A drawing apparatus, including: a drawing unit which performs drawing of a design by applying inks of plural types to a drawing target area of a drawing target; and a control unit which controls the drawing unit on basis of image data of the design; wherein the control unit sets a plurality of unit areas each of which has a contact part contacting with each other in the drawing target area on basis of the image data, and the control unit controls the drawing unit to perform drawing on a specific unit area of the plurality of the unit areas when the control unit determines that every unit area contacting with the specific unit area is at least a dried unit area for which drying of the applied ink is finished or an un-drawn unit area to which the ink is not applied.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a drawing apparatus and a drawing method thereof.
2. Description of Related Art
Conventionally, there are known ink-jet type nail print apparatuses which spray ink from print heads and print nail designs on nails. Such nail print apparatus is described in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2003-534083, for example.
By using such nail print apparatuses, nail printing can be performed easily at home.
However, in ink-jet type nail print apparatuses, it is difficult to eject, from print heads, ink including color materials which have large particle diameters as used in nail polish on the market, and such like. Thus, there is a problem that printable pictures are limited and the finish is not beautiful.
With respect to this, in a case of plot type print apparatuses which include drawing heads equipped with writing tools such as pens and perform drawing by making tip portions of the writing tools contact sheets (targets) and applying ink with the writing tools, the type of ink which can be used is not limited, and thus, nail printing as applied at nail salons can be performed on nails.
However, in print apparatuses which draw images by plotting with a plurality of inks which have different colors from each other, in a case where a first ink having a first color is applied to a first area to perform drawing and thereafter a second ink having a second color that is different from the first color is applied to a second area contacting with the first area to perform drawing before the first ink becomes dry, a mixed color or such like is sometimes generated due to a mixture of the first ink and the second ink at the border between the first area and the second area, leading to defection of images and running of colors, and thus, the finish is not beautiful.
Especially, when nail printing is performed on nails, more time is required to dry ink compared to drawing on sheets of paper since ink is not absorbed into the nails. Thus, the above defection of images and running of colors due to the color mixture of ink and such like occur easily.
In order to avoid the defection of images and running of colors due to the color mixture of ink and such like, after plotting an ink, the user needs to wait for the ink to be sufficiently dry to plot an ink of another color. In such case, time required for nail printing is increased.

Drawing apparatus and drawing method thereof


A circular burner device comprising a cutting torch which includes a head, a tip, a valve, and a handle; a base bar which includes a first end and a second end; a U-shaped torch attachment at the first end of the base bar, where the U-shaped torch attachment receives the head of the cutting torch; a support bar fastened to the handle of the torch burner, where the support bar includes an opening along an entire length of the support bar; a slider at the second end of the base bar, where the slider includes a connection joint to attach to the second end of the support bar to the base bar; and a coupling fastening the support bar to the handle of the cutting torch, where the coupling slides within the opening in the support bar.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a device to assists a user to simultaneously bevel and cut into a metal surface.
2. Description of Related Art
Most machinists and metal workers are proficient in how to use a cutting torch. The cutting torches utilize a concentrated flame to burn through a metal work piece. The most common torch is an oxy-acetylene torch which burns a mixture of oxygen and acetylene gasses to fuel the flame. The acetylene gas is the fuel to create the flame, while the oxygen gas creates the power to push the flame through the work piece. The cutting torch is a useful tool because of its fast and efficient way to cut through steel sheets, and metal pipes.
Typical cuts made into the metal surfaces are straight lines. To cut holes, especially ones with bevels, the machinists must add a metal sheet cutter. The two tools get the job done, but the process to use them takes up a considerable amount of time and effort as many steps are required to cut and bevel the metal. Moreover, conventional circle burners, allow cuts to be made at only one angle. Rounding and changing angles while metal cutting is difficult if not impossible with the current tools available on the market.
Therefore it would be beneficial in the art to provide a holder for a cutting torch that allows a user to easily change the angle of the cut during use. It would also be desirable in the art to provide a holder for a cutting torch that may be disassembled to enable use of the individual pieces when necessary.

Circular burner device for cutting torch


A method for rule-based composition of user interfaces involves obtaining a user identity (ID) of a user accessing an application using a user interface and obtaining a user interface (UI) state of the user interface. Based on the UI state and based on the user ID, a plurality of rule-based recipes are obtained. Each rule-based recipe specifies a UI content suitable for an interaction between the user and the user interface. The method further includes ranking each of the rule-based recipes of the plurality of rule-based recipes based on a likeliness that the rule-based recipe is suitable, given the UI state and the user ID, identifying, from the ranked plurality of rule-based recipes, a highest-ranked rule-based recipe, obtaining the UI content specified by the highest-ranked rule-based recipe, and updating the user interface with the UI content.

User interfaces enable users to navigate through software applications. Some software applications may allow complex interactions that may need to be accommodated by the user interface. To support these interactions, suitable user interface content such as text, selectors, menus, etc. needs to be presented to the user. Suitable user interface content may be specified by rules.

Method and system for rule-based composition of user interfaces


A battery converter, which is used to convert battery voltage to an output voltage to power an integrated circuit in a battery-operated mode, is placed into a battery-charge mode to charge the battery when external power source is present to power the integrated circuit and the battery needs charging.

1. Technical Field of the Invention
The embodiments of the invention relate to the charging of rechargeable batteries and, more particularly, to utilizing a DC-DC converter circuit of an integrated circuit chip to charge a battery.
2. Description of Related Art
A variety of electronic equipment, especially portable or handheld electronic devices, are capable of being powered from a battery. Some of these portable and/or handheld devices include, but are not limited to, laptop or notebook computers, personal digital assistants (PDAs), compact disc (CD) players, digital video disc (DVD) players, MP3 (an audio standard under the Moving Picture Experts Group or MPEG) players, AM/FM (amplitude modulation/frequency modulation) radios, pagers, cellular telephones, etc. These devices typically contain one or more integrated circuit chip(s) to perform the operations(s) intended by the device. Many, if not most, of these devices may be powered by self-contained power sources, such as a battery. In many instances, the batteries may be rechargeable.
When a rechargeable battery is present in a portable or handheld device, the battery may be recharged by the use of an internal or an external battery charger. In some instances, it may be desirable to have an internal battery charger so that a separate external charger unit is not needed.
In a typical setup to charge a rechargeable battery, where the battery charging is provided by an internal battery charger, the device or chip includes a battery charging circuit to charge the battery. Typically, a separate and distinct battery charging circuit is utilized and this charging circuit is activated when an external power source is coupled to the device. For example, the charging of the battery by the charging circuit commences when the device is coupled to an external power source, such as a wall outlet. However, in some instances, external power is provided by other sources, rather than the alternating current (AC) power source.
As an example, in today's applications, certain interfaces may provide power through the interface itself. A bus specification, such as a Universal Serial Bus Revision 2.0 specification (USB 2.0), provides not only protocol for data transfer between two devices, but the USB 2.0 bus specification also provides a power link between a USB host and a USB device coupled onto the USB. For example, a peripheral device (such as an MP3 player), when coupled to a host (such as a personal or laptop computer) through a USB 2.0, the USB link not only provides the data lines for data transfer between the two devices, but +5 volts (nominal) is also provided to the peripheral through the interconnect. Thus, devices coupled onto the USB 2.0 may utilize the voltage provided on the bus to power circuitry of the peripheral component.
Accordingly, it would be advantageous to utilize the power supplied by an interconnection bus, such as USB 2.0, not only to provide the power to the component for its operation, but to utilize that power also to charge the battery. However, there may be a limitation on the current that may be drawn from such a power source. A general USB hub, for example, may be limited to a current of 0.1 amperes that may be draw from the hub. Thus, current drawn may be a consideration when using such sources for battery charge.
Also, it may be advantageous to combine the DC-DC converter circuit and the battery charging circuit, in order that some circuit components may be used in duplicity to reduce the number of components that may be needed to provide both the DC-DC conversion and battery charging operations.

Method and apparatus to perform battery charging using a DC-DC converter circuit


There is disclosed a water-soluble vitamin composition which containing about 90 to 99.8% by weight of a water-soluble vitamin, a polymer binder and at least one additive selected from the group consisting of monosaccharides, disaccharides, sugar alcohols, dextrin and organic acids, which can provide a tablet having high mechanical strength (hardness) with less compression problem and easy disintegration, upon compression. A process for producing the composition is also disclosed.

For producing tablets containing water-soluble vitamins such as L-ascorbic acid as an active component, a large amount of a binder is required, which limits a L-ascorbic acid content. Many activities have been attempted to produce tablets having a high L-ascorbic acid content and tablets having high mechanical strength (hardness).
For example, in U.S. Pat. No. 3,453,368, 85 to 95% by weight of L-ascorbic acid is mixed with 5 to 15% by weight of modified starch and the mixture is subjected to wet kneading. Then, the resultant mixture is granulated and dried to obtain granules containing L-ascorbic acid, mixed with a lubricant and compressed to obtain tablets containing L-ascorbic acid.
However, according to this method, it is difficult to obtain homogenous granules and fluidity of the granules is not satisfactory. Moreover, tablets prepared using the granules have insufficient mechanical strength (hardness).
In general, tablets need certain mechanical strength (hardness) to prevent breakage and wear during production and marketing steps and use. Then, activities have been attempted to investigate production processes, various excipients, binders, disintegrators and lubricants.
JP-B 58-403 discloses a process for production of L-ascorbic acid granules having excellent compressibility which comprises fluidizing L-ascorbic acid powder which can pass through a 200 mesh sieve in a fluidized bed granulator, while spray-coating the granules with a solution containing about 1 to about 10% by weight of a binder such as a water-soluble, organic solvent-soluble cellulose material to obtain granules containing about 2 to about 4% by weight of the binder. This patent also discloses a process for producing a pharmaceutical preparation which comprises mixing a lubricant with the above-obtained L-ascorbic acid granules and compressing the resultant mixture into a tablet.
JP-B 61-21526 discloses granules for tablets having a specific distribution of particle size comprising about 98:5 to 99.5% by weight (dry matter) of sodium L-ascorbate and a binder such as a water-soluble, organic solvent-soluble as cellulose material, and a tablet using the granules.
JP-B 5-66928 discloses granules for tablets having a specific distribution of particle size, wherein soluble polyvinyl pyrrolidone and ascorbic acid are used, and there is disclosed that a tablet having a high disintegration rate is obtained.

Water-soluble vitamin composition having excellent tablet properties and process for production thereof


This invention intends to offer a magnetic recording medium which is so devised as to give a wide dynamic range and a flat response over whole audible frequencies.. This invention attains the object by providing a magnetic recording medium which has two magnetic layers each composed mainly of ferromagnetic powder and a binder spread one over the other on one surface (front surface) of a non-magnetic substrate, wherein the ferromagnetic powder of either magnetic layer has a coercive force of 54.0-59.0 kA/m, and the coercive forces of the two magnetic layers differ by 3.2 kA/m or less. In addition, if a phase shift has to be minimized, the frictional coefficient of the back surface, and roughness (Ra.sup.f) of the magnetic surface with respect to that (Ra.sup.b) of the back surface or Ra.sup.f /Ra.sup.b should be adjusted properly.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a so-called coated magnetic recording medium whose magnetic film is composed of two layers laid one over the other.
2. Prior Art
Audio tapes, video tapes, data-cartridges for backup, and floppy disks have been used widely as magnetic recording media. Although application of magnetic metal film by impregnation has been proposed and put to use for part of such recording media, conventional metal-coated magnetic recording media still occupy the main position, because they require only a low cost for production. The coated magnetic recording medium generally has a structure wherein a magnetic layer consisting mainly of ferromagnetic powder and a binder is spread over a non-magnetic substrate made of polyester or the like. The magnetic layer is formed after the ferromagnetic powder and binder have been allowed to disperse in an organic solvent, and the resulting paint has been spread over the non-magnetic substrate.
For a magnetic recording medium to work properly, it must be furnished with a number of properties; high electromagnetic conversion, excellent running performance and high durability. Let's take, as an example, an audiotape which is required of reproducing original sounds faithfully. To attain such objective, it must have an excellent magneto-electrical conversion, particularly it must maintain a wide separation (dynamic range) between noises and outputs over a whole audible range extending from low to high frequency regions.
Conventional methods for enlarging the dynamic range mainly consist of suppressing noises by reducing the size of ferromagnetic powder particles. However, if ferromagnetic powder particles are made finer, they will be slower in dispersion and penetration, which results in reduction of outputs. Thus, with these methods, a sufficient enlargement of dynamic ranges was impossible.
In view of this, a magnetic film with a double-layered structure has been proposed where the superficial layer is made to have a bigger coercive force than the underlying layer, or alternatively a similar structure where the superficial layer which is more conductive to noise production is made to have finer magnetic particles than the underlying layer. These means allow the product to have a wider dynamic range because they ensure high outputs and low noises at the same time.
With the magnetic recording media produced by the lastly mentioned methods, however, the superficial and underlying layers have different bias characteristics, and thus the output becomes deteriorated in an intermediate range extending from 1 to 5 kHz. With the product by those methods, therefore, it is impossible to have a wide dynamic range over a whole audible range including low and high frequency regions, namely, the product can not give a substantially linear frequency response over a whole audible range.
In view of the foregoing, the present invention intends to provide a magnetic recording medium capable of giving a substantially linear response over a whole audible frequency range.
The present inventors, to attain the object, had studied hard, found that, if, with a magnetic film having a double-layered structure, difference between the coercive forces of ferromagnetic powders contained in the superficial and underlying layers is properly chosen, the resulting magnetic recording medium will give a flat response over a whole audible frequency range, and achieved this invention.


The present invention provides immunoselective targeting agents that bind to transporters that are transiently accessible on the surface of neuronal cells, and that deliver compounds selectively to such cells. The invention provides methods of selectively killing, as well as methods of selectively promoting survival of, a neuronal cell.

The ability to deplete specific populations of cells provides a powerful tool for the study of the role of particular cells in, for example, development and other biological processes. For example, the ability to selectively deplete neurons provides neurobiologists tools to study the involvement of different cell types in the functional and structural organization of the nervous system. A number of methods have been devised for this purpose in the context of neuronal cell depletion, including photoablation (He and Masland, 1997 Nature 389:378–382), systemic administration of excitatory neurotransmitters (Johnson and Reese, 2000 Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology, Inc. (ARVO), Annual Meeting in Fort Lauderdale, Apr. 30–May 5, 2000, IOVS Abstract Issue 41(4):#4507, Mar. 8, 2000), as well as the administration of immunotoxins directed at specific receptors expressed by targeted neurons (Wiley, 1996 Sem Cancer Biol 7:71–77; Wiley et al. 1997 Neurosci Lett 230:97–1000; Youle et al. 1980 Proc. Natl. Acad Sci USA 77:5483–5486; Flavell, 1998 Curr Top Microbiol. Immun 234:57–61). It is also desirable to delete cells at specific stages of development and to localize effects to a confined region of the nervous system. The effectiveness of a given method is evaluated by its selectivity (e.g., killing of the target cell with little or not killing of non-target cells) and by how completely the method succeeds in eliminating a targeted cell population.
Toxins that can be used to kill cells are generally referred to as cytotoxins. Ribosome inactivating proteins (RIPs), which are a class of proteins ubiquitous in higher plants, are examples of such cytotoxins. RIPs, which are divided into Type I and Type II classes, are cytotoxic due to their activity as potent inhibitors of eukaryotic protein synthesis. Type I RIPS are composed of a single peptide chain having ribosome-inactivating activity, while Type II proteins are composed of an A-chain, essentially equivalent to a Type I protein, disulfide-linked to a B-chain having cell-binding properties. The N-glycosidic bond of a specific adenine base is hydrolytically cleaved by RIPs in a highly conserved loop region of the 28S rRNA of eukaryotic ribosomes, thereby inactivating translation in eukaryotic cells. See, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 5,744,580. Gelonin, dodecandrin, tricosanthin, tricokirin, bryodin, Mirabilis antiviral protein (MAP), barley ribosome-inactivating protein (BRIP), pokeweed antiviral proteins (PAPS), saporins, luffins, and momordins are examples of Type I RIPs; whereas ricin and abrin are examples of Type II RIPS.
One conventional protocol for constructing an immunotoxin to a targeted cell involves three basic steps: (i) activating the targeting antibody using the heterobifunctional cross-linking agent, N-succinimidyl 3-(2-pyridildithio)propionate (SPDP) to generate sulfhydryl-reactive pyridyldisulfide groups; (ii) modifying the cytotoxin (e.g., a RIP, such as saporin), to contain -SH functional groups; and (iii) mixing the modified antibody and saporin molecules together. The result is a cross-linked antibody-toxin conjugate containing "cleavable" bonds (Carlsson et al., 1978 Biochem. J. 173:723–737). One of the most widely used immunotoxins, 192 IgG-saporin, has been directed at cholinergic neurons in basal forebrain (Robertson et al., 1998 Cerebral. Cortex 8:142–155). The 192 IgG-saporin is targeted to the p75 receptor since it is believed that most cholinergic cells in basal forebrain express this low affinity neurotrophin receptor.
Depletion of cholinergic cells have been of particular interest in the examination of developmental and functional pathways. A common cholinergic cell of interest is the amacrine cell. Cholinergic amacrine cells are arguably one of the best characterized of the more than 40 different amacrine cells thought to be present in the mammalian retina (Vaney, 1990 Prog. in Retinal Res. 9:49–100). These retinal interneurons have been suggested to play several key functions during the development of the retina as well as in the functional organization of the mature retina. A developmental phenomenon ascribed to cholinergic amacrine cells is the generation of retinal waves of activity thought to be crucial for the refinement of patterns of projections in the developing visual system (Burgi and Grzywacz, 1994 J. Neuroscience 14:7246–7439). The use of immunotoxins in research would make it feasible to assess the effects of selectively eliminating these retinal interneurons on the generation of activity patterns in the developing and mature retina.
Unfortunately, use of immunotoxins in various applications (e.g., as research reagents) has been frustrated due to the lack of specificity of the immunotoxin (which can result in killing of or damage to non-target cells) and/or the inefficiency of killing of target cells. For example, the effects of cholinergic cell depletion on the formation of functional, developmental, and structural pathways is a frequent subject of research. However, none of the currently available methods permits selective elimination of the entire population of the targeted cell type. The 192 IgG-saporin immunotoxin in present use is no exception, at least in part because the target site of the immunotoxin, the NGF (p75) receptor, is expressed by several other retinal cell types, including some ganglion cells and Muller glial cells (Hu et al., 1998 Glia 24:187–197). Therefore, other non-target cells nearby are also eliminated. In addition, the effectiveness of 192 IgG-saporin in eliminating cholinergic neurons has been reported to be quite variable at other levels of the nervous system, ranging from just over 40% to more than 90% (Robertson et al., 1998 Cerebral Cortex 8:142–155). Furthermore, the toxins currently employed for eliminating cholinergic cells have serious shortcomings that limit their usefulness. For instance, the AF64A toxin has been found to induce non-specific damage both in the retina as well as at other levels of the central nervous system (McGurk et al., 1987 Neuroscience 22:215–224).
There is a need in the field for immunoselective targeting agents that selectively and efficiently deliver compounds to a target population of neuronal cells, either for elimination of such cells or to promote survival of such cells. The present invention addresses this need.

Immunoselective targeting agents and methods of use thereof

The Regents of the University of California


The present invention relates to peptides biomarkers that are specifically recognized by autoantibodies present in the sera of patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA). More specifically, the invention provides epitopes of PAD4, of BRAF, and of calpastatin as well as methods and kits for using these sequences for the diagnosis of RA, in particular for the diagnosis of RA in CCP-negative subjects.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic autoimmune disease affecting approximately 1% of the world's population. It is characterized by inflammation and cellular proliferation in the synovial lining of joints that can ultimately result in cartilage and bone destruction, joint deformity and loss of mobility. RA usually causes problems in several joints at the same time, often in a symmetric manner. Early RA tends to affect the smaller joints first, such as the joints in the wrists, hands, ankles and feet. As the disease progresses, joints of the shoulders, elbows, knees, hips, jaw and neck can also become involved. Unlike other arthritic conditions that only affect areas in or around joints, RA is a systemic disease which can cause inflammation in extra-articular tissues throughout the body including the skin, blood vessels, heart, lungs and muscles.
RA is associated with pain, deformity, decreased quality of life, and disability, which in turn affect patients' ability to lead a normal and productive life. Recent studies have shown that 5 years after the onset of the disease, approximately one third of patients with RA are no longer able to work, and within 10 years, half of the patients have substantial functional disability (A. Young et al., Rheumatology, 2007, 46: 350-357). Consequently, RA imposes an important economic burden on society. Considerable data also suggest that RA is associated with lowered life expectancy.
Although RA has been extensively studied, the etiology and pathogenesis of the disease remain incompletely understood. Factors that may increase the risk for RA include: sex of the individual (women are 2 to 3 times more likely than men to develop the disease); age (RA occurs more commonly between the ages of 40 and 60, although it can also strike children, teenagers and older adults); genetics (RA was found to be strongly associated with the inherited tissue type Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) antigen HLA-DR4—more specifically DRB1*0401 and DRB1*0404); and smoking (RA is about 4 times more common in smokers than non-smokers).
There is currently no reliable cure for RA. Treatment is essentially directed towards relieving pain, reducing inflammation, and stopping or slowing joint damage and bone destruction. The current therapeutic approach is to prescribe disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) early in the condition, as RA patients treated early with such drugs have better outcomes, with greater preservation of function, less work disability, and smaller risk of premature death. Recent advances in the understanding of the pathophysiology of RA have led to the development of new DMARDs, called biological response modifiers. Biological DMARDs are designed to target and block the action of certain key cells or molecules, such as tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukin-1 (IL-1), T-cells, and B-cells, involved in the abnormal immune reaction associated with RA. In comparison with traditional DMARDs, the biological agents have a much more rapid onset of action and can offer better clinical response with effective long-term prevention of joint damage (J. K. D. de Vries-Bouwstra et al., Rheum. Dis. Clin. North Am., 2005, 31: 745-762).
Since irreversible joint destruction can be prevented by intervention at the early stages of the disease, early diagnosis of RA is important. However, definitive diagnosis of RA can be difficult. Immunologic tests that can be performed for the diagnosis of RA include, in particular, measurement of the levels of rheumatoid factor (RF), and anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide (anti-CCP) antibodies. Serological testing for RF is complicated by moderate sensitivity and specificity, and high rates of positivity in other chronic inflammatory and infectious diseases (T. Dorner et al., Curr. Opin. Rheumatol, 2004, 16: 246-253). Anti-CCP antibody testing is particularly useful in the diagnosis of RA, with high specificity, positivity early in the disease process, and ability to identify patients who are likely to have severe disease and irreversible damage. However, a negative result in anti-CCP antibody testing does not exclude RA.
Therefore, there is a great need for new biological markers of RA. In particular, biomarkers that would allow reliable diagnosis and monitoring of the early stages of the disease and permit early intervention to potentially prevent pain, joint destruction and long-term disability, are highly desirable.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Biomarkers, methods and kits for the diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis

INSERM (Institut National de la Sante et de la Rec

UNIVERSITE DE LA MEDITERRANEE—AIX MARSEILLE 11


A system and method for adapting the clean filter correction map for a selective catalyst reduction filter SCRF of an exhaust gas aftertreatment system are provided. The system may be in fluid communication with an engine of a vehicle. The system may include a first pressure sensor and a second pressure. A differential pressure module is in communication with the first pressure sensor and the second pressure sensor and configured to generate a delta pressure signal corresponding to a pressure drop between the first pressure sensor and the second pressure sensor. The system may also include a controller configured to determine a number of completed regeneration events of the SCRF; compare the number of completed regeneration events to an evaluation element; and enable an adaptation module by executing one of a first control action, a second control action, and a third control action.

Various exhaust aftertreatment devices, such as particulate filters and other devices, have been developed to effectively limit exhaust emissions from internal combustion engines. In the case of compression-ignition or diesel engines, a great deal of effort continues to be expended to develop practical and efficient devices and methods to reduce emissions of largely carbonaceous particulates otherwise present in the engine's exhaust gas.
An exhaust gas aftertreatment system for a modern diesel engine exhaust system typically incorporates a selective-catalytic-reduction device (SCR) and a Diesel Particulate Filter (DPF).
The SCR device is utilized to reduce NOx gases before the exhaust is discharged out a tailpipe. The SCR device uses a reductant capable of reacting with NOx gases to convert the NOx gases into inert byproducts, i.e., nitrogen and water. For example, the reductant can be an aqueous solution of urea, which is injected into the engine's exhaust stream. Once the reductant is in the exhaust stream, the reductant is absorbed into a catalyst of the SCR device, where the catalytic action of the SCR device ultimately converts NOx gases into the inert byproducts.
The DPF is utilized for collecting and disposing of the sooty particulate matter, emitted by the diesel engine, from the exhaust gas stream. A typical DPF acts as a trap for removing the particulate matter from the exhaust stream. The DPF may contain precious metals, such as platinum and/or palladium, which serve as catalysts to further oxidize soot and hydrocarbons present in the exhaust stream. In many instances, the DPF may be regenerated or cleaned using superheated exhaust gas to burn off the collected particulate.
Generally, the DPF is disposed downstream of the SCR device. In other words, the SCR device is spaced from the DPF such that the SCR device and the DPF are separate and independent components.

Method and system for adapting a clean filter correction map for a selective catalyst reduction filter


Apparatus for cleaning a moving web, such as paper, paper board or cardboard, prior to printing or processing wherein a tacky wiper cloth engages the moving web to collect contaminating particles. The wiper collection surface is renewable and the apparatus firmly holds the wiper in contact with the web yet is releasable during web threading procedures.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention pertains to moving web cleaning apparatus, particularly suitable for cleaning moving paper, paper board and cardboard webs prior to printing for removing dust shavings and loose and embedded contaminants from substrate surfaces.
2. Description of the Related Art
During the manufacture or processing of moving substrate surfaces such as webs of paper, paper board, cardboard, fabric and the like, the surface of the web will pick up dust, fiber particles, slitter shavings, scrapings, and other loose or embedded contaminants. If the webs are to be printed, painted or otherwise coated, such surface contaminants will interfere with the coating process significantly reducing the printing or coating quality, resulting in rejects. Accordingly, it is highly desirable to clean the surface of webs prior to subsequent processing, such as printing, in order to achieve the highest quality.
In the past, webs have been cleaned by blasts of air, vacuum, vibration, or other processes such as shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,105,256 ; 4,982,469; and 5,349,714. However, prior web cleaning systems have not achieved the efficiency and quality desirable as needed to consistently produce excellent printed surfaces, such as used in the packaging art, box making and the like wherein printing standards are high.
The most common web cleaning apparatus utilizes jets of air or vacuum to dislodge loose contaminants from the web substrate, but many particles are sufficiently embedded in the web as to not be removable by this means.
It is known to clean surfaces, such as fabric, clothing and the like, by using a tacky material, as shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,624,060 and 2,755,494, and while such tacky cleaning surfaces are capable of effectively picking up lint, dust and the like, the efficiency of the cleaning device diminishes with usage as the tacky surface becomes covered with the loose particles being picked up eventually rendering the tacky material incapable of functioning.
Previously, web cleaning apparatus capable of high speed production has not been available for effectively cleaning rapidly moving webs using a wiping technique wherein the engagement of the cleaning material with the web produces sufficient mechanical action to remove embedded contaminants.


A homodyne optical receiver includes a polarization beam splitter for dividing an optical signal into an optical signal with horizontal polarization and an optical signal with vertical polarization. Optical couplers combine two optical signals of the two polarized components with two optical local signals, which signals are almost matched therewith in polarization, and in a state where they are matched with each other in phase. Detectors homodyne-detect respective output optical signals of the optical couplers and two weighting circuits assign output signals of the detectors weights which are approximately proportional to amplitudes thereof, respectively. An adder adds output signals of the weighting circuits.

The present invention relates to a homodyne optical receiver equipment, and in particular to an optical receiver equipment, which is stable against variations in the polarization of optical signals.
In a homodyne optical receiver equipment it is necessary to make an optical signal input to the optical receiver equipment and an optical local signal emitted by an optical local oscillator incorporated in the optical receiver equipment match with each other in phase and polarization. This is because mismatch in the phase and the polarization can cause worsening in the reception sensitivity of the optical receiver equipment. Heretofore, no techniques have been proposed for polarization matching, while techniques for phase matching have been proposed. For example, in Reference 1 "ECO 89, Technical Digest, ThA 21-6, pp. 413-416, September 1989", Reference 2 "Electronics Letters, Vol. 26, No. 10, pp. 648-649, May 1990, etc. excellent methods for the phase matching have been proposed and verified. However, there are no proposals for polarization matching and in experiments polarization matching was effected by using a manual polarization controller. Further, in this reference, a part of a signal obtained by homodyne detection is branched off and phase matching is realized by controlling a semiconductor laser acting as an optical local oscillator while negatively feeding back thereto a current proportional to the branched signal, which has passed through a loop filter. Furthermore, it is known that such phase matching can be realized by controlling an optical phase controller, in which light output by the semiconductor laser is input, while feeding it back thereto.
For making a homodyne optical receiver equipment usable in practice it is necessary to add a function of automatically effecting the polarization matching to a phase matching function.


An optical scanner includes a light source (39) which directs a beam of light at a web of moving paper whereby the beam of light is transmitted through the web of moving paper. The transmitted beam (43) is split by a beam splitter (19) to provide a first split beam (44) travelling in a machine direction and a second split beam (45) travelling in a cross-machine direction. The split beams are received by charge-coupled device linear arrays (15, 19) which provide analog signals having magnitudes proportional to the magnitude of light intensity of the split beams. The analog signals are fed to analog-to-digital converters which provide digital data at the output. The digital data is then used to compute paper formation descriptors including paper mass variation, floc size statistics and histogram, Fourier power spectra and paper anisotropy.

Off-line paper formation sensors are known in the art. For example, the N.U.I. paper formation sensor, manufactured by NORAM Quality Control and Research Equipment Ltd. scans one spot at a time and can be used to measure paper mass variation. The Quebec North Shore Mead formation tester, manufactured by Electronic Associates, also scanned one spot at a time and gave wavelength power spectra. The Paprican Microscanner system, developed by the inventors herein and manufactured by NORAM Quality Control and Research Equipment Ltd., acquires a two-dimensional image and measures the mass variation, graininess as well as floc size histogram.
On-line paper formation sensors are also known in the art. Thus, the Measurex formation sensor, manufactured by Measurex, scans one spot at a time and gives mass variation measurements and floc size histogram. The Sentrol formation sensor also scans a single spot and extracts hard-clipped auto-correlation function as formation measurements. The Formspec formation analysis system, manufactured by Albany International, uses the visible light and a charge-coupled device (CCD) linear array. Because it looks at the whole width of the paper roll at a time, the whole paper formation variation along the width can be acquired quickly at the cost of low resolution.
The Intec system, manufactured by Intec Corp., also looks at the whole width of the paper roll at the same time but with a laser light source and a fiber optic receiver. It has the same advantages as well as disadvantages as the Formspec system. It is also designed to detect paper defects such as breaks, streaks and clustered or repeated holes. Accuray formation analysis system also scans the whole width of the paper roll at the same time along the cross direction using a linear array detector. It accumulates data of several scans, and an opacity variation coefficient, corresponding to each array element, is measured along the machine direction. Mass variation is obtained from the average of all of the opacity variation coefficients. The change in opacity variation coefficients along the cross direction gives some indications of cross direction uniformity. All of these on-line sensors are not capable of measuring paper anisotropy and of detecting pinholes accurately. Power spectra measurements, proven to be very useful with off-line systems, are also not addressed with any of the on-line systems.
Patents which contain teachings relating to paper formation sensors include U.S. Pat. No. 4,644,174, Ouellette et al, U.S. Pat. No. 4,019,819, Lodzinski and U.S. Pat. No. 3,196,072, Wirtz. The Ouellete et al patent teaches an application of analog filters to the spectral analysis of the transmitted profile of the formation. It neither uses detector arrays nor is it sensitive to machine direction/cross-machine direction variations. The Lodzinski patent teaches the measurement of optical properties, including opacity and Kubelka-Munk coefficients which are measured with on-line sensors in accordance with the teachings in this patent. However, formation measurement is not included in this patent.
The teachings in the Wirtz patent seem to be predicated on the idea that control of the space density of pulp fibers will allow control of the paper making process. A pressure replicate of the surface of the web is formed by pressing a plastic film against the surface with a roller and the plastic is then viewed in transillumination by an optical. detector which counts the number of "fibers" per inch. This patent is of interest having regards to the present application in that it teaches the use of a reciprocating sensing head illustrated in FIG. 3 thereof. However, the sensing head does not have two separate linear arrays, nor does it have a beam splitter to split the light in the direction of both arrays. In addition, it does not obtain values for the same paper descriptors as the inventive system does.

Pulp and Paper Research Institute of Canada


Method and device for the lateral compacting of slabs, which is employed in a rolling line at least upstream of the finishing rolling mill stands as an alternative to, or in cooperation with, rolling mill stands with vertical rolls, employing two counter-opposed compacting dies (11) supported by relative die-holder bodies (13) and associated with relative lateral edges of the slab (12) being rolled, each compacting die (11) cooperating with the relative actuation system comprising a crankshaft (15) and one element having the function of a connecting rod (18) positioned with its axis (30) on the same plane as, and perpendicular to, the axis of feed of the slab (12) and having one of its ends rotatably associated with the crankshaft (15) and its other end rotatably associated with the relative die-holder body (13), including two connecting rod elements associated with each crankshaft and with each die-holder body, at least one of the two connecting rod elements varying its length during each working cycle, said variation occurring at least during the return travel of the die-holder body.

This invention concerns a method for the lateral compacting of slabs and the relative device.
The device according to the invention is located in a rolling line at least upstream of the finishing rolling mill stands so as to apply an action of compression on the lateral edges of the slab passing through in order to produce a reduction of width thereof and, at the same time, a compaction of the crystalline structure of the slab.
The usual layouts of rolling lines provide for the slab passing through to undergo a succession of passes in rolling mill stands having the axes of their rolls alternately horizontal and vertical so as to achieve progressive reductions of the thickness-width of the slab.
The rolling mill stands having the axis of their rolls vertical are commonly called "vertical edgers".
This alternation of horizontal-vertical passes also causes an effect of progressive compaction of the crystalline structure of the steel with a resulting reduction of the interstitial hollows and therefore an improvement of the superficial and inner quality of the finished product.
However, the compression action achieved by means of the vertical rolls, which carry out this compression by rolling, has been found more and more inadequate for achieving the quality standards which the market now requires.
Moreover, this rolling action has been found ineffective for great reductions of width inasmuch as this process produces only a localised swelling at the edges but has a very limited effect on the material in the body of the slab.
Embodiments have therefore been developed which can be introduced into a rolling line having a substantially continuous cycle and which have the purpose of improving the effectiveness of this lateral compression action and thus the quality levels that can be achieved without thereby affecting the production capacity of the line.
The state of the art has included embodiments which employ pressure systems associated with the lateral edges of the slab passing through.
One of the main purposes of these pressure systems is to achieve considerable reductions of width of the slab, up to 350 mm., in such a way as to increase the range of strip which can be produced, starting from the same one width of the slab.
This result, as we said above, cannot be achieved with the vertical edgers, which swell only the zone next to the edges which then becomes enlarged again in the horizontal rolling mill stands, and therefore the net residual reduction which can be achieved with those edgers is about equal to 20% of that which can be achieved with the press systems.
The economic justification of the press systems is substantially based on the increase of output of the continuous casting machine, which works without any change of format, on the reduction of the range of the variety of the slabs and on the improvement of the yield owing to the reduction of the discards of the leading and trailing end portions.
Press systems have been disclosed both of an alternate start-stop type with feed of the slab in steps and pressure on the slab when halted, and also of a continuous "flying" type, whereby the slab continues to move forward even during the pressure step.
The embodiments of the state of the art, however, have been found unsatisfactory in terms of complexity of the structure, complexity of the working cycle, difficulty of gauging to obtain the desired result in terms of reduction of width, poor versatility and worse adaptation to the variations of the conditions of the rolling cycle and owing to still other problems.
Moreover, the embodiments of the state of the art entail a great vertical bulk, which creates also great problems when it is necessary to perform maintenance and/or replacement of parts.
Furthermore, in the embodiments of the state of the art the adjustment of the reduction of width of the slab is achieved either by displacing transversely the whole structure which contains the crankshafts or by interposing auxiliary adjustment elements between the connecting rod coupled to the crankshaft and the die-holder body.
It is obvious that this adjustment entails halting the line, long times and great difficulties of corrective work, the use of labour, additional costs, poor versatility, poor accuracy of adaptation and still other problems.
JP-A-6-304611 discloses a press with crankshafts with the axis on the same plane but at a right angle to the plane of positioning of the slab to be worked.
This document teaches to include a single connecting rod element conformed as a cylinder-piston.

Method for the lateral compacting of slabs and relative device


A new and distinct flowering Angelonia plant with dark leaves and light to medium blue flowers having a whitish edge.

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar of Angelonia hybrid known by the varietal name 'Ansky'. The new variety was discovered in a selected breeding program in Dresden, Germany. The new variety is the result of a cross combination breeding between a bulk of unnamed and unpatented medium to light blue genotype selections from a collection of proprietary breeding plants (Group 1K-125). The purpose of the breeding program was to find a new variety with large light blue flowers. The new variety was first asexually reproduced in 2002 by cuttings in Dresden, Germany. The new variety has been trial and field tested in Dresden and has been found to retain its distinctive characteristics and remain true to type through successive propagations. Characteristics distinguishable from other varieties include:                Upright plant habit        Large flowers        Light to medium blue flower color with a whitish edge        Dark green, glossy leaves

Variety of Angelonia plant named ‘Ansky’


A method and/or apparatus for wireless communication in a multi-SIM user equipment includes receiving a list of neighboring base stations from a serving base station of a first SIM. The serving base station of a second SIM is identified and a final target base station is determined for a cell reselection procedure and/or cell change order procedure from among the neighboring base stations and the serving base station of the second SIM.

1. Field
Aspects of the present disclosure relate generally to wireless communication systems, and more particularly, to cell reselection by a wireless device in a time division-synchronous code division multiple access (TD-SCDMA) network.
2. Background
Wireless communication networks are widely deployed to provide various communication services such as telephony, video, data, messaging, broadcasts, and so on. Such networks, which are usually multiple access networks, support communications for multiple users by sharing the available network resources. One example of such a network is the universal terrestrial radio access network (UTRAN). The UTRAN is the radio access network (RAN) defined as a part of the universal mobile telecommunications system (UMTS), a third generation (3G) mobile phone technology supported by the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP). 3G mobile networks were preceded by second generation (2G) mobile networks based on the GSM standard. 2G mobile networks are still used in many parts of the world.
The UMTS, which is the successor to global system for mobile communications (GSM) technologies, currently supports various air interface standards, such as wideband-code division multiple access (W-CDMA), time division-code division multiple access (TD-CDMA), and time division-synchronous code division multiple access (TD-SCDMA). For example, China is pursuing TD-SCDMA as the underlying air interface in the UTRAN architecture with its existing GSM infrastructure as the core network. The UMTS also supports enhanced 3G data communications protocols, such as high speed packet access (HSPA) and time division high speed packet access (TD-HSPA), which provide higher data transfer speeds and capacity to associated UMTS networks. HSPA is a collection of two mobile telephony protocols, high speed downlink packet access (HSDPA) and high speed uplink packet access (HSUPA), which extends and improves the performance of existing wideband protocols.
These multiple access technologies have been adopted in various telecommunication standards to provide a common protocol that enables different wireless devices to communicate on a municipal, national, regional, and even global level. An example of an emerging telecommunication standard is long term evolution (LTE). LTE is a set of enhancements to the universal mobile telecommunications system (UMTS) mobile standard promulgated by Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP). It is designed to better support mobile broadband Internet access by improving spectral efficiency, lower costs, improve services, make use of new spectrum, and better integrate with other open standards using OFDMA on the downlink (DL), SC-FDMA on the uplink (UL), and multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) antenna technology. The radio access network supporting LTE is called the enhanced universal terrestrial radio access network (EUTRAN) in which the LTE air interface is referred to as enhanced universal terrestrial radio access (EUTRA).
As the demand for mobile broadband access continues to increase, research and development continue to advance the UMTS and LTE technologies not only to meet the growing demand for mobile broadband access, but to advance and enhance the user experience with mobile communications.
Examples of such multiple-access technologies include code division multiple access (CDMA) systems, time division multiple access (TDMA) systems, frequency division multiple access (FDMA) systems, orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA) systems, single-carrier frequency divisional multiple access (SC-FDMA) systems, and time division synchronous code division multiple access (TD-SCDMA) systems.

Cell change order and cell reselection by a wireless device


A system for providing operational feedback to a user of a detection probe may include an optical sensor to generate data corresponding to a position of the detection probe with respect to a surface; a microprocessor to receive the data; a software medium having code to process the data with the microprocessor and pre-programmed parameters, and making a comparison of the data to the parameters; and an indicator device to indicate results of the comparison. A method of providing operational feedback to a user of a detection probe may include generating output data with an optical sensor corresponding to the relative position with respect to a surface; processing the output data, including comparing the output data to pre-programmed parameters; and indicating results of the comparison.

The use of a hand-held survey or detection probe to survey oneself, or another surface, is commonly referred to as "frisking". One error committed by radiation workers and emergency responders when using a hand-held detection or survey probe to frisk, e.g., survey for radiation, is moving the probe too quickly over the surface. This problem is often referred to as "turbo-frisking". Such an error may allow dangerous radioactive contamination to go undetected because the probe did not have adequate time over the contaminated area to detect the radiation present.
Another error committed while frisking, e.g., surveying for radioactive contamination, is not holding the probe close enough to the surface being surveyed to adequately detect potential contamination. This type of error often occurs when surveying for alpha radiation due to the relatively short travel distance of alpha particles. This error may also occur when surveying for beta radiation.
Still another problem encountered when surveying is accidentally contacting the surface with the survey probe. Such accidental contact may transfer radioactive contamination to the probe, which generally causes all future readings to be in error.
Typically, radiation workers and emergency responders are trained to maintain a proper probe speed and distance while surveying for radioactive contamination. Currently, there is no automated device that provides accurate feedback to the operator with respect to proper survey speed and probe distance.


An electrical wiring distribution system adapted for securement with a metal floor structure is provided. The system includes a hatch structure secured to a cellular floor structure. The hatch structure has a housing having an interior portion therewithin and an open bottom end. The housing has opposed sidewalls disposed transverse to the enclosed metal cells and bottom portions extending downwardly in close adjacency with channelways of the floor structure to prevent ingress of concrete into the interior portion. The housing has a pair of side portions having edges forming an access opening in communication with the interior portion of the housing. A divider structure is provided in the interior portion of the housing for dividing the interior portion of the housing into at least a pair of sections. The housing has an upper flange defining a top access opening. A fire retardant member is provided which is sized and adapted for extending about the upper flange between the housing and a ring assembly removably secured to the housing. The ring assembly being adapted to receive a cover plate removably secured thereto. A generally rectangular shaped duct structure defines a raceway extending therethrough. The raceway has an inlet opening in communication with the access opening of the housing. Main power and communication lines extending through the floor structure are accessible through the hatch structure for extension in the duct structure.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to an electrical floor hatch and wiring distribution system. More particularly, the invention pertains to an electrical floor hatch and wiring distribution system secured to a metal floor structure and embedded in a concrete slab.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Various prior art electrical floor structures and wiring distribution systems are known in the art. In general, such structures and systems are secured to a metal floor structure of a building during construction. A layer of concrete is supported by the floor structure and embeds the structure or system within. The wiring systems provide a means to distribute various power and communication lines throughout a building with the floor structures providing a point of access to the lines.
A commonly used system in building construction utilizes electrical cable trenches in combination with metal cellular flooring having enclosed metal cells. For example, such an electrical cable trench is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,721,051 issued to Fork. The trenches extend perpendicularly across the metal cells and are provided with cover plates that lay within a common plane with a top surface of the concrete floor. These trench systems suffer from a distinct disadvantage in that the installation is labor intensive which results in added construction costs.
The use of cellular flooring with prior art wiring systems is very popular in modern building construction. However, such flooring has several disadvantages. The first disadvantage involves an added risk factor during construction. Cellular flooring is similar to composite flooring except that cellular flooring has a flat metal portion that extends across the entire bottom side of the flooring. As a result, cellular flooring weighs and costs considerably more than composite flooring. During construction, the added weight of cellular flooring can create a safety concern for construction workers who are balanced upon a frame building made of steel beams and are carrying a length this heavy flooring.
A second disadvantage of cellular flooring involves fire proofing. A floor structure must be capable of containing a fire burning from below for a particular length of time. To gain a proper fire rating as may be needed, cellular flooring is coated on its bottom side with a fire proofing insulation. This insulation adds yet a further disadvantage in cost in comparison to composite flooring that does not typically require insulation in order to receive an equal fire rating.
As will be described in greater detail hereinafter, the electrical floor hatch and wiring system of the present invention differs from those previously proposed and employs a number of novel features that render it highly advantageous over the prior art.

Electrical floor hatch and wiring system for a concrete floor structure


A prosthesis for spinal surgery includes a spacer adapted to be secured into the bone and attached to one of a plurality of configuration plates. The configuration plates are interchangeable and each one is configured to utilize a different combination of bone screws, anchors or both. The prosthesis may further include a retaining mechanism to prevent bone screws and/or anchors from backing out.

The present invention relates, in general, to an intervertebral system allowing a surgeon to choose the method of fixation of a spacer at the time of surgery.
Back pain can be caused by any one of several problems that affect intervertebral discs of the spine, including, for example, degeneration, bulging, herniation, thinning of a disc, or abnormal movement. Generally, the pain is attributable to friction or pressure that inevitably occurs when one or both adjacent vertebras exert uneven pressure on the disc.
In response to such problems, a typical remedy is to perform spinal fusion, including for example, interbody, intervertebral, cervical, thoracic, or lumbar fusion surgery (all generically referred to herein as "IF"), which fuse together the two vertebrae adjacent the defective disc to form a single, solid bone. Presently, in an IF procedure, the problematic disc is removed and a spacer is implanted into the space. The spacer generally engages adjacent vertebral bodies to fuse and immobilize the site and mitigate patient discomfort.
There are a variety of fixation methods used to retain the spacer in its position. For example, screws can be inserted into holes in the spacer to engage the bone to secure the spacer thereto. Frequently, a screw back-out mechanism is used to prevent such screws from coming loose from the spacer, causing the spacer to become dislodged or unstable in the body. Alternatively, or in addition to the use of screws, a spacer may have anchors coupled thereto that extend into the bone to fix the spacer in position. Whether screws and/or anchors are used may depend on the surgeon's preference, the patient's anatomy, and the pathology. Existing systems dedicate the surgeon to one method of fixation and often one way to anchor it to the adjacent vertebrae.
There is a need in the art for an implant system that allows more autonomy to a surgeon to choose the method of fixation during surgery.


A system and method that provides data messages to a passive device. A passive device, for example watch, is registered together with the telephone number of a cellular telephone of a subscriber to the data message service. Since the cellular telephone periodically transmits a beacon signal, the wireless network knows its cell location. Accordingly, the system determines the cell location of the cellular telephone and establishes a communication of the subscribed data to the watch via the local cellular provider for the same cell location as that of the subscriber's cellular telephone.

An active cellular device, such as a telephone, a beeper and the like, sends a beacon signal on a periodic basis. Local cellular providers that receive the beacon signal can determine the cell location of the active device. Generally, the cellular provider that receives the signal with the greatest signal strength of power becomes the provider of the cellular service to the active device. The cellular provider sends the address of the active cell device to a central database. When a call is placed to the active device, the central database is accessed to find the most recent cell location of the active device. A wireless telephone connection is then made to the active device via the local service provider for that cell, provided the active device has not moved or stopped sending beacon signals. Because active cellular devices are locatable, they are capable of receiving and displaying data messages of various content, such as weather, news, sports scores, business data, and the like.
There is a class of passive device, such as a pen, a watch, a picture frame, a non-cellular telephone, a wallet and the like, that is incapable of being locatable because they lack a transmitter for sending a beacon or other signal by which they could be located. Accordingly, passive devices are not currently used for the communication of data messages.
There exists a need to provide a data service of data messages to a passive device, for example a watch, of a subscriber.

Efficient communication with passive devices

International Business Machines Corporation


A thin-film magnetic head comprises first and second magnetic pole groups, magnetically connected to each other, having respective magnetic pole parts opposing each other on a side of a medium-opposing surface; a recording gap layer formed between the magnetic pole parts; and a thin-film coil insulated from the first and second magnetic pole groups and helically wound about at least one of them; which are laminated on a substrate. The thin-film coil comprises a first conductor group having a plurality of inner conductor parts disposed between the first and second magnetic pole groups, a second conductor group having a plurality of outer conductor parts disposed outside the second magnetic pole group, and a connecting part group having a plurality of connecting parts for connecting the inner conductor parts to the outer conductor parts. Each of the first and second conductor groups includes an insulating contact structure for making the inner or outer conductor parts in contact with each other by way of an insulating film.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a thin-film magnetic head having at least an inductive electromagnetic transducer, a method of manufacturing the same, a head gimbal assembly, and a hard disk drive.
2. Related Background Art
In recent years, the areal density in hard disk drives has been increasing remarkably. Recently, the areal density in hard disk drives has reached 160 to 200 GB/platter in particular, and is about to increase further. Accordingly, thin-film magnetic heads have been required to improve their performances.
Widely used as a thin-film magnetic head is a combination thin-film magnetic head having a structure in which a recording head including an inductive electromagnetic transducer for writing and a reproducing head including a magnetoresistive device (which will also be referred to as MR device in the following) for reading are laminated.
In this kind of combination thin-film magnetic head, the recording head generally comprises a medium-opposing surface (air bearing surface, which will also be referred to as ABS), a lower magnetic pole layer, an upper magnetic pole layer, a recording gap layer, and a thin-film coil. The lower and upper magnetic pole layers have respective magnetic pole parts opposing each other (opposing magnetic pole parts) on the side of the medium-opposing surface, and are magnetically connected to each other by a connecting part disposed at a position separated from the opposing magnetic pole parts. The recording gap layer is formed between the opposing magnetic electrode parts. The thin-film coil is insulated from the lower and upper magnetic pole layers, while being at least partly disposed therebetween.
For improving performances of a recording head, its recording density in particular, a recording medium is required to improve its track density. This makes it necessary to realize a recording head having a narrow track structure in which the track width, i.e., the width between the two opposing magnetic pole parts in the medium-opposing surface, is reduced to a size of several microns to submicrons. Therefore, recording heads have been made by utilizing semiconductor processing technologies.
As the track width decreases, it becomes harder for a recording head to generate a magnetic flux having a high density between two opposing magnetic pole parts. Therefore, it has been desired to use a magnetic material having a high saturated magnetic flux density as a material for the magnetic pole parts.
When the frequency of a recording signal rises as the recording density improves, on the other hand, the recording head is required to improve the rate at which the magnetic flux changes, i.e., shorten the flux rise time. It is also desirable for the recording head to lower the deterioration in recording characteristics such as overwrite characteristic and non-linear transition shift in a high-frequency band.
For improving recording characteristics in a high frequency band, it is desired that the magnetic path length of the recording head be reduced so as to be able to follow rapid changes in recording signals which are likely to change fast while having a high frequency. The magnetic path length is mainly determined by the length (hereinafter referred to as "yoke length") from the medium-opposing surface in the lower or upper magnetic pole layer to the connecting part, whereby reducing the yoke length is effective at shortening the magnetic path length. When the thin-film coil is wound between the medium-opposing surface and the connecting part, reducing the pitch of windings disposed between the medium-opposing surface and the connecting part (hereinafter referred to as "winding pitch") in the windings of the thin-film coil is effective at shortening the yoke length.
Conventional thin-film magnetic heads are roughly divided into those having a planar spiral thin-film coil wound about a connecting part (see the following Patent Document 1), and those having a thin-film coil helically wound about at least one of the lower and upper magnetic pole layers (see the following Patent Documents 2, 3, 4).
The former thin-film magnetic heads generate a large part of magnetic fluxes near the connecting part, in which the magnetic fluxes guided to the opposing magnetic pole parts by the lower and upper magnetic pole parts are used for recording information. However, since most of magnetic fluxes are generated about the connecting part, only about a few percent of the generated magnetic fluxes are used for recording, whereby the recording with magnetic fluxes has not been effected efficiently in the former thin-film magnetic heads. Therefore, the number of turns of the thin-film coil has been made as large as possible in order to increase magnetic fluxes used for recording in the former thin-film magnetic heads. Conventionally known as an example of techniques therefor is one in which, between windings of a first coil, windings of a second coils are disposed, so as to reduce the winding pitch (see the following Patent Document 5).
In the latter thin-film magnetic heads, the thin-film coil is disposed near the medium-opposing surface, whereby generated magnetic fluxes are used for recording more efficiently than in the former. Therefore, as compared with the former thin-film magnetic heads having a planar spiral thin-film coil, the latter thin-film magnetic heads can decrease the number of turns of the thin-film coil, thereby being more advantageous in reducing the yoke length.
Reducing the yoke length is effective in improving recording characteristics in a high-frequency band in the latter thin-film magnetic heads as well, for which it will be advantageous if the winding pitch of the thin-film coil is made as small as possible. Raising the number of turns in the thin-film coil is also effective in increasing magnetic fluxes used for recording. For realizing all of them, it is necessary for the winding pitch to be made as small as possible, so as to reduce the yoke length and allow the number of turns in the thin-film coil to increase. To this aim, the width of each turn (turn width) of the thin-film coil is required to narrow.
Narrowing the turn width in the thin-film coil increases the ohmic value of the thin-film coil, thereby enhancing the heat generated from the thin-film coil. When the heat generated from the thin-film coil increases, the magnetic pole parts are more likely to project toward the recording medium, thereby colliding with the recording medium. Therefore, the conventional thin-film magnetic heads have not been able to reduce the turn width so much, and thus have failed to decrease the yoke length.
Conventionally, the thin-film coil has been formed by frame plating. Frames used in frame plating have wall parts to be disposed between turns. Each wall part must have a certain extent of width in order to maintain its form. This makes it difficult to reduce the space between adjacent turns (turn space) when forming the thin-film coil by frame plating. Though the technique disclosed in the following Patent Document 5 can reduce the space between adjacent turns, the resulting thin-film magnetic head comprises a planar spiral thin-film coil, and thus is disadvantageous in that generated magnetic fluxes cannot efficiently be used for recording.
Patent Document 1: U.S. Pat. No. 6,043,959
Patent Document 2: U.S. Pat. No. 5,995,342
Patent Document 3: Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2000-311311
Patent Document 4: U.S. Pat. No. 6,459,543B1
Patent Document 5: U.S. Pat. No. 6,191,916B1

Thin-film magnetic head, a head gimbal assembly, and a hard disk drive


A semiconductor memory device in which memory cells are arranged at intersections between the word lines and the bit lines includes a control unit for selecting, in a second half of a cycle in which a first word line is selected from the word lines to conduct a read or write operation for a first memory cell coupled with the first word line, a second word line other than the first word line and refreshing memory cells corresponding to the second word line. The memory cell includes an amplifier section including two driver transistors of which gate and drain electrodes are respectively cross-coupled with each other and a switch section including selector transistors coupling the amplifier section with the bit lines according to a selection signal on the bit line. Either one of each transistor and each selector transistor is an n-channel transistor or a p-type transistor.

The present invention relates to a semiconductor memory device, and in particular, to a circuit technique suitable for a high-speed and highly-integrated semiconductor memory device.
The semiconductor memory devices includes a dynamic random access memory (DRAM), a static random access memory (SRAM), and a pseudo SRAM. The DRAM is designed using a volatile dynamic memory cell architecture and includes cells each including a single transistor and a single capacitor. The DRAM is volatile, that is, when power source voltage thereof is interrupted, the data stored therein is lost. To continuously keep charge in the capacitor, it is required to periodically refresh the memory. The SRAM is inspected by use of a volatile static memory cell architecture. It is not required to refresh data stored in the memory. As long as power is supplied thereto, the data is kept therein for a long period of time. The pseudo SRAM is designed according to a single-transistor and single-capacitor memory cell architecture, not the volatile dynamic memory architecture used for the DRAM. It is therefore required to periodically refresh the pseudo SRAM.
A known example of the pseudo SRAM includes pseudo four-transistor memory cells. To refresh the memory cells, a refresh pulse is supplied to word lines during a precharge level period of paired data lines (reference is to be made to, for example, JP-A-10-501363 (PCT) (FIG. 3) corresponding to WO95/33265).
In another known example of the pseudo SRAM a rewrite cycle is concealed in the read•write operation as below. While a sense amplifier connected to a pair of bit lines is operating (or is precharging bit lines), an access transistor is slightly turned on (reference is to be made to, for example, JP-A-2001-202775 (FIG. 1; paragraph 20)).

Semiconductor memory device having short refresh time


Control of scanning images during ophthalmic surgery may be performed with a scanning controller that interfaces to an optical scanner used with a surgical microscope. A scan control device may receive user input, including hands-free user input, for controlling an overlay image of scanning data that is overlaid on optical image data viewed using the surgical microscope. A selected location for optical scanning may also be displayed and controlled using the scanning controller.

Field of the Disclosure
The present disclosure relates to ophthalmic surgery, and more specifically, to control of scanning images during vitreoretinal surgery.
Description of the Related Art
In ophthalmology, eye surgery, or ophthalmic surgery, saves and improves the vision of tens of thousands of patients every year. However, given the sensitivity of vision to even small changes in the eye and the minute and delicate nature of many eye structures, ophthalmic surgery is difficult to perform and the reduction of even minor or uncommon surgical errors or modest improvements in accuracy of surgical techniques can make an enormous difference in the patient's vision after the surgery.
Ophthalmic surgery is performed on the eye and accessory visual structures. More specifically, vitreoretinal surgery encompasses various delicate procedures involving internal portions of the eye, such as the vitreous humor and the retina. Different vitreoretinal surgical procedures are used, sometimes with lasers, to improve visual sensory performance in the treatment of many eye diseases, including epimacular membranes, diabetic retinopathy, vitreous hemorrhage, macular hole, detached retina, and complications of cataract surgery, among others.
During vitreoretinal surgery, an ophthalmologist typically uses a surgical microscope to view the fundus through the cornea, while surgical instruments that penetrate the sclera may be introduced to perform any of a variety of different procedures. The surgical microscope provides imaging and optionally illumination of the fundus during vitreoretinal surgery. The patient typically lies supine under the surgical microscope during vitreoretinal surgery and a speculum is used to keep the eye exposed. Depending on a type of optical system used, the ophthalmologist has a given field of view of the fundus, which may vary from a narrow field of view to a wide field of view that can extend to peripheral regions of the fundus. For many types of vitreoretinal surgery using the surgical microscope, the surgeon may desire to have a very wide field of view of the fundus that extends beyond the equator and even out to the ora serrata. The optical system to provide the view of the fundus to the surgeon during vitreoretinal surgery may include a special ocular lens, of which three types are typically used: a direct (piano, flat, or magnifying) contact lens, an indirect non-contact lens, or an indirect contact lens.
In addition to viewing the fundus, many surgical microscopes may be equipped with optical scanners to provide additional information about portions of eye tissue involved with the vitreoretinal surgery. The optical scanners may be optically or electro-mechanically integrated into the surgical microscope. In typical system configurations, control of the optical scanner as well as viewing output images from the optical scanner are performed using different systems that a user, such as the surgeon, operates individually.

Control of scanning images during vitreoretinal surgery


Display driver circuitry for electro-optic displays, in particular active matrix displays using organic light emitting diodes. The circuitry includes a driver to drive an electro-optic display element in accordance with a drive voltage, a photosensitive device optically coupled to the electro-optic display element to pass a current dependent upon illumination reaching photosensitive device, a control circuit having a control line coupled to the driver to control the brightness of the electro-optic display element and having a current sense input coupled to the photosensitive device, a current set line for coupling to a reference current generator, and a display element select line to, when active, cause the control circuit to drive the electro-optic display element in accordance with the current set by the reference current generator. The circuit provides improved control of an electro-display element such as an organic LED pixel.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention generally relates to display drivers for electro-optic displays, and in particular relates to circuitry for driving active matrix organic light emitting diode displays.
2. Description of Related Technology
Organic light emitting diodes (OLEDs) comprise a-particularly advantageous form of electro-optic display. They are bright, colourful, fast-switching, provide a wide viewing angle and are easy and cheap to fabricate on a variety of substrates. Organic LEDs may be fabricated using either polymers or small molecules in a range of colours (or in multi-coloured displays), depending upon the materials used. Examples of polymer-based organic LEDs are described in WO 90/13148, WO 95/06400 and WO 99/48160; examples of so called small molecule based devices are described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,539,507.
A basic structure 100 of a typical organic LED is shown in FIG. 1a. A glass or plastic substrate 102 supports a transparent anode layer 104 comprising, for example, indium tin oxide (ITO) on which is deposited a hole transport layer 106, an electroluminescent layer 108, and a cathode 110. The electro luminescence layer 108 may comprise, for example, a PPV (poly(p-phenylenevinylene)) and the hole transport layer 106, which helps match the hole energy levels of the anode layer 104 and electroluminescent layer 108, may comprise, for example, PEDOT:PSS (polystyrene-sulphonate-doped polyethylene-dioxythiophene). Cathode layer 110 typically comprises a low work function metal such as calcium and may include an additional layer immediately adjacent electroluminescent layer 108, such as a layer of aluminium, for improved electron energy level matching. Contact wires 114 and 116 to the anode the cathode respectively provide a connection to a power source 118. The same basic structure may also be employed for small molecule devices.
In the example shown in FIG. 1a light 120 is emitted through transparent anode 104 and substrate 102 and such devices are referred to as "bottom emitters". Devices which emit through the cathode may also be constructed, for example by keeping the thickness of cathode layer 110 less than around 50–100 nm so that the cathode is substantially transparent.
Organic LEDs may be deposited on a substrate in a matrix of pixels to form a single or multi-colour pixellated display. A multicoloured display may be constructed using groups of red, green, and blue emitting pixels. In such displays the individual elements are generally addressed by activating row (or column) lines to select the pixels, and rows (or columns) of pixels are written to, to create a display. It will be appreciated that with such an arrangement it is desirable to have a memory element associated with each pixel so that the data written to a pixel is retained whilst other pixels are addressed. Generally this is achieved by a storage capacitor which stores a voltage set on a gate of a driver transistor. Such devices are referred to as active matrix displays and examples of polymer and small-molecule active matrix display drivers can be found in WO 99/42983 and EP 0,717,446A respectively.
FIG. 1b shows such a typical OLED driver circuit 150. A circuit 150 is provided for each pixel of the display and ground 152, Vss 154, row select 164 and column data 166 busbars are provided interconnecting the pixels. Thus each pixel has a power and ground connection and each row of pixels has a common row select line 164 and each column of pixels has a common data line 166.
Each pixel has an organic LED 156 connected in series with a driver transistor 158 between ground and power lines 152 and 154. A gate connection 159 of driver transistor 158 is coupled to a storage capacitor 160 and a control transistor 162 couples gate 159 to column data line 166 under control of row select line 164. Transistor 162 is a field effect transistor (FET) switch which connects column data line 166 to gate 159 and capacitor 160 when row select line 164 is activated. Thus when switch 162 is on a voltage on column data line 166 can be stored on a capacitor 160. This voltage is retained on the capacitor for at least the frame refresh period because of the relatively high impedances of the gate connection to driver transistor 158 and of switch transistor 162 in its "off" state.
Driver transistor 158 is typically an FET transistor and passes a (drain-source) current which is dependent upon the transistor's gate voltage less a threshold voltage. Thus the voltage at gate node 159 controls the current through OLED 156 and hence the brightness of the OLED.
The standard voltage-controlled circuit of FIG. 1b suffers from a number of drawbacks. The main problems arise because the brightness of OLED 156 is dependent upon the characteristics of the OLED and of the transistor 158 which is driving it. In general, these vary across the area of a display and with time, temperature, and age. This makes it difficult to predict in practice how bright a pixel will appear when driven by a given voltage on column data line 166. In a colour display the accuracy of colour representations may also be affected.
Two circuits which partially address these problems are shown in FIGS. 2a and 2b. FIG. 2a shows a current-controlled pixel driver circuit 200 in which the current through an OLED 216 is set by setting a drain source current for OLED driver transistor 212 using a reference current sink 224 and memorising the driver transistor gate voltage required for this drain-source current. Thus the brightness of OLED 216 is determined by the current, Icol′, flowing into adjustable reference current sink 224, which is set as desired for the pixel being addressed. It will be appreciated that one current sink 224 is provided for each column data line 210 rather than for each pixel.
In more detail, power 202, 204, column data 210, and row select 206 lines are provided as described with reference to the voltage-controlled pixel driver of FIG. 1b. In addition an inverted row select line 208 is also provided, the inverted row select line being high when row select line 206 is low and vice versa. A driver transistor 212 has a storage capacitor 218 coupled to its gate connection to store a gate voltage for driving the transistor to pass a desired drain-source current. Drive transistor 212 and OLED 216 are connected in series between a power 202 and ground 204 lines and, in addition, a further switching transistor 214 is connected between drive transistor 212 and OLED 216, transistor 214 having a gate connection coupled to inverted row select line 208. Two further switching transistors 220,222 are controlled by non-inverted row select line 206.
In the embodiment of the current-controlled pixel driver circuit 200 illustrated in FIG. 2a all the transistors are PMOS, which is preferable because of their greater stability and better resistance to hot electron effects. However NMOS transistors could also be used. This is also true of circuits according to the invention which are described below.
In the circuit of FIG. 2a the source connections of the transistors are towards GND and for present generation OLED devices Vss is typically around −6 volts. When the row is active the row select line 206 is thus driven at −20 volts and inverted row select line 208 is driven at 0 volts.
When row select is active transistors 220 and 222 are turned on and transistor 214 is turned off. Once the circuit has reached a steady state reference current Icol′ into current sink 224 flows through transistor 222 and transistor 212 (the gate of 212 presenting a high impedance). Thus the drain-source current of transistor 212 is substantially equal to the reference current set by current sink 224 and the gate voltage required for this drain-source current is stored on capacitor 218. Then, when row select becomes inactive, transistors 220 and 222 are turned off and transistor 214 is turned on so that this same current now flows through transistor 212, transistor 214, and OLED 216. Thus the current through OLED is controlled to be substantially the same as that set by reference current sink 224.
Before this steady state is reached the voltage on capacitor 218 will generally be different from the required voltage and thus transistor 212 will not pass a drain source current equal to the current, Icol′, set by reference sink 224. When such a mismatch exists a current equal to the difference between the reference current and the drain-source current of transistor 212 flows onto or off capacitor 218 through transistor 220 to thereby change the gate voltage of transistor 212. The gate voltage changes until the drain-source current of transistor 212 equals the reference current set by sink 224, when the mismatch is eliminated and no current flows through transistor 220.
The circuit of FIG. 2a solves some of the problems associated with the voltage-controlled circuit of FIG. 1b as the current through OLED 216 can be set irrespective of variations in the characteristics of pixel driver transistor 212. However the circuit of FIG. 2a is still prone to variations in the characteristic of OLED 216 between pixels, between active matrix display devices, and over time. A particular problem with OLEDs is a tendency for their light output to decrease over time, dependent upon the current with which they are driven (this may be related to the passage of electrons through the OLED). Such degradation is particularly apparent in a pixellated display where the relative brightness of nearby pixels can easily be compared. A further problem with the circuit of FIG. 2a arises because each of transistors 212, 214 and 222 must be sufficiently physically large to handle the current through OLED 216, which is equal to the Icol reference current. Large transistors are generally undesirable and, depending upon the active matrix device structure, may also obscure or prevent the use of part of a pixel's area
In an attempt to address these additional problems there have been a number of attempts to employ optical feedback to control the OLED current. These attempts are described in WO 01/20591, EP 0,923,067A, EP 1,096,466A, and JP 5-035,207 and all employ basically the same technique. FIG. 2b, which is taken from WO 01/20591, illustrates the technique, which is to connect a photodiode across the storage capacitor.
FIG. 2b shows a voltage-controlled pixel driver circuit 250 with optical feedback 252. The main components of the driver circuit 250 of FIG. 2b correspond to those of circuit 150 of FIG. 1b, that is, an OLED 254 in series with a driver transistor 256 having a storage capacitor 258 coupled to its gate connection. A switch transistor 260 is controlled by a row conductor 262 and, when switched on, allows a voltage on capacitor 258 to be set by applying a voltage signal to column conductor 264. Additionally, however, a photodiode 266 is connected across storage capacitor 258 so that it is reverse biased. Thus photo diode 266 is essentially non conducting in the dark and exhibits a small reverse conductance depending upon the degree of illumination. The physical structure of the pixel is arranged so that OLED 254 illuminates photodiode 266, thus providing an optical feedback path 252.
The photocurrent through photodiode 266 is approximately linearly proportional to the instantaneous light output level from OLED 254. Thus the charge stored on capacitor 258, and hence the voltage across the capacitor and the brightness of OLED 254, decays approximately exponentially over time. The integrated light output from OLED 254, that is the total number of photons emitted and hence the perceived brightness of the OLED pixel, is thus approximately determined by the initial voltage stored on capacitor 258.
The circuit of FIG. 2b solves the aforementioned problems associated with the linearity and variability of the driver transistor 256 and OLED 254 but exhibits some significant drawbacks in its practical implementation. The main drawback is that every pixel of the display needs refreshing every frame as storage capacitor 258 is discharged over no more than this period. Related to this, the circuit of FIG. 2b has a limited ability to compensate for ageing effects, again because the light pulse emitted from OLED 254 cannot extend beyond the frame period. Similarly, because the OLED is pulsed on and off it must be operated at an increased voltage for a given light output, which tends to reduce the circuit efficiency. Finally, capacitor 258 often exhibits non-linearities so that the stored charge is not necessarily linearly proportional to the voltage applied on column conductor 264. This results in non-linearities in the voltage-brightness relationship for the pixel as photodiode 266 passes a photocurrent (and hence charge) which is dependent upon the level of illumination it receives.


According to an aspect of the present disclosure, a healthcare system receives a request to initiate a chat in relation to a patient, identifies healthcare providers having responsibility for the patient, and provides a chat session with the identified healthcare providers as participants. Upon receiving a command (requesting information on the patient) during the chat session, the healthcare system retrieves an electronic medical record (EMR) of the patient and sends the EMR to the participants of the chat session. In one embodiment, the command does not specify the identifier of the patient in the chat session. In another embodiment, when an external EMR system maintains EMRs of the patient, the healthcare system retrieves the EMR of the patient from the EMR system without requiring the participant to manually authenticate after specifying the command. Accordingly, the healthcare system is configured to facilitate collaboration among healthcare providers.

Healthcare systems aid the delivery of various healthcare aspects such as work-flow coordination, records management, diagnosis, etc., as is well known in the relevant arts. Healthcare systems are often employed by hospitals (healthcare delivery parties, in general) to aid various parties such as the medical staff and patients.
Collaboration refers to the process of facilitating multiple participants (e.g. healthcare personnel such as doctors, nurses, care team, etc.), who may be located in different geographical locations, to communicate among themselves by way of instant messaging, electronic mailing, file sharing, remote screen sharing, etc.
Aspects of the present disclosure are directed to providing effective collaboration in healthcare systems.

Collaboration via chat in health care systems


A drive system for multiple motors includes a first motor, a second motor, a motor drive power supply for supplying power to the first and second motors, a first motor drive amplifier, a second motor drive amplifier, a first overcurrent detection apparatus, and a second overcurrent detection apparatus. The first overcurrent detection apparatus is connected between the motor drive power supply and the first motor drive amplifier for detecting current through the first motor drive amplifier, and comparing the current value to the first overcurrent benchmark value to output an overcurrent detection signal correspondingly. The second overcurrent detection apparatus is connected between the motor drive power supply and the second motor drive amplifier for detecting current through the second motor drive amplifier, and comparing the current value to the second overcurrent benchmark value to output an overcurrent detection signal correspondingly.

1. Technical Field
The present disclosure relates to drive systems and, more particularly, to a drive system for multiple motors.
2. Description of the Related Art
A drive system normally includes a plurality of motor drive amplifiers for driving motors, and a motor drive power supply for supplying power to the motor drive amplifiers. In the drive system, various overcurrent benchmark values (values when surpassed by current are considered as overcurrent) are set in an overcurrent detection apparatus for detecting overcurrent. An overcurrent benchmark value is usually equal to a sum of a maximum rated current value of each motor amplifier in the drive system.
However, if one of the motor amplifiers is not working, the maximum rated current value of the motor amplifier is also counted into the overcurrent benchmark value. As a result, the overcurrent detection apparatus cannot detect the overcurrent accurately.
Therefore, what is needed, is a drive system for multiple motors which can accurately detect overcurrent.