A sheet is discharged from between a discharge roller and a feeding roller as pinched between the rotating discharge roller and feeding roller. In this arrangement, a guide is arranged from an upstream side to a downstream side in a sheet discharge direction. The guide is arranged to contact the discharge roller at a downstream position in the discharge direction from a position where the discharge roller contacts the feeding roller.

Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a sheet discharge apparatus for discharging a sheet from between a discharge roller and a feeding roller as well as to an image forming apparatus, such as copiers, printers, facsimiles and machines with multi-functional peripherals, which employs such a sheet discharge apparatus.
Description of the Related Art
In the image forming apparatus such as copiers, printers, facsimiles and machines with multi-functional peripherals, the sheet discharge apparatus is used for sequentially discharging sheets with toner images formed thereon to a sheet delivery portion.
The sheet discharge apparatus commonly operates as follows to sequentially discharge the sheets with toner images formed thereon to the sheet delivery portion. The sheet with the toner image formed thereon is guided into nip between the discharge roller and the feeding roller. With this sheet pinched between roller portions of the discharge roller and roller portions of the feeding roller, the discharge roller and the feeding roller are rotated to discharge the sheet from between the discharge roller and the feeding roller.
In the case where the sheet is discharged from between the discharge roller and the feeding roller in this manner, resistance is applied to the discharged sheet because the sheet is discharged from between the discharge roller and the feeding roller while making contact with an upper surface of the sheet delivery portion or the sheet already discharged.
In a case where a sheet having high frictional resistance, a sheet elongated in a sheet discharge direction, or a sheet curled during thermal fixing of the toner image or the like is discharged, or where a sheet is discharged at low velocity, a trailing end of the discharged sheet may sometimes remain on the roller portions of the feeding roller so that the sheet is not properly discharged from between the discharge roller and the feeding roller onto the sheet delivery portion.
If the trailing end of the discharged sheet remains on the roller portions of the feeding roller, the following problem may occur. When the next sheet is discharged from between the discharge roller and the feeding roller, the preceding sheet remaining on the roller portions of the feeding roller may become an obstacle to the discharge of the next sheet, which is not discharged but gets jammed. Otherwise, the preceding sheet remaining on the roller portions of the feeding roller may be pushed out significantly by the next sheet discharged, thus significantly displaced from a discharge position. Otherwise, the next sheet may get under the preceding sheet remaining on the roller portions of the feeding roller, causing the collapse of the order of discharged sheets.
In this connection, Patent Document 1 (Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2002-114423) has heretofore proposed an arrangement where a pressing member is rotatably arranged in a manner to block a sheet discharge path for a sheet discharged from between the discharge roller and the feeding roller. This pressing member is pushed up by the sheet discharged from between the discharge roller and the feeding roller so as to allow the sheet to be discharged to the sheet delivery portion. Further, the pressing member presses down the trailing end of the sheet passed through between the discharge roller and the feeding roller so as to separate the trailing end of the sheet from the feeding roller.
However, in the case where the pressing member is rotatably arranged to block the sheet discharge path such that the pressing member is pushed up by the sheet discharged from between the discharge roller and the feeding roller, a problem exists that a sheet weak in stiffness has difficulty in adequately pushing up the pressing member so as to get jammed at this pressing member. On the other hand, in a case where the above-described pressing member is adapted to be easily pushed up by the discharged sheet, a problem exists that this pressing member is incapable of adequately pressing down the trailing end of the sheet passed through between the discharge roller and the feeding roller. It is difficult for the pressing member to adequately separate the trailing end of the sheet from the feeding roller.
Further, Patent Document 2 (Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2005-263335) has heretofore proposed an arrangement which employs a pressing member including first and second arms. The sheet transported through between a first pair of discharge rollers rotates the pressing member to retract down the first arm of the pressing member. The sheet is moved over the first arm thus retracted and guided in between a second pair of discharge rollers on a downstream side. This sheet is discharged from between the second pair of discharge rollers to the sheet delivery portion outside an image forming apparatus. In the meantime, the second arm of the rotatable pressing member is rotated toward the outside of the image forming apparatus so that this second arm presses down the trailing end of the sheet discharged to the sheet delivery portion outside the image forming apparatus.
However, the arrangement disclosed in Patent Document 2 also has the problem that since the sheet transported through between the first pair of discharge rollers rotates the pressing member so as to retract down the first arm of the pressing member, as described above, the sheet weak in stiffness has difficulty in adequately rotating the pressing member, getting jammed at this first arm. Further, in the arrangement disclosed in Patent Document 2, the second arm of the pressing member is simply arranged to press down the trailing end of the sheet discharged to the sheet delivery portion outside the image forming apparatus. In the case of a sheet with the trailing end remaining in between the second pair of discharge rollers, therefore, it is also difficult for the second arm to adequately separate this sheet from between the second pair of discharge rollers.

Sheet discharge apparatus and image forming apparatus


The present invention relates to a biodegradable fibrin based composition for injection into osseous defects or voids, which can be the result of osteoporosis, surgery, bone cysts, tumor removal or traumatic bone injury.

There are several examples of injectable bone void fillers in the literature. WO 95/21634 discloses a biomaterial for the resorption substitution of bony tissue. The composition is injectable and comprises calcium phosphate particles in a liquid phase comprising carboxymethylcellulose. U.S. Pat. No. 6,287,341 details a method for repairing an osseous defect wherein two calcium phosphates are mixed with a buffer to provide a paste or putty which is applied to the defect. The putty hardens in the defect due to a chemical reaction. WO 00/07639 discloses a calcium cement for injection into osseous defects. The cement is based on mono basic calcium phosphate monohydrate and beta tricalcium phosphate and may further comprise a biopolymer. Following injection the calcium phosphate cement requires setting. US-patent 2004048947 details an injectable composition for a bone mineral substitute material with the capability of being hardened in a body fluid in vivo, which hardens during the surgery. US-patent 2004101960 details an injectable bone substitute material comprising a mix of living cells within a composition which comprises a soft matrix or a composition which comprises a setting material. The soft materials listed in this patent include collagen gels, gelatin, alginates, agarose, polysaccharides, hydrogels and viscous polymers. It is also mentioned that it is possible to employ commercial fibrin glues such as TissuCol (Baxter) or Beriplast (Aventis) but they are not preferred. Recently there have been a number of injectable bone void fillers that have received 510(k). Of these, Jax-TCP (Smith & Nephew) and Tricos T (Baxter) deliver granules of calcium phosphates in a bio-gel which are applied as a putty/paste.
The current practice is to fill bone voids with either a bone graft (auto or allograft), bone graft substitutes, a bone cement such as polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) or injectable calcium salt void fillers. Autografts are the 'gold standard' choice for this application but there are issues with donor tissue limitations, trauma, infection and morbidity. There are a number of additional problems that face allografts, including the risk of disease transmission and immunogenicity. Both auto- and allografts display loss of biological and mechanical properties due to secondary remodeling. It is these limitations that have prompted interest in alternative materials to bone grafts (Parikh S. N., 2002, J. Postgrad. Med. 48:142-148).
PMMA is a non-resorbable polymeric material. During its polymerization unreacted monomer, catalyst and low molecular weight oligomers become entrapped in the polymer. These chemicals have the potential to leach out of the material resulting in localized cytotoxic and immunological responses. PMMA polymerization has a high exothermicity that can potentially cause heat necrosis. This exothermicity also limits the ability of PMMA to incorporate any pharmacological or chemotherapeutic agents. PMMA leakage from a defect can result in very serious complications including compression of adjacent structures (requiring further surgery) and/or embolism.
As indicated above, there are a number of calcium salt based "injectable void fillers" in the prior art. However moldable pastes also come under this heading. Putties and pastes require surgical placement of a defect. In practice this requires the defect to be surgically revealed. Unfortunately the larger the defect the larger the surgical wound site (US-patent 2005136038). Another major complication with calcium salts is their requirement to for setting in vivo. This is usually achieved by chemical reaction. Thus any biologics and pharmaceutics incorporated in the filler such as cells and pharmacological agents can potentially be damaged. Furthermore, if the filler is too "fluid" it can leak out of the defect into adjacent spaces leading to compression of structures. Leakage from defects proximal to joints can potentially impair the joints function.
Requirements for a calcium salt composition intended for delivery via the percutaneous route have previously been detailed in WO 95/21634. These include that the material should be sterilizable, must be non-toxic in vitro, the rheology must be such that it permits injection, it must be easy to use and it must have a strong mineralization front.
Thus, a strong need exists for new injectable bone void fillers which can be sterilized, show a low potential toxicity and a low tendency for leakage, are biodegradable, have a rheology that permits injection and are easy to use.
Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide new injectable void bone fillers for injection into osseous defects or voids resulting, for example, from osteoporosis, surgery, bone cysts, tumor removal or traumatic bone injury.


A hand-held electrical shocking device for personal defense that is attached to the upper portion of the fist or hand and shocks an attacker when the fist and device are contacted against the attacker. The device has a central portion in resilient connection with a contacting means that is held away from it. Contacting points on both portions complete an electrical circuit which energizes shock probes located on the outside edge of the device. The contacting portion overhangs the knuckles when attached so that it will make contact with an attacker when the device is driven against the person of the attacker. As the contacting piece makes contact with the attacker, it is pushed back against a contact point(s) on the central portion and an electrical connection is established that delivers the shock through the shock probes.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to the field of personal defense devices and, in particular, to an electrical shocking device that is attached to the upper portion of the fist and delivers an electric shock upon making contact with an attacker.
2. Prior Art
While shocking devices are known, like electric rods and buzzers that attach to the palm, none that applicant is aware of are attached at the top of the fist. Nor do any use a spring-biased, contacting portion, as the energization step for delivering an electric current to the attacker.


A hydrodynamic energy recovery system for effecting mixing of gases within a headspace of a liquid-containment vessel containing a liquid enables mixing of the gases by converting energy of moving or sloshing liquid in a liquid-filled lower portion of the vessel into energy for moving the gases. The system includes (1) a hydro-driven actuator that is movably driven in response to the movement of the liquid in the vessel, (2) a mixing device driven by the actuator such that motion of the mixing device effects mixing of the gases contained in the headspace above the liquid, and (3) a motion converter for converting motion of the actuator into motion for driving the mixing device. The mixing device can be driven without the need to run electrical power within the vessel and without the transfer of motion through an external wall of the vessel.

A liquid-containment vessel of a vehicle, such as a fuel tank of an aircraft, watercraft, or land vehicle, typically includes a liquid-filled lower portion containing liquid, such as fuel or other fluid, and a gas-filled headspace, such as an ullage-space, above the liquid-filled lower portion. In the context of a fuel tank, the ullage-space is typically filled with fuel vapors in addition to other gases, such as nitrogen-enriched air, to reduce the risk of an explosion via fuel vapor ignition within the ullage-space. Proper mixing of gases in the ullage-space enables maintenance of necessary inerting properties of the gases and minimizes concentrations of fuel vapors in localized areas of the fuel tank that otherwise would increase the potential for an explosion.
Injecting nitrogen-enriched or other inerting gas through injection ports of the fuel tank typically only induces limited mixing of gases in the ullage-space. On the other hand, mixing enhancement via an electric fan in the headspace would introduce a potential ignition source, apart from the additional electric energy required to drive the fan.


In order to perform diversity reception efficiently without increasing the scale of the apparatus, when the total number of simultaneously connected cells has reached N cells including an HSDPA serving cell a control section 104 keeps a switch 103 connecting a buffer 102-1 to a despreading section 105, and conversely, when the total number of simultaneously connected cells has not reached N cells including an HSDPA serving cell, after completion of despreading and delay profile generation for the simultaneously connected cells performed for the received signal of an antenna #1, control section 104 switches switch 103 to connect a buffer 102-2 to despreading section 105. By means of this switching control, diversity reception is performed for an HSDPA serving cell only when the total number of simultaneously connected cells has not reached N and there are free resources.

Conventionally, in a radio receiving apparatus that performs diversity reception, the processing system that performs synchronization processing such as path detection requires a plurality of branches coordinated with antennas. For example, in order to perform dual-branch diversity reception, two synchronization processing systems are necessary, and the synchronization processing resources required are double those of single-branch reception (see, for example, Laid-open Japanese Patent Publication No. 2000-324528).
With regard to synchronization processing, 3GPP TS25.133 stipulates that the possible number of simultaneous connections must correspond to 6 RLs (Radio Links) (that is, a mobile station apparatus must be able to receive signals of 6 cells simultaneously). Therefore, if an above-described conventional radio receiving apparatus is configured simply in accordance with 3GPP stipulations, a total of 12 synchronization processing systems are necessary in order to perform dual-branch diversity reception, the scale of the apparatus is increased, and manufacturing costs are high.

Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.


A cryocatheter for introduction into a body vessel or into an organ, with a catheter inner surrounded by a catheter sheath, and with a catheter tip arranged at its distal end, with a feed line for an expansion or cooling agent arranged in the catheter sheath or the catheter inner, and with a balloon, arranged close to the catheter tip, which can be expanded and contracted again by means of the expansion and cooling agent, is to be constructed in such a way that by simple manipulation it can be positioned at a precise target position in the body vessel and, in addition, it minimizes the burden on the patient from invasive interventions. For this purpose, in accordance with the invention an image capture device, with at least one imaging sensor for mapping the region of the vessel around the balloon, is positioned in the region of the catheter tip.

Among the most frequent diseases with fatal consequences are diseases of the vascular vessels, in particular heart infarcts. This is caused by diseases of the coronary vessels, so-called arteriosclerosis. With this, the diameter of the vessels is reduced by deposits (arteriosclerotic plaque) on the vessel walls to the point where an individual coronary blood vessel, or several, may be blocked. It has now been recognized that the danger of suffering a coronary infarct does not depend primarily on the reduction in the diameter of the vessels. Rather, it depends on whether the thin protective layer, which covers the arteriosclerotic deposits, remains intact. If this ruptures, blood platelets preferentially deposit at the breakage site, and within a short time these completely close up the blood vessel and thus cause a coronary infarct.
A narrowing, also referred to as stenosis, of the coronary vessels, as a possible precursor of a blockage which may lead to a coronary infarct, may be diagnosed for example in the course of coronary angiography. During the latter it is normal to introduce into the coronary vessels a catheter, through which an X-ray contrast agent is injected into the region of the vessels to be investigated. An X-ray photograph of the region of the vessels is then prepared, and the catheter is removed again. The inner space within the blood vessels, which is filled with the contrast agent, then shows up on the X-ray image. The resulting image is also referred to as an angiogram. One disadvantage of this method consists in the fact that it only shows the diameter of the vessels which is usable by the blood flow, or the point of narrowing, as a silhouette. It is not possible to make any statement about the deposits, in particular their thickness or the degree of the inflammatory process.
Recently is has also become possible, for the purpose of more precisely diagnosing a stenosis, to introduce into the coronary vessels a so-called ultrasonic catheter with an imaging intravascular ultrasonic sensor (IVUS sensor). An ultrasonic catheter of this type is, for example, known from DE 198 27 460 A1. The IVUS sensor supplies ultrasonic images from the interior of the vessel, whereby the image formed is normally a 360° sectional view of the vessel wall and also the underlying tissue layers.
Alternatively, the investigatory catheter can also be equipped with a sensor for optical coherence tomography (OCT) or with a sensor for intravascular magnetic resonance tomography (IVMRI=intravascular magnetic resonance imaging).
Optical coherence tomography imaging supplies high-resolution images which, in particular, show the structures in the region of the surface of the vessel comparatively exactly. The principle underlying this method is that the catheter radiates light fed via an optical guide, preferably infrared light, into the vessel, with the light reflected by the latter being coupled back into the optical waveguide and fed to an analysis device. In the analysis unit, the coherence of the reflected light is analyzed against the reference light—in a way similar to that in a Michelson interferometer—to generate an image. An OCT investigatory catheter is known, for example, from U.S. Pat. No. 5,921,926. With the OCT method, the section of the vessel to be investigated must be briefly cleared of blood. For this purpose, the blood flow is normally interrupted during the image capture by a closure plug, and the section of the vessel washed out using a physiological saline solution.
Another imaging method, which is known in particular for its good representation of soft tissues, is magnetic (core) resonance tomography. With this method, the magnetic moments (core spins) of the nuclei of atoms in the tissue to be investigated are aligned in an external magnetic field and excited by irradiated radio waves into a gyroscopic movement (precession), whereby relaxation processes induce in an associated receiving coil an electrical magneto-resonance signal which forms the basis for calculating an image. There has recently been success in miniaturizing the elements which generate the magnetic field, and integrating them into an imaging IVMRI sensor in an investigatory catheter, in a way which enables the intracorporal or intravascular use, as applicable, of the MRI method, whereby the necessary static magnetic field is also generated or applied, as appropriate, within the patient's body. A solution of this type is described, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 6,704,594 B1.
If, using the investigatory methods outlined above, stenoses of the coronary vessels are recognized which are a threat to the patient or greatly limit their capabilities, further treatment steps are generally necessary. Depending on the case, this will involve carrying out either a bypass operation or a balloon dilatation, also known as a "percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA)". Nowadays, it is preferable to use the PTCA method. With this, the narrowings of the coronary vessels are dilated using a so-called balloon catheter, which is introduced under X-ray control into the region to be treated. In the region of its front tip (at the distal end) this catheter has a balloon which can be expanded, generally using a saline solution under pressure, which is expanded or inflated at the site of the stenosis. So that the enlargement of the vessel does not revert to its original state (restenose), a so-called stent is frequently introduced into the widened section of the blood vessel after the dilation. This stent is a cylindrical mesh, generally metallic, which is plastically reshaped using the balloon, and lies against the inner wall of the vessel when it is expanded.
Even after the implantation of a stent, restenoses can occur. Reasons for postinterventional restenosis are the continuation of the causative arteriosclerosis, and the response of the vessel wall to the PTCA-induced trauma. For this reason, techniques are now available to treat the section concerned of the vessel prior to the implantation of a stent, and thus prevent restenosis. For example, clinical studies have shown that endovascular irradiation of the vessel wall with beta and/or gamma radiation (brachytherapy) reduces restenoses. The mechanisms are not yet fully clarified, but various models are being discussed, e.g. cell death, cell inactivation, inhibition of cell migration, suppression of the vascular structural remodeling, and blocking of the extracellular matrix synthesis. The disadvantage of brachytherapy lies in the additional radiation load on the patient and in the expensive logistic process which the radioactive sources necessitate in the clinic (procurement, storage, disposal).
A new method is currently in clinical research: pretreatment of the stenosis before or during dilatation, with the help of cryotechnology (cryogenics). In this case, a so-called cryocatheter is fed into the vessel as far as the stenosis. As soon as the stenosis is reached, liquid nitrogen is introduced into the catheter, this reaching the gaseous state by the time it arrives at the catheter tip, and when it expands it blows up a dilation balloon. The nitrogen thus functions as both an expansion medium and a coolant. In other words, the section of the blood vessel which is affected by the stenosis if briefly cooled to a very low temperature and, at the same time, is widened by the stretching of the balloon. The cold-induced "sclerosis" of the tissue achieves a similar effect in the vessel wall as with brachytherapy, i.e. the restenosis rate is significantly reduced, but the patient is exposed to no additional radiation load. This method is described, for example, by James D. Joye et al. in "In Vivo Study of Endovascular Cryotherapy for the Prevention of Restenosis", which can be ordered on the Internet under http://www.cryoinc.com. A cryocatheter which is suitable for carrying out the method is known, for example, from U.S. Pat. No. 6,355,029 B1.
All in all, it is a disadvantage that the known procedure is multiply invasive, i.e. several different catheters must be introduced—for preliminary investigation and for treatment—one after another. However, each invasion has a certain associated risk for the patient. The fact that the investigatory catheter must first be withdrawn again from the patient's vascular system, before the cryocatheter provided for the cryotherapy and widening of the blood vessel can be introduced, means that problem are frequently presented in locating again exactly the treatment region determined during the preliminary investigation. Specifically, when it is being introduced the cryocatheter can only be observed in outline in the angiography X-ray image, making its manipulation more difficult and the position of the catheter tip within the section of the vessel which is to be treated can only be approximately estimated. It is possible that the cryocatheter is not precisely positioned in the target area during its use, thereby increasing the risk of restenosis.

Cryocatheter for introduction into a body vessel together with medical investigation and treatment equipment


A ferroelectric memory array (20) monolithically integrated with a field programmable gate array (32) into a semiconductor circuit (10). The ferroelectric memory array (20) is suitable for a semiconductor manufacturer to program the configuration data that is used in the field programmable gate array (32) prior to shipment and installation in an electronic system. The memory array (20) provides the data that configures the field programmable gate array (32) for functionality of the Configurable Logic Blocks (CLBs) in the field programmable gate array (32). Should the field programmable gate array (32) circuit lose power, the non-volatile memory array (20) provides a shift register (26) with the data to reconfigure the field programmable gate array (32).

The present invention relates, in general, to integrated circuits and, more particularly, to non-volatile memories.
Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) integrated circuits are comprised of an array of Configurable Logic Blocks (CLBs) dynamically interconnected through programmable switches. Each of the CLBs includes logic gates, clocked latches, pass-gate transistors, and feedback structures having interconnects that are also configured through programmable switches. The programmable switches are controlled by data bits stored in the static latches of the configuration memory. Thus, the specific logic functions performed within the CLB as well as the interconnect between multiple CLBs are configured by specific data in the static latches.
A disadvantage of prior art CLBs is that the static latches lose stored data when power is removed from the integrated circuit. An external non-volatile memory, such as an Electrical Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory (EEPROM), provides the data that programs the configuration memory for reprogramming the programmable switches. Typically, FPGAs are reprogrammed during power-up. This is a relatively slow process because the external non-volatile memory provides configuration data to the internal static latches associated with the programmable switches. The external non-volatile memory requires interface pins allocated for the transfer of data from the memory to the FPGA. Serial data transfer using a single interface pin allows loading data into a shift register as a minimal pin count solution. Another disadvantage is that loading pertinent design information into a shift register from an external EEPROM is easily detected by monitoring the serial bit stream of configuration data. Thus, the configuration data and, therefore, the function performed by the FPGA is known and can be copied by a competitor.
Accordingly, it would be advantageous to have a reconfiguration method capable of rapidly programming the configuration memory and the programmable switches thereby allowing logic reprogramming during normal circuit operation. The configuration of the switches should be maintained when power is lost or removed from the integrated circuit. It would be of further advantage for the method to provide data to the programmable switches without a security risk of monitoring the configuration data.

Configurable monolithic semiconductor circuit and method for configuring


Provided is a link synchronization method for a radio frequency repeater that can perform link route switching at an accurate time point by measuring reception signal power at a predetermined period for a predetermined time duration, accumulating and comparing them with a reference level, and detecting a link termination time point. The method includes: a) setting up an initial link route; b) measuring received signal power in the initial link route; c) accumulating the reception signal power received for a predetermined time at a predetermined period, when the reception signal power is detected; d) setting up a reference level for link switching based on the accumulated reception signal power; e) detecting a link termination time point by finding an edge in a waveform of the accumulated reception signal power based on the reference level; and f) switching the current link route based on the detected link termination time point.

Recent wireless communication systems can wirelessly transmit/receive data in a wireless terminal at a high data transmission rate, while the wireless terminal is in motion. The wireless communication systems use repeaters to connect wireless terminals in shade regions to base stations.
The wireless communication systems use the same frequency band in a forward channel (from a base station to a wireless terminal) and a reverse channel (from a wireless terminal and a base station). The wireless communication systems use a Time Division Duplexing (TDD) method that distributes the forward and reverse channels according to time. Therefore, repeaters should perform link route switching at an exact time point.
In general, frames are synchronized in an Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple access (OFDMA) system by using a method using correlation in a cyclic prefix (CP) duration, a method using correlation in a preamble duration, or a pilot pattern detecting method.
All the methods can be used to synchronize the link routes of TDD repeaters. However, when the pilot pattern detecting method is used, the TDD repeaters require a demodulator. Since the use of a demodulator adds up to complexity and costs of the wireless communication system systems, it is not efficient to use the pilot pattern detecting method. Therefore, the methods using a CP duration and a preamble duration may be used.
When the method using a CP duration or a preamble duration is used to synchronize the link routes of the TDD repeaters, the level of correlation values may fluctuate deeply due to the characteristics of a wireless channel. Therefore, there is a problem that signal processing should be performed additionally to keep the correlation value at a uniform level.
Also, when the method using a CP duration or a preamble duration is used to synchronize the link routes of the TDD repeaters, the starting and termination time points of a downlink may be known accurately. However, since an uplink termination time point is obtained from calculation based on a ratio of TTG to the downlink, there is a problem that a switching time offset may occur unintentionally when an RF repeater switches its link route into a downlink.

Link synchronization method using received power in RF repeater

Jungja-Dong, Bundang-Gu, Kyeonggi-Do, Seongnam


A method and apparatus for detecting the presence of a predetermined hydrocarbon vapour of a predetermined concentration in a monitored area by: exposing gas in or from the monitored area to radiation from a Xenon flashlamp which includes ultraviolet radiation of a predetermined ultraviolet spectral range and infrared radiation of a predetermined infrared spectral range; detecting the radiation after having passed through the gas; and comparing the detected radiation with a reference of predetermined attenuation characteristics of the hydrocarbon vapour and concentration in the respective ultraviolet and infrared spectral range.

The present invention relates to a method, and also to apparatus, for detecting the presence of predetermined hydrocarbon vapours in a monitored area. The invention is partcularly useful for detecting flammable hydrocarbon vapours when they are present at a concentration which might indicate a possible flammable or explosive atmosphere, and the invention is therefore described with respect to this application.
At the present time, analysis of an atmosphere to determine the concentration of a flammable-vapour therein is commonly carried out by combustion methods. The flammable vapour is fed (with air) into a combustion chamber where it is exposed to a controlled flame. When the vapour hits the flame, it burns and gives off heat which is sensed by a resistance temperature detector (RTD), or by a flame ionization detector (FID), which enables the concentration of flammable vapours to be determined.
Another technique, based on total organic-carbon (TOC) analysis, combines combustion with infrared absorption to determine the organic carbon content. The sample stream is oxidized to produce CO.sub.2, and the amount of CO.sub.2 is measured according to CO.sub.2 infrared analysis techniques.
However, the above known techniques of flammable-vapour analysis require exact calibration of the specific material to be detected, are very sensitive to other compounds with similar behaviour, require long time measurements (response time usually greater than one minute), are expensive and cumbersome, and/or lack versalitity in implementation.
It has also been proposed to detect a fire optically by the use of a visible wavelength band detector alone, or in combination with an infrared wavelength band detector (see for example U.S. Pat. No. 4,156,816 of May 29, 1979), and also to use a visible wavelength band detector for detecting various types of fluorocarbon gasses which may escape the environment (see for example U.S. Pat. No. 4,891,518 of Jan. 2, 1990). Other known types of vapour or gas analyzers based on the detection of radiation, or the attenuation of radiation by the gas or vapour being analyzed, are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,385,516 of May 31, 1983, 4,517,161 of May 14, 1985 and 4,964,309 of Oct. 23, 1990. A further technique of analyzing a gas or vapour, based on measuring the strenght of acoustic resonance in a chamber containing a sample of the gas, is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,055,764 of Oct. 25, 1977.

Method and apparatus for detecting hydrocarbon vapors in a monitored area


Disclosed are a light absorption device, a fixing unit including the same and an image forming apparatus including such fixing unit. The light absorption device includes a plurality of dielectric layers containing nano-rods. Surface plasmon resonance generated in response to certain wavelengths corresponding to the dielectric constants of the dielectric layers can result in an improvement in the light absorption efficiency. Further improvements can be realized by adjusting the dielectric constants of the dielectric layers.

A light absorption device absorbs light emitted from a light source, and may be used as a heating device converting the energy of absorbed light into heat. For example, a light absorption device may be used in a fixing unit of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus.
An electrophotographic image forming apparatus charges photosensitive drums substantially uniformly, and exposes so charged photosensitive drums with light, e.g., using a laser scanning unit (LSU), to thereby form an electrostatic latent image in correspondence to the image to be formed. The electrostatic latent image is developed with developer, e.g., charged toner, into a visible toner image, which is then transferred onto a recording medium. At this point, the toner image transferred onto the recording medium is not yet permanently fixed, but is merely being carried on the recording medium. A fixing unit may be utilized to thermally fuse or otherwise fix the toner image on the recording medium by the application of heat and pressure to thereby complete the formation of the image on the recording medium. For example, when a roller-type fixing unit is used, the recording medium carrying the toner image is passed through a nip formed between a heating roller and a pressurizing roller that are in a pressing contact each other, and is allowed to be heated by the heating roller and at the same time to be pressed by the heating roller and the pressurizing roller. The heating roller is an example of a light absorption device, and may be of the form of a cylindrical metal roller that is heated by a heat source, such as, for example, a halogen lamp.

Light absorption device, fixing unit comprising the light absorption device and image forming apparatus comprising the fixing unit


A gas supply line and gas supplying apparatus that facilitates maintenance and management of various types of devices. The supplying apparatus is formed with a supply line that is made up of a gas inlet-side block, a gas outlet-side block and a plurality of fluid control devices. The gas supplying apparatus is formed with at least two gas supply lines, the fluid control device of each gas supply line includes at least one flow controller, an inlet-side block of the flow controller on one gas supplying line is connected to an inlet-side block of the flow controller on the other gas supply line so as to oppose the inlet-side block, and an outlet-side block of one flow controller is connected to an outlet-side block of the other flow controller so as to oppose the gas outlet-side block.

Technical Field
The present invention relates to an improvement in a gas supplying apparatus, for example, an integrated type gas supplying apparatus for semiconductor manufacturing equipment and relates to a gas supplying apparatus which can have a significantly increased number of gas supply lines, be downsized in dimensions and facilitate maintenance and inspection, etc., by further downsizing and making compact a pressure type flow control device and a thermal type flow control device used in the gas supplying apparatus.
Description of the Related Art
Conventionally, process gas has been supplied to semiconductor manufacturing equipment by using a so-called integrated type gas supplying apparatus.
FIG. 21 shows one example, in which two-way opening/closing valves 71A, 71B, three-way opening/closing valves 72A, 72B, a flow control device 73, etc., are integrated in a serial manner via block bodies 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, each of which has a gas flow passage, thereby forming one gas supplying line. And, the plurality of gas supplying lines are disposed and fixed in parallel via the block bodies 75, 79, thereby constituting an integrated type gas supplying apparatus (See, e.g., Japanese Published Unexamined Patent Application No. H05-172265, etc.).
The integrated type gas supplying apparatus shown in FIG. 21 described above has excellent characteristics, for example, fixing bolts for fixing various types of devices to block bodies can be removed from the upper side of the apparatus to easily replace control devices which form various gas supply lines and also to easily cope with addition of gas supply lines, etc.
However, an increase in the number of required gas supply lines will inevitably result in an increase in depth dimension L of an integrated type gas supplying apparatus. Thus, a problem arises in that an increase in dimensions of the gas supplying apparatus cannot be avoided.
In particular, the flow control device 73 has a certain structural limit in reducing a depth dimension thereof (thickness dimension) L0. A thermal type flow control device (mass flow controller) requires a thickness dimension L0 of at least 20 mm to 25 mm, and a pressure type flow control device requires a thickness dimension L0 of 20 mm to 25 mm.
Therefore, as shown in FIG. 22, there has been developed such a device in which a depth dimension L1 of the block body 76 for fixing the flow control device 73 is made identical with the depth dimension L0 (thickness dimension) of the flow control device 73. Furthermore, a clearance between the flow control devices 73 adjacent in parallel is made as small as possible and the flow control device 73 can be fixed by using a single fixing bolt 80 (See, e.g., Japanese Published Unexamined Patent Application No. 2008-298180).
However, as described above, the flow control device 73 has a limit in reducing the depth dimension (thickness dimension) L0. Thus, an increase in the number of required gas supply lines will result in a dimensional increase in an integrated type gas supplying apparatus, making it difficult to substantially downsize the apparatus.
On the other hand, in recent years, in the field of semiconductor manufacturing equipment, semiconductor manufacturing processes have shifted to a so-called single substrate processing method. There have also been introduced a multiple chamber method in which one unit of semiconductor manufacturing equipment is provided with a plurality of process chambers to process a plurality of wafers all at once and a chamber multiple process method in which one process chamber is used to continuously perform a plurality of processes.
Therefore, a gas supplying apparatus is also strongly in demand with an increase in the number of gas supply lines according to an increase in the types of required supply gases. In actuality, there is a demand for an integrated type gas supplying apparatus which is capable of supplying 15 to 16 types of gases.
However, in view of reducing the costs associated with semiconductor manufacturing equipment and in particular in view of reducing the dimensions of expensive clean rooms, there has been a growing demand for reducing an installation space for the supplying apparatus. As a result, there is a demand for significant downsizing of the supplying apparatus. For example, in semiconductor manufacturing equipment employing a one-chamber multiple process method, there has been actual demand for an integrated type gas supplying apparatus equipped with 16 types of gas supply lines, the dimensions of which are 350 mm or less in width W, 250 mm or less in depth L and 250 mm or less in height H.
In an integrated type gas supplying apparatus, it is necessary to supply various types of special raw material gases to a process chamber instantly, at a predetermined flow rate and also in a completely clean state. It is, therefore, essential that the gas supplying apparatus can be managed for maintenance, in particular, various types of devices can be replaced and adjusted simply and easily, with no leakage at various connection portions.
Further, this type of gas supplying apparatus is required to be installed in general at an upper part of semiconductor manufacturing equipment, that is, between a ceiling part of the semiconductor manufacturing equipment and a ceiling part of the clean room. Therefore, in view of securing space necessary for maintenance and inspection, the integrated type gas supplying apparatus is required to keep its height dimension H and depth dimension L within about 250 mm and it is also required that various types of devices can be replaced, installed or adjusted, etc., from its side surface side of the apparatus.


A system includes a computer processor that is configured to implement an upper layer stateful application network journaling process. The process includes recording and managing individual client actions on each server in a network. The recording and managing of the individual client actions executes at an application layer of a network protocol stack of the network. The process also includes recording and managing a server status snapshot on a per client basis. The recording and managing of the server status snapshot executes at the application layer of the network protocol stack of the network.

Data access service level agreements (SLA) are a prominent customer need and customer request in virtualization. These SLAs normally detail the operation of a system and the maximum amount of time that data will be unavailable in the event of a network or other outage. Consequently, there is a need to restore system states and to do so in a time specified by contractual SLAs.


The composition for dyeing keratin fibers is mixed with water prior to use and contains from 35 to 75 percent by weight of at least one powdery vegetable dye material; from 25 to 65 percent by weight of at least one oil; and from 0.001 to 15 percent by weight of a physiologically unobjectionable nitro dye compound, azo dye compound, quinone dye compound and/or a triphenylmethane dye compound. A method of dyeing hair using this composition is also described.

The present invention relates to a composition for dyeing keratin fibers based on vegetable dyes and direct-dyeing dye compounds and to a method of dyeing hair using this composition.
Vegetable dyes are used to an increasing extent for dyeing of keratin fibers, especially human hair, since these dyes permit a safe dyeing of keratin fibers.
The vegetable dyes are used in the form of a powder or granulate, which is mixed prior to use with water.
However several disadvantages are associated with the use of this type of vegetable dye powder and/or vegetable dye granulate, which can contain many ingredients.
Separation of component ingredients frequently occurs in vegetable dye powders or vegetable dye granulate mixtures of several granulates containing raw materials of different densities during transport or storage. The heavier ingredients sink into the lower portion while the lighter ingredients collect in the upper portion. This separation has the consequence that equal amounts of granulate or powder taken from different locations have different compositions and thus can have different dyeing properties.
In order to avoid this separation it is necessary to shake the powder or granulate prior to taking a portion of it to avoid this separation problem. However often the user does not do that.
A separation can be prevented also by use of powder mixtures with very fine grain size. This however has the disadvantage that this type of powder mixture--especially during opening of the container, removal of a portion of the powder or during mixing with water--is inclined to generate a large amount of dust.
Furthermore should, for example, vegetable granulates be used comprising granulates which are indeed dust-free and more or less compact in accordance with the method used to produce them, fine dust may still form by friction of the granulates with each other, especially during transportation.
The prepared vegetable dye slurries or pastes obtained with the above-named powders and granulates also have application-specific disadvantages. They are difficult to apply and have poor adherence to the hair. During the acting time the dye mass dries and crumbles away. The vegetable dye paste or slurry formed also has poor rinsibility.
Numerous attempts have already been made to solve this problem.
Published European Patent Application 0 630 643 (EP-OS 0 630 643) discloses producing a pourable powder by using a special granulation process with addition of waxes having a flow point of 40.degree. C. to 130.degree. C. and thus to reduce the dusting. Dusting cannot be totally avoided using this powder however, especially during transfer of the vegetable dye powder into a stirring vessel and during mixing of the vegetable dye powder with water. Furthermore depending on the employed wax the miscibility of this dye powder with water is very variable and often unsatisfactory.
An additional problem with vegetable hair dye compounds is the poor color coverage of the hair dye compositions based on them.
Although numerous attempts have been made to find hair dye compositions based on vegetable dye ingredients which overcome these problems, a satisfactory composition of this type has not been found until now.

Composition for dyeing keratin fibers containing vegetable dyes, a direct dye compound and oil and method of dyeing hair using same


A power supply, and a method of controlling the power supply, in which more or less power capacity of the power supply is activated depending on the state of a digital data signal on a data bus. The power supply has a control circuit which detects the number of “zero” bits present on the data bus, and responsively activates one or more of a plurality of power supply circuits such as charge pump circuits. The outputs of the charge pump circuits are mutually connected to a driver adapted to program memory cells of a flash memory circuit. A charge pump apparatus and a memory integrated circuit are also described.

To program the memory cells of a memory integrated circuit, electrical power is applied to the cells. The electrical power is applied to the cells at a particular voltage, and this voltage must be maintained at a relatively stable value regardless of the current demand placed on the power supply. In practice, maintaining a stable power supply voltage can be difficult. Depending on the number of memory cells being programmed at any particular time, the current demand placed on the power supply can vary substantially. For example, the maximum drain current required for programming of a typical flash memory cell is 300 microamps. For flash memories organized by 16, the required current capability of a programming power supply is 4.8 milliamps (16×300 microamps). A charge pump with a 4.8 milliamp current capacity works well for words where the majority of bits are programmed. However, a 4.8 milliamp power supply is too powerful for words where only a few bits are programmed, causing a resulting voltage overshoot on the drains of the flash cells. If many cells are being programmed to a particular logic state (for example a "zero" state), a correspondingly large current is required. If only a few cells are being programmed to the same logic state, a relatively small current is required. If a power supply supplying the programming current has insufficient current capacity, there is a tendency for programming voltage to drop. Consequently, programming may occur undesirably slowly and/or one or more memory cells may be programmed into an incorrect state.
Charge pumps are commonly used to provide programming current to flash memory cells. Charge pump efficiency is, optimized when the pump is operating at or near full capacity. Thus, if a charge pump is sized to provide proper programming for a maximum number of memory cells, efficiency will be reduced when a data word requires that only a few cells be programmed. Consequently, it would be useful to have a power supply that is efficient when controlled to maintain a desirable voltage and which supplies a proper level of current for the number of memory cells to be programmed.
In one conventional power supply, feedback control is used to stabilize output voltage. Under feedback control, the voltage or current being output from a power supply is measured and the power supply is adjusted in accordance with a deviation of the measured value from a desired value. In one conventional method, the adjustment of the power supply is effected by including capacitance at the output of the power supply and switching the power supply on and off in relation to a voltage measured on the capacitance. When the power supply is based on a charge pump, such switching on and off tends to lower the efficiency of the power supply, because capacitive charge pump efficiency is diminished during a startup period that immediately follows switching on of the charge pump. Also, switching on and off of a power supply may introduce undesirable harmonic frequencies on the output of the power supply. These harmonic frequencies may diminish data integrity and increase system power dissipation. Finally, feedback control implies a trade-off between sensitivity of control and stability. A stable system will lag demand variations resulting in some level of voltage overshoot despite the control.
Accordingly, it would be desirable to have a control method and apparatus for providing power to a memory integrated circuit device where the power is provided at desirable levels of voltage and current while minimizing the disadvantages noted above.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Charge pump apparatus, a memory integrated circuit and methods of power supply


A solid-state imaging apparatus including: an imaging section having pixels arranged into a matrix; a conversion section for digitizing pixel signals; a block memory section formed of a first line memory corresponding to at least N lines (N being an integral number of 2 or more) for retaining the pixel signals; and a drive control section for controlling so as to read out and cause to be retained at the block memory section pixel signals corresponding to M lines (M being an integral number between 2 and N inclusive) in a period shorter than period necessary for an external circuit to process pixel signals corresponding to 1 line, and then controlling so as to bring into halt condition at least one of imaging section and conversion section in a remaining period in the period necessary for external circuit to process pixel signals corresponding to M lines.

The present invention relates to solid-state imaging apparatus and apparatus using the same which are widely used for example as image input apparatus, and more particularly it is related to solid-state imaging apparatus and apparatus using the same which is capable of achieving a reduction in power consumption without using a frame memory especially when operating at a low frame rate.
Various types such as those of MOS or CCD have been proposed and are practically used as solid-state imaging apparatus. It is relatively easy with the MOS type, as compared to the CCD type, to internally provide peripheral circuits other than an imaging section and it has fewer peripheral component parts. In addition, since it has a capability of longer-time drive because it uses less power, it is increasingly used in recent years in a wide range of products. Those having an internally provided frame memory as a part of the peripheral circuits have been disclosed for example in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open hei-11-261894.
Supposing the CCD type, in achieving a further reduction in power consumption especially at the time of a low frame rate operation, methods have been disclosed for example in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open 2006-81048 where circuits consuming a large amount of power such as an output section are continuously operated only in a partial period within one frame and are not operated in other periods. Further, in the case of using MOS solid-state imaging apparatus, it is readily conceivable to internally provide a frame memory so that circuits with a large power consumption such as an imaging section and a conversion section are operated only in periods of accessing the frame memory, whereby a reduction in power consumption is achieved by not operating the large-power-consumption circuits in periods of not accessing the frame memory.

Solid-state imaging apparatus and operation for controlling the output of image signals to allow time for an external circuit to process the image signals


The invention relates to a subassembly for a brake actuator, which is provided for an electromechanically operated parking brake. The subassembly comprises a drive device and a gearing device, which comprises in succession a first, second and third gear stage for transmitting a torque generated by the drive device. The first gear stage is designed in the form of a gearwheel or belt drive, the second gear stage is designed in the form of a gearwheel mechanism, and the third gear stage is designed in the form of a planetary gear, wherein a planet carrier of the third gear stage receives a first gearing shaft for a sun gear of the planetary gear and an output-side gearwheel of the second gear stage that is coupled to rotate with the sun gear, and bearing elements for planet gears of the third gear stage. The invention further relates to an electromechanical brake actuator and to an electric parking brake, which include the sub-assembly.

The present invention relates to the field of motor-vehicle brakes. More precisely, the invention relates to an improved structure of a subassembly of a brake actuator that has been provided for an electromechanically operated parking brake or an electromechanically operated service brake.
Electrically operated parking brakes (EPB) are increasingly replacing conventional parking brakes, which via cables convert a force applied by the driver into a locking force at wheel brakes of the vehicle. The advantage of electric parking brakes lies in their capacity to be driven by modern on-board electronics. As a result, new application options for the parking brake are opened up, such as, for example, the realisation of a hill-start assist (hill-hold function).
An electrically operated parking brake includes, as a rule, an electromechanical brake actuator which exerts a locking force at the wheel brakes via a mechanically displaceable brake piston. The brake actuator is substantially defined by a subassembly, including motor devices and gearing devices, that has been supported in cushioning manner in a housing and has been accommodated in the interior of a vehicle wheel.
A particular challenge now consists in constructing a high-performance, low-wear and, at the same time, spatially compact electromechanical brake actuator, in order to save weight and space. With a view to enhancing performance, in this connection a multi-stage gearing is frequently employed, in order to obtain a considerable gear reduction of the rotational motion generated by the electric motor (a typical gear-reduction value is 120:1). With increasing complexity of the gearing, however, the wear potential of the brake actuator rises, by virtue of which, in turn, the service life of the brake actuator is impaired.
From patent application DE 10 2004 048 700 A1 an electromechanical brake actuator is known that exhibits an electric motor and a three-stage gearing device. The gearing device includes two successive toothed-wheel gearing stages, downstream of which on the output side a planetary gearing stage has been connected. Furthermore, two gearing shafts, supported on one side of a carrier element, for the support of the two toothed-wheel gearing stages and of a sun gear of the planetary gearing stage have been provided.
The construction and stable mechanical support of the gearing components is crucial, in order, on the one hand, to reduce the volume of the brake actuator and, on the other hand, to extend its service life. For example, an inadequate support of greatly loaded gearing components may intensify the wear in the gearing, by virtue of which the service life and the efficiency of the brake actuator decline.

Sub-assembly for an electromechanical brake actuator


A code arrangement for facilitating the localization of an information source comprising a collector module for collecting information units to be localized from the information source and for causing a copy of the information units to be localized, a synchronization module for receiving the localized information units and comparing each to a current version of the information unit from the information source to determine if the information unit has changed and a dispersing module for storing the localized information unit if the information unit is unchanged. A related processor and method may include features similar to the elements of the code arrangement.

Software developers typically design software using English as a standard language for user interaction. Software developers face an increasingly challenging task of making the same software usable to different users around the world. To accomplish this, software should be adaptable to regional differences such as language, customs, formats, currencies, etc. Localization involves making software configurable to the region, language or other characteristic.
A localization process broadly involves separating the language or region specific information into a locale file or data-store. Thereafter, either in-house or third party language translators prepare sets of language or region specific locales. The localization process builds a set of locales that are included in the software. When the user executes the software, he or she selects the region or other characteristics to adapt the software. Based on this selection, the software uses an appropriate pre-build and includes locale data for user interaction. Thus, different users around the world with varying requirements can use the same software package in a similar manner.
A typical modern software application may include a set of program files, data files and image files. Localization efforts generally focus on the application elements or properties such as interaction text, menus, labels, error messages, prompts, images, etc., that require the software to adapt to a user desired interface.
A localization process requires inputs from translators who translate messages to build locale-specific information. The translators may be either in-house, user supplied or external agencies. Software developers should work in tandem with translators. However, it may be a challenging task to coordinate the original information and translated information. For example, developers may be making changes to software while the translation process is in progress. Further, the development and translation cycle may undergo several iterations including correction and checking. It can be an arduous task to manually catalogue, i.e., manually synchronize the software development cycle with the localization cycle.
A known technique of cataloguing allows searching of image files using tracking text files similar to JAVA's PropertyResourceBundle. However, this approach suffers from the having to link the image files and text-files that track the image files.

Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.


There are disclosed a method and system for FPGA rewiring of a circuit. The method comprises: mapping the circuit into a first circuit, the first circuit being logically represented with a plurality of Look-Up Tables; rewiring the first circuit to obtain a second circuit, a mapping area of the second circuit being less than that of the first circuit; mapping the second circuit into a third circuit, the third circuit being logically represented with less Look-Up Tables than the first circuit; and routing the third circuit to generate a FPGA architecture file related to the circuit.

Rewiring is used to replace a wire/gate with other wires/gates without changing the logic functions of a circuit. Applying rewiring for a circuit may incrementally refine the structure of the circuit based on its logical and physical information to improve many EDA (Electronic Design Automatic) objectives comprising circuit area, routability, and performance.
Known rewiring techniques may be classified into three groups: the Automatic Test Pattern Generation (ATPG) based rewiring method, the Set of Pairs of Functions to be Distinguished (SPFD) based method, and the Graph-Based Alternative Wiring (GBAW) method.
However, rewiring that may reduce the resources of a circuit is desirable in the art.


A honeycomb catalyst support structure including a honeycomb body and an outer layer or skin formed of a cement is described. The cement includes an amorphous glass powder with a multimodal particle size distribution applied to an exterior surface of the honeycomb body. The multimodal particle size distribution is achieved through the use of a first glass powder having a first median particle size and at least a second glass powder having a second median particle size. In some embodiments, the first and second glass powders are the same amorphous glass consisting of fused silica. The cement may further include a fine-grained, sub-micron sized silica in the form of colloidal silica. The cement exhibits a coefficient of thermal expansion less than 15×10−7/° C., and preferably about 5×10−7/° C. after drying.

Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to honeycomb structures, and particularly to ceramic honeycomb particulate filters and substrates comprising an outer skin layer exhibiting improved thermal expansion compatibility with the underlying honeycomb body.
Technical Background
Much interest has been directed towards the diesel engine due to its efficiency, durability and economical aspects. However, diesel emissions have come under attack both in the United States and Europe for their harmful effects on the environment and on humans. As such, stricter environmental regulations will require diesel engines to be held to the same standards as gasoline engines. Therefore, diesel engine manufacturers and emission-control companies are working to achieve a faster, cleaner diesel engine that meets the most stringent of requirements under all operating conditions with minimal cost to the consumer.
Diesel particulate filters and substrates with large diameters cannot currently be manufactured to the tight dimensional requirements set by original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and the supply chain due to unpredictable drying and firing shrinkage. Consequently, a coldset ceramic cement has been used to form the exterior skin of the cordierite monolith. The coldset ceramic cement is mixed and applied to a fired, contoured substrate and the wet skin is afterward allowed to dry either under ambient conditions or by convective or microwave drying at elevated temperatures. The dried part is then ready to receive a catalyst coating and any further downstream processing required.
Present skin designs embody conflicting physical property requirements between the final application and the intermediate processing and handling. In service, the material must have a low thermal expansion and high thermal shock resistance (low elastic modulus) to endure severe thermal gradients. To achieve these properties, high porosity and weak bonding are desired for maximum skin flexibility. To withstand shipping, handling and/or processing (including extreme pH exposure during catalyzation), high strength and chip/abrasion resistance are desired. To achieve these properties, low porosity and strong bonding between the skin and the ceramic body are sought for maximum skin strength.
Previous attempts to achieve a balance between the above properties have focused on ground cordierite as a filler material in the skin to enable low coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE). However, even though ground cordierite is capable of producing a skin having reduced CTE, the resultant CTE is insufficiently low to enable the most extreme oven thermal processing conditions of rapid heating and cooling cycles.

Honeycomb structure comprising an outer cement skin and a cement therefor


A water-based paint composition suitable for re-use with the retention of the intended coating property when recovered from a flushing water utilized to collect the paint composition remain undeposited on an article in a painting process. The water-based paint composition comprises a water-soluble resin selected from the group consisting of alkyd resin and acrylic resin to have an acid value of 25 to 100, a hydroxyl value of 35 to 200, and a solubility parameter (SP) of 10.0 to 11.0. The paint composition also incorporate a curing agent having a solubility parameter (SP) which is higher than that of the water-soluble resin by 0.5 to 3.0.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is directed to a water-based paint composition, and more particularly to a water-based paint composition which is suitable for re-use after being recovered from a flushing water utilized in a coating booth.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In the field of spray-coating an article within a coating booth, a large amount of coating or paint material remain undeposited away from the article and causes a dust of paint material within the booth. Such paint material is collected by the use of flushing water as being dispersed or dissolved therein. As the paint material is recovered in a large amount, disposal of the paint material with the flushing water cause an economical loss of material and even environmental pollution. To avoid this problem, it has been proposed to recover the paint material from the flushing water for re-use as disclosed, for example, in Japanese patent non-examined early publication (KOKAI) NO. 49-51324. The publication discloses a process of recovering a water-based paint composition comprising a water-soluble resin such as alkyd resin and acrylic resin and a pigment from the flushing water by the use of a reverse osmosis or ultrafiltration membrane, in which the paint composition diluted with the flushing water is filtrated through the membrane in order to increase the concentration of the water-soluble resin and the pigment up to a level approximate to an original concentration for recycling of the paint composition.
However, this filtration process fails to successfully recover a water-soluble organic solvent which is normally contained in the water-based paint composition in several percent for dispersing the water-soluble resin in water, because of that the organic solvent will largely pass through the membrane together with the water. With this result, the recovered paint composition suffers from less concentration of the organic solvent which may cause separation or aggregation of the water-soluble resin or vehicle and the pigment during condensation, leaving unacceptable imbibition in a coating with thus recovered paint composition.
In order to eliminate this problem, the water-based paint composition is proposed to have increased water solubility by the incorporation of a water-soluble resin such as alkyd and acrylic resin having high acid and hydroxyl values. However, this scheme is found to pose another drawback of lowering resistance to moisture and hot water, and also lowering shock resistance.
Further, it is noted that because of that the water-based paint composition is unable to adjust drying speed as opposed to solvent-thinned paints, sagging is likely to occur during the application of the paint, particularly in a high humid environment. When sagging is prevailing, it is hard to apply a relatively thick coat by a single coating operation, thereby lowering coating workability. In order to eliminate the sagging of the paint, it has been attempted to incorporate a thickening agent in emulsion form. However, the thickening agent tends to coalesce with time, which may sometimes produce a grainy surface or the like poor coating property.


A swing adsorption process for removing contaminants from a gaseous feed stream through a combination of a selective adsorbent material containing an effective amount of a non-adsorbent filler, adsorbent contactor design, and adsorption cycle design.

Gas separation is important in many industries and can be accomplished by conducting a mixture of gases over an adsorbent material that preferentially adsorbs a more readily adsorbed component relative to a less readily adsorbed component of the mixture. One of the more important types of gas separation technologies is swing adsorption.
In swing adsorption processes, the adsorbent bed is regenerated following the adsorption step using a variety of methods including pressure swing (PSA), vacuum swing (VSA), temperature swing (TSA), purging (e.g., partial pressure swing adsorption (PPSA)), and combinations thereof. For example, a typical PSA cycle comprises the following steps: adsorption, depressurization, purging, and re-pressurization. When performing the separation at high pressure, depressurization and re-pressurization (also referred to as equalization) is achieved in multiple steps to reduce the pressure change for each step and to improve efficiency of the process. In some swing adsorption processes, especially rapid cycle processes, a large fraction of the total cycle time is spent on regeneration. Any reductions in the time interval for regeneration results in less total cycle time, which further results in reducing the overall size of the swing adsorption system.
Depressurization and re-pressurization steps in a swing adsorption process having adsorbent beds are typically performed by interconnecting the beds together and allowing the beds to equalize between each other. That is, an adsorbent bed in an adsorption unit at higher pressure is connected to another adsorbent bed at a lower pressure via piping and valves to equalize the beds. For large PSA systems, the adsorbent beds are not always physically located near each other, and therefore the piping length and resulting equalization time may introduce additional delays in the cycle interval. Furthermore, with the communication between adsorbent beds, the cycles of the two adsorbent beds have to be coordinated such that the first adsorbent bed begins the depressurization step at precisely the same time that the second adsorbent bed begins re-pressurization. Such synchronization of cycles is challenging and further complicates maintenance and other operations.
As an alternative approach to this process, certain processes utilize a pressure vessel to capture the gas removed during a depressurization step for use later in the process. As an example, the use of external pressure vessels in pressure swing absorption devices has been described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,142,547; 3,788,036; 4,340,398; 4,816,039 and 5,565,018. These devices, however, use the external vessel to store gas for the purging step in the cycle. As a result, these references still have the dependency between adsorbent beds, which is challenging to synchronize the cycles for the various adsorbent beds. Further, the inter-dependency may introduce additional downtime for maintenance on one of the adsorbent beds in the cycle.
There remains a need in the industry for apparatus, methods, and systems that are more efficient and that can be constructed and employed to enhance the operation of a swing adsorption processes. The need exists for a process and system that reduces the regeneration time interval, which results in more production of the desired products for a given size and quantity of adsorbent beds. Further, the need exists for a process and system that provides for independent operation of each bed to reduce the dependency between adsorbent beds that are part of the swing adsorption system.

Methods of removing contaminants from a hydrocarbon stream by swing adsorption and related apparatus and systems


The method for preventing the interruption of tension during connection and disconnection of a first hydraulic motor to and from the power train of vehicles, in particular loaders, consists in that during the disconnection of the first hydraulic motor the high-pressure line is connected with the low-pressure line thereof, a flow distributor is readjusted so that the amount of oil fed to the first hydraulic motor is not increased, the pressure on a second hydraulic motor not to be disconnected being raised to a new value which remains constant during the disconnection, of the first hydraulic motor, a pump is readjusted to the new required (reduced) flow rate; and after adjustment of the pump to the new flow rate, the connection of the high-pressure line with the low-pressure line of the first hydraulic motor is eliminated; and during the connection of the hydraulic motor said method steps are carried out in reverse sequence.

In mobile vehicles the input gears are incrementally actuated with the aid of hydraulic motors. To be able to use pumps having small flow rates at high speeds, it is desirable to disconnect individual hydraulic motors, that is, decouple them from the power train, and reconnect them when necessary. In the disconnected state the hydraulic motors require no oil flow from the pump. The efficiency of the input can thereby be increased, since less moving parts remain in the power train in this disconnected state. The hydraulic motor(s) still remaining in the powertrain take over after disconnection of one hydraulic motor at high speeds and low torque. If the hydraulic motors used are high-speed axial piston motors, the output shaft thereof is connected by a coupling with the power train.
If the hydraulic motors used are externally supported low-speed radial piston motors, their pistons are pressed with rollers into the appertaining cylinders when in the disconnected state.
A hydraulic driving device for a vehicle which in particular is driven by a Diesel engine and has a hydraulic pump actuated by said Diesel engine has been proposed in the applicant's DE-A 196 24 534.6 wherein a hydraulic motor is driven by a hydraulic pump with a variable volume. The pistons are movable along a cam disc situated in the hydraulic motor, there being provided an inner distributor for pressing the pistons in the cylinders of the hydraulic motor. Said distributor is designed so that a definite number of pistons are connected with a first high/low pressure circuit and a definite number of pistons are connected with two separate high/low pressure circuits, both high/low pressure circuits being connected with a tank for the discharge of pressure fluid.
By virtue of the two high-low pressure circuits it is possible to connect with a tank the high-pressure side of the hydraulic pump or the high-pressure side of the respective hydraulic motor whereby disconnected pistons in the hydraulic motor are no longer loaded with low pressure but connected to the almost pressureless tank. During rotation of the hydraulic motor the cams or treads of the cam disc press the disconnected pistons in their cylinders inwardly in direction of the axis of rotation. The pistons thus remain in their inserted position in the cylinders and cause no loss of efficiency, since no hydraulic fluid flows therein and the mechanical friction loss is also eliminated, since the pistons no longer have any contact with the cam disc in this disconnected state.
If during travel of the vehicle, a hydraulic motor, which prior to the disconnection, had an operational displacement above zero, is disconnected, the pump cannot, within the brief period of disconnection, adjust itself to the lower oil volume then needed and the driver will notice a disengagement jerk. When the disconnected hydraulic motor is again connected, the pump cannot adjust itself to the changed situation during the brief switching time, that is, the pump delivers too little oil; the driver will experience an unpleasant engagement jerk.
Therefore, in the applicant's DE-A 196 24 531.1 was already proposed in relation to a hydraulic power device for a vehicle which has an adjustable, motor-driven hydraulic pump in which at least one input unit is actuated, to develop it in the sense of providing at least two hydraulic motors switchable independently of each other and having displacements which can be respectively controlled by means of a hydraulic motor shut-off valve and a displacement shut-off valve interconnected between the latter and the hydraulic motor, wherein during the connection and disconnection of pistons of at least one hydraulic motor the hydraulic pump can be separated from the input unit by a synchronizing valve disposed between the hydraulic pump and the shut-off valves of the hydraulic motor. Engagement jerks during connection and disconnection can be prevented by providing this synchronizing valve. In this arrangement there is, however, an interruption of drive torque during connection and disconnection of the hydraulic motor.
The problem to be solved by this invention is to prevent the interruption of drive torque during connection and disconnection of a hydraulic motor to and from the power train of mobile vehicles by providing a method and a device having an increased efficiency relative to the engagement jerks produced by connection and disconnection.

Method and device for preventing an interruption of tension during connection and disconnection of hydraulic motors


A lock for an electronic device having a lock hole includes a lock core, a fastener, and an adapter, wherein the lock core is operable and rotatable about a first axis; the fastener is connected to the lock core and is shifted away from the first axis. The adapter is connected to the lock core and the fastener. The rotation of the lock core about the first axis drives the adapter to drive the fastener to rotate about a second axis, When the lock core is locked, the locked lock core restricts the fastener from rotating, when the lock core is unlocked, the fastener is operable to rotate.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to a lock. Particularly, the present invention relates to a lock for an electronic device.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Consumer electronics play a very important role in the modern life. Fast lifestyle and eagerness for instant information make portable electronic devices become a necessity to most people. However, since these portable devices are in high demand, wide spread, high unit price, small volume, and high portability and become more and more popular, the possibility of being stolen or lost accordingly increases.
One type of locks is developed to against thieves. For example, laptop computer locks can be connected to the lock hole of electronic devices by a latch unit, wherein a locking operation enables the latch unit to be secured in the lock hole when the latch unit has been connected to the lock hole. An arrangement of the lock hole and a lock connected thereto usually do not interfere with a user's operation and the lock hole is located at a side 91 of a portable electronic device. As FIG. 1 shows, for example, a lock 8 can approach the lock hole of the electronic device 9 located at a back side to let a latch unit 81 thereof enter the lock hole without interfering with the operation of the lock 8 or the electronic device 9. However, since the electronic device 9 is getting thinner, the thickness on the side 91 is therefore reduced; meanwhile, the height "h" of the lock 8 or the length of a facing surface a may affect the alignment between the latch unit 81 and the lock hole. Consequently, the lock 8 and the electronic device 9 may not both rest on the supporting face t after the latch unit 81 of the lock 8 is inserted into the lock hole, wherein the back side of the electronic device 9 may be raised due to the lock 8, which may therefore affect the user's operation and the lock's efficacy.


A hand-held dispenser for precisely controlling the flow rate of water therethrough and for injecting a liquid chemical into the water passing through the apparatus.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a hand-held dispenser and more particularly to a hand-held dispenser which is convenient to use and which is capable of controlling the flow rate of water therethrough for mixing with a liquid chemical into the water passing through the dispenser.
2. Description of the Related Art
Many types of dispensers have been previously provided which may be connected to the end of a water hose or the like wherein the device introduces chemicals into the water flow so that a lawn or the like may be sprayed. The devices of the prior art are also able to inject liquid chemicals into a water stream so that a mop bucket, etc., may be filled with water, detergent or other chemicals.
In Applicant's earlier U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,237,728 and 7,296,761, hand-held dispensers are disclosed which are able to conveniently and economically precisely control the rate of water flow through the dispenser and to precisely control the metering of liquid chemicals in the precisely controlled flow of water.
Although the dispensers of Applicant's earlier patents have met with considerable success, Applicant has developed an improved hand-held dispenser which is convenient to use which precisely controls the water flow therethrough and the injection of liquid chemicals thereinto.


In an engine combustion chamber, a first intake port (19) formed from a straight port has a throat portion (43) formed in a linear shape and opening in a tangential direction of the inner periphery of a cylinder (11a), thus generating a first swirl (S1), and a second intake port (20) formed from a helical port has a throat portion (44) formed in a helical shape, thus generating a second swirl (S2) inside the first swirl (S1) in the same direction as that of the first swirl (S1). In this way, even with the first and second intake ports (19, 20) hardly curved overall, it is possible to efficiently generate first and second swirls (S1, S2) that do not interfere with each other, and it becomes possible to reduce the cost of machining the cylinder head, make the cylinder head compact, and simplify the structure of the cylinder head.

An arrangement in which, in an engine equipped with two intake ports corresponding to each cylinder, the intake ports being formed from straight ports, a swirl is generated by individually curving throat portions of the two intake ports is known from Patent Publication 1 below.
That is, a swirl is generated in a clockwise direction within the cylinder by making one intake port disposed on the right-hand side relative to the cylinder axis curve leftward so as to be connected to the inner periphery of the cylinder in a tangential direction, and another swirl is generated in a clockwise direction within the cylinder by making the other intake port disposed on the left-hand side relative to the cylinder axis first curve leftward so as to avoid the one intake port and then curve rightward in front of the one intake port so as to be connected to the inner periphery of the cylinder in a tangential direction.
Patent Publication 1: Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 7-34884


The present invention provides a method of treating or preventing hepatitis C virus infection in a subject which comprises administering an effective amount of an agent to the subject, wherein the agent is capable of specifically binding to the HCV core protein so as to inhibit hepatitis C virus replication. The present invention also provides a method for determining whether a compound can treat or prevent hepatitis C virus infection in a subject, wherein the compound treats or prevents hepatitis C virus infection by specifically inhibiting the binding of HCV core protein and said agent so as to suppress hepatitis C virus replication. The present invention further provides a composition for inhibiting cell growth, comprises a HCV core protein or a variant thereof, wherein said HCV core protein or its variant inhibit cancer cell growth by inhibiting the cellular DEAD box proteins.

Chronic hepatitis C is a major public health problem and one of the leading worldwide causes of chronic liver disease, cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (1). Approximately 4 million Americans are chronically infected with HCV and as many as 25% of them may eventually develop cirrhosis (2). End-stage liver disease from hepatitis C is now the leading indication for orthotopic liver transplantation in the United States. HCV was identified in 1989 and demonstrated to be the major cause of what was then referred to as non-A, non-B hepatitis (3, 4).
The hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a positive single stranded RNA virus and a member of the Flavivaridae family (3, 6–10). Once hepatitis C virus infects cells, the positive, single-stranded RNA genome is translated into a polyprotein of 3010 to 3033 amino acids, depending upon the strain (6–9). The viral RNA is not capped and translation occurs via internal ribosome entry sites (10, 11). The mechanism of translation from uncapped viral RNA therefore differs from that used by virtually all cellular mRNAs which are capped at their 5′ ends.
In hepatocytes, the HCV core protein is mostly localized to endoplasmic reticulum membrane with a large domain facing the cytoplasm (12). It has been shown to form multimers (13). The function of HCV core protein in cells is not clear, however, it may play a role in transformation and oncogenesis (14). Such a function could hypothetically arise as a result of interactions with cellular proteins involved in signal transduction or oncogene or tumor suppressor gene products or by affecting expression from their genes. HCV core protein may also be involved in regulating the immune response as it has been shown to bind to the cytoplasmic domain of lymphotoxin-βreceptor (15). Some investigators have also shown that a truncated portion of HCV core protein can reach the nucleus (16, 17), suggesting that it may directly affect the expression of cellular genes as demonstrated in vitro (18). It is not clear, however, if this nuclear form is generated in infected cells.
The HCV polyprotein is proteolytically processed by both host cell and viral proteases into several smaller polypeptides (6–9, 12) (FIG. 1). The major structural proteins are a core protein and two envelope proteins (E1 and E2). Four major non-structural proteins called NS2, NS3, NS4, and NS5, are also generated, two of which, NS4 and NS5, are further processed into smaller polypeptides called NS4A, NS4B, NS5A, and NS5B. The non-structural proteins have various enzymatic activities, such as RNA helicase (NS3), protease (NS2, NS3–NS4A complex) and RNA polymerase (NS5B). NS5A has been implicated in determining sensitivity to interferon.
After cells are infected with a virus, viral proteins can interact with host cell proteins and influence cell physiology. In previous studies, HCV core protein has been shown to bind to lymphotoxin-β receptor and other tumor necrosis factor receptor family members (15, 27). A truncated form of HCV core protein also interacts with ribonucleoprotein K in the nucleus (28). We now show that HCV core protein binds to a cellular RNA helicase and, in experimental systems, inhibits capped RNA translation. This provides a novel mechanism by which HCV may inhibit mRNA translation in infected cells or recruit a cellular protein to enhance its own replication.
Despite major advances in diagnosing chronic hepatitis C and screening the blood supply since that time, almost nothing is known about how the virus infects, kills or transforms cells. For this reason, current therapeutic options are limited and new agents have been difficult to develop.
According to a recent National Institutes of Health Consensus Development Conference Panel Statement on the Management of Hepatitis C (5), there is an urgent need for effective antiviral therapeutics capable of inhibiting HCV replication and stopping or delaying the progression of liver disease. The Panel also concluded that a major bottleneck to the drug discovery process is the absence of a readily available cell culture system that is fully permissive for viral replication. A small animal model of HCV infection is also lacking. For these reasons, novel, alternative approaches must be developed to identify targets for the design of therapeutic agents for the treatment of patients with chronic hepatitis C.
The development of specific drugs against HCV has been impeded because there is no non-primate animal model of infection and all attempts to culture the virus have failed. Currently, the only currently approved drugs in the United States are preparations of interferon-alpha and ribavirin. The long-term cure rate of subjects treated with interferon-alpha is less than 10%. The use of ribavirin, in combination with interferon-alpha, has shown slightly better long-term cure, however, still in only a minority of subjects.

HCV core protein binding agents for treatment of hepatitis C virus infection

The Trustees of Columbia University in the City of New York


To mitigate the potential significant impact on our society due to the continued reliance on high-cost diesel hydrocarbon fuel and the implementation of increasingly strict emission controls, an apparatus is disclosed which provides the means for extracting additional heat from an internal combustion engine while providing the cooling needed to meet stricter emissions standards. The present disclosure describes an apparatus operating on a Rankine cycle for recovering waste heat energy from an internal combustion engine, the apparatus including a closed loop for a working fluid with a single shared low pressure condenser serving a pair of independent high pressure circuits each containing zero or more controlled or passive fluid splitters and mixers, one or more pressure pumps, one or more heat exchangers, and one or more expanders, and the means for controlling said apparatus.

The present invention relates to a waste heat recovery system for combustion engines and a method of controlling said waste heat recovery system.
The continued reliance on high-cost diesel hydrocarbon fuel and the implementation of increasingly strict emission controls have had, and will continue to have, a significant impact on our society. These impacts include an increase in the cost of transporting goods (which, in turn, leads to increases in retail prices, i.e., inflation), increased global tensions (as a large fraction of known oil reserves are located in tumultuous regions of the globe), and increased cost of power generating systems, including vehicles, (due to the need to add ever more complex, and costly, exhaust treatment systems).
These impacts have not gone unnoticed and a variety of inventions have been disclosed to address them. For instance, hybrid-electric vehicles are currently gaining in popularity due to the increased mileage they provide. This is achieved by adding a temporary energy storage device, e.g. a battery, to the vehicle and using this device to decouple power production from power consumption, allowing each to operate in its optimal regime.
Another area that has received some focus is the extraction of additional useful energy from the 'waste' energy streams discharged from internal combustion engines. Typically, between 55% and 75% of all the heat energy of the fuel consumed in an internal combustion energy is not converted into useful energy and is dissipated to the surrounding environment. Given the magnitude of the energy entrained in these waste heat streams, a means for extracting additional useful energy from internal combustion engines is needed.


A process for an electronically steerable parasitic array (ESPAR) antenna includes operating the ESPAR antenna with a receiver in Normal Mode until an internal flag is generated by the receiver indicating jamming RF noise preventing Normal Mode operation, causing the ESPAR antenna to switch to Anti-jam Mode. Anti-jam Mode includes a Search Mode and a Track Mode. The ESPAR antenna is steered in Search Mode, causing the ESPAR antenna to beam in a circular pattern to locate a spatial direction of the jamming RF noise, identify the spatial direction of the jamming RF noise preventing Normal Mode operation, and place a null in the spatial direction of the jamming RF noise. The ESPAR antenna switches to Track Mode to maintain the null in the spatial direction of the jamming RF noise until the jamming RF noise is not present. The ESPAR antenna then returns to operating in Normal Mode.

Beamforming antennas use an array of antennas, or array of quasi-antenna elements to modify the directionality of signal transmission and signal reception. The directionality of a beamforming antenna may be controlled by modifying the phase and relative amplitude of the signal at each antenna element. By modifying the phase and amplitude of each individual element, a beam or a null can be created and modified. In some techniques, beam steering can be achieved by modifying the signal phase in real time without moving the antenna elements or other antenna hardware. Beamforming is used in many applications, such as radar, sonar, seismology, wireless communications, radio astronomy, acoustics, and biomedicine.

Electronically steerable parasitic array antenna process

United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy