-definition videos have become popular by current rapid developments of information and communication technology, ISO/ISE MPEG and ITU-T VCEG have organized JVET (Joint Video Exploration Team) at the 22nd JCT-VC Geneva Conference, and the JVET is actively working to establish a next-generation image coding technology standard for image coding for UHD (ultra-high definition) images which provides clearer quality than HD (high definition) images.
Meanwhile, in in-loop filtering according to a conventional video coding standard technique (HEVC), sample adaptive offset is provided, and an error between a reconstructed image and an original image is minimized by adding an offset value to a reconstructed pixel (or sample).
The conventional sample adaptive offset determined an adaptive offset according to a reconstructed sample by dividing into an edge offset and band offset. In detail, an offset value is adaptively used according to edges formed on the basis of the reconstructed pixel and a pixel band to which the reconstructed pixel belongs.
However, recently, images include various features, and thus determining an offset value by using the conventional edge offset and band offset is restricted in removing an error in a reconstructed image.

In-loop filtering method according to adaptive pixel classification standard

Industry-University Cooperation Foundation Hanyang University


A developing device includes a magnetic roller, a developing roller, a cover, a first magnetic force generator, a second magnetic force generator with a different polarity, and a movement controller. A roller surface of the magnetic roller holds toner and magnetic carrier, the toner being adhered to the magnetic carrier. The developing roller is arranged to face the magnetic roller. The first magnetic force generator is provided inside the magnetic roller such that a magnetic pole face thereof faces the developing roller. The second magnetic force generator is provided inside the developing roller so as to be able to move between a first position and a second position. A magnetic pole face of the second magnetic force generator faces the magnetic roller at the first position and faces the cover at the second position. The movement controller causes the second magnetic force generator to move between positions.

The present disclosure relates to a developing device for developing an electrostatic latent image on an image-carrying member by causing the image-carrying member to hold toner, and to an image forming apparatus including the developing device.
An image forming apparatus, such as a copier, a printer or the like, that forms an image on a sheet of paper by the electrophotographic method is provided with a developing device. The developing device uses toner to develop an electrostatic latent image formed on an image-carrying member such as a photosensitive drum. As the developing method, there is known a so-called two-component developing method that uses two-component developer composed of magnetic carrier and toner to develop a toner image on the image-carrying member. According to a typical two-component developing method, a developing roller and a magnetic roller are used, wherein the developing roller is arranged at a predetermined distance from the image-carrying member, and a magnet is provided inside the magnetic roller. According to the two-component developing method, only non-magnetic toner is transferred onto the developing roller while the magnetic carrier is left on the magnetic roller, so that a toner thin layer is formed on the developing roller. An AC electric field is then supplied to cause the toner to be flied from the developing roller onto the electrostatic latent image formed on the image-carrying member, so that the toner adheres to the electrostatic latent image.

Developing device and image forming apparatus having the same


A master disc for the manufacture of copies which in turn are used for the manufacture of further copies in the form of optically readable information carriers, the master disc comprising a substrate disc which is provided with an optical recording layer which comprises a nitrocellulose binder as well as a dye which is dissolved or finely dispersed in said binder, the dye being a squarylium dye which is used in a quantity of 1-15 wt. % of the binder.

Such a master disc is known from German Offenlegungsschrift 32.37.236 which corresponds substantially to UK Patent Application GB 2,109,270.
The master disc forms the starting point in the manufacture of optically readable information carriers. It is the first disc in which optically readable information is stored by using laser light which is modulated in conformity with the information to be recorded. In the above master disc, irradiation with modulated laser light causes the recording layer to be heated in the exposed areas as a result of absorption of said light. The dye present in the layer facilitates the conversion of light into heat. The heating-up causes the nitrocellulose binder to decompose, so that a pit (bit) is formed in the exposed area. The discs is rotated during the exposure process, while the modulated laser light beam is moved diametrically across the plate, so that a spiral-shaped track of bits is formed.
The bits can be optically read immediately after they have been formed. Thus has the advantage that the quality and correctness of the inscribed bits can be checked immediately. Such a master disc is termed a direct-effect master disc.
The master disc which has been frequently used in practice up to now comprises a glass substrate to which a layer of a photoresist is applied. After exposure of the photoresist layer to a modulated laser light beam, the photoresist is treated with a developing liquid, so that, dependent on the type of photoresist used, the layer dissolves at the exposed or unexposed areas, thereby forming pits (information bits). This has the disadvantage that the quality of the inscribed information bits can only be checked after the disc has been developed. An advantage of the master disc on the basis of a photoresist is that the pits formed are very well defined and have an excellent signal-noise ratio when they are optically read.
A satisfactory pit definition is very important. It has to be taken into account that a copy is manufactured from a master disc, mostly a metal copy, which is termed father disc. One or more copies are manufactured from said father disc, the mother discs, which in turn is (are) used to manufacture matrices. Said matrices are used in an injection molding or compression molding process to manufacture a large number of optically readable synthetic resin information carriers such as Compact Discs or Laser Discs. This entire replica process is based on the basis product, the master disc, so that said disc has to meet stringent quality requirements. In this connection, it is noted that the dimensions of the bits on a Compact Disc must meet accurate standard requirements. For example, the width dimension of the bits must be approximately 0.5 .mu.m. The distance between the turns of the spiral-shaped track is 1.6 .mu.m. The length dimensions of the bits are representative of the information stored and, on using an EFM-modulation must vary, in discrete steps of 0.3 .mu.m, between 0.9 and 3.6 .mu.m. This means, that it must be possible to provide (inscribe) and optically distinguish bits having length dimensions of 0.9; 1.2; 1.5; 1.8; 2.1; 2.4; 2.7; 3.0; 3.3 and 3.6 .mu.m.
The shape of the pit (bit definition), the signal-noise ratio when the bits are read and, in particular, the so-called block-error rate, which is a measure of the number of master-read errors, are important factors in the manufacture and use of the master.
The above-mentioned direct effect master based on a recording layer of nitrocellulose which comprises a dye, has the disadvantage that the shape of the pit obtained is not optimal and substantially less satisfactorily defined than the shape of the pit in a photoresist master. This means that the signal-noise ratio is unsatisfactory and that the block-error rate is increased. A further problem is that due to the decomposition of nitrocellulose and dye in the exposed areas, the reaction products formed in said process deposit on the surface of the master disc. This deposited residue is termed debris and causes a deterioration of the quality of the master disc.
The latter problem is mentioned as such in the above Offenlegungsschrift 32.37.236. According to said literature reference, better results are obtained when a binder of cellulose nitrate is used which is formed from a cellulose starting material comprising at least 97% of alpha cellulose.


A metal oxide coating and a method of forming the metal oxide coating are disclosed, wherein the metal oxide coating composition includes a metal oxide precursor of the metal oxide, the metal oxide, or a combination thereof, and a solvent of secondary or tertiary C4–C8 alcohol.

Thermal transfer systems have been developed to obtain prints from pictures that have been generated electronically, for example, from a color video camera or digital camera. An electronic picture can be subjected to color separation by color filters. The respective color-separated images can be converted into electrical signals. These signals can be operated on to produce cyan, magenta, and yellow electrical signals. These signals can be transmitted to a thermal printer. To obtain a print, a black, cyan, magenta, or yellow dye-donor layer, for example, can be placed face-to-face with a dye image-receiving layer of a receiver element to form a print assembly which can be inserted between a thermal print head and a platen roller. A thermal print head can be used to apply heat from the back of the dye-donor sheet. The thermal print head can be heated up sequentially in response to the black, cyan, magenta, or yellow signals. The process can be repeated as needed to print all colors. A color hard copy corresponding to the original picture can be obtained. Further details of this process and an apparatus for carrying it out are contained in U.S. Pat. No. 4,621,271 to Brownstein.
To promote adhesion of the dye-donor layer to a substrate, an adhesion layer, called a subbing layer, can be used. The subbing layer can be polymeric, as known in the art, and can include an organic titanate or zirconate. Examples of such subbing layers are set forth in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,929,592 and 4,737,486.
The subbing layer composition used with any specific substrate and dye-donor layer combination can provide various desirable characteristics. For example, the characteristics can include one or more of providing adhesion between the substrate and dye-donor layer, being easily coatable, having good stability over time, and not impacting, or impacting favorably, the resultant colors of the dye-donor patches upon transfer to a receiver.
It is known that organic titanates or zirconates form highly reactive and volatile compositions of low viscosity, making coating difficult. Further, organic titanates or zirconates are known to undergo hydrolysis to form an inorganic polymer of high molecular weight, and an alcohol byproduct. This results in a formulation that is extremely reactive with water, which can be undesirable in a recirculating coating situation. Further, the organic titanate formulations known in the art can readily accept dye, thereby reducing the amount of dye in the dye-donor layer for transfer. See, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,933,315.
One method of addressing the above problems in forming a layer including organic titanates or zirconates is to form a shroud of inert atmosphere in the coating area, and control the rate of reaction within the shrouded area. For example, this process is described in co-pending application U.S. Ser. No. 10/765,555 filed Jan. 27, 2004 by Ruschak et al. This requires additional equipment, process controls, and materials, increasing costs. Further, the process is prone to failure if processing conditions are not strictly controlled, and can lead to other defects in the product.
It would be desirable to provide a subbing layer for dye-donor elements used in thermal dye transfer which would provide superior adhesion between a polymeric support and a dye layer comprising a dye dispersed in a binder. It is further desirable to formulate a subbing layer coating composition including metal oxides precursors, wherein the subbing layer coating composition has controlled reactivity with water, good stability over time, and good coatability, and the dry composition has good stability over time, good adhesion properties, and has little or a favorable impact on dye characteristics of a dye-donor layer. It is also desirable to formulate a coating composition and method for forming a metal oxide coating that does not require additional equipment and reduces waste.


Provided is a semiconductor light emitting device.

Embodiments relate to a semiconductor light emitting device.
A III-V group nitride semiconductor has been variously applied as an optical device comprising blue/green light emitting diode (LED), high-speed switching devices such as a metal semiconductor field effect transistor (MOSFET), a hetero junction field effect transistor (HEMT), etc., and a light source of lighting and a display apparatus, etc. In particular, a light emitting device using the III group nitride semiconductor can implement a high efficiency light emission, having a direct transition type band gap that correspond to the region from visible rays to ultraviolet rays.
The nitride semiconductor has been mainly used as a light emitting diode (LED) or a laser diode (LD), and studies for improving a manufacturing process or optical efficiency have been continued.

Abstract: The semiconductor light emitting device comprises a second electrode layer; a light emitting structure comprising a plurality of compound semiconductor layers under the second electrode layer; at least one dividing groove that divides inner areas of the lower layers of the light emitting structure into a plurality of areas; and a first electrode under the light emitting structure.


An impact rotary tool is provided that is switchable between an impact mode where the tool delivers an impacting torque on an output tool and a drill mode where the driver delivers a smooth output on an output tool. The impact rotary tool includes an impact mechanism and a hammer block that in the impact mode is movable parallel to the axis of the driver shaft and delivers reciprocating blows to rotate an anvil and in the drill mode substantially constantly engages the anvil. The impact mechanism includes a stopper that does not contact the hammer block in the impact mode and engages the hammer block in the drill mode to maintain the substantially constant contact between the hammer block and the anvil.

The present invention relates to power tools, and in particular to an impact rotary tool capable of switching between different modes of operation.
A conventional combination drill may provide more than one mode of operation. For example, a first mode, referred to as a drill mode, provides continuous rotation of the output spindle without torque limitation during drilling operations. A second mode, referred to as an impact mode, provides the output spindle with impacting blows to rotate the output shaft in an impacting fashion.
Despite the convenience of a dual mode tool, it would still be desirable to provide a tool where the output torque can be adjusted to limit the potential for stripping the heads or threads of fasteners due to excess torque from the tool.


Provided is a method for preparing a flame-retardant composite fabric, the method sequentially including: a solution preparation step of mixing water with glycerol while heating them at a temperature of 60 to 80° C., thereby preparing a glycerol solution; a composite preparation step of adding powdery corn starch to the glycerol solution to obtain a glycerol/corn starch mixture, continuously stirring the glycerol/corn starch mixture, allowing the stirred glycerol/corn starch mixture to stand for a predetermined time, and then grinding the glycerol/corn starch mixture, thereby preparing a powdery thermoplastic starch composite; a powder application step of applying the powdery thermoplastic starch composite to a surface of a sheet-like flax fabric; and a hot-press molding step of subjecting the flax fabric with the thermoplastic starch composite applied thereto to compression molding using a hot press, thereby preparing a flame-retardant composite fabric; and also provides a flame-retardant composite fabric prepared thereby.

In general, the importance of personal safety against various fire hazards is gradually increasing as can be seen from deadly accidents attributable to fires, and thus the development of flame-retardant composite fabrics, which are applied to various types of clothing and bedding, is also increasing.
In particular, it is essential that fire protective clothing needs to be made of flame-retardant composite fabrics to reliably protect human bodies from the danger of flames. Such flame-retardant composite fabrics are imparted with flame retardancy mainly by polyester resins containing flame retardants copolymerized therein, as disclosed in various patent documents, including Korean Patent Nos. 10-0867196, 10-1038466, 10-1425999 and 10-1425996.
However, the above-described polyester resins can be imparted with flame retardancy by halogenated and non-halogenated compounds, in which the halogenated compounds have a problem in that they cause air pollution. In addition, the polyester resins also have a problem in that they are not environmentally friendly due to their low biodegradability.
For this reason, in recent years, there has been a growing demand for a flame-retardant composite fabric which is physically and chemically more durable and environmentally friendly.

Flame retardant composite fiber and preparation method therefor

CHANGWON NATIONAL UNIVERSITY INDUSTRY ACADEMY COOPERATION CORPS


The present invention relates to bio-molecule resistant surfaces for use in assays, particularly in assay devices such as arrays and microfluidic devices. The biomolecule resistant surface of the present invention are prepared by coating a substrate with hydrophilic terminated alkoxysilanes having formula (A):

A vast number of new drug targets are now being identified using a combination of genomics, bioinformatics, genetics, and high-throughput biochemistry. Genomics provides information on the genetic composition and the expression of an organism's genes. Bioinformatics uses computer algorithms to recognize and predict expressional patterns in DNA and structural patterns in polypeptides or proteins, defining families of related genes and proteins. Attempts to evaluate gene expression and to decipher biological processes, including those of disease processes and drug effects, have traditionally focused on genomics; however, genomics cannot provide a complete understanding of the cellular processes that are involved in disease processes and provides little or no information as to, for example, the relative abundance of different proteins in a cell, and the types of post-translational modifications present on proteins.
Proteomics offers a more direct and promising look at the biological functions of a cell and involves the qualitative and quantitative measurement of gene activity by detecting and quantitating expression at the protein level, rather than at the DNA or mRNA level. Proteomics also involves the study of non-genome encoded events including the post-translational modification of proteins, interactions between proteins, and the location of proteins within the cell. The structure, function, or levels of activity of the proteins expressed by a cell are also of interest. Generally, proteomics involves the study of part or all of the status of the total protein contained within or secreted by a cell. As many of the most important cellular processes are regulated by the protein status of the cell, not by the status of gene expression, a need exists to characterize proteins in high numbers in a similar manner as is done in genomics.
The number of chemical compounds available for screening as potential drugs is also growing dramatically due to recent advances in combinatorial chemistry, the production of large numbers of organic compounds through rapid parallel and automated synthesis. The compounds produced in the combinatorial libraries being generated will far outnumber those compounds being prepared by traditional, manual means, natural product extracts, or those in the historical compound files of large pharmaceutical companies. Both the rapid increase of new drug targets and the availability of vast libraries of chemical compounds create an enormous demand for new technologies that improve the screening process.
Current technological approaches for obtaining high-throughput screening of drugs and studying polypeptides or proteins function include multiwell-plate based screening systems, cell-based screening systems, microfluidics-based screening systems (in which interconnected fluid pathways and reaction chambers are engineered to provide a "lab on a chip"), and screening of soluble targets against solid-phase probes, e.g., synthesized drug components. Attachment of the target, rather than the probe, to a solid support in the form of an array is particularly promising and can be used to characterize proteins, protein-protein interactions and enzyme catalysis. These high-throughput screening assays are based on a variety of protein separation techniques followed by identification of the separated proteins. The most popular method for protein separation and identification is based on 2D-gel electrophoresis followed by "in-gel" proteolytic digestion and mass spectroscopy. Alternatively, Edman methods may be used for the sequencing.
The high-throughput method generates massive information on protein and peptide target function as well as the influence of synthetic drug on their function and expression level. In a complex biological system it is known that multiplexed proteins and small molecules are used for signal transduction and eventually are necessary for proper function of the system. Detection of numerous target proteins and polypeptide simultaneously is necessary for understanding biological pathways and diseases in such complex function. In order for the polypeptide or protein arrays to be effective, especially on such a large-scale, specific binding between the target and the probe is required, while non-specific binding has to be minimized.
Surface treatment is a key factor for the success of an assay in a high throughput format by reducing non-specific binding. Non-specific binding, or binding of biomolecules, such as polypeptides, proteins, and DNA, to the surface of the array, is a major problem in the design of surface binding assays and can be responsible for generating high background, a decrease in signal to noise ratio, and a decrease in specificity. In microfluidic devices, for example, non-specific binding can additionally lead to peak tailing during separation and a decrease in sensitivity.
Surface treatment with a blocking agent, such as bovine serum albumin (BSA) or milk proteins, can be used to block surface binding sites and reduce background due to non-specific binding. See, e.g., MacBeath & Schreiber, Science, 289: 1760–1763 (2000); Haab et al., Genome Biology, 2(2):1–13 (2001). However, such surface treatment with a blocking agent has various disadvantages. First, it requires a long incubation time for the surface to be covered with the blocking agent and the final surface has to be carefully stored in order to have fair reproducibility. Although blocking agents are relatively effective, there is a resulting decrease in signal to noise ratio due to the unintentional blocking of the probe molecules and the displacement of the blocking agent with the labeled target. In addition, protein-coated surfaces can obscure the probe molecules, particularly small probe molecules, such as aptamers and low-molecular-weight polypeptides and/or proteins. Although deposition of probe molecules on top of the blocking agent, e.g., BSA, is one possible solution, protein-protein interaction may decrease the binding between the target protein and probe molecule. Non-specific binding can also occur even after treatment with a blocking protein if a labeled protein displaces this blocking protein. For surfaces and channels that are part of microfluidic devices, coating with a non-essential blocking protein is also impractical due to the risk to bleeding, which can lead to a decrease in separation/detection efficiency, a shift in baseline, and contamination of the system.
Surface modification with hydrophilic molecules, such as polyethylene glycol (PEG) and dextran, is another approach that has been utilized to decrease non-specific binding of biomolecules, including proteins. See Piehler et al., Biosensors & Bioelectronics 15: 473–481 (2000); J. Milton Harris, ed., Polyethylene Glycol Chemistry, Plenum Press, New York, 1992; Frazier et al., Biomaterials, 21: 957–966 (2000). To yield a high quality surface resistant to non-specific binding, PEG and other hydrophilic molecules must be applied to a substrate with sufficient density and surface coverage, which has been proven to be a problem in prior approaches.
In one approach taken by Piehler, the surface of a substrate is modified by using glycidyloxipropylsilane to obtain an epoxy-moiety, which is then reacted with a reagent, followed by reaction with PEG. The epoxy moiety serves as an adhesive layer. Such a scheme requires tedious steps that increase the cost of the process and decrease its efficiency, particularly in light of a need for an adhesive layer. Additionally, an epoxy-moiety that serves as the adhesive layer is highly reactive, resulting in additional precautions that must be taken during the manufacturing process. Lee and Laibinis (Biomaterials 19: 1669–1675 (1998)) have taken another approach by coating a substrate with oligo (ethylene glycol)-terminated alkyltrichlorosilanes. This approach requires tedious synthetic steps at highly controlled anhydrous conditions because trichlorosilane is highly reactive and toxic. It also requires the protection of terminal functional groups, such as hydroxyl groups, to limit inter- or intra-molecular reaction with the trichlorosilane moiety. For many applications in which hydroxyl groups are needed for probe attachment through covalent linkage, an extra deprotection step is required. These factors make large-scale production difficult and costly.
Accordingly, there exists a need in the art for preparing an effective biomolecule resistant surface that can be prepared easily in a routine fashion with a minimal number of steps.

Biomolecule resistant and their methods of use in assays

Abstract: wherein R is an alkyl group of a size that allows for sufficient hydrolysis and n is 1, 2 or 3; R1 is a hydrophilic moiety; LC is a C1 to a C10 linker chain consisting of a group selected from alkyl, aryl, alkaryl and aralkyl and m is 1, 2, or 3; R2 is a C1 to a C7 alkyl group and x is 0, 1, or 2; and m+n+x is equal to 4.


A new hydraulic device for automobile accidents for quickly freeing individuals trapped in a vehicle as a result of an accident. The inventive device includes a hydraulic member comprised of a plurality of telescoping cylinders. The cylinders include a base cylinder, a top cylinder, and a pair of intermediate cylinders therebetween. The base cylinder has a pair of diametrically opposed handles secured thereto. The base cylinder has a hydraulic line connector extending outwardly thereof for coupling with a hydraulic line. The base cylinder has a level indicator disposed thereon corresponding with the hydraulic line connector for measuring input of hydraulic power therein. The base cylinder has an externally threaded extension extending downwardly form a lower end thereof. The top cylinder has an externally threaded extension extending upwardly from an upper end thereof. A foot is provided that is comprised of a generally rectangular plate. The plate has an internally threaded cylindrical collar secured to an upper surface thereof. The cylindrical collar mates with the extension of the base cylinder. A lifting bracket is adapted for securement to the top cylinder. The lifting bracket has a cylindrical collar secured to a lower surface thereof for mating with the extension of the top cylinder. A locking collar engages the extension of the top cylinder over the cylindrical collar of the lifting bracket.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to rescue devices and more particularly pertains to a new hydraulic device for automobile accidents for quickly freeing individuals trapped in a vehicle as a result of an accident.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The use of rescue devices is known in the prior art. More specifically, rescue devices heretofore devised and utilized are known to consist basically of familiar, expected and obvious structural configurations, notwithstanding the myriad of designs encompassed by the crowded prior art which have been developed for the fulfillment of countless objectives and requirements.
Known prior art rescue devices include U.S. Pat. No. 5,267,462 to Pijanowski; U.S. Pat. No. 5,243,761 to Sullivan et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 4,706,937 to Chung; U.S. Pat. No. 4,598,898 to Hsu et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 4,481,864 to Peruzzi; and U.S. Pat. No. Des. 327,764 to Davis.
While these devices fulfill their respective, particular objectives and requirements, the aforementioned patents do not disclose a new hydraulic device for automobile accidents. The inventive device includes a hydraulic member comprised of a plurality of telescoping cylinders. The cylinders include a base cylinder, a top cylinder, and a pair of intermediate cylinders therebetween. The base cylinder has a pair of diametrically opposed handles secured thereto. The base cylinder has a hydraulic line connector extending outwardly thereof for coupling with a hydraulic line. The base cylinder has a level indicator disposed thereon corresponding with the hydraulic line connector for measuring input of hydraulic power therein. The base cylinder has an externally threaded extension extending downwardly form a lower end thereof. The top cylinder has an externally threaded extension extending upwardly from an upper end thereof. A foot is provided that is comprised of a generally rectangular plate. The plate has an internally threaded cylindrical collar secured to an upper surface thereof. The cylindrical collar mates with the extension of the base cylinder. A lifting bracket is adapted for securement to the top cylinder. The lifting bracket has a cylindrical collar secured to a lower surface thereof for mating with the extension of the top cylinder. A locking collar engages the extension of the top cylinder over the cylindrical collar of the lifting bracket.
In these respects, the hydraulic device for automobile accidents according to the present invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art, and in so doing provides an apparatus primarily developed for the purpose of quickly freeing individuals trapped in a vehicle as a result of an accident.

Hydraulic device for automobile accidents


A photoelectric conversion module is proposed. The photoelectric conversion module comprises two parts, interposer and optical bench. At least one optical element is configured on the interposer. The interposer is configured on a first concave portion of the optical bench. A first lens array is configured under the interposer to align the at least one optical element. A mirror is configured under the first lens array, with an optical micro-reflection surface. A second lens array is configured left side of the mirror.

Light beams or optical signals are frequently used to transmit digital data between electronic devices, both over long distances and between adjacent circuit boards. A light beam may be modulated as needed to carry data. An optical signal may also be used for other purposes including position or motion sensing, measurement, etc.
Typically, a typical multi-fiber optic connector includes a ferrule assembly supported at a distal end of a connector housing. The ferrule assembly can include a multi-fiber ferrule mounted in a hub. A spring is used to bias the ferrule assembly in a distal direction relative to the connector housing. The multi-fiber ferrule functions to support the end portions of multiple optical fibers. The multi-fiber ferrule has a distal end face at which polished ends of the optical fibers are located. When two multi-fiber optic connectors are interconnected, the distal end faces of the multi-fiber ferrules oppose and are biased toward one another by their respective springs. With the multi-fiber optic connectors connected, their respective optical fibers are coaxially aligned such that the end faces of the optical fibers directly oppose one another. In this way, optical signals can be transmitted from one optical fiber to another optical fiber through the aligned end faces of the optical fibers.
Systems for interconnecting optical fibers typically utilize mating ferrule assemblies to facilitate handling and accurate positioning of the fibers. The optical fibers are secured within a ferrule body, with an end surface of each fiber being positioned generally flush with or slightly protruding from an end face of the ferrule body. The end surfaces or faces of the fibers are then polished to a desired finish. When complementary ferrules assemblies are mated, each optical fiber of a ferrule assembly is coaxially positioned with a mating optical fiber of the other ferrule assembly. In some applications, the end faces of the mating optical fibers physically contact one another in order to effect signal transmission between the mating optical fiber pair. In such applications, various factors may reduce the efficiency of the light transmission between the optical fiber pair.
Consequently, optical technology plays a significant role in modern electronic devices, and many electronic devices employ optical components. Examples of such optical components include optical or light sources such as light emitting diodes and lasers, waveguides, fiber optics, lenses and other optics, photo-detectors and other optical sensors, optically-sensitive semiconductors, and others.
The use of the optical fibers requires photoelectric conversion modules to convert electrical signals to optical signals, or optical signals to electrical signals. Also, the photoelectric conversion modules are attached to be fixed to ends of the optical fibers, or to be attachable to or detachable from ends of the optical fibers.


The invention provides a light-emitting arrangement (100, 200, 300), comprising: a light source (101, 201, 301) adapted to emit light of a first wavelength; a wavelength converting member (106, 206, 306) comprising a wavelength converting material adapted to receive light of said first wavelength and to convert at least part of the received light to light of a second wavelength; a sealing structure (103) at least partially surrounding said wavelength converting member to form a sealed cavity (105, 205, 305) containing at least said wavelength converting member, said cavity containing a controlled atmosphere; and a getter material (108, 208, 308) arranged within said sealed cavity, wherein said getter material is adapted to operate in the presence of water and/or produces water as a reaction product. Such getter materials have high capacity for removal of oxygen from the atmosphere within the sealed cavity, such that a low oxygen concentration can be maintained within the cavity. Hence, the lifetime of the wavelength converting material may be prolonged.

Light-emitting diode (LED) based illumination devices are increasingly used for a wide variety of lighting applications. LEDs offer advantages over traditional light sources, such as incandescent and fluorescent lamps, including long lifetime, high lumen efficacy, low operating voltage and fast modulation of lumen output.
Efficient high-power LEDs are often based on blue light emitting materials. To produce an LED based illumination device having a desired color (e.g., white) output, a suitable wavelength converting material, commonly known as a phosphor, may be used which converts part of the light emitted by the LED into light of longer wavelengths so as to produce a combination of light having desired spectral characteristics. The wavelength converting material may be applied directly on the LED die, or it may be arranged at a certain distance from the phosphor (so-called remote configuration). For example, the phosphor may be applied on the inside of a sealing structure encapsulating the device.
Many inorganic materials have been used as phosphor materials for converting blue light emitted by the LED into light of longer wavelengths. However, inorganic phosphors suffer from the disadvantages that they are relatively expensive. Furthermore, inorganic LED phosphors are light scattering particles, thus always reflecting a part of the incoming light, which leads to loss of efficiency in a device. Furthermore, inorganic LED phosphors have limited quantum efficiency and a relatively broad emission spectrum, in particular for the red emitting phosphors, resulting in additional efficiency losses.
Currently, organic phosphor materials are being considered for replacing inorganic phosphors in LEDs where conversion of blue light into light of the green to red wavelength range is desirable, for example for achieving white light output. Organic phosphors have the advantage that their luminescence spectrum can be easily adjusted with respect to position and band width. Organic phosphor materials also often have a high degree of transparency, which is advantageous since the efficiency of the lighting system is improved compared to systems using more light-absorbing and/or reflecting phosphor materials. Furthermore, organic phosphors are much less costly than inorganic phosphors. However, since organic phosphors are sensitive to the heat generated during electroluminescence activity of the LED, organic phosphors are primarily used in remote configuration devices.
Another drawback hampering the application of organic phosphor materials in LED based lighting systems is their photo-chemical stability, which is poor. Organic phosphors have been observed to degrade quickly when illuminated with blue light in the presence of oxygen.
Efforts have been made to solve this problem. U.S. Pat. No. 7,560,820 discloses a light emitting diode (LED) comprising a closed structure which encloses a cavity with a controlled atmosphere. In the cavity there are arranged an emitter element, a phosphor arranged close to the emitter element, and a getter. However, the getters used in the device of U.S. Pat. No. 7,560,820 have relatively low capacity for oxygen gettering and also require activation before assembly of the device. Furthermore, these getters are negatively affected by the presence of moisture, since in the absence of oxygen these getters react with moisture and as a result becomes insensitive to oxygen which may later penetrate into the device.


The present systems and methods provide a mechanism to assess viewer behavior, features of stimuli, and the interaction between viewer behavior and stimuli. The systems and methods described herein for quantifying blink response and blink inhibition provide moment-by-moments measurements of viewer engagement by measuring what is or is not engaging enough to warrant viewers' inhibition of blinking. The present disclosure describes measures of visual scanning, eye movements, blink data, and blink timing data to derive a measure of how engaged a person is with what he or she is looking at. Blink-related data as a measure of viewer engagement provides a mechanism for determining the most engaging spatial and temporal aspects of a stimulus.

When we blink, the flow of visual information between the world and one's retina is temporarily interrupted. In that instant of blinking, visual stimulation from the external world is lost for 150-400 milliseconds (ms or msecs). As a result, the average adult in the course of a single waking day will spend approximately 44 minutes with his or her eyelids closed missing visual information. During those moments, a variety of neural systems encompassing movement of the oculomotor muscles, activity in supplementary and frontal eye fields, and widespread activity in visual, parietal, and prefrontal cortical areas work together to suppress the actual visual signal of an occluding eyelid. These systems create the illusion of perceptual continuity, but if new visual information is presented in that instant of blinking, it will be missed.
During the collection of eye movement data, eye-blinks have been traditionally regarded as noise or artifact data and are generally deemed useless. However, blinking also relates to cognitive states beyond mere physiological function. It is also generally known that individuals remain largely unaware of their blinking, although blinking may be generally related to both explicit and implicit attentional pauses in task content.
Identification and quantification of a person's engagement with a visual stimulus can provide insights for many different fields. In cognitive and behavioral testing, as for autism, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), developmental disabilities, and other cognitive conditions, measuring how engaged a viewer is with specific types of visual (or audible) content can provide a biomarker of disease/disorder state, disease/disorder progression, and/or treatment response. For instance, children with developmental disabilities, which affect 1 in 10 within the general population, show delayed acquisition of speech and language skills. A measure of a child's engagement with speech and language cues (e.g., level of engagement with talking faces or communication gestures, which are precursors to language acquisition) can aid in the diagnostic identification of a child with developmental disabilities at a much earlier age than diagnosis of such disabilities conventionally occurs.
In another example, in commercial industries, one of the main concerns for many marketing companies is measuring the effectiveness of various marketing campaigns. Traditional approaches to determining visual marketing campaign effectiveness include conducting consumer surveys and questionnaires, analyzing sales numbers, social media "buzz", etc. However, marketing companies would benefit from having a mechanism to determine directly from viewer behavior, without secondhand reporting or surveys, the effectiveness of a visual marketing campaign by measuring the level of a viewer's or group of viewers' engagement to that marketing campaign during test trials prior to releasing the campaign or during the actual campaign. In another example, developers of visual teaching aids may also benefit from having a measure of student engagement levels during the development phase of the teaching aids. Other industries could benefit from measuring indicators of engagement to visual stimuli, such as video game developers, flying and driving simulator developers, etc.
Therefore, there is a long-felt but otherwise unresolved need for a system and method that can assess and measure viewer engagement. Moreover, there is a need to measure engagement with certain visual and/or auditory stimuli, such as movies, television shows, marketing campaigns, print ads, web pages, emergency videos, teaching aids, even physical environments and objects, etc. in order to enable optimization thereof. Further, there is an additional need for a system and method to use measures of viewer engagement as biomarkers for assessing disease/disorder state, disease/disorder progression, and/or treatment response in conditions such as autism, ADHD, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, depression, and others that effect engagement with circumscribed content.

Systems and methods for detecting blink inhibition as a marker of engagement and perceived stimulus salience


The present invention provides methods and apparatus for premixing fuel and oxidant for combustion. The methods and apparatus may include a two stage vortex, each stage accommodating different flow rate ranges. The vortex pulverizes fuel and optimally mixes the fuel with an oxidant prior to introduction into a combustion chamber. The premixing results in more complete combustion and, consequently, fuel efficiency may be increased and pollution may be decreased. The present invention also enables introduction of fuel and oxidant to an engine without creating any shockwaves in engine cylinders, which may otherwise occur with current fuel injection systems.

Many types of devices have been developed over the years for the purpose of converting liquids or aerosols into gas-phase fluids. Many such devices have been developed, for example, to prepare fuel for use in internal combustion engines. To optimize fuel oxidation within an engine's combustion chamber, the fuel/air mixture commonly must be further vaporized or homogenized to achieve a chemically-stoichiometric gas-phase mixture. Ideal fuel oxidation results in more complete combustion and lower pollution.
More specifically, relative to internal combustion engines, stoichiometricity is a condition where the amount of oxygen required to completely burn a given amount of fuel is supplied in a homogeneous mixture resulting in optimally correct combustion with no residues remaining from incomplete or inefficient oxidation. Ideally, the fuel should be completely vaporized, intermixed with air, and homogenized prior to entering the combustion chamber for proper oxidation. Non-vaporized fuel droplets generally do not ignite and combust completely in conventional internal and external combustion engines, which presents problems relating to fuel efficiency and pollution.
Incomplete or inefficient oxidation of fuel causes exhaustion of residues from the internal or external combustion engine as pollutants, such as unburned hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide, and aldehydes, with accompanying production of oxides of nitrogen. To meet emission standards, these residues must be dealt with, typically requiring further treatment in a catalytic converter or a scrubber. Such treatment of these residues results in additional fuel costs to operate the catalytic converter or scrubber. Accordingly, any reduction in residues resulting from incomplete combustion would be economically and environmentally beneficial.
Aside from the problems discussed above, a fuel-air mixture that is not completely vaporized and chemically stoichiometric causes the combustion engine to perform at less than peak efficiency. A smaller portion of the fuel's chemical energy is converted to mechanical energy when fuel is not completely combusted. Fuel energy is wasted and unnecessary pollution is created. Thus, by further breaking down and more completely vaporizing the fuel-air mixture, better fuel efficiency may be available.
Many attempts have been made to alleviate the above-described problems with respect to fuel vaporization and incomplete fuel combustion. In automobile engines, for example, direct fuel injection has almost universally replaced carburetion for fuel delivery. Fuel injectors spray a somewhat fine fuel mist directly into the cylinder of the engine and are controlled electronically. Currently, it is believed by most that the fuel injector spray allows the fuel and air to mix in the cylinders more efficiently than carburetion. Nevertheless, the fuel droplet size of a fuel injector spray is not optimal and there is little time for the fuel to mix with air prior to ignition. Even current fuel injector systems do not fully mix the fuel with the necessary air.
Moreover, it has been recently discovered that fuel injector sprays are accompanied by a shockwave in the fuel spray. The shockwave may prevent the fuel from fully mixing with air. The shockwave appears to limit fuel mass to certain areas of the piston, limiting the fuel droplets' access to air.
Other prior systems have also been developed in attempts to remedy the problems related to fuel vaporization and incomplete fuel combustion. For example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,515,734, 4,568,500, 5,512,216, 5,472,645, and 5,672,187 disclose various fuel vaporizing devices.
Nevertheless, prior vaporization devices fail to provide a configuration which is large enough to attain volumetric efficiencies at high RPM's, yet small enough to get high resolution responses at lower RPM's. Indeed, the prior devices have generally had to choose between volumetric efficiency at high RPM's and high resolution response at lower RPM's.


The invention proposes an arrangement for the mechanical interfacing of a micromotor of the MEMS type with a toothed wheel in which the micromotor is produced in the upper layer of a plate made of crystalline or amorphous material and comprises at least one actuator which drives a rotor in rotation, characterised in that a pinion, coaxial with the rotor and arranged above the rotor, is connected in rotation to the rotor by means of at least one pin which is received in an associated housing and in that the pinion meshes with the toothed wheel.

In silicon microactuators, one means of converting electrostatic energy into work is to dispose structures "as a comb", formed respectively by moveable and fixed fingers and set at two different potentials. The moveable fingers are attached to the combs, themselves attached to a nacelle guided linearly by springs. These actuators are produced by photolithography and dry plasma attack of monocrystalline silicon layers having a thickness typically of 50 to more than 200 microns.
In order to make a clock wheel turn, it is necessary to convert the linear movement into rotational movement, via a ratchet system for example, as in the case of Accutron watches by Bulova (USA), Mosaba by ETA or via a hysteresis system such as described in the document WO 2004/081695. The linear movement on silicon being of the order of a few tens of microns, the ratchet driven by the pawls must have teeth of equivalent dimensions. In order to ensure reliable meshing, the positioning of this ratchet relative to the moveable fingers must by within tolerances which are much lower than the some tens of microns mentioned earlier.
In order to produce such a mechanical interfacing between the linear movement of a pawl actuator and the rotational movement, the document WO 2006/024651 proposes using microactuators which drive, by means of a tooth in a hysteresis movement, a micromanufactured wheel with very small teeth, which is coaxial and integral with a clock pinion. This solution implies an adjustment of the microactuators relative to the wheel for each assembled piece because the radial positioning tolerance of one mechanism axle, for example a plain bearing made of steel on ruby, is of the order of 40 microns. One solution can be to integrate a spring system on the MEMS in order to take up the positioning clearance, such as a bending mechanism of the ratchets, which is proposed in the document WO 2006/97516. The positioning is therefore ensured but the pawls or any other mechanism made of silicon therefore protrude directly on the side of the chip which makes manipulation during assembly more difficult and also its exposure to dust more direct.
The invention aims to resolve these problems by proposing an arrangement in which the microactuator drives a silicon rotor positioned on the same substrate as the microactuator. The invention aims to make the micromotor and the mechanism independent at the level of their radial clearances (radial play), whilst allowing transmission of the pure torque from one to the other.

Arrangement for the mechanical interfacing of a MEMS micromotor with a clock wheel and timepiece comprising this arrangement


A machine for filling bags for example with meat, vegetables, pet food, beef sausages or similar products of any desired shape or irregular size, and a corresponding method for filling such bags uses a filling system for feeding the product. Means for compressing the product also form a path for directing the product into the open bag. Introduction means drive the product along the path into the open bag.

At the present time flexible bags are known in the field for the filling of, for example, drinks, powder products etc. and are in use, as described in WO 2011/072194 A2. The products are filled into the bags by, for example, a nozzle array for this reason.
In the case of products with any desired shape or irregular size this filling method cannot be used because the bag opening space available for introducing the products into the bag is limited. Furthermore some of these products do not flow freely into the opening or do not fall fully into the bag. It is for this reason that bag filling machines often require products of any desired shape to be pre-treated and compressed before they are directed into the bag. This pretreating or compressing often makes use of complex devices which define secondary product preparation systems. At these secondary preparation systems the products concerned are weighed or counted, conveyed to the bagging machine and have to be compressed into a size range which fits in the bag opening. The products also have to be driven to ensure that they are all conveyed fully into the bag.
These secondary product preparation systems are frequently separate from the primary bag filling machine, costing time and space. This means that the products requiring pretreatment are compressed or compacted to the required size range that fits into the bag opening in a separate stage before the bags are filled with the product. In this respect the market uses a number of methods to handle complicated products like these.
The most prevalent method is manual loading of the bags. This requires a great amount of manual effort, and the potential for error when loading the product is high. The slow throughput rate and the high risk of contamination with food products are further disadvantages. Other methods are very complex and expensive and often involve many different stages or operations to make the product ready for filling.