Complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) static random access memory (SRAM) cells include at least a first inverter formed in a fin-shaped pattern of stacked semiconductor regions of opposite conductivity type. In some of these embodiments, the first inverter includes a first conductivity type (e.g., P-type or N-type) MOS load transistor electrically coupled in series with a second conductivity type (e.g., N-type of P-type) MOS driver transistor. The first inverter is arranged so that active regions of the first conductivity type MOS load transistor and the second conductivity type driver transistor are vertically stacked relative to each other within a first portion of a vertical dual-conductivity semiconductor fin structure. This fin structure is surrounded on at least three sides by a wraparound gate electrode, which is configured to modulate conductivity of both the active regions in response to a gate signal.

A static random access memory (SRAM) has the advantages of low power consumption and fast operating speed compared to a dynamic RAM (DRAM). Accordingly, the SRAM is widely employed in a portable appliance or a cache memory device of a computer. A unit cell of the SRAM is mainly classified into two types. One of them is a high load resistor SRAM cell, which employs a high load resistor as a load device, and the other is a CMOS SRAM cell, which employs a P-channel MOS (PMOS) transistor as a load device. The CMOS SRAM cell is again classified into two types. One of them is a thin film transistor (TFT) SRAM cell which employs a TFT formed on a semiconductor substrate as a load device, and the other is a bulk CMOS SRAM cell which employs a bulk transistor formed in a semiconductor substrate as a load device. The bulk CMOS SRAM cell has high cell stability compared to the TFT SRAM cell and the high load resistor SRAM cell. That is, the bulk CMOS SRAM cell has good low voltage characteristics and low standby current. This is possible because all transistors constituting the bulk CMOS SRAM cell are formed on a single crystalline silicon substrate whereas the TFT is generally fabricated using a polysilicon layer as a body layer, which may have higher leakage characteristics. However, the bulk CMOS SRAM cell has a relatively low integration density compared to the TFT SRAM cell.
Even though the TFT SRAM cell has a higher integration density than the bulk CMOS SRAM cell, the integration density of the TFT SRAM cell is still lower than the integration density of the DRAM cell. Accordingly, in order to implement a highly integrated SRAM device having high reliability, it is typically necessary to design a compact cell having a three-dimensional structure.
An SRAM cell having a three dimensional structure formed using multiple-gate transistors is disclosed in U.S. Patent Publication No. 2004/99885 to Yeo et al., entitled "CMOS SRAM cell configured using multiple-gate transistors." According to Yeo et al., gate electrodes are formed at both sides of silicon bodies facing each other to configure multiple-gate field effect transistors (FETs). The multiple-gate FETs are pull-down transistors or pull-up transistors of the SRAM cell. FIG. 1 illustrates a conventional CMOS SRAM cell. Referring to FIG. 1, the CMOS SRAM cell includes a pair of driver transistors TD1 and TD2, a pair of transfer transistors TA1 and TA2, and a pair of load transistors TL1 and TL2. The driver transistors TD1 and TD2 and the transfer transistors TA1 and TA2 are NMOS (PMOS) transistors and the load transistors TL1 and TL2 are PMOS (NMOS) transistors. A source region of the first driver transistor TD1 is connected to a ground line Vss, and a drain region of the first transfer transistor TA1 is connected to a first bit line BL1. Similarly, a source region of the second driver transistor TD2 is connected to the ground line Vss, and a drain region of the second transfer transistor TA2 is connected to a second bit line BL2.
Source and drain regions of the first load transistor TL1 are connected to a power supply line Vcc and a drain region of the first driver transistor TD1, respectively. Similarly, source and drain regions of the second load transistor TL2 are electrically connected to the power supply line Vcc and a drain region of the second driver transistor TD2, respectively. The drain region of the first load transistor TL1, the drain region of the first driver transistor TD1, and the source region of the first transfer transistor TA1 are connected together at a first node N1. In addition, the drain region of the second load transistor TL2, the drain region of the second driver transistor TD2, and the source region of the second transfer transistor TA2 are connected together at a second node N2. The first and second nodes N1 and N2 act as storage nodes of the SRAM cell. A gate electrode of the first driver transistor TD1 and a gate electrode of the first load transistor TL1 are connected to the second node N2, and a gate electrode of the second driver transistor TD2 and a gate electrode of the second load transistor TL2 are connected to the first node N1. In addition, gate electrodes of the first and second transfer transistors TA1 and TA2 are connected to a word line WL.
The drain region of the first load transistor TL1 is electrically connected to the drain region of the first driver transistor TD1 via the first node N1. Similarly, the drain region of the second load transistor TL2 is electrically connected to the drain region of the second driver transistor TD2 via the second node N2. Accordingly, the first load transistor TL1 and the first driver transistor TD1 are connected in series to form a first inverter. Similarly, the second load transistor TL2 and the second driver transistor TD2 are connected in series to form a second inverter. Accordingly, the first and second inverters are cross-coupled to form one latch circuit.

SRAM cells having inverters and access transistors therein with vertical fin-shaped active regions


A single-wire stylet may be constructed as an elongate single-wire, memory-metal alloy body with a generally cylindrical body profile, extending distally from a proximal end terminus, where embodiments include a polymeric distal tip member fixedly attached directly at a distal end of the single-wire body. At least one lengthwise portion of the single-wire body is at least partially in martensitic phase at operating temperatures at and below about 37° C. Where present, the polymeric distal tip member has a generally cylindrical body profile circumferentially bounded by an outer circumference substantially equal to or greater than that of the metal body. The polymeric distal tip member may be overmolded upon a distal-end tip length of an elongate single-wire, memory-metal alloy stylet body, where the distal end and/or discrete intermediate distal-portion length(s) that include martensitic-phase alloy and any polymeric member have greater flexibility than a proximal-most length of the alloy stylet body.

Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) procedures including endobronchial ultrasound (EBUS) procedures, as well as other endoscopy procedures (e.g., endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) techniques used for viewing and treating the ducts that drain the liver and pancreas) provide advantageous, minimally-invasive means for diagnosis and treatment of many conditions. The body structures and passages that must be navigated with the scope-based devices present challenges for minimizing procedure times while maximizing efficacy of diagnostic and/or therapeutic procedures.
For example, with reference to gastrointestinal procedures, biliary ducts form a drainage routes into the duodenum from the liver and gallbladder and they join the pancreatic duct, just before they drain into the duodenum about 3 inches from the stomach. The drainage opening is called the papilla (Ampulla of Vater). The papilla is surrounded by a circular muscle, called the sphincter of Oddi. During ERCP, X-ray contrast dye may be injected into the bile duct, the pancreatic duct, or both via a catheter disposed through a working channel of an endoscope to aid fluoroscopic visualization of procedures. Those same systems may be accessed and visualized using EUS procedures, where use of ultrasound helps to reduce the amount of fluoroscopy exposure time spent by a patient and treating personnel.
A broad variety of techniques using ERCP and EUS (including in the gastrointestinal tract and elsewhere in patient bodies) have been and continue to be developed for minimally-invasive diagnosis and treatment of various conditions in a patient's gastrointestinal tract, and particularly in the structures of the biliary and pancreatic systems branching off from the duodenum. For a number of procedures using small gauge needles (often 19 ga. or smaller), the needle is introduced with a stylet disposed through the entire length or nearly the entire length of its longitudinal needle lumen. A standard bevel-tipped stylet 174 is shown in FIG. 1, including a proximal end cap 176 and a flexible elongate body 178. The stylet provides columnar strength while the needle is being directed to a target site, as well as minimizing the likelihood that an open distal tip and/or side aperture of, for example, a biopsy needle will collect tissue en route to the actual site being targeted.
In a biopsy procedure, the stylet will be removed from (or at least partially longitudinally retracted within) the needle lumen, typically after the needle is directed through an endoscope working channel so that its distal end is in or near the target site. As shown in FIG. 2, the endoscope (illustrated here as a duodenoscope 181, but readily understandable with application to an EUS scope) is directed down a patient's esophagus 191, then through the body, and up and around the pylorus of the stomach 193, then down/around into the duodenum 195. For the side-viewing camera and ports to properly orient relative to the sphincter of Oddi 197 and access the primary and branching ducts/passages of the biliary tree 199, the distal end portion of the endoscope 181 may be flexed/bent 90 degrees or more relative to longitudinal axis of the scope and to the already-curved scope body portion situated through the pylorus and duodenum, which is also shown. As such, the coaxial arrangement of a stylet within a biopsy needle assembly, oriented through an endoscope working channel is placed through a series of curves and turns between the proximal end accessed by an endoscopist and other treating personnel and the distal end (e.g., accessing the biliary tree), along and through all three axes of the patient's body.
It will be appreciated that this presents a relatively tortuous path for a needle disposed through the length of the endoscope 181. The same would be true for an EUS procedure, whether access is gained through a cannulated sphincter or by traversing a wall of the stomach, duodenum, or other structure. Thus, a stylet occupying the needle lumen may require significant force for withdrawal and removal (e.g., about 50 to about 100 Newtons), due to the binding friction between the outer surface of the stylet and the inner needle lumen surface along their respective lengths—and particularly along lengths where the scope is twisted and/or tightly curved. Stated differently, those of skill in the art will appreciate that certain points or lengths along the path of a stylet through a needle lumen may present greater frictional contact/binding force due to curvature of the needle (both on its own and relative to/interacting with an accessory channel of an endoscope through which it is disposed), causing an increased removal force required to remove the stylet from the needle lumen, as compared to a less curved, twisted, or otherwise distorted path. This higher level of removal force is inconvenient to the users, and it may have a negative impact on efficient workflow (e.g., by increasing the likelihood that the needle and/or scope is moved out of the desired position and/or orientation during stylet removal, by increasing procedure time, or other factors).
It may be desirable to provide a stylet and a stylet-needle system including a stylet structure that provides for reduced removal force without diminishing its other stylet functionality.

Endoscopic needle stylet with enhanced-flexibility lengths


A cloud-based system for use by retail store employees or customers at any location to facilitate the sale of automotive tires to consumers is provided. The system accesses multiple independent tire inventory systems from different distributors/manufacturers and provides a personalized set of recommendation tire options and accompanying TPMS service packs.

Traditionally, with products such as tires, the industry is segmented into tightly controlled product inventories and distribution chain systems such that a retailer usually sells products through distributors from only a limited number of manufacturers. A sales associate must run a separate query for products and availability in each of the separate inventory systems. For example, if a customer is interested in getting the best option available across multiple manufacturers, the customer must wait for the sale associate to run the query in each of the different distribution systems and must rely on the knowledge of the sale associate to select between the available options.
Often, due to the time involved to access multiple systems, the sales associates simply search the inventory database they are most familiar with, is easiest to use, or is required to use by the retailer. Thus, the consumer is presented search results from only that one manufacturer.
TPMS systems have been required by law since 2008. TPMS components such as TPMS service packs do not need to be replaced every time tires are changed, but do occasionally wear and need to be replaced. Since there are few guidelines controlling TPMS systems, it is difficult to determine exactly what service pack is needed for a particular make and model car. For example, the same year, make and model car could use any number of incompatible service packs. Incompatible service packs will not work properly and provide inaccurate tire pressure readings.

System and method for presenting tire-related information to customers


Systems and methods are provided herein for preventing interruptions to a media viewing activity caused by operations performed in a household by network-connected devices. A media guidance application may determine that operations are being performed by an IoT device and may cause an interruption to media viewing. The media guidance application may prevent the interruption by extending or otherwise handling the operation.

Viewing media can be experienced in various environments. Many viewers enjoy watching media without distractions. In a household environment, there can be numerous distractions and interruptions to the viewer during media viewing. Some of these distractions may be important and necessary. However, other interruptions may not be urgent. For example, some household devices have alarms or buzzers than can make sounds and be disruptive to a media viewer. Some of these alarms may require intervention, while others may not. Other household devices, such as thermostats or lights, may have scheduled settings that cause them to turn on or off or change temperature which may be annoying to a viewer when watching media. Although there are many smart devices that may be network-connected and capable of remote accessibility and functionality, the alarms and disruptions may still interrupt a user when such alarms may not need immediate intervention. Handling interruptions by household devices by modifying settings or by notifying others of alarms may improve a viewer's media experience because the viewer may avoid disruptions in viewing media.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Systems and methods for preemptively preventing interruptions from network-connected devices from occurring during media viewing


The present invention relates to liquid filled light distributor comprising an elongated tubular body with a tube wall defining an in inner lumen filled with a liquid, said tubular body having—a proximal end closed by first closing means—a distal end closed by second closing means. Wherein the proximal end is arranged to be in optical communication with a light source and wherein the refractive index of the tube wall is n1 and the refractive index of the fluid is n2 and n1/n2<1 so that light from the light source travels along the longitudinal direction of the tubular body and that a part of the light is emitted through the tube wall along at least a part of the tubular body. Further a method of use for the liquid filled light distributor is provided.

Elongated lights sources emitting UV light e.g. from diodes and the use of the light sources to disinfect lumens in medical devices are known from e.g. US 2007/0187626. However these devices have significant drawbacks, which render them impractical and inefficient in use. For example the known sources needs to be rotated in order to be able to submit an entire area of an inner wall of a lumen to disinfecting UV light as the UV sources are point sources with limited emission angle and area.
Besides the difficulties of placing the diodes inside narrow cavities/lumens electrical wiring through the length of the elongated light source is needed. If the light source is used in wet or damp conditions or for medical purposes in relation to a human body, the electrical wiring, possibly in-vivo is a challenge. E.g. patient safety can be jeopardized because even small currents and voltage can be mortal. In addition, maintenance is much easier if the electrical powered light sources are ex-vivo and not in direct contact with the medical device.
Thus there is a need for an elongated light source emitting light continuously along the length and homogeneously around the circumference of the light source while at the same time being safe and practical in use.

Liquid filled light distributor and a method of use


An improved ball valve assembly is provided for use on firefighting equipment and other applications. The ball valve assembly includes an improved seal assembly which includes both a load bearing seal element and a soft elastomeric seal element. Both seal elements are held in place by a seat member which is accommodated in a recess provided on the inside surface of the seat housing or valve body. The load bearing seal member provides support for the ball element and serves to wipe or remove debris from the ball element before the ball element engages the soft elastomer seal. As a result, the load bearing seal member removes the stress normally imparted to soft elastomer seals utilized in ball valve assemblies. Further, a lubrication fitting and passageways are provided which enable lubricant to be communicated through the housing and through the seal assembly to the ball element. The ball valve assembly may also be connected in-line between conduits using circular clamps thereby enabling the ball valve to be rotated about the central axis of the conduit for versatility in installation and positioning. The lubricant fitting may be incorporated into an overall lubrication system for lubricating other ball valves on the firefighting equipment. The ball valve assembly may also be connected to a relief valve and disposed between a firefighting pump and behind a protective panel or housing thereby disposing both the ball valve and relief valve behind a protective housing as opposed to outside of the housing or the truck body in an exposed position.

The present invention relates generally to ball valves and more specifically, to ball valves used as intake, in-line or discharge valves for fire pumps and firefighting apparatuses.
In firefighting apparatuses, ball valves are used at both the intake and discharge outlets for firefighting pumps as well as in in-line positions in the piping of a firefighting unit. Over periods of time, the seals of the ball valves tend to adhere to the ball component of the valve unit. Further, mineral deposits such as dirt or grit may deposit on the ball component. Depending upon the environment and the specific media flowing through the valve, the valves may become extremely difficult to open. Further, because the ball valves are often disposed in areas with little space, the ball valves must be provided with relatively short handles that transmit little torque to the valve. As a result, only firefighters with superior physical strength are able to open and close ball valves that have accumulated dirt and grit on the ball component.
The only way to overcome the above problem is to lubricate the valve seat or seal as well as the ball component. Unfortunately, due to space constraints on firefighting apparatuses, the ball valves may be disposed in inconvenient places or buried underneath other operating elements of the firefighting apparatus. As a result, the ball valves may be difficult to obtain access to which makes them very difficult to lubricate. Typically, the firefighting apparatus must be pulled out of service and the lubrication performed by qualified mechanics.
Another way to overcome the above sticking problem has been to utilize a plastic ball component and plastic seat elements. The plastic elements are typically fabricated from ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene which is considered self-lubricating. Unfortunately, this solution presents its own shortcomings because polyethylene is susceptible to deterioration from rust, grit and other mineral deposits that form on the ball component. Specifically, when the valve is opened and closed, the deposits on the ball component score and cut into the valve seat and/or the ball component itself thereby resulting in leakage and/or valve failure.
Another approach utilizes a soft elastomer for the seal element as opposed to the rigid polymer or high molecular weight polyethylene discussed above. Soft elastomer material is available that is resistant to tears and cuts. Further, soft elastomers can be impregnated with lubricants which further enhance their performance and operating life. However, it has been found that the use of soft elastomers still results in the sticking problem discussed above and has not reduced the amount of torque required to open or close a ball valve that has been in service for an extended period of time.
Further, another problem associated with the use of soft elastomers as seal elements is that soft elastomers often fail to provide support for the ball component of larger valves, such as valves with ball components having diameters greater than two inches. It has been found that, with the use of larger ball components, an increased amount of seal pre-load must be applied between the ball and the seal element in order to provide the support necessary for the ball component. As a result, the increased amount of seal pre-load that is required also increases the amount of torque necessary to open and close the valve. Further, the stress resulting from the increased seal pre-load can also lead to premature failure of the soft elastomer seal.
As a result, both the rigid polymer valve seats and seals and the soft elastomer seals each have their associated shortcomings. Both types of seals are susceptible to premature damage and failure. Further, once any seal of a ball valve is damaged, the valve must be repaired and, as discussed above, this often requires removing the firefighting apparatus from service. It has also been suggested to employ seal elements on both sides of the ball component; however, this further exacerbates the problem of the torque required to open and close the valve once the valve has been in use for a sufficient time to accumulate dirt, grit and other mineral deposits on the ball component.
Another problem associated with the ball valves used in firefighting apparatuses is the inflexibility of the mounting of the ball valve. Specifically, due to cramped space requirements on firefighting apparatus, it is often difficult to mount the actuator of the valve in a position where it can be utilized by firefighting personnel. One solution to this problem has been to make the actuator positioning adjustable in 90xc2x0 increments or in 45xc2x0 increments by using various adaptors between the valve body and the actuator. Further, the servicing of valves often proves difficult because the bolts required to mount the actuator on the valve are often difficult to obtain access to in the cramped environment of today""s modem firefighting apparatuses. Still further, the typical installment of such valves requires four bolts disposed on each side of the valve that are used to mount the valve between the pump and a conduit or in-line between two pieces of conduit. The use of these bolts disposed on either side of the valve add to the overall effective length of the valve which is disadvantageous due to the limited space availability on firefighting apparatuses.
Still another problem associated with current ball valves of firefighting apparatuses is specifically associated with large diameter hoses which are desirable because they provide increased water flow to the fire. As noted above, larger hose diameters require larger ball valves which, in turn, as discussed above, are prone to premature failure and leakage. Further, when larger diameter hoses are employed, they present their own hazards because they typically have lower pressure ratings than smaller hoses. This problem is exacerbated if the flow of water or firefighting material is shut off at a downstream location. The resulting increase in pressure in the hose can cause the hose to snap and fling violently.
As a result, one solution to this problem has been to locate a remote adapter containing a relief valve on the pump discharge outside of the pump housing or the panel that surrounds the pump. However, this solution creates its own problem in that the relief valve must also be located outside of the housing or panel as well. Another solution is to provide a portable unit outside the pump panel (containing a relief valve) for that line.
However, the location of the relief valve outside of the panel is dangerous because the release of exhaust water from the relief valve poses a safety hazard to firefighting personnel. Further, in the event the relief valve fails, there is no protective panel or housing between the failed relief valve and the firefighting personnel. Still further, the relief valve is exposed, thereby making it accessible to being tampered with, particularly the relief valve pressure setting. For example, an inexperienced person may reset the pressure to a level above the safety limits of the hose and/or firefighting industry standards. Still further, placement of the discharge outlet and relief valve outside of the housing panel results in the discharge outlet and relief valve extending outward beyond the body of the firetruck, which poses a significant driving hazard.
Accordingly, there is a need for an improved seat and sealing element for ball valves which will result in a reduction in the amount of torque required to operate the valves, which reduce the likelihood of premature leakage and which reduce the likelihood of premature failure of the ball valve. Further, there is a need for an improved ball valve design which provides greater flexibility in mounting the ball valve so that the actuator and the ball valve itself can be more readily accessed after installation for both operation and maintenance. Still further, there is a need for an improved system and method for lubricating ball valves of firefighting apparatuses to thereby make them more easy to use and increase their operating life span. And, there is a need for an improved ball valve and relief valve design which will enable the relief valve to be disposed within the housing or panel of the truck with the ball valve as opposed to outside of the housing or panel of the truck.
The present invention satisfies the aforenoted needs by providing an improved ball valve which comprises a valve body having two open ends in a ball disposed within the valve body. One end of the valve body comprises a seat housing. The seat housing comprises an inner surface with a recess for accommodating a seal assembly between the seat housing and the ball. The seal assembly comprises a seat member, a load bearing seal and a soft seal. The seat member comprises a cylindrical body extending along the inner surface of the seat housing. The cylindrical body comprises an inner end directed at the ball and an outer end directed away from the ball. The cylindrical body is connected to a radially outwardly extending flange which is disposed between the inner and outer ends thereof and that extends into the recess of the seat housing. The flange supports the load bearing seal and the soft seal between the flange and the ball.
In an embodiment, the load bearing seal is disposed between the soft seal and the inner end of the cylindrical body of the seat member.
In an embodiment, the soft seal comprises a nitrile rubber impregnated with polytetrafluoroethylene as a lubricant.
In an embodiment, the load bearing seal comprises polytetrafluoroethylene with a carbon graphite filler for added strength.
In an embodiment, the load bearing seal comprises an outer end that rests against the flange of the seat member and an inner end that engages the ball. Similarly, the soft seal comprises an outer end that rests against the flange and an inner end that engages the ball. The inner end of the soft seal extends laterally beyond the inner end of the load bearing seal.
In an embodiment, the inner end of the soft seal further comprises a bulbous tip.
In an embodiment, the recess of the seat housing forms an annular ledge that faces the ball. The flange of the seat member is spaced from the ledge with a sealing ring disposed therebetween.
In an embodiment, the flange of the seat member comprises an outer end connected to an outer wall that extends towards the ball. The outer wall is spaced from the inner end of the cylindrical body with the soft seal and load bearing seal trapped therebetween.
In an embodiment, the outer wall curves inwardly towards the soft seal thereby trapping the soft seal and the load bearing seal between the inner end of the cylindrical body and the outer wall.
In an embodiment, the seat housing comprises an outer surface and a passageway that provides communication between the recess and the outer surface. The valve further comprises a check-type lubrication fitting connected to the passageway at the outer surface of the seat housing. The flange of the seat member comprises an aperture that extends through the flange and provides communication between the passageway and the soft seal and the load bearing seal.
In an embodiment, the seal assembly further comprises an aperture that extends through the flange of the seat member and between the soft seal and load bearing seal. The aperture thereby provides communication between the recess and the ball.
In an embodiment, the recess of the seat housing forms an annular ledge that faces the ball. The flange of the seat member is spaced from the ledge with a sealing ring disposed therebetween. The sealing ring is disposed radially inwardly from the inner surface of the seat housing thereby providing an annular space defined by the sealing ring, the inner surface of the seat housing, the ledge and the seal located on the flange side of the seat member. The seat housing further comprises a passageway extending through the housing and providing communication between the annular space and a lubrication fitting. The seal assembly further comprises an aperture that extends through the flange and between the soft seal and the load bearing seal thereby providing communication between the annular space and the ball.
In an embodiment, the ball valve further comprises an inlet conduit and an outlet conduit that share a common axis. The inlet end of the valve body is connected to the inlet conduit with a first circular clamp and the outlet end of the valve body is connected to the outlet conduit with a second circular clamp. As a result, the ball valve may be rotated about the common axis of the inlet and outlet conduits thereby providing enhanced flexibility with respect to the position of the ball valve actuator.
In an embodiment, the valve body is connected to a bottom cover plate which includes two drain ports disposed on opposing sides of the common axis.
In an embodiment, the valve body includes drain ports disposed on opposing sides of the common axis.
In such an embodiment, the cover plate may be removably mounted to the valve body with fasteners, such as bolts or screws.
In an embodiment, the inlet and outlet ends of the valve body may further comprise circumferential flanges. Similarly, the inlet and outlet conduits may further comprise circumferential flanges. The first and second clamps being clamped around the circumferential flanges of the inlet conduit and inlet end of the valve body and the outlet conduit and outlet end of the valve body respectively.
In an embodiment, the present invention provides an improved lubrication system for the ball, valves of a firefighting apparatus or vehicle. The lubrication system of the present invention includes a pump for pumping metered amounts of lubricant. The pump is connected to at least one manifold which, in turn, is connected to at least one lubrication fitting. The lubrication fittings are connected to an outer surface of a seat housing of a ball valve as described above. Metered amounts of lubricant may thereafter be pumped through the lubrication fitting and to the soft and load bearing seals as well as to the ball component. In such an embodiment, a suitable lubricant metering system can be employed such as the Grease Jockey(copyright) system provided by Lubriquip, Inc.
In an embodiment, the lubrication pump is controlled by a controller.
In an embodiment, the lubrication pump is powered by air pressure.
In an embodiment, the lubrication pump is connected to lubrication fittings disposed on the pump itself and/or to lubrication fillings disposed on other components of the firefighting apparatus for purposes of preventative maintenance.
In an embodiment, the present invention provides an improved seal assembly for a ball valve which includes the seat member, load bearing seal and soft seal elements as described above.
In an embodiment, the present invention provides an improved configuration for a firefighting apparatus which includes a pump having a discharge outlet that is connected to the inlet end of a ball valve body. The valve body comprises an outlet end connected to an outlet conduit which passes through a housing panel. Thus, the valve body is disposed between the housing panel and the pump. The outlet conduit is also connected to a relief valve which also is disposed between the pump and the panel. Therefore, the ball valve and relief valve are disposed inside the housing panel, between said panel and said pump.
The present invention also provides an improved method of lubricating ball valves of firefighting apparatuses which comprises the step of pumping lubricant to a lubrication fitting connected to the outer surface of a seat housing of the improved ball valve assembly of the present invention as discussed above. Such an improved method can be carried out automatically using an automated system such as the Grease Jockey(copyright) system sold by Lubriquip, Inc.
It is therefore an advantage of the present invention to provide an improved seal assembly for ball valves.
Another advantage of the present invention is to provide an improved ball valve assembly.
Another advantage of the present invention is to provide improved ball valves for firefighting equipment.
Another advantage of the present invention is to provide an improved seal assembly for ball valves which combines benefits of load bearing seal elements and soft seal elements in a single seal assembly.
Another advantage of the present invention is that it provides an improved means for lubricating ball valves.
Yet another advantage of the present invention is that it provides ball valves for firefighting equipment that require less torque to open or close than that of prior art ball valves for firefighting equipment. Specifically, the load bearing seal reduces the operational torque of the valve by supporting the ball without adding additional pre-load to the seal. Further, the load bearing seal reduces the operational torque of the valve by acting as a wiper as well as a bearing for the ball. As a result, the load bearing seal decreases the drag or friction between the soft seal and the ball. Further, as the load bearing seal removes grit from the ball by acting as a wiper, also lubricates the ball surface. Thus, in addition to reducing the operational torque of the valve, the load bearing seal also extends the life of the soft seal by reducing the stresses on the soft seal. Still further, the load bearing seal acts as a secondary seal or a backup to the soft seal.
Another advantage of the present invention is that it provides an improved system for lubricating ball valves of firefighting equipment. By lubricating the ball valve, dirt and grime can be removed or washed off of the ball which extends the useful life of the seal members.
Yet another advantage of the present invention is that it provides an improved method for lubricating ball valves of firefighting equipment.
Still another advantage of the present invention is that it provides an improved ball valve whose position upon installation may be infinitely (or infinitely adjustable) rotated so as to make the actuator and serviceable elements of the ball valve more accessible.
And another advantage of the present invention is that it provides an improved firefighting apparatus configuration whereby the ball valve and relief valve are disposed behind the housing panel and between the panel and the pump.
Other objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following detailed description and appended claims, and upon reference to the accompanying drawings.


A method and system for airport or any other building security where passengers or persons entering a building are caused to undergo a positive identification (ID) check by fingerprint scan, retinal or iris scan, face feature scan, or by any other means of positive identification. A photograph can be taken also. This data, plus the positive ID, and any other optional data about the person, can be checked against government or law enforcement data bases for any government or law enforcement interest in the person. The person can be given an electronic card that can have wireless capability where the person can be tracked while inside the building, airport, or the airspace system. The system can be notified when the person enters any area, secure area, or when a person boards a means for transportation like an aircraft. The system can allow law enforcement to apprehend a person with law enforcement interest at a time and place convenient to law enforcement.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to airport security and in particular to a method and system for identifying and tracking a person, passenger, or employee in and through any building and in particular from and through airports and aircraft in the world air transportation system.
2. Description of Related Art
An identification badge is many times provided to employees of buildings or airports. Passengers in airports and visitors to buildings however are identified only by a single photo identification that is presented at check-in, or sometimes not at all in the case of buildings. Security consists of a series of questions concerning baggage and tickets. No check is made on the identity of the passenger except to ask for a government issued piece of ID like a driver's license or passport. There is no cross-checking as to whether the presented ID is valid or fraudulent. The passenger's location in the airport or building is not known or tracked. When the passenger checks into a flight, a boarding pass is presented and the passenger boards the aircraft. There is no verification that the same passenger who checked in is the one that boarded, and it is very easy for a boarded passenger to exit the aircraft after boarding without being noticed by anyone. Security at airports is minimal as to who a passenger is and where the passenger is in the airport.
Since Sep. 11, 2001, airport security has come under tighter scrutiny; however, there is still no way to positively identify a passenger or track a passenger's movements while they are in the airport or aircraft; no way to ascertain when they have passed through security or whether they have exited a secure area without boarding a plane; no way to prevent or detect someone passing through security more than once, and no way to be sure the person on the plane is the same person who passed through the security checkpoint and/or was issued a boarding pass. In the case of buildings, the situation is worse. In this case, once a visitor is admitted to the building, usually, but not always, by signing in, the visitor is usually free to wander anywhere on any floor. A skilled terrorist could easily gain access to a roof, basement, or mechanical room area without being detected. There is no verification whatsoever that the person who checked in is who he claimed to be or that he or she went where they said they were going.
Prior art airport systems have proposed electronic tickets and smartcards that can be carried by passengers. Tuttle in U.S. Pat. No. 5,914,671 presents a system for locating an individual in a facility where a portable wireless transponder device is carried by the individual. Tuttle's device resembles a standard security badge with a possible photo of the individual on the badge. Tuttle's invention is directed toward location of employees who would wear such badges. Tuttle states that a passenger could also possess such an identification and be located. However, Tuttle's patent was developed with the idea that a business traveler would not want to stand in line for a ticket, much less for an electronic interrogation, and mentions the use of curb-side baggage check-in. His method terminates once a passenger or bag enters an aircraft. He makes no reference to any type of security checking of the individual.
Yokozawa et al. in U.S. Pat. No. 5,740,369 present an information delivery system and portable information terminal where an individual possesses a smartcard type of wireless device and can be tracked by a wireless system. Yokozawa also describes a person passing through a check-in gate with the gate itself recognizing and communicating with the portable device by wireless means. While Yokozawa presents a wireless device carried by a passenger, there is no mention of the security aspects of the situation.
The prior art shows systems where passengers and/or employees carry wireless smartcards that communicate in data bases, but not via satellite or internet, and none of these systems solve, or even address, the tremendous security problem that exists at airports and other buildings where potential passengers could be terrorists, criminals or other dangerous persons. They do not address the problem of whether a passenger actually boards a flight and remains on the plane, and whether the passenger actually arrives and exits a second or subsequent airport, nor do they propose be tracked while aboard an aircraft with data transmitted ahead to connecting aircraft and/or customs/law enforcement/immigration officials. In the current airport system and prior art systems, there has historically been no connection or relationship between airline database information and security database information. Since Sep. 11, 2001, in the US, there has been some recent sharing of FBI information with airlines; however, this has been limited to lists of known terrorists. There has been no direct access from the airport to the law enforcement data base.
What is badly needed is the ability to screen passengers or visitors and move then through a terminal to their aircraft and then on to their destination, or through a building to their destination while knowing at all times who and where the passengers are.


This invention discloses a numbering and imprinting machine including a number cylinder, moving inker, first cleaning device, second cleaning device, inker position detector, and control device. The number cylinder includes at least one numbering device. The moving inker includes a number inker which supplies ink onto the number cylinder, and is movable between a printing position at which the number inker comes into contact with the number cylinder, and a retraction position at which the number inker separates from the number cylinder. The first cleaning device cleans the number cylinder. The second cleaning device cleans the number inker. The inker position detector detects the position of the moving inker. When the inker position detector detects that the moving inker is set at the printing position, the control device rotates the number cylinder, drives the number inker and controls cleaning operations by the first cleaning device and the second cleaning device.

The present invention relates to a numbering and imprinting machine which prints a number on an object to be printed.
A numbering and imprinting machine of this type includes a number cylinder, ink supply device, and moving inker, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 63-281883. The number cylinder is pivotally supported by main body frames, and prints a number on an object to be printed. The ink supply device supplies ink onto the number cylinder via a roller group. The moving inker is movably supported by the main body frames so that the ink supply device comes close to or separates from the number cylinder.
In the conventional numbering and imprinting machine as described above, in cleaning the ink supply device, the moving inker is set at a printing position at which a number is printed, and the ink supply device is actuated to rotate the roller group, thereby cleaning it. On the other hand, in cleaning the number cylinder, the number cylinder must be removed from the main body frames, and cleaned manually by the operator. It is therefore necessary to clean the ink supply device and the number cylinder in independent cleaning processes, which take a considerable time. It is also necessary to mount and remove the number cylinder on and from the main body frames to clean it, thus imposing a heavy burden on the operator.


To obtain an index print prepared by effectively utilizing photographic paper, magnetic information is read in accordance with feed of a negative film (202, 204), and a relevant index format is selected according to a number of photograph frames of the negative film to determine an index print size corresponding to the selected index format (206, 208). Next, each frame is subjected to exposure processing to accumulate image data respondent to the index format (210). Upon completion of the exposure processing of the negative film, the accumulated image data are read (212) to conduct index printing by using the read image data to cut in accordance with the index print size (214, 216). Accordingly, an index print is produced in a size respondent to a number of frames.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an apparatus and a method for preparing index prints, and in particular relates to an apparatus and a method for preparing index prints for forming, on one print, all image frames corresponding to one roll of photographic film.
2. Description of the Prior Art
One roll of photographic film has a plurality of frames capable of use for photographing. Several types are available, such as those for photographing 12, 24 or 36 shots, depending on the number of frames. An index print capable of corresponding to photographed images has been hitherto given to the customer in some cases to indicate the contents of the images photographed on one roll of photographic film. On the index print, images of a predetermined number of frames in a predetermined size, for example, 25 images (5.times.5) have been formed by using a size of one sheet of paper. Therefore, one index print has been given to the customer in case of photographic films for photographing 12 or 24 shots, and two index prints have been given to the customer in case of a photographic film for photographing 36 shots.
Accordingly, when the index print(s) having images of the predetermined number of frames in the predetermined size is (are) used, 13 frames with no recorded image or 1 frame with no recorded image remain in the index print for the photographic films for photographing 12 shots or 24 shots, and 14 frames with no recorded image remain on a second index print for the photographic film for photographing 36 shots. Thus the entire surface of the index print has not been utilized effectively.
For this reason, an apparatus for preparing index prints has been proposed, in which the contraction factor of the size of frames to be recorded on an index print is changed so as to include all photograph frames in one index print (see Japanese Patent Laid-open No. 1-96634).
However, in the conventional apparatus for preparing index prints, index frames become small as the number of frames increases, because the size of images formed on the index print varies depending on a number of photographed image frames. Thus a user has sometimes experienced problems in recognizing a desired image frame.

Apparatus and method for preparing index prints based on the number of frames to be indexed


An improved automatically retractable cutting device includes (a) a housing having a guide slot, with one or more notches disposed in the guide slot, (b) a return spring within the housing, and (c) a blade carrier disposed within the housing and biased by the return spring. The blade carrier includes a thumb piece extending through the guide slot, the thumb piece having a protuberance adapted to at least partially frictionally engage the notch during movement of the thumb piece along the guide slot to enable the thumb piece to be held in position adjacent to the notch with reduced force. Each notch may include a forward direction ramping surface, whereby reduced force is required to prevent further blade extension, and/or a reverse direction ramping surface, whereby reduced force is required to prevent blade retraction. Each ramping surface is preferably angled at less than ninety degrees. The housing may be formed by attachable halves, each of which includes notches, whereby the notches are substantially symmetrically aligned when the housing is assembled.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to an improved automatically retractable utility knife and more particularly to an improved automatically retractable utility knife having a modified blade carrier guide slot that decreases forward pressure on a user""s finger during extension of the utility blade.
2. Description of the Related Art
Automatically retractable utility knives, also known as safety knives, are well known in the art, including, for example, commonly owned U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,058,607 and 5,813,121, the contents of which are incorporated by reference herein in their entirety. Automatically retractable utility knives in a rested position feature a blade in a retracted position in a housing. Continuous application of pressure by a user on a thumb piece is required for the blade to remain in the projected position. A spring attached between the housing and a blade carrier automatically retracts the blade upon release of the thumb piece. The spring tension is such that when the blade is projected and inserted in a material being cut, e.g., cardboard, the friction between the blade and the material is generally sufficient to retain the blade in the projected position.
A drawback of this type of utility knife is that it requires constant pressure applied to the thumb piece to cause the blade to remain in the extended position before the cut. Since one object of automatically retractable knives is to retract the blade as quickly as possible to avoid injuring a user, high tension pull springs are frequently used. These springs require even greater continuous pressure on the thumb piece in order for the blade to remain in an exposed position prior to cutting. Through continued use, the user may become fatigued, which may lead to injury.
Accordingly, it would be desirable to have an automatically retractable utility knife with a partial locking mechanism that assists a user in retaining the blade in an extended position but that still permits automatic retraction of the blade.
The present invention is an improved automatically retractable cutting device having (a) a housing comprising a guide slot, (b) a return spring within the housing, and (c) a blade carrier disposed within the housing and biased by the return spring. The blade carrier includes a thumb piece extending through the guide slot for facilitating movement of the blade carrier in the housing to extend and retract a utility blade. The housing includes at least one notch disposed in the guide slot, and the thumb piece includes a protuberance adapted to at least partially engage the notch during movement of the thumb piece along the guide slot to enable the thumb piece to be held in position adjacent to the notch with reduced force. The protuberance is adapted to frictionally engage the at least one notch. The notch may include a forward direction ramping surface, whereby reduced force is required to prevent further blade extension, and/or a reverse direction ramping surface, whereby reduced force is required to prevent blade retraction.
An alternative improved cutting device includes (a) a housing having a guide slot; and (b) an automatically retractable blade carrier disposed within the housing. The blade carrier comprises a thumb piece extending through the guide slot for facilitating movement of the blade carrier in the housing to extend and retract a utility blade. The guide slot includes one or more notches, each having at least one surface ramped at an angle of less than ninety degrees. The thumb piece is adapted to frictionally engage the at least one notch, preferably by means of a protuberance on the thumb piece.
A further alternative improved cutting device includes a housing having a guide slot, a blade carrier having a thumb piece extending through the guide slot for facilitating movement of the blade carrier in the housing to extend and retract a utility blade, and a return spring within the housing for biasing the blade carrier. A plurality of notches is disposed along a length of the guide slot, and the thumb piece is adapted to frictionally engage each of the plurality of notches in order to decrease user force to maintain extension of the utility blade.
A cutting device according to the invention includes a housing having an upper portion and a lower portion adapted for assembly, a return spring within the housing, and a blade carrier disposed within the housing. The blade carrier is biased by the return spring and includes a thumb piece for facilitating movement of the blade carrier in the housing to extend and retract a utility blade. The housing includes a guide slot formed by the upper portion and lower portion. That portion of the guide slot on the upper portion includes a first set of notches, and that portion of the guide slot on the lower portion includes a second set of notches, with the first and second set of notches being substantially symmetrically aligned when the upper and lower portions of the housing are assembled. The thumb piece frictionally engages at least one of the first and second sets of notches during extension of the blade. If desired, a protuberance may be included on the thumb piece to at least partially engage each notch during movement of the thumb piece.

Utility knife with pressure reducing slot


A method for manufacturing an electro luminescent element includes a process of forming a light emitting layer and a photoresist layer in this order, on the base substance; a process of pattern exposing and then developing the photoresist layer, so as to the part corresponding to a predetermined light emitting part of the photoresist layer remains; a process of forming a light emitting part which its surface is covered with the photoresist layer, by removing the light emitting layer which is bared because the photoresist layer is removed; a process of forming a photoresist layer on the base substance, so as to cover the light emitting part; and a process of pattern exposing and then developing the photoresist layer, so as not to bare the light emitting part and the end part thereof.

An EL element couples a hole and an electron, injected from counter electrodes, in a light emitting layer, excites the fluorescent substance in the light emitting layer by the energy, and emits a light of the color corresponding to the fluorescent substance, attracts the attention as a self light emitting flat display element. In particular, an organic thin film EL display using an organic substance as a light emitting material has a high light emitting efficiency and capable of realizing a high luminance light emission even with less than 10 V applied voltage, capable of emitting a light in a simple element structure, and thus application thereof to the advertisement of displaying a specific pattern by light emission and other inexpensive simple displays is expected.
In the manufacturing of the display using such EL element, in general, an electrode layer and an organic EL layer are patterned. As methods for patterning the EL element, a method of deposition of the light emitting material via a shadow mask, a method of divisional coating by ink jetting, a method of destroying a specific light emitting dye by the ultraviolet ray irradiation, a screen printing method, or the like can be presented. However, in these methods, it was impossible to provide a method for manufacturing an EL element, capable of realizing all of, a high light emitting efficiency, a high light taking out efficiency, a simple manufacturing process, and a high precision pattern formation.
As means for solving these problems, a method for manufacturing an EL element of forming a light emitting layer by patterning using a photolithography method has been proposed. According to the method, compared with the conventionally conducted patterning method by the deposition, since a vacuum equipment comprising a highly accurate alignment mechanism, or the like is not needed, manufacturing can be conducted relatively easily and inexpensively. In contrast, compared with the patterning method using the ink jet method, it is preferable in that a pre-process to a structure, base substance, or the like for aiding patterning, is not conducted. Furthermore, from the relationship with the ejection accuracy of an ink jet head, the photolithography method is considered as a more preferable method for a high precision pattern formation, and thus it is advantageous.
As a method for forming a plurality of light emitting parts by such photolithography method, for example, a method shown in FIG. 5 has been proposed.
First, as shown in FIG. 5A, a patterned first electrode layer 32 is formed on a base substance 31, and furthermore, a first light emitting layer coating solution 33 is coated on the entire surface thereon. Then, as shown in FIG. 5B, a positive type resist 34 is coated on the entire surface, and as shown in FIG. 5C, masking only the part, which a first light emitting part is to be formed, with a photomask 35, it is exposed with an ultraviolet ray 36 excluding the part.
By developing the same with a resist developing agent and cleaning with water, the resist in the exposed part is removed a shown in FIG. 5D. Furthermore, by developing with a solvent of the light emitting layer, as shown in FIG. 5E, the bared first light emitting layer 33 is removed, so that the resist and a first light emitting part 33′ covered with the resist remain.
Then, by the same method for forming the first light emitting part 33′, as shown in FIG. 5F, a second light emitting layer coating solution 37 is coated on the entire surface. At the time, as it is apparent from FIG. 5F, there is a part where the second light emitting layer coating solution 37 coated on the entire surface and the first light emitting part 33′ are contacted with each other. That is, as mentioned above, the first light emitting part 33′ remaining on the base substance 31 has its surface covered with the positive type resist, but the end part "a" developed with the light emitting layer developing agent is bared. Therefore, when the second light emitting layer coating solution 37 is coated thereon, the first light emitting part 33′ and the second light emitting layer coating solution are contacted at the end part "a". At the time, there is a problem of generating troubles of color mixture or pixel narrowing due to elution of the first light emitting part into the second light emitting layer coating solution.
Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 5G, the positive type resist 34 is coated on the entire surface, and as shown in FIG. 5H, masking the parts, which the first and second light emitting parts are to be formed, with the photomask 35, the other part is exposed with the ultraviolet ray 36.
By developing the same with a resist developing agent, cleaning with water, and furthermore, developing with a solvent of the light emitting layer, as shown in FIG. 5I, only the bared second light emitting layer 37 is removed so that a second light emitting part 37′ covered with the resist 34 is formed.
Furthermore, by the same method for forming the first and second light emitting parts, as shown in FIG. 5J, a third light emitting layer coating solution 38 is coated. At the time, as it is apparent from FIG. 5J, the first light emitting part and the third light emitting layer coating solution are contacted at the end part "a" of the first light emitting part 33′ formed initially, and furthermore, the second light emitting part and the third light emitting layer coating solution are contacted at the end part "b" of the second light emitting part 37′. Similarly, at the time, there is a possibility of generating troubles of color mixture, pixel narrowing, or the like due to elution of the first light emitting part 33′ and the second light emitting part 37′ into the third light emitting layer coating solution.
Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 5K, the positive type resist 34 is coated on the entire surface, and masking the parts, which the first, second and third light emitting parts are to be formed, with the photomask 35, the other part is exposed with the ultraviolet ray 36.
By developing the same with a resist developing agent, cleaning with water, and developing with a solvent of the light emitting layer, as shown in FIG. 5L, only the bared third light emitting layer 38 is removed so that only the part covered with the resist remains. Furthermore, by conducting a peeling treatment with a resist peeling solution, the layers above the part which the resist is formed are peeled off so that the light emitting parts of three colors including the first light emitting part 33′, the second light emitting part 37′ and the third light emitting part 38′ are formed in a bared state as shown in FIG. 5M.
Finally, as shown in FIG. 5N, by forming a second electrode layer 39 on these light emitting parts, an EL element which discharges an EL light emission 40 to the lower direction in the figure can be manufactured.
As mentioned above, according to the photolithography method, since the patterned end part "a" of the first light emitting part and the end part "b" of the second light emitting part are not covered with the photoresist layer, there is a problem that the patterned light emitting parts elute into the light emitting layer coating solution to be coated later at the end part thereof so as to generate color mixture and pixel narrowing at the time of coating the subsequent light emitting layer coating solution.

Method for fabricating electroluminescent element


Disclosed herein are self-mixing interferometry (SMI) sensors, such as may include vertical cavity surface emitting laser (VCSEL) diodes and resonance cavity photodetectors (RCPDs). Structures for the VCSEL diodes and RCPDs are disclosed. In some embodiments, a VCSEL diode and an RCPD are laterally adjacent and formed from a common set of semiconductor layers epitaxially formed on a common substrate. In some embodiments, a first and a second VCSEL diode are laterally adjacent and formed from a common set of semiconductor layers epitaxially formed on a common substrate, and an RCPD is formed on the second VCSEL diode. In some embodiments, a VCSEL diode may include two quantum well layers, with a tunnel junction layer between them. In some embodiments, an RCPD may be vertically integrated with a VCSEL diode.

Electronic devices are commonplace in today's society. Example electronic devices include cell phones, tablet computers, personal digital assistants, and the like. Some of these electronic devices include one or more input elements or surfaces, such as buttons or touch screens, through which a user may enter commands or data by applying a touch or a press. The touch or press may be detected by components of the electronic device that detect displacement or motion of the input elements or surfaces.
Such detection components may make use of light sources in which a light beam, such as a laser, is emitted toward the input surface. Detection of displacement or movement of the input surface may be inferred from reflections or backscatter of the emitted laser light from the input surface.
A particular category of such detection components may include VCSEL diodes. A VCSEL diode may undergo self-mixing interference, in which reflections of its emitted laser light are received back into its lasing cavity and shift a property of the emitted laser light, such as wavelength, to a different state from what it would be in the absence of received reflections (i.e., free emission). In the case that the received reflections are from an input surface, the shift in the property may be correlated with the displacement or motion of the input surface.

Self-mixing interference device for sensing applications


A random access memory array is used as a shift register. Data is written into different locations in a first column of the memory and then gradually transferred successively to any other number of columns in the memory. Such column-to-column data transfer is the result of reading data from each column and presenting it for writing in the next column. To compensate for latency (delay) in the column-to-column data transfer, the circuitry that controls reading is kept ahead of the circuitry that controls writing by a number of read/write cycles that takes approximately the same amount of time as the column-to-column data transfer delay.

This invention relates to implementation of shift registers using memory arrays.
Lin et al. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/140,312, filed May 6, 2002, shows a technique for using a memory array (e.g., random access memory or "RAM") to implement a shift register. In this technique special-purpose interconnections are providing in the memory array for selectively routing data read out of one column of the array into another column of the array. This technique also employs a single counter for providing both read and write addresses for the memory array.
The technique shown in the above-mentioned reference has many advantages. There may be some situations, however, in which this technique does not meet a user's needs. For example, the technique in the above-mentioned reference introduces extra switching into the data input path to the memory, which adds to and somewhat complicates the circuitry, and which may also slow down the input path to the memory. Because neither input nor output registers are included in the special-purpose routing that is added to the memory, the memory may have to be operated sub-optimally (i.e., at less than maximum speed) to ensure that no data is lost in routing it from one memory column to the next.

Memory implementations of shift registers


A dipstick for measuring oil levels provides an electronic indication when oil in an internal combustion engine sump is low or high. The electronic dipstick does not have to be removed as is normal for most dipsticks which determine level from observing a wet line on the stick. The dipstick has an elongated member for insertion into an aperture of a sump, the member has a high mark and a low mark thereon representing oil level in the sump. A float is mounted for movement within a cage integral with the elongated member, the float having a magnet to activate a switch. A first switch is associated with the high level and a second switch is associated with the low level. An indicating arrangement indicates when the magnet in the float activates either the first switch and/or the second switch.

Internal combustion engines whether gasoline or diesel, automotive, marine or stationary types rely on adequate lubricating oil supply for their operation. To monitor the level of lubricating oil in the sump of an internal combustion engine, a dipstick is used. This is manually withdrawn, wiped, reinserted withdrawn again and the wet line of the oil is observed.
As long as the wet line falls between a high level mark and a low level mark on the dipstick, the level is acceptable. When the oil level drops to the low level mark, the oil must be replenished.
Most internal combustion engines have an oil pressure switch which is activated when the oil level is low. Insufficient oil causes a low pressure and the switch provides a warning of this event. However, when this occurs the engine must be immediately stopped as the quantity of oil does not provide sufficient oil pressure to lubricate the engine.
The dipstick with a high mark and a low mark on it is the standard way to determine oil level in most vehicle engines and in marine engines. There is no automatic system available that indicates whether the oil level in the sump of an engine is at or below the low mark, between the low mark and the high mark or above the high mark.
Magnetically activated reed switches are known for determining liquid level. Some systems provide a continuous sensing level utilizing resistors and electronic circuits to provide a variable level indication.

Electronic dipstick for indicating the oil level of an engine


A face is detected and identified in a digital image. A weight is calculated and assigned to the detected face based on characteristics of the face and social media connections between the person identified from the face and a target viewer of the digital image. One or more image effects are applied to the digital image to visually distinguish the detected face from other parts of the digital image and/or in relation to other faces detected in the image.

Automated facial detection and recognition in digital images are emerging popular features as users of social media networks seek better methods of organizing and sharing their digital image libraries. Many software applications and methods exist for detecting faces in an image. Some applications go further by using facial recognition to identify specific people pictured in an image. The software may then draw attention to the faces by adding a box or outline to the image, or labeling the faces with names or other information for each identified person. Some applications crop each detected face and save each face in a separate image file. Existing face detection methods, however, treat all recognized faces in an image equally, applying the same effects to each face without regard to the viewer's actual social relationship to the person identified in the image. Currently, if a viewer wishes to alter an image so as to visually distinguish the most important people to him or her in an image, the viewer must do so manually.

System and method for visually distinguishing faces in a digital image


Methods and systems are disclosed that include an optical device for providing information about one or more samples. The system includes well(s) for holding the sample(s), and in one embodiment, the optical device(s) have non-parallel sidewalls optically contacting the well(s) for providing the information about the sample(s) in the well(s). In some embodiments the optical devices may be truncated prism(s). In some embodiments the optical devices are part of a unibody structure with the well(s).

Optical techniques, including prism refractometry, interferometry, and surface plasmon resonance (SPR), have long been used for measuring optical properties of samples, such as index of refraction.
Refractometers have been used in the field of analytical chemistry for measuring the index of refraction of liquids for analytical purposes. Modern automatic refractometers determine the critical angle between transmission and total internal reflection in an optical prism of known high refractive index. At the interface between a liquid sample and a higher index prism, the critical angle θcrit is defined by sin(θcrit)=nlow/nhigh, where nhigh is the refractive index of the prism and nlow is the index of the liquid being measured. With knowledge of the refractive index of the prism, by measuring the critical angle, the index of the liquid being measured can be calculated.
Waveguide interferometry, which can measure very small shifts in interference patterns generated by minute changes in refractive index, is inherently more sensitive than prism refractometry. However, the waveguide interface to the sample is also inherently more expensive.
SPR takes advantage of the fact that at a unique narrow range of angles, a thin layer of metal does not reflect light as well as it does at other angles. In this narrow range of angles, energy is transferred from light rays striking the metal into the metal itself. The energy is transferred into the metal instead of being reflected because of the surface plasmon resonance effect. The pronounced reduction in reflection occurring at that narrow range of angles produces an attenuated band within an otherwise bright region of reflected light that shines on a detector. The narrow range of angles depends on index of refraction of a material that is on the opposite surface of the thin metal. Thus, a chemical reaction in a material on that opposite surface that changes its index can result in a shift in the narrow range of angles. This shift can be detected, providing a way to determine that a reaction occurred or to follow the reaction dynamically.
While each of these systems has been studied and used, all remain complex and expensive to use, require complex handling of materials, provide contamination issues, have required careful preparation, and/or present challenges for uses demanding high throughput.


An inhibitor of the proliferation of herpesviruses and of the recurrence of affections caused by their latent infection, which is an active material obtained by fractional purification of the aqueous extract from cultured Lentinus edodes mycelia.

The human herpesvirus is a typical envelop virus having double-stranded DNA in its nucleocapsid, and is known to cause a variety of affections to an organism infected with it. In this category of human herpesviruses, these viruses are known: herpes simplex viruses type 1 and 2 (HSV1 and 2), varicella-herpes zoster viruses (VZV), cytomegaloviruses (CMV), Epstein-Barr viruses (EBV) and human herpesvirus type 6 (HHV6).
These viruses are characterized in that after a living body is infected with them first in its early childhood, they infect it latently, that is, continue to be alive as long as the living body lives. As the immunity of the organism changes, their affection recurs and is cured repeatedly throughout its life. In this course, some affections caused by the viruses are so grave that their infected living bodies die. Concerning immunosuppression during organ transplantation, the reinfection and reactivation of this virus affect the result of the operation of organ transplantation itself, so the development of an antiviral agent against herpesviruses is urgently needed for such operations.
This virus is also known for its causing a fatal affection or a sequela such as cerebritis to a fetus or newborn child by infection of mother and fetus by way of transplacental infection. More and more details are known of its relation with the manifestation of symptoms of venereal diseases such as genital herpes (herpes simplex virus type 2), epipharynx cancer, Burkitt lymphoma (EB virus), Kaposi sarcoma (CMV) and AIDS (HHV6). Recently in the course of development molecular biology has made a large number of discoveries related to herpesvirus components. Information has been growing in amount on the mechanism and role of glycoprotein specific to these viruses, enzyme activity in them such as thymidine kinase activity, the characteristic mechanism of genome DNA, latent infection, the base sequences related to the canceration of cells and so forth. However, many points remain to be explained in connection with herpesviruses' life cycle seen in the relation among this virus, its infected cell and the immunity of the organism during latent infection and reinfection, being part of the obstacles to developing an inhibitor against the virus.
As understood from the above, this virus is a dangerous one which has very high pathogenicity, and thus a therapeutic agent against it is urgently needed. However, aciclovir is the only remedy now in use. To make matters worse, the application of the remedy is limited, since the possibility cannot be denied that it has a side effect such as teratogenic effect etc. because it is an antagonist to nucleic acid synthesis.
Since olden times, various physiological active substances arising from mushrooms have been known, and some are used today as medicine. For example, Klestin (Yanagawa et al., Cancer and Chemotherapy 11, 2155, 1985), Lentinan (Suga et al., Cancer Research 44, 5162, 1984), Shizofiran are used as antitumor agents. The active principles of these agents are polysaccharides or glycoprotein arising from bacteria, and their effect is thought to be given by a biological response modifier (BRM) stimulating the immune system of a living body. These agents have no directly antiviral effect.
Recently, it has been reported that pllysaccharides having sulfuric acid radicals, for instance dextran sulfuric acid, show antiviral activity against AIDS viruses (Mitsuya et al., Science 240, 646, 1988). Further, Tochikura and his group suggest that the LEM which is hot water extract of cultured Lentinus edodes mycelia (Med. Microboil. Immunol. 177, 235, 1988) has the same kind of activity. However, these have been nothing but infection inhibiting activity shown in vitro in the inhibition of the absorption of viruses to cells or of the fusion of infected cells with normal cells.
The method of producing the LEM is already described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 53-10117. Various kinds of activity in vivo shown by the LEM have been disclosed. This material has been in use as pesticide against the infection with tobacco mosaic viruses. It has been reported to have clinical effect against hepatitis. The LEM is known to be made up of a mixture or complex of polysaccharides whose principal constituent is xylose and arabinose, water-soluble lignin and peptide and diverse inorganic substances, so has a long record of use as health food. With regard to origin as well as constitution, it has an entirely different property from that of Klestin, Lentinan and Shizofiran whose active constituents are conventional chemicals such as glucan and glycoproten.
As described earlier, human herpesviruses cause a grave affection, but their remedies are too few and their application is limited. The development of a therapy for affections caused by these viruses and of a therapeutic agent against them is, therefore, a very pressing problem.
Agents in current use against the viruses, aciclovir and BV-araU which is at present being clinically experimented with are analogues of nucleic acid, and target an enzyme existing in a nucleic acid synthesis system specific to the viruses in order to inhibit the nucleic acid synthesis. However, this does not necessarily work without affecting the nucleic acid synthesis system on the side of the living body. They are really chemicals whose side effects cannot be denied. Thus, a safer and more effective medical agent is required today.
The object of the present invention is, therefore, to provide a safe and entirely new therapeutic agent different from conventional antiviral agents against herpesviruses, which is for inhibiting the proliferation of herpesviruses in cells and the reactivation of and the reinfection with these viruses in an organism which has received a latent infection with the viruses.

Inhibitor of the proliferation of herpes viruses and inhibitor of the recurrence of affections caused by their latent infection


Disclosed is a catheter having a flexible tube and a sharpened needle secured to the catheter at its distal end. The catheter does not require a separate sharpened instrument to enable insertion into an anatomical passageway. The sharpened needle of the catheter remains disposed within an anatomical passageway during treatment. Also disclosed is a catheter assembly comprising the catheter and a safety inserter. The safety inserter has a blunt end and facilitates the insertion of the catheter by providing a mechanism to urge the sharpened needle of the catheter into an anatomical passageway. Also disclosed is an improved needle tip which minimizes trauma to an anatomical passageway. Also disclosed are methods of using and forming the catheter, catheter assembly and needle tip.

The present invention relates to an improved catheter, and more particularly to an improved catheter which provides an increased viable lifetime and also minimizes potential trauma to the patient and the possibility of accidental needle contact with the medical practitioner.
Catheters are used for introducing fluids into an anatomical passageway of a patient undergoing treatment. Typically, a catheter is inserted into the anatomical passageway, such as a blood vessel. The catheter is then connected to an administration line from which fluids are introduced into the patient""s vascular system through the catheter. Alternatively, catheters may be placed directly into tissue of a patient, such as a muscle or organ so that a fluid medication may be administered directly to a specific site asystemically as is well understood by those of skill in the art.
There are various methods of inserting a catheter into an anatomical passageway. These methods typically involve the use of a sharpened metal needle in conjunction with the catheter. In one such method the metal needle defines a lumen. The metal needle is inserted into the patient""s anatomical passageway. Once the needle is in place, the catheter is introduced through the lumen and into the passageway. This type of catheter system is known as a through-the-needle system. Once the catheter is inserted, the needle is removed. This requires the medical practitioner to pull the needle with its sharp edge out of the patient and guide it over or along the catheter until it is removed.
Another type of catheter system is the over-the-needle system. In such a system, a catheter is placed over a rigid needle. The needle and catheter are simultaneously inserted into the patient""s anatomical passageway. Thereafter, the needle is withdrawn from the interior of the catheter, leaving the catheter disposed within the patient.
A common problem associated with many over-the-needle catheters is that they tend to travel axially away from the tip of the needle and thus collapse during the insertion procedure. The patient""s skin and tissue tend to resist the introduction of a catheter and push the distal tip of the catheter body backward. The catheter body thus wrinkles in an accordion or bellows-like manner over the needle as the distal end of the catheter travels backward toward the proximal end thereof while the needle is urged through the skin and tissue. This tendency of the catheter to wrinkle results from urging the catheter into the patient by applying a force to a separate needle as opposed to the catheter. Currently, virtually all over-the-needle catheters are formed of a single thermoplastic material such as polyvinylchloride (PVC), Teflon(copyright) polyurethane or the like, which provides stiff columnar strength during insertion. The catheter also remains relatively stiff when disposed within an anatomical passageway. Such stiffness traumatizes the walls of the anatomical passageway and typically requires removal of the catheter from the passageway or vessel in two days or less.
An over-the-needle catheter is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,533,988, issued on Jul. 9, 1996 to Dickerson et al. and entitled xe2x80x9cOver-The-Needle Catheterxe2x80x9d. The catheter includes a flexible body and a hardened tip at the distal end. The hardened tip forms an abutment at the distal end of the catheter. A rigid needle extends within the catheter during the insertion process. The rigid needle engages the abutment in an attempt to prevent the catheter body from collapsing during the insertion process. The hardened tip may comprise a metal, among other materials. Optionally, the tip may comprise a plastic material which softens upon contact with moisture or upon reaching a temperature approximately equal to the patient""s body temperature.
A significant disadvantage of both the prior art through-the-needle and over-the-needle systems is that a sharpened needle must be removed once the catheter has been inserted into the patient. Removal of the sharpened needle undesirably exposes both the patient and the medical practitioner to accidental contact with the needle, a continuing problem in view of the highly contagious and/or fatal nature of such diseases as AIDS and Hepatitis A. Removal of the sharpened needle with the catheter in place also presents the problem of damage to the catheter itself.
Certain modifications have been made to minimize the possibility of accidental contact of patients or medical practitioners with the needle. One such modification is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,683,370, issued Nov. 4, 1997 to Luther et al. entitled xe2x80x9cHard Tip Over-The-Needle Catheter and Method of Manufacturing the Same.xe2x80x9d The catheter assembly includes an introducing needle which includes a cylindrical protective guard or sheath which is slidably advanced over the sharp tip of the needle after the catheter is inserted and the needle is removed from the patient.
However, current devices and methods still require some action by the medical practitioner to remove and dispose of a sharpened needle immediately after inserting the catheter. The timing of this procedure presents drawbacks. Often a catheter is inserted at a moment when time is of the essence. For example, the patient may require emergency medical treatment. The risks associated with the removal of such sharp objects therefore could be minimized by waiting until the patient""s treatment is concluded, a time which often involves less haste and less risk to adversely affect a patient""s health.
In addition to the above-described drawbacks associated with present catheters, catheters have also exhibited a limited useful lifetime or viability. For example, present intravenous catheters typically need to be removed approximately every forty-eight hours and then a new catheter is inserted into a different area of the passageway to leave the passageway wall intact. Thus, a catheter must be replaced numerous times in even a short hospital stay by a patient which increases the risks of accidental sticks and contamination. Additional drawbacks are present as well. The removal and reinsertion of catheters increases the trauma to the patient""s anatomical passageways, e.g. blood vessels. The frequent replacement of catheters during the course of a patient""s treatment also increases medical costs, in terms of both time and materials. Accordingly, a catheter would ideally remain in place until the patient""s need for treatment with a catheter is completed. Several factors, however, affect how long a catheter may remain viable.
The principal reason for the need to frequently remove and replace a catheter relates to the trauma it causes to the patient""s anatomical passageways such as blood vessels. The trauma may be caused by movement of the patient and/or the portion of the catheter assembly located outside the patient. For example, with regard to an intravenous catheter such external movement is translated to the portion of the catheter located within the patient""s vein and causes the catheter to press against the inside wall of the vein. Such pressure may lead to damage to the inner walls of the patient""s vein or even internal bleeding. The flexibility of a catheter affects the degree to which it presses against the inside of the vein. Although catheters are generally flexible, they have not heretofore been flexible enough to alleviate the problem associated with a catheter pressing against the inside of a patient""s anatomical passageway.
Another problem associated with catheters relates to undesirable clotting of blood sometimes associated with certain materials of construction. Depending upon the material of construction of the catheter, blood may form clots when it is drawn up into the catheter. One such material which sometimes causes blood to clot is Teflon(copyright). Although the flow of fluids is typically from the catheter into the patient, the flow sometimes reverses. For example, when an instrument is removed from the fluid communication line connected to the catheter, it may result in a small decrease in pressure within the catheter thereby causing fluid to back up into the catheter from the patient""s vascular system. When the fluid within the tip of the catheter includes blood it may sometimes clot within the Teflon(copyright) catheter. Once flow is returned to normal, the clotted blood may be introduced back into the patient""s vascular system. This can lead to various problems. Because the tip of the catheter remains in contact with the blood when the catheter is disposed within a blood vessel, the material of construction of the inner portion of the catheter tip often plays a significant role in the degree of undesirable clotting.
The needle tip used in connection with the insertion of catheters, whether it be over-the-needle or through-the-needle systems, is typically formed by an oblique angle cut at the end of a hollow tube or cannula. While a needle formed in such a manner is highly effective for insertion, it can sometimes pass entirely through an anatomical passageway such as a blood vessel or can damage the opposing wall of the passageway during the insertion process. The degree to which such deleterious effects can be avoided depends almost entirely on the skill of the medical practitioner performing the insertion. Moreover, when the needle tip is to remain within the passageway for an extended period during treatment, such conventional needle tips may increase the possibility of trauma to the inside surface of the passageway depending upon the particular application. Therefore, a new catheter with a safety inserter is needed by those skilled in the art to increase safety of patients and healthcare workers alike.
The present invention provides a catheter comprising a flexible tube with a sharpened needle tip permanently secured to a distal end of the catheter to facilitate insertion of the catheter into a patient""s anatomical passageway. The sharpened needle tip secured to the catheter remains within the patient""s blood vessel during treatment. As a result, the invention does not require that a separate sharpened needle be inserted with the catheter and then removed immediately after the catheter is properly positioned.
Another feature of this invention is that it provides a catheter with increased flexibility to minimize trauma to the interior of an anatomical passageway such as a blood vessel, which increases the time period during which the catheter remains viable within the patient, and also increases the length of catheter which can be maintained within the anatomical passageway. The flexibility of the tube allows the needle tip to be flow directed towards the center of the vessel thereby minimizing trauma to the vessel and increasing the time period during which the catheter remains viable.
An additional advantage of the preferred embodiment of this invention is that it provides a catheter tip formed of a material which minimizes the clotting of blood which may back up into the catheter.
The preferred embodiment uses a retaining material adjacent the distal end of the flexible tube and extending around a portion of the circumference of the sharpened needle tip to secure the needle tip to the distal end of the catheter. To provide further support to the needle, one or more cavities are advantageously formed in the outer surface of the needle, which are filled with the material of the flexible tube, the retaining material, or both. Additional securement is provided by the melting and mingling of the two plastic materials comprising the flexible tube and retaining material when the needle tip is affixed to the distal end of the catheter.
A further feature of the preferred catheter assembly apparatus and method is that insertion of the catheter into a blood vessel or the like does not require a separate sharpened inserter to be used with the catheter. The catheter assembly comprises a catheter and a safety inserter. The safety inserter may be removably engaged within the catheter. Preferably, the inserter comprises a base portion and a distal end portion. The proximal end of the safety inserter is sized to accommodate a hydrophilic filter plug and/or a luer tip of a syringe. The distal end portion is sized to fit within the sharpened needle tip. The base portion is sized to fit within the flexible tube and to abut an annular shoulder formed by the proximate edge of the needle tip. Preferably, this inserter has a blunt distal end since the sharpened needle tip secured to the distal end of a flexible tube enables insertion of the catheter into the patient""s anatomical passageway such as a blood vessel.
In accordance with a further aspect of the present invention, the safety inserter has a closed distal end and corresponds to the shape of the needle tip at the distal end of the catheter. Such a catheter is particularly useful as an epidural catheter or a catheter to access implanted ports wherein no flashback is required.
In accordance with a further aspect, the invention provides a needle tip and method of forming the same wherein the point of the needle tip is substantially aligned with a central axis of the lumen defined by the needle tip or cannula from which it was derived. The improved needle tip minimizes the risk of injury to walls of an anatomical passageway.
Further features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those of skill in the art in view of the detailed description of preferred embodiments which follow, when considered together with the attached claims.

Intravenous infusion needle with soft body


Various examples include microelectromechanical die for sensing motion that includes symmetrical proof-mass electrodes interdigitated with asymmetrical stator electrodes. Some of these examples include electrodes that are curved around an axis orthogonal to the plane in which the electrodes are disposed. An example provides vertical flexures coupling an inner gimbal to a proof-mass in a manner permitting flexure around a horizontal axis.

Quadrature error is one of the primary factors that limit the performance of micromachined sensors such as gyroscopes. Considering the relative magnitudes of the drive and sense oscillations, even an extremely small part of the drive motion coupling into a sense-mode could dominate over the Coriolis response.
Practically, fabrication imperfections may result in less-than-ideal geometries in structures such as gyroscope structures. Less-than-ideal geometries can cause a drive oscillation to partially couple into a sense-mode. Even though several cross-coupling approaches exist, such as elastic, viscous and electrostatic coupling approaches, in certain cases the elastic coupling due to anisoelasticity in the suspension elements increases in magnitude beyond a desired level.
In sensor systems such as gyroscope systems with out-of-plane operational modes, anisoelasticity between the in-plane and out-of-plane directions is the dominating source of Quadrature error. Sidewall tilt or skew in deep reactive-ion etching ("DRIE") can result in deviation of the cross-section of the flexure bearings from a rectangle to a parallelogram, causing the principle axes of elasticity of the suspension flexure bearings to deviate from parallel and orthogonal to the device surface. In an example, single or multi-axis micromachined sensor structures such as gyroscope structures can suffer from high-quadrature error caused at least in part by DRIE skew.
Additionally, prior resonators rely on simple straight flexure bearings to generate a flexing structure to allow the device to displace in resonance. This creates significant problems when etching creates a skew in the flexure bearing, causing large undesired displacement, often actuating a sense mechanism.

MEMS multi-axis gyroscope Z-axis electrode structure