In a fixing device, a heat roller and a fixing gear for rotating the heat roller are arranged concentrically, and coupled to each other by inserting a key formed in the fixing gear into a keyway formed in the heat roller. The keyway is designed such that the key is allowed to move along a direction in which the heat roller is rotated. For example, the keyway is formed by notching a free end of a one-side rotary shaft of the heat roller so as to extend along the direction in which the heat roller is rotated.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a fixing device for fixing a toner image formed on a recording sheet, onto the recording sheet, as well as to an image forming apparatus having the fixing device.
2. Description of the Related Art
An electrophotographic image forming apparatus for forming images by means of electrophotography, such as a copying machine and a printer, is provided with a fixing device. As the fixing device, as shown in FIG. 2 for explaining the invention which will hereafter be described, there is known a fixing device 7 having a heat roller 71 which is heated by a heating portion and a pressure roller 72 which is brought into contact with the heat roller 71 under a predetermined contact pressure. In the fixing device 7, a recording sheet, for example, recording paper 202, having a yet-to-be heated developer e.g. toner transferred to its surface 202a which served as an image surface in a transfer device at a preceding step and is now going to face the heat roller 71, is fed between the heat roller 71 and the pressure roller 72 so that the yet-to-be heated developer is fixed onto the recording sheet 202.
In order to convey the recording sheet 202, the fixing device 7 has a post-fixing roller 75 and a post-fixing driven roller element 76 which rotates depending on the rotation of the post-fixing roller 75, that are located posteriorly of the heat roller 71 in a direction P in which the recording sheet 202 is conveyed; that is, located downstream of the heat roller 71 in a conveyance direction P. As the post-fixing roller 75 is rotated, with the recording medium 202 caught in the space between the post-fixing roller 75 and the post-fixing driven roller element 76, these rollers convey the recording sheet 202.
FIG. 13 is an exploded perspective view showing a heat roller 300 in a disassembled state, which is provided in a fixing device 400 according to a related art, and FIG. 14 is a side view of the heat roller 300, as viewed from one side in an axial direction thereof. In FIG. 14, a one-side rotary shaft 302 is illustrated by cross-hatching. The one-side rotary shaft 302 is a rotary shaft which extends in one axial direction from a roller main body 301 of the heat roller 300. In the heat roller 300, a key 311 formed in a fixing gear 310 fitted to a keyway 303 formed in the one-side rotary shaft 302, whereby the fixing gear 310 and the roller main body 301 are coupled to each other and are thus allowed to rotate together. The keyway 303 is so formed as to prevent the key 311 from moving along a direction in which the heat roller 300 is rotated. To be specific, the keyway 303 extends linearly in the axial direction and is substantially the same in size as the key 311 when viewed along the rotation direction of the heat roller 300.
FIG. 15 is a view for explaining a transmission mechanism of a driving force toward the heat roller 300 and the post-fixing roller in accordance with the related art. The heat roller 300 and the post-fixing roller are driven to rotate by a driving section 321. In order to rotate the heat roller 300 and the post-fixing roller, the driving section 321 uses a motor (not shown) to rotate a paper discharge roller-side gear 320 which is engaging with the fixing gear 310, thus causing the fixing gear 310 to rotate. The driving force exerted by the motor is transmitted in a direction indicated by an arrow B from the paper discharge roller-side gear 320 to the fixing gear 310 through which the driving force is transmitted in a direction indicated by an arrow C to the heat roller 300. The post-fixing roller is rotated under the driving force transmitted from the fixing gear 310, through a first coupling gear 322 and a second coupling gear 323, to a post-fixing roller driving gear 324.
As shown in FIG. 2 which will hereafter be explained, the heat roller and the pressure roller are each constructed of an elastic roller. Therefore, in a case where the recording sheet 202 is of the type that has a certain degree of thickness, such as gloss paper or heavy paper, upon passing of the recording sheet 202 through a nip region 203, the heat roller and the pressure roller undergo elastic deformation owing to the recording sheet 202, in consequence whereof there results a buildup of elastic energy in both of the rollers. The elastic energy is released when the recording sheet 202 comes out of the nip region 203, thus causing speeding up of the heat roller and the pressure roller. The resultant accelerated rotation of the heat roller reverses the transmission direction of the driving force exerted by the motor.
FIG. 16 is a view for explaining a mechanism for reversing a direction of power transmission. As shown in FIG. 16, the accelerated heat roller 300 applies a force to the key 311 of the fixing gear 310, which reverses the transmission direction so that the driving force is transmitted in a direction indicated by an arrow D from the one-side rotary shaft 302 of the heat roller 300 to the fixing gear 310. This causes momentary acceleration of the rotating fixing gear 310, with the result that the driving fore is transmitted in a direction indicated by an arrow E from the fixing gear 310 to the paper discharge roller-side gear 320. The paper discharge roller-side gear 320 is driven to rotate by the motor and configured to transmit the driving force in a direction opposite to the direction of the arrow E. The reversing of the transmission direction as above will therefore cause so-called tooth jumping between the fixing gear 310 and the paper discharge-roller side gear 320.
Upon the re-engagement between the fixing gear 310 and the paper discharge roller-side gear 320, the recording sheet is returned to a normally conveyed state where the tooth jumping has not occurred as yet. However, as shown in FIG. 6 for explaining the invention which will hereafter be described, until such time that the fixing gear 310 and the paper discharge roller-side gear 320 engage with each other, the recoding sheet is standing still, with its downstream-side end in the conveyance direction (hereafter referred to as "tail end") kept at a position to which it is moved immediately after coming out of the nip region 203. During that time, inconveniently, the post-fixing driven roller element 76 kept in contact with the image surface 202a leaves some impressions on the image.
A technique to prevent jumping of gear teeth, although it is not related to fixing device development, is disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication JP-A 9-286529 (1997). JP-A 9-286529 discloses a sheet feeding apparatus. In the sheet feeding apparatus disclosed in JP-A 9-286529, when a paper-feeding roller is put under a load which is greater than a predetermined level, the engagement between the paper-feeding roller and a driving shaft is released so that only the driving shaft is rotated, that is, the driving shaft is idled. This makes it possible to reduce the load applied to the driving gear and thereby prevent occurrence of tooth jumping in the driving gear.
If, in the fixing device, the driving shaft is idled to prevent occurrence of tooth jumping in the fixing gear corresponding to the driving gear as in the technique disclosed in JP-A 9-286529, the conveyance of the recording sheet will be brought to a stop. Therefore, just as in the case where the tooth jumping occurs, the post-fixing driven roller element leaves some impressions on the image surface. The technique disclosed in JP-A 9-286529 is thus not applicable to the fixing device.

Fixing device and image forming apparatus


An optical amplifier changes a characteristic of controlling a current supplied to an exciter laser diode in response to the level of an optical input signal provided to the optical amplifier, thereby reducing a surge in the optical output of the optical amplifier caused by a sudden fluctuation in the optical input signal. The optical amplifier has an input variation detector and an automatic level controller. The input variation detector provides a signal that represents a change in the optical input signal. The automatic level controller controls an excitation beam according to a monitor signal from an optical output monitor, so that the optical output signal keeps a constant level. The automatic level controller has a loop gain controller that controls the gain of an automatic level controlling loop according to the signal from the input variation detector.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an optical amplifier, and particularly, to one that changes a characteristic of controlling a current that drives an exciter laser diode, in response to the level of an optical input signal, to reduce a surge in the output of the optical amplifier when the optical input signal suddenly varies.
2. Description of the Related Art
Optical amplifiers are used for optical transmission systems. Optical power in the optical transmission system varies if an optical fiber loss fluctuates or an optical input signal suffers a short break due to maintenance or circuit switching. At this time, an erbium-doped optical fiber (EDF) serving as a part of the optical amplifier produces a surge due to induced emission.
The output of the optical amplifier involving the surge is applied to an optical-to-electrical converter composed of photosensors. The photosensors have a limit on the power of light they can accept. If the surge exceeds the rating of the photosensors, an overcurrent flows to destroy the photosensors. The optical amplifiers, therefore, must suppress such a surge output caused when an optical input signal thereto suddenly fluctuates.
Conventional optical amplifiers having an ALC (automatic level controller) have the problem of providing a surge when an optical input signal thereto involves a short break. If the surge is large, it will break elements contained in relays and terminals installed at a receiving party.

Optical amplifier with reduced surge output


Object-based operation and maintenance (OAM) systems and related methods and computer program products are disclosed. One exemplary system includes a computer comprising a memory. The computer is in communication with a network comprising a network-attached components operating in an OAM system. The system can also include an object-based representation of the network stored in the memory. The object-based representation comprises objects linked together in the memory to form a hierarchy. Each of the objects represent the network or the network-attached components. In addition, each of the objects stores attribute information about the network or the network-attached components with regard to the OAM system. Further, the system can include an application for interpreting and utilizing the object-based representation of the network for operating and maintaining the network and network-attached components in the OAM system.

Managing and monitoring connected components is important for local and wide area network applications and other interconnected environments. Several operation and maintenance (OAM) systems and related protocols are known which are designed to enable network management of network-attached components. Some of these systems and protocols include a collection of attributes and procedures for accessing the attributes associated with a network-attached component.
One example of an OAM protocol is simple network management protocol (SNMP). Under SNMP, a network device has an attribute management system which includes a database for storing attribute information relating to the network device, referred to as a management information base (MIB). The network device can also contain agent software for querying and modifying the attribute information, referred to as an agent. A network being managed under SNMP also includes a management station running management software which provides centralized control of the various network components by communicating with the agent software over the network. The management software typically runs on a network-attached computer and an interface is provided in the form of a graphical user interface (GUI). The management software obtains information about various network-attached components in the MIBs and allows a user to monitor, query or modify the information in the MIBs. To monitor, query or modify information, the management software sends a request over the network to the attribute management system. Agent software for examining or otherwise performing operations on the attribute examines the request, and if valid, carries out the request and sends a message back to the management software.
Typical networks include network-attached components in distributed architectures that are manufactured by a variety of different vendors. These different network-attached components typically require customization in order to integrate these components with current OAM systems and protocols, such as SNMP. Due to the difficulty with integrating different vendor-specific aspects, current OAM systems and related protocols have been limited to managing only the attributes of network-attached components that are common to all or a large portion of vendors. Therefore, there exists a need for improved OAM systems and protocols for integrating the vendor-specific aspects of different network-attached components.
Other OAM systems, such as CORBA® (acronym for Common Object Request Broker Architecture) (developed by Object Management Group, Inc. of Needham, Me., U.S.A.), can be overly complex except for advanced programmers. The complexity of such systems can result in an OAM operator having difficulty interpreting displayed information. In addition, existing OAM systems can require excessive implementation overhead. Therefore, there exists a need to provide OAM systems and protocols having reduced complexity for improving operator interface.
Accordingly, there exists a need for improved systems, methods, and computer program products for operating OAM-based networks.


Methods for DRAM device with a buried word line are described. The method includes forming a metal cap layer and a molybdenum conductor layer in a feature on a substrate. The method includes depositing the metal cap layer on the substrate by physical vapor deposition (PVD) and depositing the molybdenum conductor layer by atomic layer deposition (ALD) on the metal cap layer.

Electronic devices, such as personal computers, workstations, computer servers, mainframes, and other computer related equipment such as printers, scanners and hard disk drives use memory devices that provide substantial data storage capability, while incurring low power consumption. There are two major types of random-access memory cells, dynamic and static, which are well-suite for use in electronic devices. Dynamic random-access memories (DRAMs) can be programmed to store a voltage which represents one of two binary values but require periodic reprogramming or "refreshing" to maintain this voltage for more than very short periods of time. Static random-access memories (SRAM) are so named because they do not require periodic refreshing.
DRAM memory circuits are manufactured by replicating millions of identical circuit elements, known as DRAM cells, on a single semiconductor wafer. Each DRAM cell is an addressable location that can store one bit (binary digit) of data. In its most common form, a DRAM cell consists of two circuit components: a field effect transistor (FET) and a capacitor.
The manufacturing of a DRAM cell includes the fabrication of a transistor, a capacitor, and three contacts: one each to the bit line, the word line, and the reference voltage. DRAM manufacturing is a highly competitive business. There is continuous pressure to decrease the size of individual cells and to increase memory cell density to allow more memory to be squeezed onto a single memory chip, especially for densities greater than 256 Megabits. Limitations on cell size reduction include the passage of both active and passive word lines through the cell, the size of the cell capacitor, and the compatibility of array devices with non-array devices.
In manufacturing, DRAM word lines are made of atomic layer deposition of titanium nitride (TiN) and tungsten (W) stacks. These stacks have scaling issues due to the further shrinking of buried word line dimensions. Therefore, there is a need in the art for metal stacks demonstrating low resistivity in buried word line manufacture.

Low resistivity DRAM buried word line stack


An ophthalmic measuring apparatus for easily determining whether an ametropia of an eye to be tested is caused by an abnormality in the length of the ocular axis or an abnormality in the lens or the cornea of the eye, includes a first light source, a first detector, and an ocular refractivity measuring unit for optically measuring the ocular refractivity of the eye. The apparatus further includes a second light source different from the first light source, the second detector different from the first detector, an ocular-axis-length measuring unit for optically measuring the length of the ocular axis of the eye, and a determination unit for determining the characteristics of the ametropia of the eye from the result of the measurement by the ocular refractivity measuring unit and the result of the measurement by the ocular-axis-length measuring unit.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to an ophthalmic measuring apparatus which is widely utilized in ophthalmic hospitals or by opticians.
2. Description of the Related Art
Various methods of optically measuring the ocular refractivity of an eye have been known. Methods of optically measuring the length of the ocular axis of an eye have been known, in which, as described, for example, in Japanese Patent Application Public Disclosure (Kokai) No. 2-4310 (1990), a coherent light beam is projected along the ocular axis of an eye, and the length of the ocular axis is calculated from a change in the number of interference fringes formed by light beams reflected by the cornea and the fundus of the eye as a result of modulating the wavelength of the light beam emitted from the light source.
However, in the above-described conventional approach, it is impossible to identify whether an ametropia of an eye to be tested is axial, caused by an abnormality in the length of the ocular axis of the eye, or refractive, caused by an abnormality in the lens or the cornea of the eye.


A video game communicator (100) is electrically connected between the ports (A, B) of a local video game (12) and one set of player controls (20) of the local video game (12). The video game communicator (100) receives command signals from the player controls (20) and sends them to the local video game (12). The video game communicator (100) also converts the command signals into communication signals to be sent over telephone lines to be received by another video game communicator (100) connected to a remote video game (30). A transit time circuit (126) delays all command signals coming from the player controls (20) to the local video game (12) an amount of time it determines to be the time needed for the command signals to be sent to the remote video game (30). The video game communicator (100) receives communication signals over the telephone lines (110) and converts these signals into command signals representing the command signals of the remotely located competitor. A voice over data circuit (134) allows both communications signals and voice signals to be sent over the telephone lines at the same time. An operator circuit (140) allows either player to send operation signals, i.e., pause, start, stop, to each video game regardless of location of the player.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to game applications of a computer. More particularly, the subject invention relates to the coordination of a computer game from more than one location.
2. Description of the Related Art
The computer games which are commonly referred to as video games are games run by dedicated computers, i.e., computers hardwired for a specific purpose, using a video screen for a visual output. These video games are prevalent in the home environment because they can be connected to the television allowing children to play these games in the safety of the home.
A problem with the modern video games is that virtually all video games are designed to be played locally. In other words, the game software, game hardware, video modulator and video screen are all connected locally via cables. Player controls which relay player commands to the game are normally connected by means of removable cables. Therefore, in order for a player to compete with someone other than the computer, that person must leave the home or have someone come into the game-owner's home. This is a problem particularly for children who must rely on adults for transportation. In addition, it is a redundancy of parts because between the two players, assuming each owns the game, one game will always be dormant during the competition.
An example of such a system is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,921,161 to Baer, issued on Nov. 18, 1975. This invention details a game system connected to a television having two player ports and alternative input devices. The players, however, are limited in distance from the game due to the length of the cables connecting the controls to the game and the players' visibility of the television.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,126,851 to Okor, issued Nov. 21, 1978, shows an improvement to the video game wherein the type of game and the level at which it is to be played is programmable. Again, the video game limits the locality of the players to the immediate proximity of the television.
Although not a video game, a method and apparatus of transmitting and recording computer-generated displays is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,797,750 to Karweit, issued Jan. 10, 1989. The computer-generated image and audio signals are sent to a computer display. The same line of transmission is split wherein the same transmission is sent to an RS 232 communications line. The RS 232 communications line readies the transmission to be sent to a modem which, in turn, converts the transmission into audio tones to be transported over such medium as telephone lines to be received by such devices as other computers or a video camera recorder (VCR). This system, however, lacks the ability to coordinate the transmission of an image along with a command signal input by a player. In other words, the subject invention of this patent can only convert and transmit data and is incapable of transmitting command signals in a manner which will make sense to another player receiving the transmission when these signals are incorporated into the signals generated by the receiver.
Again, not being a video game but a representation of the transmission of pictorial data, U.S. Pat. No. 4,939,767 to Saito et al, issued on Jul. 3, 1990, discloses an improved method and apparatus, typically referred to as a FAX machine, for sending images over telephone lines. This system forms non-signal states wherein data signals follow immediately thereafter. This system does disclose any ability to coordinate different types of data, i.e., command, visual and audio signals. It merely converts images into a data signal and sends the data signal over the telephone line to be received by a visual telephone or FAX machine.

Apparatus and method for electrically connecting remotely located video games


A sound reproduction system for converting stereo signals on two input channels, which may have been directionally encoded from a four or five channel original using a phase/amplitude film matrix encoder, such signals including at least one component which is directionally encoded through a phase and amplitude encoding device and at least one component that is not directionally encoded but is different in the two input channels, into signals for multiple output channels, for example center, front left, front right, side left, side right, rear left, and rear right, including decoding apparatus for enhancing the directionally encoded component of the input signals in the desired direction and reducing the strength of such signals in channels not associated with the encoded direction, while preserving both the maximum separation between the respective left and right channels and the total energy of the non-directionally encoded component of the input channels in each output channel, such that the instruments recorded on the right input channel stay on the right side of the output channels and the instruments recorded on the left stay on the left side, and the apparent loudness of all the instruments in all the output channels stays the same regardless of the direction of the directionally encoded component of the input signals; and further including circuits to improve separation in the decoder for uncorrelated left and right side inputs, to improve reproduction of apparent motion between the sides and the rear, to compensate for boost applied to signals in the front quarter of the sound field, and to limit the maximum excursion of each of the direction control signals when the other is changing.

Apparatus for decoding a stereophonic pair of left and right input audio signals into a multiplicity of output signals is commonly referred to as a surround sound decoder or processor. Surround sound decoders work by combining the left and right input audio signals in different proportions to produce the multiplicity N of output signals. The various combinations of the input audio signals may be mathematically described in terms of a N row by 2 column matrix, in which there are 2N coefficients each relating the proportion of either left or right input audio signals contained in a particular output signal.
The matrix coefficients may be fixed, in which case the matrix is called passive, or they may vary in time in a manner defined by one or more control signals, in which case the matrix is described as active. The coefficients in a decoding matrix may be real or complex. Complex coefficients in practice involve the use of precise phase quadrature networks, which are expensive, and therefore most recent surround sound decoders do not include them, so that all of the matrix coefficients are real. In the bulk of the work described in this patent application, the matrix elements are also real. Real coefficients are inexpensive and will optimally decode a five channel film encoded with the active encoder described in this patent.
However, real coefficients are not optimal when decoding a film encoded from a five channel original using a passive encoder such as the one described in this application, and are also not optimal when decoding a film made with the standard four channel encoder of the prior art. A modification to the decoder design which will optimally decode such films is also described. Although the description is of a phase corrector to the inputs of the decoder, the correction could also be accomplished by making the matrix elements complex.
In a passive matrix, which is defined as a matrix in which the coefficients are constant, such as the Dolby Surround matrix, several ideal properties are achieved by suitable choice of the coefficients. These properties include the following:
Signals encoded with a standard encoder will be reproduced by a passive matrix decoder with equal loudness regardless of their encoded direction.
Signals where there is no specific encoded direction, such as music that has been recorded so that the two inputs to the decoder have no correlation, that is, decorrelated signals, will be reproduced with equal loudness in all output channels.
When the input signals are a combination of a directionally encoded component and a decorrelated component there is no change in either the loudness or the apparent separation of the decorrelated component as the encoded direction of the directionally encoded component changes.
A disadvantage of passive decoders is that the separation of both directional and decorrelated components of the input signals is not optimal. For example, a signal intended to come from front center is also reproduced in the left and right front output channels usually with a level difference of only 3 dB. Therefore, most modern decoders employ some variation of the matrix coefficients with the apparent direction of the predominant sound source, that is, they are active rather than passive.
In the original Dolby Surround decoder format, only one rear channel output is provided, which typically is reproduced on more than one loudspeaker, all such loudspeakers being driven in parallel, so that there is no left-right separation in the rear channels. However, there is high separation between signals that are encoded in opposite directions.
Previous patents have described many aspects of active matrix surround sound decoders for conversion of a stereophonic audio signal pair into multiple output signals. The prior art describes how the apparent direction of a directionally encoded signal component can be determined from the logarithm of the ratio of the amplitudes of the component in the left and right channels of the stereophonic pair, along with the logarithm of the ratio between the sum of these amplitudes and the difference therebetween. This art will be assumed in this patent application, along with a great deal of art which pertains to smoothing the directional control signals thus or otherwise derived. We assume that these two directional control signals exist in a usable form. For the purposes of this invention, these directional control signals can be possibly derived from directional information recorded on a subchannel of a digital audio signal.
This invention concerns the use to which these directional control signals are put in controlling an active matrix which takes the signals on the two inputs and distributes them to a number of output channels in appropriately varying proportions dependent upon the directional control signals.
A simple example of such a matrix is given by Scheiber in U.S. Pat. No. 3,959,590. Another matrix in common use is that of Mandell, described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,046,098. A matrix with four outputs is described in detail in Greisinger, U.S. Pat. No. 4,862,502, and a complete mathematical description of this matrix, along with a mathematical description of a six output matrix, is given in Greisinger, U.S. Pat. No. 5,136,650. A different six output matrix is described in Fosgate, U.S. Pat. No. 5,307,415. All of these prior matrices distribute the input audio signals among the various outputs under control of the directional control signals as described above.
Each of these matrices is constructed somewhat differently, but in each case each output is formed by a sum of the two input signals, each input signal having been first multiplied by a coefficient. Thus each matrix in the prior art can be completely specified by knowing the value of two coefficients for each output and how these coefficients vary as a function of the directional control signals which provide directional information as described above. These two coefficients are the matrix elements of a N by 2 matrix, where N is the number of output channels, which completely specifies the character of the decoder. In most prior art these matrix elements are not explicitly stated, but can be inferred from the descriptions given. In a particular embodiment they can also be easily measured.
Greisinger, U.S. Pat. No. 5,136.650, issued Aug. 4, 1992, gives the complete functional dependence of each matrix element on the directional control signals.
Since the above-referenced Greisinger patent issued, the film industry has developed a "five plus one" discrete sound standard. Many theater movie releases and some home releases are made with soundtracks comprising five separate full bandwidth audio channels, namely center, left front, right front, left rear, and right rear, with a reduced bandwidth sixth audio channel intended for very low frequency effects. Reproduction of such soundtracks requires special digital hardware to demultiplex and decompress the audio tracks into the 5+1 output channels. However there is a very large selection of previously released film prints and videos which employ a two channel soundtrack matrix encoded format, both analog and digital. Such soundtracks are encoded during the mixing process using a standardized four channel to two channel encoder.
While earlier work by Greisinger and others has described the outputs of the decoder in terms of a complicated sum of various signals: the input signals, their sum and their difference, and the same four signals after passing through variable gain amplifiers controlled by the directional control signals, it is possible to collect the terms of each output that are related to a particular input and thereby to describe the matrix completely in closed form, so that the decoder can be realized either in digital or analog hardware components.
The standard encoder for two channel soundtrack matrix encoding has limitations, and an improved passive encoder or an active encoder can be used to generate two channel matrix encoded soundtracks that achieve better performance when decoded through a surround sound decoder according to the invention.
In a standard film decoder, a boost is applied to the front channels when a strongly steered signal such as dialog is present. This upsets the balance between such signals and background effects or music, relative to the balance between such signals in the discrete 5 channel movie theater system. An improved active encoder described herein is needed to correct the balance between the strongly steered front signals and music. There is also a need to improve both encoder and decoder performance in regard to left side and right side signals. A further improvement in the decoder is to limit the effects of abrupt changes in the directional control signals to provide better dynamic response to rapid changes therein.

Multichannel active matrix encoder and decoder with maximum lateral separation


There is disclosed an odor concentration measuring device which can objectively and easily measure an odor concentration. The odor concentration measuring device 1 is provided with an injector having a cylinder 3 and a piston 5, and an odor sensor 11 is fixed to an inner wall 3a of the cylinder 3. The odor sensor 11 measures the odor of air inside the cylinder 3, and outputs a voltage V in accordance with the odor intensity. A control box 7 provided on the outer periphery of the cylinder 3 is provided with an electronic control circuit, which allows a blue LED 9b to light instead of a red LED 9r when the voltage V reaches a value corresponding to the odor intensity which cannot be perceived by people. By reciprocating the piston 5, the sample air is diluted. The odor concentration can be measured by the dilution magnification at which the lighting state of the LED 9r or 9b is changed. Since the odor concentration is measured by the dilution magnification, measurement results which satisfactorily correspond to human olfaction can be obtained.

(i) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an odor concentration measuring device for measuring the odor concentration of a sample gas.
(ii) Description of the Related Art
Recently, problems of malodor pollution together with noise pollution and environmental pollution have been raised. As a conventional method of measuring the odor intensity, an injector method has been heretofore used as described later. For example, the injector method specified by ASTM (American Society for Testing and Materials) and its modification adapted for use in Japan.
In the injector method, the first predetermined amount Vs, e.g., 2 ml of sample air is taken into an injector cylinder. Subsequently, odorless air is taken into the cylinder to obtain the second predetermined amount, e.g., 100 ml of the volume in the cylinder. The sample air is then diluted at the dilution magnification of 100/Vs which is determined by the predetermined amounts. After the cylinder is left to stand for 15 seconds or longer to diffuse the sample air, observers smell odor while pushing the air out of the cylinder. After the volume inside the cylinder reaches Vs, the odorless air is again taken into the cylinder to repeat the aforementioned operation. The maximum dilution magnification at which the observers can perceive the odor by repeating the operation is measured, and used as the index of odor concentration.
Additionally, in the injector method, the sample air may be taken only once for one measurement. Therefore, the odor of a smaller amount of sample air can be measured at various dilution magnifications as compared with a three-point comparison odor bag method in which an odor bag filled with sample air of each dilution magnification is used.
Moreover, various methods are studied separate from the injector method. For example, an odor sensor is constituted of a semiconductor gas sensor or a quartz oscillator to which an artificial lipid bilayer is attached, and disposed in sample air, so that the odor intensity of the sample air is detected with an output from the odor sensor.
In the injector method, however, there are personal differences among the observers. Therefore, the odor concentration needs to be obtained by totally judging measurement results of the maximum dilution magnification by many observers. Furthermore, observers' hands, clothes and the like need to be clean and odorless. The observers have to avoid having food with long-lasting odor in their mouths. They also have to avoid smoking, chewing gum or tobacco or eating immediately, e.g., within 30 minutes before the measurement. Furthermore, observers who have a cold or are in physical conditions adversely affecting their olfaction need to be excluded. Measurement has to be performed only by the observers who are in good physical conditions.
As aforementioned, the injector method requires a large number of observers and careful preparations. Moreover, even when the odor concentration is measured through such a laborious operation, there is a possibility that differences in olfaction with people are reflected. It cannot be said that the measurement results are sufficiently objective.
Furthermore, in the method using the odor sensor, a correlation between the sensor output and the human olfaction has not been found yet. Therefore, the results of the odor concentration measurement by the odor sensor are used only for reference. In order to grasp the realities of the odor pollution and the like, measurements have to be finally performed in the injector method or the three-point comparison odor bag method.


Methods and apparatus for collecting documents that are electronic newspapers, magazines, and books into sets (one or more objects) and distributing them to passenger vehicles. Once distributed to the vehicles, individual documents of the document sets are distributed, possibly for a fee, to the passengers.

Airlines have historically provided printed magazines and newspapers to passengers as a source of in-flight entertainment. However, repeated use of such products tends to cause them to degrade quickly. Moreover, such products are undesirably heavy and bulky, tend to be difficult to distribute, require collection after use, and are costly and time consuming to replace. Moreover, customer selection is typically limited. As such, there is a need, whether heretofore recognized or not, to provide a replacement for printed magazines and newspapers on airlines and other vehicles.


The present invention provides an electrolytic capacitor manufacturing method capable of manufacturing an electrolytic capacitor having the PTC function as easy as possible. A main electrode layer in a cathode is formed so as to have the PTC function. Different from a conventional electrolytic capacitor manufacturing method of connecting a PTC thermistor to a capacitor element to give the PTC function to an electrolytic capacitor so that an electrolytic capacitor manufacturing process is complicated and the number of manufacturing processes is increased by the amount corresponding to the PTC thermistor connecting process, the process of connecting the PTC thermistor to the capacitor element is unnecessary. Consequently, complication of the electrolytic capacitor manufacturing process and increase in the number of manufacturing processes caused by the PTC thermistor connecting process can be prevented.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an electrolytic capacitor having a solid electrolyte layer and a method of manufacturing the same.
2. Description of the Related Art
In recent years, as one of electronic parts adapted for high frequency applications, an electrolytic capacitor is mounted on various electronic devices. For example, under the circumstance that digitization, miniaturization and speedup of electronic devices is being acceleratedly progressed, larger capacity and lower impedance of an electrolytic capacitor are demanded and, in addition, assurance of operation stability and operation reliability and longer life are also demanded.
A main part (capacitor element) of an electrolytic capacitor has, for example, a stacked structure in which an anode made of a valve metal, an oxide film (dielectric layer) formed by anodizing the surface layer of the anode, an electrolyte layer, and a cathode are stacked in this order.
The electrolytic capacitors are roughly divided into two kinds according to the kind of the electrolyte layer; a liquid electrolytic capacitor whose capacitor element includes an electrolyte layer (electrolyte) made of a liquid material, and having a conductive mechanism mainly using ionic conduction, and a solid electrolytic capacitor whose capacitor element includes an electrolyte layer (solid electrolyte layer) made of a solid material such as complex salt or conductive high polymer, and having a conductive mechanism mainly using electron conduction. When the two kinds of electrolytic capacitors are compared with each other from the viewpoint of stability of operating characteristics, for example, in the liquid electrolytic capacitor, the operating characteristics deteriorate with time due to leakage and evaporation of the electrolyte. In contrast, the deterioration with time in the operating characteristics due to leakage and evaporation of the electrolyte does not occur in the solid electrolytic capacitor. Consequently, as an electrolytic capacitor which can become the main stream in future, recently, in place of the liquid electrolytic capacitor, the solid electrolytic capacitor is being actively researched and developed. In the research process on the solid electrolytic capacitor, for example, in consideration of a series of operating characteristics such as the leak current characteristic, impedance characteristic, and heat resistance, the main part of the solid electrolyte layer is rapidly shifting from manganese dioxide or complex salt to a conductive high polymer of a conjugated system.
For the solid electrolytic capacitor, in particular, based on the technical background to be described below, to prevent destruction (including firing and burning) caused by heat generated at the time of short circuit, the function of increasing resistance as the temperature rises within a predetermined temperature range (so-called PTC (Positive Temperature Coefficient) function) is in demand.
Specifically, the solid electrolytic capacitor is mounted on various electronic devices (electronic circuits) as described above and has an advantage of generally low failure rate. However, when an overvoltage (voltage larger than rated voltage) or backward voltage (voltage whose sign of positive or negative is opposite) is applied due to a trouble on an electronic circuit and a dielectric layer is partially destroyed due to the overvoltage or backward voltage, the anode, solid electrolyte layer, and cathode are unintentionally made conductive, so that short circuit occurs in the solid electrolytic capacitor. In the case where short circuit occurs, when excess current (short-circuit current) flows in the solid electrolytic capacitor, the solid electrolytic capacitor generates heat and, in some cases, is destroyed by firing or burning caused by the heat generation.
As a measure to prevent destruction caused by heat generated at the time of short circuit in the solid electrolytic capacitor and also to prevent destruction of the solid electrolytic capacitor and circuit parts mounted on an electronic circuit, for example, a technique of mounting a fuse on the solid electrolytic capacitor may be employed. A solid electrolytic capacitor on which the fuse is mounted and having a configuration that a cathode and a cathode lead (lead for passing current) are electrically connected to each other via the fuse is known. In a solid electrolytic capacitor of this kind, when the fuse is blown due to heat generation at the time of short circuit, a circuit mechanism is interrupted, that is, a current path of excess current is interrupted, so that destruction of the solid electrolytic capacitor is prevented. However, the solid electrolytic capacitor using the fuse has some problems due to a structural factor and a mechanical factor of the fuse. First, when a fuse is mounted on a solid electrolytic capacitor, the structure of the solid electrolytic capacitor is complicated and is enlarged. Second, the mechanical strength of the fuse is low, that is, it is difficult to handle the fuse. When the process of manufacturing the solid electrolytic capacitor is complicated, the manufacture yield deteriorates. Third, in some cases, reliability of a solid electrolytic capacitor on which a fuse is mounted is low. More concretely, for example, when the periphery of a fuse is firmly covered with a mold resin, even if the fuse is blown due to heat generation at the time of short circuit, there is the possibility that the fuse is not completely blown due to the existence of the mold resin, so that the circuit mechanism is not therefore interrupted and the solid electrolytic capacitor may be destroyed. Therefore, a safety mechanism replacing the fuse is needed to increase the reliability of prevention of destruction of the solid electrolytic capacitors, and the PTC function as the safety mechanism is in demand.
Some modes of an electrolytic capacitor having the PTC function have been already proposed. Concretely, for example, an electrolytic capacitor in which PTC thermistors are disposed so as to face a capacitor element, and the PTC thermistors and the capacitor element are covered with a mold resin is known (refer to, for example, Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. H05-006826). In the electrolytic capacitor of this kind, a PTC thermistor is not provided as a safety mechanism replacing the fuse. As another example, an electrolytic capacitor having a configuration in which an anode (internal terminal) of a capacitor element and an anode lead (external terminal) are electrically connected to each other via a PTC thermistor (semiconductor ceramic layer) is known (refer to, for example, Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. H05-023529). Further, for example, an electrolytic capacitor having a configuration in which one of electrodes (external electrode) of a capacitor element and an electrode lead (metal terminal) are electrically connected to each other via the PTC thermister (an excess current/overheat protection device having the PTC function) is known (refer to, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. H11-176695). Generally, the PTC thermistor is electrically connected to a capacitor element by thermo compression bonding or a conducive adhesive.
For a solid electrolytic capacitor having the PTC function, there are various demands from the following viewpoints.
In a process of manufacturing a solid electrolytic capacitor having the PTC function, to increase productivity of the solid electrolytic capacitor, the solid electrolytic capacitor has to be manufactured as easy as possible. However, the conventional solid electrolytic capacitor manufacturing method has the following problem. By using the PTC function of the PTC thermistor, destruction of the solid electrolytic capacitor caused by heat generated at the time of short circuit is prevented. Since the PTC thermistor is connected to the capacitor element to give the PTC function to the solid electrolytic capacitor, the solid electrolytic capacitor manufacturing process is complicated and the number of manufacturing processes increases only by the amount corresponding to the PTC thermistor connecting process required. As a result, it is difficult to increase productivity of the electrolytic capacitor. Therefore, to increase the productivity of the electrolytic capacitor while preventing destruction caused by heat generated at the time of short circuit by using the PTC function, it is an urgent necessity to establish a technique capable of manufacturing the solid electrolytic capacitor having the PTC function as easy as possible. In particular, in the case of establishing the technique capable of manufacturing the solid electrolytic capacitor having the PTC function as easy as possible, it is also important to simplify the configuration of the solid electrolytic capacitor as much as possible in consideration of miniaturization of the solid electrolytic capacitor.
In the process of manufacturing the solid electrolytic capacitor having the PTC function, to assure productivity by increasing the manufacture yield of the solid electrolytic capacitor, it is necessary to stably manufacture the solid electrolytic capacitor as much as possible. In the conventional solid electrolytic capacitor manufacturing method, however, for example, when a PTC thermistor is thermo-compression-bonded to the capacitor element, the dielectric layer is easily damaged severely due to a mechanical factor (excessive external force applied to the capacitor element) at the time of thermo compression bonding, there is the possibility that the solid electrolytic capacitor is mechanically destroyed during manufacture. Different from destruction of the solid electrolytic capacitor caused by heat generated at the time of short circuit, the mechanical destruction of the solid electrolytic capacitor is fatal one and the basic structure itself of the solid electrolytic capacitor is damaged. Therefore, the mechanical destruction cannot be prevented by using the PTC function. When the solid electrolytic capacitor is mechanically destroyed during manufacture, naturally, the manufacture yield deteriorates and productivity of the solid electrolytic capacitor cannot be assured, so that it becomes difficult to stably manufacture the solid electrolytic capacitor. Therefore, to increase the productivity by increasing the manufacture yield of the solid electrolytic capacity while preventing destruction caused by heat generated at the time of short circuit by using the PTC function, it is an urgent necessity to establish a technique capable of manufacturing the solid electrolytic capacitor having the PTC function as stably as possible. In particular, in the case of establishing the technique capable of manufacturing the solid electrolytic capacitor having the PTC function as stably as possible, as described above, it is also important to manufacture the solid electrolytic capacitor as easily as possible in consideration of productivity of the solid electrolytic capacitor.
Further, to achieve higher performance of the solid electrolytic capacitor having the PTC function, it is necessary to reduce the resistance characteristic of the solid electrolytic capacitor as much as possible. However, in the conventional solid electrolytic capacitor manufacturing method, the resistance characteristic is not sufficiently low to improve the performance, so that there is room for improvement from the viewpoint of the resistance characteristic. More concretely, for example, in the case of connecting a PTC thermistor to a capacitor element to give the PTC function to the solid electrolytic capacitor, the resistance characteristic of the solid electrolytic capacitor increases only by the amount corresponding to the resistance of the PTC thermistor and the contact resistance between the PTC thermistor and the capacitor element. The resistance characteristic can increase to the degree that an adverse influence is given to the performance of the solid electrolytic capacitor. In the case of bonding the PTC thermistor to the capacitor element by using a conductive adhesive to give the PTC function to the solid electrolytic capacitor, an amount of increase in the resistance characteristic is often smaller than that in the case of thermo-compression-bonding the PTC thermistor to the capacitor element. Consequently, from the viewpoint of preventing the resistance characteristic of the solid electrolytic capacitor from increasing, it is preferable to use the bonding method using the conductive adhesive. However, when increasing demand for higher performance of the solid electrolytic capacitor is considered, it cannot be said that the resistance characteristic of the solid electrolytic capacitor obtained in the case of using simply a conductive adhesive is sufficient. Therefore, to achieve higher performance of the solid electrolytic capacitor while preventing destruction caused by heat generated at the time of short circuit by using the PTC function, it is also an urgent necessity to establish a technique capable of reducing the resistance characteristic of the solid electrolytic capacitor having the PTC function as much as possible.

Electrolytic capacitor and method of manufacturing the same


CAR cells targeting FLT3 relevant antigens are described as a new method of cancer treatment. It is proposed that FLT3 CAR cells are safe and effective in patients and can be used to treat human tumors and cancer.

The following discussion of the background of the invention is merely provided to aid art to the present invention.
There will be 60,140 new cases of leukemia (3.5% of all new cancer cases) and an estimated 24,400 people (4.1% of all cancer deaths) will die of this disease around the United States in 2016. Leukemia is comprehensive cancer of early blood-forming cells which initiates from many types of cells including white blood cells. Thus, leukemia comprises many categories: acute or chronic; myeloid or lymphocytic (2016). Different types of leukemia have different treatments and outlooks. Chemotherapy and allogeneic hematological stem cell transplantation (HSCT) have been applied on leukemia successfully. However, HSCT is limited by transplant related morbidity and mortality attributed to immune rejection, infection and graft versus host disease (GVHD). Kenderian et al. (2016) Biol Blood Marrow Transplant pii:S1083-879016)30328-7, ePub (doi: 10.1016/j.bbmt.2016.09.002). Chemotherapy will also lead to refractory cancer. Therefore, development of novel and effective therapies is urgently needed.
Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a heterogeneous clonal disorder derived from either a hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) or a lineage-specific progenitor cell. It was estimated that 14,590 people were diagnosed with AML in the U.S. in 2013, and 10, 370 died from AML. See Siegel et al. (2013) CA Cancer J Clin. 63(1):11-30. The incidence of AML increases with age, and 5-year survival rates in older patients (65 yrs) are below 10%. See Dores et al. (2012) Blood 119(1):34-43. Despite a broad understanding of the molecular and genetic complexity of this disease, only allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) provides significant improvements in the clinical outcome of patients with AML. However, elderly patients may not be eligible for HSCT and this approach is also associated with complications that can result in significant morbidity and mortality, such as graft-versus-host disease (GVHD). Moreover, patients with a FLT3 internal tandem duplication (ITD) mutation have an especially adverse prognosis and high probability of relapse. Therefore, novel approaches for treatment of AML represent an unmet therapeutic need.
Recently, there have been significant improvements in cell therapies in hematologic malignancies. One intriguing new approach for treatment of hematologic malignancies involves the genetic modification of immune cells with chimeric antigen receptors (CARs) that directly target tumor-associated antigens. CAR T cells have been demonstrated successful in the clinic, for targeting CD19 in acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). See, e.g., Porter et al. (2011) NJEM 365(8):725-733; Grupp et al. (2013) NJEM 368(16):1509-1518; Brentjens et al. (2013) Sci Transl Med. 5(177):177ra38; and Papapetrou et al. (2011) Nature Biotechnol. 29(1):73-78. However, identifying tumor-associated surface antigens that can be targeted by CAR immune cells for treatment of CD19− hematological malignancies such as multiple myeloma (MM) and AML has proven to be very challenging.
Reports of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells on leukemia sheds light on the disease with relapse and refractory after chemical treatments and HSCT. CAR is developed by integrating single chain variable fragments (scFv) obtained from a monoclonal antibody into an intracellular domain from a receptor of immune cells. CAR engineered T cells graft the specific of the monoclonal antibody with specific antitumor activity of cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) to acquire the activity of recognizing tumor surfaced antigen and to kill specific malignant tumors once the genetically modified T cell activated by cooperative effect of co-stimulatory molecule and immunoreceptor tyrosine-based activation motif (ITAM). Grada et al. (2013) Molecular Therapy Nucleic Acids 2:e105. However, CAR T cells treatment of leukemia patients can result in cytokine storms. Morgan et al. (2010) Mol Ther 18:843-851; Porter et al. (2011) NJEM 365:725-733. Compared to CAR T cells, CAR natural killer (NK) cells may have a lower risk of inducing cytokine storms, tumor lysis syndrome, as well as graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) in the allogeneic settings in patients, since CAR NK cells lack a clonal expansion. Han et al. (2015) Scientific Reports 5:11483; Uherek et al. (2002) Blood 100:1265-1273. The key challenge for successful application of CAR NK cells is to find a proper cell surface antigen to target. The FMS-like tyrosine kinase 3 (FLT3) is a highly expressed surface protein in leukemia especially in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) whereas it normally maintains in a low level since its mutations cause ligand-independent activation of the receptor and activation of downstream signaling pathways during the development of leukemia. Lagunas-Rangel et al. (2016) Hematol Oncol. ePub (doi:10.1002/hon.2330).
CD19-CAR cannot be used for treatment of AML, as AML cells have no surface expression of CD19. CD33, CD44v6, LeY, and CD123 have been proposed to be AML-associated antigens to be targeted by CAR T cells for AML treatment. See, e.g., Dinndorf et al. (1986) Blood 67(4):1048-1053; Griffin et al. (1984) Leuk Res. 8(4):521-534; Casucci et al. (2013) Blood. 122(20):3461-3472; Peinert et al. (2010) Gene Therapy 17(5):678-686. However, preclinical or clinical studies showed that they were either ineffective for tumor eradication or very toxic due to destruction of normal cells, as these markers are broadly expressed on normal cells such as hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells (HSCs), myeloid cells and other mature cells. See, e.g., Hernandez-Caselles et al. (2006) J. Leukocyte Biol. 79(1):46-58; Ritchie et al. (2013) Molecular Therapy 21(11):2122-2129; Gill et al. (2014) Blood. 123(15):2343-2354. In particular, CD33 (SIGLEC-3) is expressed on leukemic blasts from 85% to 90% of patients with AML. See, e.g., Dinndorf et al. (1986) and Griffin et al. (1984). However, CD33 is expressed on a subset of T cells and NK cells, and broadly expressed on myeloid cells and long-term normal HSCs, the latter of which are critical for successful engraftment and hematopoiesis. See Hernandez-Caselles et al. (2006).
CD44v6, which is absent in HSCs, has also been targeted by CAR T cells; however, it has expression on activated T cells, monocytes, and keratinocytes, and infusion of CD44v6 has resulted in monocytopenia. See Casucci et al. (2013). LeY was also targeted by CAR T cells for AML treatment, but clinical data did not show promising results. See, e.g., Peinert et al. (2010) and Ritchie et al. (2013). Recently, preclinical studies from several groups demonstrated that CD123-CAR T cells effectively eradicate AML, but these CAR T cells also cause myeloablation and recent preclinical and clinical data indicated that they are highly toxic, which may be due to the fact that CD123 is expressed by normal HSCs, various mature immune cells, and even endothelial cells. See, e.g., Gill et al. (2014); Tettamanti et al. Oncoimmunol. 3:e28835 (2014); Pizzitola et al (2014) Leukemia 28(8):1596-1605; Mardiros et al. (2013) Blood 122(18):3138-3148; Tettamanti et al. (2013) British Journal of Haematol. 161(3):389-401; Ehninger et al. (2014) Blood Cancer Journal. 4:e218; Gilliet et al. (2004) Archives of Dermatol. 140(12):1490-1495.
These studies suggest that an ideal tumor antigen to be safely targeted by CAR immune cells in AML has not yet been identified. A novel CAR approach to target an AML tumor-associated antigen for treatment of AML has the potential to enhance patient survival and prevent AML relapse.

FLT3 directed car cells for immunotherapy


Embodiments of present application treat Connection Information Files contained in an instance of an application, such as a workbook, as independent objects and multiple data objects, such as data summary tables, may link to one Connection Information File. Maintaining Connection Information Files as independent objects within an instance of an application provides the ability to modify a connection to an external data source and have that modification applied to all linked data objects without having to modify each data object individually. Additionally, a user may view a complete list of all Connection Information Files that exist within a workbook and easily add, delete, or modify those Connection Information Files.

Many existing applications provide the ability to obtain data from an external source and use that data for a variety of purposes. For example, Microsoft Excel® is capable of obtaining data from an external data source, such as a database, and using that information in a workbook. The data from those external sources may be used in a variety of ways.
Existing techniques for connecting with an external data source, such as a Structured Query Language ("SQL") Database or an Online Analytical Processing (OLAP) server, typically utilize a connection file. Generally described, a connection file includes information (referred to herein as "Definition Information") necessary to access an external data source. For example, the Definition Information of a connection file generally includes a name of the external data source, its location, integrated security, provider information, etc.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a typical configuration of a group of applications that obtain information from an external data source. In this example, a client 101, such as a stand alone computing device, includes an application 103, such as Microsoft Excel®, that obtains information from an SQL database 107, an external data source. Typically, when a connection to an external data source is established, a connection file 109 is generated and stored on the client 101. Each data object in the application 103, such as data object 1 111, data object 2 113, and data object 3 115, includes an embedded copy of the connection file that is used to access the SQL database 107.
Although embedding a copy of a connection file into each data object provides a means for each data object to connect to an external data source, modifying and/or replacing those connections is challenging for users, and must be done individually for each data object. For example, if data object 1 111, data object 2 113, and data object 3 115 each connect to SQL Database 107, each of those data objects will contain an embedded copy of the configuration file 109. If the external data source is moved, renamed, or if the user desires to change the connection to a different external data source, the embedded configuration file for each data object 111, 113, 115 must be individually modified or replaced. In addition to it being difficult to alter each individual connection file, existing techniques do not provide a simple means by which to identify the connection files that exist within an existing application.

Management of connections to external data


Brine container, at which a suction filter (24) is disposed, in which the brine container has a circulating filter system (28), which has a filter (34) and a pump (30), with which the brine (22) can be pumped through the circulating filter system (28), the filter (34) having an exchangeable filter element (38).

The invention relates to a brine container, at which a suction filter is disposed.
It may, for example, be a brine container for pickling brine, which is pumped away through the suction filter and supplied to a pickling machine. Usually, pickling brine, flowing off from the pickling machine, is recycled over a coarse filter into the brine container. The function of the suction filter is to protect the brine pump and to prevent blockage of the injection needles of the pickling machine by particles or impurities that have been introduced. Over time, the suction filter is blocked by particles filtered out of the pickling brine and can be removed manually, for example, for cleaning purposes.
It is known that an additional filter may be provided between the coarse filter and the suction filter in the brine container in order to avoid rapid blockage of the suction filter. Usually, a slide filter is pushed for this purpose from above into the brine container, so that the latter is divided into two regions with different degrees of contamination of the brine. The slide filter becomes contaminated gradually and must be removed at regular intervals for cleaning purposes. Even when several such slide filters are used, brine of a higher degree of contamination may be introduced into a region of brine of lower degree of contamination during the removal of a filter for cleaning purposes.


An inflatable lumbar support system for a vehicle seat includes an inflatable air cell, or cells, coupled by an air line to a motorized diaphragm pump. The outlet valve of the pump is in the form of an umbrella valve which serves not only to seal the pump on the intake strokes, but is of such character to provide the sole seal between the air cell and pump, thereby eliminating the need to have a separate external check valve between the pump and air cell to assure that the air cell does not leak once pressurized.

Some models of automotive vehicle seats are equipped with a pneumatic lumbar support system which includes provision of one or more inflatable air cells located in the lower region of the back rest and an electric air pump which, under the control of an operator switch, delivers low pressure air to the cell. Such systems enable an occupant of a seat to adjust the firmness or contour to meet his or her personal preference. Air cells may also be provided in other regions of the seat, such as the side bolster areas.
It is recognized that the cell, once inflated, must remain air-tight and not leak, since a change in air pressure within the cell would produce a corresponding objectionable change in the support provided to the occupant.
A source for air loss is the back flow of air from the cell through a non-reversible air pump, often the reciprocating piston type. One common valve used at the outlet of such pumps is a flapper-type valve which has sufficient sealing capability for the operation of a pump, but by its nature is not entirely leak proof and thus is unable to completely seal the air cell against air loss back through the pump. Consequently, it is common practice to install an external one-way check valve or solenoid valve in line between the outlet pump and the air cell to prevent such back flow through the pump. Such external valves, however, add to the cost and complexity of the system.
The present invention overcomes or greatly diminishes the foregoing objections.

Air pumping system for an automotive seat


This invention relates to a check valve of a fuel tank which is provided in an end portion of a fuel supply pipe for introducing fuel to the fuel tank, which end portion is located inside of the tank. The check valve comprises a valve plate which is large enough to cover the end face of the pipe, and a valve support which supports the valve plate by a connecting pin serving as a hinge, the valve support being of a semicylindrical shape having an inner diameter which is substantially equal to an outer diameter of the pipe to which the valve support is attached, the valve support being attached to the pipe by engaging concave and convex fitting means which are formed at least on end portions of the valve support on both sides and on the associated pipe.

1. Industrial Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a check valve of a fuel tank, which is provided on an end portion of a fuel supply pipe for introducing fuel to the fuel tank, which end portion is located inside of the tank.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In order to prevent liquid fuel from flowing back to a fuel supply port due to an increase in the tank internal pressure at the time of fuel supply or the like, a check valve is provided in a fuel supply passage, and this check valve has a mechanism to be open when fuel flows normally during fuel supply and to be closed when fuel flows back.
Conventionally, for example, there have been a check valve comprising two semicircular valve plates, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,774,981 and 4,977,926, a check valve which is opened and closed like an alligator's mouth, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,044,396, and a check valve comprising a circular valve plate similar to the present invention, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,989,635. As obviously understood from these examples, a valve plate is generally attached to joints by means of a pin. In this method, however, the pin must be designed not to come off after the assembly. Therefore, the pin must be press-fitted into the joints, or the pin must be processed afterwards, for example, by crushing the tip of the pin. Moreover, a check valve is attached to a fuel supply pipe by welding or press-fitting the valve into the pipe or fixing the valve by fasteners, which is a difficult operation to be performed in a sealed tank.
Especially, a check valve of the type which is attached to an end portion of a fuel pipe which is projected into a tank, as in this invention, is different from a check valve of the type which is provided inside of the fuel passage in that fuel collides against the valve plate forcefully, splashes in all directions and falls into the tank. If a large amount of fuel splashes, a large amount of fuel vapor will be generated in the tank, so that prevention devices must be provided not to destroy the natural environment by diffusion of fuel gas. Consequently, fuel splash must be suppressed to prevent generation of fuel vapor as much as possible.


Various embodiments include an easily-drainable dehumidifier designed to automatically or manually drain water stored in a water tank in accordance with a user selection. In various embodiments, the easily-drainable dehumidifier includes a case defining an exterior of the dehumidifier and provided with an air inlet and outlet, a dehumidifying unit that is installed in the case to remove moisture from air introduced into the case through the air inlet and discharge the air to an external side through the air outlet, a water tank that stores water generated by dehumidification of the dehumidifying unit and that is provided at a side with a first connecting portion having a first water outlet, a connecting member having a second connecting portion that is detachably connected to the first connecting portion of the water tank and provided with a second water outlet that selectively communicates with the first water outlet.

Generally, a typical dehumidifier is an appliance for removing moisture from indoor air. There are various dehumidifiers using different dehumidifying methods.
Among the dehumidifiers, a cooling-type dehumidifier using a cooling cycle in which moisture is removed from the air by condensing the moisture contained in the air when the air passes through a vaporizer.
The dehumidifier includes a case defining an appearance of the dehumidifier and provided with an air inlet, an intake fan that is installed in the case to suck external air, a dehumidifying unit that removes moisture from the air sucked by the intake fan by condensing the moisture contained in the air, and a water tank for storing the water generated by the dehumidification of the dehumidifying unit.
The dehumidifying unit includes a compressor for compressing a gaseous refrigerant into a high temperature/pressure state, a condenser for condensing the high temperature/pressure gaseous refrigerant, and a vaporizer for vaporizing the refrigerant that is reduced in pressure while passing through an expansion tube via the condenser.
The refrigerant circulates through the humidifier. That is, the refrigerant is directed to the vaporizer through the compressor and returned to the vaporizer via the condenser and expansion tube.
At this point, when the air is sucked into the case by the rotation of the fan, the sucked air is cooled down to or below the dew point while passing through the vaporizer and condensed. Therefore, the moisture contained in the air is removed by being changed into dewdrops.
The dewdrops are directed into the water tank and stored as water. Therefore, the water filled in the tank should be drained to an external side after a predetermined time has passed.
In order to drain the water filled in the water tank, the water tank installed in the humidifier is separated from the case and the user empties the water tank by himself/herself. Alternatively, a drain pump installed outside or inside the dehumidifier may be used to discharge the water out of the water tank.
The above-described water discharging methods are a manual discharging method where the user empties the water tank by himself/herself and an automatic discharging method using the drain pump. Therefore, when the manual discharging method is used, the user may feel inconvenience in use. When the automatic discharging method is used, the user may face restriction on a using place of the humidifier.
That is, when the humidifier employing the manual discharging method is used, the user must periodically empty the water tank. This is troublesome for the user. When the humidifier employing the automatic discharging method, a discharge pipeline must be installed and thus the user may face the restriction on the using place of the humidifier.
The above information disclosed in this Background section is only for enhancement of understanding of the background of the invention and therefore it may contain information that does not form the prior art that is already known in this country to a person of ordinary skill in the art.


In a relaying apparatus detecting a congested state and performing a flow control, an output buffer using an up-link or a stack-link is monitored. When the up-link or the stack-link is in a congested state, a transmission restriction is imposed on a port which is a transmitting source of a corresponding frame. Furthermore, when a plurality of relaying apparatuses are connected through stack-links, the relaying apparatus having the up-link detects the congested state of the up-link and notifies a second relaying apparatus of the congested state to make a transmission restriction.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a relaying apparatus, and in particular to a relaying apparatus which detects a congested or uncongested state to perform a data flow control.
2. Description of the Related Art
FIG. 9 shows an arrangement of a conventionally known relaying apparatus used in a LAN (Local Area Network) i.e. collection of computers that share data and resources in one primary location. A relaying apparatus 1 is connected to a backbone LAN 3 through an up-link 2 and is also connected to a second relaying apparatus 7 through a stack-link 8.
The internal arrangements of the relaying apparatus 1 and the relaying apparatus 7 are common, so that taking the relaying apparatus 1 as an example for the sake of description, ports (e.g. Input/Output ports) 11 which can be connected to terminals (not shown) such as personal computers and switches/repeater hubs are connected to a switching portion 12. The ports 11 can automatically recognize the bandwidth of the interfaces (i.e. the 10BASE-T (10 Mbps) and the 100BASE-TX (100 Mbps)) according to the IEEE802.3 standard.
This IEEE802.3 standard deals with Ethernet which is the most widely used LAN technology. The above-noted 10BASE-T is the original and most common version of Ethernet and denotes a peak transmission speed of 10 Mbps. Newer versions of Ethernet called "Fast Ethernet" and "Gigabit Ethernet" support data rates of 100 Mbps and 1 Gbps (1000 Mbps), respectively, including the standards of the 100BASE-TX as above-noted and the 1000BASE-X.
An output buffer 13 is provided between the switching portion 12 and the up-link 2, and the number of frame staying at the output buffer 13 is monitored by a monitoring portion 14 so that the state of the up-link 2 may be always monitored.
In addition, an output buffer 15 is provided between the switching portion 12 and the stack-link 8, and a stack-link monitoring portion 16 is connected to the output buffer 15 in the same way as the up-link 2 so that the number of frame staying at the output buffer 15 before the stack-link 8 can be always monitored.
The monitoring portions 14 and 16 are connected to a flow controller 17, so that when the monitoring portions 14 and 16 respectively detect the congested state of the links 2 and 8 the congested state is notified to the flow controller 17.
It is to be noted that an interface 18 is provided between the output buffer 13 and the up-link 2 as well as an interface 19 is provided between the output buffer 15 and the stack-link 8.
Furthermore, although this arrangement illustrates only the case where frames are outputted from the relaying apparatus 1 to the up-link 2 and the stack-link 8, input portions and the like necessary for the case where the frames are conversely inputted from the up-link 2 and the stack-link 8 are not illustrated for the sake of simplifying the figure.
The congested state which may occur in such a conventional relaying apparatus will be described more specifically referring to FIGS. 10 and 11.
Firstly, in the example of FIG. 10, only six arrows are shown toward the up-link 2. However, assuming that the interface 18 of the up-link 2 is a "Gigabit Ethernet" type (ex. 1000BASE-X) as above-noted and the ports are the "Fast Ethernet" type (ex. 100BASE-TX (100 Mbps interface)) as above-noted, when the ports 11 having terminal ports more than ten on the calculation try to simultaneously communicate with the up-link 2 with a full wire (upper limit of a transmission line capability) the processing capability of the up-link interface 18 is physically exceeded, resulting in a congested state.
In the example of FIG. 11, six arrows are shown from a part of terminals 4 connected to the ports 11 of the relaying apparatus 1 to the interface 18, and further two arrows are shown from a part of terminals 9 connected to ports 71 in a second relaying apparatus 7 connected to the relaying apparatus 1 through the stack-line 8, so that eight arrows are shown in total. Likewise in this case, when more than ten terminal ports 11 and 71 on the calculation are simultaneously connected to the up-link 2 with the full wire, the processing capability of the interface 18 is physically exceeded, resulting in a congested state.
When such a congested state occurs and the notification thereof is provided to the flow controller 17 from the monitoring portion 14 or 16, the flow controller 17 controls to either transmit a congestion signal to the switching portion 12 or substantially stop the following communication by intentionally generating a collision state in the ports 11 in case that the above-mentioned interfaces 10BASE-T and 100BASE-TX are a half-duplex communication type.
Also, in the above-mentioned international standard IEEE802.3X, when the number of buffer staying frame exceeds a fixed threshold value, a "pause" frame is transmitted to the link connected to the ports 11, so that the control to stop the transmission of frame is performed on the reception side of the pause frame until a timer expires.
In the control method of transmitting the congestion signal or generating the compulsory collision state as is the case with the above-mentioned conventional relaying apparatus, there is a problem that the inputs to the ports must be entirely stopped.
Also, in the international standard IEEE802.3X, if a plurality of relaying apparatuses are mutually connected as shown in FIG. 9, a flow control by the whole of a relaying apparatus can be performed, while the flow control by an individual port can not. In addition, if the flow control by the whole apparatus is performed, it is disadvantageous that the control is performed even to communications which have nothing to do with the congested state of the up-link or the stack-link such as the communication within the apparatus.


An instrument for performing thoracic surgical procedures including an instrument body, a tool assembly, and an actuating mechanism. The instrument body has a proximal end spaced along a longitudinal axis from a distal end. The tool assembly has two cooperating tool members operably connected to the distal end of the instrument body for insertion into the body cavity. Each of the tool members can include a cam slot. Furthermore, each of the tool members are rotatable between an open and a closed position about a rotation axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. The actuating mechanism is carried by the instrument body and provides a high torque on the tool members. The actuating mechanism can include first and second oppositely facing bosses, oriented parallel to the rotation axis, and an actuating element. Each one of the bosses is offset from the plane defined by the longitudinal axis of the instrument body and the rotation axis of the tool members and engages a respective one of the cam slots in a camming relationship. The actuating element is operable for motion relative to the instrument body such that movement of the actuating element relative to the instrument body causes the bosses to effect cooperative movement of the tool members. In an alternative embodiment, the bosses are positioned on the tool members and the cam slots are formed on the actuating mechanism.

The present invention relates generally to surgical instruments, and more particularly, to minimally invasive surgical instruments.
Open surgery, in which a large incision is made in a patient's body, has the risk of trauma to healthy tissue, slowed recovery, and complications from infection and scar adhesion. Minimally invasive surgical techniques attempt to overcome these risks by inserting surgical instruments through a pre-existing orifice or a small puncture or incision, rather than the large incision of previous techniques. Surgeons use surgical instrument tips mounted on a rod and placed into the body cavity through small incisions, actuating the instrument tips using hand grips located outside the body cavity.
While minimally invasive techniques have been used in endoscopic (gastrointestinal) and laparoscopic (abdominal) surgery, they have proved difficult to apply in thoracic surgery. For thoracic surgery, hand instruments must be unique: moving and turning the large lung lobes requires instruments that can apply more torque and carry more weight than standard laparoscopic (abdominal) instruments.
Performing minimally invasive surgery requires precise instrument control because of the restricted range of motion for instruments. Thus there is a need for precisely controlled instruments with smooth movements. At the same time, complicated instruments with many parts are expensive to manufacture, break easily, and are difficult to sterilize.
Minimally invasive surgery in the thoracic area would not only help avoid the health complications listed above, when compared with conventional techniques, but would also help avoid systemic traumas such as loss of body temperature, tissue desiccation, and other issues related to tissue exposure.
For the foregoing reasons, there is a need for an instrument for minimally invasive thoracic surgery that can easily apply torque to move and turn large lung lobes, and that is precisely controlled, robust, inexpensive to manufacture, and easy to sterilize.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an instrument for performing thoracic surgical procedures which provides increased torque and carries more weight than conventional minimally invasive surgical instruments.
It is another object of the present invention to provide an instrument for performing thoracic surgical procedures that permits precise control of the instrument by a surgeon.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide an instrument for performing thoracic surgical procedures that is robust, inexpensive to manufacture, and easy to sterilize.
Other general and specific objects of this invention will in part be obvious and in part be evident from the drawings and description which follow.

Instrument for thoracic surgical procedures