Disclosed is a unitary foam seat cushion (10) that is configured and arranged to eliminate contact pressure on the rectal, perineal and genital regions of a person seated on the seat cushion without subjecting the perineal region to substantial stress or tension. The seat cushion includes a base (12) and two upwardly projecting elongate support members (16 and 18). The support members are of an arcuate (upwardly extending convex) cross-sectional geometry and are positioned in parallel spaced apart relationship for support of the ischia and thighs. Located between the support members is a channel (14) that extends downwardly into the seat cushion to form a void that prevents exertion of contact pressure on the rectal, perineal and genital areas. The portions (30 and 32) of the support members nearest the knees of a seated person taper downwardly for improved weight distribution and comfort of a person seated on the seat cushion.

Pain and discomfort of the rectal and perineal body regions stem from a number of causes such as hemorrhoids, rectal surgery or an episiotomy. Persons experiencing rectal or perineal pain or discomfort often seat themselves on a donut-shaped cushion to prevent contact with and pressure on the affected area. Although relatively inexpensive, donut-shaped cushions do not provide a desired degree of relief. For example, in many cases donut-shaped cushions result in tension being exerted on the perineal region. Such tension can cause increased discomfort, especially when surgical sutures are present.
Sufferers of perineal region discomfort also have used various types of wheelchair cushions and sporting event cushions in attempting to sit without increased pain or discomfort. However, such cushions are not designed for alleviation of both pressure and tension on the perineal region and, thus, provide little or no benefit. Further, wheelchair cushions that may provide some degree of relief often are disadvantageous from the standpoint of relatively high cost, especially for surgical patients and others who experience discomfort for a period of a few days or, at most, a few weeks.

Seat cushion for alleviation of perineal and rectal discomfort


A shoe with belts according to the present invention comprising an upper, a sole S that has a first and second roll-up portions S11, S10 rolling upwards along side faces of a foot, and first and second belts 51, 52. The first belt 51 is fixed to the first roll-up portion S11 at a first joined portion 58 on the medial side of the foot. The second belt 52 is fixed to the second roll-up portion S10 at a second joined portion 59 on the lateral side of the foot. The pair of belts 51, 52 cross each other at a position approximately above the navicular bone 91. The first belt 51 can be arranged in a tensioned state along a path extending from the medial side of the foot to the vicinity of an ankle on the lateral side of the foot through the crossing position 57. The second belt 52 can be arranged in a tensioned state along a path extending from the lateral side to the vicinity of the ankle on the medial side of the foot through the crossing position 57.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a shoe having improved fitting properties.
The present invention can apply to various kinds of shoes such as wrestling shoes and tennis shoes. The present invention is useful especially for fastening shoes without shoe laces to the foot.
2. Description of the Related Art
Shoes, for example for wrestling or tennis, having an inner upper covered with an outer upper, are known.
These type of shoes require that the inner upper can be easily fastened to the foot. On the other hand, because there are many movements of the foot in the widthwise direction when the player is doing the above mentioned sports, it is necessary to make the shoe fit to the foot and to support the foot so as to prevent displacement between the foot and the shoe.
It is known to fasten the upper of a shoe to the foot, by the use of fastening belts at the medial and lateral sides of the foot. For example, shoes disclosed in the following documents employ such a method.
In the shoe disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. Hei 02-33611 (FIGS. 8 and 9 thereof), belts are pulled up in the vicinity of an arch on the medial and lateral sides of the foot. Such belts support the arch on the medial and lateral sides of the foot and its vicinity, but they cannot support the foot in the vicinity of the distal caput of the fifth metatarsal bone of the foot.
In the shoe disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-112510 (Abstract), belts are pulled up in the vicinity of caput of metatarsal bones on the medial and lateral sides of the foot. The belts prevent the motion of the ball of the foot on the medial side of the foot. The shoe does not fit to the foot on the medial side.
In the shoe disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. Hei 08-131201 (FIG. 1 thereof), a lace or belt is turned back (folded back) many times and then tightened near the ankle. As such lace or belt stretches during wearing the shoe, a sufficiently tight fit cannot be obtained. Moreover, such lace or belt cannot be used when the shoe has an inner upper covered with an outer upper.
The shoe of U.S. Pat. No. 4,557,419 (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. Sho 60-227701) may sufficiently support and fasten the foot at the top side of an upper, that is, a leg part of the shoe. However, a reinforcing member is integrated with the upper at the side faces of the upper, the function of supporting the foot at a lower side of the upper and the function of fitting a sole to the foot are insufficient.
In the shoe of U.S. 2003/0029057 A1 (Japanese Patent Laid-Open 2003-125805), the medial and lateral sides of the foot are fastened with belts symmetrically. Therefore, when a distal caput of a fifth metatarsal bone is supported, the ball of the big toe of the foot is prevented from moving freely.
The shoe of U.S. 2003/008144 A1 has a bumper support on the lateral side of the fore foot part in addition to a strap for fastening the mid foot part. However, although the bumper support can prevent displacement between the shoe and the ground, displacement between the foot and the shoe cannot be prevented.
In the shoe of U.S. Pat. No. 6,270,468, as clearly shown in FIG. 9A thereof, straps are fixed to lower portions of the mid foot part and the rear foot part on the lateral side of the foot. Therefore, the vicinity of the distal caput of a fifth metatarsal bone cannot be supported.


A method is presented of providing voice communication, including receiving at a set-top box device a selection of a first contact, receiving data indicating that a first call has been placed to a phone associated with the first contact, and sending data to a display device coupled to the set-top box device indicating that the first call has been placed to the phone associated with the first contact. The method may further include sending data identifying the first contact and the user phone to a communication server of an Internet Protocol Television system, wherein the communication server places the first call to the phone associated with the first contact and routes the first call to the user phone.

Television viewing is part of daily life for many people. Individuals may prefer to make phone calls while watching television. Nonetheless, a caller may have to interrupt television viewing to look up a contact's phone number, for example, in a phone directory. Hence, there is a need for an improved system and method of providing voice communication.

System and method of providing voice communication


A flat file cabinet has a plurality of removable drawers slidably supported by a frame and bearings. Each drawer includes an interlocking channel on a side of the drawer which actuates a vertical column of independent locking bars slidably supported by the frame. Each locking bar includes a roller means which is urged upwardly by and rides on top of the interlocking channel when a drawer is partially withdrawn. Each locking bar also includes a pin means normally located slightly below the interlocking channel. When the roller is urged upward it displaces the locking bar to which it is connected, and all locking bars thereabove, upward into a displaced position in which the pins interfere with the locking channels of the above drawers, preventing forward movement of the above drawers. The interlocking channel of the withdrawn drawer also prevents upward travel of the pin of the locking bar located immediately therebelow thereby preventing the forward movement of all drawers below. The vertical movement of the locking bars is limited by a face plate located between the column of locking bars and the drawer. The face plate includes elongated slots through which the rollers and pins extend. The face plate provides that any number of drawers can be removed from the frame while maintaining the normal operability of the interlocking mechanism for the remaining drawers. The interlocking channels include tapered forward and rear ends to permit withdrawal and removal, respectively, of the drawers.

Flat file cabinets are commonly used to store and organize large-format, flat items, such as maps, architectural drawings and the like. The drawers of flat file cabinets are typically less than 3 inches high and have a relatively shallow holding capacity. However, each cabinet typically includes several such drawers arranged in a vertical column such that any one flat file cabinet can hold a large number of items.
To accommodate customary practice, the drawers of flat file cabinets are intentionally designed to be easily removable from and replaceable to the frame such that the items therein can be inspected at another location. In for example a library setting, this typically means removing the drawer from the flat file cabinet and taking it to a nearby table or stand. Therefore, the sliding support structure of the conventional flat file cabinets is designed to allow easy removal and replacement of the drawers.
The drawers are typically supported on frame bearings fixed to the frame which cooperate with drawer tracks attached to the drawers and drawer bearings attached to the drawers which cooperate with frame channels fixed to the frame. Typically, to remove a drawer, the drawer is first withdrawn, then the outward end of the drawer is lifted upward such that the drawer is oriented at an inclined angle. Then the drawer is withdrawn generally parallel to its angle of incline until free from the sliding support structure and frame. The drawer is replaced in the opposite motion.
To retain the drawers in the fully closed positions, the frame channels typically include slots or recesses adjacent the rearward ends thereof which cooperate with the drawer bearings affixed to the drawer. Specifically, when a drawer is fully closed, the drawer bearing drops into the slots or recesses in the frame channel, thereby somewhat inhibiting the movement of the drawer. It can be appreciated, however, that the cooperation of the slots and recesses and the drawer bearing provide only a limited amount of resistance to the movement of the drawer. This limited resistance is easily overcome by outward pressure on the drawer or a disturbance of the frame. Thus, drawers can open unintentionally, and moreover, multiple drawers can open simultaneously which can cause the frame to become unstable and fall over. Therefore, what is desired is a flat file cabinet which provides a means to interlock the various drawers thereof such that only one drawer may open at a time while retaining the ability to easily remove and replace the drawers in accordance with the common use of such flat file cabinets.
The flat file cabinet of the present invention provides a drawer interlocking system which prevents the simultaneous withdrawal of more than one drawer while retaining the ease and ability of temporarily removing and then replacing a drawer for inspection of the items contained therein. Specifically, the flat file cabinet includes a vertical column of locking bars slidably supported by the frame of the cabinet adjacent the front thereof. The locking bars include a pin and a roller at opposite ends thereof, which cooperate with interlocking channels affixed to the sides of the drawers. Each interlocking channel includes a tapered, arrow-shaped portion on the forward end thereof which cooperates with the roller of an associated locking bar to separate and displace the locking bars when the drawer is withdrawn. As will be discussed further below, the displacement of the adjacent locking bars prevents any other drawer from opening.
The interlocking mechanism is specifically designed to allow the normal operation of the flat file cabinet. Specifically, the drawers can be removed from the filing cabinet in a manner similar to prior designs by simply withdrawing the drawer, lifting the front end upward, then removing the drawer generally parallel to the angle of incline of the drawer until free from the support structure and frame. The removed drawer is replaced with an opposite motion. Importantly, when a drawer is fully removed, the locking bars return to a normal or rest position and function to provide the normal interlocking function for the remaining drawers.


To determine fault transmissivity in a subterranean reservoir, fault structures in the subterranean reservoir are identified, and elastic impedance data is computed from well log data and seismic data. Normalization parameters that have a predetermined orientation with respect to the identified fault structures are computed, and elastic impedance flux values are normalized with respect to the normalization parameters, where the normalized elastic impedance flux values are indicative of transmissivities of fault structures in the subterranean structure.

Seismic surveying is used for identifying subterranean elements, such as hydrocarbon reservoirs, fresh water aquifers, gas injection reservoirs, and so forth. In performing seismic surveying, seismic sources are placed at various locations on an earth surface, sea floor or at a sea surface (or in a wellbore), with the seismic sources activated to generate seismic waves directed into a subterranean structure. Examples of seismic sources include air guns, vibrators, explosives, or other sources that generate seismic waves.
The seismic waves generated by a seismic source travel into the subterranean structure, with a portion of the seismic waves reflected back to the surface (earth surface, sea floor, sea surface, or wellbore surface) for receipt by seismic sensors (e.g., geophones). These seismic sensors produce signals that represent detected seismic waves. Data from the seismic sensors is processed to yield information about the content and characteristic of the subterranean structure (e.g., reservoir).
Based on the seismic survey data, an image of the reservoir can be generated. Using such image, geologists can map faults by observing where a displacement between reflection layers has taken place. A fault in the reservoir refers to a fracture in a portion of the reservoir that shows evidence of relative movement. Certain faults can present barriers to migration of fluids (e.g., hydrocarbon fluids, etc.) within the reservoir. In some cases, the mapping of faults within a reservoir is performed manually by geologists. Because there can be huge amounts of seismic survey data, such manual fault interpretation is a tedious and difficult task.
Automated fault extraction algorithms have also been developed for extracting faults from an image of a subterranean structure. However, although faults can be detected, it is desirable to further characterize the faults to provide additional useful information.

Determining fault transmissivity in a subterranean reservoir


System and methods for reconfiguring rooms or zones within an area in building automation are disclosed. One of the methods includes receiving a user request to group together at least a first segment and a second segment in a zone and verifying the user request using one or more rules. Upon verification of the user request, the method automatically links each object in the master segment to the corresponding object in the second segment to create the zone. Within this zone, a control program of the master segment provides a synchronized control of the environmental control equipment in the master segment and the second segment. This method of zoning provides the flexibility to perform rezoning on the fly without requiring traditional engineering, redesign or reprogramming.

A building management system (BMS) is a computer-based system that monitors and controls a building's technical systems and services such as heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC), lighting, blinds or shades, security systems, access control systems, fire, smoke detection and alarms, hydraulics, and so on. For example, an HVAC system provides monitoring and control of HVAC functions such as heating and cooling. Similarly, a lighting control system provides monitoring and control of room lighting functions, a blind control system provides monitoring and control of window/door blinds, and so forth.

Systems and methods for reconfiguring rooms in an area in a building

Schneider Electric Buildings Americas, Inc.


The present invention may manufacture a composite pipe by forming an adhesive layer and a resin layer on an outer surface of a metal pipe, and although the composite pipe is wound in a ring shape after the composite pipe is manufactured, a circular cross sectional shape may be maintained without deformation, and after the composite pipe is straightened for the purpose of construction, separation or buckling may be prevented, resulting in excellent transportability and constructability of a product.

Generally, a high corrosion resistant metal pipe such as a stainless steel pipe has many advantages, but has a high unit cost of production resulting from use of a high priced material such as stainless steel, and has many difficulties in construction due to forming limitations in bending etc., and can be made straight only.
Also, a metal pipe manufactured in a straight shape has predetermined lengths for delivery, and an operation of connecting the metal pipes in a construction site requires considerable amounts of components, manpower, and time.
Also, when a metal pipe is buried in the ground, the metal pipe is inevitably susceptible to soil corrosion and electric corrosion etc.
Meanwhile, a resin pipe has a high corrosion resistance, a light weight, good constructability, and a low cost, but has a leakage risk due to separation of a connected portion caused by contraction and expansion with temperature changes and is vulnerable to pressure. Meanwhile, when manufacturing a resin pipe, extrusion is performed with an outer diameter of a resin pipe being slightly greater than a desired outer diameter, and the outer diameter is reduced through a sizing process during cooling to meet the density and surface requirements.

Methods for manufacturing metal-resin composite pipe that can be easily wound into ring shape


A plate heat exchanger, which comprises a stack of heat transfer plates (2A; 2B) and is intended for evaporation of a liquid, e.g. refrigerant, has an inlet channel (17A; 17B) for said liquid extending through the plate stack and a separate distribution channel (18A; 18B) also extending through the plate stack. Through first passages (25A; 25B) formed by the heat transfer plates (2A; 2B) the inlet channel (17A; 17B) communicates with the distribution channel (18A; 18B), and through second passages (26A; 26B) also formed by the heat transfer plates (2A; 2B) the distribution channel (18A; 18B) communicates with evaporation flow paths (13A; 13B) defined in alternate plate interspaces between the heat transfer plates (2A; 2B).

Plate heat exchangers of this kind are frequently used as evaporators for evaporation of refrigerants circulated in refrigeration systems. Such a refrigeration system normally includes a compressor, a condenser, an expansion valve and an evaporator, all coupled in series. A plate heat exchanger used as an evaporator in a system of this kind often has heat transfer plates which are welded or brazed together, but also gaskets may be used as sealing means between the heat transfer plates. Normally, the passages present between the inlet channel and the evaporation flow paths between the heat transfer plates have the same size.
A problem recognized in connection with a refrigeration system of the above said kind, using a plate heat exchanger as an evaporator, is that refrigerant entering the said inlet channel of the plate heat exchanger is not evenly distributed to the various evaporation flow paths between the heat transfer plates. One reason for this may be that the refrigerant, which when entering the inlet channel is already partly evaporated after having passed through the expansion valve, does not remain in the form of a homogeneous liquid/vapour mixture along the whole of the inlet channel but tends to partly separate into streams of liquid and vapour, respectively.
Uneven distribution of refrigerant to the different evaporation flow paths in the plate heat exchanger leads to ineffective use of certain parts of the plate heat exchanger, in which parts the refrigerant is also unnecessarily overheated.
To avoid the problem of uneven distribution of the refrigerant in a plate heat exchanger of the above mentioned kind it has been suggested in the Swedish Patent Application No. 8702608-4, that a restriction means should be arranged in each passage between the inlet channel of the plate heat exchanger and each plate interspace forming an evaporation flow path, as defined above, for the refrigerant. The restriction means could be a ring or a washer provided with a hole and being arranged between adjacent pairs of the heat transfer plates. Alternatively, the restriction means could be a pipe having several holes and being arranged in the inlet channel of the plate heat exchanger. As a further alternative the restriction means could be formed integral with the heat transfer plates. Thus, plate edge portions delimiting the inlet ports of two adjacent heat transfer plates could be folded to abutment against each other, edge to edge, except in small areas forming inlet openings for the refrigerant to the flow paths formed between the adjacent plates.
Plate heat exchangers having restriction means of the kind just described are difficult to manufacture. Use of separate rings or washers is far too expensive and it is difficult to locate the rings or the washers in correct positions when a plate heat exchanger is to be assembled. A restriction means in the form of a pipe must be adapted as to its length to the number of heat transfer plates included in the plate heat exchanger and must also be correctly positioned relative to the inlet passages leading into the flow paths between the heat transfer plates. Folding of port edge portions of the plates has proved unpracticable, depending on the fact that the heat transfer plates are mostly produced from very thin sheet metal, and it is difficult to obtain well-defined inlet openings leading into the plate interspaces in the way suggested in said Swedish patent application.
DE 4422178 shows a distribution device for a two-phase refrigerant flow in a plate heat exchanger, including a hollow body with porous walls arranged in the inlet channel of the plate heat exchanger. The porous body has a central channel receiving the two-phase refrigerant coming from an expansion valve at the inlet of the plate heat exchanger and conducting it through the porous body along said inlet channel. Preferably, it is said, the porous body is tapered from the inlet end of the inlet channel and is surrounded by a sleeve having throttle openings opposite to the respective passages leading to the evaporation flow paths between the heat transfer plates. A disadvantage with this distribution device is that it is expensive and must be adapted to the length of the inlet channel.
WO 94/14021 also shows a plate heat exchanger to be used as an evaporator in a refrigeration system. A distributor in the form of a perforated tube is arranged in the refrigerant inlet port channel of the plate heat exchanger. The distributor may include flow regulating means. Also this refrigerant distribution device is expensive and disadvantageous in that it must be adapted to the length of the inlet port channel of the plate heat exchanger.


To provide metal-containing fine particles having good dispersion stability, which have their surface coated with dispersants vaporizable even during firing at low temperatures, a fine particle dispersion having the above metal-containing fine particles dispersed therein, and an electroconductive metal-containing material having an excellent volume resistivity formed by using the fine particle dispersion. Metal-containing fine particles with their surface coated with at least two dispersants having different vaporization temperatures.

In recent years, various methods have been studied to form an electric conductor by forming a pattern employing a fine particle dispersion having metal-containing fine particles dispersed in a liquid, followed by a heat treatment (hereinafter referred to simply also as "firing") so that the metal fine particles are mutually sintered. Such methods may, for example, be a method of carrying out formation and repair of a circuit pattern such as a printed wiring, formation of an interlayer wiring in semiconductor packages, and joining of printed wiring boards and electronic components, by means of an ink jet printing method (e.g. Patent Document 1), a method of joining metals which replaces conventional soldering (e.g. Patent Document 2), and a method of forming an electrically conductive metal film capable of replacing a plated film in the field of electronic materials (e.g. Patent Document 3).
The above-described methods employ known nature called surface melting of metal particles (e.g. Non-patent Document 1). It is generally known that the surface melting of metal particles takes place due to abnormal lattice vibration of atoms at the surface of the particles, and that the smaller the particle diameter and the higher the proportion of surface atoms, the more the surface melting temperature decreases. For example, in a case of silver, it is known that bulk silver has a melting point of about 970° C., whereas fine particles (colloid) having diameters of about 10 nm undergo the surface melting at a temperature of about 80° C. Since the surface melting depends on the particle diameter of the metal particles, it takes place even in an association state so long as individual metal fine particles have a predetermined particle diameter, unless particles are completely bound.
In order to disperse metal fine particles in a liquid, it is common to use a dispersant to prevent agglomeration. Here, in order to achieve excellent dispersion of the metal fine particles in an organic solvent, it is necessary to form a great steric hindrance on the surface of the fine particles. However, when a great steric hindrance is to be formed, it tends to be required to have the dispersant highly polymerized or to increase the amount of the dispersant to be added. Further, in a case where an electric conductor is to be formed by employing a fine particle dispersion having metal fine particles dispersed, if the highly polymerized dispersant is used or the amount of the dispersant is increased, the dispersant can not be removed unless firing is carried out at a high temperature, whereby it tends to be difficult to obtain electrical conductivity.
Further, the lower the firing temperature the better, from the viewpoint of problems of the heat resistance of a board in wiring on printed wiring boards or an element is in wiring in semiconductor packages.
Patent Document 1: JP-A-2002-324966
Patent Document 2: JP-A-2002-126869
Patent Document 3: JP-A-2002-334618
Non-patent Document 1: "J. Sol-Gel Science and Technology", The Netherlands, Kluwer Academic Publishers, 2001, vol. 22, p. 151-166

Process for producing metal-containing particles having their surface coated with at least two dispersants different in vaporization temperature


A method and system for automatically detecting heart sounds. The sound system receives sound data corresponding to beats of the heart. The sound system analyzes the sound data to detect the presence of a heart sound within the beats. The sound system then outputs an indication of the heart sounds that were detected. The sound system may use ECG data to identify various locations (e.g., R peak) within a beat and use those locations to assist in the detection of heart sounds.

Four sounds may be generated during each heartbeat. The sounds are produced by blood turbulence and vibration of cardiac structures due primarily to the closing of the valves within the heart. These four sounds are identified as S1, S2, S3, and S4. S1 is usually the loudest heart sound and is the first heart sound during ventricular contraction. S1 is often described as a "lubb" sound. S1 occurs at the beginning of ventricular systole and relates to the closure of the atrioventricular valves between the atria and the ventricles. S2 is often described as a "dubb" sound. S2 occurs at the beginning of the diastole and relates to the closing of the semilunar valves separating the aorta and pulmonary artery from the left and right ventricles, respectively. S1 and S2 can be easily heard with a stethoscope ("normal heart sounds"). S3 and S4, however, can usually not be heard in the normal heart ("abnormal heart sounds") of a person over 40 years old. S3, also referred to as "ventricular gallop," occurs in the early diastolic period and is caused by the ventricular wall distending to the point it reaches its elastic limit. S4, also referred to as "atrial gallop," occurs near the end of atrial contraction and is also caused by the ventricular wall distending until it reaches its elastic limit.
Heart sounds can be used to augment the diagnosis and to help assess the severity of important types of cardiac disease. For example, after age 40, S3 can indicate congestive heart failure, and S4 can indicate hypertension, acute myocardial infarction, or coronary artery disease. Unfortunately, recent studies have shown that even highly experienced physicians do not reliably detect important heart sounds.
The electrocardiogram ("ECG") is an important tool for monitoring heart activity and diagnosing heart conditions. The ECG is a recording of the electrical activity of the heart. This electrical activity causes the heart to contract. The contraction in turn causes blood to be pumped throughout the body. This electrical activity is spontaneously generated. As the cells within the heart change from a negative potential to a positive potential (depolarization), the muscles within the heart contract. Conversely, when the cells change from a positive to a negative potential (repolarization), the muscles return to their noncontracted state. The periodic contraction of the heart causes the pumping action. This spontaneous electrical activity typically occurs about once a second. By analyzing a patient's ECG, various cardiac abnormalities, such as ischemia, can be detected.

Method and system for detection of heart sounds


Provided are techniques for, under control of a backup application, identifying one or more columns to be used by a row based operation. A row map is created that includes indicators which indicate the identified one or more columns. The row based operation is generated, wherein the row map is input as an argument to the row based operation, and the row based operation is forwarded to a database abstraction component. Under control of the database abstraction component, the row based operation is used to generate a database statement, wherein the row map is used to generate a portion of the database statement.

1. Field
Embodiments of the invention relate to identifying columns for row based operations.
2. Description of the Related Art
Relational DataBase Management System (RDBMS) software may use a Structured Query Language (SQL) interface. The SQL interface has evolved into a standard language for RDBMS software and has been adopted as such by both the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and the International Standards Organization (ISO).
A RDBMS uses relational techniques for storing and retrieving data in a relational database. Relational databases are computerized information storage and retrieval systems. Relational databases are organized into tables that consist of rows and columns of data. The rows may be called tuples or records or rows. A database typically has many tables, and each table typically has multiple records and multiple columns.
Applications are able to perform operations on databases, such as inserting data or retrieving data. Modern relational databases, such as a DB2® product available from International Business Machines Corporation, offer the capability of manipulating rows based on various discrete columns within the row. However, this causes difficulty for the application that wants to perform row based operations. A row based operation may be described as an operation that formulates a database statement (e.g., a SQL statement), such that the database statement acts on a given row in a database. Row based operations include, for example, insert, update, delete or fetch operations for a given row. Thus, a row based operation may be described as an operation using SQL in an RDMBS to operate on a row. For instance, if a table has 10 columns and the application wants to perform a row based operation on rows in that table based on the third, fourth, and seventh (3rd, 4th, 7th) columns, the application needs to be able to indicate the columns to the database. From an SQL perspective, this may include specifying a "where" clause, such as "where col3=NN and col4=YY and col7='abc'" in a SQL statement. Some applications generate the SQL statement, but this can contaminate the application code by making the application code aware of the database and syntax for row based operations.
Thus, there is a need in the art for abstracting row based operations from an application.

Identifying columns for row based operations


A magnetic sensor device may include a magnetic sensor element structured to detect a magnetic property of a medium. The magnetic sensor element may include a sensor core having a body part and one or a plurality of protruded part(s) which is protruded from the body part, an exciting coil which is wound around the sensor core, and a detection coil which is wound around the sensor core. The body part and the protruded part of the sensor core forms an open magnetic path, and a stepped part is formed on a side face of at least one piece of the protruded part.

A magnetic pattern detection device for detecting a magnetic pattern of a medium which is carried along a medium feeding face has been known which includes a magnet structured to magnetize the medium and a magnetic sensor device structured to read a magnetic pattern of the medium that is magnetized by the magnet. The magnetic sensor device (magnetic pattern detection device) described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2009-163336 includes a plate-shaped sensor core made of a magnetic body such as amorphous metal or permalloy, and a coil wire is wound around the sensor core to structure an exciting coil for generating a bias magnetic field and a detection coil for detecting the magnetic pattern.
In the above-mentioned Patent Literature, one of end faces of the sensor core is a sensing face (magneto-sensitive face) of the magnetic sensor device and the sensing face is disposed on the same plane as the medium feeding face. In order to detect the magnetic pattern of a medium with a high degree of accuracy, it is preferable that a distance between the sensing face and a medium is set to be small for increasing the sensor sensitivity. Therefore, the end part on a medium side of the sensor core is commonly cut or ground for adjusting a length of the end part and a distance between the sensing face and a medium is set to be an optimum dimension.
However, a cutting work or a grinding work as described above is performed on an end part on a medium side of the sensor core, variation is occurred in the dimension of the sensor core due to the work and the magnetic circuit is varied. Therefore, the sensor characteristics such as the sensor sensitivity or the current efficiency are varied depending on the variation of the dimension of the sensor core and the stable sensor characteristics are not obtained.


A method of treating a patient sensitive to an allergen includes a desensitizing rapid immunotherapy protocol of administering to the patient a series of gradually increasing doses of a composition comprising the allergen at intervals of about 15 minutes for a duration of less than about 120 minutes, and preferably less than about 90 minutes. A pretreatment protocol administers to the patient a therapeutically effective amount of at least one composition that is effective in reducing a sensitivity of the patient to an asthma associated allergenic reaction.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a treatment protocol for administering rapid immunotherapy, and, more particularly, to a method of treating a patient having an immediate hypersensitivity to an allergen using an accelerated rapid immunotherapy schedule, in combination with a method of pretreating such patient prior to receiving the accelerated immunotherapy.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventional immunotherapy has been found generally effective in the treatment of allergic rhinitis, allergic asthma, chronic sinusitis, and associated headaches. However, disadvantages include poor compliance, delayed efficacy, and patient frustration. Various medical practices have therefore turned their attention towards the use of rush immunotherapy or rapid desensitization because it offers the potential of rapid response, improved compliance, and cost effectiveness.
However, the use in rush immunotherapy of higher antigen dosage levels at accelerated injection schedule intervals is a significant consideration in terms of its impact or responsibility in causing systemic reactions in the patient.
In typical desensitization treatment, it is typically necessary for the patient to have injections very frequently, e.g., initially every two or three days, gradually reducing to once every two or three weeks. This is not only a time-consuming and inconvenient procedure that poses an obstacle to full compliance, but is also very complex due to the need to carefully monitor and control the administered dose of allergen. The potential for allergic reactions such as hives, asthma, and, in some extreme cases, anaphylactic shock, makes desensitization difficult to successfully implement.
According to the present invention, there is provided a method of treating a patient having an immediate hypersensitivity to allergens of the type that may produce systemic responses such as anaphylactic shock reactions. In accordance with the treatment method, a therapeutically effective desensitizing amount of the allergen is administered to the patient according to a rush or rapid immunotherapy protocol having an accelerated schedule. In one form, the treatment protocol involves administering to the patient gradually increasing doses of the allergen at selected time intervals over a duration of less than about 120 minutes, resulting in a treatment method that when combined with a subsequent observation period lasts less than half a day.
In a preferred form, the allergen is administered at fifteen minute intervals according to a dosing schedule that involves a sequence of six injections effective in advancing the allergic patient to an immunizing or maintenance dose of allergen. For example, such dosing schedule may consist of 0.025 cc of a 1:100,000 allergen dilution, 0.25cc of a 1:100,000 dilution, 0.025 cc of a 1:10,000 dilution, 0.25 cc of a 1:10,000 dilution, 0.025 cc of a 1:1000 dilution, and 0.25 cc of a 1:1000 dilution.
In this application, the ratios and volumes may be altered as may come to be known in the art and still stay within the scope of the invention. Alterations of the ratio and volume dosage may be varied in view of patient needs, allergen sensitivity, and allergen manufacturing and availability.
According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for pretreating the patient prior to receiving the foregoing rapid immunotherapy treatment protocol. According to the method, a pretreatment protocol is performed which involves administering to the patient prednisone (or any other suitable corticosteroid) and at least one of an H1 histamine antagonist and/or an H2 histamine antagonist. The H1 histamine antagonist may be selected from the group consisting of Claritin(trademark), Seldane(trademark), Zyrtec(trademark), and Allegra(trademark), or other similar medication while the H2 histamine antagonist may be selected from the group consisting of Zantac(trademark), Pepcid(trademark), and Tagamet(trademark), or other similar medication. Such similar medication may be generic forms of the groups or other similar physiological active compounds.
In a preferred form, this premedication regimen is combined with the administration of a therapeutically effective amount of at least one composition which is effective in reducing a sensitivity of the patient to an asthma associated allergenic reaction or simply an allergenic reaction. For example, to control the sensitivity of the patient to an asthma-related allergen, the patient may be administered an inhaled corticosteroid and/or the drug Singular(trademark), which is a trade name of the generic drug leukotriene.
The invention, in one form thereof, is directed to a method of treating a patient sensitive to an allergen or allergens, comprising administering to the patient a therapeutically effective desensitizing amount of a composition comprising the allergen or allergens over a duration of less than about 120 minutes. The treatment method is preferably conducted according to a rapid immunotherapy protocol.
The method, in a preferred form, further includes a pretreatment protocol of administering to the patient prednisone and at least one of an H1 histamine antagonist and/or an H2 histamine antagonist. The H1 histamine antagonist is preferably selected from the group consisting of Claritin(trademark), Seldane(trademark), Zyrtec(trademark), and Allegra(trademark), while the H2 histamine antagonist is preferably selected from the group consisting of Zantac(trademark), Pepcid(trademark), and Tagamet(trademark). Other equivalent physiological active substitutes may be substituted into the H1 and H2 groups.
The pretreatment protocol further includes administering to the patient a therapeutically effective amount of at least one composition effective in reducing a sensitivity of the patient to an asthma associated allergenic reaction. For example, the patient may be administered at least one of a corticosteroid (oral or inhaled) and a Leukotriene antagonist such as Singular(trademark), Accolade(trademark), or Zyflo(trademark).
According to the rush immunotherapy, rapid desensitization, or rapid allergen vaccination protocol of the treatment method, the administration of the allergen amount further comprises administering to the patient at selected intervals gradually increasing doses of the allergen. In a preferred form, each selected interval is about fifteen minutes.
In a more preferred form, the intervaled administration of allergen occurs in accordance with a dosing schedule consisting essentially of: (i) about 0.025 cc of about a 1:100,000 allergen dilution, (ii) about 0.25 cc of about a 1:100,000 dilution, (iii) about 0.025 cc of about a 1:10,000 dilution, (iv) about 0.25 cc of about a 1:10,000 dilution, (v) about 0.025 cc of about a 1:1000 dilution, and (vi) about 0.25 cc of about a 1:1000 dilution.
The invention, in another form thereof, is directed to a method of treating a patient sensitive to an allergen, comprising a protocol of administering to the patient a series of gradually increasing doses of a composition comprising the allergen at selected intervals for a duration of less than about 120 minutes.
In a preferred form, each selected interval is about fifteen minutes. Additionally, the dilution level of allergen within each dosage is preferably within the range from between about 1:150,000 to about 1:50,000 to between about 1:1500 to about 1:500. The amount of the allergen composition administered to the patient is therapeutically effective in desensitizing the patient against the allergen.
The method, in a preferred form, further includes a pretreatment protocol of administering to the patient prednisone and at least one of an Hi histamine antagonist and/or an H2 histamine antagonist. Additionally, the pretreatment protocol further includes administering to the patient a therapeutically effective amount of at least one composition effective in reducing a sensitivity of the patient to an asthma associated allergenic reaction. For example, the patient may be administered at least one of a corticosteroid and the drug Singular(trademark).
The invention, in another form thereof, is directed to a method of treating a patient sensitive to an allergen, comprising a protocol of administering to the patient a series of gradually increasing doses of a composition comprising the allergen at intervals of about 15 minutes for a duration of less than about 120 minutes, and, more preferably, less than about 90 minutes.
In a preferred form, the dilution level of allergen within each dosage is within the range from between about 1:150,000 to about 1:50,000 to between about 1:1500 to about 1:500. More specifically, the protocol is preferably defined by a dosing schedule consisting essentially of: (i) about 0.025 cc of about a 1:100,000 allergen dilution, (ii) about 0.25 cc of about a 1:100,000 dilution, (iii) about 0.0 25 cc of about a 1:10,000 dilution, (iv) about 0.25 cc of about a 1:10,000 dilution, (v) about 0.025 cc of about a 1:1000 dilution, and (vi) about 0.25 cc of about a 1:1000 dilution.
The method, in a preferred form, further includes a pretreatment protocol of administering to the patient prednisone and at least one of an H1 histamine antagonist and/or an H2 histamine antagonist. Additionally, the pretreatment protocol further includes administering to the patient a therapeutically effective amount of at least one composition effective in reducing a sensitivity of the patient to an asthma associated allergenic reaction. For example, the patient may be administered at least one of a corticosteroid (oral or inhaled) and a Leukotriene antagonist such as Singular(trademark), Accolade(trademark), Zyflo(trademark), other zafirlukusts, or other montelukasts.
The invention, in another form thereof, encompasses the method for the treatment of an allergic condition by means of desensitization therapy by administering to a subject gradually increasing doses of a causative agent, wherein the improvement comprises such administration of the causative agent at intervals of between about 10 to 20 minutes for a duration of less than about 120 minutes, using at each interval a dosage of the causative agent within the range of from between about 1:150,000 to about 1:50,000 to between about 1:1500 to about 1:500.
The invention, in yet another form thereof, is directed to a method of pretreating a patient prior to receiving desensitizing rapid immunotherapy. The pretreatment method comprises, in combination, the steps of administering to the patient prednisone and at least one of an H1 histamine antagonist and an H2 histamine antagonist, and administering to the patient a therapeutically effective amount of at least one composition effective in reducing the sensitivity of the patient to an asthma associated allergenic reaction occurrable during and/or after reception of the desensitizing rapid immunotherapy.
In a preferred form, the at least one composition which is administered to reduce the sensitivity of the patient to an asthma associated allergenic reaction includes at least one of a corticosteroid and a leukotriene antagonist, Singular(trademark).
The invention, in yet another form thereof, is directed to a method of pretreating a patient prior to receiving desensitizing rapid immunotherapy. The pretreatment method comprises, in combination, the steps of administering to the patient prednisone and at least one of an H1 histamine antagonist and an H2 histamine antagonist, and administering to the patient at least one of a corticosteroid and a leukotriene antagonist, Singular(trademark).
One advantage of the present invention is that the protocol for administering allergen to the patient according to a rapid immunotherapy procedure can be successfully accomplished in less than 120 minutes, and may be reduced further to less than 90 minutes (e.g., 75 minutes with six injections spaced at 15 minute intervals), thereby improving compliance.
Another advantage of the present invention is that the rate of systemic reactions in patients can be significantly reduced relative to conventional rush immunotherapies by implementing a pretreatment protocol that administers to the patient a therapeutically effective amount of at least one composition which is effective in reducing the sensitivity of the patient to an asthma associated allergenic reaction that may occur during and/or after reception of the desensitizing rapid immunotherapy.

Allergy treatment method using a rapid immunotherapy protocol


The present invention describes chemical systems and methods for silylating heteroaromatic organic substrates, said system consisting essentially of a mixture of (a) at least one organodisilane and (b) at least alkoxide base, preferably a potassium alkoxide base, and said methods comprising contacting a quantity of the organic substrate with a mixture consisting essentially of (a) at least one organodisilane and (b) at least one alkoxide base, preferably a potassium alkoxide, under conditions sufficient to silylate the heteroaromatic substrate.

The ability to silylate organic moieties has attracted significant attention in recent years, owing to the utility of the silylated materials in their own rights or as intermediates for other important materials used. Applications for these materials are important in agrichemical, pharmaceutical, and electronic material applications. Further, the ability to functionalize polynuclear aromatic compounds with oganosilanes provides opportunities to take advantage of the interesting properties of these materials.
At present, the most common approach to heteroaromatic C—Si bond construction involves the interception of heteroaryl lithium or magnesium reagents with silicon electrophiles. However, this method is often limited in scope and requires prefunctionalization of heteroarenes by using pyrophoric organometallic species in stoichiometric quantities. Powerful heteroaromatic functionalization strategies, such as Minisci-type radical substitutions and Friedel-Crafts reactions, have been of limited use for C—Si bond construction owing to the difficulty of generating the corresponding silyl radicals and silylium ions.
More recently, the transition metal mediated aromatic C—H silylation has been described, with different systems described based on, for example, Co, Rh, Ir, Fe, Ru, Os, Ni, Pd, and Pt catalysts. But certain electronic applications, the presence of even low levels of such residual can adversely affect the performance of the silylated materials. Similarly, in certain pharmaceutical or electronic applications, limits on residual transition metals are fairly strict, and the ability to avoid them entirely offers benefits during post-synthesis work-up.
The present invention takes advantage of the discoveries cited herein to avoid at least some of the problems associated with previously known methods.

Silylation of aromatic heterocycles by disilanes using potassium alkoxide catalysts


A rotary throttle valve carburetor includes a body having a fuel and air mixing passage and a throttle valve movable between idle and wide open positions. A valve bore is increasingly aligned with the fuel and air mixing passage as the throttle valve is moved from idle toward its wide open position. A fuel metering needle is responsive to movement of the throttle valve so that the needle moves relative to the body in response to movement of the throttle valve. A fuel nozzle extends into the valve bore, is associated with the fuel metering needle, and has a fuel ejection passage with an effective flow area controlled by movement of the fuel metering needle relative to the fuel nozzle and includes a portion with a cross-sectional area that gradually increases in the direction of fuel metering needle movement corresponding to throttle valve movement toward its wide open position.

A rotary throttle valve carburetor comprises a carburetor main body having a fuel and air mixing passage formed therein, a cylindrical valve chamber formed in the main body perpendicular to the fuel and air mixing passage and, a rotary throttle valve received in the valve chamber for rotary and axial movement. The throttle valve includes a shaft with a through hole or passage that is increasingly aligned with the fuel and air mixing passage as the throttle valve is moved toward its open position. In such a carburetor, because the negative pressure in the fuel and air mixing passage is relatively high at idle and low speed positions of the throttle valve, fuel supply at idle and low speed engine operation tends to be excessive and difficult to control.


A flatbed trailer enclosure comprising an upright frame member having a lower portion adapted for securing to a top surface of a flatbed trailer, and a pair of side frame members pivotally mounted to the upright frame member. A pair of actuators are provided for rotating the side frame members, one being directly coupled to a drive shaft, and the other having a reversing gear coupled to the drive shaft. Each actuator has an output shaft coupled to a respective side frame member.

FIG. 1 depicts a known flatbed trailer 10 of the type typically used for transporting sod. A tarpaulin 12 is stored in a storage compartment 14 at the front of the trailer 10. The sod is loaded by forklift onto the loading surface 16 of the trailer 10. The tarpaulin 12 is then pulled manually rearwards from the storage compartment 14 across the uppermost portion of the sod pile. The tarpaulin 12 is then secured to the trailer 130 by elastic cords 18.
A principle disadvantage of known flatbed trailer enclosures, such as the enclosure shown in FIG. 1, is that the step of extending and securing the tarpaulin 12 to the trailer 10 is labour-intensive. The tarpaulin 12 must be pulled manually rearwards from the storage compartment 14 across the sod pile without damaging the sod. Once the tarpaulin 12 is fully extended, it must be secured to the flatbed trailer 10 through numerous elastic cords 18, while maintaining the tarpaulin 12 in position. Prior to unloading the sod, the elastic cords 18 must be removed and the tarpaulin 12 safely stored out of the way in the storage compartment 14 to avoid being damaged by the forklift.
Another disadvantage of known flatbed trailer enclosures is that the sod is not firmly held on the loading surface 16 of the flatbed trailer 10. As the tarpaulin 12 is only held in place by elastic cords 18, any lateral shifting of the sod on the flatbed trailer 10 can cause the elastic cords 18 to snap, and the sod to fall off the flatbed trailer 10. Similarly, any damage done to the tarpaulin 12 during the loading or unloading process can cause the tarpaulin 12 to tear, thereby allowing the sod or sod debris to fall off the flatbed trailer 10.
Various mechanisms for automatically enclosing trailers are known. Both U.S. Pat. No. 4,627,658 to Vold and U.S. Pat. No. 4,210,358 to Sweet teach an open-top trailer top-cover comprising a pair of panels rotatably mounted to the top of the trailer. Each panel is opened and closed by a rotating arm driven by a motor. However, the cost of adapting these implementations for the transportation of sod rolls on a flatbed trailer would be particularly high because a separate motor would be required for each panel. U.S. Pat. No. 5,498,057 to Reina teaches a retractable trailer cover comprising arch-like channels that support opposite ends of a tarpaulin, and a plurality of sprockets and endless chains for moving the tarpaulin, all driven by a single motor. Although cheaper to implement than a two-motor configuration, the single motor configuration disclosed by Reina would not allow both sides of the trailer cover to be closed simultaneously.
Accordingly, there remains a need for a flatbed trailer enclosure which is suitable for transporting sod.


A parametric programmable thermal printer is disclosed. The printer may include a controller that performs functions such as thermal history control and common mode voltage correction. The controller may be implemented in an integrated programmable medium such as a Field-Programmable Gate Array (FPGA). Functions performed by the controller may be parameterized, and parameter values may be stored in registers. The controller may be used with a different thermal printer by changing the parameter values and/or reprogramming the programmable medium, and without otherwise redesigning or remanufacturing the controller.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to thermal printers and, more particularly, to techniques for controlling thermal print heads.
2. Related Art
Thermal printers typically contain a linear array of heating elements (also referred to herein as "print head elements") that print on an output medium by, for example, transferring pigment or dye from a donor sheet to the output medium or by activating a color-forming chemistry in the output medium. The output medium is typically a porous receiver receptive to the transferred pigment, or a paper coated with the color-forming chemistry. Each of the print head elements, when activated, forms color on the medium passing underneath the print head element, creating a spot having a particular density. Regions with larger or denser spots are perceived as darker than regions with smaller or less dense spots. Digital images are rendered as two-dimensional arrays of very small and closely-spaced spots.
A thermal print head element is activated by providing it with energy. Providing energy to the print head element increases the temperature of the print head element, causing either the transfer of pigment to the output medium or the formation of color in the receiver. The density of the output produced by the print head element in this manner is a function of the amount of energy provided to the print head element. The amount of energy provided to the print head element may be varied by, for example, varying the amount of power to the print head element within a particular time interval or by providing power to the print head element for a longer time interval.
In conventional thermal printers, the time during which a digital image is printed is divided into fixed time intervals referred to herein as "print head cycles." Typically, a single row of pixels (or portions thereof) in the digital image is printed during a single print head cycle. Each print head element is typically responsible for printing pixels (or sub-pixels) in a particular column of the digital image. During each print head cycle, an amount of energy is delivered to each print head element that is calculated to raise the temperature of the print head element to a level that will cause the print head element to produce output having the desired density. Varying amounts of energy may be provided to different print head elements based on the varying desired densities to be produced by the print head elements.
One problem with conventional thermal printers results from the fact that their print head elements retain heat after the conclusion of each print head cycle. This retention of heat can be problematic because, in some thermal printers, the amount of energy that is delivered to a particular print head element during a particular print head cycle is typically calculated based on an assumption that the print head element's temperature at the beginning of the print head cycle is a known fixed temperature. Since, in reality, the temperature of the print head element at the beginning of a print head cycle depends on (among other things) the amount of energy delivered to the print head element during previous print head cycles, the actual temperature achieved by the print head element during a print head cycle may differ from the desired temperature, thereby resulting in a higher or lower output density than is desired. Further complications are similarly caused by the fact that the current temperature of a particular print head element is influenced not only by its own previous temperatures—referred to herein as its "thermal history"—but by the ambient (room) temperature, the thermal histories of other print head elements in the print head, and the temperature of the output medium (film/media) and other thermal printer elements, such as the platen roller and the preheat contact with the thermal heat sink of the Thermal Print Head (TPH).
Various techniques have been applied to counterbalance these undesirable effects of the thermal history of a thermal print head. Such techniques are referred to generally as "thermal history control." Examples of such techniques are disclosed in the above-referenced patent application entitled "Thermal Response Correction System."
Different numbers and combinations of thermal print head elements may be active at different times when printing a digital image, depending on the intensities of the pixels in the digital image. As a result of the circuitry that is typically used to provide power to the print head elements in a thermal printer, spots that are printed by a large number of contemporaneously active print head elements appear lighter than spots that are printed by a small number of contemporaneously active print head elements. This difference in rendered intensity is undesirable because it corresponds to the number of contemporaneously active print head elements, rather than to the intensities of the pixels in the source image being printed. The result is a printed image having undesired variations in intensity that do not accurately reflect the intensities of the pixels in the source image being printed. Examples of techniques for reducing the dependence of density on the number of contemporaneously active print head elements are disclosed in the above-reference patent entitled "Method and Apparatus for Voltage Correction."
In conventional thermal imaging systems, printing multiple colors requires printing in multiple passes (one pass for each color). In the system disclosed in the above-referenced patent application entitled "Thermal Imaging System," the print head is capable of writing up to three colors in a single pass on a single print medium. Each print line time is divided in up to three parts. It is possible to write one color in one part of the line time and another color in another part of the line time. The time division between the three colors, however, may not be equal. For example, if printing yellow and magenta, the yellow may be printed during a smaller fraction of the line time interval than magenta.
Integrating these and other features of a thermal printer into a single thermal imaging system presents a variety of challenges. For example, print data must be processed sufficiently quickly to provide the thermal print head(s) with a continual stream of data to avoid pauses in printing. Data must be stored and transmitted among components of the system efficiently to limit the size and cost of the overall system. Typically, the resulting integrated system includes a combination of analog and digital circuitry that is customized for use with a particular thermal printer. As a result, the system must typically be redesigned to work with a different thermal printer. Such redesign is tedious, time-consuming, and expensive.
What is needed, therefore, are improved techniques for processing print data and controlling print heads in a thermal printer.


The present invention relates to a display device (1A) including a plurality of display elements (10A) formed on a substrate (2A). Each of the display elements (10A) includes an organic segment (4A) containing an organic compound which generates light upon application of an electric field, and a first and a second electrode elements (3A, 5A) for applying the electric field to the organic segment (4A). The first electrode segment (3A), the organic segment (4A) and the second electrode segment (4A) are formed on the substrate (2A). In this case, the second electrode segment (5A) is provided with an opening (52A) for allowing passage of light generated in the organic segment (4A). The first and second electrode segments may be formed adjacent to each other in a plane parallel to the substrate. In this case, the organic segment is formed so as to cover both the first and second electrode elements.

1. Technical Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an organic electroluminescent (EL) display device utilizing an electroluminescence of an organic compound to display images.
2. Description of the Related Art
An organic EL display device is a device having a plurality of display elements arranged in a matrix pattern for displaying an image by selectively actuating the individual display elements for light emission. As shown in FIG. 7 illustrating an example, a display element 9 includes a transparent electrode segment 91, an organic laminate 92, and a reflective electrode segment 93 successively formed on a glass substrate 90 in the mentioned order. The transparent electrode segment 91, serving as an anode, is made of e.g. ITO. The organic laminate 92 includes a light emitting layer 92A which emits light upon application of a voltage. In the illustrated example, the organic laminate 92 further includes a hole transport layer 92B and an electron transport layer 92C in addition to the light emitting layer 92A. The reflective electrode segment 93, serving as a cathode, is made of e.g. a highly reflective material such as aluminum or copper.
The display element 9 generates light in the light emitting layer 92A by applying a voltage across the organic laminate 92 utilizing the transparent electrode segment 91 and the reflective electrode segment 93. The light generated in the light emitting layer 92A propagates in directions Z1, Z2 of FIG. 7. The light component propagating in the direction Z1 passes through the hole transport layer 92B, the transparent electrode segment 91 and the glass substrate 90 to be emitted out of the display element 9. The light component propagating in the direction Z2 passes through the electron transport layer 92C, reflects at the reflective electrode segment 93, and then goes back through the organic laminate 92, the transparent electrode segment 91 and the glass substrate 90 for exiting out of the display element 9.
Thus, the display element 9 can emit only the light component passing through the glass substrate 90 after passing through at least the hole transport layer 92B and the transparent electrode segment 91. Consequently, only a single surface can be utilized as a displaying face in the organic EL display device incorporating the above-described display element 9.
In addition, the light generated in the light emitting layer 92A has to pass through many elements before exiting out of the display element 9, so that some portion of light cannot be utilized due to absorption before emission.
In order to achieve a double-face display in an organic EL display device, it is conceivable to provide both of the anode segment and the cathode segment of the display element as transparent electrodes, for example. In this case, when both the anode segment and the cathode segment are made of ITO, a high driving voltage is needed due to a relatively large resistance of ITO. Further, since ITO tends to transmit a long-wavelength component of visible light more easily than a short-wavelength light component, light emitted from the display element becomes reddish to adversely affect hue of colors. A solution for such a problem requires the use of an optical film, causing a disadvantage. In particular, this problem becomes more remarkable with respect to double-face display which requires two optical films.

Organic EL display device with plural electrode segments


A truck bed extension that is convertible into a truck bed separator to compartmentalize truck beds. The truck bed separator and extension are releasably attached to the truck bed lip at one end and to either the truck bed extension or the truck bed separator at the other end by a clamping assembly. The clamping assembly is comprised of a pair of mating jaw members for releasable attachment to a truck bed lip at on end and a fastener for releasable attachment to the hinge of the truck bed separator or extension at the other end.

Pick up truck cargo beds may be extended with the use of extensions added to the bed after manufacture of the truck. Ramps may also be fitted to the pick up truck to facilitate loading cargo. Both the truck bed extension and the ramp are often used as temporary modifications of a typical small pick up truck. Combining the functions of the truck bed extension and ramp, making the bed extension releasably attached from the truck, and minimizing the bulk of the truck bed extension, allows the owner of the truck to temporarily modify the truck to extend the bed, eliminates the need to carry a ramp to load, and provides for easier storage when not in use.
Pick up truck cargo beds may also be compartmentalized with the use or partitions or dividers positioned within the bed after manufacture of the truck. These partitions or dividers may be releasably secured within the truck bed for transport of items within the partitioned truck bed. Then the partition or divider may be releasably secured to the tailgate to serve as a foldable ramp to assist in removal of heavy or large items from the truck bed. Combining the functions of a truck bed partition and a foldable ramp allows the owner of the truck to temporarily modify the configuration of the truck bed to accommodate for transport of variously shaped objects, as well as limit the amount of storage space needed to transport the foldable ramp.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


A data processing system indicates that an instruction does not have available data because of a cache miss or because of a non-cache-miss delay. When the instruction is not able to access the available data and a cache miss results, instructions which are dependent on the issued instruction are not issued. However, if the load execution is delayed because of a non-cache-miss delay, then the instructions which are dependent on the issued instruction are also issued in anticipation of a successful load instruction execution in a next timing cycle. Through the use of this issuing mechanism, the efficiency of the data processing system is increased as an execution unit is better able to utilize its pipeline.

High performance processors currently used in data processing systems today may be capable of "superscalar" operation and may have "pipelined" elements. A superscalar processor has multiple elements which operate in parallel to process multiple instructions in a single processing cycle. Pipelining involves processing instructions in stages, so that the pipelined stages may process a number of instructions concurrently. In a typical first stage, referred to as a "instruction fetch" stage, an instruction is fetched from memory. Then, in a "dispatch" stage, the instruction is decoded into different control bits, which designate a type of functional unit for performing the operations specified by the instruction, source operands for the operation, and destination registers for results of operations. The decoded instruction is dispatched to an issue queue where instructions wait for data and an available execution unit. Next, in the "issue" stage, an instruction in the issue queue is issued to a unit having an "execution stage." The execution stage processes the operation as specified by the instruction. Executing an operation specified by an instruction includes accepting one or more operands and producing one or more results.
A "completion" stage addresses program order issues which arise from concurrent instruction execution, wherein multiple, concurrently executed instructions may deposit results in a single register. The completion stage also handles issues arising from instructions dispatched after interrupted instruction deposits results in a same destination registers. In the completion stage, an instruction waits for the point at which there is no longer a possibility of an interrupt before storing a data value, so that a depositing of a result will not violate a program order. At this point, the instruction is considered "complete." It should be noted that buffers to store execution results before results are deposited into the destination register and buffers to back up contents at specified checkpoints are provided in the instance an interrupt reverts the register content to its pre-checkpoint value. Either types of buffers may be utilized in a particular implementation. At completion, the results of the execution buffer and the holding buffer will be deposited into the destination register and the back-up buffer will be released.
Pipelined data processing systems typically implement load instructions to load information from a storage location to a register in a pipelined fashion. Typically, such load instructions execute in one cycle and, therefore, do not adversely affect the timing associated with pipelined flow of the data processor. However, under certain conditions, execution of the load instruction will take more than one cycle and, thus, the timing of the pipeline flow will be adversely affected. One of the conditions which may require a load operation to execute in more than one cycle occurs when an address of the load instruction must be translated. Address translation requires a look-up and address compare operation using a translation lookaside buffer (TLB). When an address translation operation involving a TLB is executed by a data processing system, an extra cycle is required for control signals corresponding to the load instruction to access the TLB. If there is a corresponding real address stored in the TLB, then the address translation is considered successful. However, if there is no corresponding entry in the TLB, then a table walk operation is initiated. Such a table walk operation requires all page table entries to be fetched from a memory. The table walk operation consumes a substantial number of cycles during execution of a load operation.
Additionally, a load operation may take more than one cycle when the load instruction is made to an address which is not aligned. An address is not aligned when data for that load instruction spans across the address boundary for which the data processing system is designed. In this case, an additional cycle is required to assemble data that spans the boundary of the fetch address. Unlike a load operation which requires address translation and may take an undetermined number of cycles to execute, an unaligned load operation only requires a fixed number of additional cycles.
During operation of a typical data processor, an instruction issuing algorithm issues instructions with available operands to execution units for execution. If a load executes, but its data is not in the cache, then subsequent instructions which depend on the load instruction are marked as not having available data and are not issued to the execution unit. When data required for a load instruction is not in a cache at the time the load instruction executes, a "cache miss" results. A cache miss operation indicates that the data is not accessible from a cache memory which may be quickly accessed. When a cache miss occurs, the processor is forced to initiate a memory request for the load data. As previously mentioned, this memory request may take several cycles to complete. However, before the cache miss condition is detected, issued logic already marks the instruction which depends on the load operation as "ready" for execution. When the cache miss condition is reported, the issue logic must reset the mark made on the instruction to indicate that the instruction that depends on the load is not ready for execution. A reset operation typically takes several cycles to perform. This reset operation is utilized even when the execution of the load instruction is delayed by a cycle. That is, the issue logic does not distinguish a condition that causes a multiple cycle delay for the data (i.e., a cache miss) from a condition which causes a single cycle delay (i.e., translation buffer access or an unaligned access). By not distinguishing the two conditions, the issue logic forces all instructions that depend on the load that has delayed a cycle to incur the same penalty as a load operation delayed for more than one cycle, due to the reset operation.
Therefore, a need exists for a mechanism in a data processing system which more efficiently utilizes the resources of the data processing system when an instruction is delayed by a minimum number of cycles.

Data processing system and method for extending the time for execution of an instruction

International Business Machines Corporation


A helicopter of the type having an electrical system, a landing light, a master switch and a power supply of between about 18-32 V for operating the electrical system when the master switch is in an on position also includes a landing light fault detector. The landing light fault detector includes a light switch for turning the landing lights on and off and circuit means for detecting a fault in the landing light and for providing a signal indicative of a fault whether or not the light switch is in an on or off position.

Fixed wing aircraft typically land at airports with a reasonable level of lighting. Nevertheless, it is desirable to maintain their landing lights in an operable condition. Unlike fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters are frequently called on to land in remote areas, at night and under conditions of inadequate lighting or poor visibility. It is vitally important to land on a relatively flat surface and to avoid obstructions such as trees, wires or the like that might be struck by a rotary blade. It is also important for a pilot to judge the distance to the ground and to set the aircraft down gently to avoid damage to the aircraft and/or himself or any passengers. For these reasons, adequate lighting is essential.
Accordingly, it is presently believed that there may be a relatively large commercial market for a landing light fault detector or annunciator for fixed wing and rotary wing aircraft in accordance with the present invention. There should be a demand, because such annunciators warn a pilot whenever there is a fault in a landing light, which could make it extremely difficult to land in areas of limited visibility.
Further, the landing light fault annunciator in accordance with the present invention indicates a fault whether or not the landing light switch is in an on-position. In effect, a warning is given at any time that the battery switch is on. A still further feature of the present invention resides in allowing the landing light switch to complete a circuit to ground even though the landing light or lights are typically illuminated by about 18 to 32 volts. This feature reduces the likelihood of overheating in the wires that pass through the collective control arm to a switch which is located at the far end thereof if a ground fault occurs in the wire.
A still further advantage of the annunciator in accordance with the present invention resides in a flasher circuit that can be used to flash the landing light on and off for identification of the helicopter during flight or a landing maneuver. This helps other pilots to visually see and avoid the helicopter in flight and helps air traffic controllers to spot the helicopter when approaching an airport.


The present invention is referred to an exhausting valve lid for motorcycles comprising a lid body including several orifices for fastening said lid to the motorcycle engine. Said lid includes means for controlling the force to be applied to the exhausting valve regulating means, controlling therefore the time at which the exhausting valve is to be opened. Said means for controlling the force to be applied comprises a hollow housing projected from the outer surface of lid body, said housing receives a cylindrical hollow aluminum bolt engaged to a pressing spring coupled to said exhausting valve regulating means.

Every internal combustion engine needs an exhausting valve. This valve regulates the time at which the combustion gas exits the engine's cylinder. There are several exhausting valve designs for each engine, depending on the type of engine used, on the use assigned to the engine, etc. Basically, an exhausting valve comprises a valve head for closing the cylinder exhausting outlet, and a valve body coupled to operating means for opening and closing said valve. Said operating means usually comprises cams, cams shaft, springs and valve seats, said cam shaft is engaged to the engine, said cam works on valve body for opening said valve, and said spring regulates the linear movement of the valve body.
In the particular case of motorcycle engines, a difference between two-stroke engines and four-stroke engines should be pointed out. Four-stroke engines have a structure similar to automobile's engines, but the two-stroke engines differs due to the cycle's characteristics. Even when in general terms every internal combustion engine includes the above cited means, in this particular case of motorcycle engines the exhausting system is defined by particular features. For example, the gas exhausting system includes two valve bodies connected to regulating means for opening said valve once the engine reaches a predetermined number of revolutions per minute (rpm). That is said valve bodies are closed due to the closing force applied by springs included in said regulating means, once the engines shaft reaches a predetermined number of revolutions per minute (5000 rpm for example) the cylinder internal pressure overcome said spring force and the valve bodies are opened. In accordance with the applicant's knowledge the are no regulating means for controlling the above cited force applied by the springs to the valve body. Engine manufacturers preset the valve arrangement and this feature cannot be regulated or controlled by user.
Therefore there is a market need for an improvement in motorcycle engines through which the force applied to the valve's body can be regulated by the user without specialists help, since said regulation improves the engine's performance as it will be demonstrated below.

Gas exhausting systems for motorcycle engines


The invention describes a transformer core of NiZn ferrite material. Said transformer core exhibits low overall losses when it is used in a transformer. Said low losses are attained if the majority of the grains of the sintered ferrite material have a monodomain structure. This is the case if the average grain size is smaller than 2.8 microns. The average grain size of the sintered material preferably ranges of from 1.3 to 2.6 microns. The .delta.-value is preferably less than 4 nm.

The invention relates to a sintered transformer or inductor core of NiZn ferrite material. The invention also relates to an inductor and a transformer which are provided with such an inductor respectively transformer core. By means of a transformer the voltage and/or the current intensity of a current source can be converted to another desired voltage and/or current intensity.
A transformer core of the type mentioned in the opening paragraph is known per se. For example, in Philips Data Handbook MA-01, 1993, pp. 131 and 132, a NiZn core is disclosed which is referred to as 4F1. The material composition of the core described in said handbook corresponds to the formula Ni.sub.0.49 Zn.sub.0.49 Co.sub.0.02 Fe.sub.1.90 O.sub.3.85. This transformer core is intended for use, in particular, in a so-called "power-transformer". This type of transformer can suitably be operated at frequencies in the MHz range and at relatively high induction values of 5 mT or higher.
The drawback of the known transformer or inductor core is that it exhibits relatively high overall losses per volume unit (P) if it is used in a "power-transformer". Said losses cause the transformer to heat up. In particular, if the transformer is used at frequencies of from 2 MHz it heats up to relatively high temperatures. For example, as shown in FIG. 7 on page 132, at 20.degree. C. an overall loss per volume unit of 190 mW/cm.sup.3 is measured on these cores at an induction of 10 mT and a frequency of 3 MHz.

Sintered transformer or inductor core of nizn ferrite material


A liquid crystal display is provided with a cold-cathode fluorescent lamp including a glass mantle tube having an inside surface coated with a fluorescent film, cup-shaped electrodes disposed in opposite end parts of the mantle tube with their open ends opening into a discharge region in the mantle tube. A discharge inducing ITO film is formed in a part near each of the cup-shaped electrodes of the inside surface of the mantle tube. Cosmic rays from space penetrated the transparent glass tube and the fluorescent film and received by the discharge inducing ITO films activate free electrons moving in the glass tube and, at the same time, electrons emitted by the cup-shaped electrodes when a voltage is applied across the cup-shaped electrodes induces an electric discharge to make the cold-cathode fluorescent lamp light instantly.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a cold-cathode fluorescent lamp for illuminating a liquid crystal display panel with illuminating light and a liquid crystal display provided with a backlight unit including the cold-cathode fluorescent lamp. More particularly, the present invention relates to the construction of a cold-cathode fluorescent lamp.
2. Description of the Related Art
Discharge tubes are used widely as low-power consumption light sources, high-luminance light sources, long-life light sources or small light sources in various illuminating devices. A low-pressure discharge tube formed by coating the inside surface of a mantle tube made of a transparent, insulating material, such as glass, with a fluorescent material, and sealing an inert gas and mercury in the mantle tube is known as a fluorescent lamp. Low-pressure discharge tubes of this kind are classified into those of a hot cathode type using electrons emitted by a hot cathode and those of a cold-cathode type using electrons emitted by a cold cathode.
An image display provided with a nonluminescent liquid crystal display panel visualizes electronic latent images formed on the liquid crystal display panel by an external illuminating system. The external illuminating system, excluding those using natural light, includes an illuminating device disposed opposite to the front or the back surface of the liquid crystal display panel. Most display devices required to have high luminance, in particular, are provided with an illuminating device disposed opposite to the back surface of the liquid crystal display panel. This illuminating device is called a backlight unit.
Backlight units are classified roughly into those of a direct type and those of a side-edge type. The side-edge type backlight unit has a linear light source, typically, a cold-cathode fluorescent lamp, extended along a side edge of a transparent light guide plate. The side-edge type backlight unit is used prevalently in thin display devices for personal computers and the like. Most large liquid crystal displays to be used as displays for display monitors and television receivers employ the direct backlight unit. The direct backlight unit includes an illuminating device disposed directly below the back surface of a liquid crystal display.
For example, a cold-cathode fluorescent lamp (CCFL) that energizes a fluorescent coating with electrons emitted by a cold cathode is used as a light source for the illuminating device of a liquid crystal display. In general, a cold electrode for emitting electrons is made of a metal, such as nickel. Such a cold electrode has a spurring property and hence the cold electrode wears out. Therefore, the electrode of the cold-cathode fluorescent lamp needs to be formed in a large size provided that the electrode can be received in a selected mantle tube. The large electrode has a large surface area. Consequently, current density per unit area decreases and the decreased current density reduces the amount of the material of the electrode deposited by sputtering on the inside surface of the mantle tube during an aging discharge process to which the cold-cathode fluorescent lamp is subjected prior to shipping.
The cold-cathode fluorescent lamp of this kind is required to shorten a discharge start time, i.e., a time needed to make the cold-cathode fluorescent lamp start an electric discharge. Particularly, it has been a problem that the discharge start time increases in darkness. It is known that, when part of the electrode made of nickel is deposited in a sputtered film on the inside surface of the mantle tube by sputtering, usually the discharge start time is shortened by electrons induced from the sputtered film. If a cup-shaped electrode having an open end having a small outside diameter as compared with the inside diameter of the mantle tube, deposition of the material of the cup-shaped electrode by sputtering on the inside surface of the mantle tube is promoted. However, the sputtering causes the electrode to wear out and shortens the life of the electrode. Moreover, the effect of the sputtered film formed by the aging process on shortening the discharge start time is not satisfactory.
Placing a discharge inducing substance in the mantle tube, in particular, in a part of the inside surface of the mantle tube near the electrode is effective to shorten the discharge start time. A known first discharge time shortening method deposits a metal compound film of a highly electron emissive metal compound on a surface of an electrode. For example, the highly electron emissive metal compound is a cesium compound, such as cesium chromate. A known second discharge time shortening method uses a mixture of a highly electron emissive metal compound, such as a cesium compound, and a mercury emissive substance and diffuses the highly electron emissive metal compound, such as the cesium compound, in a tube during mercury emission heating in a manufacturing process. A known third discharge time shortening method supplies a high current between about 8 and about 15 mA to an electrode having an outside diameter of 1.7 mm to deposit a sputtered film of the material of the electrode on a part near each of the electrodes of the inside surface of a mantle tube by heating the electrode. A known fourth discharge time shortening method uses a fluorescent film containing alumina.
More concretely, a discharge time shortening method disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-76617 deposits a sputtered film containing, as a principal component, a metal or a metal compound on a part near a cup-shaped electrode of the inside surface of a mantle tube by sputtering, and induces an electric discharge by electrons emitted by the cup-shaped electrode when a voltage is applied to the cup-shaped electrode to start an electric discharge in a short time. A discharge time shortening method disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-231133 uses a cup-shaped electrode having a large surface area, deposits a thin film containing a metallic material on the inside surface of the cup-shaped electrode, and forms a film of the metallic material on a part near each of the cup-shaped electrodes of the inside surface of a mantle tube by hot vaporization in an aging process.

Cold-cathode fluorescent lamp for LCD having cup-shaped electrodes inside mantle tube with a non-sputtered transparent conductive film of a predetermined thickness formed on inside surface of mantle tube near each open end of the cup-shaped electrodes