A triggering system and process for a form reader is shown using a histogram of the optical scene. The form reader is open on three sides with a camera facing a platen on to which a form is placed. The camera converts the light rays reflected from the platen into a video stream that is sent to a processor. A change in content of a first light intensity level contrasted to the content of a second light intensity level is used to determine when the form enters the scene. Illustratively, the first light intensity level represents black levels and the second light intensity levels represent white levels. A threshold is pre-determined that isolates the first light intensity content, and when the first light intensity content remains constant (after the presence of a form) the form is deemed to be still wherein the system may then read the information on the form.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to reading forms, and more particularly to detecting when a form (usually of paper) is newly placed in a reader and stops moving.
2. Background Information
Automatic reading of a form has been a requirement for many industries since automatic form reads have become widespread. These machines might be activated or triggered to read a form in many ways; for example, by the agent pressing a button, by an optical switch that is activated by the form breaking a light beam, by a micro-switch that is physically activated by the form, or by a camera that detects the presence of a form by detecting a light area (the form) within its field of view.
Typically, form reading terminals have a camera with a photo-sensitive surface (arrays of CCDs, photo-diode/transistors, etc.). Optically, the photo-sensitive surface may be positioned a few inches to a foot or more away from a form lying on a platen or a flatbed. The optical focus of the system is on the platen with a depth of focus suitable to accommodate a wide range of types of forms. Herein "camera" is defined broadly as virtually any optical reader.
FIG. 1 represents a known terminal system 2 with a cavity 4 into which a form 6 is fed. Here, the cavity 4 may be largely shielded from external light, and there may be a tractor drive to hold the form 6 flat as it is drawn into the cavity 4. A camera and a light source may be fixed in the cavity 6 and detect the more reflective forms by the additional light reflected to the camera as compared to a blackened platen.
In other systems, the platen or flatbed bearing the form may be relatively open and easily accessible, and thus easy to use. In these systems, ambient light reflects more from the form rather than platen sending more light energy to a camera. The increase in light energy striking the camera from the form's white area is used to detect the presence of a form and the relative constancy of the energy or the white area content is used to determine the presence and stillness, respectively, of the form. In this and similar applications, however, limitations are present. For example, the user's proximity to the terminal may cast a shadow, the user's hand may enter the camera's field of view, any ambient lighting may change as lights are turned on or off and the time of day changes, and the user's clothing or jewelry may add reflected light.
Beyond external and ambient problems, still other problems may occur as a result of the operation of the system or the camera. For example, the machine may have difficulty determining when the form is still. Repetitive pictures from the camera may continuously show changes in the white content that might be the form moving or the ambient light changing or a shadow being removed, etc. It may be difficult to determine the presence and stillness of a form in these known systems. Since the scene is measured by a camera with camera electronics outputting a video stream, for example, electronics must process the video stream. The scene is analyzed and thresholds set to indicate the new presence of a motionless form. However, to determine the presence and stillness of a form requires time and processing power, and repeating the effort is inefficient and possibly erroneous if the yes/no thresholds are lowered or raised to quicken the process.
If the white content thresholds are reduced, to indicate that a form was inserted and still, it may result in moving tickets being measured and light changes being recognized as newly inserted forms. Either case may result in errors. Raising the threshold may result in forms not being recognized. Both of these cases will likely result in ticket agent and user frustration. Hereinafter, the term "form" refers to any paper product that may be machine read, such as tickets or printed slips. In some applications, the forms may include gaming tickets and play slips.
It would be advantageous to have an easy to use terminal with a platen relatively open to the local environment. But the above listed limitation must be overcome.

System and method for scene change triggering


Various implementations of the present invention provide systems and methods for customized scripting. One implementation provides for a visual display of a script to a user. The user makes use of the script in communicating with a specified person during a session. A computing system receives information relating to a specific session being conducted with the specified person. The computing system then processes the received information to generate output information that specifies a display of a customized script. The customized script contains a standard script determined by the specific session being conducted and information particular to the specified person. The output information is then received at a display device, and a display is generated thereon of the customized script for use by the user during the specific session with the specified person.

In recent years, telephone call centers have become much more widespread. The call centers manage many efforts, and calling agents working in these centers often place thousands of calls to various customers in different regions of the country. These agents often use headsets to speak with customers while the agents concurrently enter information relating to the customers into a computer workstation.
Under the traditional approach, companies interacted with potential customers in person. Telephone call centers have become more widespread as a result of a desire by many of such companies to interact with customers via telephone instead. Using this form of communication, calling agents are able to conduct many transactions in a short period of time.
There are a wide variety of transactions carried out by these telephone call centers. For example, banks may want to contact current customers and ask them customers if they would be interested in obtaining a new credit card. Long distance telephone companies may want to contact homeowners and ask if they would be interested in switching long distance carriers. Fund raisers may call individuals to ask for donations. And various other telemarketers may call homeowners or business owners for solicitation of various products or services.
Because there are so many different types of customers and transaction types, calling agents who work in telephone call centers will often need extensive training. It is often difficult for the agents to perform certain tasks that involve multiple steps (such as introducing a purchase order, making a sale, introducing a service order, etc.) without a significant amount of training. The agents often do not know how to navigate through the different steps that are needed to complete such tasks. In order to allow the calling agents to navigate through the system without difficulty, companies may need to spend large amounts of time and money for training. They may require training for customer service, as well as training for the various forms of product or service types being solicited.
As a result, many telephone call centers utilize calling scripts that can be used by the agents. When the agents interact with customers, they can simply read these scripts to the customers rather than having to commit a script to memory. Scripts are very helpful in such situations, because they can provide the agents with detailed information for use in the dialogues with customers.
In addition to the use of scripts, telephone call centers may implement an entire scripting program for use by their agents. For example, when using a first script for the program, a telephone call agent may ask a customer a question. The response will be entered into the call center system by the agent, such as by depressing a predetermined button on the agent's keyboard or by selecting the proper response from a list using a mouse or other pointing device. As a result of this feedback from the customer, the scripting program will then determine and display the next predetermined script for that program.
These scripting programs have proven to be very useful. The scripts provided in such programs, however, contain certain limitations. For example, the traditional scripting programs provide predetermined script information. Though the scripts may be particular to the scenario presented in the session between a calling agent and a customer, the contents of the scripts contained predetermined information that is static (i.e., not configurable at run time). As such, calling agents may still be required to remember specific information pertaining to the session with the customer.


Ink-receiving print media products capable of producing high quality printed images which are light-fast, humid-fast, have low coalescence (graininess) levels, and are characterized by other beneficial attributes. The print media products have at least one ink-receiving layer supported by a substrate. The ink-receiving layer includes a binder blend designed to achieve the aforementioned goals, namely, gelatin, a poly(vinyl alcohol-polyethylene oxide) copolymer, and a poly((styrene)-(n-butyl acrylate)-(methyl methacrylate)-(2-(tert-butylamino) ethyl methacrylate)) copolymer. One or more optional pigments and/or additional binders can also be included within the ink-receiving layer. The ink-receiving layer may optionally be employed in combination with one or more additional material layers thereover or thereunder which can contain, for example, one or more pigments and/or binders.

In order to effectively generate printed images using the various ink transfer techniques and systems (with primary but not necessarily exclusive reference to thermal inkjet technology), ink-receiving print media materials must be employed which are capable of efficiently accomplishing this goal. Ideally, to achieve maximum efficiency, print media materials should be able to provide numerous advantages and benefits including but not limited to (1) a high level of light-fastness, with the term "light-fastness" being generally defined herein to involve the capacity of a print media product to retain images thereon in a stable fashion without substantial fading, blurring, distortion, and the like over time in the presence of natural or made-made light; (2) rapid drying times in order to avoid smudging and image deterioration immediately after printing is completed due to contact with physical objects and the like; (3) the fast and complete absorption of ink materials in a manner which avoids image distortion caused by color bleed (namely, the undesired migration of multi-colored ink components into each other) and related difficulties; (4) a highly humid-fast character (with the term "humid-fast" being generally defined to involve the ability of a print media product to produce a stable image with little or no fading, run-off, distortion, and the like when the image is placed in contact with moisture, humidity, and the like (also known in a substantially equivalent fashion as "water-fastness")); (5) the generation of "crisp" images with a distinct and defined character; (6) the ability to produce printed products which are substantially "smear-fast", with this term being generally defined to comprise the production of images that will not exhibit smearing, blurring, and the like when rubbed or otherwise physically engaged with a variety of objects ranging from the components of the printing apparatus being employed to the print operator's hands, fingers, and the like; (7) the control of an undesired condition known as "ink-coalescence" which is defined herein to involve a phenomenon wherein wet ink droplets applied to a printing medium fail to spread sufficiently to eliminate the unprinted (e.g. open) space between the droplets, thereby causing significant image deterioration problems which are primarily manifested by the increased "graininess" of the image; (8) the capacity to generate printed images with desired levels of gloss wherein the final product is characterized by uniform gloss levels throughout the entire image in order to achieve a professional and aesthetically-pleasing printed media sheet; (9) the ability to attain a high level of consistency during large-scale production regarding the overall surface characteristics of the completed media products; (10) low material costs which enable the print media products of interest to be employed for mass market home and business use; (11) chemical compatibility with a wide variety of ink formulations which leads to greater overall versatility; (12) excellent levels of image stability and retention over long time periods; (13) minimal complexity from a production, material-content, and layer-number standpoint (with as few required layers as possible being desirable) which leads to reduced fabrication costs and greater product reliability; and (14) a high level of gloss-control which is achievable in a rapid and effective manner during production through only minor adjustments in the manufacturing process. The term "gloss-control" is generally defined herein to involve the ability, during fabrication, to generate a print media product having high gloss levels for the production of photographic quality images if desired, a semi-gloss character if needed, or other gloss parameters. In particular, the manufacturing process should be highly controllable in order to achieve a variety of different gloss characteristics without requiring major adjustments in processing steps and materials.
A need remains for print media materials (namely, ink-receiving sheets or structures) which are able to capture and retain clear, distinct, and accurate images thereon that are likewise characterized by a number of specific benefits in combination. These benefits include but are not limited to items (1)–(14) recited above both on an individual and simultaneous basis in a substantially automatic manner (with the simultaneous achievement of such goals being of particular importance and novelty). The attainment of these objectives is especially important regarding the following specific items: a high level of humid-fastness, excellent light-fastness, an effective level of ink-coalescence control in order to prevent excessive "graininess" (namely, the undesired appearance of large "grain-like" elements in the printed product), and the generation of clear, durable, smear-fast, and distinct printed images.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Print media products for generating high quality images and methods for making the same

Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.


In one embodiment, statistical information is generated in a computer network by detecting reception of documents in a client computer. A server computer is notified of the reception of the documents to allow the server computer to generate statistical information indicative of the effectiveness of an advertising campaign. The documents may comprise web pages, while the computer network may comprise the Internet.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to computer systems, and more particularly but not exclusively to methods and apparatus for generating statistical information in a computer network.
2. Description of the Background Art
Large public computer networks, such as the Internet, allow advertisers to reach a worldwide audience twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. This has made large public networks a cost-effective medium for marketing and selling products (e.g., goods and services). On the Internet, for example, advertising revenues allow companies to distribute free software or provide free access to websites. Needless to say, advertising helps fuel the Internet economy.
A company may advertise products in its own website. It may also advertise products in popular websites, such as search engines or portals. Regardless of whether a company chooses to run advertisements in its own or third-party website, an advertising campaign involves significant costs not just in running the campaign, but also in lost sales due to ineffective advertising. Thus, a technique for determining the efficacy of an advertising campaign is generally desirable.

Generation of statistical information in a computer network


A squeegee blade assembly and method of use for a floor surface maintenance machine. A blade/guide subassembly is inserted into a channel of a scrub head prior to operation. During operation, the subassembly is retained with the channel via friction and/or protruding structures. During a blade exchange procedure, the subassembly is retracted from the channel prior to separation of the blade from the guide. Interaction with a protruding structure within the channel signals to an operator that the subassembly has been properly positioned.

Floor maintenance scrubbers are well known. These devices typically include a source of cleaning solution, solution applying means for distributing cleaning solution onto the floor surface, scrubbing means for engaging a wetted floor surface and a vacuum system for removing soiled cleaning solution from the floor surface. The vacuum system typically includes one or more squeegee elements, such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,895,633; 6,705,332 and 6,602,018, each being incorporated by referenced herein. The squeegee blades in these types of machines are often a wear/service item. As the blades wear, the ability of the machine to pick up soiled cleaning solution and/or water is diminished. In some particularly harsh environments, squeegee blades are replaced multiple times during the life of the machine. Many times this is done by the operator in the field where the availability of tools is limited. Some prior art machines provide thumb screws for retaining the squeegee blades.
Tennant Company's model 433 Walk Behind Scrubber has included removable squeegee blades and retainers, similar to the design of FIG. 6. In this design, the retainers and blades are connected together via fasteners. The design purportedly provided for tool-less blade exchange by increasing the clearance around the blades, so the blades could be pushed or pulled within a retainer-receiving channel. Two significant limitations have been associated with this approach. First, since the soft rubber blade was not supported along its length it tended to bend during insertion into the channel. Additionally, when the blade was pulled, a portion of the blade tended to grab channel walls. Furthermore, the friction between rubber and aluminum was often too great to allow free sliding without increasing the clearances between the rubber and aluminum parts.
Another problem of the prior art has been bonding of the rubber blade to the aluminum or plastic retainer. Compression of the rubber blade within the retainer often resulted in adherence of the blade material to the retainer. Blade sticking made removal difficult without unscrewing the retainer.
The foregoing has outlined rather broadly the features and technical advantages of the present invention in order that the detailed description of the invention that follows may be better understood. Additional features and advantages of the invention will be described hereinafter which form the subject of the claims of the invention. It should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the conception and specific embodiment disclosed may be readily utilized as a basis for modifying or designing other structures for carrying out the same purposes of the present invention. It should also be realized by those skilled in the art that such equivalent constructions do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims. The novel features which are believed to be characteristic of the invention, both as to its organization and method of operation, together with further objects and advantages will be better understood from the following description when considered in connection with the accompanying figures. It is to be expressly understood, however, that each of the figures is provided for the purpose of illustration and description only and is not intended as a definition of the limits of the present invention.

Squeegee assembly and method of using same


A sealing member for a cylindrical spark plug having a metal shell with threaded ridges thereon to be screwed into a mounting hole of a combustion engine, the sealing member comprised of a piece of annular sheet material made of austenitic stainless steel or ferritic stainless steel that is folded back in a radial direction so as to form a region where at least two or more layers of the sheet material are overlapped in an axial direction.

A conventional spark plug is mounted on an internal combustion engine by screwing a thread ridge formed on an outer circumference of a metal shell into a female screw formed on a mounting hole of an engine head of the internal combustion engine. Such a spark plug includes an annular sealing member (a gasket) provided on the outer circumference of the metal shell in order to prevent an air leakage from a combustion chamber through the mounting hole. A conventional gasket is formed from an annular shaped cold-rolling strip (hereafter referred to as "Fe"). The annular strip is folded back in the radial direction so as to assume, for example, an "S" shape in the cross section. When screwing the spark plug into the mounting hole, the gasket is sandwiched and compressed between a projecting portion of the metal shell and an opening circumference edge portion of the mounting hole and is deformed to thereby provide a seal therebetween. An axial force (reactive force in the axial direction due to compression caused by tightening the spark plug) acts on the gasket. As a result, the air leakage from the combustion chamber through the mounting hole is sealed.
As internal combustion engines have been miniaturized and advanced in recent years, engine vibration tends to increase, and a temperature in the combustion chamber tends to rise. Because a gasket made of the conventional Fe has relatively low durability over a creep deformation, which is caused by heating and cooling cycles during an engine drive and stop, the spark plug mounted on an engine tends to come loose, resulting in deterioration in the axial force. Therefore, a gasket made of stainless steel, which has a higher rigidity than that of Fe and is unlikely to cause the creep modification, is employed to secure the air tightness of the combustion chamber. (For example, see Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (kokai) No. 2004-134120).
However, along with the miniaturization of internal combustion engines, spark plugs have also been miniaturized. Since a metal shell of such a sparkplug is formed slimmer and its durability becomes low, a recommended tightening torque when mounting the spark plug is also set to be low. Since a gasket made of stainless steel with a high rigidity is unlikely to plastically deform, sufficient axial force after tightening the spark plug cannot be obtained when the tightening torque is low. As a result, the air tightness in the combustion chamber becomes insufficient. On the other hand, when the tightening torque is raised in order for a gasket to sufficiently deform plastically, stress exerted to a thread neck of a metal shell, which has a low durability due to its miniaturization, increases, resulting in a possible fracture or the like of the spark plug.
The present invention is accomplished in order to solve the above-mentioned problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a spark plug and a sealing member for the spark plug capable of providing a sufficient axial force with a low tightening torque.


Systems and methods for resolving double address faults during the commissioning of a connected system are provided. Some methods can include identifying a subset of a plurality of devices in a region with a double address fault, displaying a first list of the subset, receiving user input selecting one of the subset, identifying a current location of a user, generating a map of the region, wherein the map identifies a respective location of each of the subset and includes visual signs to guide the user from the current location of the user to the respective location of the one of the subset, displaying the map, generating a second list of valid addresses assignable to the one of the subset to address the double address fault, and displaying the second list.

During the commissioning of a connected system, such as a fire alarm system or any connected home system with internet of things (IoT) devices, a double address fault occurs when two or more devices are assigned the same address, is the most common problem faced, and is often caused by human error. Locating the devices with the duplicate address and fixing the devices with the duplicate address by assigning one of the devices a valid address are time intensive processes that can range from hours to days, depending on the complexity of the network of which the devices are a part.
Locating and fixing the devices with the duplicate address are such time intensive processes because a user must localize the devices, and the known method to physically detect the location of a device and diagnose a double address fault involves referring to printed maps of a region in which the devices are installed. Indeed, there are no known systems and methods that incorporate online maps for navigation and visual guidance to quickly locate devices with a duplicate address. Instead, known systems and methods include recordings and observations on paper, which is time consuming, difficult to read and visualize, could be easily lost or damage, and does not convey the exact location of devices. Furthermore, when a region is large and the network of which the devices are a part are complex, additional users may be needed and deployed to resolve the double address fault within a predetermined period of time. Further still, a user may be confused about how to re-address a device that has a conflicting address with another device and what valid address to use when re-addressing the device.
In view of the above, there is a continuing, ongoing need for improved systems and methods.


A system for monitoring and distinguishing occurrences along a perimeter bounded by a plurality of piezoelectric cables. The monitoring system utilizes a plurality of piezoelectric cables that generate electrical signals in response to mechanical stress events. The electrical signals from each piezoelectric cable are analyzed by a base unit to determine event classification and location. The monitoring system alerts users and connects to an existing security system to notify third-parties. The monitoring system includes functionality to communicate with a calibration unit and calibrate itself. The monitoring system also includes functionality to interface with a pet containment system.

1. Field of Invention
This invention pertains to a system for monitoring a selected zone. More particularly, this invention relates to a system for monitoring, optionally and distinguishing between, occurrences along one or more piezoelectric cables defining a monitored zone.
2. Description of the Related Art
Residential and light commercial security systems have become an increasingly popular addition to many homes and businesses. These systems are typically based on the electronic detection of a structure. These systems generally classify any input as an event, whether the input is a system message, a detected breach of a perimeter, a detected breach of an interior, or a failure of some part of the security system. The event is analyzed to determine a specific classification, more specifically whether there has been a breach or not. If an event is determined to be in the nature of a breach, it is further classified as being caused by environmental conditions, an animal, a human, or an automobile.
In a residential and light commercial security system a breach is generally detected at either the perimeter or the interior of the structure. The perimeter is typically the outer surface of the structure. The outer surface is almost always breached at the ingress/egress points to a structure such as doors and windows. Breaches at these ingress/egress points are generally detected by magnetic sensors that monitor the opening and closing of doors and windows and by frequency sensors attuned to the sound of glass breakage. Interior breaches are generally detected by heat and motion detectors that monitor moving objects having a temperature greater than the ambient temperature. While providing a warning of intrusion, both the detection of ingress/egress and interior breaches occur after the structure has been damaged or entry has been obtained.
In many security systems, motion sensors are used to turn on outdoor lighting, thereby providing a deterrent to intrusion onto the property. However, these sensors are indiscriminate in that they may be triggered by small animals, children, or other moving objects that are not considered security risks. Further, because of the difficulty in accurately setting the range and the imprecise detection zone of each sensor, setting up a comprehensive coverage area limited to the boundaries of one's property is difficult. Finally, it should be noted that while the external sensors can be connected to a central alarm system, the inability to discriminate between legitimate security risks and stray animals and the difficulty in defining the protection area render such a system unreliable.

Piezoelectric cable-based monitoring system


A flexible fabric container having stiffening webbing attached to the outside thereof. At least one bottom flap is releasably attached to the bottom and is attached to the container by a quick release buckle that has a free portion, not attached to the container, to allow free movement of the quick release buckle upon actuation to release the bottom flap and allow the container to discharge the contents thereof.

Flexible fabric containers have a wide ranging application for the collection and distribution of a variety of objects, including materials excavated from street and utility construction, and the transloading of, for example, fish, fruits, and vegetables.
The prior art has attempted to meet these needs by a variety of containers, some of them flexible, others mounted on, or within, rigid frames.
In particular, because containers made of flexible materials--to conform the shape of the container to the particular materials loaded therein and to allow transport of unloaded containers in a compact manner--virtually always require either a permanent, or temporary, frame to serve as a device for maintaining an open top end into which the desired materials may be loaded. Thus, a container which has a permanent framework attached thereto is more expensive to construct, and a container which has a temporarily inserted frame--which must subsequently be removed--involves additional work and expense and slows the loading rate.
Accordingly, it is a primary object of this invention to provide a generally flexible fabric container which is self-standing, i.e. requires no frame, either permanent or temporary.
Those containers of the prior art which also need to have a bottom discharge capability, have achieved such a capability by allowing for an openable bottom, with the release mechanism consisting of simple strings or a variety of other devices. The chief disadvantage of the release devices of the prior art is either that they did not work reliably, or were not safe (because they could be discharged inadvertently when the loaded container was lifted to be transported to another location).
Accordingly, it is another primary object of this invention to provide a flexible fabric, container with a bottom discharge release mechanism that is failsafe under load, and which is reliable once the container has been safely lowered to ground level for discharge of its contents.


A method and apparatus for the differentiation of ulcerative colitis from Crohn's disease and other gastrointestinal illnesses using the presence of anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCA) as a marker of ulcerative colitis is described. The apparatus consists of either a qualitative enzyme-linked immunoassay or other immunoassay that utilizes antibodies specific to human immunoglobulins for the measurement of total endogenous ANCA in a human sample. The method and apparatus can be used by healthcare providers to distinguish ulcerative colitis from Crohn's disease and other gastrointestinal illnesses.

This invention relates to non-invasive methods for differentiating clinical subtypes of Inflammatory Bowel Disease, namely Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC). More specifically, this invention relates to a method and apparatus for aiding in the differentiation of Crohn's disease from ulcerative colitis by determining the presence of anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCA), wherein the presence of ANCA is indicative of ulcerative colitis. In addition, the presence of fecal ANCA may be used to differentiate ulcerative colitis from other gastrointestinal illnesses such as Irritable Bowel Syndrome.
An estimated 1 million Americans suffer from Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD). IBD is characterized by a chronic inflammatory response that results in histologic damage to the intestinal lining. Crohn's disease may involve the entire gastrointestinal tract and include inflammation extending into the transmural mucosa, whereas ulcerative colitis affects solely the large bowel and includes inflammation of the innermost lining. These two distinct diseases require a rapid differential diagnosis for optimal treatment. Conventional methods utilizing multiple endoscopy examinations and histological analysis may take years to confirm a diagnosis. U.S. Pat. No. 6,218,129 discloses a method of determining the presence of serum ANCA as a marker to diagnose IBD. However, it does not disclose a method for diagnosing ulcerative colitis in a patient diagnosed with IBD. Further, the method does not disclose testing human feces for the presence of ANCA.
Accordingly, there remains a need in the diagnostic industry for a non-invasive method of differentially diagnosing ulcerative colitis from Crohn's disease or other gastrointestinal illnesses.

Method for distinguishing ulcerative colitis from Crohn's disease by detecting the presence of fecal anit-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCA)


A method of making an oral dosage form of a water insoluble drug such as Saquinavir or Cyclosporine or Paclitaxel is carried out by: (a) providing a single phase working Solution comprising or consisting essentially of an active agent, water, a water-soluble polymer, and a solvent, said solvent selected from the group consisting of alcohol, acetone, and mixtures thereof; and may or may not contain a surfactant and pH of the said working solution may or may not be adjusted (b) providing particles formed from a pharmaceutically acceptable core material; (c) combining, preferably by spraying, said working solution with said particles to produce active agent-coated particles; such drug loaded particles may contain an external coat (d) drying said active agent-coated particles; and (e) forming said dried particles into an oral dosage form. Dried particles produced by the process, oral dosage forms containing such particles, and methods of treatment therewith are also described.

Increasing numbers of newly discovered drugs are insoluble (e.g., have a solubility of less than 100 μg per mL as per the definition of United States Pharmacopeia). For example, pharmaceutical compounds such as itraconazole, saquinavir, cyclosporine, paclitaxel, etoposide, etc. have an extremely low solubility in water. Indeed, the solubility of itraconazole in water and 0.1 N hydrochloric acid is less than 1 microgram and 6 micrograms per milliliter, respectively. Saquinavir, an antiviral compound, has approximately 10 microgram per mL solubility in water.
PCT Application WO 94/05263 to Gillis et al. (assigned to Janssen Pharmaceutica) describes 25-30 mesh beads having a core coated with itraconazole or saperconazole, which beads may be used to produce dosage forms of these drugs. To prepare the beads, the drug coating solution is dissolved into a suitable solvent system which is then combined with the beads. However, the only solvent system described is one comprising methylene chloride (dichloromethane) and an alcohol (see page 4, line 4 therein). Methylene chloride is undesirable as a solvent in pharmaceutical systems due to potential toxicological concerns.
PCT Application WO 00/03697 to Gillis et al. (assigned to Janssen Pharmaceutica) describes usage of sugar pellets of 710-1180 μm (25-16 mesh), a coating film of a water-soluble polymer and an antifungal agent, and a seal coating layer wherein the residual concentration of dichloromethane is reduced by microwave drying (page 10, lines 31 to 38).
PCT Application WO 98/42318 to Vandecruys et al., (assigned to Janssen Pharmaceutica) describes 30-60 mesh beads having a core coated with itraconazole or saperconazole, which beads may likewise be used to produce dosage forms of these drugs. To prepare the beads the drug coating solution is, again, dissolved into a suitable solvent system. Again the only solvent system described is one comprising methylene chloride and an alcohol, and it is stated that the methylene chloride should comprise at least 50% by weight of the solvent system (see page 8, lines 32-34 therein).
U.S. application Pat. No. 6,039,981 teaches an antifungal composition for oral administration comprising a fused mixture of itraconazole and phosphoric acid, a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier and a surfactant. Heating of the mixture is done at 100 to 170° C. to obtain a homogeneous mixture (Column 3, lines 16-18). Although example 8 provides a composition that needs to be loaded on to sugar spheres, no dissolution data or stability information in terms of acid and sugar spheres interaction (caramelization) was discussed. The example 8 composition also does not produce a mixture that could be sprayed onto sugar or microcrystalline spheres when the experiment was repeated in our laboratories.
Accordingly, there remains a need for new ways to produce oral dosage forms of water insoluble drugs that utilize coated particles, but do not require the use of methylene chloride or other objectionable solvents during the manufacture thereof. A process that can be industrially applicable, and preferably does not use temperatures above 100° C., that are needed for making fusion mixtures. A process that prevents interaction between core particles and acid or base ingredients or acidity as contributed by Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient itself is needed.

Oral dosage forms of water insoluble drugs and methods of making the same


The invention relates to a process for producing a Tan IIA nanoliposome system for foods and medical products, comprises: (i) preparing a dispersed phase by dissolving Tan IIA in ethanol in a Tan IIA weight:ethanol volume ratio of 8:10 by a stirrer at 300-500 rpm with heating to 40-60° C. within 4-8 hours; (ii) preparing a liposome carrier consisting of lecithin and olive oil in a ratio of 1:3 by weight by mixing in a constant temperature bath at 40-60° C. to ensure that lecithin is completely dissolved in the oil while stirring; (iii) adding the carrier to the dispersed phase in a ratio of 40:60 by weight, further heating the carrier and dispersed phase mixture to 40-60° C. and stirring at 800-1000 rpm within 1 to 2 hours; (iv) cooling the resulting mixture to 25° C. and pumping the cooled mixture, using an ultrasonic atomizer nozzle at 60 Hz (10-20 μm droplet size, 10 mL/min), into 1-1.5 L of distilled water (with the temperature of the distilled water at 25° C.) to obtain a liposome suspension-water mixture; (v) homogenizing the liposome suspension-water mixture by pumping through a high pressure homogenizer at 30 Mpa to obtain a Tan IIA nanoliposome system as a homogeneous and stable mixture with a confirmed particle size smaller than 200 nm.

The invention relates to a process for producing a Tan IIA nanoliposome system for foods and medical products.
Tan IIA, or Tanshinone IIA, is extracted from the roots of danshen or Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge in the Labiatae family. Danshen has been widely used in Oriental countries, particularly China, to treat different circulatory disorders due to its different pharmacological effects, including vasodilation, anticoagulation, anti-inflammation, and reduction of free radicals. Tan IIA helps adjust or prevent the metastases of cancer cells by adjusting the adhesion molecules. In addition, other studies have proved that Tan IIA is capable of strong anti-inflammation and anti-oxidation. However, Tan IIA has low bioavailability, which via oral administration, according to a study by Lu Xing et al in 2017, has been proved to affect the clinical applicability of the compound.
Therefore, it is necessary to improve the absorbability and increase the bioavailability of the compound. The application of nanotechnology is a new technological application to produce a drug delivery system and increase the bioavailability of a compound. Particularly, the liposome system according to the invention is a new system with a structure of spherical micromolecules of very small (nano) size, the core of which containing active nutrients and being encapsulated by one or more phospholipid bilayers, which is capable of accurately containing, protecting, delivering, and releasing correctly dosed active compounds to desired sites within the body. Tan IIA is packed in the nano drug delivery system to help selectively, effectively, and economically deliver the compound to the targets. In Vietnam, nanotechnology is still new in biomedicine, and does not yet have many applications, but has attracted a lot of research interests. Currently, the most popular studies are about the application of nano curcumin and the drug delivery systems to targeted cells, and there has not been any study on the production of nano Tan IIA. The use of a nanoparticle-forming liposome system to carry drug and release drug is a new direction to treat diseases and an application to other products. Patent Publication No. CN104352438A "Tanshinone II A liposome combination drug, as well as large-scale industrial production process and application thereof" relates to a process for producing liposome particles with a size of 150-1000 nm, which is a process for producing a Tan IIA liposome system used in medicinal products. However, the process for producing liposome particles further produces nonuniform large-sized particles, which makes it difficult for production.
Patent Publication No. CN102697664A "Tanshinone lipidosome and preparation method thereof" relates to a process for producing particles smaller than 200 nm, which is an applied process in cosmetics using surfactants, not applicable to foods and medical products.
Known processes for producing nano Tan IIA produce nonuniform large-sized microparticles, particularly, nano Tan IIA according to a liposome formula of liposome particles with a size larger than 200 nm, so the effects of solubility in water and effects of use are not great.
Therefore, there is a need for a process for producing a Tan IIA nanoliposome system for foods and medical products comprising uniform liposome microparticles with a size smaller than 200 nm with preferable water solubility, while still retaining its structure and Tan IIA activity during nanoization.

Process for producing a Tan IIA nanoliposome system for foods and medical products


A transceiver module which is easily and conveniently assembled, and which is reliable. The transceiver module comprises a housing, an optoelectronic subassembly, a receptacle, a chassis and a PCB. The optoelectronic subassembly is received in the receptacle. Conductive leads of the optoelectronic subassembly are soldered to the PCB. The chassis is attached to the PCB with screws, and accommodates and protects the PCB. The housing comprises a top housing and a bottom housing. The top housing is attached to the chassis and the receptacle. The top housing and bottom housings are attached together, enclosing therein the receptacle, the chassis and the PCB.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to optoelectronic transceiver modules for fiber-optic communications, and in particular optoelectronic transceiver modules which can be conveniently assembled and which are reliable.
2. Description of the Related Art
Optoelectronic transceiver modules provide for bi-directional transmission of data between an electrical interface and an optical data link. The module receives electrically encoded data signals which are converted into optical signals and transmitted over the optical data link. Conversely, the module receives optically encoded data signals which are converted into electrical signals and transmitted onto the electrical interface.
There is a need for a transceiver module which is highly reliable and durable. A print circuit board (PCB), the most important element of the transceiver module, must be enclosed by a shielding housing which absorbs electromagnetic radiation. This ensures that high frequency signals in the transceiver module do not affect external electrical circuits, and that such signals are not affected by external electromagnetic waves. The PCB must be grounded in order to dissipate any static charges which develop on the PCB.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,767,999 discloses a conventional optoelectronic transceiver module. The module comprises a top housing, a bottom housing and a PCB. The PCB is located between the top and the bottom housings. One end of the PCB connects with an electrical connector, and the other end of the PCB connects with optoelectrical components which have leads soldered to the PCB. Unfortunately, the PCB is fixed by plastic positioning dowels. Therefore the housing cannot be effectively connected to a grounding circuit of the PCB. There is no reliable grounding connection between the housing and the PCB. Any static charges on the housing cannot be timely dissipated to ground, which adversely affects the performance of the transceiver module. Furthermore, assembly of this conventional transceiver module is unduly laborious.
Another conventional optoelectronic transceiver module is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. Re. 36,820. A PCB and other optoelectronic components are placed in a rectangular box. By injecting potting material into the box, the PCB and the optoelectronic components can be enclosed. The enclosure of the transceiver module fixes and protects the PCB. However, potting material is expensive and unduly troublesome to use. Furthermore, the structure does not provide satisfactory grounding connection between the PCB and the box. Thus the box does not effectively dissipate buildup of electrostatic charge thereon, and does not provide optimal electromagnetic shielding.
In view of the above, there is a need for a transceiver module which can easily and securely fix the PCB in a metal housing while simultaneously effectively establishing a grounding path between the PCB and the metal housing.
Therefore, one object of the present invention is to provide a transceiver module which can easily and securely fix a PCB in a housing.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a transceiver module with an effective grounding path between a PCB and a housing.
The transceiver module of the present invention comprises a housing, an optoelectronic subassembly, a receptacle, a chassis and a PCB. The optoelectronic subassembly is received in the receptacle. Conductive leads of the optoelectronic subassembly are soldered to the PCB. The chassis is attached to the PCB with screws, and accommodates and protects the PCB. The housing comprises a top housing and a bottom housing. The top housing is attached to the chassis and the receptacle. The top housing and the bottom housing are attached together, enclosing therein the receptacle, the chassis and the PCB.

Optoelectronic transceiver module with additional grounding


The invention includes a decompression board 35 bonded on a piston 1, and bonds a friction member 40 on a surface of the decompression board, wherein an oil groove is formed on the decompression board.

1. Field of the invention
The invention relates to a lockup clutch for a torque converter.
2. Description of the Related Art
FIG. 14 shows a structure of a torque converter 30 with a lockup clutch. In this drawing, numeral 2 represents a front cover connected directly with a shaft of a machine; 23, a pump case fixed to the front cover 2; 3, a pump; 4, a turbine; 24, a turbine case; 25, a stator; and 28, an output shaft connected directly with the turbine case 24.
The torque converter is a fluid coupling which is a combination of the pump and the turbine. Slip exists even if the rotation of the pump substantially coincides with the turbine. Accordingly, the transmission efficiency of the torque converter is lower than that of a directly connected mechanical clutch.
Therefore, a torque converter with a lockup clutch, a mechanical clutch has been utilized. In FIG. 14, numeral 1 represents a piston; 26, 27, springs for a damper; 34, a driven disk; 29, a direct-connected part with the turbine case 24; 31, a first oil chamber; 32, a second oil chamber; 40, a friction member bonded on the piston 1; and 41, an oil groove formed on the piston 1. As a pressure of the second oil chamber 32 is made higher, the piston 1 is compressedly contacted to the front cover 2 through the friction member 40, and the piston 1 rotates together with the front cover 2. The rotation is transmitted to the driven disk 34 through a connecting part 33 of a spline or the like, and then the rotation is transmitted to the output shaft 28, by the direct-connected part 29.
In such a lockup clutch, high pressure oil from the second oil chamber 32 penetrates into the friction member during operation. Consequently, the high pressure oil becomes a reaction force opposing a force which presses the piston 1, thereby decreasing torque transmission capacity. Therefore, for example, as shown in FIG. 14, the oil groove 41 is formed on the piston 1 so that the high pressure oil penetrating into the friction member during operation immediately flows into the first oil chamber 31 from the oil groove 41.
In the conventional clutch mechanism, since the oil groove is formed directly on a press surface of the clutch, namely either, the friction member, the front cover, the piston or the like, the strength of the part on which the oil groove is located decreases.
In the processing of the oil groove, cutting work that must be done on a hard material to form the groove is difficult. Also, cutting has the problem of increasing the production cost because workability of the hard material is so bad that it takes a long time to complete. When the oil groove is formed by molding, the life of the die is short because the die is narrow. On the other hand, when the oil groove is formed by cutting, the material into which the groove is cut is weakened thus and the life of the part is reduced. In addition, since the piston is heat treated during molding, cutting it thereafter to form the oil groove lengthens the manufacturing time required. Moreover, the piston to which quenching treatment is applied has a very hard surface where the oil groove formed. Accordingly such a piston is should not be cut to form the oil groove.


A voltmeter measures an unknown voltage on a target surface using multiple sampling stages or a parallel reference capacitor. A movable shutter may alternately be closed during resetting of a voltage measuring circuit and opened so as to expose a detector plate to the target surface during two sampling stages. Alternatively, the shutter may be used to modulate exposure of a detector plate to the target surface.

Non-contact measurement of a target surface's potential relies on the detection of an electric field. As discussed in D. P. Loconto, High-sensitivity Micromechanical Electrostatic Voltmeter, M. S. Thesis, UC Berkeley EECS, 1992 and R. D. Houston, Non-contacting ESV Technology, Xerox Corporation Internal Report, Rochester, N.Y., March 1983, both of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entireties, the measurement of electric field strength can be made by cutting the electric field lines between the target surface and an on-chip sense-plate conductor. Together, the target surface and the sense plate form a parallel-plate capacitor structure, denoted as the sense capacitance. A third conductor, the shutter, is held at the same potential as the sense plate and swept across the sense-plate. The shutter's motion serves to modulate the effective area of the sense capacitance relative to the target surface. The varying coupling capacitance results in a dynamic current, proportional to the electric field between the target and the sense plate, that is conditioned by on-chip circuitry.
Features of modern MEMS processing, such as Analog Device's iMEMS3 process, allow for the design and manufacture of a high-performance field-mill. Referring to FIG. 2, the MEMS processing provides direct connection between the interface circuit and the key MEMS structures. The direct connection between the circuit and the shutter reduces parasitic capacitance, which improves the signal-to-noise ratio of the device. In addition, co-integration of the MEMS and the circuitry provides high reliability, as demonstrated by the sub-ppm field failure rate of automotive sensors. The two poly layers underneath the sensor provide suitable conducting paths for interconnect and the field-mill sense plate, while the top mechanical poly layer is free to move and provide the mechanical shutter. The composite system architecture is illustrated in FIG. 3.
Non-Contact Voltmeter Measurement Principle: Servo Loop #1
The iMEMS3 field-mill allows for single-chip implementation of a non-contact voltmeter. The simple field mill architecture, however, can suffer from sensitivity to environmental fluctuations. Examples of these potential error sources include gap variations between the MEMS transducer and the target surface, and variations in the absolute shutter motion due to process and temperature variation. To correct for these variations, the field mill may be placed within a global feedback loop to form a true voltmeter, for example, as discussed in K. S. Lion, Instrumentation in Scientific Research, McGraw-Hill, 1959, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. The function of the feedback loop is to adjust the supply reference for the MEMS transducer until it is equal to the unknown target surface potential. When the target, shutter and sense plate are at equal potentials, the motion of the shutter no longer induces a modulation signal and the loop is balanced. The architecture for this instrument is illustrated in FIG. 4. Note that for large target potentials, the bootstrap voltage must be created from a "boost" converter or a regulated high-voltage power supply. The need for a high-voltage bootstrap creates significant system complexity and cost.
Non-Contact Voltmeter Measurement Principle: Servo Loop #2
A low-voltage feedback strategy can be achieved by local charge cancellation of the induced field-mill charge. One basis for this servo strategy is to superimpose an AC feedback signal onto the summing node of the interface amplifier. Once again we start with a modulating field-mill capacitor Cm, which creates a current equal to Vs(dCm/dt) at the summing node (Vs is the potential difference between the target and detector). As illustrated in subfigure 2 in FIG. 5, a time varying signal (Vg) is supplied to the summing node reference, which reacts with the static capacitance (Co) to create a current modulation equal to Co(dVg/dt). Note that this signal is proportional to the nominal gap between the target surface and the detector, just like Cm. If we then close a servo loop by adjusting the AC voltage applied to the summing node (subfigure 3) to cancel the net current, we achieve a net signal at the output of Vout=Vs*(Cm/Co), assuming the frequency and phase of the field-mill and AC signal are matched. This technique relies on the modulation capacitance to be significantly smaller than Co, and U.S. Pat. No. 4,797,620, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety, clearly states this can be achieved with gap modulation between the target and the detector. Assuming this is the case, the transfer function for the detector reduces to Vout=(Delta)/go*Vs, where (Delta) is the modulation length, and go is the nominal gap.
This voltmeter architecture suffers from several drawbacks. First, the ratio of (Delta)/go is not really a systematic constant and restricts the accuracy and/or range of the part. Although sufficient spacing between the detector and the target surface can limit sensitivity variations to under 1%, this accuracy comes at the expense of resolution due to noise and susceptibility to external field perturbations. An additional drawback of this architecture is that it is limited to gap modulation in the direction of the target surface. In a MEMS device, significant lateral motion is generally easier to achieve than vertical motion, and this architecture will therefore be difficult to implement effectively. In addition to mechanical constraints, the servo architecture does not lend itself to a lateral implementation for key electrical reasons. Notably, to achieve acceptable attenuation of the high voltage signal, the ratio between the reference capacitance Co and the modulation capacitance Cm must be large. This cannot be achieved with a single lateral plate, where Co and Cm are effectively the same.

Non-contact high-voltage electrometer architecture with low-voltage feedback


A creatine amidinohydrolase having the following physicochemical properties:                Action: catalyzing the following reaction;                    creatine+H2O→sarcosine+urea                        Optimum temperature: about 40-50° C.        Optimum pH: pH about 8.0-9.0        Heat stability: not more than 50° C. (pH 7.5, 30 min)        Km value for creatine in a coupling assay using a sarcosine oxidase and a peroxidase: about 3.5-10.00 mM        Molecular weight: about 43,000 (SDS-PAGE)        Isoelectric point: 3.5 4.5,a method for producing said enzyme, comprising culture of microorganism producing said enzyme, a method for the determination of creatine or creatinine in a sample using said enzyme, and a reagent therefor.

A creatine and a creatinine are found in blood and urine. A quick and accurate determination of their amounts is very important in making diagnosis of the diseases such as uremia, chronic nephritis, acute nephritis, giantism, tonic muscular dystrophy and the like. For making diagnosis of these diseases, creatine and creatinine in blood, as well as urine are frequently determined quantitatively.
A creatine can be determined by allowing creatine aminohydrolase and sarcosine oxidase to react on creatine in a sample and determining the amount of the generated hydrogen peroxide by a method for measuring hydrogen peroxide. A creatinine can be determined by allowing creatinine amidohydrolase, creatine amidinohydrolase and sarcosine oxidase to react on creatinine in a sample and determining the generated hydrogen peroxide by a method for measuring hydrogen peroxide.
The creatinine amidohydrolase, creatine amidinohydrolase and sarcosine oxidase are widely found in the world of microorganisms, have been industrially produced and used as reagents for clinical tests.
Yet, the creatine amidinohydrolase produced from various known cell lines show lower heat stability and greater Km value for creatine. For example, an enzyme derived from the bacteria belonging to the genus Bacillus (U.S. Pat. No. 4,420,562) is thermally stable only at a temperature not more than 40° C. An enzyme derived from Pseudomonas putida has a smaller apparent Km value for creatine of 1.33 mM [Archives Biochemistry and Biophysics 177, 508-515 (1976)], though the method for determining the activity is different and the Km value for creatine determined by a coupling assay using sarcosine oxidase and peroxidase widely used as reagents for clinical tests, has been unknown. The enzymes derived from the bacteria belonging to the genus Corynebacterium, Micrococcus, Actinobacillus or Bacillus (Japanese Patent Examined Publication No. 76915/1991) is thermally stable at a temperature not more than 50° C., whereas Km value for creatine is as great as about 20 mM, and these enzymes are not suitable for use as reagents for clinical tests.
In an attempt to resolve such problems, the present inventors previously found that the bacteria belonging to the genus Alcaligenes produced a creatine amidinohydrolase which was superior in heat stability and had a relatively smaller Km value (Km value: ca. 15.2) for creatine (Japanese Patent Unexamined Publication No. 63363/1994). Furthermore, they have established a technique for isolating a creatine amidinohydrolase gene having a relatively small Km value for creatine from said bacterial cell line and producing said enzyme in a large amount using Gram negative bacteria as a host (Japanese Patent Application No. 117283/1995).
Moreover, a creatine amidinohydrolase stable in a high pH range and having a small Km value has been reported to be derived from the same genus Alcaligenes cell line (U.S. Pat. No. 5,451,520).
Yet, these creatine amidinohydrolases still have greater Km values as enzymes to be used as routine reagents for clinical tests, and a creatine amidinohydrolase having smaller Km value has been desired.

Creatine amidinohydrolase, production thereof and use thereof


An air-fuel ratio controlling apparatus for an internal combustion engine allows an air-fuel ratio learning control to be executed to a satisfactory extent during manufacture in a factory to thereby stabilize exhaust gases and driving performance. The apparatus is provided with a controller which sets air-fuel ratio learning execution counters in a plurality of learning zones. The counters judge whether an air-fuel ratio learning has been executed in an air-fuel ratio learning value storage map based on engine revolutions and engine load, and execute a forced learning control with the amount of purge as a fixed value where the air-fuel ratio learning is not performed at least a preset number of times in all the learning zones with the air-fuel ratio learning execution counters set therein.

In an internal combustion engine of a vehicle, for the purpose of correcting variations in the manufacture of components associated with the engine such as fuel supply parts, fuel injection valves, air flow meters, oxygen sensors, fuel pressure regulators, as well as variations caused by deterioration of durability, and for controlling the fuel injection volume to a designed median, there is provided a known air-fuel ratio controller which provides an air-fuel ratio learning control to prevent deterioration of exhaust gases and maintain the driving performance in a satisfactory condition.
In the internal combustion engine there also is provided a known evaporated fuel controller for preventing evaporated fuel from flowing out of a fuel tank. The evaporated fuel controller comprises a canister disposed between an evaporation passage communicating with the interior of the fuel tank and a purge passage communicating with an intake system of the engine, and a purge valve disposed in an intermediate position of the purge passage to control the amount of purge (evaporated fuel) to be fed to the intake system in accordance with the operating condition of the engine.
Examples of such air-fuel ratio controllers which control the air-fuel ratio or control the amount of purge are disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid Open Nos. 7-259610, 7-166936, 5-156988 and 8-240138 and Japanese Patent No. 2545438.
According to the apparatus disclosed in Patent Laid Open No. 7-259610, during execution of learning, a learning end condition is judged on the basis of a deviation between an actual air-fuel ratio and a target air-fuel ratio, and when the learning end condition is established, a purge valve is opened, while if the learning end condition is not established for a predetermined period of time, learning is stopped temporarily and the purge valve is opened forcibly, thereby ensuring the discharge of evaporated gas even upon sticking of a learning value in air-fuel ratio learning.
According to the apparatus disclosed in Patent Laid Open No. 7-166936, a dual oxygen feedback control using a rear oxygen sensor is executed whereby, even in the event there continues a state in which an output signal of a downstream-side oxygen sensor is not inverted, a learning value is forcibly updated into an optimal state of emission once a predetermined state is reached.
According to the apparatus disclosed in Patent Laid Open No. 5-156988, a calculated basic fuel injection volume is corrected using both an air-fuel ratio correction coefficient and a learning value, but only when the air-fuel ratio detected by an air-fuel ratio sensor is within a predetermined range at an inversion timing of a target air-fuel ratio and is inverted following the inversion of the target air-fuel ratio. Then a learning value is detected in accordance with the amount of deviation between the air-fuel ratio detected by the air-fuel ratio sensor and a theoretical air-fuel ratio, thereby preventing the learning value from being affected by disturbance.
Japanese Patent Laid Open No. 8-240138 discloses an air-fuel control in a lean-burn type internal combustion engine in which, at a vehicle speed at which the vehicle nearly stops, there is calculated a purge cut time. This calculated time is subtracted during purge, and when the integrated time has reached a predetermined time or more, a purge gas concentration detection end flag is reset, then after start-up, the inhibition of a theoretical air-fuel ratio feedback control is released and an air-fuel ratio feedback control is forcibly executed even during acceleration to estimate a purge gas concentration, then a shift to a lean driving is judged, thereby preventing the air-fuel ratio from becoming rich during lean driving.
According to the apparatus disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 2545438, there is used a control means for performing an air-fuel ratio feedback control forcibly whereby, when an altitude difference in going up and down a slope has reached a predetermined value continuously, a learning control for the air-fuel ratio is executed by an air-fuel ratio feedback control to compensate for a delay in the air-fuel ratio learning control sufficiently and attain a highly accurate air-fuel control.
In the conventional air-fuel ratio controllers for an internal combustion engine, if the air-fuel ratio learning control is performed during purge control in the evaporated fuel controller, the correction of the air-fuel ratio is not effected properly, thus causing deterioration of exhaust gases and of driving performance. As a result, it sometimes becomes necessary to repeat on-off of purge during the air-fuel ratio learning control.
In such a case, however, if the purge-ON frequency of the canister is increased, the air-fuel ratio learning frequency at purge-OFF becomes smaller. Conversely, if the air-fuel ratio learning frequency is increased, the purge-ON frequency becomes smaller. This is inconvenient. Particularly, when exhaust gases are measured during manufacture in a factory, the air-fuel ratio learning control is scarcely performed, thus resulting in deterioration of exhaust gases. In Patent Laid Open No. 7-259610, when the learning end condition does not exist for a certain period of time, the learning control is stopped and the purge valve is opened forcibly, with the air-fuel ratio learning control being not performed during manufacture in a factory, thus causing a fear of deterioration of exhaust gases.

Apparatus for controlling the air-fuel ratio in an internal combustion engine


A multipurpose tray includes a first tray having a first loading surface and a second tray provided to be freely slidable along a predetermined direction with respect to the first tray. The second tray has a second loading surface with an area continuous to the first loading surface changing according to its slide movement. The first tray is provided with a first lever opening and the second tray is provided with a second lever opening with a changing distance L from the first lever opening along a direction orthogonal to the predetermined direction. The multipurpose tray further includes a lever having one end guided by the first lever opening and the other end guided by the second lever opening, and a sheet pressing part provided at the one end of the lever and regulating the sheet position in the direction orthogonal to the predetermined direction. With this configuration, usability of the multipurpose tray can be improved while it can be made sufficiently small.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to a multipurpose tray, and more specifically, to a multipurpose tray where a plurality of types of sheets of paper and the like are loaded and the sheets are supplied to a printer.
2. Description of the Background Art
A printer is provided with a tray called a "multipurpose tray" in addition to a standard tray to accommodate a regular size sheet. The multipurpose tray is utilized when an irregular size sheet that the standard tray cannot accommodate is used or when a sheet is manually fed, and a plurality of types of sheets having different dimensions are loaded thereto.
As a technique related to such a multipurpose tray, for example, Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 07-242341 discloses a sheet cassette that can easily align the edge faces of sheets to improve sheet feeding performance and versatility even when a different size sheet is accommodated. FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing the sheet cassette disclosed in Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 07-242341.
Referring to FIG. 7, the sheet cassette includes a chassis 218 of the sheet cassette, and a rear edge regulating plate 225 and a width regulating plate 226 that are provided slidably on the surface of chassis 218. On the surface of chassis 218, a first guide groove 220 and a second guide groove 221 that extend in the same track are formed spaced apart from each other. Width regulating plate 226 is provided with first and second positioning pins protruding toward the surface of chassis 218, and the first and second positioning pins fit into first and second guide grooves 220 and 221, respectively. When rear edge regulating plate 225 is moved in a direction Y in FIG. 7, width regulating plate 226 is moved in a direction X in FIG. 7, being guided by first and second guide grooves 220 and 221.
Further, Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 04-072255 discloses a sheet feeding device to perform width alignment and preparation of a recording sheet accurately and quickly. Japanese Utility Model Laying-Open No. 62-034534 discloses an extension guide mechanism of a document set stage where a width determining plate and an extension guide are linked to each other. In addition, Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 11-222322 discloses a sheet carrying device which allows smooth and continuous movement of a sheet guide by simple operation and provides high reliability and cost reduction. In the devices disclosed in these publications, a tray which slides in the sheet feeding direction and a member that regulates the width direction of sheets are linked by a rack and pinion structure.
Since the multipurpose tray is used for manual feeding of a sheet and the like, generally, it is configured to have a structure that is normally accommodated inside a printer body and is drawn out of the printer body when used. Accordingly, the multipurpose tray needs to be designed small such that it can be accommodated inside the printer body. However, when the multipurpose tray is made smaller, dimensions of the tray are also made smaller, in which case a sufficient area for holding sheets cannot be ensured. Thus, when a large-size sheet is loaded, the tray cannot support it.
Accordingly, in the devices disclosed in the above publications, in order to handle different size sheets, there are provided a tray that slides in the sheet feeding direction and a member that slides in the sheet width direction to perform width alignment of the sheets. However, when the mechanism disclosed in the publications is provided in the multipurpose tray to ensure a sufficient length of the tray, the tray will be a large and complicated configuration. On the other hand, the devices disclosed in the publications use a configuration in which the tray that slides in the sheet feeding direction and the member performing width alignment of sheets are linked. Thus, it is also important for the multipurpose tray to eliminate complexity of operation to improve usability.


An optical sheet having a single sheet structure for an edge-lighting backlight unit using a printless light guide plate, a method of manufacturing the same, and a liquid crystal display apparatus using the same are provided. The optical sheet having a single sheet structure includes a first prism sheet having a prism pattern formed on the upper surface thereof, and a second prism sheet having a prism pattern formed on the upper surface thereof. Further, prism ridges of the first prism sheet are attached to the bottom surface of the second prism sheet by means of an adhesive so that the prism pattern of the first prism sheet and the prism pattern of the second prism sheet are directed in the same direction.

1. Field
The present invention relates to an optical sheet for a backlight unit (BLU) of a liquid crystal display apparatus and a method of manufacturing the same, and a liquid crystal display apparatus using the optical sheet. More particularly the present invention relates to an optical sheet having a single sheet structure for an edge-lighting backlight unit using a printless light guide plate in a liquid crystal display apparatus, and to a method of manufacturing the same, and to a liquid crystal display, apparatus using the optical sheet.
2. Description of the Related Art
The light guide plates that can be used in the edge-lighting backlight units of LCDs usually fall into the two categories of a prism light guide plate, which uses only light refraction, and a non-printing light guide plate, which uses the scattering and condensation of light. FIG. 1 schematically illustrates a backlight unit using the prism light guide plate. As illustrated in FIG. 1, the backlight unit comprises a prism light guide plate 11 having a prism pattern 10 formed on the bottom surface thereof, and a reverse prism sheet 13 disposed on the prism light guide plate 11 and having a prism pattern 12 formed on the bottom surface thereof. Although a single sheet on the prism light guide plate may be achieved using the prism light guide plate illustrated in FIG. 1, the viewing angle is too narrow and it is difficult to manufacture the prism light guide plate, and it is not used more but rather less. FIG. 2 schematically illustrates a backlight unit using the printless light guide plate. As illustrated in FIG. 1, this unit comprises a printless light guide plate 20, a diffusion sheet 21 bonded to the upper surface of the printless light guide plate 20, a prism sheet 22 bonded to the upper surface of the diffusion sheet 21 and having a prism pattern 23 formed on the upper surface of the prism sheet, and a protective sheet 24 bonded to the upper surface of the prism sheet 22. Also, the backlight unit using the printless light guide plate may be configured without the protective sheet 24. In the case of the printless light guide plate using the scattering and condensation of light, which is easier to manufacture than the prism light guide plate, there is provided an optical sheet comprising a combination of two or three sheets of a diffusion sheet/a prism sheet or a diffusion sheet/a prism sheet/a protective sheet as illustrated in FIG. 2. FIG. 3 illustrates the direction of travel of light caused by the backlight unit using two sheets, an upper and a lower prism sheet. As illustrated in FIG. 3, the diffusion sheet 31 functions to screen the pattern of the light guide plate 30 which scatters light and also enables the obliquely directed light emitted from the light guide plate 30 to travel to some extent in the perpendicular direction. The prism sheet 32 functions' to condense the light, which has traveled to some extent in the perpendicular direction by means of the diffusion sheet 31, so that the light is sent in the perpendicular direction. As illustrated in FIG. 3, the backlight unit for notebook PCs condenses light in the completely perpendicular direction using two sheets comprising the lower vertical prism sheet 32 and the upper horizontal prism sheet 33. However, the backlight unit for LCD-TVs uses a single horizontal prism sheet because the use of two prism sheets may increase luminance but decrease the viewing angle from both sides. The prism sheet is problematic because prism-shaped ridges are exposed to the surface and may thus easily generate scratches upon handling or after assembly. To solve this problem or improve the viewing angle, a protective sheet may be disposed on the prism sheet.
However, the case where the printless light guide plate is adopted in the backlight unit for LCD-TVs is problematic because a plurality of optical sheets is used, undesirably making it impossible to achieve slimness, decreasing assembly productivity and increasing the cost of the backlight unit.
Thus there is required a single sheet for a backlight unit using the printless light guide plate in LCD-TVs in order to achieve slimness, increase assembly productivity and reduce the manufacturing cost.

Optical film and manufacturing method thereof, liquid cristal display apparatus using the optical film


An improved process is provided for producing titanium tetrachloride vapor admixed with a desired particular amount of aluminum trichloride vapor for use in the production of rutile titanium dioxide. The vapor mixture is derived from a titanium tetrachloride solution containing the desired particular amount of aluminum trichloride. The solution is produced continuously by dissolving aluminum trichloride in a heated stream of liquid titanium tetrachloride utilizing a cyclic aluminum trichloride bed switching and recharging process.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a process for continuously producing a solution of titanium tetrachloride and aluminum trichloride which when evaporated produces a vapor mixture containing a desired particular amount of aluminum trichloride for use in producing rutile titanium dioxide pigment.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The production of rutile titanium dioxide pigment by the oxidation of titanium tetrachloride admixed with a minor amount of aluminum trioxide is well known. The vapor mixture is generally combined with oxygen in a burner wherein the oxidation of the titanium tetrachloride to titanium dioxide takes place. It is necessary to incorporate a minor amount of aluminum trichloride vapor with the titanium tetrachloride vapor to insure the desired rutile crystalline form of titanium dioxide is produced and to improve the weatherability of the titanium dioxide product.
In order to obtain a rutile titanium dioxide of uniform quality, it is necessary to maintain a constant ratio of aluminum compound and titanium tetrachloride in the vapor mixture which is oxidized. A variety of techniques have been developed and used heretofore for producing such vapor mixtures. Examples of the techniques include adding metallic aluminum powder to a mixture of vaporous titanium tetrachloride and oxygen, spraying molten aluminum into a mixture of vaporous titanium tetrachloride and oxygen, passing liquid titanium tetrachloride together with oxygen and an inert gas through solid aluminum trichloride in an evaporator, passing a carrier gas stream of vaporous titanium tetrachloride and oxygen through a fluidized bed of aluminum trichloride, evaporating titanium tetrachloride and aluminum trichloride separately and then combining them in the desired ratio, passing vaporized titanium tetrachloride and chlorine through a bed of aluminum metal particles or a fluidized bed of aluminum powder, and many others.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,824,050 issued Feb. 18, 1958 discloses a process wherein aluminum trichloride is dissolved in hot liquid titanium tetrachloride and the solution is evaporated after removal of non-volatile precipitates produced. The process includes dissolving 0.1% to 5% of the aluminum trichloride in the titanium tetrachloride, distilling the mixture, condensing and combining the distillate, and continuously flash vaporizing the distillate.
Even though a variety of the foregoing and other prior art techniques have been utilized successfully, all have involved the use of relatively expensive equipment, and generally, they have not been consistent in producing a constant ratio of titanium tetrachloride to aluminum compound.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,524,818 issued Aug. 18, 1970 discloses a method which is stated to be relatively simple, inexpensive and continuous for producing a stream of vaporous titanium tetrachloride containing an exact amount of vaporous aluminum trichloride. The method comprises the steps of dissolving the aluminum trichloride in a suitable anhydrous organic or inorganic liquid, and simultaneously feeding a stream of the resulting solution and a separate stream of liquid titanium tetrachloride to an evaporator in controlled amounts whereby both streams are evaporated simultaneously. Examples of solvents which can be used are ethers, alcohols and thionylchloride. Thus, the method involves the use of a solvent which does not enter into the titanium dioxide production reaction, which adds expense to the method and which presents a solvent recovery or disposal problem.
In more recent processes for producing rutile titanium dioxide pigment, aluminum trichloride is dissolved in hot titanium tetrachloride, and the resulting solution is fed to vaporizers which simultaneously vaporize both the aluminum trichloride and titanium tetrachloride to provide a vapor mixture having the desired particular aluminum trichloride content. The vapor mixture is then oxidized in an oxidizer apparatus to produce the rutile titanium dioxide pigment. The vaporizer and oxidizer apparatus must be operated at super atmospheric pressures which makes it difficult to pump the hot highly corrosive titanium tetrachloride-aluminum trichloride solution into the vaporizer apparatus. In order to avoid the pumping difficulties, the vaporizer apparatus has often been fed from an elevated feed tank, and the overall process of producing the titanium tetrachloride-aluminum trichloride solution has still been expensive to carry out. Thus, there is a need for an improved less expensive process for producing a continuous stream of titanium tetrachloride solution containing a desired particular amount of aluminum trichloride which can be vaporized and then utilized as a feed to titanium dioxide producing oxidizer apparatus.

Process for producing a vapor mixture of titanium tetrachloride and aluminum trichloride


A technique is provided for establishing data communications links and associated telephone calls between customers and customer service representatives. Customers access the Internet from clients. A merchant provides an on-line catalog using a Web server. When the customer requests that a customer service representative contact the customer, linking information is provided to the client. When one of the customer service representatives is available, the server sends a notification packet to the client to notify the customer and to provide the customer with an opportunity to decide whether or not to continue. If the customer decides to continue, an Internet communications link and telephone call are established between the customer and the customer service representative based on the linking information.

The Internet has made it convenient for merchants to sell products and provide customer service on-line. For example, many merchants have established World Wide Web sites containing on-line catalogs of their products. With a Web browser, customers can access such a Web site to view images of the products and to obtain related product information. If a customer is interested in a product contained in the on-line catalog, the customer can place a telephone call to a customer service representative at the merchant. The customer service representative can provide the customer with product information and can take orders for products. An important aspect of this type of transaction is that the customer can remain on-line, so that the customer service representative can direct the customer to particular portions of the on-line catalog. If the customer service representative is provided with a suitable connection to the merchant's Web server, the customer service representative can actively control which portions of the catalog are displayed on the customer's computer. The customer service representative can use this feature to make a sales presentation to the customer.
Sometimes a customer service representative is not available to accept a telephone call from the customer. As a result, the customer must wait on hold until a representative is available. The Instant Answer.TM. service available from AT&T alleviates some of the difficulties associated with this situation. Using the Instant Answer.TM. service, a customer who is browsing an on-line catalog can click on a "call me" button in the on-line catalog when the customer wishes to speak to a customer service representative. Selecting the call me button alerts the merchant that the customer should be called by the next available customer service representative. If no customer service representative is currently available, the merchant's Web server can transmit a message to the customer's computer to let the customer know that all representatives are busy. A message might also be transmitted that indicates in realtime the estimated time remaining before a customer service representative will be available.
While the customer is waiting for a customer service representative from the merchant to call, the customer may wish to continue to browse the Internet. In particular, the customer may wish to access Web sites unrelated to the merchant's on-line catalog. However, when the customer accesses another Web site, the data communications link between the customer's computer and the merchant's server is typically broken. As a result, after the merchant's customer service representative has called the customer, the customer service representative must wait while the customer attempts to reestablish a data communications link between the customer's computer and the merchant's Web site.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a way in which to notify a customer that a customer service representative is available and to facilitate the process of establishing a data communications link with the representative.

System and method for establishing internet communications links


Camber of ceramic substrates is prevented by placing a conformable load tile over substrates during sintering. The conformable load tile has an initial curvature that facilitates escape of substrate binder gases during a burn out cycle. Subsequently, the conformable load tile conforms to the substrates under the higher heat of sintering temperature to maintain flatness of the substrates. To prevent sticking of the conformable load tile to the substrates, the conformable load tile is provided with a nonstick surface.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to computer chip substrate manufacture and, more particularly, to reducing the need for ceramic substrates to be reworked after sintering.
2. Background Description
Some ceramic substrates have camber (a degree of non-flatness) that is greater than allowed after sintering. These substrates must be put in a "rework" operation called flattening. In this operation, a mass or load is placed on an alumina interposer, and the load and alumina interposer is placed on the substrates. This assembly of load, alumina interposer and substrates is subsequently "re-fired" at a temperature lower than the sintering temperature.
The flattening operation alleviates the camber problem, but traditionally introduces problems such as adhesion of nonelectrically conducting material onto electrically conducting features of the substrate, in addition to adding cost to the product due to the additional flattening process.
In the past, loads have been used during sintering to keep substrates flat, but with certain substrate materials, such as those containing glass, other problems are generated, such as substrates adhering to the loads. An interface material has been used to separate the load and the substrate, but to make electrical contact, the interface layer must be removed, usually by lapping. Sticking of the load to substrates is also influenced by the amount of load applied to the substrates. To keep a tile flat during the high temperatures usually requires a greater thickness, thereby increasing the minimum mass of the tile and increasing the likelihood of the tiles sticking to a substrate containing glass.
Another problem is that a rigid load will not maintain its flatness over time and will require rework or replacement. Once deformed, it will not make intimate contact with the substrate and not apply the load correctly. Furthermore, a flat, rigid load does not allow for gas flow at lower temperatures which assists binder burnout.
Referring now to the drawings, the problems which have been described are illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3. In FIG. 1, the sintering process is represented by arrow 11. No load is used to inhibit camber. At first the substrates 12 are flat. As the cycle proceeds, the high heat of sintering makes the substrates curve; i.e., to take a camber. The substrates remain curved when the cycle finishes.
The positive aspect of this free sintering method is that binder burn out is uninhibited. Uninhibited binder burn out ensures that no carbon will be trapped in the substrate after sintering. Carbon burn off occurs early in the sintering cycle. At very high temperatures, carbon will become trapped on the substrate surface, so it is important that carbon burn off occurs before sintering begins.
FIG. 2 shows cross sections of two substrates 22 when they are sintered with a rigid load 23. Again, the cycle is represented by an arrow 21. To begin, the substrates 22 are covered with the load 23. During the high heat portion of the cycle, the load and the substrates remain flat. At the end of the cycle, the load is removed and the flat substrates remain.
While a flat substrate is produced at the end of the cycle illustrated in FIG. 2, the rigid load inhibits binder burn out. If carbon is trapped in the substrate, the substrate will have more porosity and electrical properties will be degraded. In addition, over time this rigid load will become distorted in shape as a result of heating during sintering cycles, requiring reworking or replacing of the load.
A distorted rigid load is shown in FIG. 3. At the beginning of the cycle 31, the distorted load 33 is set on the substrates 32, but does not make intimate contact with the substrates 32. The distortion in this load increases binder burnout because of the lack of intimate contact made by the load. When the high heat sintering begins, the substrates 32 curve (i.e., take a camber) in the heat because the load 33 is not applying pressure evenly to the substrates 32. When the cycle is finished, the load is removed and the substrates 32 retain a camber.
The problem this invention solves is to reduce and/or eliminate the number of times a substrate is required to go through the flattening operation and also to reduce the amount of nonelectrically conducting material adhering as a contaminant to an electrically conducting feature on the substrate.

Weighted sintering process and conformable load tile

International Business Machines Corporation


The invention deals with new crystalline salts of bazedoxifene, by means of which a high API quality can be achieved in a high yield.

Bazedoxifene (1-[4-(2-azepan-1-yl-ethoxy)benzyl]-2-(4-hydroxyfenyl)-3-methyl-1H-indol-5-ol) of formula 1:
belongs to selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERMs). A more detailed description of its biological activity can be found e.g. in Drugs of the Future, 2002, 27(2), 117-121.The preparation of bazedoxifene and its acetate was published in the U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,998,402 and 6,479,535. The preparation of bazedoxifene was also published in J. Med. Chem. 2001, 44, 1654-1657. US 2005/0227965 A1 compares two crystalline polymorphs of bazedoxifene acetate. US 2005/0227964 A1 discloses bazedoxifene ascorbate and its use.
Use of a substance for pharmaceutical purposes places high demands on the substance quality. The most efficient purification operation is crystallization. In the case of substances that cannot crystallize it is very difficult to achieve internationally appreciated quality criteria defined by the ICH instructions. In addition, amorphous forms of substances are more susceptible to decomposition, in particular hydrolysis or oxidation, which is caused by their large surface. According to well-known and verified information bazedoxifene and its hitherto known forms can be classified among such substances that are difficult to purify and prone to decomposition.
Bazedoxifene as well as bazedoxifene ascorbate are non-crystalline forms that can be obtained by concentrating the solution until dry. Due to this, however, all undesired, non-volatile substances coming from the synthesis or decomposition of API remain in the resulting substance. This is mainly the case of 2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-3-methyl-1H-indol-5-ol of formula 2 and 1-[4-(2-azepan-1-yl-ethoxy)benzyl]-5-benzyloxy-2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-3-methyl-1H-indole of formula 3, coming from the synthesis, and 1-(4-hydroxybenzyl)-2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-3-methyl-1H-indol-5-ol of formula 4 and 1-[4-(2-azepan-1-yl-ethoxy)benzyl]-2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-3-methyl-1H-indol-5-ol N-oxide of formula 5, generated by decomposition of bazedoxifene.

The allegedly crystalline acetate does not solve the problem of quality. The presence of even small quantities of the above mentioned or other impurities precludes crystallization of bazedoxifene acetate prepared in accordance with the patent documents U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,998,402; 6,479,535 or US 2005/0227965. The acetate can be successfully obtained in the amorphous form by a modified procedure with yields of about 40%. The acetate is subject to decomposition reactions producing undesired impurities, especially oxidation that produces the undesired substance of formula 5. To suppress this decomposition process the addition of ascorbic acid as an antioxidant is commonly used. Therefore, a more suitable form of bazedoxifene has been looked for that could be easily prepared in high yields and in particular in the quality corresponding to API and would not be susceptible to undesired decompositions at the same time.