A storage device including a bearing member, a storage unit, and a casing is provided. The casing has a bottom plate, a top plate and a main assembling structure. The bearing member has an interfering portion and a sub-assembling structure. The storage unit has a body with a first surface and a second surface opposite to each other, a limiting portion and a terminal set. Parts of the terminal set and the limiting portion are located at the first surface. The storage unit and the interfering portion are accommodated in the casing. The interfering portion provides interfering force to the limiting portion, and the bottom plate provides a supporting force to the second surface, so that the storage unit is positioned in the casing. The main assembling structure and the sub-assembling are assembled detachably to each other to configure or detach the bearing member and the casing.

Technology Field
The present invention generally relates to a storage device.
Description of Related Art
With the developments of multimedia technology, storage capacity required for digital data goes larger and larger. Conventional floppy disk in 1.44 MB features in its portable characteristic but still fails to meet the requirement of large storage capacity. Although a conventional hard disk provides a large storage capacity, it still suffers in bulk size which leads to inconvenient carrying. Rewritable non-volatile memory has the characteristics of data non-volatility, low power consumption, compact size, and non-mechanical structure. Hence, rewritable non-volatile memory is adapted for portable appliances, especially portable products powered by batteries. A flash drive is a storage device adopting NAND flash memory as storage medium.
Generally, the flash drive includes a circuit board, electronic devices as well as a plurality of elastic terminals and metal conductive strips (also known as connectors or connecting interfaces) configured to connect a host. Although a size of the flash drive may be reduce by miniaturizing the circuit board, it is difficult to further miniaturize the size of the flash drive in regard to dimensions of the metal casing of the connectors.
For instance, with existing specification for connection and transmission has been upgraded from Universal Serial Bus, USB1.0/1.1 to Universal Serial Bus, USB2.0 and even further to Universal Serial Bus, USB3.0, thus additional pins are added accordingly. Therefore, a solution as how to reduce the size of the flash drive while maintaining structural strength of the flash drive has became one of the major subjects in the industry for person skilled in the art.
Nothing herein should be construed as an admission of knowledge in the prior art of any portion of the present invention. Furthermore, citation or identification of any document in this application is not an admission that such document is available as prior art to the present invention, or that any reference forms a part of the common general knowledge in the art.


A Radio Network Node, RNN, (106) and a method therein for load balancing in a wireless communications network (100). The RNN is configured to communicate with a wireless device (108) supporting both normal coverage and extended coverage. The RNN and the wireless device are operating in the wireless communications network.

Communication devices such as terminals are also known as e.g. User Equipment (UE), mobile terminals, stations (STAs), wireless devices, wireless terminals and/or Mobile Stations (MS). Terminals are enabled to communicate wirelessly in a cellular communications network or wireless communication system, sometimes also referred to as a cellular radio system or cellular networks. The communication may be performed e.g. between two terminals, between a terminal and a regular telephone and/or between a terminal and a server via a Radio Access Network (RAN) and possibly one or more core networks, comprised within the cellular communications network.
Terminals may further be referred to as mobile telephones, cellular telephones, laptops, or surf plates with wireless capability, just to mention some further examples. The terminals in the present context may be, for example, portable, pocket-storable, hand-held, computer-comprised, or vehicle-mounted mobile devices, enabled to communicate voice and/or data, via the RAN, with another entity, such as another terminal or a server.
The cellular communications network covers a geographical area which is divided into cell areas, wherein each cell area being served by an access node such as a base station, e.g. a Radio Base Station (RBS), which sometimes may be referred to as e.g. "eNB", "eNodeB", "NodeB", "B node", or Base Transceiver Station (BTS), depending on the technology and terminology used. The base stations may be of different classes such as e.g. macro eNodeB, home eNodeB, micro eNodeB or pico base station, based on transmission power, functional capabilities and thereby also cell size. A cell is the geographical area where radio coverage is provided by the base station at a base station site. One base station, situated on the base station site, may serve one or several cells. Further, each base station may support one or several communication technologies. The base stations communicate over the air interface operating on radio frequencies with the terminals within range of the base stations. In the context of this disclosure, the expression Downlink (DL) is used for the transmission path from the base station to the mobile station. The expression Uplink (UL) is used for the transmission path in the opposite direction i.e. from the mobile station to the base station.
In 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) Long Term Evolution (LTE), base stations, which may be referred to as eNodeBs or even eNBs, may be directly connected to one or more core networks.
3GPP LTE radio access standard has been written in order to support high bitrates and low latency both for uplink and downlink traffic. All data transmission is in LTE controlled by the radio base station.
Work is currently ongoing within 3GPP to specify a cellular radio access technology dedicated to cater for the so called Internet of Things (IoT) market. 3GPP Technical Specification Group (TSG) GSM EDGE Radio Access Network (GERAN) is working on this (see e.g. 3GPP TR 45.820 v13.0.0), but similar work is also ongoing in the 3GPP TSG Radio Access Network (RAN) for both Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (WCDMA) and LTE.
One important objective is to handle a vast number of wireless devices, e.g. Machine Type of Communication (MTC) devices, that might be situated in areas requiring extreme radio coverage. Examples of MTC devices are electricity meters, tracking devices and sensors in the automation industry. Further, by the expression "extreme radio coverage" when used herein is meant areas, e.g. coverage areas, with very poor radio coverage, not accessible with legacy radio network systems, such as GSM. An example of such an area may be an apartment basement.
One solution about to be standardized is Extended Coverage—EGPRS (EC-EGPRS) (see 3GPP TR 45.820 v13.0.0 for details, but note that EC-EGPRS in this TR is known as EC-GSM). In the EC-EGPRS solution, extended coverage is achieved via a repetition based transmission scheme.
Depending on the device coverage, e.g. the coverage area for the wireless device, different number of repetitions may be used to achieve the desirable performance for a packet transfer. Different Coverage Classes are therefore defined. By the expression "device coverage" when used in this disclosure is meant the radio coverage of the device. A Coverage Class of a wireless device indicates what radio coverage the device is experiencing and thus how many blind repetitions that would be needed to reach the device. 3GPP TS 43.064 v12.2.0 defines the concept of Blind physical layer transmissions, which may serve as a description for the term blind repetitions used within the context of this invention disclosure. Wireless devices that are within coverage that is in parity with what is supported by legacy GPRS radio network systems are considered to be in normal coverage.
By the expression "extended coverage" when used in this disclosure is meant a coverage wherein operation at a path loss or radio coverage range exceeding the coverage range earlier supported by 3GPP cellular networks, such as GSM, is supported. To cater for wireless devices in extended coverage, the EC-GSM defines a new overall frame mapping for the broadcast, synchronization and common control channels, comprising the Extended Coverage Synchronization Channel (EC-SCH) which is applicable in downlink (DL) only, Extended Coverage Broadcast Channel (EC-BCCH) which is applicable in DL only, and the Extended Coverage Common Control Channel (EC-CCCH) which is applicable both in uplink and downlink.
The EC-SCH, EC-BCCH and EC-CCCH are proposed to be mapped on Timeslot 1 (TS1) of the BCCH carrier, as it requires a frame mapping compatible with the envisioned coverage, and as such needs to be to distinguished from ISO of the BCCH carrier where the legacy SCH, BCCH and CCCH are mapped.
In the downlink, the EC broadcast channels will be used by the network to transmit, for example, System Information Broadcast (SIB) messages over the EC-BCCH, paging messages and access grant messages to wireless devices via the EC-CCCH DL, e.g. the Extended Coverage Paging Channel (EC-PCH) and the Extended Coverage Access Grant Channel (EC-AGCH), respectively. The uplink is dedicated to wireless devices transmitting access requests over the EC-CCCH UL, e.g. the Extended Coverage Random Access Channel (EC-RACH).
It is expected that most of the wireless devices in a radio network system will experience normal coverage, where the legacy GPRS system CCCH on ISO is available.
A drawback with the described solution where TS1 is dedicated to the EC-EGPRS is that a resource segregation is introduced between ISO used for the GSM/EDGE and TS1 used for the EC-EGPRS. A scenario where the network experiences high random access load in the EC-EGPRS, but low random access load in the GSM/EDGE will then lead to the TS1 UL being heavily loaded while the ISO on the UL will be under-utilized.
Further, the random access channel is a collision based channel meaning that wireless devices can access the channel at their own discretion. In addition, the EC-EGPRS wireless devices in different coverage areas, being of different coverage classes, will access the network at significantly different received signal levels at the BTS. In case a strong Access Burst (AB) from a first wireless device close to the BTS collides with a weak AB from a second wireless device being far from the BTS then the second wireless device far from the BTS will likely fail to access the network. A further drawback with the described design in the EC-EGPRS is hence that it will be challenging for wireless devices in extended coverage to access the network, due to the multiplexing on the EC-RACH with wireless devices in normal coverage.

Wireless device, a radio network node, a network node, and methods therein for load balancing in a wireless communications network

Abstract: The RNN determines an indication informing the wireless device that it, when in normal coverage, is to monitor one of a downlink legacy resource and an extended coverage resource for information and/or is to use one of an uplink legacy resource and an extended coverage resource when accessing the wireless communications network.

Abstract: Further, the RNN transmits the indication to the wireless device.


A compressor includes a housing, a shaft, and an impeller rotatable relative to the housing by the shaft. The impeller includes a hub, impeller blades, and external blades. The impeller blades extend from a front of the hub. The external blades protrude from a rear surface of the hub or an outer surface of a shroud of the impeller. The external blades are curved along the rear surface or the outer surface. A heat transfer circuit includes a compressor and a working fluid. The compressor includes an impeller having a hub, impeller blades, and external blades.

A compressor can include a housing and an impeller with impeller blades. The compressor rotates the impeller relative to the housing. Working fluid is suctioned into the rotating impeller blades and is discharged from the impeller as compressed working fluid. An impeller can include a shroud for the impeller blades. The impeller is spaced apart from the housing of the compressor to allow rotation of the impeller relative to the housing. HVACR systems are generally used to heat, cool, and/or ventilate an enclosed space (e.g., an interior space of a commercial building or a residential building, an interior space of a refrigerated transport unit, or the like). A HVACR system can include a heat transfer circuit with a compressor configured to compress a working fluid flowing through the heat transfer circuit.


A holder structure for mounting light indicators on printed circuit boards using surface mount technology at a position elevated above the surface of the board is provided with a body member including a top wall, a bottom wall, opposed sidewalls, a front wall, and a rear wall, all being formed integrally together. Two spaced-apart recesses are formed and aligned vertically in the front wall of the body member terminating in respective first and second interior wall portions. The first interior wall portion has openings formed on diametrically opposed sides of a vertical partition and lying in a horizontal plane parallel to the bottom wall. The second interior wall portion has openings formed on diametrically opposed sides of a transverse partition and lying in a plane which is rotated a predetermined number of degrees from a vertical plane perpendicular to the bottom wall.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to indicator apparatuses or structures for mounting indicator lights on printed circuit boards. More particularly, it relates to a holder structure for mounting light-emitting diodes (LEDs) on printed circuit boards (PCBs) using "surface mount technology" (SMT).
2. Description of the Prior Art
As is generally known to those skilled in the art, light-emitting diodes (LEDs) are particularly useful as status indicators for various types of electrical circuits and systems, such as in different kinds of proximity sensors for detecting the presence or absence of an object. For example, one or more LEDs may be mounted at a sensor housing so as to provide desired information about the operating condition of the sensor at the housing. The LEDs are very advantageous in this type of operating environment due to the fact that they are small in size and are relatively inexpensive in cost. Further, they consume small amounts of power and have a long useful life.
The LEDs are available commercially from a variety of suppliers which permit direct mounting to a printed circuit board (PCB) via a plurality of eyelets or "through-holes". However, since the printed circuit board is typically mounted within a chassis of some type the LEDs mounted on the PCB are not usually viewable directly by a user of an electrical system. Heretofore, light pipes consisting of rods or bundles of fibers made of clear plastic or glass have been designed to direct the light from the LEDs to openings formed on, for example, the face or front panel of the electrical system where they may be viewed by the user.
In complex electrical and electronic devices, it is not uncommon that there are used a number of printed circuit boards each having a substantial quantity of circuit components, such as integrated circuit chips, resistors, capacitors, and the like. In view of the advances made in the PCB technology in recent years, the prior art method of mounting the various circuit components on the PCB via eyelets or "through-holes" for making electrical interconnections have been largely replaced by printed circuit boards using "surface mount technology" (SMT). The "wave soldering" technique utilized in the PCBs having "through-holes" is no longer used and have been superceded by radiant or convention heating in an oven for SMT printed circuit boards where the electrical components and their leads are heated so as to cause the pre-applied solder to melt and attach the components to the boards via solder pads.
If the individual LEDs were directly mounted on the SMT printed circuit boards using the "through-holes", there would be encountered a number of disadvantages associated with this technique. Firstly, the SMT printed circuit board would be required to be modified with such "through-holes" in order to accommodate the individual LEDs. Secondly, after the use of radiant heating for securing the other electrical components to the board another step would be needed to secure the individual LEDs to the board by way of "wave soldering". These required extra steps are very expensive and would thus increase the manufacturing and assemble cost of the boards.
In addition, even if the individual LEDs could be mounted economically on the SMT printed circuit boards they would be typically required to be elevated above the board so as to be visible to a user. However, the conductive leads usually provided for the individual LEDs tend to be very pliable and narrow so as to be unable to support and accurately locate them very high off the board or near the edge of the board. Therefore, the use of the advanced surface mount technology has created a demand for structures and techniques for mounting and positioning indicator lights, i.e., LEDs, on PCBs using SMT with strength and accuracy.
Accordingly, it would be desirable to provide a holder structure for mounting indicator lights, particularly LEDs, on printed circuit boards using surface mount technology with strength and accuracy. It would be expedient that the holder structure includes a housing being capable of mounting two-high LEDs one disposed above the other for attachment to conductive solder pads on a SMT printed circuit board with a high degree of mechanical strength and precision.

Two-high light-emitting diode holder structure


A frictional clutch for a correction device includes a rotatable supply reel with a circular center opening and a rotatable take-up reel being laterally arranged spaced apart from the supply reel, the take-up reel having an outer circumferential surface onto which a correction tape is to be wound up and the supply reel having an outer circumferential surface from which the correction tape is to be wound off, wherein the outer circumferential surface of the supply reel is provided with a circumferential radial groove in which an elastic tensioning element is accommodated, the radial circumferential groove being at its bottom at least partially transected such that the elastic tensioning element projects into the center opening secantically, when it is in a stress-relieved condition.

Generally the embodiments of the present invention relate to so-called correction tape dispensers or correction devices which are adapted to apply a correction tape on a substrate.
The use of a frictional clutch in a correction device is known in the prior art. The frictional clutch serves for creating drive adjustment for a take-up reel of the correction device for transferring a film from a backing tape onto a substrate, whereby the take-up reel is being driven such that the backing tape portion being supplied to the take-up reel is always slightly tensioned. The frictional clutch should ensure that a predetermined tension is not exceeded so that the backing tape is not disrupted.
An example for such a frictional clutch comprises a supply reel for feeding a coating film transfer tape and a take-up reel for recovery of the used coating film transfer tape which are both rotatably mounted in a casing. The supply reel includes a supply cylinder and a drive gear wheel having a boss. An O-ring serving as a friction member is provided on an outer periphery of the boss of the drive gear wheel whereby the supply cylinder is mounted on the outer periphery of and in friction contact with the O-ring, thus sandwiching and compressing the O-ring in between the boss and the supply cylinder.
However, these frictional clutch systems know in the prior art have the disadvantage that due to tolerances of the components, namely the boss of the drive gear wheel and/or the supply reel cylinder, of only a few tenths of a millimeter, these deviations have a great influence on the resulting frictional force. That means that a few tenths of a millimeter percentally result in a high variation considering the typical diameter of an O-ring of only a few millimeters. If now, the drive gear wheel boss is a few tenths of millimeters too large and/or the supply reel cylinder is only a few tenths of a millimeter too small, a very high frictional force results, rendering the clutch too hard and, thus, rupture of the backing tape has to be encountered.
Therefore, an embodiment of the present invention is based on the object to provide a frictional clutch, a driving mechanism employing the frictional clutch and a corresponding correction device, in which the frictional force of the frictional clutch is less dependent on manufacturing tolerances.
This object is solved by a frictional clutch having the features of a frictional clutch for a correction device that includes a rotatable supply reel with a circular center opening and a rotatable take-up reel being arranged laterally spaced apart from the supply reel, the take-up reel having an outer circumferential surface onto which a correction tape is to be wound up and the supply reel having an outer circumferential surface from which the correction tape is to be wound off, wherein the outer circumferential surface of at least one of supply reel and take-up reel is provided with a groove in which an elastic tensioning element is accommodated, the radial circumferential groove being at its bottom at least partially opened such that the elastic tensioning element is biased into the center opening, a driving mechanism having the features of that include a drive gear wheel (i) in the center of which a cylindrical boss is provided on which the supply wheel is arranged with circular center opening, and a driven gear wheel, on which a take-up reel is arranged, whereby the drive gear wheel (ii) engages the driven gear wheel, and a correction device having the features of a casing having an upper body and a lower body, the casing being provided with a tip opening, through which a tip for applying a correction tape onto a surface of a substrate extends; a drive gear wheel (i) in the center of which a cylindrical boss (i) is provided on which a supply reel is arranged having a center opening and a circumferential surface from which the correction tape is to be wound off; a driven gear wheel which engages the drive gear wheel (ii) and on which a take-up reel is arranged having a circumferential surface on which the correction tape is to be wound up wherein the outer circumferential surface of the supply reel is provided with a circumferential radial groove in which an elastic tensioning element is accommodated, the circumferential radial groove being at its bottom transected at least partially such that the elastic tensioning element projects into the center opening secantically, when it is in a stress-relieved condition.
According to an embodiment of the present invention, a frictional clutch for a correction device is provided that includes a rotatable supply reel with a circular center opening and a rotatable take-up reel being arranged laterally spaced apart from the supply reel, the take-up wheel having an outer circumferential surface onto which a correction tape is to be wound up and the supply reel having an outer circumferential surface from which the correction tape is to be wound off, wherein the outer circumferential surface of the supply reel is provided with a radial circumferential groove in which an elastic tensioning element is accommodated, the radial circumferential groove being at its bottom at least partially transected such that the elastic tensioning element projects into the center opening secantically, when it is in a stress-relieved condition. When the frictional clutch is employed, i.e., when mounted on a driving mechanism of a correction device, the elastic tensioning element smoothly adapts the circular shape of the supply reel or the boss, respectively, onto which the supply reel is mounted, to thus contact the circumferential surface of the boss and apply a well-defined frictional force.
According to this construction, the compression exerted on the O-ring employed in a frictional clutch known in the prior art is replaced by the circumferential expansion of the elastic tensioning element. This has the advantage that tolerances of only a few tenths of a millimeter now are minor or negligible, compared to the length of the elastic tensioning element of, e.g., three to five centimeters. These variations have only very little influence on the resulting frictional force.
Moreover, the elastic tensioning element can be preassembled on the supply reel from the outside, such that the tensioning element and the supply reel can be mounted on the supply reel boss in only one working cycle, facilitating the production of the correction tape, and, thus, reducing production costs.
The frictional clutch of an embodiment of the present invention is particularly adapted for a torque-restricting power transmission between a reel and a rotating element of a correction device for applying a film of a backing tape onto a substrate. This frictional clutch, however, can either be assigned to a supply reel or a take-up reel of the correction device.
The embodiments of the present invention and further advantages, which can be achieved by the embodiments of the present invention, will now be explained in detail by means of a preferred embodiment with reference to the drawings in which
FIG. 1 shows a sectional side view of a correction device 1 according to prior art which can be used to erase characters of the like on a substrate.

Correction system with rubber elastic tension element for a gear mechanism correction tape


A terminal block includes a pedestal and a terminal attached to the pedestal. A fastening portion of a connection terminal is overlapped on a fixing face of the terminal and is fastened to a fastening position on the fixing face. The connection terminal is brought close to and disposed at the fastening position of the terminal from a side. The pedestal has a guide face that guides the fastening portion of the connection terminal that approaches from a side upward from the fixing face toward the fastening position. The fastening portion passes beyond an edge portion of the guide face and arrives at the fastening position so as to be overlapped on the fixing face.

Patent Literature 1 discloses a terminal block that includes a terminal to which a counterpart terminal is fastened on an upper face of the terminal. The terminal block is provided with a pair of guide walls disposed in protrusion. An upper front corner portion of each of the guide walls is obliquely cut off from the upper face to a front face. A terminal tip end of the terminal in a central portion in a width direction of the terminal is curved from the upper face along the front face in a manner of being hidden between the guide walls.


For an electro-hydraulically actuable continuously variable belt transmission, the selected contact pressure at the movable conical pulley discs must be of such a magnitude that the chain, the force transmitting belt or the like does not slip. On the other hand, the contact pressure should not be too great for a high efficiency of the transmission to be achieved at every operating point. The invention reliably prevents slippage of the belt (chain, force transmitting belt or the like) by controlling the belt slip. The mean contact pressure is thereby reduced. As a result, there is a decrease in the mechanical and hydraulic losses at the transmission. A variant of the invention includes an embodiment of a rotational-speed sensor which makes it simultaneously possible to measure the axial position of the pulley disc(s). As a result, there is a reduction in the additional complexity required for slip control compared to the belt-tension control.

The invention replaces the customary belt-tension control of continuously variable belt transmissions (CVT) with electro-hydraulic actuation. A transmission construction of this kind is shown, in section, in FIG. 1. The engine torque M.sub.m output by the internal combustion engine 1 can be influenced by means of the throttle flap 2. The throttle flap 2 is coupled, for example, mechanically or electrically to the accelerator pedal (not shown). The internal combustion engine 1 is generally coupled to the drive (primary) end of the continuously variable transmission 4 by means of a clutch and/or a converter 3. The output (secondary) end of the continuously variable transmission 4 is connected to the wheels of the vehicle via a transmission (not shown) connected downstream of the transmission 4. On the primary and secondary ends, the continuously variable transmission has respective axially displaceable conical pulley discs 5 and 6. To adjust the transmission ratio, a corresponding primary pressure P.sub.p and a secondary pressure P.sub.s are built up in the respective oil chambers 7 and 8. It must be ensured by a suitable choice of the manipulated variables constituted by the primary pressure P.sub.p and the secondary pressure P.sub.s that:
1. the transmission ratio i corresponds to the desired ratio between primary rotational speed N.sub.p and secondary rotational speed N.sub.s ; and, PA1 2. the force-transmitting belt 9 (or chain, band) is pressed sufficiently hard against the pulleys to prevent the belt 9 from slipping. PA1 1. The slipping of the operative means, generally a force transmitting belt or a band or chain, is reliably prevented. In the known solutions, the pressure must be fixed at a level high enough to ensure that slipping is reliably prevented. Unevennesses in the road, braking operations, downshifts and brief increases in the torque to be transmitted due to dynamic load fluctuations can cause problems, however, making additional measures to avoid slipping necessary. PA1 2. The transmission operates with a higher efficiency. PA1 3. The mean pressure level and thus the hydraulic losses are reduced. PA1 4. The requirements on the accuracy of the subordinate pressure control system are lower.
The above-mentioned point 1 is achieved by means of an electrohydraulic transmission ratio control or primary rpm control 10. For point 2, a belt-tension control 11 is provided.
Rotational-speed sensors 12, 13 and 14 are provided on the engine 1 and on the continuously variable transmission 4 for transmission-ratio and belt-tension control and these sensors detect the engine rpm N.sub.m, the primary rotational speed N.sub.p and the secondary rotational speed N.sub.s.
In the frequently used master-slave system shown in FIG. 1, the secondary pressure P.sub.s is used to set the belt tension and the primary pressure P.sub.p to set the transmission ratio or primary rotational speed. In the alternative partner system, the belt-tension control system influences both the primary and the secondary pressure.
In general, it can be stated that an actuating signal for the belt-tension control is available in the form of a pressure variable P.sub.B. A number of methods for controlling the belt tension are known from the literature but these all operate in a similar manner. In the following, EP-A1-0,451,887 is used for the purpose of explanation: for this purpose, FIG. 2 shows the belt-tension control system described in this patent publication. The characteristic field 34 is used to determine the outputted engine torque T.sub.m from the throttle-flap angle .beta. and the engine rpm N.sub.m. Blocks 38 and 35 can be used to calculate the primary torque T.sub.pr output by the converter. Block 45 calculates the transmission ratio of the continuously variable transmission. By means of block 46, the secondary torque T.sub.sec can be estimated from the transmission ratio and the primary torque T.sub.pr. By means of block 49, the secondary radius R.sub.sec is calculated from the transmission ratio. The minimum secondary pressure P.sub.sec required is then derived from the secondary radius and the secondary torque T.sub.sec by means of block 52. After the addition of a reserve pressure in block 64, the signal is smoothed by means of a low-pass filter 68. The mean pressure P.sub.sec (CENTR) generated by centrifugal forces at the secondary pulley is then subtracted from the above pressure by means of block 60. In addition, the result for the pressure 63 is influenced by a sensor signal for the measurement of ground unevenness 94 and is then limited to a selectable range by a limiter 168. The result of the calculations P.sub.sec (TV) thus far is then used further by a subordinate pressure control circuit 70, 72, etc. The pressure control circuit ensures that the pressure P.sub.sec (MV) at the secondary pulley is set to the value P.sub.sec (DV).

Slip controller for a continuously variable transmission


A drinking mug that doubles as an exercise apparatus is formed of non-toxic porcelain ceramic, glass, or wire reinforced glass. The combination of dimensions of the mug adds up to a total mass of at least 1.360 kilograms and possesses the ratio of dimensions of substantially 1, 3.9, 3.9, 2.443, 5.777, and 4.0 between the thickness of a base, diameter of the base, outer diameter of a barrel, inner diameter of the barrel at the end where the barrel connects to the base, height of the barrel, and vertical length of the handle, respectively. A neoprene material lines the base, handle, and the outside barrel surface. A substantially circular brim serves as a surface transition between the inside and outside surfaces of the cylindrical barrel and can contain a plurality of substantially concave scoops, each centered approximately ninety radial degrees offset of the handle.

The present invention is comprised of materials that are readily available and affordable for marketability. The basic external profile of the present invention resembles almost any mug in existence.
However, unlike the present invention, many mugs are insignificant in mass and weight. One commercial example presently for sale, the Crate and Barrel Essential Mug, has dimensions of 14.605 centimeters (5.25 inches) width, 10.795 centimeters (4.25 inches) height, 9.525 centimeters (3.75 inches) maximum diameter with a narrowing taper near the mug base, and has a mass of approximately 0.238 kilograms (weighs 0.525 pounds) without liquid and approximately 0.663 kilograms in mass (weighs 1.46 pounds) filled to the brim with 29.57 cubic centimeters (15.0 fluid ounces) of water. Although this weight is reasonable and expected for the singular purpose of consuming beverages, this is barely sufficient for muscle toning and insufficient for muscle strengthening many able-bodied individuals.
Extreme capacity mugs, which may be sufficiently heavy for muscle conditioning, tend to be impractically large for most occasions and may detract from effective multi-tasking, such as office desk work.
A close example of a commercially available heavy mug is the Stolzle Oktoberfest Bavarian Isar Beer Mug, which has a mass of 1.360 kilograms (weighs 2 pounds, 16 ounces) before adding the maximum additional 0.907 kilograms mass (weighs 2.0 pounds or 32.0 fluid ounces or one Liter) of beverage. This weight range is sufficient for muscle conditioning many able-bodied users. Unfortunately, this glass beer mug casts a large profile, with external dimensions of 15.24 centimeters (6.0 inches) wide with handle, 20.002 centimeters (7.875 inches) in height, and 10.16 centimeters (4.0 inches) in diameter. The "Oktoberfest" moniker further suggests its utility is intended for occasional social events, where high consumption is expected within one sitting.
The present invention reconciles the contrasting drawbacks of the two aforementioned mug examples by being both sufficiently heavy for muscle conditioning while remaining externally compact for daily use and further multi-tasking Aside from construction, secondary features are incorporated to maximize utility and safety and contribute to the overall inventive concept of the present invention.
For example, one of the key features of the present invention absent from existing mugs is one or more layers of neoprene or similar material coating the handle and outer surfaces of the mug. Cap Barbell markets dumbbell fitness equipment coated with neoprene to augment grip and comfort while minimizing the chances for hand blisters, calluses, and impact injury compared to all-metal dumbbell. European Publication No. WO1999039777 A1 discloses a barbell or dumbbell with a first layer preferably made of neoprene, which provides padding, and a second layer preferably made of nylon for providing abrasion resistance.
Even though certain individual features are present in other existing device types, the distinction of the invention lies in its integration of various features for a new overall purpose not easily envisioned by any one or a subset of the features in isolation. This innovation is further reinforced by the fact that such features have separately existed for a substantial period and not in the combination as presented.


An acousto-optic modulator includes a (100), (010) or (001) single crystal silicon acousto-optic interaction medium, and at least one transducer for emitting an acoustic wave attached to the single crystal. The transducer has a first electrode layer disposed on one side and a second electrode layer disposed on its other side. The transducer is aligned to the single crystal so that the direction of acoustic propagation in the silicon crystal is substantially along the (100), (010) or (001) direction. A q-switched laser includes a modulator according to the invention.

It is frequently desirable for lasers to produce a series of optical pulses of high peak power rather than emit the radiation continuously or in free-running (i.e. long pulse) mode. Such a series of pulses might be desirable for example, for surgical applications, dental applications, for welding, or for remote sensing applications. It is also desirable if the pulses can be obtained on demand, such as responsive to some externally applied electrical trigger signal to the laser's control circuitry.
In order for the laser to produce a series of Q-switched pulses in a controlled manner rather than operate in continuous wave (CW) or free-running mode, an optical modulator is usually placed in the laser cavity in order to modulate the optical loss (or 1/Q) of the cavity. The optical modulator is designed to have low loss in the "ON" state, and high loss in the "OFF" state, and is generally referred to as a Q-switch. The laser gain medium is pumped with the Q-switch in the "OFF" state allowing population inversion to reach a high level. In response to a suitable external trigger signal to the Q-switch driver electronics, the Q-switch assumes the "ON" state, allowing the Q of the laser cavity to rise to a high value. The result of the high Q state is a high intensity optical pulse exiting from the output coupler (mirror) of the laser cavity.
Q-switches for lasers operating in the infrared spectral region are usually one of three main types: (1) acousto-optic, (2) electro-optic or (3) mechanical. The mechanical type comprises a spinning mirror or prism, vane or shutter. Mechanical Q-switches are slow in the sense that pulses generated via this approach have long rise and fall times compared to other types of Q-switches. Furthermore, the moving parts often cause vibration and/or reliability problems. Long rise and fall times in a Q-switch are often undesirable as they limit the ability of the laser system to produce short pulses (<10 ns) with sufficiently high peak power for many applications.
Electro-optic Q-switches can be very fast, and generally provide good performance. However there are a limited number of suitable single-crystal electro-optic materials, which can operate efficiently in certain spectral bands, such as the 2-8 micron region. In addition, suitable available electro-optic materials (such as CdTe) are expensive and not easily obtainable in the form of large homogeneous single crystals, as required for the construction of these devices. The optical damage thresholds and thermal conductivities of these otherwise suitable materials tend to be low, thus making the design and fabrication of reliable Q-switches a difficult if not an impossible task.
Regarding acousto-optic modulators, the basic structure of acousto-optic modulators and the form of the acousto-optic interaction is well known. With reference to FIG. 1(a), a acousto-optic modulator 100 is shown which includes an acousto-optic material 110 having a transducer (T) 105 bonded thereto. The transducer electrodes are not shown. Light is incident on the acousto-optic medium surface from the left and exits as diffracted beams (k=0, ±1, ±2) shown in more detail in FIG. 1(b) due to the acoustic wave caused to propagate in the AO material 110 by bias applied across transducer 105. The k=0 beam represents the undeflected beam. The acoustic wave generated propagates in a direction substantially perpendicular to a direction of the light beam. In an acousto-optic Q-switch, it is usual, but not essential, for the acoustic wave to be absorbed by an absorber placed at the surface CD of the AO material 110 after passing through the region in which the optical beam is present. In the case when absorption of the wave passing through the region in which the optical beam is present is desired, it is also usual to cut the absorbing surface CD at an angle as shown to produce a wedged face in order to frustrate direct reflection of the acoustic energy back to the transducer T.
In the case considered herein, the optical beam processed by modulator 100 is a natural mode or combination of natural modes of a laser cavity and as such has a reasonably well-defined k-vector. If such an optical beam is incident on the optical modulator at or near to the so-called Bragg angle, then a proportion of that light will be converted into one or more diffracted orders as a result of the acousto-optic interaction. The exact performance of such a device in terms of its loss modulation, speed of switching, RF drive power requirements, and angular acceptance can be predicted using standard acousto-optic theory. Of particular importance is the so-called Debye-Sears ratio (often referred to as the Q-parameter), which is a dimensionless number depending on the physical length of the acoustic transducer (L), the optical wavelength (λ), the acoustic velocity (V), the refractive index (n) and the RF drive frequency used (f) according to:
                    Q        =                              πλ                                                                                Lf                                                                                2                                                          nV                                                                                2                                                          (        1        )
Low values of Q indicate that the modulator is working in the Raman-Nath regime where multiple diffracted orders are produced, and the angular acceptance of the modulator is large. This is desirable for example if the laser is multimode leading to optical beams having a larger divergence angle. Larger values of Q (e.g. in excess of 10) mean that the device is working in the Bragg regime where a single diffracted order is produced. This is not a problem in a Q-switch, because all that is desired is to achieve loss modulation, however the angular acceptance of the modulator will be reduced in the Bragg regime, making alignment more critical and possibly truncating the angular extent of the input optical mode(s).
Another important parameter in acousto-optic devices is the so-called M2 figure of merit defined as:
                              M          2                =                                            n              6                                                  p              eff              2                                            ρ                                                                                V              3                                                          (        2        )            where ρ is the density of the material used and peff is the effective strain-optic coefficient. The strain-optic coefficient is constructed from the individual tensor components and depends on the orientation of the crystal, the direction and type of the acoustic wave, and the state of optical polarization. The M2 parameter has the dimensions of inverse intensity, i.e. m2W1, and the expression for the diffraction efficiency of an acousto-optic modulator produced by a given RF power level always contains the dimensionless term M2I, where I=ηPRF/area is the acoustic intensity. PRF is the drive power, η is the transducer efficiency and "area" represents the area of the acoustic transducer, which for a rectangular transducer of length L and height H will be L×H. Thus large values of M2 are desirable, as a doubling of M2 value leads to a halving of the RF power requirement for a given diffraction efficiency and wavelength.
In general, the amount of RF power required to maintain a given diffraction efficiency (and therefore a given level of loss modulation) grows with the square of the optical wavelength:PRF∝λ2   (3)as explained, for example, in "Acousto-Optic Devices: Principles, Design and Applications", J Xu and Stroud, Wiley Series in Pure and Applied Optics, ISBN: 0471616389, 1992, high M2 materials are particularly important for acousto-optic devices operating at longer wavelengths.
As an example, fused silica (SiO2) is often used as the acousto-optic interaction medium for Q-switch lasers operating around the 1 micron region. Such lasers typically require several tens of Watts of RF drive power to achieve sufficient loss modulation to hold the laser in the "OFF" state. Typical transducer lengths are 45 mm and heights are 10 mm. The M2 of fused silica is approximately 1.51×10−15 m2W−1. Even if silica remained optically transparent at 3 microns, nearly an order of magnitude more RF drive power would be needed to provide similar performance.
Thus what is needed is an acousto-optic modulator that supports shorter (i.e. a smaller value of L) AO crystal in order to keep the Q-parameter low and to be able to fit into shorter laser cavities often used in mid infrared lasers. These shorter modulator devices must still have adequate loss modulation to hold the laser in the "OFF" state. Generally this is incompatible with keeping RF drive powers low, particularly in view of the relationship given in equation (3).


A method of non-intrusive, inductive proximity sensing of a target through a conductive barrier comprises the steps of: disposing an inductive proximity sensor on one side of a barrier of conductive material; disposing a target on the other side of the barrier; determining an appropriate drive frequency for operating the proximity sensor based on the conductive material and thickness of the barrier; and operating the proximity sensor with the appropriate drive frequency to non-intrusively sense the proximity of the target through the conductive barrier. The method may include the steps of: varying the gap between the target and proximity sensor over a gap range; measuring the inductive output of the proximity sensor at the appropriate drive frequency and different gaps to obtain inductive output measurements at the different gaps; determining the operating induction bandwidth of the proximity sensor operated at approximately the appropriate drive frequency from the inductive output measurements at the different gaps; and using the determined induction bandwidth for proximity sensing of the target through the conductive barrier. The gap range may be based on a sensor/target gap variation during actuation for a particular application.

The present invention is directed to inductive proximity sensors in general, and more particularly, to a method of non intrusive inductive proximity sensing of a permeable or magnetic target through a barrier of conductive material.
Inductive proximity sensors typically comprise a core, which may be "C" or Omega shaped, for example, fabricated from a highly-permeable metal, with two inductive coils on bobbins placed over each leg of the core. The two coils are typically wound around their respective bobbins in opposite directions (one wound clockwise and the other wound counter-clockwise) and electrically connected in series. The series connected coils of the sensor are generally driven by an AC voltage at a desired frequency. The generated coil current, which may be monitored by a current sensing device, is commonly used as an inductive output of the sensor. Generally, the inductive output changes value when a target to be sensed moves from a near to a far position with respect to a sensing face of the sensor, and vice versa. There should be a sufficient change in value of inductive output over the span of operating conditions in order to be able to distinguish between the near and far target positions.
Inductive proximity sensors are typically driven at frequencies between 1 KHz and 5 KHz. When attempting to sense the position of a target of magnetic material through a conductive barrier (i.e. non-intrusive proximity sensing) at these frequencies, significant eddy currents are generated in the conductive material of the barrier. These eddy currents directly oppose the inductive currents generated in the sensor and attenuate the inductive output signal of the sensor. This renders the proximity sensor virtually useless for detecting permeable or magnetic targets through a conductive barrier.
The present invention as will be described in greater detail herein below includes a method of non-intrusive proximity sensing of a permeable or magnetic target through a conductive barrier.


The invention provides a sliding member including a plurality of holes formed on a sliding surface thereof, which sliding surface is adapted to slide on a mating member, at least one of the holes having an enlarged portion in at least a portion between an opening end and a bottom end thereof, the enlarged portion being larger than the opening end on the sliding surface.

The present invention relates to a sliding member used for a connecting rod for example, of which a sliding surface is subjected to a high surface load.
An engine used in an automobile, etc., converts up-and-down motion of a piston caused by explosion power of petroleum base fuel into rotational movement through a connecting rod and a crankshaft, to provide rotational driving power. The piston, connecting rod, crankshaft or the like are connected with each other through a shaft accommodated in a bearing, and a sliding surface of the bearing is repeatedly subjected to a rapidly increasing high load from the shaft as a mating member, during operation of the engine.
However, when the mating member and the bearing slide relative to each other in the state that the rapidly increasing high load is applied on the sliding surface, a lubricating oil film (or an oil film) retained on the sliding surface is broken to cause so-called partial metallic contact therebetween. Accordingly, there is a need of enhancing oil-film maintaining performance of the sliding surface of the bearing under such working environment, so as to prevent the lubricating oil from being flipped from the sliding surface even if the high load is applied thereto when the sliding surface slides on the mating member.
Although it is not directly related to the present invention, there has been proposed a sliding member in which an oil retaining property of a sliding surface is ensured by covering a bearing alloy layer with an overlay layer, and by blowing hard particles directly on the overlay layer to form fine holes on the overlay layer serving as the sliding surface, as shown in JP-A-2002-147459 (see paragraphs "0010" to "0034", and TABLE 4), for example.
However, in the case of the sliding member disclosed in JP-A-2002-147459, the holes are formed by the blowing hard particles having an average particle size of 20 to 100 μm directly against the overlay layer, so that each hole has a so-called bowl shape and further, there is a tendency that the holes are not independent from one another but are contiguous to one another. According to this structure, in the case that the sliding surface slides in a state that a mating member applies a relatively low load on the sliding surface, lubricating oil is retained on the sliding surface by the holes formed on the overlay layer, so that an oil film is formed between the mating member and the sliding member (or between sliding surfaces).
However, in the case of a sliding member used for supporting a connecting rod, for example, a rapidly increasing high load is often generated on a part of its sliding surface. Under such working condition, since each of the holes for retaining the lubricating oil of the sliding member disclosed in JP-A-2002-147459 has a bowl-shape, the lubricating oil is easily flipped from the respective holes and flows out from a hole to a hole by virtue of the holes being contiguous to one another, so that it becomes difficult to maintain the oil film between the sliding surfaces, after all.

Sliding member and method of manufacturing the same


An apparatus and method is disclosed for detecting an analyte using a fiber optic electrochemical sensor that includes a fiber optic layer, an electrically conductive translucent metallic layer and a light energy absorbing dye layer.

The invention relates to combined optical and electrochemical detection, and more particularly, to an apparatus and method for use in the performance of such studies.
Without limiting the scope of the invention, its background is described in connection with a combined electrochemical and optical apparatus for luminescence imaging of microenvironments and methods that may be used in the performance of such imaging.
Fluorescence imaging is one of the most valuable methods for analyzing microenvironments, particularly cellular microenvironments, and can be expected to find broader applicability as the rapidly growing computer and video industries provide new tools/hardware for fluorescence imaging. Although promising in theory, fluorescence microscopy is limited by the number of analytes that are amenable to fluorescent detection schemes. While it is straightforward to image analytes with native fluorescence, analytes labeled with a fluorophore, or analytes that can interact with a fluorescent indicator (e.g., H+, Ca2+, O2), imaging other species such as electroactive analytes is problematic. For example, a major intracellular electroactive analyte of particular importance in understanding cellular metabolism, hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) is presently unamenable to continuous fluorescent analysis on a cellular resolution level.
The motivation for imaging hydrogen peroxide and other reactive oxygen species (ROS) in biological cells and tissue stems from their role in oxidative stress and oxidative burst events. Unfortunately, the in situ monitoring of ROS dynamics on the cellular level is limited by existing technology. Currently, the most common microscopic method for imaging hydrogen peroxide involves loading cells with dichlorofluorescin and quantitating the hydrogen peroxide by following the oxidation of dichlorofluorescin by hydrogen peroxide to produce fluorescent dichlorofluorescein. This technique can be used for detecting ROS liberated in or diffusing in the cytosol of the cell but it is not a direct reporter for ROS generated at the plasma membrane and/or released to the exterior of the cell. Hydrogen peroxide fiber-optic sensors or biosensors that are suitable for single cell analysis by virtue of the ability to acquire a continuous real time measurement with (sub)micrometer spatial resolution have not been demonstrated.
Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide in its reduced form (NADH), is a biologically important coenzyme that is both fluorescent and electroactive. The quantitation of this molecule is of great interest in chemistry, biology, and medicine. For example, in addition to its use as a metabolic activity marker, NADH is an ideal biosensor reagent since it can modulate the activity of over 200 different dehydrogenases [Pantano, P. and Kuhr, W. G. (1995) Electroanalysis 7, 405-416]. Unfortunately, both the NADH fluorescence and electrochemical measurements are difficult to perform. For the NADH fluorescence measurement, in addition to its low quantum yield, there is significant biological (auto)fluorescence in the same spectral region as the NADH emission. Furthermore, the throughput of borosilicate glass and silica-based optical fibers is attenuated greatly in the ultraviolet spectral region where the NADH excitation wavelength lies (i.e., 340 nm). Finally, improving a CCD camera""s 400-500 nm quantum efficiency (the NADH emission spectral region) by employing back-thinned chips is prohibitively expensive. Also, existing electrochemical fiber-optic NADH-biosensors lack the resolution required for imaging purposes.
What is needed is an apparatus and system that readily permits concurrent luminescence imaging and electrochemical sensing of important analytes with a microscopic level of resolution.
The present invention is directed to apparatus and methodology for concurrent fluorescence imaging and chemical sensing of an electroactive analyte through a fiber optic electrode with resolution on the microscopic level.
The fabrication and characterization of imaging fiber electrodes (IFEs) is presented, and the use of an electrochemically-modulated, fluorescence-based, imaging-fiber electrode chemical sensor (IFECS) is demonstrated.
In one embodiment, the invention provides a fiber optic electrochemical sensor for detecting an analyte including a fiber optic layer, a electrically conductive translucent metallic layer, and a light energy absorbing dye layer. The fiber optic layer of the fiber optic electrochemical sensor may be a fiber optic bundle that includes one or more of individual optic fibers, wherein each individual optic fiber has a diameter of less than 20 micrometers. In one embodiment, the fiber optic electrochemical sensor includes a fiber optic bundle with individual optic fibers, wherein each individual optic fiber has a diameter of less than 10 micrometers and wherein the bundle has a diameter of less than 2 millimeters. The sensor also has an electrically conductive translucent metallic layer, and a light energy absorbing dye layer wherein the fiber optic electrochemical sensor is capable of electrochemical regeneration. Due to its microscopic resolution capabilities, the apparatus and method of the present invention is particularly applicable to studies of cells and tissues, however, the scope of the invention is not limited to biological microenvironments but rather is applicable to any microenvironment in which fine spatial resolution of imaging concurrent with chemical sensing is needed.
In alternate embodiments, the electrically conductive translucent metallic layer of the fiber optic electrochemical sensor is between 10 and 100 nm thick. The metallic layer may be of any electrically conductive metal or metal oxide that may be applied in a translucent layer wherein xe2x80x9ctranslucentxe2x80x9d, used interchangably herein with xe2x80x9ctransparentxe2x80x9d, means susceptible to the through-passage of light energy. In examples provided herein, the fiber optic electrochemical sensor electrically conductive translucent metallic layer is a sputter-coated 20-23 nm layer of gold.
In alternate embodiments, the light energy absorbing dye layer of the fiber optic electrochemical sensor is selected from the group consisting of, e.g. fluorochromes, fluorescent enzyme conjugates, fluorescent substrates and chromophores. In one example, the analyte to be detected is a cellular reactive oxygen species and the light energy absorbing dye layer includes a rhodamine dye.
In another example the analyte to be detected is cellular NADH and the light energy absorbing dye layer includes a ruthenium containing luminophore.
In another embodiment of an imaging system according to the present invention, a fluorescence based imaging fiber electrode chemical sensor system includes a fiber optic electrochemical sensor, a potentiomer or equivalent means for measuring ion flux, a microscope including a light source and an objective lens. The objective lens communicates light from the source to the fiber optic electrochemical sensor and receives light returning from the sensor and provides a means for recording light returning from the sensor though the objective. Potentially useful recording devices include CCD cameras, linear arrays and xy active matrix detectors.
The invention provides in one embodiment a method for preparing a imaging fiber electrode including the steps of; polishing a face of the fiber optic bundle, silanizing the face using a mercapto-trimethyoxysilane, and sputter coating the silanized face to deposit a 10-30 nm thick semi-transparent metal layer.
In another embodiment, a method for preparing a imaging fiber chemical sensor is provided including the steps of; obtaining a fiber optic electrode having a 15-30 nm gold film on a distal end and an electrically conductive aspect leading from the distal end through a lateral dimension of the fiber optic electrode, coating the fiber optic electrode with an ion-exchange polymer and applying a luminescent reporter group.
In one example of an ion-exchange polymer according to the present invention poly(tetrafluorethylene)polymers having characteristics of NAFION polymers have been found suitable.
In one embodiment, the invention provides a method of constructing and using electrochemically-modulated, fluorescence-based, imaging-fiber electrode chemical sensors (IFECS). An imaging fiber distal tip is coating with a semi-transparent metal layer to create an IFE. In an alternate embodiment the imaging fiber is sputter coated with a semi-transparent layer of gold although alternate coating methods with alternate metallic compounds and metal oxides may be applicable.
By xe2x80x9csemi-transparentxe2x80x9d or xe2x80x9ctranslucentxe2x80x9d according to the present invention, is meant a layer of gold sufficiently thin for light to be transmitted through it and yet thick enough to serve as an electrode. The term xe2x80x9cgoldxe2x80x9d as used in the present invention includes gold and any alloy containing gold. A range of metal thickness of 10 to 100 nm may be expected to perform these dual roles under appropriate circumstances. A light energy absorbing dye such as a fluorescent redox dye is immobilized across the IFE face to create an IFECS. Alternate light energy absorbing dyes are known in the art and many are commercially available. Potentially applicable analyte responsive or reporter dyes may include either, or a mixture of, light emitting and light absorbing dyes or may include other materials such as enzymes, or antibodies, or chemical compounds. Potentially applicable luminescent reporters in addition to the specific examples of RBITC, NADH and tris(2,2xe2x80x2-bipyridyl)ruthenium provided herein may include for example such fluorochromes as: nile blue A, rhodamine 123, rubrene, rhodanile blue, eosin, TRITC-amine, quinine, fluorescein W, acridine yellow, lissamine rhodamine B sulfonyl chloride, erythroscein, Texas Red, phycoerythrin, flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD), carboxy seminaphthorhodafluor, and naphthofluorescein. Fluorescent enzyme conjugates may be employed in some circumstances in addition to substrates such as for example: fluorescein mono-B-D-galacto-pyranoside, resorufin, B-d-glucuronide, 8-acetoxypyrene 1,3,6-trisulfonic acid trisodium salt, Coenzyme A (1-pyrene butanoic acid)ester, Fluo-3, and Quin-2. Potentially applicable chromophores include for some examples not intended to be limiting: iron-salicylate complex, Indamine dye, Hopkins-Cole dye, quinone-imine dye, Fe(SCN)+2, Malachite Green, cresol red, diphenylcarbazone disulphonic acid, chrome bordeaux B, calmagite and ninhydrin dye. Applicable analyte responsive dyes may include either, or a mixture of, light emitting and light absorbing dyes or may include other materials such as enzymes, or antibodies, or chemical compounds. The reporter dyes may further include pairs of donor and acceptor molecules such as those known in the art to participate in fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) in which excitation between two dye molecules is transferred from a donor molecule to an acceptor molecule without emission of a photon. Known examples of FRET pairs include Fluorescein/Tetramethylrhodamine, IAEDANS/Fluorescein, EDANS/DABCYL, Fluorescein/Fluorescein, BODIPY FL/BODIPY FL and Fluorescein/QSY-7 dye.
An electroactive analyte is imaged by monitoring the change in the immobilized redox dye""s fluorescence following its homogeneous electron transfer reaction with an electroactive analyte. Fluorescence images were collected through the IFECS and detected by an imaging system such as for one example an epi-fluorescence microscope/CCD imaging system. Instead of using a CCD camera, other sensitive detectors such as for example linear array detectors or XY matrix photodetectors may be included in the imaging system. Cyclic voltammetry and fluorescence microscopy may be utilized to characterize the electrochemical and fluorescence properties of IFECSs.
In one embodiment of the present invention, reversible voltammetry was observed for the redox couple at IFEs permitting the sensor to be recharged and used for multiple measurements. In on example, IFECSs using RBITC as the fluorescent redox dye and NAFION as the immobilization polymer were fabricated to detect hydrogen peroxide. The IFECS""s RBITC-fluorescence was decreased by xcx9c27% upon exposure to 0.25 mM hydrogen peroxide and xcx9c95% of the original fluorescence was observed following the electrochemical regeneration of the NAFION-immobilized RBITC. These IFECSs provide for remote fluorescence imaging of an electroactive analyte, which may be performed through the actual fiber-optic electrode itself and have the capacity to regenerate.
The invention provides a dual system that includes a potentiostat/electrochemistry system together with features of a combined imaging and chemical sensing approach. The combined imaging and chemical sensing (CICS) approach, permits viewing a sample and measuring surface chemical concentrations using an optical imaging fiber [Bronk, K. S., Michael, K. L., Pantano, P., Walt, D. R. (1995) Anal Chem 67:2750; Pantano, P., Walt, D. R. (1995) Anal Chem 67:481A; and Panova, A. A., Pantano, P., Walt, D. R. (1997) Anal Chem 69:1635]. According to the CICS approach to imaging, a high resolution imaging fiber may include thousands of individual optical fibers in a diameter range measured in xcexcm melted and drawn together such that an image can be carried and maintained in a coherent manner from one end to the other. As an example a 350-micrometer-diameter distal fiber surface, containing xcx9c6000 optical sensors of xcx9c3 micrometer diameter, is coated with a uniform, planar sensing layer that can measure chemical concentrations with spatial accuracy, yet is thin enough so that it does not compromise the fiber""s imaging capabilities. By combining the distinct optical pathways of the imaging fiber with the spatial discrimination of a charge coupled device (CCD) camera, visual and fluorescence measurements can be obtained with 4-micrometer spatial resolution over thousands of square micrometers using a CICS approach. In the present invention, the concept of imaging fiber electrodes (IFE) is united with the CICS approach. The present inventors have developed a novel thin film fiber optic electrode sensor array and apparatus that permits both electrochemical and luminescence imaging through the actual sensor itself.
In one embodiment, the present invention provides a new apparatus and method for remote hydrogen peroxide imaging which unites the fabrication of imaging fiber electrodes with the combined imaging and chemical sensing approach. The present combined devices are termed herein xe2x80x9cimaging fiber electrode chemical sensors (IFECSs).xe2x80x9d In brief, an imaging fiber""s distal tip is metalized to serve as an electrode (i.e., an IFE) before a light energy absorbing dye such as a fluorescent redox dye is immobilized across the IFE""s distal face. Finally, in the case of a fluorescent redox dye, the redox state of the bound dye (and its initial fluorescence) is regenerated by application of a suitable potential across the IFE surface. While fluorescence and electrochemistry (i.e., electrodes and optical fibers) have been united previously, the present IFECSs permit remote fluorescence imaging to be performed through the actual fiber-optic electrode itself.
In one embodiment of the present invention there is provided a new technique for remote NADH imaging wherein combined imaging and chemical sensing of Ru(bpy)32+-Electrogenerated Chemiluminescence is achieved. This has been accomplished by fabricating imaging fiber electrode (IFE) sensors. In one example, an imaging fiber""s distal tip is metalized to serve as an electrode (i.e., an IFE). The IFE is coated with a thin, planar layer of NAFION doped with Ru(bpy)32+ to produce an IFE Sensor. An electrical contact is made to the metal layer such that Ru(bpy)32+ can be oxidized to Ru(bpy)33+ and electrochemically regenerated following the application of an appropriate potential. Following the diffusion of NADH into the IFE sensing layer, the Electrogenerated Chemiluminescence emission is captured and analyte concentrations quantitated using a CCD-based imaging system.

Thin film fiber optic electrode sensor array and apparatus

Board of Regents, The University of Texas System


A beverage dispenser configured for servicing from the front. A front cover is coupled to a cabinet and positionable in open and closed positions. A housing is positioned in an interior of the cabinet and supports cartridges containing ingredients for dispensing a beverage. The housing at least partially defines a cavity within the interior of the cabinet. An electronics box is configured for coupling to the cabinet in an operating position within the cavity and also in a service position in front of the housing. The cavity is accessible from the front of the cabinet when the front cover is in the open position and the electronics box is in the service position.

The following U.S. patents provide background information and are incorporated by reference in their entireties.
U.S. Pat. No. 9,656,849 discloses a valve dispensing system that can be used in a beverage dispenser. In particular, the valve dispensing system has individual valve module components that control the flow of a beverage or beverage component, and a plurality of valve module components may be combined to form a system capable of dispensing a plurality of beverages and/or beverage components.
U.S. Pat. No. 10,221,058 discloses a beverage dispensing machine that defines a service opening through which beverage dispensing equipment is accessible to an operator includes a service door on a housing that is movable between an open position, such that the beverage dispensing equipment is accessible to an operator via the service opening, and a closed position, such that the service door closes the service opening so that the beverage dispensing equipment is inaccessible to the operator. A display panel on the service door displays operational characteristics of the beverage dispensing equipment. When the service door is in the open position the display panel is maneuverable so that the display panel is angled towards the service opening so that an operator can view the display panel while accessing the beverage dispensing equipment via the service opening.

Beverage dispensers configured for front serviceability


The present invention provides a vaccine containing a complex of a peptide consisting of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1 and an epitope of a disease-causing biological protein such as DPP4, IL-17A, IgE, S100A9 or PCSK9, which vaccine uses a less antigenic carrier protein and is capable of inducing antibody production to serve as an effective vaccine.

Vaccine techniques have been long used for the prevention of infections such as smallpox, and have recently been attempted to be used for the treatment of cancer, life-style related diseases, etc. Some therapeutic vaccines use a carrier protein conjugated to an epitope of a target protein, which stimulates immune responses, for example, the induction of antibodies against the target protein. Known examples of such a carrier protein include KLH (keyhole limpet hemocyanin), OVA (ovalbumin) and BSA (bovine serum albumin). For example, for the treatment of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), the administration of a vaccine composed of a modified form of INF-α as an antigen moiety conjugated to KLH has been attempted (Non Patent Literature 1).
However, KLH, OVA, BSA and other carrier proteins are antigenic in themselves, and this antigenicity can sometimes pose a problem in the case where a moderately antigenic epitope conjugated to such a carrier protein is used for immunization (Non Patent Literature 2).
The present inventors disclose the use of a conjugate of a DPP4 epitope peptide and KLH for the prevention or treatment of diabetes mellitus (Patent Literature 1). In addition, the present inventors disclose the use of a DNA vaccine containing a polynucleotide encoding an IL-17A epitope peptide and a polynucleotide encoding a core antigen polypeptide of hepatitis B virus for the prevention or treatment of diseases in which IL-17A is involved as a precipitating factor (e.g., systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), articular rheumatism, etc.) (Patent Literature 2).

Conjugate vaccine targeting a disease-causing biological protein


A resilient squeeze bottle dispensing package including an internal flexible bag which is suitable for dispensing viscous product such as toothpaste, but which includes an air valve which will automatically permit pressure equilibration in the chamber formed between the flexible bag and the interior of the bottle in response to a decrease in the atmospheric pressure surrounding the package. Employing a valve which permits such automatic pressure equilibration avoids unwanted oozing of viscous product from the discharge orifice of the package when the atmospheric pressure surrounding the package decreases, e.g., as by airplane travel or by travelling from a first elevation to a second substantially higher elevation.

Viscous materials, such as toothpaste, are commonly packaged in collapsible tubes which offer the advantages of low cost and ease of use. However, consumer satisfaction with tubes has been limited by their messiness and their appearance during storage and use. In addition, they can be inconvenient to store because they occupy a large area when laid flat.
More recently, mechanical pumps have been introduced with some success because they overcome the negative of poor appearance during use and provide ease of storage. However, their acceptance has been somewhat limited by poor economy and the difficulty they present in dispensing product. As a result, considerable interest has been shown in the use of resilient squeeze bottle packages for dispensing viscous products.
One such resilient squeeze bottle package which has been well received is disclosed in commonly assigned U.S. Pat. No. 4,842,165 issued to Van Coney on Jun. 27, 1989. The commonly assigned Van Coney patent discloses a resilient squeeze bottle dispensing package capable of dispensing viscous products without excessive air entrainment and belching on successive dispensing cycles. In a preferred embodiment, the viscous product is suspended inside a resilient squeeze bottle in a thin flexible bag. The flexible bag is secured about its perimeter to the interior of the squeeze bottle at its top and approximately at its midpoint to facilitate both complete emptying of product and desirable suckback characteristics when the opposed squeezing forces are removed from the resilient outer wall of the bottle. A suckback valve is preferably located between the dispensing orifice in the shroud of the package and the flexible bag to limit the amount of air which can enter the package through the dispensing orifice at the conclusion of each dispensing cycle and to prevent slumping of viscous product remaining in the shroud into the bottom of the flexible bag between dispensing cycles. An air check valve is preferably provided in the bottom of the resilient squeeze bottle to facilitate a pressure buildup within the bottle when opposed squeezing forces are applied to the bottle.
While the resilient squeeze bottle package disclosed by Van Coney has been found to function extremely well, an unexpected problem has been encountered with certain embodiments of the Van Coney package when the atmospheric pressure surrounding the package decreases. This would normally be the case when a package manufactured substantially at sea level is taken along during air travel to an elevation over 5000 feet above sea level or, for example, when the user transports the package via ground travel from a first elevation where the package has become equilibrated to the surrounding atmosphere to a substantially higher elevation in a relatively short period of time, e.g., as would be the case in driving from Denver, Colorado (elevation approximately 5,000 feet above sea level) to Aspen, Colorado (elevation approximately 8,000 feet above sea level).
Because the air check valve used in a particularly preferred embodiment of the Van Coney package traps air in the variable volume chamber formed between the bottom of the flexible bag and the inside of the resilient squeeze bottle when the surrounding atmospheric pressure decreases, the pressure differential acting upon the flexible bag may become sufficient to cause the viscous product to ooze from the dispensing orifice in the squeeze bottle in the event the closure is not tightly secured thereto. Furthermore, even if the closure is tightly secured during travel, the pressure differential which will exist at the time the closure is ultimately removed will cause uncontrollable oozing of viscous product from the dispensing orifice of the squeeze bottle until such time as the air pressure in the variable volume chamber of the package reaches equilibrium with that of the surrounding atmosphere.

Resilient squeeze bottle employing air check valve which permits pressure equilibration in response to a decrease in atmospheric pressure


A roof construction for a motor vehicle having a removable roof, includes a first, front hard roof part, a main bearing fixed on the motor vehicle body, a first, articulated connection, the first, front hard roof part being connected via the first, articulated connection to the main bearing, the first, front hard roof part being pivotable from a closed position into a lowered position in a trunk by means of the first, articulated connection, a second roof part containing a rear window, a second, articulated connection, the second, articulated connection being arranged pivotably outside the first, articulated connection on the same main bearing, the second roof part being pivotable from a closed position into a lowered position in the trunk via the second, articulated connection, the first, front hard roof part being arranged in its lowered position above the second roof part, and a loading area for loading purposes remaining below the second roof part.

The invention relates to a roof construction for a motor vehicle having a removable roof, comprising a first, front hard roof part; a main bearing fixed on the motor vehicle body; a first, articulated connection; said first, front hard roof part being connected via said first, articulated connection to said main bearing; said first, front hard roof part being pivotable from a closed position into a lowered position in a trunk by means of said first, articulated connection; a second roof part containing a rear window; a second, articulated connection; said second roof part being pivotable from a closed position into a lowered position in the trunk via said second, articulated connection; said first, front hard roof part being arranged in its lowered position above said second roof part.
German Patent No. DE 196 35 536 C1 describes a roof construction in which an open passenger car is designed with a two-part, collapsible fixed roof in which a rear roof part, which contains the rear window, is lowered in a manner first rotated through 180xc2x0, in the floor region of a storage space and in which the front roof part is lowered on the latter. Such packing is extremely bulky and takes up a considerable amount of storage space. Moreover, the front roof part is not suitable as a covering for the storage space and so a separate covering has to be provided. For the drive of the two roof parts a separate drive is required in each case and these drives have to be coordinated with each other using a complicated sensor arrangement. Finally, because the front roof part is removed flat, the roof construction requires a retractable roll bar, since a static roll bar would impede the lowering of the roof.
German Patent No. DE 198 05 477 C1 describes a hard top vehicle roof comprising a front roof part, a rear roof part, which is provided with a fixed rear window, and main links which are fastened to the vehicle body and are intended for pivoting and lowering the rear roof part into a trunk of the vehicle, levers which are connected to the front roof part being fixed on the rear roof part and being used to pivot the front roof part over the rear roof part and lower it into the trunk. Since the front roof part is articulated by means of its levers on the rear roof part, the sequence of movement of the front roof part relative to the rear roof part and to the vehicle body is subject to restrictions. Furthermore, provision is not made for a loading area to remain below the rear roof part lowered into the trunk.
German Patent Application No. DE 197 41 264 A1 describes a passenger car having a rigid roof part and a rear window part which can be brought, in a manner such that they can move against each other, from a closed position into an open position in which the parts are lowered into a rear region of the passenger car. In this case, the roof part is articulated on the vehicle body via a four-bar linkage, whereas the rear part is articulated at one end on the four-bar linkage and at the other end is mounted in a manner such that it can pivot about an articulation arranged in the rear region of the vehicle. Provision is not made for both parts to be retractable into a trunk of the vehicle.
German Patent No. DE 197 14 139 C2 describes a convertible vehicle roof having a fixed rear element and a fixed roof element which, in the closed position of the roof, is arranged in front of the rear element, the rear element being moveable from the rear over the roof element during an opening movement of the roof. In the opened position of the roof, the rear element is arranged over the roof element. This arrangement of roof element and rear element in the opened position of the roof does not correspond to that of the present invention where the second roof part, which contains the rear window is lowered below the first, front hard roof part.
German Patent No. DE 42 03 228 C2 describes a vehicle roof having a front roof part and a rear roof part which can be moved into a storage space in the rear part of the vehicle in order to open up a convertible-like roof opening. In this case, the front roof part and the rear roof part are moved by one drive, using a common four-bar linkage, and a further rear window is moved by a second drive. A common articulation on a main bearing of all of the parts necessary for moving the roof into the opened position is not provided.
It is an object of the present invention to specify a roof construction enabling, when the roof has been lowered, a compact arrangement of the roof parts in the trunk.
According to the present invention, this object is achieved by a roof construction for a motor vehicle having a removable roof, comprising a first, front hard roof part, a main bearing fixed on the motor vehicle body, a first, articulated connection, said first, front hard roof part being connected via said first, articulated connection to said main bearing, said first, front hard roof part being pivotable from a closed position into a lowered position in a trunk by means of said first, articulated connection, a second roof part containing a rear window, a second, articulated connection, said second, articulated connection being arranged pivotably outside said first, articulated connection on the same main bearing, said second roof part being pivotable from a closed position into a lowered position in the trunk via said second, articulated connection, said first, front hard roof part being arranged in its lowered position above said second roof part, and a loading area for loading purposes remaining below said second roof part.
If the first roof part is designed with C-struts fitted to it, the loading area laterally between the C-struts is restricted, but this does not constitute a significant limitation.
With the roof removed, the roof construction according to the present invention enables stacking of the first and second roof parts, in which the curved profile of the two roof parts runs essentially in the same direction and therefore the additional storage space required because of the curvature or transverse bending in the curved profile of the two roof parts has only to be made available once on account of the stackability. It is thereby advantageously possible to move the first, front hard roof part rearward, as seen in the direction of travel, in a relatively flat manner and similarly to allow the rear, second roof part to slide flat into the trunk of a motor vehicle. For this purpose, the trunk can expediently be opened rearward via a pivoting joint arranged in the region of its lock provided at the rearward end.
Since the second roof part, which essentially comprises the rear window, is lowered synchronously with the moving of the first roof part, the first roof part can be pulled down rearward from the cowl in a predominantly horizontal movement without colliding with the second roof part, and thus makes possible a simple locking arrangement to the cowl.
It is furthermore possible to realize the comparatively simple sequence of movements with a low outlay by the fact that one drive per side drives both roof parts. By this means, it is possible, in particular, to synchronize the two roof parts mechanically without separate sensor arrangements for detecting the position of the two parts, with the result that the sequence of movement is always coordinated and also, in the event of being actuated manually in emergency mode, is coupled in such a manner that the two roof parts do not impede each other. At the same time, the coupling secures the mutual locking arrangement of the two articulated connections.
A seven-bar linkage is preferably provided in each case for the drive of the first roof part and a four-bar linkage for the drive of the second roof part. The seven-bar linkage is a four-bar linkage in which the articulation on the vehicle body of one of the two links can be changed via a control link which is articulated on the vehicle body, the change, because of a change in position of the other link, being transmitted via a coupling rod. The other three articulations are therefore the two articulations of the coupling link on the two links and the articulation of the control link on a main bearing on the vehicle body. The configuration of a seven-bar linkage makes it advantageously possible to provide a rapid sequence of movement without high acceleration values being reached for thisxe2x80x94unlike in the case of a four-bar linkage.
The two links of the four-bar linkage for the second roof part are articulated pivotably at one end likewise on a main bearing which is fixed on the vehicle body, preferably the same main bearing as for the seven-bar linkage, and at the other end on a stop part for the second roof part or a frame for the rear window. The seven-bar linkage and the four-bar linkage then define a respective pivoting kinematic arrangement for the first roof part and for the second roof part, said pivoting kinematic arrangement being configured in accordance with the two end positions of the roof parts.
In order to drive the two roof parts via the seven-bar linkage and the four-bar linkage, a hydraulic drive is provided which preferably comprises a piston-cylinder unit whose piston rod engages in an articulated manner with a lever protruding rigidly from one of the links of the kinematic arrangement. To open the roof, the piston rod is retracted and to close it is extended, with the result that the larger piston surface is ready for the larger forces required in order to raise the two roof parts.
The two links of the seven-bar linkage are preferably connected to each other via a coupling rod and a control link, which is mounted on the main bearing which is fixed on the vehicle, in such a manner that the coupling rod drives the control link about its articulation on the main bearing, the control link bearing, likewise eccentrically with respect to its mounting, the articulation of the other link of the seven-bar linkage and therefore first of all pulling said link and causing a tilting movement which hardly raises the front edge of the first roof part enabling the latter to be brought in a simple manner out of interference with the boundaries in the region of the passenger cell roof. It is therefore also possible for the first roof part to travel around a roll bar of the motor vehicle. The first roof part is not pivoted out to a very high extent and so a small amount of opening can be provided for the rear lid. The four-bar linkage displaces the rear window and the second roof part synchronously into the trunk. The first roof part is lowered relatively far forward into the vehicle body and rotated into an end position, as a result of which the aperture of the rear lid can be of correspondingly smaller dimensions, and further a uniform speed without relatively great changes can be set.
When the roof has been retracted, the C-struts in the trunk protrude into a region between the rear light and wheel housing, while the horizontal region of the roof part is arranged entirely in the vicinity of the trunk lid. The second roof part is arranged below the flat part very close below the first roof part. By this means, in the region between the two C-struts in the trunk, a loading space is produced which allows a deep loading option extending to below the second roof part. This storage space is advantageously also available during the lowering and re-erection of the hard roof, which means that this region does not have to be unloaded before the roof is pivoted.
In the lower region of the rear window or of the second roof part, a continuous water channel is provided which protrudes laterally over the second roof part, so that a separate, further joint gap before the transition to the vehicle body is omitted.
Further advantages and features of the invention emerge from the following description.
The invention is explained in greater detail below with reference to a preferred exemplary embodiment of the invention and using the attaching drawings.

Roof construction for a motor vehicle having a removable roof


A charging device which includes a grid that has a curvature surface placed to face an outer circumferential surface of a photoconductive drum; a carrying member that carries the grid in a portion having a curvature to form the curvature surface of the grid; and position adjusting mechanisms that moves a position of the carrying member to adjust a position of the grid in a sub-scanning direction of the photoconductive drum, an imaging cartridge and an image forming apparatus having the same.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to a charging device, an imaging cartridge and an image forming apparatus having the charging device.
2. Description of Related Art
Recently, image forming apparatuses have been miniaturized for cost reduction and further speed increases and higher resolutions have been requested.
In order to realize miniaturization of the apparatus, a charging method has been adopted which places a curvature surface to face an outer circumferential surface of a photoconductive drum using a grid having the curvature surface in a charging device, charges the photoconductive drum, and improves charging characteristics. In the charging method using the grid having the curvature surface, the distance between the outer circumferential surface of the photoconductive drum and the grid curvature surface affects charging efficiency.
As a technique for improving the charging efficiency, as described in Unexamined Japanese Patent Publication No. 2008-298876, there is a technique which provides a gap roller carrying the photoconductive drum in the charging device, and relatively adjusts the distance between the photoconductive drum and the grid by changing the height of the gap roller.
However, although the charging efficiency can be improved by the technique of the related art mentioned above to some extent, it is impossible to improve the charging efficiency to a degree capable of higher resolutions, higher speeds and further miniaturization that can be required for the apparatus for the future.

Charging device, imaging cartridge and image forming apparatus having charging device


Stator (1) for a gas turbine including a stator structure (2) having a continuous through-duct (3) for a gas through-flow, a circumferential member (6), which is arranged at a radial distance from the stator structure and is operatively coupled to the stator structure, and at least one member for maintaining the distance between the stator structure and the circumferential member. The spacing member has resilient characteristics in the radial direction of the stator.

The present invention relates to a stator for a gas turbine comprising (including) a stator structure having a continuous through-duct for a gas through-flow, a circumferential member, which is arranged at a radial distance from the stator structure and is operatively coupled to the stator structure, and at least one member for maintaining the distance between the stator structure and the circumferential member.
The term gas turbine is intended to mean a unit, which comprises at least one turbine and a compressor driven by the former, together with a combustion chamber. Gas turbines are used, for example as engines for vehicles and aircraft, as prime movers for vessels and in power stations for producing electricity.
The gas turbine is of the axial type and has one or more turbine stages. The stator comprises a plurality of stator blades disposed in the duct for guiding the gas flow. The invention will be explained below in an application in which the stator consists of a so-called variable stator in a gas turbine. The term variable stator is intended to signify that the stator blades can be adjusted to various positions.
In order to achieve good efficiency in a gas turbine it is desirable to keep the inlet temperature to the first turbine stage as high as is feasible throughout as large a part of the operating range as possible. By means of the variable stator, it is possible to vary the pressure gradient over preceding turbine stages (the compressor turbine), and hence also the inlet temperature to the compressor turbine.