A filter (201) accepts spreading code sequences or the like as input sequences of a chip rate 1/D, the accepted spreading code sequences are sequentially delayed and distributed by delay circuits (202) connected in series, delay times of individual signals are an arithmetical progression with a chip length D being a common difference D, the individual signals are amplified with spreading codes by amplifiers (203), amplification factors for the individual signals are a geometrical progression of a common ratio r, the sum of the amplified signals is obtained by addition in an adder (204), and the result is sequentially output as an output sequence.

Conventionally, there have been proposed an M-sequence, Kasami-codes, a Gold sequence or the like which are generated by a linear feedback shift register (LFSR) as spreading codes which realize spectrum spread communication and code division multiplex communication. Those spreading code sequences have the following two features.
First, there is a single peak in the correlation (autocorrelation) between same codes and the correlation (cross-correlation) between different codes is 0. This is extremely analogous to the property of white noise.
Secondly, in case where two different spreading codes included in a set of codes are selected and in case where a code set is constructed in such a way that if either one is selected, the cross-correlation comes closer to 0, the number of codes included in the code set is merely 0(N) with respect to a code length N. Therefore, there are few kinds of codes.
Meanwhile, there have also been known TDMA (Time Division Multiple Access) and FDMA (Frequency Division Multiple Access). Unlike those, the asynchronous CDMA communication system has a feature that decoding is possible by using the correlation characteristics of codes to be used without positively taking synchronism of signals. Therefore, it is excellent in security, confidentiality, anti-interference, disturbance and so forth.
At present, the asynchronous CDMA communication system is undergoing the practical use stage and its use has been decided as the ITU (International Telecommunication Union) standard for wireless communication of the next generation called IMT-2000 (International Mobile Telecommunication 2000).
It is known from the recent studies that in the asynchronous CDMA communication system, the variance σ of intersymbol interference noise determines the performance of the system. It is disclosed in, for example, the following document that in case where pseudo white noise, such as a Gold-code or Kasami-code, is used as a spreading code, the variance σ is asymptoticallyσ=(K−1)/3Nwhere K is the number of simultaneously connected users and N is the code length.
M. B. Pursley, "Performance Evaluation for Phased-Coded Spread-Spectrum Multiple-Access Communication-Part I: System Analysis" (IEEE Trans. Communications, vol. 25 (1977) pp. 795-799.)
Here, "asymptotically" means a case where the user number K and the code length N taken are large.
Conventionally, the theoretical limit of the performance of the asynchronous CDMA communication system was considered to be this σ=(K−1)/3N. However, it was also known that satisfying such an asymptotical relationship was originated from spreading codes being pseudo white noise.
In case where spreading codes are not pseudo white noise, i.e., in case where there is some correlation between different codes, however, the theoretical limit of the performance may be improved.
Recently has been discovered the existence of spreading codes which have an autocorrelation function such that the variance a of intersymbol interference noise is reduced as compared with σ case where spreading codes are pseudo white noise. That is, in case where an autocorrelation function C(s) decreases exponentially as follows with respect to a code shift amount sC(s)≅Const.×(−r)−s(0<r<1),
the variance σ of intersymbol interference noise becomes smaller than that in the case of pseudo white noise.
In case where a real impulse constant r satisfiesr=2−31/2,particularly, it takes the form of the following optimal correlation functionσoptimal=31/2(K−1)/(6N).
This means that the number of simultaneously connected users, K, at the same bit error rate is increased by 15% from the theoretical limit of the user number of the asynchronous CDMA communication system when pseudo white noise is used as a spreading code. This point is disclosed in the following document.
G. Mazzini, R. Rovatti, and G. Setti "Interference Minimization by Auto-Correlation Shaping in Asynchronous DS-CDMA Systems: Chaos-Based Spreading is Nearly Optimal" (Electron. Lett. (1999) vol. 35, pp. 1054-1055)
The document illustrates that a correlation function C(s) which satisfies the above condition can be approximately typified by constructing chaos-based spreading codes using a piecewise linear map whose partial slope is extremely large.
To actually generate such a spreading sequence using a DSP (Digital Signal Processor) or the like and use in a portable phone or the like, however, high speed and low consumed power are needed, so that the following problems would arise.
First, there was a problem that as spreading codes were composed of a piecewise linear map whose partial slope is extremely large, executing computation by a DSP or computer or the like increased digit drop so that accurate results could not be obtained. This has brought about a matter that it is difficult to generate spreading codes in physical circuits or devices.
Secondly, there was a problem that a parameter which determines the manner of attenuation of a correlation function could not be adjusted freely with respect to an arbitrary r (−1<r<1).
Thirdly, the aforementioned document shows that there are few types of piecewise linear maps having correlation functions close to the optimal correlation function. To realize a CDMA communication system, however, it is better to provide as many kinds of codes as possible. Therefore, the use of the scheme disclosed in the aforementioned document made it difficult to actually construct a CDMA communication system.
Fourthly, with spreading codes generated by using a linear shift register, the types of codes with a good correlation characteristic with respect to the code length N are merely 0(N). This is very small whereas the proper types of codes should be a number 0(2N) proportional to the power of 2. It is therefore difficult to cope with an increase in the number of users.
Fifthly, as the key space is narrow, there is less work needed for decoding. This raises a problem that the communication security becomes weaker.
The technique disclosed in the aforementioned document has not improvements made on those problems.
Therefore, there is a strong demand for a technique of generating spreading codes composed of a pseudorandom sequence (also called PN (Pseudo Noise) sequence) suitable for an asynchronous CDMA communication system while overcoming those problems.
There has been proposed a wireless communication technique by a system, such as the IMT-2000 W-CDMA system, 1CDMA 2000 system, Wireless LAN IEEE 802.11b or the like. As such wireless communication uses the same frequency band for plural communication connections, CDMA (Code Division Multiple Access) is utilized.
In the CDMA, plural communication connections can be put in the same frequency band or a desired communication connection can be separated from the same frequency band by spread-modulating communication information using different spreading codes.
Meanwhile, in those wireless communications, it is typical to transform information to be transferred into a complex number sequence, then perform a process.
Therefore, there is a demand for a simple technique for performing spread modulation using spreading codes which has an excellent separability in such a wireless communication technology.
Further, there has been proposed a spectrum spreading technique which uses, as spreading codes, an orthogonal code sequence (including an M-sequence, Gold-codes, an orthogonal code sequence acquired from a Walsh function, an orthogonal code sequence acquired from a Chebyshev's polynomial, a Baker sequence and a Manchester-coded orthogonal sequence; the same applied hereinafter).
As the same frequency band is used in plural communication connections in a wireless communication technique using systems, for example, the IMT-2000 W-CDMA system, 1CDMA 2000 system and Wireless LAN IEEE 802.11b, CDMA (Code Division Multiple Access) is used.
In the CDMA, a complex number in which elements of an orthogonal code sequence are placed in a real portion and an imaginary portion is a spreading code and plural communication connections can be put in the same frequency band or a desired communication connection can be separated from the same frequency band by spread-modulating communication information using different spreading codes.
In such a wireless communication technique, communication often takes place between a base station and a mobile terminal, but generally, first, a mobile terminal sends a signal to a base station (Up Link communication) and the base station receives it and takes synchronization, then communication is performed between both.
At the time of starting communication between both, therefore, synchronization is taken by getting a correlation on the then receiver side (which is generally the base station but may be the mobile terminal in some case).
Meanwhile, communication after synchronization (Down Link communication) has only to perform synchronization detection because synchronization has been taken beforehand.
In such a wireless communication technique, there is always a demand for a communication technique which has an excellent separability and has a low BER (Bit Error Rate) even if users are increased.
Further, there are large demands for an apparatus and devices that can perform a filter process which is used in a general-purpose fashion at the time of solving those problems. It is deemed that such a filter process has a wide range of application of to other fields.
The present invention aims at providing a filter apparatus, a receiving apparatus, a transmitting apparatus, a pseudorandom sequence output apparatus, a filter method, a receiving method, a transmitting method and a pseudorandom sequence output method, which are suitable in such various usages, and a program which realizes them on a computer.

Apparatus and method for filtering a spectrum spread communication

Japan Science and Technology Corporation


The invention is a method of modifying data for obtaining a scalable video signal composed of a base video signal and a set of enhancement video signals from a non-scalable video signal. The method includes a set of attenuation steps applied to coefficients composing the non-scalable video signal, the attenuation steps being assembled in cascaded or in series for delivering the base video signal. The method further includes a re-encoding step associated with each one of said attenuation steps for delivering one of said enhancement video signals, from the coding error generated in each attenuation step.

The MPEG-2 video standard is now a widespread standard since it is used in most applications implying digital video data manipulation, e.g. in the field of video broadcasting. For more flexibility, the so-termed scalability technique is advantageously used for simultaneously generating a base video signal coded in accordance with the MPEG-2 video standard, and a set of enhancement video signals of said base video signals. In particular, generating a scalable video signal can be used for adapting the bitrate to the communication channel bandwidth in suppressing or adding enhancement video signals to said scalable video signal. Said scalable video signal can be generated from an input video signal previously coded in accordance with the MPEG-2 video standard. To this end, a well known method consists of first decoding said input video standard for obtaining a decoded video signal, and secondly of re-encoding said decoded video signal by a scalable encoder for generating said scalable video signal.

Method and device for generating a scalable coded video signal from a non-scalable coded video signal


A fire safety system to prevent fire from a candle includes first and second closure halves, each having catches extending therefrom; a catch receiver holder for engaging the catches; a candle holder adapted to receive the candle; a pivot pin running through pivot holes in the closure halves; and a sleeve housing the closure halves.

Lit candles are usually associated with a soft, warm, or romantic setting. Candle light dinners are viewed as romantic, and why candles can add so much warmth. Candles can also be a source of danger. Candles are responsible for a growing percentage of home fires. In 2001, candles were responsible for 6% of the fatalities that occurred as a result of home fires. (ref. NFPA's Fire Prevention Week website)
Human error is typically responsible for starting candle fires. Some of the frequent mistakes people make include:                leaving candles burning with no one in the room        burning candles close to materials that can catch fire (e.g., curtains, party decorations, clothing)        leaving burning candles within the reach of children or pets        falling asleep or leaving the house with candles burning
In some cases, fires are started because the candle wax gets so hot it catches fire itself. Canada-wide statistics for candle fires are not available. However, in Alberta between 1990 and 1999, the number of candle fires increased by 100%, reaching a total of 723 fires with 10 fire deaths, 168 fire injuries and $12.4 million in property damages. Because people are using candles more frequently, these figures are on the rise, especially during holidays and special occasions. (ref. Health Canada website—Candle Safety)
Another safety consideration is the fact that rural areas often rely on candles as a backup source of light during power outages. During these sometimes prolonged events, general visibility and depth perception is lowered, and therefore the risk of inadvertently overturning or striking a candle or candles is increased. While placing candles inside jars or other containers (or filling containers with candlewax) can somewhat improve the stability of the flame holder, these containers also pose the risk that when overturned their flame is not as easy to notice as a bare candle, due to being surrounded by a container. By this means, a jar candle may spill hot wax onto other flammable materials before one may notice, creating a pathway for the candle flame to ignite the flammable materials, causing damage and danger.
Some known solutions include candles with insert able wick cutters which are inserted directly into the sides of freestanding candles, but these require the user to remember to manually insert the cutter at the appropriate location. By this means, the candle puts itself out when the severed wick is reached. (U.S. Pat. No. 6,447,286) This method does not address the issue of overturning the candle before it self-extinguishes.
In a related category, automatically (timed) lid closers include a lid attached to the rim of a candle container which flips onto the top of the container when activated by a timer mechanism. (U.S. Pat. No. 6,494,708) Again, this method only addresses automatic closure of the candle holder, but not closure in direct response to an unsafe orientation or impact.
Some candles in containers include a layer of fire suppressant material embedded under the candlewax so that when that layer is reached by the flame, the candle self-extinguishes. (US20090233249) Finally, a mechanical overturn safety device is commonly employed inside portable kerosene stoves which responds to impact or overbalance by shutting off the gas, flame, or both. (U.S. Pat. No. 5,640,948)
The existing solutions demonstrate a need for an automatic closure system for containerized candles that closes when the container is overturned or impacted sharply, and which thereby snuffs out any flame and prevents any fire or wax from spreading onto flammable materials outside the container.

Fire safety closure system for candle holders


Disclosed herein is a new and distinct variety of Petunia plant having a decumbent habit and short stems. The Petunia plant has abundant branching, and a great profusion of blooms, the whole plant remaining in bloom for a considerable period of time. The flowers are single and small, the petals having vivid reddish purple color. The inside color of the corolla throat is light purplish pink and the outside of the corolla tube is pale yellow green. The plant exhibits high resistance to heat, cold and disease.

The present invention relates to a new and distinct variety of Petunia plant originated from crossing of a Petunia hybrid variety called '9Pt-13a' as the female parent and '96PWE-5-C20' as the male parent.
The Petunia is a very popular plant that is used for flower bedding and potting in the summer season. There are only a few Petunia varieties known to the inventors which do not have an upright growth habit and which have a high resistance to rain, heat, and disease. Petunias of the Revolution series include 'Revolution Purple pink' (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 6,915), 'Revolution Brilliant pink' (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 6,914), 'Revolution Brilliantpink-Mini' (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 6,899), and 'Revolution Blue vein' (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 9,322). These are decumbent type plants having long stems, a low plant height, abundant branching, and a high resistance to heat, rain and disease. However, there are only a few Petunia varieties known to the inventors having a decumbent and compact plant shape, a great profusion of small size flowers, reddish purple petals and a high resistance to rain, heat, and disease. Accordingly, this invention was aimed at obtaining a new Petunia variety having vivid reddish purple petals, together with the above features.


Method and apparatus for determining the location of a point on a rotating body, using location determination (LD) signals received from as few as one satellite, preferably non-geosynchronous. Where signals from two or more satellites are received, one may be geosynchronous. Pseudoranges are measured from one or more satellites at two or more selected, spaced apart observation times, and the simultaneous rotations of the body and the satellite(s) relative to each other result in different body-satellite constellations for which the initial location coordinates (and, optionally, signal receiver time offset) of the selected point are determined exactly, without approximation or iteration. The selected point may be motionless or may be allowed to move with known coordinate differences between the initial unknown location and the present location at each observation time. Pseudoranges from different satellites, or even from different satellite systems (GPS, GLONASS, LEO, etc.) can be measured and used in this procedure.

Timed signals received by a receiver/processor from satellites are now routinely used to determine location coordinates and/or receiver time offset of the receiver. Two examples of this are the signals received as part of a Global Positioning System (GPS), signals received as part of a Global Orbiting Navigational Satellite System (GLONASS), and signals received as part of a Low Earth Orbit (LEO) system, such as the 66-satellite Iridium constellation proposed by Motorola.
One potential problem here is that the minimum number of satellites needed for determination of location coordinates alone (usually two or three) or for determination of location coordinates and receiver time offset (four) may not be in view simultaneously. A related problem occurs for an extraterrestrial exploration vehicle, such as the landing vehicle for the Mars Explorer that touched down on that planet's surface on or around Jul. 3, 1997, wherein only a single satellite, the mother ship orbiting the planet, is available to provide timed signals for location determination.
The U.S. Navy Navigation Satellite System, also known as "Transit," used triangulation from signals received from a plurality of satellites with orbits in polar planes to estimate a user's location. Development of the Transit system began at Johns Hopkins in 1958, became partly operational in 1963 and became fully operational in 1968. The Transit system included at least six satellites, arranged in polar orbits (angle of inclination relative to the equator=90.degree.), with altitudes of about 1075 kilometers (km) above the Earth's surface with orbit time intervals of 107 minutes. The six orbits formed a "bird cage" constellation around the Earth. The average time between usable satellite passes was about 90 minutes, but the actual time can vary between 30 minutes and several hours, depending upon the observer's location.
Each satellite transmitted signals at each of two frequencies, 150 MHz and 400 MHz, with a frequency stability of about 1 part in 10.sup.11. The transmitted signal includes a navigation message that is repeated every two minutes. The navigation message itself was updated every 12 hours but could run for up to 16 hours without requiring an update. The Transit ground support system included four tracking stations within the U.S., plus two signal injection stations to inject navigation message updates and a computer center that created the message update. The navigation message included a fixed part with geometrical parameters that describe a perfectly smooth elliptical orbit and a variable part that provides corrections to the elliptical orbit parameters; every two minutes, a new orbital correction is added and an older correction is deleted.
The signal frequency transmitted at 400 MHz (nominal) by each Transit satellite was offset by 32 kHz to provide a relatively low frequency difference (32 kHz.+-.8 kHz) after mixing the received signal (f=F.sub.G) with a 400 MHz signal (f=F.sub.R) at a ground station. The distance or slant range of a given Transit satellite from a ground-based user was determined using a carrier phase count of the number of full and partial cycles N received between two selected time markers t1 and t2, viz. EQU N=(F.sub.G -F.sub.R)dt=(F.sub.G -F.sub.R)(t2-t1)+F.sub.G (R2-R1)/c, (1)
where R1 and R2 are the as-yet-unknown distances of the satellite from the user at the beginning and end of the integration interval, respectively. The change in slant range, R2-R1, was determined from the Doppler shift change, represented by the last term in Eq. (1). Each full count (.DELTA.N=1) of a carrier phase signal represents about 0.75 meters. Two frequencies, 150 MHz and 400 MHz, were used to estimate the time delay due to signal propagation in the ionosphere. Time delay due to signal propagation in the troposphere and due to refraction was estimated as a unit. For this dual frequency set, the estimated maximum radial error and rms radial error for location using the Transit system are about 77 meters and 32 meters, respectively. A computer uses a least square error approach to estimate the best fit of location, based upon the Doppler shift signals determined for each of the two or three visible satellites. If the user moves during the time interval of receipt of the signals transmitted by the satellites, the system requires accurate specification of the velocity vector during this interval and usually relies upon dead reckoning between location fixes.
The Transit system is discussed by Gueir and Weiffenbach, "A Satellite Doppler Navigation System", Proc. I.R.E. (1960) pp. 507-516, and by Williams, "Marine Satellite Navigation Systems", SERT Journal, vol. 13 (1977) pp. 50-54.
The Transit system required fixed inclination angles for each of a collection of satellites, used a least square error approach, rather than an exact analytical approach, to determine user location, did not explicitly account for the rotation of the Earth, relying instead on simultaneous visibility of two or three satellites, and relied upon dead reckoning to determine user location between location fixes.
What is needed is an approach that allows receipt and analysis of fewer (as few as one) than the theoretical minimum number of (simultaneous) satellite signals needed, to determine the location coordinates and/or receiver time offset (referred to collectively here as "location fix coordinates") for a receiver. Preferably, the approach should be flexible and should allow (1) receipt and analysis of signals from as few as a single satellite and (2) receipt and analysis of signals from satellites that are part of different location determination (LD) systems ("mixed system signals"), such as a mixture of GPS and LEO signals or a mixture of GPS and GLONASS signals.

Location determination using signals from fewer than four satellites


A power converter apparatus, such as a double-conversion or line-interactive UPS, includes first and second DC voltage busses and a polyphase DC to AC converter circuit coupled to the first and second DC voltage busses and operative to generate a polyphase AC output. The apparatus further includes a control circuit operatively associated with the polyphase DC to AC converter circuit and configured to shift a DC voltage range of the first and second DC voltage busses with respect to a reference voltage responsive to a relationship among phase components associated with the polyphase AC output. The components may include, for example, actual phase voltages or modulation commands (e.g., count values) from which the polyphase AC output is generated. The reference voltage may be a neutral voltage, e.g., a voltage of an actual neutral of a load receiving the AC output or a synthetic neutral voltage.

The present invention relates to power conversion apparatus and methods, and more particularly, to power conversion apparatus and methods in which a polyphase AC output is generated from a DC link.
Uninterruptible power supplies (UPSs) are commonly used to provide conditioned and/or auxiliary power to electronic equipment that provides critical functions, such as computer systems, telecommunications systems and medical equipment. Typically, UPSs can provide AC power from a backup source, such as a battery, generator or fuel cell, in the event that a utility power supply fails or becomes degraded.
Some UPS systems use an architecture in which an AC voltage is generated from a DC voltage on a DC link. As shown in FIG. 1, a typical conventional double-conversion UPS 100 includes a rectifier 110 that receives AC power from an AC power source 10, such as a utility grid. The rectifier 110 generates a DC voltage on a DC link 115. The UPS 100 further includes an inverter 120 that generates an AC output that is applied to a load 20 from the DC voltage on the DC link 115. The DC link 115 typically includes first and second busses, respective voltages of which are typically balanced on positive and negative sides of a neutral of the AC output. Backup or supplemental power may be provided via the DC link by an auxiliary DC power source 130, e.g., a battery.
FIG. 2 illustrates a conventional "line interactive" UPS architecture. A line-interactive UPS 200 includes an inverter/charger circuit 220 that is configured to be coupled to an AC source 10 and a load 20. The inverter/charger circuit 220 is operative to act as an inverter when the AC source 10 has failed or become degraded, generating an AC voltage to power the load 20 from an auxiliary power DC power source 230, e.g., a battery, coupled to the inverter/charger circuit 220 by a DC link 215. When the AC source 10 is in a normal state, the inverter/charger circuit 220 may act as a rectifier, supplying charging current to the auxiliary source 230 over the DC link 215. Similar to the double-conversion configuration of FIG. 1, the DC link 215 typically includes first and second busses, respective voltages of which are typically balanced on positive and negative sides of a neutral of the AC output/input.

Power conversion apparatus and methods using DC bus shifting


Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for fluid blob tracking. One of the methods includes identifying, by a computer system, a connected fluid phase region in a flow simulation. The method includes tracking, by the computer system, the connected fluid phase region over a first timeframe and a second timeframe. The method also includes determining, by the computer system, movement of the connected fluid phase region from the first timeframe to the second timeframe based on the tracking.

Multi-phase or multi-component (from herein called multiphase) flow is widespread in many engineering disciplines. In some cases, the geometry which defines the boundaries confining the multiphase flow are known precisely, such as a system of pipes or channels. Other scenarios involve highly random and complex geometry, such as the pore space of a porous rock. One example of an application of multiphase flow through a complex porous media is the study of oil and water flow in oil reservoir rock. Another example is oil, water, and gas in reservoir rock. Another example is liquid and gas flow in a porous material acting as a gas diffusion layer in a chemical separation process. A key property of this flow behavior is the "relative permeability" of each fluid phase, which characterizes how easily that phase moves through the rock for the specified conditions. In multiphase flow in porous media, the relative permeability of a phase is a dimensionless measure of the effective permeability of that phase. It is the ratio of the effective permeability of that phase to the absolute permeability.
An especially important aspect of the relative permeability of oil/water flow in porous rock is the behavior at and near the "residual oil saturation". The term saturation refers to the volume fraction of water over total fluid (oil and water), and residual oil saturation refers to the saturation value for which the average oil velocity (and hence the oil relative permeability) is essentially zero. Since for this condition the oil cannot move, the corresponding volume fraction of oil is known as the "residual oil". This is an important quantity because it represents the minimum amount of oil that cannot be extracted from the rock, hence the residual oil saturation value, and the relative permeability as a function of saturation as the saturation approaches the residual oil saturation value, is especially valuable information for determining the value of the reservoir and for assessing potential enhanced oil recovery (EOR) methods.
For multiphase flow measurement or prediction methods, it is therefore important to have a highly accurate method to determine the permeability of the fluid in the porous material even when it is very tiny, since a key goal is to find the saturation value for which it effectively reaches zero.

Fluid blob tracking for evaluation of multiphase flow simulations


A fresh air duct system for a vehicle that includes an engine air cleaner with an attached conduit for passing fresh air into the air cleaner. The system includes a bumper beam that has elongated upper and lower air passageways that can be in fluid flow communication with the conduit for defining an air flow path between the air cleaner and the passageways. Fresh air can be introduced into the air duct system such that at least one of the air flow passageways can simultaneously act as a sound resonator and a resonator tuner.

1. Field of the Invention
This application relates to a fresh air introduction systems for a vehicle and, specifically, to an air duct system formed in a vehicle bumper for introducing fresh air to a vehicle's engine compartment via an air cleaner.
2. Description of the Related Art
It is known to provide an air duct in a vehicle bumper for directing a flow of air to a vehicle's engine air cleaner, radiator, or front brakes. A typical engine compartment in a modern vehicle has become increasingly pressed for space at least partially because of structural design constraints, namely desirable low hoodlines. Accordingly, it has become very difficult to design an air intake passageway to the engine compartment and the engine with sufficient flow capacity and a correct length dimension so as to provide a desired sound attenuation of engine noise. In addition, the design must satisfy any required thermodynamic expectations and requirements of the powertrain system as it is known that the engine may suffer a loss of power if the air passageway is inadequate.
It is therefore desirable to have a fresh air duct system for a vehicle that is contained within a vehicle bumper thereby increasing space within the engine compartment for other components and thereby providing an adequately long passageway for necessary sound attenuation. It is also desirable to have a fresh air duct system for a vehicle that is adaptable by simultaneously serving as a sound resonator, resonator tuner, and a source of fresh air.


A lens moving apparatus, according to one embodiment, comprises: a bobbin having a first coil installed on the outer circumferential surface thereof; a location detection sensor equipped to the bobbin; a housing in which the bobbin is provided; an upper elastic member disposed on the upper side of the housing; and a support member that supports the housing such that the housing can move in a second or third direction that is perpendicular to a first direction, wherein the upper elastic member is divided into a plurality of parts, at least two of which are disposed parallel to each other on the x-y plane in the second or third direction and are disposed such that end portions thereof face each other.

The statements in this section merely provide background information on the embodiments and do not constitute the prior art.
Recently, IT products such as mobile phones, smartphones, tablets, and laptops, which incorporate ultra-compact digital cameras, are under active development.
IT products, in which conventional ultra-compact digital cameras are incorporated, are equipped with a lens moving apparatus having an autofocusing device for aligning a focal distance of a lens by adjusting the distance between the lens and an image sensor for converting external light into a digital image or digital video is provided.
However, in the case of such a lens moving apparatus, resonance caused by mechanical vibration may be a problem, and improvement is required.
The lens moving apparatus and the camera module including the same may be equipped with multiple parts bonded together by an adhesive. Therefore, assembly defects may occur during an adhering step using an adhesive, and therefore improvement is required.

Lens moving apparatus and camera module including same


A system for conveying chips from a container to a predetermined position on top of a chip socket. A vacuum-held hand tool having a handle is supplied with a vacuum or with a positive air pressure at its working face, as controlled by placement of a digit of the operator with respect to an air exhaust port on the handle. The bottom or working face of the tool is provided with a recess fitting the outline of a chip to be picked up by the tool working face, to hold the chip fixed on the tool as it is carried by the tool to a position atop the socket, where it is discharged by flow of air from the working face when a digit of the operator is applied to the exhaust port of the tool. A first set of pins protruding normally from the working face of the tool assures proper lateral positioning of the tool with respect to the container in which the chip is originally located, by mating with depressions in the container, and a second set of pins protruding from the working face assure proper lateral positioning of the tool and chip with respect to the socket by fitting against the socket near its corners. Indicia on the tool cooperate with corresponding indicia on the container and socket, to aid in proper orientation of tool with chip during pick-up and tool with socket during chip discharge.

Computer chips, with leads extends from their edges, are often presented by a supplier to a user in a storage tray having in it one or more molded pockets, in each of which a computer chip lies flat; in certain forms of such tray, a plurality of small depressions are also molded in the tray around each pocket. It is also now known to provide a socket for the chip, typically with its leads appropriately soldered to solder pads on a printed-circuit board for example, and to which socket the chip is to be transferred, so that the chip can thereafter readily be removed from the socket and replaced by another, for example, without requiring unsoldering or resoldering of the chip leads. In certain cases the socket has post-like protrusions extending upwardly at points about its periphery, for example at each of the four corners of a socket in the case of a generally square chip, and the chip is held in position on the socket by a locking cover applied from the top.
Manual lifting of the chip from the tray and placing of the chip in the socket has heretofore been performed by direct hand contact with the chip, or by lifting it with a simple vacuum hand tool. In the course of lifting the chips from the tray and placing them in their sockets, it has been customary to inspect them visually, for example for broken, damaged or improperly bent leads, in the course of which examination the chip is usually turned to examine it from all sides and from its bottom.
It is of course generally desirable to perform this lift-examine-place procedure as quickly as possible, using operators who are not necessarily highly skilled or trained, and in some cases not even highly reliable. Under these conditions especially, improper manual placement of the chips in their sockets can sometimes occur; this is a serious error which can result in fatal damage to the chip and/or inoperativeness of the system in which the chip is connected, and at least in costly delay.
A principal object of the present invention is to provide a new system, method and tool for manually lifting a chip from its container for inspection, and subsequently placing it correctly on a socket, in a manner which is substantially fool-proof and very unlikely to result in any error in such lifting and placing.

Vacuum placement system and method, and tool for use therein


A microstructured antireflective texture is disclosed comprised of an engineered array of protuberances arranged on a non-periodic lattice. The average distance between said protuberances is in the subwavelength regime of the waveband for which the antireflective effect is desired. The non-periodic arrangement of protuberances acts to suppress blue-green backscattered light that is commonly seen diffracting from antireflective textures that use strictly periodic lattice arrangements. Embodiments of the invention include the randomized square pattern, and the quasicrystal pattern.

1. Technical Field
This invention relates to antireflective microtextured surfaces. Further, the present invention relates to the optical properties of sub-wavelength gratings. The inventive articles described herein are microstructured antireflective textures designed to reduce diffraction intensity when compared to sub-wavelength gratings already known in the art.
2. Introduction to Prior Art
It is a well known technique to impart antireflective properties to an object, such as a sheet glass, by introducing microscopic corrugations to the surface of the object [see for instance: "Artificial Media Optical Properties-Subwavelength Scale", Lalanne and Hutley, published in the Encyclopedia of Optical Engineering, 2003]. We refer to such low reflectance surfaces as microstructured antireflective textures (MARTs). The microcorrugations of a MART typically are on a length scale sufficiently small—usually in the sub-wavelength regime—to prevent diffusive scattering of light commonly exhibited by a "matte" or "non-glare" finish. That is, a MART truly reduces the hemispherical reflectance from a surface rather than merely scattering or diffusing the reflected wavefront. In this regime, the interaction of light with a microstructured surface is usually described using an "effective medium theory", under which the optical properties of the microtextured surface are taken to be a spatial average of the material properties in the region [Raguin and Morris, "Antireflection Structured Surfaces for the Infrared Spectral Region", Applied Optics Vol. 32 No. 7, 1993). The hemispherical reflectance of light from glass back into air can be less than 0.5% for a properly designed MART. Such a small hemispherical reflectance is impossible if the surface corrugations are much larger than the wavelength of incident light. For visible light, the length scale of MART corrugations is typically around one-half micron.
Perhaps the best known MART is the so-called "moth-eye" surface which possesses optical properties that may be more effective than commercially available thin-film coatings. Thin-film antireflective coatings usually consist of one or more layers of materials optically dissimilar from the substrate, and are sputtered or evaporated onto the substrate in precisely controlled thicknesses. Moth-eye surfaces are comprised of a regular array of microscopic protuberances, and are presently available from a small number of manufacturers worldwide (for example Autotype International Limited, in Oxon, England). Other examples of MARTs are the "SWS surface" [Philippe Lalanne, "Design, fabrication, and characterization of subwavelength periodic structures for semiconductor antireflection coating in the visible domain" pp. 300-309, in SPIE Proceedings Vol. 2776, (1996)], and the "MARAG" surface [Niggemann et al, "Periodic microstructures for large area applications generated by holography" pp 108, Proceedings of the SPIE vol. 4438 (2001)].
Despite moth-eye's excellent antireflective performance, a problem with this particular MART is related to unwanted diffraction. A moth-eye surface designed for the visible waveband exhibits diffraction at oblique angles typically from deep blue to green. When a moth-eye surface is used as an antireflective treatment for a transparent window, this diffraction adulterates the colors of the transmitted image. Therefore, reduction of this diffraction would enhance the value of MARTs as an antireflective treatment for glazing materials for picture frames, TV screens, personal handheld devices, cellular phones, shop windows, and any other application where an image is protected by a window.
Fabrication of the Moth-Eye Microstructure Using Interference Lithography
Clapham and Hutley (U.S. Pat. No. 4,013,465) describe a method to produce a microstructured antireflective texture that is broadband with large angular acceptance of incident light. This MART is characterized by a surface covered with a regular array of conical protuberances, where the feature sizes of the tapered protuberances are in general sub-wavelength. This surface profile was dubbed the "moth-eye" antireflective surface, since Bernhard (Endeavor 16, p. 76-84, 1967) first noticed that the eyes of night flying moths were covered with an array of sub-wavelength protuberances, and hypothesized that the function of this profile was precisely to reduce the reflectivity of the eyes of these moths making them less detectable to predators.
The Clapham and Hutley patent suggests a photo-exposure method to produce the moth-eye microtexture. The patent further discloses the specific technique of "interference lithography" that involves exposing photoresist to an interference pattern from multiple beams of coherent light. A limitation of interference lithography is the strict periodicity of the pattern generated by this technique. If two beams of coherent light are used to expose a sample, a periodic square array of protuberances can be achieved with multiple exposures. If three beams are used, a pattern with hexagonal symmetry is achieved in a single exposure. In general, the details of the exposure can be varied to obtain a pattern with varying degrees of symmetry. Nevertheless the resulting patterns of protuberances will still be periodic with long-range order.
The blue-green diffraction effects observed in typical moth-eye surfaces fabricated by interference lithography is due to the periodicity of the sub-wavelength grating that comprises this MART. To understand this, first consider the diffraction of light from a one-dimensional periodic grating. The typical period or pitch size of a motheye structure designed to work in the visible waveband from 400 nm to 700 nm is d=250 nm. The 1D grating equation is:
                                          m                                      λ              d                                =                                    (                                                sin                                                                                γ                                -                                  sin                                                                                φ                                            )                        ≤            2                          ,                                                    m          =          0                ,                  ±          1                ,                              ±            2                                                                        …                                    (                  EQ          .                                                    1                )            In this equation m is the diffraction order and φ is the angle of incident light, while γ is the diffracted angle, and the grating has spatial period d. (EQ. 1) is one of the main requirements for constructive interference from a grating with a periodic structure.
Since moth-eye is a sub-wavelength grating, we wish to focus on the case where λ>d for all wavelengths in the band of interest. Since the absolute value of the expression in parentheses of (EQ 1) is no greater than 2, we find that m can only take on the values m={−1, 0, 1}, implying that second or higher order diffraction does not exist for a sub-wavelength grating. Let us consider two important cases, (a) illumination at normal incidence, and (b) illumination at oblique incidence.
Case (a). Incident light is perpendicular to the grating surface, i.e. φ=0. For λ>d the only solution to (EQ. 1) when φ=0 is the zeroth m=0 order. If d=250 nm (smaller than any wavelength in the visible band), we conclude that any visible light normally incident on a sub-wavelength grating does not undergo diffraction into non-zero orders.
Case (b). Light propagates towards the sub-wavelength grating at a grazing angle of incidence. Let's consider specifically φ=−90° (the case for φ=+90° is essentially identical). No solution for γ exists for the case of m=−1. If m=0 then γ=−90° corresponding to a diffracted beam with a k-vector in the same direction as the incident beam. In the case of m=1, there is a solution for γ provided that λ≦2d. For the typical moth-eye grating period of 250 nm, 2d=500 nm, and visible light with wavelengths smaller than this may be diffracted by the grating. That is why moth-eye surfaces have a characteristic blue-green tint when illuminated and viewed from oblique angles. Interestingly, none of the diffracted beams have a vector component in the same direction as the k-vector of the incident beam. That is, the m=−1 order tends to be diffracted back towards the source, with the color of the diffracted beam going from greenish to more blue as the viewing angle decreases towards the normal.
Two Dimensional Gratings
A real moth-eye surface fabricated by interference lithography is a two-dimensional grating, rather than a one-dimensional grating used in the example above. However, the arguments for the appearance of diffracted orders at high angles of incidence are still valid keeping in mind that diffraction into non-zero orders will occur in preferred azimuthal directions that are consistent with the symmetry of the pattern.
In the 2D case, we can estimate diffraction intensity by numerically summing the phases due to diffraction off of all the individual vertices of the lattice, instead of using (EQ. 1). Strong diffraction intensities will occur in directions for which the phases combine constructively. For instance, consider the diffraction from a square-lattice (as illustrated schematically in FIG. 1), which is usually the pattern used for moth-eye surfaces. If light impinges on this structure at normal incidence, no light will be diffracted into first-order or higher peaks, just as in the 1D case. In order to see non-zeroth order diffraction, light at oblique incidence must be used. FIG. 2 shows the polar distribution (θ, γ) of intensity of diffracted light from a square lattice grating at the oblique angle of illumination σ=0° and φ=60°. Here σ and φ are the polar and azimuthal angles, respectively, in spherical polar coordinates for the incident light, while θ and γ are the corresponding angles for diffracted light. For this calculation, the square lattice grating is oriented so that one of its high symmetry axes is lined up along the σ=0° direction, and its lattice constant has been set to 250 nm. The zeroth order diffraction beam 12 in FIG. 2 has its peak at θ0=180° and γ0=60°. The backscattered m=−1 diffraction beam 14 peaks at θ−1=0° and γ−1≈48°.
The zeroth-order peak makes an angle relative to the normal that is equal to the angle (relative to normal) of the incident beam. Zeroth-order diffraction is what we usually think of as the simple reflection of incident light. For this reason, if we refer to "diffraction" we usually do not mean to include the zeroth-order beam (which from now on will be called the "reflected beam", and if we wish to "reduce diffraction" what we mean is to reduce first-order or higher diffraction. In this example of the square lattice, the peak intensity of the backscattered diffraction beam 14 is comparable in magnitude to the intensity of the reflected beam 12. The calculation was performed for a finite array of 8×8 lattice sites, and therefore is only an approximation of a truly infinite periodic array, but it does capture fairly quantitatively the optical behavior of the system. We have performed the same calculation for a regular hexagonal lattice (not shown) and found that in this case also, the reflected and backscattered beams are comparable in magnitude.
Also note that these plots use arbitrary units, and although the reflected beam appears prominently, it is actually much smaller compared to the reflected beam in the absence of a textured surface.
A Theoretically Obvious Solution
How can we reduce the intensity of the backscattered diffraction peak? We turn again to (EQ. 1). Recall that the diffraction is possible (for oblique angles of incidence) only if λ≦2d. Therefore if we are able to make d<λ/2, it should be possible to suppress all diffraction (we're not counting the reflected beam as a "diffracted beam"). Thus for the visible waveband, the theoretically obvious solution is simply to fabricate moth-eye on a square lattice where the pitch or lattice constant d (the 2D equivalent of the 1D period d) is smaller than 200 nm. This solution has a tradeoff. The moth-eye protuberances must be relatively tall in order for them to be effective for the long wavelength end of the spectrum. That is, the shorter the protuberances, the less effective the texture is at reducing reflectance, especially for redder light. But if the pitch is decreased, then the aspect ratio between height and pitch must be increased in order to hold the height constant. In terms of microstructure fabrication, it is true that smaller aspect ratios are preferred for reproducibility, ease of replication, and mechanical strength. Therefore, we seek another (not obvious) solution to reduce diffraction without decreasing the overall pitch size or increasing the aspect ratio.
Recap of the Problem
The motheye patterns having nice antireflective properties still demonstrate significant diffraction of light in lower wavelength range for which they were designed. Square and hexagonal lattices produce diffraction patterns that can be visible to the human eye. That makes periodic motheye patterns less effective at high angles of incident and reflected lights. In other words motheye ability to not reflect the light interferes with diffraction effects from incident light leading to backscattering and reflection.

Microtextured antireflective surfaces with reduced diffraction intensity


A duplex washing machine with an automatically openable drawer comprises a base, a drawer, and an automatic ejection device. The drawer is positioned in a housing of the washing machine; an opening through which the drawer is pulled and pushed to be opened and closed is formed in the housing; the automatic ejection device is arranged under the drawer and comprises a device body and a telescopic rod; an extension end of the telescopic rod is fixed with the drawer; the other end of the telescopic rod extends into the device body; the device body is fixedly connected to the base of the washing machine; and the device body drives the drawer to move into or out of the housing through the telescopic rod. According to the duplex washing machine, a user can open or close the drawer through one-click operation, such as simply pressing a button or touching.

The duplex washing machine in the prior art includes drawers having diversified functions, to meet different requirements of customers, for example, a clothes washing machine, a shoe washing machine, or the like needs to be arranged in the washing machine. To facilitate pushing/pulling of the drawer, the common practice on the market at present is to install a handle on a panel of a drawer of a duplex washing machine. In this case, when opening or closing the drawer, a user needs to pull or push the handle manually. If articles in the drawer are too heavy, it is difficult for the user to pull or push the handle. Especially, if the drawer is arranged at the lower part of the washing machine body, the user needs to squat down to fully open the drawer. Alternatively, the user can open or close a drawer by pulling a slide rail mounted between the drawer and a washing machine cavity. However, such drawer that is ejected by an external force usually has a short ejection stroke. Because the ejection stroke is proportional to a triggering force applied on the drawer, a longer ejection stroke requires correspondingly a greater triggering force. Therefore, the opening and closing operations of the drawer are time-consuming and laborious.
In view of this, the duplex washing machine with an automatically openable drawer of the present disclosure is presented.

Duplex washing machine with automatically openable drawer

CHONGQING HAIER WASHING MACHINE CO., LTD.


A carriage for a person which may be attached to a transporting device, comprising a frame, structure attached to the frame for holding the torso of the person in an essentially vertical position, and thigh retaining structure having first and second attachment members secured to the frame and operatively arranged such that when the thigh retaining structure is engaged, and the straps are properly secured, the thighs of the person are held in a substantially horizontal position.

The present invention relates generally to the transporting of disabled persons, and, more particularly, to an improved carriage or harness for attachment to a disabled person to be transported by a hoist.
Transfer hoists for disabled persons are typically used by paraplegic, quadriplegic, handicapped, weak, or elderly persons for transport from one place to another, such as from a wheelchair to a bed, etc. Such hoists are well known in the art, and examples can be seen in the following U.S. patents: U.S. Pat. No. 4,944,056 (Schroeder et al.); U.S. Pat. No. 4,125,908 (Vail et al.); U.S. Pat. No. 3,677,424 (Anderson); and U.S. Pat. No. 2,650,725 (Hoyer et al.).
A critical element of every hoist system is the carriage or harness which is attached to the patient and also connected to the hoist. Despite the many advances made in hoist systems in general, including the many safety features as found, for example, in the Schroeder patent recited above, problems still exist in the art with respect to the carriage.
Ideally, the carriage should, above all, be safe. The patient must be prevented from falling out of the harness at all times during transport, including lifting, moving laterally, and descending. The carriage should have ample headroom, so that the patient cannot bump his head during transport. Also, the carriage should, as much as possible, distribute the lifting forces about the body, since excessive pressure in any one area can be uncomfortable if not injurious.
The ideal harness should be comfortable for the patient. In this respect, elements of the harness which are in contact with the body should be cushioned or padded. The harness should also be lightweight and inexpensive. It should also be of an extremely stable design, which is a real engineering challenge when one considers that the disabled person is suspended in air and is usually unable to assist in stabilizing himself.
Most early hoists used slings or straps to support the patient (e.g., Hoyer et al., supra). Straps, used alone, to support the legs and thorax of a patient can be extremely uncomfortable and even injurious. Straps can cause cutting or chaffing of a patient's skin, and, as demonstrated in FIG. 2 of U.S. Pat. No. 2,650,725, can place undue pressure on a patient's back. A further problem with the device disclosed in the above-recited patent to Hoyer et al. is that the patient can actually slip out of the harness between the thoracic and leg slings.
Further examples of sling designs can be found in U.S. Pat. No. 3,677,424 (Anderson) and U.S. Pat. No. 4,944,056 (Schroeder et al.).
An improvement over the sling design is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,509,785 (Van Raemdonck et al.) and an associated product manufactured by Handi-Move of Belgium. The Handi-Move device uses a "scissor-arm" frame design with extensions which support the patient under his arms. The device does not use any slings, but does use leg supports which slide under the thigh to create and support a sitting position. A problem with the Handi-Move design is that it creates excessive pressure under the patient's arms, and does not distribute the forces associated with lifting. A second problem is that, when the patient is lowered, and as the legs come in contact with a bed or other surface, the leg supports tend to become disengaged which de-stabilizes the device, which can allow the patient to fall out of the back of the apparatus.
Thus, there is a need for an improved carriage or harness for transporting a disabled person which distributes the forces associated with lifting over a greater surface area of the person and does not exert most of the force under the person's arms, thereby making the device more comfortable to use, and which also includes leg supports which do not easily disengage when the person is lowered into contact with a bed or other surface.

Apparatus for use in transporting a disabled person


A low-friction seal comprising a quasi dimensionally stable sealing ring (44) that is accommodated with radial and axial clearance in a groove (30; 76) of one of two surface, whereby said surfaces are sealed off from each other and can move in a relative position to each other, and the peripheral section of the sealing ring protruding from the groove (30′ 76) is placed opposite the other surface that is to be sealed. Means are provided between the side wall (34; 80, 82) of the groove on the side of the pressure-chamber and the sealing ring (44) in order to prevent pressure from spreading to the bottom (37, 78) of the groove, whereby radial deformation of the sealing ring in the direction of the surface that is to be sealed is avoided.

A low-friction seal of this type is known from EP 0043 918 B1. This low-friction seal is realized in the form of a so-called contactless seal, i.e., a nearly frictionless seal, in which the sealing effect is realized by means of a sealing gap between the sealing ring and the location to be sealed. The viscous effect of the fluid situated in this sealing gap ensures an appropriate seal. Due to the contactless arrangement, this seal is, in contrast to conventional seals, theoretically frictionless. However, a residual friction which results from the adhesion of the fluid actually exists. For this reason, the following description refers to "low-friction" seals.
The previously mentioned known seal contains a dimensionally stable sealing ring that is accommodated with axial and radial clearance in a groove of one of two surfaces that need to be sealed relative to one another and move relative to one another. The periphery of the sealing ring which protrudes from the groove is arranged opposite to the other surface to be sealed, namely with a sliding fit. In this known seal, spacer means which allow an unobstructed propagation of pressure to the bottom of the groove are also provided between the sidewall of the groove on the side of the pressure chamber and the sealing ring, with the cylindrical surface of the sealing ring which protrudes from the groove adjoining the other surface to be sealed with a sliding fit and containing a series of small annular grooves arranged at longitudinal distances to one another. In order to supplement the sealing function of a sealing edge that acts upon the sidewall of the groove which is situated distant from the pressure chamber, an elastic sealing ring is arranged within the region of the sealing edge. In this known seal, the pressure medium is able to flow from the pressure chamber to the bottom of the groove between the spacers while attempting to escape past the sealing edge. However, the pressure medium is prevented from doing so because the sealing ring has a larger surface which is charged with pressure on the side of the spacers than on the side opposite the sealing edge, i.e., the sealing ring is held such that it adjoins the sealing edge by the pressure that propagates within the groove in an unobstructed fashion. This means that the sealing ring is essentially held in a floating fashion within the groove that is charged with the pressure medium. In order to achieve a reduced friction, this known seal does not fulfill any guide functions. Since the pressure medium that is propagated in the narrow gap between the surface to be sealed, e.g., a piston rod, and the periphery of the sealing ring attempts to escape from the pressure chamber past the sealing ring, hydrodynamic forces are created which cause the pressure medium to distribute around the piston rod in a largely uniform fashion and to preserve a concentric gap. The clearance between the sealing ring and the groove is so large that the pressure from the oil chamber is able to propagate to the bottom of the groove in an unobstructed fashion as long as said pressure continues through the slideway gap between the guide bushing and the piston rod. This known arrangement aims to reduce friction losses, in particular, pressure-dependent friction losses, between surfaces which move relative to one another in a translational fashion and to significantly increase the degree of efficiency.
Based on this state of the art, the invention aims to develop a seal of the initially mentioned type, in which a simplified design is achieved and the advantageous effects known from the state of the art are preserved. In addition, the pressures acting upon the sealing ring of the new seal should be realized such that materials with a greater expansion can also be used for the sealing ring.
According to the invention, this objective is achieved with a low-friction seal as set forth below.


A method for correcting image inhomogeneity includes acquiring a non-normalized image and a reference image using receiver coils. A high-signal mask and a low-signal mask are created. Each pixel in the high-signal mask is set to a predetermined integer value if the reference image pixel at the same specific location has a value above a threshold value. Each pixel in the low-signal mask is set to the predetermined integer value if the reference image pixel at the same specific location has a value below or equal to the threshold value. A coil normalization map is created by smoothing the reference image with filters. Then, an iterative procedure is performed to update the coil normalization map using the high-signal mask and the low-signal mask. Following the iterative procedure, the non-normalized image is divided by the current coil normalization map to yield a normalized image.

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scanners acquire images with radiofrequency receiver coils placed on the imaged patient. These coils are also known as "surface coils" or "coil arrays," because they are placed on the imaged object's surface or on top of the patient and consist of multiple small coils assembled into a larger array. Their ability to sense a magnetic signal, more commonly known as "coil sensitivity," decreases drastically with the distance of the signal origin from the coil. Therefore, the further the distance between coil and imaged slice, the smaller becomes the signal and the darker the acquired image. Additionally, images acquired perpendicular to the coil exhibit a strong sensitivity gradient across their field of view. Therefore, depending on its orientation, the image can have a very variable image intensity that is not due to the imaged true anatomy or designed image contrast, but merely an expression of the coil sensitivity. To create an image wherein pixel intensity is only an expression of true anatomy, pathology, and intended contrast such as T1- or T2-contrast, a pixel-by-pixel image intensity normalization known as "coil normalization" is needed. Ideally such normalization will restore the signal intensity of a homogeneous test "phantom" (e.g., a water bottle) so that each pixel in the phantom has the same image intensity regardless of its distance from the coil.
Multiple methods for coil normalization exist. They can be classified by two properties: the type of images and the type of receiver coils they require. Some techniques only require a single image, the original, non-normalized image that is referred to herein as the "use-image". A typical example for a use-image is a T1-, T2- or proton density-weighted image. Other techniques additionally need a reference image without significant T1- or T2-contrast also known as a non-weighted image. Note that the terms "weighting" and "image contrast" shall be used synonymously in this disclosure. Most techniques acquire reference images only with surface coils (also known as phased array coils), but some use both surface coils and the large volume coil built into the scanner (also known as body coil). Any combinations of methods from both classifications are possible resulting in the four commonly used methods: the two-coil method, the use-image-derived method, the separate reference image method, and the Biot-Savart law method.
The two-coil method (with the vendor name "Prescan Normalize" from Siemens Healthineers) acquires a stack of reference images of typically low spatial resolution with 3D MRI. The images are non-weighted, for example, using low flip angle gradient echo imaging. Each raw data line is acquired with the surface coil as well as the built-in volume coil in interleaved fashion. It is assumed that the volume coil possesses homogeneous sensitivity, whereas the sensitivity of the surface coil is highly spatially varying and falling off nonlinearly with the distance from the coil. Dividing the surface coil reference image by the volume coil reference image yields the surface coil's sensitivity map. To obtain a coil-normalized use-image, the acquired use-image is divided by the calculated surface coil's sensitivity map.
A deficiency of the two-coil method is that a separate scan is needed prior to acquiring the use-image. This requires some time which is not a problem if done once before multiple use-scans. But it would be too time-consuming if done prior to every use-scan. Therefore the pre-scan is not repeated for every image acquisition. Rather, it is acquired as a 3D volume once prior to the very first use-image acquisition. When acquiring a use-image in a specific slice orientation later, the use-image is normalized by calculating the normalization map for that slice using the pre-scan data acquired earlier. This scheme can be problematic, because the patient may have moved between the pre-scan and image scan. It is normal that patients slightly shift during the exam due to pain, itching or other medical condition. More importantly, the flexible surface coils may also move between the time points of reference and use image acquisition, because the surface coils are not tightly affixed to the patient for reasons of patient comfort and avoiding claustrophobia. Therefore, the acquired slice and the calculated sensitivity profile may be lacking sufficient spatial registration resulting in suboptimal coil normalization.
The use-image-derived method is a more common normalization method requiring neither a volume coil image nor a separate reference image which derives an estimated reference image by applying a very strong low-pass filter in the raw-data space or an averaging kernel in the image space to create a smoothed version of the acquired use-image. In theory, all image contrast due to T1, T2 or proton density-weighting is removed by the smoothing operation and only the coil sensitivity information remains. Dividing the acquired use-image by the estimated reference then creates a coil-normalized use-image.
The use-image-derived method works best in body regions with continuous areas of tissue or fluid and without air-filled cavities, for example, in a coronal slice of the brain. The smoothing or averaging for estimating the sensitivity map from the acquired use-image is capable of removing the original image contrast of the use-image so that only coil sensitivity information remains, provided that the smoothing is sufficiently strong (the averaged area is sufficiently large). However, at air-tissue interfaces, where low- and high-signal regions meet, for example, in tissue next to air-filled cavities such as the pulmonary space and the frontal sinus, the use-image-derived method has substantial limitations. The estimated sensitivity map, which is the heavily smoothed use-image, has low signal values not just in the low-signal region but also close to it. Dividing by this map creates an overly and unnaturally bright edge (edge enhancement artifact) in high-signal regions that are next to low-signal regions, for example, in the cardiac free wall next to the lungs. Stated differently, the transition between high- and low-signal regions is steep in the original use-image, but gradual in the smoothed image. This over-corrects the pixel values around this edge making them unnaturally bright on the low signal side of the normalized image. Also, image contrast is sometimes altered by this technique, especially if the applied smoothing is not strong enough for reducing edge enhancement artifacts. Specifics depend on the size of the averaging kernel (size of the averaged area equals the smoothing strength) relative to the observed anatomy.
Rather than estimating the coil sensitivity as in the previous method, the separate reference image method acquires a separate non-weighted reference image using the same coil (or coil assemblies) as for the use-image, usually surface coils, although a volume coil can be used as well. Weighting of the reference image is minimized by skipping any magnetization preparation such as an inversion recovery (IR) pulse prior to acquiring reference data, and by applying a very low readout flip angle for the reference data readout.
A typical application of the separate reference image method is the coil normalization of the phase sensitive inversion recovery (PSIR) sequence by Kellman, P., et al., Phase-sensitive inversion recovery for detecting myocardial infarction using gadolinium-delayed hyperenhancement. Magn Reson Med, 2002. 47(2): p. 372-83 as show in FIG. 1. In PSIR the acquisition of the use-image data with leading IR (item 100) pulse (hence called IR-DA, see 101-a) occurs in one heartbeat and the acquisition of the reference data (REF-DA, see 113-a) without IR pulse and with low flip angle readout in another heartbeat. Data is typically acquired in small portions known as segments and acquisitions of use-image and reference image are interleaved by heartbeat and take multiple heartbeats to complete during which the patient holds his breath. FIG. 1 shows segment 1 of IR-DA (101-a) acquired in first heartbeat, segment 1 of REF-DA (113-a) in the second heartbeat, segment 2 of IR-DA (101-b) in the third heartbeat, segment 2 of REF-DA (113-b) in the fourth heartbeat, and segment 3 of IR-DA (101-c) in the fifth heartbeat. Note that the heartbeats with IR-DA have a leading IR pulse (100) to impart T1-contrast, whereas those with REF-DA have not. The assumption is that magnetization is fully recovered at the time REF-DA is acquired so that the reference has no weighting. This assumption is not exactly true and some T1-weighting remains in the reference image. The reference image is processed by smoothing with a median filter of about 10 mm×10 mm size to remove any remaining image contrast (typically T1-contrast) that is naturally unrelated to coil sensitivity. Dividing the use image by this smoothed reference image results in a normalized use-image, specifically a PSIR image. FIG. 1 shows a flow-independent dark blood delayed enhancement (FIDDLE) image as example of a PSIR image. Note the bright infarct due to its shortened T1 and the dark-grey normal (healthy) myocardium.
A related method described in Axel, L., J. Costantini, and J. Listerud, Intensity correction in surface-coil MR imaging. American Journal of Roentgenology, 1987. 148(2): p. 418-420 acquires the reference image separately from (prior to) the use image. The reference is recorded in a homogeneous phantom which is free of texture or morphology, for example, a phantom filled with gel or saline doped with a T1-shortening contrast agent, so that smoothing for removal of remaining image contrast is unnecessary. Division of the use-image by the reference image yields the coil-normalized use-image.
Acquiring a reference image at about the same time, interleaved on a per heartbeat basis, with the use-image is generally advantageous. Foremost, the spatial registration of both data sets is usually excellent, unless major breathing motion occurs during the acquisition. Nonetheless there exist many problems with this approach. For example, the existing PSIR method applies only a small smoothing kernel of 7×7 pixels to a 1.4 mm spatial resolution image making it only 9.8 mm×9.8 mm in size. Smoothing is achieved by a median filter with the intent of preserving edges better than a mean (averaging) filter. The small filter size does not provide adequate smoothing needed to accurately represent the naturally slow varying coil sensitivity. A separate problem is that the reference image usually has a low signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) so that even a naturally edge-preserving median filter can cause artefactual edge enhancement at air-tissue interfaces exactly at the interface due to stronger noise contribution on the low signal side.
Interestingly, the relatively small filter size chosen to prevent said edge-enhancement artifacts creates a more serious problem. It can reduce image contrast and thereby render, for example, infarcted areas (short T1) less conspicuous relative to normal areas (longer T1) than in the original non-normalized magnitude image. In other words it can alter the image contrast in an unfavorable way and may disguise certain clinically relevant infarcts. The method requires that the reference image has no T1- or T2-weighting, which in practice often does not hold. This weighting combined with the lack of smoothing are the underlying reason for creating reduced infarct-to-normal myocardium contrast. For example, in the PSIR sequence the T1 values are too long to fully relax within one heartbeat, which is the typical time used in the PSIR pulse sequence between IR-DA (101) and REF-DA (113), as shown in FIG. 2. One can clearly see that tissue with different T1 has different magnetization values at the time of recording the reference data with REF-DA (113). The amount of T1-weighting depends on the patient's heartrate (inverse of the RR-interval, see FIG. 1) and the trigger pulse, leading to a time delay TD (125 in FIG. 2). TD equals approximately the RR-interval (duration of one heartbeat) times the trigger pulse minus one. In practice, a trigger pulse of two is usually chosen as higher trigger pulses would extend the scan duration beyond most patients' breath-holding capability. For a given trigger pulse, a higher heart rate and consequentially a shorter TD increases T1-weighting of the reference. Also, the readout of the reference data itself imparts T1-weighting on the reference image. The combination of T1-weighting of the reference image together with a too small filter size can significantly corrupt T1-contrast of the normalized image. Specifically, using the conventional method, an infarct with an area of more than 25 pixels (more than half of the median-filter's area) would be reduced in intensity as the higher intensity of the reference image at this location would persist despite smoothing by a 7×7 median-filtering (49 pixels).
FIG. 3 illustrates the corruption of T1-contrast in the PSIR image obtained by the conventional coil normalization of PSIR. In the experiment underlying FIG. 3 the REF-DA was executed with time delay TD (125 in FIG. 2) after acquiring the use-image data (IR-DA). TD was varied from 120 ms to 1420 ms in 100 ms increments, first going left to right, then top to bottom, with the purpose of imparting different T1-contrast on the reference image as function of TD. The upper test tube A had a long T1 of about 865 ms, the lower tube B a short T1 of about 230 ms. Effective TR was kept constant at 2000 ms corresponding to a typical RR of 1000 ms and a trigger pulse of 2. As can be seen in the non-normalized magnitude images in the upper panel (301), the contrast between the test tubes with long and the short T1 does not change with TD. In the reference images in panel 303 however, the significant change in contrast between both test tubes can be observed as a function of TD, see black horizontal arrows, and is intended in this experiment. A strong T1 contrast is present for a short TD (TD=120 ms), because the magnetization in the long-T1 test tube did not have time to recover. The longer TD becomes, the more relaxation occurs. For 820 ms≤TD≤1420 ms no further change in contrast between reference images with different TD is observed. Using such reference image in the conventional coil normalization of PSIR results in PSIR images that have a strong dependence on the T1-weighting of the respective reference image. In panel 305 it can be appreciated that the upper test tube with long T1 changes intensity significantly in the images from TD 120 ms to TD 820 ms. The short T1 test tube also changes intensity for the first three TDs but then, the first order, remains constant. The change in contrast becomes evident when comparing the images at TD 120 ms and TD 1420 ms, see white horizontal errors. Therefore, the contrast between both test tubes in the normalized image changes a s a function of T1-weighting of the reference image. This is problematic, if clinical diagnosis is based on signal differences that may already be small in the original non-normalized use-image. Differences may become undiscernible in the normalized PSIR image and infarcts may be missed. In the specific example of panel 305, test tube A has negative signal due its long T1 and the short inversion time (TI) used. When dividing by the T1-weighted reference image at TD 120 ms, in the normalized image this test tube is depicted more negative (darker) than it actually is. Whereas this exaggerated contrast between test tubes A (long T1) and B (short T1) may superficially appear beneficial, it is actually problematic, because a fake contrast is created that may pretend a non-existent pathology.
Two other problems of the separate-reference-image method exist. First, for regions of low signal, such as air surrounding the patient and the pulmonary space, appear overly bright in the coil-normalized image. This is the result of dividing by naturally small signal values in the air rendering pixels that are black in the non-normalized image grey in the normalized image. Second, regions that have low signal in the reference image appear overly noisy in the coil-normalized image, they look speckled and like salt-and-pepper, which is why this appearance is also called "salt-and-pepper noise". This is due to the fact that noise has a larger relative contribution to overall signal in low-signal regions (air, the lungs) than in tissue, and dividing by these air pixels of the reference image results in noise amplification.
Image 405 in FIG. 4 shows a phantom example illustrating both artifacts, as well as the corresponding use-image 401 and reference image 403. Note the speckled and high-signal appearance of the air in image 405. The noise is usually much more conspicuous than in the use-image-derived method (not shown), because the sensitivity map is noisier due to the use of a median-filter and its small size.
Related to the above problem is the amplification of Gibbs ringing. At borders of stark intensity differences minor Gibbs ringing is observable in the original non-normalized use-image (401 in FIG. 4). This can only be appreciated when adjusting image contrast and brightness in an extreme manner (not shown in FIG. 4). In practice, this artifact is thus invisible in the non-normalized image. In the PSIR-normalized image however, the artifact is amplified on the low side of the border between high and low signal and becomes clearly visible, see arrows at image 405. This is a manifestation of above problems. Also, any other artifact in the low signal region, even if faint and hardly visible in the non-normalized use-image, is amplified and clearly visible in the image normalized by the separate-reference-image method
Yet another, but uncommon and impractical coil normalization technique calculates the coil sensitivity from the Biot-Savart law using knowledge of the coil's size, shape, and position relative to the patient. The calculations are quite complex and, in addition, the method is hampered by the problem that the exact coil location and loading varies by patient so that the calculated sensitivity map does not accurately reflect true sensitivity in any given patient. This method has therefore no clinical significance.
In summary, conventional coil normalization techniques each have one or more of the following issues: image contrast can be reduced impacting clinical diagnosis, low signal regions show amplified, unsightly noise and appear overly bright in the normalized use-image, and even the slightest artifacts in the use-image are strongly amplified in low signal regions. Accordingly, it is desired to provide a coil normalization technique that addresses these issues and can be readily implemented on MRI systems.

Magnetic resonance imaging coil normalization by using a reference image


A system and method for maintaining a temperature sensitive payload within a target temperature range, between a minimum temperature and a maximum temperature. Heat transfer devices are provided, having reservoirs for separately containing a first material and a second material, the materials having distinct and separate phase change temperatures which approximately bracket the target temperature range. The latent heats of transformation related to the respective phase changes of the first and second materials resist heating or cooling of the payload above or below the target temperature range.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a system and a method for storing and shipping temperature-sensitive materials. In particular, the present invention discloses a system and method suitable for transporting temperature-sensitive products, such as human blood products and pharmaceuticals, within a predetermined temperature range, utilizing at least two temperature control materials having separate phase change temperatures which approximately bracket the target temperature range.
2. Background of the Invention
The conventional means of shipping temperature sensitive materials such as blood and blood products involves the use of an insulated box, with the necessary shipping and warning labels, along with some cooling agent. These cooling agents are typically a frozen gel, dry ice, or glistening (wet) ice.
There are, however, several problems with the conventional approach. First, the styrofoam used for insulation does not degrade readily, leading to disposal problems. These problems are so severe that many countries ban the use of styrofoam, thus severely restricting international shipments of biological materials. Second, the cooling agents also present numerous practical problems in field use. Specifically, gel systems are often too expensive for routine use and disposal. As for dry ice, the carbon dioxide gas evolved during shipment is so dangerous to shipping personnel that hazard warnings must be posted and additional fees paid; furthermore, outright bans on dry ice are pending in several areas. Finally, wet ice poses handling problems in packing, as well as leakage and product soaking problems.
Many previously existing shipping systems also suffer the disadvantage that they are not capable of maintaining the shipped product or payload within a target temperature range. Various biological products, such as platelets, whole blood, semen, organs and tissue, must be maintained above a predetermined minimum temperature and below a predetermined maximum temperature. Pharmaceutical products are also commonly required to be kept within a specified temperature range. Food products, flowers and produce frequently have preferred storage temperature ranges as well. Many known methods and systems for shipping such products are not able to keep temperatures within the desired range. For example, one company ships vaccine packed in dry ice, which sublimes at -78.6.degree. C., even through the specified temperature for storage of the vaccine is approximately -15.degree. C. The result of this practice is excessive cooling, frequently resulting in damage to the vaccine.
Previously known methods and systems which are capable of maintaining a payload within a specified temperature range have been found to be unsuited to certain applications, unduly complex in practice, and/or prohibitively expensive. For example, refrigerated containers require associated compressors, coils, crystals, or other equipment, which adds to the apparatus' expense, weight and size. Additionally, this type of equipment generally requires batteries or connection to an external power source. Refrigerated containers also require ventilation, so that heat from the payload can be rejected to the ambient. Sufficient ventilation for the proper operation of these devices is generally unavailable in the closely-packed cargo compartments of common carrier transport vehicles. Refrigerated transport vehicles exist, but are substantially more expensive than unrefrigerated transport, and are not as readily available.
Another problem often observed with conventional systems is failure to maintain the proper temperature over time, due to inadequate insulation and/or inadequate cooling pack capacity. Again, the end result is product damage.
Yet another problem commonly observed with conventional shipping systems is a strong sensitivity to infrared heat transfer. Specifically, many systems heat rapidly when left in direct sunlight. Part of this susceptibility may be due to the standard industry practice of testing shipping containers only in convective, non-radiative heating systems. While this practice may be appropriate for evaluating shaded or otherwise protected systems, test results obtained in this manner do not accurately anticipate the real world use of shipping containers left indefinitely in direct sunlight on loading docks, etc.
An additional problem is that many insulated storage boxes do not tolerate the condensation that results during conditions of high humidity. Common failures include box collapse due to the dissolution of starch seals, as well as excessive swelling of the box walls themselves.
Finally, the vast majority of shipping systems do not provide uniform temperatures within the container. For example, one system that is currently used to transport blood samples for laboratory analysis consists of a set of frozen gel packs placed on a shelf at the top of a standard RSC (Rigid Shipping Container) cardboard box. Instrumented tests of this system, however, showed that only the samples immediately below the cooling packs were ever in the specified temperature range of 0 to 10.degree. C.; and furthermore, these samples were in this range for only 8 of the required 24 hour test duration, even at a mild ambient temperature of 22.degree. C. Conversely, samples at the bottom of the box were never in the required temperature range, except for approximately 15 minutes after loading from the storage refrigerator. Less severe, but still significant, uniformity problems were also found to affect other shipping systems. Several of these systems showed extreme temperature inversions of 10.degree. C. or more, typically the result of the placement of cooling media only at the top of the shipping system. Again, samples at the bottom of the box never receive adequate cooling. Also, the common failure of shipping personnel to obey "This Side Up" instructions often leads to inadequate cooling of some of the load.
The consequence of these observed shortcomings of conventional shipping systems is damage to the material being transported. For biomedical materials such as blood, blood products, pharmaceuticals, etc., loss of these products due to heat damage is critical because of the intrinsic financial value of these items and because of the potential health hazards that the use of compromised materials presents. Likewise, heat damage to various foods also presents both financial and health consequences. Finally, the loss of flowers and other expensive, heat-sensitive materials presents serious problems to a variety of industries. Because all of the above industries currently experience substantial shipping losses, the commercial opportunity of the present invention is immense.

Phase change system for temperature control


Flexible and stretchable electronics, including supercapacitors and pressure sensors, are made using carbon nanostructures produced by providing a first composite structure which includes a temporary substrate and an array of carbon nanotubes arranged in a stack on a surface of the temporary substrate such that the stack of carbon nanotubes is oriented generally perpendicular to the surface of the temporary substrate, which may include silicon dioxide. The stack of carbon nanotubes is transferred from the temporary substrate to another substrate, which includes a curable polymer, thereby forming another composite structure comprising the stack of carbon nanotubes and the cured polymer.

Flexible electronics have a wide range of applications in wearable and multifunctional electronics, including flexible displays, electronic skins, and implantable medical devices. Flexible supercapacitors, with good mechanical compliance, can meet the requirements for light-weight, portable and flexible devices.
The increasing depletion of fossil fuels and the environmental problems caused by those fossil fuels have motivated researchers to develop new types of clean energy, such as solar, wind, and water energy. As these new energy sources are limited by time or location (water, wind, and solar power), energy storage devices are required to ensure continued power supply. Supercapacitors, as one type of energy storage device, have received intensive attention owing to their high power density, fast charge/discharge, and long charge/discharge cycles.
Carbon nanotubes are a promising electrode material for flexible supercapacitors owing to their excellent properties. However, the fabrication of flexible supercapacitors in large quantities can be a complicated process. For example, to apply electrode materials onto flexible substrates, researchers have used direct-coating methods which rely heavily relies on the physical adhesion of the electrode materials on the substrate, or stacking the electrode and electrolyte. It has been found, however, that the electrode/substrate interface resulting from such fabrication methods can delaminate under large strain, thereby limiting the flexibility of the supercapacitors produced thereby and consequently deteriorating their performance.
Fabrication of flexible electronics is also desirable in the field of innovation encompassing the creation of electronic skin, which has the object of creating sensors that mimic human or animal skin by responding to environmental factors such as changes in heat and pressure. Electronic skin can facilitate advances in intelligent robotics, human machine interactions, soft robotics, health monitoring and biomimetic prosthesis, while also bearing heavily on the advancement of artificial intelligence systems. A conventional challenge has been maintaining the robustness of the material against mechanical strain while also maintaining its sensing ability.
Typically, sensitive and spatially accurate pressure sensors can be achieved through conformal contact with the surface; however, for e-skin applications, this would make them simultaneously sensitive to mechanical deformation (bending) of the substrate (e.g., skin). In this case, the measurement of the pressure orthogonal to the sensor skin under dynamic deformation of the substrate can significantly affect the sensor output as a result of the lateral strains induced by mechanical deformation (such as stretching, bending, twisting and wrinkling of the substrate).

VACNT-based flexible electronics for sensing and capacitance applications

THE TRUSTEES OF THE STEVENS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY


A bioreactor (1) having a container (2), a shaft housing (3) for guiding a shaft (5) through a wall (7), a stirrer (6) connected to the shaft (5) in the interior (9) of the container (2), and a drive (4) arranged outside the container (2) and connectable to the shaft (5). The shaft (5) is mounted in the shaft housing (3) via at least one ball bearing (23) and is sealed in relation to the shaft housing (3) by at least one seal (11, 20). The seal (11, 20) is configured as a radial shaft seal (28) having two sealing lips (30, 31) that are arranged one behind the other in the longitudinal direction of the shaft (5) and are able to run on the shaft (5) without lubricant.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a bioreactor having a container, a shaft housing for guiding a shaft through a wall, a stirrer connected to the shaft in the interior of the container, and a drive arranged outside the container and connectable to the shaft, said shaft being mounted in the shaft housing via at least one ball bearing and being sealed in relation to the shaft housing by at least one seal.
2. Description of the Related Art
Bioreactors having a container with a flexible wall are being increasingly used, particularly as disposable bioreactors, in pharmacy and biotechnology.
US 2006/0280028 A1 discloses a bioreactor having a container with a flexible wall, through which wall a shaft is guided in order to drive a stirrer arranged in the interior of the container. A shaft housing is connected to the flexible wall via a sealing flange. The shaft is mounted in the shaft housing via two ball bearings. The shaft has a flat radial sealing collar, which is arranged in a recess of the shaft housing. The outer annular end face directed away from the interior of the container is sealed in relation to a bottom surface of the recess by a lip seal. The inner annular end face of the collar, directed toward the interior of the container, is sealed in relation to the locked floor part of the shaft housing by two coaxially arranged lip seals.
A disadvantage of the above is that the structure of the shaft housing, in conjunction with the seals, is quite complicated and cost-intensive and also takes up quite a large volume.
Moreover, US 2005/0239199 A1 discloses a bioreactor having a container with a flexible wall, in which container a shaft is guided rotatably through the flexible wall into the interior of the container by way of a shaft housing connected to the flexible wall. In the shaft housing opening directed toward the interior, the shaft is guided by a radially protruding annular disk which is arranged in said opening and which is sealed in relation to a recess of the shaft housing by two coaxially arranged lip seals.
This device also has the abovementioned disadvantages.
EP 1 156 242 A2 discloses a radial shaft seal with two sealing lips, in which the sealing lip lying on the hydraulic side is pressed by an annular helical spring onto the shaft that is to be sealed. A disadvantage of this is that these seals are designed as seals running in hydraulic liquid, or at least as lubricated seals, in which the space between the sealing lips is used as a lubricant depot.
The object of the present invention is therefore to make available a bioreactor having a container in which the shaft is guided through a wall, which is flexible for example, by way of a compact structure and in a simple and inexpensive manner and yet in a liquid-tight and gas-tight manner.