A full color toner containing a binder resin, a release agent and a colorant is provided, wherein the binder resin contains a polyester resin containing a hybrid resin containing one or more vinyl group polymer units and one or more polyester units, and wherein the content A of the hybrid resin and the content B of the release agent satisfy the following relationship: B/2≦A≦3B.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a full color toner for use in developing electrostatic images formed by electrophotography, electrostatic recording, electrostatic printing, etc., a developer containing the full color toner and a carrier, a fixing method of fixing full color toner images on a recording medium such as paper, a container containing the full color toner, a process cartridge containing the full color toner or the developer, and an image forming apparatus to which the container is provided.
2. Discussion of the Background
Image forming methods for use in electrophotography typically include the following processes:    (1) Forming a latent electrostatic image on an image bearing member formed of, for example, a photoconductive material;    (2) Attaching charged toner particles to the latent electrostatic image to form a visualized toner image;    (3) Transferring the visualized toner image to a recording material such as paper; and    (4) Fixing the visualized toner image on the recording material before discharging the recording material outside;
Recently, the technology for use in photocopiers and printers using electrophotography has been rapidly extending from monochrome photocopying or printing to color photocopying or printing. Therefore the full color photocopier and printer market is expanding.
In color image forming based on full color electrophotography, all colors are typically reproduced by overlapping the layers of the three primary color toners, i.e., yellow, magenta and cyan toner, or of four color toners including the three primary color toners and black toner. To obtain a vivid and clear full color image having a good reproducibility, it is necessary to reduce light scattering by smoothing the surface of a fixed toner image to some degree. Because of this, typical full color photocopiers, etc. produce images having a gloss in the medium to high range, i.e., 10 to 50% in most cases.
As a method of fixing a dry toner image on a recording medium, a contact heating fixing method in which a roller or a belt having a smooth surface is heated to fix toner upon application of heat and pressure is normally adopted in many cases. This method is thermally efficient and fixes toner at a high speed, thereby providing gloss and transparency to color toner. Contrary to this advantage, offset phenomenon, in which part of a toner image attaches to the surface of a fixing roller and transfers to another image, occurs because the surface of the heated fixing roller is press-contacted with melted toner before detachment.
To prevent this offset phenomenon, a countermeasure has been adopted in which the surface of a fixing roller is formed of a material having a good releasability such as silicone rubber and fluorine containing resin and further a releasing oil such as silicone oil is applied to the surface of the fixing roller. Although this countermeasure is extremely effective to prevent toner offset, an additional device to supply the release oil is required, thereby increasing the size of the fixing device and cost. Therefore, this is not suitable in terms of reduction in size as a whole. Therefore, as for a monochrome toner, another method is-instead adopted in which no or a little amount of release oil is applied to a fixing roller (hereinafter referred to as an oilless method). In such an oilless method, viscosity and elasticity of the melted toner are increased by adjusting molecular weight distribution of a binder resin to prevent internal rupture of the melted toner and further a release agent such as wax is contained in the toner.
However, as mentioned above, in the case of a color toner, it is necessary to smooth the surface of an unfixed image to improve the color reproduction. Therefore, it is inevitable to reduce the viscosity and elasticity of a toner during melting. That is, relative to the case of a monochrome toner having a relatively low gloss, a color toner tends to offset so that it is difficult to adopt the oilless method mentioned above for a fixing device. In addition, when a release agent is contained in a toner, the attachment property of the toner is strengthened. As a result, the transferability of the toner to a transfer medium deteriorates. Further, this causes the problem that the release agent contained in the toner contaminates a friction charging member such as a carrier and reduces the chargeability of the friction charging member, resulting in deterioration of the durability of the friction charging member.
Typically binder resins such as polyester resins and epoxy resins, with which it is easy to obtain gloss with a low molecular weight, have been used in color toner. However, these resins contain a hydrophilic radical, which leads to a drawback in that the amount of charge therein greatly varies due to humidity. Further, there is a tendency that toner has recently been reduced in size to obtain quality images. However, polyester resins and epoxy resins have a drawback in that, polyester resins and epoxy resins are inferior to styrene resins, which have been used as a binder resin for use in monochrome toner, in terms of pulverization property.
Under these circumstances, unexamined published Japanese Patent Application No. (hereinafter referred to as JOP) H08-220808 describes a toner in which a combination of a linear type polyester resin having a softening point of from 90 to 120° C. and carnauba wax are used. JOP H09-106105 describes a toner formed of a resin and a wax which are compatible to each other and have a different softening point. JOP H09-304964 describes a toner in which the melting viscosity of each of a polyester resin and wax is regulated. JOP H10-293425 describes a toner containing a polyester resin having a softening point of from 90 to 120° C., rice wax, carnauba wax and silicone oil. JOP H05-61242 describes a polymerized toner containing wax therein. However, these toners fail to simultaneously and satisfactorily achieve anti-offset property, durability, stability in charging against moisture, and pulverization property when a fixing method in which no or even an extremely little amount of oil is applied is used.
Containing an ester wax as wax is also proposed to obtain a wide range of fixing temperature. JOP 2003-156876 describes a non-magnetic single-component developer including a polyester resin and an ester wax having an endothermic peak of 50 to 90° C. by DSC. Thereby, the developer has an excellent anti-offset property. But, since the ester wax and the polyester resin do not have good compatibility with each other, the ester wax and the polyester resin tend to have a phase separation so that the ester wax is released during developing, resulting in occurrence of carrier spent and filming. Therefore, durability of the developer is not good.
JOP 2000-181120 describes a developer including a polyester resin and an ester wax having an endothermic peak of 70 to 90° C. by DSC. Similarly, the developer does not improve the durability.
JOP 2002-23424 describes a color toner which contains an ester wax, a polyester resin, and a hybrid resin having a polyester and vinyl group based copolymer unit, and which has a molecular weight distribution parameter Mw/Mn by GPC not less than 100. Although the compatibility between the ester wax and polyester resin is improved by containing the hybrid resin, gloss property is not sufficient because Mw/Mn is not less than 100. Therefore, there is turbidity in color characteristics of the color toner and thus a good color saturation is not obtained.
Japanese Patent No. 3210174 describes a multi-functional polyester compound but a vinyl group based copolymer is used as a main binder resin so that its compatibility to the polyester resin is not improved.
JOP 2003-156880 describes a color toner containing a polyester resin and an olefin wax which has a molecular weight distribution parameter Mw/Mn not less than 50. Since the polyester resin has a good compatibility with the olefin wax, filming and spent can be improved by using the color toner. But the polyester resin is also compatible with the binder resin. Therefore, the release effect of the wax during fixing is insufficient. As a result, the molecular weight distribution parameter Mw/Mn is necessary to be not less than 50 to improve anti-hot-offset property. Consequently, sufficient gloss is not obtained again by using the color toner. In addition, there is turbidity in color characteristics of the color toner and thus a good color saturation is not obtained.
To solve these problems, there are many proposals in which hybrid resins are contained in a toner.
JOP 2002-23424 describes a mixture of a polyester or a styreneacryl resin and a hybrid resin. JOP 2001-272820 describes a mixture of two different hybrid resins. By these technologies, low temperature fixing property and anti-offset property can be improved. However, deterioration of gloss of color images and color reproducibility caused by containing a hybrid resin is not improved. These oilless fixing full color toner do not provide a combination of sufficient low temperature fixing property, good anti-hot-offset property, good gloss property, good color saturation and good durability without filming.
Further, especially a toner containing a wax tends to attach to each other and form agglomerated particles at a portion where stirring is performed in the developing portion. Especially in the case of a color toner, since color images are required to have a good gloss property, polyesters contained therein tend to have a low molecular weight. Thus, color toners further easily tend to form agglomerated particles in comparison with a toner dedicatedly for use in monochrome images. Further, since it is often that toner is actually stored in an environment in which the temperature is not less than 30° C. in actual photocopiers or printers, toner containing a wax more easily flocculates.
As for a two-component developer system, toner particles attach to each other and flocculate together by compressive contact between carriers while stirring the developer. In a one-component developer system, toner tends to flocculate together by pressure and friction heat when the toner is regulated to form a thin layer on a developing roller. Further, in both of a two-component developer system and a one-component system, heat generated by abrasion of axis of developer stirring blades and a screw causes the toner to be half melted and form agglomerated particles.
In the case of a two-component developer system, such toner agglomerated particles are developed or attached to an image portion, resulting in a large and thick dot thereon. When an image is transferred to a recording material, such agglomerated particles function as a spacer so that the corresponding portion in the image may white out.
In the case of a one-component developer system, such toner agglomerated particles sneak into a gap between a developing roller and a thin-layer forming blade, resulting in an abnormal image having a white streak.
Such an abnormal image tends to stand out in color in comparison with monochrome. In a situation in which quality images having a fine graduation property, a fine color reproducibility and a high definition are wanted, these abnormal images caused by agglomerated toner particles become a problem. Japanese Patents Nos. 3142297, 3073743, 3065073 and 3065032 describe a color toner formed of a linear polyester and a non-linear polyester. Thereby, fixing property and stability in charging of the color toner can be improved but improvement on agglomeration property thereof is not described.
JOP 2002-304006 describes a toner containing a polyester resin and a hybrid resin. The low temperature fixability, anti-hot-offset property and pulverization vulnerability are sufficiently improved by the toner. However, there is no description about gloss property, color reproducibility, and improvement on agglomeration property. A color toner having a sufficient low temperature fixing property and a sufficient anti-hot-offset property with improvement on gloss property, color reproducibility and agglomeration property has not been obtained.

Full color toner, and its use in electrophotography methods and apparatus


A method for treating disorders involving deregulation of cell proliferation and/or angiogenesis comprising the administration of an effective amount of a multivalent synthetic compound comprising a support on which at least 3 pseudopeptide units are grafted, said compound being of formula (I).

Cell division, or mitosis, is the process which allows cells to multiply in order to repair or regenerate tissues and replace dead cells. In cancer cells, regulation of this process is defective and this is why these cells divide anarchically and give rise to tumours. Thus, one effective therapeutic route to prevent the development of cancer consists in blocking the division of cancerous cells using molecules with anti-mitotic properties.
Nevertheless, current anti-mitotic molecules (paclitaxel, better known under the name taxol, or colchicine for example) act without cell specificity on all cells without distinction, thus causing many unwanted side effects. It is therefore essential to develop anti-mitotic molecules with fewer harmful effects.
Every tumour needs nutrients and oxygen in order to grow. These elements are provided by intratumoral blood vessels which result from a mechanism known as angiogenesis. In fact, if these vessels are absent, tumour cells undergo a cell necrosis process, and tumour growth slows down then stops. An example of another therapeutic route to combat cancer therefore consists in blocking the angiogenesis process by blocking the molecules controlling this mechanism.
The plurality of current anti-angiogenic molecules are specific to one angiogenic factor. This monospecificity gives rise to resistance phenomena Inhibition of one angiogenic factor type produces expression of another type by angiogenic compensation mechanisms. It is therefore beneficial to have available anti-angiogenic molecules with a broad spectrum of activity against the factors implicated.
However, inhibition of the angiogenesis process alone is generally found to be insufficient to effectively block tumour growth. In addition, it does not block the formation of metastases.
It would therefore be extremely useful to have available new anti-cancer molecules capable of inhibiting both tumour cell proliferation and the angiogenesis process in the tumour. In fact, a recent study has shown that a combination of two therapeutic molecules, one anti-mitotic and the other anti-angiogenic, produces a synergetic effect and significantly increases the efficacy of overall treatment compared to treatment with only one of these molecules.
No molecule with both these effects, anti-mitotic and anti-angiogenic, has yet been reported.
Moreover, the majority of current anti-cancer agents are not truly specific to tumour cells and therefore also target healthy cells, thus giving rise to many, and at times serious, side effects. This problem has been resolved in some cases by the development of antibodies which target the surface molecules of some tumours. However, the use of antibodies poses other serious problems and the development of effective therapeutic antibodies that are non-toxic is a lengthy, uncertain and expensive procedure. Moreover, the production of antibodies on a large scale and under strict health and safety conditions is particularly difficult. As a result, treatments based on specific antibodies are still far and few between and extremely costly.
Another problem linked to conventional anti-cancer drugs, such as paclitaxel, is that these molecules are often highly hydrophobic which makes it necessary to develop complicated and expensive pharmaceutical formulations in order to achieve acceptable bioavailability in vivo. The problem of in vivo bioavailability is all the more acute in the case of treatment using nucleic acids since it is extremely difficult for them to reach their target cells in an efficacious and specific manner.
It would therefore be extremely useful to have available new anti-cancer molecules which present the following characteristics: much improved efficacy as a result of their dual inhibitory action on tumour proliferation and angiogenesis such that they can be effective alone, without the use of conventional chemotherapy or radiotherapy and thus greatly the limit side effects linked to these types of treatment, a fairly broad spectrum of activity against angiogenic factors to prevent resistance to treatment, very few side effects as a result of greater specificity towards tumour cells, a synthesis process that is easily adaptable to an industrial scale, easier to use, notably as a result of better bioavailability and/or longer half-life in vivo, in particular as a result of direct specificity for tumour cells, with good solubility in aqueous media and improved resistance to in vivo breakdown processes.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Use of multivalent synthetic ligands of surface nucleolin for treating cancer or inflammation

Centre National De La Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)


A multi-beam interferometer, typically for use in Optical Coherence Tomography, comprising a multiple beam source, the source being arranged so as to provide, in use, a plurality of beams of light for use in the interferometer, the source comprising: a light source arranged to, in use, emit a beam of light; and a rattle plate comprising a first reflective surface and a second reflective surface facing one another, the second reflective surface being only partially reflective.

1. Technical Field
This disclosure relates to a multiple beam source for a multi-beam interferometer and to a multi-beam interferometer itself, typically but not exclusively for use in Optical Coherence Tomography.
2. Description of the Related Art
Internal medical examinations are typically carried out using an endoscope in which the eye or a CCD (charge coupled device) camera images the view relayed from the distal end of a shaft of a probe, thereby viewing the surface of the tissue adjacent to the probe end. It is often desirable to obtain a cross-sectional image from within the tissue, rather than just the surface. Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) has been proposed as a technique that can provide such a capability.
OCT is based on the use of interferometry, where light in the measurement arm of an interferometer is passed to the object to be examined and a portion is scattered back to the interferometer. Light in the reference arm is passed to a mirror at a known distance and a reference beam is reflected back. The scattered measurement beam and the reflected reference beam are combined and the interference between the two beams is detected and used to provide data about the examined object.
Thus, optical coherence tomography uses interferometry and the coherence properties of light to obtain depth-resolved images within a scattering medium, providing penetration and resolution which cannot be achieved using confocal microscopy alone. Clinically useful cross-sectional images of the retina and epithelial tissues have been obtained to a depth of 2-3 mm.
At any given time, a single beam of light is restricted to being in sharp focus only over a certain range—the so-called depth of focus or Rayleigh range. In the PCT patent application published as WO2006/054116, it has been proposed to transmit multiple beams with different focal depths so as to spread this range out and to produce depth scans with an increased depth of field.
Where the light for the multiple beams is provided from a common source, as is most convenient, such as a laser, then optical means such as an amplitude beam splitter may be provided to generate a plurality of beams. In WO2006/054116, a "rattle plate" is disclosed, which comprises a parallel-sided glass plate positioned at a slight angle to the perpendicular relative to the incoming light beam.
Referring to the two major faces of the plate as the "entry" face and the "exit" face, the exit face is completely covered with a partially reflective coating, whereas the majority of the entry face, save for the area in which the incoming beam is incident, is covered in a high efficiency reflective coating. Accordingly, the incident beam passes into the rattle plate through the entry face and then alternately bounces off the reflective coverings on the exit and entry faces. Each reflection off the partially reflective covering on the exit face allows a fraction of the light beam to escape, thereby generating discrete beams of gradually reducing power. An opaque plate is provided to block those beams over the number required.

Multiple beam source for a multi-beam interferometer and multi-beam interferometer


A method and system for link latency determination in a Mobile IP network determine an unloaded network delay; set a current estimated delay; initiate a current round trip estimation process; and set a retry timer. If the retry timer expires before the process completes, the method and system update the predetermined backoff period and repeat the preceding two steps. After re-registration, the method and system reset the current estimated delay time. The link latency determination optimizes the re-registration process between a mobile device and an agent device, thereby enhancing mobile device communications, minimizing network loading, and optimizing network traffic levels.

The present invention generally relates to mobile networks and, more particularly, to a system and method to determine link latency during the re-registration process of mobile IP enabled devices.
In traditional Internet Protocol (IP) routing, IP addresses represent the location of specific network nodes within a network topology, allowing packet delivery. To receive packets under this scheme, routing mechanisms assume that each network node maintains the same point of attachment to the network topology of the Internet. Furthermore, routing mechanisms assume that each network node has one associated IP address that uniquely identifies the network node's point of attachment. When a network node dispatches a packet intended for a recipient device, intermediate Internet routers receive the packet and analyze the subnet prefix of its IP address to determine the network of the recipient device. Each intermediate router forwards the packet to the ascertained next closest router. Finally, when the packet arrives at the route on the device's subnet, the router analyzes the remaining bits in the IP address to identify the specific recipient device and completes delivery.
If, however, a device connects to the Internet via a subnet other than the subnet associated with the IP address of the device, traditional Internet routing will not deliver data destined for the device to the subnet on which it is attached. Therefore, traditional IP routing does not provide sufficient means for communication to mobile device users traveling between subnets.
Mobile IP enhances traditional IP by adding mechanisms for forwarding Internet traffic to mobile nodes or mobile stations; i.e., mobile devices or wireless communication devices having, for example, a transmitter and a receiver. Typically, mobile devices include, but are not limited to, cellular telephones, handheld devices, laptop computers and routers. Mobile IP assigns each mobile device a traditional home IP address, which dictates its topologically correct "home" network. Such mobile devices also maintain an associated care-of address (COA) that identifies the location of the mobile device as it changes its point of attachment. Each time a user moves the mobile device to a different network, the mobile device acquires a new COA. A home agent (HA) on the home network associates each mobile's permanent address with its current COA.
Versions of Mobile IP include Mobile IPv4, Mobile IPv6, and HMIPv6. In Mobile IPv4, traffic for the mobile device is sent to the home network but is intercepted by the HA and forwarded via tunneling to the appropriate COA. Foreign agents (FA) may act as intermediary forwarding devices between the mobile device and the HA. In certain embodiments, packet data serving nodes (PDSNs) provide the primary wireless mobile data access to, for example, the Internet or intranets. Mobile IPv6 minimizes tunneling and includes mechanisms that make FAs unnecessary. HMIPv6 reduces the amount of signaling required to improve handoff speed for mobile connections by replacing FAs with Mobility Anchor Points (MAPs), which can be located anywhere in a hierarchy of routers.
Registration is a critical function in Mobile IP. Each time the mobile device changes its COA, it registers with the HA by forwarding a binding update to the HA via Internet Control Message Protocol (ICMP) in IPv6 networks, or by sending a Registration Request via the FA in IPv4 networks. Mobile IP registration provides a means for the mobile device to communicate its current location to the HA. Each registration has an associated lifetime for which the HA and FA (if applicable) will provide forwarding services.
In versions of Mobile IP using FAs, PDSNs, or MAPs (collectively, intermediary devices), the mobile device sends a registration request (RRQ) to the intermediary device to begin registration. The intermediary device processes the RRQ and relays it to the HA. Upon receipt of the RRQ, the HA processes the request and sends a registration reply (RRP) granting or denying the request to the intermediary device. In turn, the respective intermediary device processes the RRP and relays the reply to the mobile device, thus notifying it of the disposition of its request. In instances where the mobile device registers a co-located COA, the mobile device forwards the RRQ directly to the HA. The HA responds with a corresponding RRP directly to the mobile device.
Networks typically implement relatively short registration lifetimes to minimize the impact of zombie Mobile IP registrations on HA and FA/MAP resources. Therefore, to maintain connectivity, as well as accurate COA and reachability information, a mobile device requests re-registration to the HA via RRQs, sent in-band with data, often during data transfer. The mobile device then awaits receipt of an RRP from the HA corresponding to the RRQ. To address the possibility of loss of the RRQ or RRP messages, the mobile device typically sets a retry timer upon dispatch of an RRQ. If the mobile device receives a valid RRP prior to expiration of the time on the retry timer (RRQ timeout), re-registration is completed. If, however, the retry time expires prior to receipt of the corresponding RRP, the mobile device dispatches a subsequent RRQ. Unnecessary re-registration requests (RRQ retransmissions) may be sent when re-registration occurs during a data transfer since buffering and other factors may increase the latency of the re-registration reply beyond the RRQ timeout.
The Internet Official Protocol Standards (STD 1), Request For Comments (RFC) 2002, Section 3.6.3, IBM (1996) suggests a simple geometric backoff algorithm comprising the steps of sending a new RRQ after a specified retransmission timeout (minimum one second), and increasing the retransmission timeout (the backoff period), at a minimum, by a multiplier of two. Under this formula, the timeout eventually increases to a value greater than the time required for the RRP to arrive after the RRQ has been sent; i.e., the round trip time (RTT).
Despite the backoff algorithm's attempt to regulate retransmission of re-registration requests, if the mobile device receives a valid RRP to a predecessor request after dispatch of a successor request, then the mobile device is obligated to discard the reply, delaying completion of mobile node re-registration, increasing traffic on the network, and adversely loading the network infrastructure.
It is apparent that a need exists for an improved system and method for timing request retransmissions that effect re-registration while minimizing unnecessary transmissions. There is also a need for a system and method to enhance mobile device communications, minimize network loads, and optimize network traffic levels by means of optimized Mobile IP re-registration.

Link latency determination for optimal mobile IP re-registration


A rowboat roving fin system that includes two rotating fin assemblies mounted on the watercraft's opposite sidewalls. Each fin assembly includes a rotating vertical post held on the outside surface of the sidewall by a mounting bracket. When held by the mounting bracket, the upper end of the post extends above the gunwale while the lower end of the post extends below the mounting bracket. In a first embodiment, a pivoting fin arm with a flexible fin attached thereto is pivotally attached to the lower end of each post via a stop hinge. The stop hinge acts to limit the rotating of the fin arm along a vertical arc around the lower end of the post. The fin is perpendicularly aligned and attached to the fin arm. Attached to the upper end of each post that extends near the gunwale is a perpendicularly aligned handle bracket. The handle bracket is perpendicularly aligned with the post and with the rotation arc of the fin arm. A rowing handle is pivotally attached at one end to the handle hinge. During use, the two handles extend inward from the sidewall and are grasped by the rower. Both handles are able to swing in a vertical 180° degree arc over their respective handle hinges thereby allowing the fins to rotate 180° degrees and sweep in opposite directions.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention disclosed herein pertains to manual propulsion systems for a small watercraft and more particularly to manual rowing systems used on small watercraft.
2. Description of the Related Art
Any small watercraft propelled by oars is called a rowboat or skiff. When such boats are used to service a larger watercraft such as a yacht or motor cruiser, they are called a dinghy or tender.
Conventional rowboats include oarlock sockets mounted to the gunwales on the opposite sides of the hull. Attached to each oar is an oarlock that includes a post that slides downward and engages an oarlock socket that pivotally attaches the oar to the gunwale. The post, which is able to rotate freely inside the socket, may be easily lifted from the oarlock socket to remove the oars from the rowboat.
Rowing a rowboat is an acquired skill that is mastered only by practicing. The act of rowing involves fours steps: catching the water with each oar blade; driving and pulling each oar blade through the water; feathering each blade out of the water after reaching the end point of the stroke; and then lifting each blade from the water and repositioning it to the original starting point of the stroke. Because both arms are used when rowing, it is important that they move in a coordinated manner and apply a correct force so that the rowboat is propelled in a desired direction.
The oarlock sockets mounted on the gunwales are offset from the rowboat's midline axis and towards the stern. The rower typically sits in the center seat and rows with his or her back facing the bow. The rower then catches, drives and pulls the oars towards his or her chest to move the oar blades through the water. To turn the rowboat, the rower must manipulate the oars to create a turning force on the side opposite the turn. In order to row the rowboat in the opposite direction, the rower usually rotates the rowboat 180 degrees in the water so that the bow faces in the new direction.


A rotor housing of an electrical switching device, in particular a compact circuit breaker, is disclosed. In at least one embodiment, the rotor housing is embodied to mount a moveable contact arm bridge and includes a first and a second rotor housing element, which can be connected in a form-fit manner to one another and which can surround the contact arm bridge at least in sections when in the connected state. An electrical switching device is also disclosed, in particular a compact circuit breaker, including a moveably mounted contact arm bridge, an opening mechanism and a rotor housing of this type for mounting the moveable contact arm bridge.

An electrical switching device, such as for instance a compact circuit breaker, has one or more moveable contact arm bridges, in order to open and close a current circuit. In the switched-on state, the contact arm bridge is to securely close the current circuit. In the event of a short circuit, the contact arm bridge is to open very quickly by electrodynamic forces independently of an actuation mechanism, for instance a latch and an over-current release, of the electrical switching device. This is ensured by way of various opening mechanisms. The moveably mounted contact arm bridge with the opening mechanism is mounted in a rotor housing. The rotor housing generally consists of a single element. Depending on the opening mechanism, it may be necessary for the rotor housing to consist of two or more elements.

Rotor housing of an electrical switching device and electrical switching device


A method of producing a substrate for an optical surface mount circuit including the steps of forming an optical wave guide in the substrate, wherein the optical wave guide has a zone of refraction gradient decreasing from a central axis thereof toward surrounding portions thereof, and end surfaces of the optical wave guide are exposed to the front surface of the substrate. Portions of the substrate are masked and salts of metallic cations are contacted to the substrate to form the optical wave guide and the end surfaces thereof.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to optical surface mount technology. Optical surface mount circuits are based on optical surface mount technology, that optical, opto-electronic, and electrical devices are mounted on the surface of opto-electronic printed wiring boards. Hereinafter, optical surface mount technology, optical surface mount circuit, opto-electronic printed wiring board, opto-electronic surface mount device are abbreviated as O-SMT, O-SMC, OE-PWB, and OE-SMD, respectively.
2. Related Art Statement
Rapidly increasing production of opto-electronic products raises serious problems in the manufacturing process. For instance, almost all fiber-optic communications have shifted to single mode operation, which has resulted in demand of tremendous man-hours for optical alignments and adhesions. One of the authors first proposed Micro-Optics concept in the early period of optical communication development [T. UCHIDA and I. KITANO: Japan Electronic Eng., p22 (Feb. 1969) and T. UCHIDA and S. SUGIMOTO: 8-1, (Invited), 4th ECOC, 1978, Genoa]. Micro-optic devices require a considerable amount of man-hours despite of their reasonably good performances. Silica wave guide IC [T. MIYASHITA et al.: 18D1-1, IOOC 89 (July, 1989, Kobe)] or HOPS (hybrid Optical Packaging on Si [C.H. HENRY, et al.: IEEE J. Lightwave Tech., vol. 7, No. 10, p1530, Oct. 1989]) and OEIC (Opto-Electronic IC) are under intensive development. The serious problems are in mounting these devices on boards, which requires much troublesome work. These problems have not been significantly investigated to date, while packaging technologies for these devices are being well developed.
In current electronics, on the other hand, SMT (Surface Mount Technology) is widely employed in huge and personal computers, communication equipment and home appliances like TV, on account of its merits of high density component mounting and drastic reduction of man hours for board assembly.
O-SMT (Optical Surface Mount Technology [T. UCHIDA: 8th Micro-Optics Seminar Digest, p1, May 1990, Japan]) is intended to present a possible solution to the above-mentioned problems in opto-electronics.
In the meantime, the inventor has formerly proposed in Japanese patent publication No. 48 5,975 (Japanese Patent No. 1002398) a printed type optical circuit as schematically shown in attached FIGS. 15 and 16. That is, depending on a desired pattern, an optical wave guide 32 is formed in a glass substrate 10 extending from one end surface to the other end surface of the glass substrate 10, and the refractive index of the glass substrate 10 is gradually decreased from the central axis of the optical wave guide 32 to the surrounding portion thereof to obtain a circuited substrate for an optical circuit. Usually, when the refractive index is decreased from the central axis of an optical conductor towards the surrounding portion thereof, a light beam passing through the optical wave guide is enclosed therein to assume an optical pass vibrating meandering around the optical axis of the optical wave guide. However, in the aforementioned circuited substrate, an end surface 35 of the optical wave guide 32 is exposed on the end surface of the glass substrate 10, so that an optical part, that is, opto-electronic device, such as a laser diode, etc., has to be attached to the end surface of the glass substrate 10. Hence, a technique of mounting optical parts which is similar to surface mount technology (SMT) in electric systems is not applicable.
In a usual technique of intimately adhering a prism on the optical wave guide to extract a light beam in the optical wave guide it is very difficult in align of the optical axes. Also, a method of using a diffraction lattice to extract a light beam in the optical wave guide has difficulties in mass-producing the diffraction lattice of such minute structure and positioning thereof. In addition, though a method can be considered of providing a groove which penetrates through the optical wave guide 32 from the front surface 30 to the other front surface 31 of the glass substrate 10 in FIG. 16 and fixing the optical part in the groove, the method has drawbacks in practical use in that the processing steps, processing time and processing cost are increased, and alignment of the optical axes is difficult.

Method of fabricating a substrate for an optical surface mount circuit


A solenoid valve includes a valve configured to control a flow of a fluid; and a solenoid configured to operate the valve. The valve includes: a holder having a double tube structure including an inner tube formed with a supply passage and an outer tube, a control passage being formed between the inner tube and the outer tube; a first connection port formed at a first end of the inner tube to connect the supply passage and the control passage; a ball installed within the supply passage to open and close the first connection port; a core coupled to a first end of the outer tube; a second connection port formed in the core and connected to the control passage; and a load installed to extend through the second connection port and moved by the solenoid.

A transmission is a device that converts a power of an engine into an adequate torque according to the speed and load of a vehicle. The transmission is classified into a manual transmission and an automatic transmission according to its speed change type, and most of the sedans currently produced are mounted with the automatic transmission.
The automatic transmission is a transmission whose speed change operation is automatically performed in a predetermined pattern. Such an automatic transmission includes a torque converter; an actuator; a planetary gear system; a hydraulic control unit; and an electronic control unit. The hydraulic control unit is provided with a hydraulic pressure control valve unit to control a hydraulic pressure to be supplied to a clutch and the like.
A solenoid valve serves as one of pressure control valve units mounted in the hydraulic control unit of an automatic transmission
The solenoid valve is classified into a spool type, a ball type, a poppet type and the like according to its internal structure. A spool type solenoid valve obtains a control pressure by appropriately adjusting the pressure of oil supplied from an oil pump using a spool.
However, the control pressure adjusted by the spool is largely set in consideration of a maximum load pressure that may be required in the speed change operation. Accordingly, this control pressure remains as an excessive pressure in a typical speed change operation requiring no maximum load pressure. Such a control pressure remaining as the excessive pressure makes the vehicle power transferring efficiency deteriorated.
In the meantime, a ball type or poppet type solenoid valve can perform a fine control of the control pressure, thereby obtaining a higher power transferring efficiency than that of the spool type solenoid valve. However, in the ball type or poppet type solenoid valve, there is some drawbacks, i.e., the complicated structure and the manufacturing process that is not easy to perform, since it is necessary to additionally provide an orifice in an inflow port to which oil is supplied.


A system, method and control unit for determining an order of a plurality of stacked electronic devices randomly ordered in a stack, for taking inventory of the devices, and for programming the devices according to the determined order. Each of the electronic devices is assigned a unique serial number, and the electronic devices are configured to report their serial numbers to the control unit in sequence, either upward or downward, in the stack. The control unit is configured to determine an order of the plurality of electronic devices in the stack based on the sequence in which the identifiers are received, to compare the sequence numbers to a known list to determine if any devices are missing, and to program the devices according to the determined order.

Technical Field
This invention relates to computer programming systems and, more particularly, to a programming system and method for programming stacked programmable devices in a known sequence.
Description of Related Art
Some business establishments utilize mobile electronic devices for communication, data collection, data dissemination, and the like. These devices require periodic recharging and in some cases, reprogramming.
In some systems, the electronic devices are recharged and reprogrammed by placing the pager devices in matching slots in a charging and programming rack. Other systems do not require a rack. Instead, the devices are equipped with charging and data pins on their top and bottom surfaces, and the devices are merely stacked on top of each other, on top of a charging and programming base. Programming information may be sent to the base by a wired or wireless connection.

System and method for programming stacked programmable devices in a sequence


First and second slotlines are mounted on an electrically insulating substrate having a planar face with a connection region. Each slotline has first and second, spaced-apart coplanar conductors that extend into the connection region. A fifth, ground conductor, also mounted on the substrate face, is spaced from and coplanar with the first and second slotlines and has a proximal portion in the connection region. A chip circuit includes first and second field-effect transistors (FETs) flip mounted in the connection region to all five conductors. The gates of the FETs are connected to the first slotline for receiving an input signal. The drains are connected to the second slotline for outputting the signal amplified by the transistors. The sources of the FETs are connected to the fifth conductor. This general configuration can be modified for use as an amplifier, oscillator, frequency multiplier or mixer. The slotline may divide into parallel slotline portions for providing plural circuits in parallel with distributed impedance matching. A slotline may loop back from the connection region to provide a choice for impedance matching, and a portion of the fifth conductor may extend between slotline conductors to provide capacitive coupling.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to high frequency transmission line circuit structures, and in particular to such circuit structures having a chip circuit flip-mounted onto a slotline.
2. Related Art
Mounting flip-chips on a motherboard has been found to be an effective way to connect radio frequency circuit components together. The use of flip mounting provides an alternate attachment method that replaces the use of bond wires, backside metalization and vias, air bridges, and dielectric crossovers on the mother substrate. The conducting columns or bumps that connect the chip to the mother board can be formed using thermocompression bonding, solder, brazing material or adhesives.
Also, in such high frequency applications, the use of coplanar transmission lines is well established. Typical examples include conventional coplanar waveguides (ground-signal-ground lines), and slotlines. Slotlines may be formed by spaced opposite-polarity conductors, balanced ground-signal-signal-ground lines, and parallel-strip balanced lines. These coplanar transmission lines are particularly useful because of the simplified structure provided by having the signal-forming conductors on a single plane.
A slotline consists of two conductors mounted on one or both faces of a substrate. The conductors are spaced apart to form a slot. The slot is narrow enough for the conductors to be closely coupled, thereby making the conductor edges extending along the slot function as the primary transmission line. Slotlines are typically used to conduct balanced signals, such as are used in push-pull circuits. These circuits may or may not have a corresponding ground plane on the opposite or back side of the substrate. They may also be used for unbalanced signals, with one of the two conductors being at ground or other fixed common reference potential. Coplanar slotlines also have the advantages of not needing cross-over conductors and having fewer conductors compared to coplanar waveguides.
Slotlines are historically made as semi-infinite conductors, with each conductor covering all of the portion of the face of the substrate to the side of the slot. A slotline may also be formed by conductor strips having limited widths. Conventionally, a coplanar waveguide consists of two coupled slotlines having the same signal and opposite polarity.
As used herein, a slotline is distinguished from a coplanar waveguide primarily in that the transmission line formed by a slotline for a given signal consists of only two conductors. This is to say, each conductor is only associated with one other conductor to form the transmission line. On the other hand, a coplanar waveguide has three conductors, an inner signal conductor bounded by spaced outer conductors with the outer conductors having the same polarity and sharing in the conduction of current relative to the middle conductor. In a coplanar waveguide, the center conductor has a polarity opposite from the polarity of the two outer conductors and is associated with both outer conductors to form the transmission line.
This definition does not preclude the use of other conductors in association with one or both of two slotline conductors for transmitting other signals, for impedance matching or for other functions, so long as the other conductors have arbitrary signal polarities relative to those of the slotline conductors.
Also as used herein, a chip circuit is one or more electrical components formed in or on a chip substrate. Typically, integrated circuits are formed on a chip substrate to form a chip circuit. Other forms of circuit structure may also be formed on a chip. When the chip circuit is flip-mounted onto a base substrate with chip connection points adjacent to the substrate surface, the chip containing the chip circuit is referred to as a flip-chip. A flip-chip may contain one or more circuits, elements or devices, each of which may or may not be interconnected onto the chip.
In a common amplifier application, the chip circuit is an integrated circuit containing one or more transistors and other devices, such as resistors, capacitors and inductors. In a power chip having a plurality of transistors, the transistors may be individually or collectively connected to the motherboard. Impedance-matching for the composite power transistor is typically, although not always, accomplished on the mother board substrate in order to minimize the size of the chip substrate.


An electrical connector assembly simply, and securely, grounds a shielding layer of a telephone cable to a conductive, grounded chassis of a protector module. The connector assembly includes an electrically conductive sleeve, which is inserted into an end of the telephone cable. The conductive sleeve engages the shielding layer within the telephone cable. A threaded stud is integrally formed on the conductive sleeve and extends outwardly. A conductive bracket is mounted on the grounded chassis, and has a through hole for receiving the threaded stud. The threaded stud is secured, by a nut, to the conductive bracket, thereby grounding the shielding layer of the telephone cable to the grounded chassis. By the arrangement, the telephone cable's shielding layer is grounded, the telephone cable is firmly coupled to the protector module, and strain relief is provided in the coupling.

A protector module is typically provided shortly after an incoming multi-phone line cable enters into an office or apartment building, having multiple independent phone lines. The incoming multi-phone line cable includes many independent pairs of telephone wires, such as fifty pairs. The purpose of the protector module is to protect each of the independent pairs of phone lines from a power surge, such as a surge induced by a nearby lightening strike.
To accomplish this purpose, the incoming multi-phone line cable is cut, or terminated, at the protector module. Each pair of phone lines is electrically connected to one of a plurality of electrical surge protectors of the protector module. The building's internal phone lines are collectively presented to the protector module as an outgoing multi-line phone cable. The outgoing multi-line phone cable is also terminated at the protector module and has its pairs of phone lines connected to the plurality of electrical surge protectors of the protector module.
In operation, the surge protectors of the protector module respond to any power surge on one or more of the incoming phone lines by diverting the surge to the grounded chassis of the protection module. By diverting surges to ground, the surge protectors prevent the surges from passing into the phone lines of the outgoing multi-line phone cable and possibly damaging telephone equipment located within the office or apartment building.
All of the pairs of telephone wires of the incoming multi-line phone cable are surrounded by a shielding layer, which in turn is surrounded by an insulation layer. It is important to ground the shielding layer of the incoming multi-phone line cable to the grounded chassis of the protector module. Likewise, all of the pairs of telephone wires of the outgoing multi-line phone cable are surrounded by a shielding layer, which in turn is surrounded by an insulation layer, and it is important to ground this shielding layer to the grounded chassis of the protector module. By so doing, a conductive path is formed for induced currents within the shielding layers, a uniform ground is established, and electrical noise within the phone lines is reduced.
FIG. 1 is an overhead view of a protector module 1, according to the background art. An incoming multi-line phone cable 2 enters the protector module 1 through an opening provided in a sidewall 3. The incoming multi-line phone cable 2 includes numerous individual phone lines (not shown) which are wire wrapped to selected individual terminals beneath a bread board 4. Each of the individual terminals beneath the bread board 4 is electrically connected to an respective electrical socket 5 provided on an upper surface of the bread board 4.
As also illustrated in FIG. 1, an outgoing multi-line phone cable 6 enters the protector module 1 through an opening provided in an opposite sidewall 7. The outgoing multi-line phone cable 6 also includes numerous individual phone lines (not shown), which are wire wrapped to different individual terminals beneath the bread board 4.
A plurality of removable and replaceable, electrical surge protectors 8 have plug terminals, which are inserted into the sockets 5 on the upper surface of the bread board 4. The electrical surge protectors 8 electrically connect the individual phone lines of the incoming multi-line phone cable 2 to the individual phone lines of the outgoing multi-phone line cable 6. The electrical surge protectors 8 include components, such as gas filled vials, which can divert a power surge from the phone lines of the incoming multi-phone line cable 2 to ground. By this arrangement, the protector module 1 can protect phone equipment, located within the office or apartment building, attached to the individual phone lines of the outgoing multi-phone line cable 6.
FIG. 2 illustrates the physical connection between the incoming multi-phone line cable 2 and the protector module 1. The physical connection between the outgoing multi-phone line cable 6 and the protector module 1 is identical to the physical connection between the incoming multi-phone line cable 2 and the protector module 1. Therefore, the later physical connection will not be described in detail.
As shown in FIG. 2, a bracket 9 is installed to a bottom of the protector module 1 adjacent the sidewall 3. The bottom of the protector module 1 includes threaded studs 10, which are passed through holes 11 formed in the bracket 9. The bracket 9 is tightly secured to the bottom of the protector module 1 by engaging washers 12 and nuts 13 to the threaded studs 10.
An upper portion of the bracket 9 includes a plurality of ribs 14. The incoming multi-phone line cable 2 is placed upon the ribs 14, and secured to the bracket 9 by a standard hose clamp 15. The hose clamp 15 presses an insulation layer 16 of the incoming multi-phone line cable 2 tightly against the ribs 14 of the bracket 9. By this arrangement, the hose clamp 15 provides strain relief to the connection by preventing any tension on the wire wrap connections between the individual phone lines and the wire wrap terminals of the bread board 4.
Inside the insulation layer 16 is a shielding layer 17. The shielding layer 17 prevents electro-magnetic fields adjacent to the incoming multi-phone line cable 2 from inducing currents with the individual phone lines, and thereby prevents undesirable electrical noise. It is important that the shielding layer 17 be electrically connected to a ground potential. In order to accomplish this grounding, a clamping device 18 is provided.
The clamping device 18 includes an electrically conductive, stationary jaw 19. The stationary jaw 19 has a threaded stud 20 integrally formed therewith. A short slit is cut through the insulation layer 16 and the shielding layer 17, wide enough to accommodate the threaded stud 20. Then, the stationary jaw 19 is inserted into an end of the incoming multi-phone line cable 2 so that the stationary jaw contacts the shielding layer 17, while the threaded stud 20 passes along in the slit formed in the insulation layer 16 and the shielding layer 17.
A clamping jaw 21 has a through hole 22 formed therein. The threaded stud 20 is passed through the through hole 22, and then the clamping jaw is placed adjacent to the insulation layer 16. A washer 27 and nut 23 are installed on the threaded stud 20 and the nut 23 is tightened. By this arrangement, the stationary jaw 19 can be securely, electrically connected to the shielding layer 17.
A ground strap 24 connects the stationary clamp 19 to a first grounding post 25 provided on a conductive, grounded chassis of the protector module 1, adjacent the bread board 4. The outgoing multi-phone line cable 6 has its shielding sleeve connected to a second grounding post 26 provided on the grounded chassis of the protector module 1, in a manner identical to that described above in conjunction with the incoming multi-phone line cable 2. Because the grounded chassis is conductive, the first grounding post 25 is electrically connected to the second grounding post 26, and thereby the shielding sleeves of the incoming and outgoing multi-phone line cables are electrically connected.
The above described method of grounding the shielding layers of the incoming and outgoing multi-line phone cables suffers several drawbacks. The pressure exerted by the hose clamp 15, against the insulation layer 16, translates into internal stresses on the phone lines within the incoming multi-line phone cable 2. The stresses can break a conductor within a particular phone line, resulting in a loss of phone service. The stresses can deform the conductor within a particular phone line, creating a resistance in the conductor, resulting in noise in the phone service. Also, the stresses can press the phone lines closer together, resulting in cross-talk between phone lines. Further disadvantages are that a service technician must remember, and spend time installing, the clamping device 18. The clamping device 18 takes up space within the protector module 1, and the ground strap 24 presents an obstacle within the protector module 1.

Grounding mechanism with integrated strain relief


A method of producing a radiation diffractive sensor that diffracts radiation according to Bragg's law is disclosed. The sensor is produced by forming an ordered periodic array of particles on a substrate, coating the array of particles with a polymeric matrix, curing the matrix to fix the array of particles within the matrix and contacting the fixed array with an activator, wherein the activator shifts the wavelength of radiation diffracted by the sensor from a first wavelength to a second wavelength.

Radiation diffractive materials based on crystalline colloidal arrays have been used for a variety of purposes. A crystalline colloidal array (CCA) is a three-dimensional ordered array of mono-dispersed colloidal particles. The particles are typically composed of a polymer latex such as polystyrene or an inorganic material, such as silica.
Such colloidal dispersions of particles can form crystalline structures having lattice spacings that are comparable to the wavelength of ultraviolet, visible or infrared radiation. These crystalline structures have been used for filtering narrow bands of selected wavelengths from a broad spectrum of incident radiation, while permitting the transmission of adjacent wavelengths of radiation. Prior devices have been created by dispersing particles in a liquid medium, whereby the particles self-align into an ordered array. The particles are fused together by mutual polymerization or by introducing a solvent that swells and fuses the particles together.
In other uses of CCAs, an ordered array is fixed in a matrix and may be used as colorants when the fixed array diffracts radiation in the visible spectrum. Alternatively, CCAs are fabricated to diffract radiation for use as optical filters, optical switches and optical limiters. While these CCAs use constant interparticle spacing, a CCA may function as a sensor when the interparticle spacing varies in response to stimuli.
Recently, such sensors have been produced from hydrogels containing a CCA polymerized within the hydrogel. The polymers of the hydrogel surrounding the CCA change conformation in response to a specific external stimulus. For example, the volume of the hydrogel can change in response to stimuli, including the presence of chemicals, such as metal ions in solution and organic molecules, such as glucose, making the devices useful for chemical analysis. In hydrogel-based devices, mono-dispersed highly charged colloidal particles are dispersed in a low-ionic strength liquid media. The particles self-assemble into a CCA due to their electrostatic charges. These ordered structures diffract radiation according to Bragg's law, wherein the radiation meeting the Bragg conditions are reflected while adjacent spectral regions that do not meet the Bragg conditions are transmitted through the device.
An ordered periodic array of particles that diffracts radiation according to Bragg's law satisfies the equation:mλ=2nd sin θwhere m is an integer, λ is the wavelength of reflected radiation, and n is the effective refractive index of the array, d is the distance between the layers of particles, and θ is the angle that the reflected radiation makes with the plane of a layer of particles. Incident radiation is partly reflected at an uppermost layer of particles in the array at angle θ to the plane of the first layer and is partially transmitted to underlying layers of the particles. While some absorption incident radiation occurs as well, a portion of the transmitted radiation is partially reflected at the second layer of particles in the array at angle θ and partially transmitted to the underlying layers of particles. This feature of partial reflection at angle θ and partial transmission to the underlying layers of particles continues through the thickness of the array. The wavelength (λ) of diffracted radiation can be controlled by the dimension d, which may be the distance between the planes of the centers of the particles in each layer. Initially, the diffracted wavelength λ is proportional to the particle diameter for an array of packed particles. However, when distance (d) between layers of particles in a periodic ordered array increases, the wavelength of diffracted radiation also increases. Sensor devices that increase the interspatial volume within the device in response to a specific chemical species increase the interspatial distance between layers of particles, thereby altering the wavelength of diffracted radiation.
In a hydrogel-based CCA, when the volume of the hydrogel changes, the diffraction wavelength of the CCA changes. Such CCA devices that are based on hydrogels typically contain a large percentage of water, such as about 30% by volume. These hydrogel-based CCAs are fragile and have a propensity for significant changes in their optical performance when the water content of the CCA changes.
To overcome these drawbacks of hydrogel-based CCAs, one approach has been to prepare a hydrogel-based CCA, dehydrate the hydrogel matrix surrounding the CCA and then back fill the array with a polymerizable monomer. The monomer is polymerized to produce an essentially water-free polymerized crystalline colloidal array. These arrays respond to certain environmental stimuli, such as compressive stress (thereby altering the lattice spacing) to alter the diffracted wavelength of the CCA.
However, these prior systems of hydrogel-based CCAs have significant production and handling drawbacks. A need exists for a more robust CCA, which exhibits radiation diffracting properties in response to applied chemical stimuli and the like and which substantially returns to its initial optical characteristics upon removal of the stimulus.

Crystalline colloidal arrays responsive to an activator


An apparatus that can be connected to a conventional sprayer bottle that permits the sprayer bottle to generate ozonated water to be used as a cleaning fluid. The apparatus includes an insert member that can be releasably inserted between the spray head and the bottle portion. An ozonator element is coupled to the insert member via an electrical cable and wherein the ozonator element is configured to be submerged within a liquid contained within the bottle portion. With the insert secured on the bottle portion, the dip tube of the spray head can be passed through the insert member and into the liquid in the bottle portion and the spray head is secured onto the insert member. Electrical energy is provided through insert member to the ozonator element to ozonate the liquid in the bottle for predetermined period of time after which the sprayer bottle contains an ozonated liquid for cleaning. After another predetermined period of time, the ozonator element is energized again to ensure ozonated liquid is always available.

The present invention relates to relates generally to cleaning products that generate ozonated water and, more particularly, to an assembly that can be inserted into conventional spraying bottles for producing ozonated water.
The use of ozone (O3) in different forms for sanitization is well-known. As a gas, ozone can be used for destroying mold or allergens but must be carefully administered because those levels of gaseous ozone can also be toxic to small children, pets and plants. However, when used in water, such ozonated water can be used to safely disinfect items or surfaces; in fact, ozonated water can even be ingested safely; for example, ozonated water is used by campers to clean water by destroying bacteria and other undesired content therein.
Devices that generate ozone are known as "ozonizers". Conventional ozonizers typically utilize electricity, or exposure to ultraviolet radiation, to convert oxygen (O2) to ozone (O3). The following U.S. patent references show examples of devices utilizing ozonated water. U.S. Pat. No. 9,079,227 (Barnes); U.S. Pat. No. 9,636,715 (Barnes); U.S. Pat. No. 9,540,259 (Lutz, et al.); U.S. Pat. No. 10,610,902 (Brook, et al.); U.S. Patent Publication Nos. 2013/0277211 (Joshi, et al.), now abandoned; and 2016/0097132 (Joshi, et al.), now abandoned.
While the devices disclosed in the aforementioned publications may be generally suitable for their intended purposes, these devices do not provide for convenient method of converting a conventional spray bottle into spray bottle of ozonated water. Thus, there remains a need for an insert that can be easily connected to a conventional spray bottle for generating ozonated water to act as a cleaning fluid.
All references cited herein are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.

Insert for sprayer bottle for ozonating water

Professional Server Certification Corporation


High-moisture absorbing and releasing fibers which have moisture-absorbing properties and moisture-releasing properties, are resistant to repetitive use, and have both flame resistance and antibacterial properties and a process for producing the same are provided.. Acrylic fibers in which increase in nitrogen content by hydrazine cross-linking, an amount of salt type carboxyl groups and amido groups by modification of nitrile groups, tensile strength, LOI and sterilization rate are specifically adjusted. Such the fibers are obtained by hydrazine cross-linking treatment, hydrolysis treatment and conversion of the carboxyl groups to the salt type.. High-moisture absorbing and releasing fibers having excellent processability in addition to flame resistance and antibacterial properties are obtained. Such the fibers can also be used repeatedly.

As means to remove the moisture in air, there have been hitherto used moisture absorbents such as lithium chloride, calcium chloride, magnesium chloride, phosphorus pentaoxide and the like. Although these moisture absorbents absorb the moisture in a large amount and rapid manner, they have deliquescence and therefore have such the defects that, after absorption, they are liquified to contaminate the other materials, and are difficult to be molded and regenerated.
On the other hand, moisture absorbents such as silica gel, zeolite, sodium sulfate, activated alumina, activated carbon and the like have such the defects that they absorb the moisture in a small amount and slow manner and requires high temperature for regeneration. Therefore, all moisture absorbents described-above have the problems for a variety of practical use.
As means to solve these problems, there are provided means in which a mixture of water-absorbing resin and deliquescent salts is used [JP-A 52-107042 and JP A 63-31522].
However, since the moisture absorbents are dispersed on a sheet, nonwoven cloth or the like, inserted in or wrapped by them in order to use the absorbents in a form of sheet, nonwoven cloth or the like, there are such the problems that the moisture absorbents are easily fallen therefrom, the sufficient absorbing ability can not be obtained, and laborious steps are required for processing the absorbents in the above form.
As means to solve the problems, impregnation of deliquescent salts in high water-absorbing fibers has been proposed in JP-A 1-299624. The fibers obtained by the means have such the practical ability that they are easily processed into knitted, woven or nonwoven cloth or the like, rapidly absorb and release the moisture and further the moisture absorbent are not fallen from them. However, since the surface of the fibers are hydrogels, they become adhesive when they absorb the moisture and therefore can hardly be applied, in particular, to wall paper and wadding and do not satisfy with flame resistance and antibacterial properties, the needs for which have recently been socially increased.

High moisture-absorbing and releasing fibers and process for producing the same


An articulated device is adapted to hold a shutter in different open positions, without the need for the user to lean out of the window.

1. Field of the Invention
The present patent application for industrial invention relates to an articulated shutter holder.
The device of the invention has been devised in order to solve a common problem, which consists in holding shutters provided in windows and French windows firmly in open position.
2. Description of Related Art Including Information Disclosed Under 37 CFR 1.97 and 1.98.
As it is known, the need of holding shutters in open position is due to the fact that, without such a device, shutters would tend to close uncontrollably and bang, rotating around hinges, under the action of strong wind.
In order to meet such a need, shutters can be normally fixed in completely open position by means of traditional hooks fixed on the external wall of the building, at the sides of the window.
Of course, such a stop can be provided when the shutter has completed its opening rotation, by an angle of approximately 180°, until it rests against the external wall of the building.
In spite of being largely popular, such a solution is impaired by severe drawbacks.
Firstly, the user may often suffer difficulties and discomfort—also in relation with height and general physical conditions—when said shutter holder must be actuated manually.
In fact, the user must lean out of the window in order to reach the hook mounted on the external wall of the building with his hand.
Moreover, it must be noted that such shutter holder hooks are also available in a version adapted to automatically hook the shutter when interference with lower edge is produced.
In such a case, it is easier for the user to stop the shutter, it only being necessary to push said shutter to the end of the opening travel, until it interferes with the "automatic stop" hook.
However, in order to release the shutter from such an automatic hook, the user must intervene manually, leaning out of the window.
Another drawback of such a traditional technology can be found in the difficulties and discomfort related with the installation of said shutter holder hooks on the external wall of the buildings, especially when such an operation must be carried out in windows on high floors.


A package for flat, pliable objects, such as for wafer-shaped or film-shaped drug forms. The package has a carrier layer, a cover layer which is detachably connected to the carrier layer, and a first surface region wherein the carrier layer is not connected to the cover layer and is completely surrounded by a margin area. A cavity, enclosed on all sides, is formed for accommodating an object. The package has a second surface region wherein the carrier layer is not connected to the cover layer. At least one perforation line extends at least partially within the second surface region, and is provided both in the carrier layer and in the cover layer.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to packages for flat, pliable objects, especially for film-shaped or wafer-shaped drug forms. These are non-reclosable packages the contents of which become accessible upon opening the package by peeling off a cover layer (e.g. peel film), and opening of which does not necessitate the use of auxiliary means, especially tools (scissors, knives etc.). The packages according to the invention possess features which prevent unauthorized opening, especially by children, or at least render unauthorised opening more difficult. The invention further relates to the use of such packages for packaging flat, pliable objects, as well as processes for packaging such objects by means of the said packages.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Apart from the known administration forms for medicaments, such as tablets, capsules etc., so-called "wafers" are also used for the administration of medicaments, especially for oral administration thereof. These are small, thin plates made of an active substance-containing film and whose thickness and dimensions are adapted to the amount of active substance to be released. A wafer is generally flexible, soft, of low weight, and tearable. The overall thickness of such a film-shaped medicament may be 5 μm to 5 mm, usually 50 μm to 1 mm. The shape of its surface may be round, oval, triangular or quadrangular, or polygonal, or it may be of any rounded shape. Suitable active substances are medicinal agents of all classes, for example analgesics, psychopharmacologic agents, or even nicotine for smoking cessation.
Because of the active substance content of the wafers, it is indispensable to package them in such a way that they cannot be removed and taken or swallowed by unauthorized persons, especially by children. At least, the process of opening the package should be made more difficult or delayed.
Child-resistant packages are known above all in the field of blister packages for tablets. For example, opening such a package can be made more difficult by providing the lid layer of the blister package with a peel layer which prevents the tablet from being pushed through the lid layer, and thereby prevents removal of the tablet. Only after having peeled off the peel layer is it possible to remove the tablet in the usual manner, by pushing it through the lid layer (DE 196 13 959 A1). Such packages are, however, not suitable for packaging thin, flexible drug forms (e.g. wafers) since, due to their physical characteristics, wafers cannot be removed from a package by pushing them through the package.
DE 197 43 485 A1 describes a child-resistant package for products that have a large area and are sensitive to pressure, e.g. transdermal therapeutic systems. The package is made of a dimensionally stable carrier sheet and a peelable, flexible cover layer; the two sheets are sealed to one another. The carrier sheet is provided with a perforation which can be broken open by bending. On breaking open the perforation, a broken edge is formed which serves as a gripping aid for peeling off the cover layer. Unauthorised opening by children is prevented by the fact that the rigidity of the sheets sealed to one another is such that children are not able to summon up the strength in their fingers which is required to bend open the break-open aid, while adults are able to do so.
A disadvantage of this package is that opening of the package is possible without hindrance once the first obstacle—bending open—has been overcome. The resultant gripping aid even facilitates peeling away the cover layer.

Peelable, child-resistant package for film-shaped drug forms

Abstract: Severing the perforation line forms a free edge of the cover layer which serves as a gripping aid and enables manual removal of the cover layer from the carrier layer. The disclosure further covers a process for packaging flat, pliable objects by forming the above-described package.


A door hold and release mechanism is provided including a housing mounted onto the pneumatic cylinder of a door check or closer having a piston rod extending from one end of the cylinder. The piston rod passes through an oversized hole in a drop stop which restricts movement of the piston rod when the drop stop is tilted. A cap button is mounted on top of the housing and is connected to one end of an elongated shaft disposed in the housing. A spring exerts a bias pressure on the shaft which opposes the external force applied to the shaft when the cap button is depressed. A draw bar extends outwardly through the housing and is connected at one end to the drop stop. A cam action linkage connects the other end of the draw bar to the opposite end of the shaft. The linkage includes an elongated cam slot formed within the end of the shaft and a pin which extends through the slot and the rearward end of the draw bar. The slot is inclined at an angle such that the draw bar is forced to move laterally and rearwardly in response to the external force applied to the shaft. This action causes the drop stop to tilt and engage the piston rod thereby holding the door open for passage of the operator.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates a new and improved door hold and release mechanism for use with conventional reciprocating pneumatic operated door checks or closers known in the art.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Door-checks or closers, as they are often referred to, such as the reciprocating pneumatic cylinder type used on storm, screen and similar type doors, automatically close the door after the door has been opened and then released. The door must be hand or mechanically held open while passing through or invariably the door will automatically return, possibly causing injury to the person passing through the doorway.
In order to hold a door open, while passing through a door equipped with the typical reciprocal door-check used on a majority of storm and screen door installations, it is necessary to first slide a "lock tab", located on the door-check's piston rod, toward and into contact with the face of the door-check cylinder. This requires holding the door in an open position with one hand while sliding the lock-tab with the other, and then reversing the procedure to allow the door to close under action of the cylinder.
This two-fold operation is both clumsy and time consuming. Additionally, since sliding the lock-tab can only be done from inside the door, the prior art is only useful under circumstances where a person is leaving and then immediately returning through the door. Moreover, a dangerous scenario posed by the sliding lock-tab is that because of its operational difficulty, a person might decide not to use its hold-open function and proceed to pass through the door while the door is automatically returning to its closed position, resulting in injury. Further, in those cases where the door checks are installed on the lower portion of a door requiring bending down to operate the lock-tab, the operator is in a more precarious position for injury should the door check malfunction.
It is therefore a primary object of the invention to provide a door hold and release mechanism which is able to hold a door open, hands free, until the person opening the door has completely passed through the door and then subsequently release the hold on the door and allow it to close safely.
Another object of the invention is to provide a door hold and release mechanism which can restrain a door in an open position by the simple action of depressing a button, either by hand or foot, and releasing the restraint by a simple outward pressure on the door.
Still another object of the invention is to provide a door hold and release mechanism which is small and easily mounted onto a door check cylinder, which has a minimum number of moving parts and which is easily manufactured.
Yet another object of the invention is to provide a door hold and release mechanism which is adaptable to most, if not all, reciprocal pneumatic door-checks or closers of the type often used on conventional screen and storm doors.