A cup for dispensing liquid and solid medication. The cup has a bottom 12, two sides 14, 16, extending upwardly from the bottom to form a rim 26 at a top of the cup, and a ramp 18 extending outwardly from the bottom 12 at least part way to the rim. The two sides and the ramp 19 join to form a mouthpiece of the cup. An upper vertical portion 24 extends downward from the rim 26. The ramp 19 extends outwardly from the bottom 12 to the upper vertical portion 24 such that the two sides 14, 16, the ramp 19, and the upper vertical portion 24 join to form a mouth piece of the cup. The cup allows an individual to consume the entire contents within the cup without moving the head or neck backwards.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates a medicine-dispensing cup for liquid or solid medication that allows an individual to consume the entire contents within the cup without moving the head or neck backwards.
2. Description of the Prior Art
A number of patents are concerned with containers designed to ease ingestion of liquids or solids by an individual. Hucknall, in U.S. Pat. No. 2,599,919, shows a container fitted with an integral straw-like passage that extends above the container top. In U.S. Pat. No. 3,014,621, Povitz discloses a plastic lip and handle that attaches to a beverage can. Hostetter, in U.S. Pat. No. 3,134,523, shows a hospital cup with a foldable top edge that contains a small conduit to allow a prone individual to drink from the conduit. A drinking attachment for a can that includes an extended lip portion is described by Ward in U.S. Pat. No. 3,429,478. A closure device with a pouring lip for containers is disclosed by Kapples in U.S. Pat. No. 3,972,453. Watson, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,235,348, describes a drinking container with an open trough-like spout projecting laterally from one side. Junkman et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,887,729, discloses a two-handled cup for handicapped persons. In U.S. Pat. No. 5,323,928, Stevens describes a dysphagia cup having sloping interior surfaces and an elliptically-shaped top opening to accommodate a user's nasal bridge during drinking such that substantial backwards angulation of the head is not required. Sang-Seo, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,415,313, shows a beverage can with a lip that protrudes from the top of the can upon removing a pull tab to open it. Neville U.S. Pat. No. 5,645,191 discloses a disposable safety cup with a spout formed by the container side and attached cup cover.
It is desirable to provide a dispensing cup for liquid or solid medication that allows an individual to consume the entire contents within the cup without moving the head or neck backwards.


A modular infrastructure for a computer server rack, comprising modular server chassis, each chassis configured to receive a plurality of servers and two network switches. The switches are redundantly coupled to each server in the same chassis via point to point links within a data backplane. The rack further comprises redundant AC to DC power supplies configured to transmit power to a power backplane in each of the server chassis through a power bus bar. DC power is provided by both power supplies to each server in the rack through the power bus bar and a power backplane located in the same chassis. Each power supply is sufficient to power the entire rack. Servers within separate chassis are coupled into the same network by merely daisy chaining the switches in the rack. Individual servers are deployed by sliding the servers into a server chassis to engage connectors in the backplanes.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to rack mounted computer servers. More specifically, the preferred embodiment relates to data and power distribution between and among servers within a rack system. More particularly still, the preferred embodiments of the present invention relate to a modular infrastructure for distributing redundant power and data in a rack system.
2. Background of the Invention
Conventional rack mount servers provide a flexible and effective way of providing varying levels of computing power in a relatively small volume. Within a single rack, multiple servers may be coupled together to perform common tasks. In addition, servers of different sizes may be installed in a rack to provide different levels of storage or processing capacity. Adding to this flexibility is the fact that the size of racks and servers are rather standardized. Many conventional racks comply with the EIA ("Electronic Industries Alliance") standard 19 inch width for server and laboratory equipment racks. In addition to this width standard, many conventional rack mount servers also comply with the a unit height ("U") standard of 1.75 inch. Thus, a 1U server has a height of 1.75 inch while a 4U server is 7 inches high. Thus, servers of different sizes may be installed in different combinations within a server rack to provide a fully tailored system.
Unfortunately, along with this expandability comes the complexity of deploying a fully configurable system. The interconnection fabric for conventional rack mounted server networks is system dependent and must be developed from scratch. With conventional rack systems, multiple cables must be connected to each server for data, power, system management and any other device dependent connections. A typical deployment involves dozens of power and data cables that must be routed and neatly bundled to prevent cross-talk or other interference. It can literally take hours to wire up and deploy a single rack. Deploying multiple racks adds to the complexity because cables are needed for every server in every rack.
If system administrators wish to combine servers in separate racks into a common network, a switch or hub must be incorporated in the racks to transmit data between racks and among servers within a rack. This once again adds to the complexity of the system as provisions must be made for space and wiring of the switch/hub. Unless these provisions are made ahead of time, an existing network must be modified. Unfortunately, modification of a network of rack servers is complicated by the fact that cables often need rerouting and rebundling. This example is just one of many showing how deployment of a network of conventional rack mounted servers requires extensive planning and forethought. Conventional rack server networks are simply not easily deployed or modified.
Another problem with conventional systems arises when an individual server needs to be replaced. In large network applications such as with service providers, it is not uncommon for multiple racks to sit side by side, lining the walls of entire rooms. In this scenario, access to the rear of any individual rack is limited. To disconnect and remove a single server, the entire rack must be pulled out or positioned to access the rear of the server and the correct cables must be located and disconnected. As one can see, replacing a single rack mounted server can be inconvenient and time consuming.
In light of these issues, it would therefore be desirable to provide an infrastructure for rack mounted server components that eliminates much of the cabling that is required in conventional systems. The novel infrastructure would advantageously decrease the amount of time required to deploy a rack of servers. In addition, the improved method would facilitate the rapid replacement of individual servers within a rack.

Redundant data and power infrastructure for modular server components in a rack

Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.


Polynucleotide molecules encoding CTCF are isolated and purified and sequenced. The CTCF proteins and antibodies thereto can be used to identify mutant CTCFs in methods of diagnosis.

The c-myc proto-oncogene encodes a nuclear phosphoprotein with leucine zipper and helix-loop-helix structural motifs which appears to be important in the molecular biology of normal and abnormal cellular proliferation. Myc is implicated in the control of both differentiation and replication (Cole, Annu. Rev. Genet. 20:361-384 (1986)), and recent reports link myc to apoptotic cell death (Askew et al., Oncogene 6:1915-1922 (1991), Evan et al., Cell, 69:119-125 (1992), and Neiman et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 88:5857-5861 (1991), each of which is incorporated herein by reference). Myc and its dimerization partner Max form stable heterodimers through their helix-loop-helix and leucine zipper domains and bind specifically to a core "E box" CACGTG DNA sequence (Blackwood et al., Science 251:1211-1217 (1991), incorporated herein by reference). Max homodimers may serve as transcriptional repressors, whereas myc/max heterodimers can activate transcription (Kretzner et al., Nature 359:426-429 (1992), incorporated herein by reference). Certain of the biological functions of myc may be mediated by transcriptional regulation of putative target genes.
Despite recent progress in defining the mechanism of myc action on "down stream" events, less progress has been made in defining the proteins regulating the expression of c-myc itself. Both transcriptional and post-transcriptional mechanisms appear to play a role in regulation of c-myc gene expression (Cole, Annu. Rev. Genet. 20:361-384 (1986), Spencer et al., Cancer Res. 56:1-48 (1991), and Marcu et al., Annual Rev. Biochem. 61:809-860 (1992), each of which is incorporated herein by reference). Maintenance of the level of the c-myc MRNA is achieved by regulation of both transcriptional initiation and elongation. Both initiation, and elongation of the c-myc mRNA, depend upon promoter elements which interact specifically with particular nuclear factors (Spencer, Oncogene 5:777-785 (1990) and Spencer et al., Cancer Res. 56:1-48 (1991), each of which is incorporated herein by reference). A general map of mouse and human c-myc transcription elements has been suggested and nuclear factors which bind to these elements have been reported. In certain cases novel cDNA's encoding such factors have been isolated and sequenced including: ZF87 (also called MAZ), a proline-rich six Zn-finger protein binding to ME1a1/ME1a2 elements within P2 promoter of the murine c-myc gene (Pyrc et al., Biochem. 31:4102-4110 (1992) and Bossone et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 89:7452-7456 (1992), each of which is incorporated herein by reference); a 37-kDa protein, MBP-1, which appears to be a negative regulator of the human c-myc promoter (Ray et al., Mol. Cell. Biol. 11:2154-2161 (1991), incorporated herein by reference); and nuclease sensitive element protein-1 (NSEP-1) which binds to a region necessary for efficient P2 initiation (Kolluri and Kinniburgh, Nucl. Acids Res. 17:4771 (1991), incorporated herein by reference). In addition, an Rb binding protein E2F which recognizes an E1A-transactivation site in the human c-myc promoter (Thalmeier et al., Genes Dev. 3:527-536 (1989), incorporated herein by reference) has also been cloned (Helin et al., Cell 70:337-350 (1992), incorporated herein by reference).
The chicken c-myc 5'-flanking region is at least 10-fold enriched in CpG-pairs compared with total chicken DNA and is presently thought to be a member of the family of CpG-rich islands involved in regulating certain house keeping genes (Bird et al., Nature 321:209-213 (1986), incorporated herein by reference). Overall high GC content (.about.80%) of the 5'-flanking region predicts that most of the potential regulatory DNA elements will be GC-rich. Analysis of DNA-protein interactions within the 5'-flanking region of the chicken c-myc gene revealed multiple GC-rich sequences which specifically interact with nuclear proteins (Lobanenkov et al., Eur. J. Biochem. 159:181-188 (1986), incorporated herein by reference). Proteins binding to one specific region within a hypersensitive site approximately 200 base pairs upstream of the start of transcription have reportedly been analyzed (Lobanenkov et al., Oncogene 5:1743-1753 (1990) and Lobanenkov et al., Gene Reg. and AIDS, Portfolio Publishing Corp., Texas, p. 45-68 (1989), incorporated herein by reference). Three nuclear factors were found that bind to several overlapping sequences within 180-230 bp upstream of the start of transcription. Two of the proteins appear to resemble the transcription factor Sp1, the other is a factor which seems to bind to a GC-rich sequence containing three regularly spaced repeats of the core sequence CCCTC. The CCCTC-binding factor was termed CTCF (Lobanenkov et al., Oncogene 5:1743-1753 (1990) and Lobanenkov et al., Gene Reg. and AIDS, Portfolio Publishing Corp., Texas, p. 45-68 (1989), incorporated herein by reference).
Studies suggest that during embryonic development the regulatory state of c-myc transcription can determine whether a cell continues to proliferate, or stops, and enters a pathway to terminal differentiation. Failure to properly regulate myc may be one pathway to malignancy. Thus, identifying the suppressor mechanisms by which myc is regulated would provide important reagents and assays useful in the detection of mutants that are indicative of a disease state such as cancer and the development of candidate therapeutic agents can that regulate cell proliferation, for example, inhibiting cell proliferation in cancer on the one hand, or stimulating cell proliferation in a damaged tissue on the other hand. Quite surprisingly, the present invention fulfills these and other related needs.

Isolated polynucleotide molecules encoding CTCF, a CCCTC-binding factor

Cancer Research Campaign Technology, Ltd.


The present invention discloses a nanocomposite material having single-walled aluminosilicate nanotube in polymer, a membrane comprising such nanocomposite material, and the method of making the nanocomposite material, in which the composite material has high volume fraction of well-dispersed nanotubes. A gel-phased single-walled aluminosilicate nanotube is first prepared and then mixed with a polymer matrix to yield the composite material.

The synthesis, properties, and applications of nanotube materials have been extensively studied for more than two decades. Nanotubes are of single-layered or multiple-layered structure wrapped into a cylindrical shape. Nanotubes, especially carbon nanotubes, generally have a diameter of 1 nanometer, but may extend to several micrometers in length. Carbon nanotubes have been found to possess good mechanical, electrical, thermal, and mass transport properties and can be incorporated into other solid phase materials as nanoscale fillers.
The mechanical, electrical or heat/mass transport properties of such nanocomposites exhibit a strong dependence on the filler volume fraction. Previous studies have also suggested that uniformity of the nanotube dispersion in the matrix material plays a critical role in the performance enhancement. For example, carbon nanotube/polymer composite membranes with non-ideal nanotube dispersion (i.e. aggregation of nanotubes in the matrix due to the incompatibility between the outer surface of the carbon nanotubes and the matrix materials) were found to yield low molecular selectivity, where the aggregation may result in nanotube lumps of 100 micrometers in diameter or larger.
Furthermore, the nanotube dispersion and defect areas in carbon nanotube-based composite membranes are not yet fully characterized. As a result, the relative contributions to mass transport from the dispersed nanotubes (pore size <10 nm) and the defect regions (of size ˜1 μm) are unclear.
To address the problem of increasing the nanotube loading in nanocomposites while maintaining good dispersion, a range of techniques for outer surface modification of carbon nanotubes have been developed, such as the use of surfactants or in situ polymerization to enhance the nanotube compatibility with the polymeric matrix. Nevertheless, the highest volume fraction reported to date of carbon nanotubes dispersed in a polymeric material without significant nanotube aggregation is only about 20%. This limitation hinders the performance enhancement that the nanotubes can potentially create in a composite material or membrane.
The limits on carbon nanotube loading in composite materials are likely related to the difficulty of dispersing the nanotubes individually in a liquid prior to preparing the solid-phase composite. However, individual dispersion of nanotubes in polar liquids can be achieved in the case of metal oxide nanotubes that are synthesized hydrothermally or solvothermally and have polar surfaces. Single walled aluminosilicate nanotubes (SWNTs, FIG. 1), which are synthetic analogues of the nanotubular mineral imogolite, can be synthesized hydrothermally with a high degree of dispersion.1-4 These SWNTs are hypothesized to be amenable to the fabrication and application of high-loading nanotube composites with near-ideal dispersion of nanotubes. Furthermore, previous studies have suggested that aluminosilicate SWNTs possess extraordinarily high interior hydrophilicity due to their high inner surface silanol densities, and membranes incorporating them have been predicted to exhibit excellent water transport properties and good water/alcohol selectivity.6-8 The transport properties of these materials can also be controlled by internal surface modification and tuning of the nanotube diameter. Additionally, aluminogermanate nanotubes, a nanomaterial that is structurally analogous to the aluminosilicate nanotube but shorter in length and larger in external diameter, has been surface-modified by octadecylphosphonic acid.12 The surface-modified aluminogermanate nanotube exhibited increase dispersibility in hydrophobic solvents, suggesting potential applications in membranes. Therefore, SWNT/polymer composite membranes are interesting candidates for applications in water/organics separations (e.g., water/ethanol separation as encountered in biofuel production).
Most of current studies focus on the composite materials comprising carbon nanotubes and polymers. For example, US20100160553 discloses a method for dispersing carbon nanotubes in a SWNT/polymer composite, especially by fragmentation of carbon nanotubes by first embedding carbon nanotubes within a catalyst for polymerization, and then performing the polymerization reaction that is known to fracture the catalyst to 0.1 micrometer range. However, such method still has the disadvantage in that only a limited percentage of well-dispersed nanotubes can be included in the composite material (E.g., [0073]: "The SWNT-polymer composite more preferably may comprise up to 0.1%-3% SWNTs"), and therefore limits the physical characteristics of the composite material.
Therefore, there is the need in the art for a method for preparing a well dispersed metal oxide single-wall nanotube SWNT/polymer composite material that has high volume fraction of the SWNT and has enhanced water permeability and/or water/alcohol selectivity.

Single-walled metal oxide and metal sulphide nanotubes/polymer composites


Various methods and systems are provided to allow different users to search for company-specific terms in a terminology database maintained by a company or website. Information about the terminology provided to the user may include acceptability of use, details of acceptable or unacceptable use, description, synonyms, and related terms. Terms not found in the database may be added from a submission by the user. As a result, users may better understand terminology used by the company or website. In other embodiments, terminology can be searched for acceptable use in social networking sites or other areas or searched for plagiarism.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to terminology databases.
2. Related Art
Within a company, there may be specific terms (i.e., terminology) used to describe the company. This includes descriptors about services and goods offered by the company, requests to users, such as entering specific user information, internal information for use by different areas of the company to perform tasks or to obtain a better understanding of other areas of the company, commonly used acronyms, and terms to be used by third party developers, partners, or designers to create applications or other content for the company. With all the ways that different words or phrases can be used to describe something, different areas of the company may use different words or phrases to describe the same thing. This may even be more likely with third parties outside the company. Many disadvantages or problems to the company may result.
For example, if different terms are used within a company website to describe the same thing, the user may become confused or view the site in a negative way due to the lack of consistency and could result in increased customer contact and customer service costs for the company. Improperly used descriptors may be used that could cause legal issues for the company, such as when a certain term or phrase used in a particular context may give rise to an unintended legal obligation for or legal statement by the company. Another area of concern is with companies that have constantly new or emerging areas, with associated new descriptors. Other areas of the company may be unaware of this and misinterpret or misuse these new descriptors. In addition, outdated terms may be inappropriate descriptors for new or re-named products and services. Such terms should be avoided, which may not accurately describe the products or service or imply an older product or service is still available or applicable. Words that are slang or commonly used internally may also be inappropriately used as descriptors.
Yet another area that could be improved is translating or defining terms or phrases. Translation is very costly. The more time linguists have to spend researching terms, the more it costs. Also, if terms or phrases have to be retranslated, then cost increases. Outside translators may not fully understand the company's business, which may result in too general a translation, an inaccurate translation, and/or high costs to provide an accurate translation.
Therefore, a need exists for managing terminology used by a company that overcomes the disadvantages above.


A process for depositing titanium silicide films via chemical vapor deposition takes place in a deposition chamber that has been evacuated to less than atmospheric pressure and utilizes, as reactants, the organometallic compound tertiary-butyltris-dimethylamido-titanium and a silicon-containing compound such as silane. The deposition temperature, which is dependent on the nitrogen source, is within a range of 400 to 800xc2x0 C. The low end of the temperature range utilizes a plasma-enhanced deposition process, while the higher end of the temperature range relies on thermal decomposition to initiate the reaction. The films deposited using the process have a sheet resistance of about 2 to 10 ohms per square and contain less than 5 percent carbon impurities and less than 5 percent oxygen impurities by weight. Titanium silicide films incorporating various other compounds may be deposited using either of the heretofore described embodiments of the process by adding other precursors to the TBTDMAT and the silicon-containing compounds. For example, by adding nitrogen-containing compounds such as amines, ammonia, hydrazines to the silicon and titanium precursors and using the same reaction parameters, a film having the general composition TiSiXN(1xe2x88x92X) can be deposited. Additionally, by adding tungsten-containing organometallic compounds such as bis(2,4-dimethylpentadienyl)tungsten or tungsten halide compounds such as WF6 or WCI6 to the silicon and titanium precursors, a titanium silicide film having the general formula TiSiW can be deposited.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to integrated circuit fabrication technology and, more specifically, to processes for forming titanium silicide films via chemical vapor deposition.
2. State of the Art
The compound titanium silicide (TiSi2) is used extensively in the manufacture of integrated circuits. It is frequently used to reduce the sheet resistance of conductively-doped silicon conductors. It is also used to provide solid electrical contact between conductive plugs and an underlying conductively-doped silicon layer.
In a common application for integrated circuit manufacture, a contact opening is etched through an insulative layer down to a conductive region (which may have been formed by diffusion or a combination of implanting and diffusion) to which electrical contact is to be made. Titanium metal is deposited on the surface of the diffusion region and subsequently converted to titanium silicide, thus providing an excellent conductive interface at the surface of the diffusion region. A titanium nitride barrier layer is then deposited, coating the walls and floor of the contact opening. Chemical vapor deposition of tungsten metal or polycrystalline silicon (polysilicon) follows. Deposition of titanium metal and the subsequent conversion of the titanium metal can be replaced by the direct deposition via chemical vapor deposition of titanium silicide. The deposition step is followed by an elevated temperature anneal step which causes titanium silicide molecules to migrate into the underlying silicon layer, thus providing reliable electrical interface between the two layers.
At least three processes have been proposed for creating thin titanium silicide films: (1) reactive sputtering; (2) annealing, in an inert ambiance, a titanium layer that has been sputter-deposited on top of a silicon layer; and (3) chemical vapor deposition, using titanium tetrachloride and a silicon containing compound, such as silane or dichlorosilane, as reactants.
Both reactive sputtering and annealing of deposited titanium result in films having poor step coverage, which are of limited use in submicron manufacturing processes. Chemical vapor deposition processes have an important advantage in that a conformal layer of any thickness may be deposited. This is especially advantageous in ultra-large-scale-intrgration circuits, where minimum feature widths may be smaller than 0.3 xcexcm. Layers as thin as 1 ( )xc3x85 may be readily produced using CVD. However, TiSi2 coatings prepared using titanium tetrachloride have greater resistivity and are poor barriers to atomic migration than sputtered or annealed titanium silicide layers.
What is needed is a new chemical vapor deposition process which will provide highly conformal titanium silicide films of high purity, with step coverage that is suitable for sub-0.25 xcexcm generations of integrated circuits, and resistivity values and barrier qualities that more closely approach those of sputtered and annealed titanium silicide films.
This invention includes various processes for depositing titanium silicide (TiSi2) films containing less than five percent carbon impurities and less than five percent oxygen impurities by weight via chemical vapor deposition and the use of an organo-metallic precursor compound. Sheet resistance of the deposited films is within a range of about 2 to 10 ohms per square. The deposition process takes place in a deposition chamber that has been evacuated to less than atmospheric pressure and utilizes the organometallic compound tertiary-butyltris-dimethylamido-titanium (TBTDMAT) and a silicon containing compound as reactants. The compound tertiary-butyltris-dimethylamido-titanium has the formula TiC(CH3)3(NR2)3. FIG. 1 depicts the structural formula of tertiary-butyltris-dimethylamido-titanium. The deposition temperature, which is dependent on the silicon source, is within a range of about 400xc2x0 C. to 800xc2x0 C. The deposition reaction may be performed within approximately the lower half of the temperature range if a plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition process is employed. If thermal decomposition is relied on to initiate a reaction between the organometallic compound and the silicon-containing compound, the reaction must be carried out in approximately the upper half of the temperature range. As a general rule, the more stable the reactants, the higher the decomposition temperature.
Titanium silicide films incorporating various other compounds may be deposited using either of the heretofore described embodiments of the process by adding other precursors to the TBTDMAT and the silicon-containing compounds. For example, by adding nitrogen-containing compounds such as amines, ammonia, and hydrazines to the silicon and titanium precursors and using the same reaction parameters, a film having the general composition TiSixN(1xe2x88x92x) can be deposited. Additionally, by adding tungsten-containing organometallic compounds such as bis(2,4-dimethylpentadienyl)titanium or tungsten halide compounds such as WF6 or WCI6 to the silicon and titanium precursors, a titanium silicide film having the general formula TiSiW can be deposited.

Chemical vapor deposition process for depositing titanium silicide films from an organometallic compound


Methods and systems of the present disclosure allow vehicle participants to issue vehicle statistical challenges to other vehicle participants using V2V communications. Accepted challenges are initiated and vehicle statistics relevant to the challenge are then recorded by the system in both vehicles. Once the challenge is complete, the system calculates and/or compares the results of the challenge, then communicates the results to the challenge participants. The system may also provide options for drivers to communicate via V2V messages, directions, routes, places of interest, or emergency locations in lieu of stopping and inquiring other vehicle participants in person.

Vehicle owners may have an interest in comparing the performance of their vehicle and, by extension, their performance as drivers, against other vehicle owners. In a conventional system, vehicle owners visit a website wherein the vehicle owner can input data associated with the performance of his or her own vehicle. Some vehicle owners transcribe input data from the vehicle instrument cluster and upload the data to the website as verification of the input data. Other vehicle owners take photographs of the instrument cluster of their vehicles and upload those photographs to the website as verification of the input data. Owners may then access the website and compare their individual vehicle performance to that of the collective group and to other vehicle owners individually.

System and method for vehicle-to-vehicle statistic challenges

TOYOTA MOTOR ENGINEERING & MANUFACTURING NORTH AMERICA, INC.


The inhaler for aerosol medication is an inhaler having a recirculation chamber or rebreather. The inhaler has an aerosol holding chamber having an inlet end for attaching a holder for aerosol medication or nebulizer device thereto and an outlet end for attachment to a mouthpiece or mask for dispensing the medication or substance to the user, with a recirculation chamber depending from the outlet end of the holding chamber or from a mask extending from the outlet end of the chamber. The recirculation chamber has a filter to capture particles of the dispensed substance and prevent their escape from the device to the ambient air. The recirculation chamber may be folded or collapsed for storage within the volume of the aerosol holding chamber. The aerosol holding chamber may be stored within the recirculation chamber.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to devices for dispensing medication and related substances. More particularly, the present invention relates to an inhaler for aerosol medication.
2. Description of the Related Art
Inhalers for dispensing aerosol medication and related substances have been known for quite some time. These devices are commonly used to dispense medication in aerosol form for asthma attacks and other respiratory and medical conditions. Such devices include metered dose inhalers (MDI) and nebulizers. The MDI includes a canister and a sleeve. The canister releases a measured dose of medication when squeezed that is released as a puff of medication through the sleeve. Nebulizers generally are machines that use an air compressor or the like to convert liquid medication into a fine mist. Nebulizers generally require the use of a power supply, although lightweight, handheld nebulizers that operate on battery power are available. Nebulizers often use a face mask for delivery of the medication.
A problem with such devices is that they are not particularly efficient. Generally, a person suffering from an asthma attack is incapable of taking a deep breath, so much of the medication does not reach the lungs where it is needed, at least in the first few breaths. Consequently, the unabsorbed medication is retained in the mouth and the throat, or may merely be exhaled into the ambient air. For this reason, metered dose inhalers are often used with a spacer (a tube or other reservoir) disposed between the sleeve and the patient's mouth to hold the metered dose of medication until the patient is able to breathe deeply enough to inhale more of the medication into the lungs. Nevertheless, a substantial quantity of the medication does not reach the lungs, and may be exhaled, either mediately after a retention period in the mouth and throat, or immediately.
Such medications (e.g., corticosteroids, long term or short term beta-agonists (bronchodilators), and other medications used in aerosol form to treat certain medical conditions) can be harmful to the eyes. Yet with such relatively simple inhalers, the user, caregivers, and others in the immediate vicinity of the patient are subjected to the aerosolized medication, at least upon exhalation.
German Patent No. 19,700,838, published on Jul. 16, 1998, describes (according to the drawings and English abstract) a tube that connects to an aerosol inhaler, together with a collapsible, flexible bag or pouch extending from the opposite end of the tube. The bag or pouch includes a mouthpiece at the end distal from the tube, with the interior volume of the pouch communicating with that of the tube to allow the nebulized or vaporized substance to flow from the inhaler through the tube and pouch and into the mouth of the user. The pouch is formed of a flexible material and may be collapsed and stored within the tube for compact storage.
Thus, an inhaler for aerosol medication solving the aforementioned problems is desired.


A method for providing dynamic denial-of-service (DoS) protection using a multicore processor is provided. The multicore processor includes a shared memory, a data processor core, a dynamic DoS processor core and a signaling processor core. The data path processor core receives a network packet addressed to a host computer, selects a target queue based on a traffic type of the network packet, and adds the network packet to the target queue. The target queue is selected from one of n queues, stored in the shared memory, associated with the traffic type. The dynamic DoS processor core services the target queue, including removing the network packet from the target queue and adding the network packet to the host queue. The signaling processor core services the host queue, including removing the network packet from the host queue and sending the network packet to the host computer.

In many systems, hardware-based network traffic managers control the delivery of network packets from an external network, such as the Internet, to one or more hosts within a local network. A DoS attack against a host on a local network attempts to temporarily or permanently disrupt or suspend the services provided by the host, typically by overloading the host with external communications requests. The large volume of network packets arriving at the host reduces the responsiveness of the host or renders the host unable to respond. Other types of DoS attacks consume host resources, disrupt routing tables, communication sessions, physical network components, etc. While hardware-based traffic managers enforce bandwidth regulations to protect hosts within a local network from DoS attacks, these devices introduce undesirable latencies into the processing of network packets.


In a charged particle accelerator, voltage of several tens of kV is applied between accelerating electrodes. In such a case, electric discharge is sometimes generated between the accelerating electrodes. In the charged particle accelerator, part or entirety of the accelerating electrodes is coated with an electric discharge suppressing layer made of ceramics or alloy having a high melting point as compared with metal. When impurity fine particles are accelerated by an electric field and collide with the electrodes, the electric discharge suppressing layer made of ceramics or alloy prevents metal vapor from being easily generated from the electrodes and an ionized plasma from being easily produced, thus suppressing electric discharge between the electrodes.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a charged particle accelerator that prevents electrical discharge.
2. Description of the Related Art
An accelerating tube has a structure in which electrodes (accelerating electrodes) of multi-stages are stacked and voltage of several tens of kV is applied between the accelerating electrodes. Thus, in some cases, dust, residual gas, charging and the like cause electric discharge between the stacked electrodes. Generation of electric discharge temporarily reduces voltage and results in unstable applied voltage. Particularly, under a vacuum condition, an electron is emitted from an electrode with a low potential and collides with an electrode with a high potential, so that metal of the electrode is evaporated in vacuum to degrade insulation properties between the electrodes, thereby leading to large-scale electric discharge. Generation of electric discharge makes it impossible to apply voltage to the accelerating tube, so that the entire system is stopped. Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. Hei 6-203996 discloses that accelerating electrodes are used as magnets to generate lines of magnetic force around the electrodes so as to prevent electric discharge of the entire accelerating tube.


A structured cabling tool includes an outer frame base supporting axle mounts that in turn support cable axles, the outer frame being extended in a ready for use condition and compacted in a ready for transport condition; inner frame arms supported within the outer frame base, the inner frame arms fixable upright orthogonal to the extended outer frame base in the ready for use condition and coextensive with the compacted outer frame in the ready for transport condition; a cable sorting threader supported between the inner frame arms; and a revolvable tape segmenting spindle supported by the inner frame arms below the cable sorting threader.

The present invention concerns a system for the continuous deployment of cabling and a tool associated therewith that removes, or at least reduces, cable reel memory (reel set) in deployed structured cable and with efficiencies to save labor hours, material costs, and reduce errors as compared to prior art tools. The tool is advantageously used with structured cable but is not so limited and may be used with electrical cable and other cable such a security cable.

Cabling continuous deployment system and tool


A fan shroud for use with a cooling fan adjacent to the radiator for a water cooled internal combustion engine includes a generally central opening for directing flow of air to or from a radiator. The fan shroud includes at least one integral chamber for storage of other liquids typically used with a vehicle which may be under pressure. To facilitate handling pressure, the storage chamber includes a plurality of individual storage modules which are interconnected by a plurality of fluid flow channels so that the total storage capacity of the chamber is the sum of the storage capacity of the modules and interconnecting fluid flow channels. The modules and channels are made by bringing the front and back walls of a blow molded fan shroud into contact with each other to define there between channels and modules. Advantageously, the shroud comprises several such chambers and may be used to house engine coolant, power steering fluid or other fluids. In addition, the fan shroud can include chambers for storing fluids which are not necessarily under pressure such as windshield washer fluid and the like.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,692,004, Tangue, et al, issued Sep. 19, 1972, discloses a fan shroud and fluid storage chamber arrangement. Radiator fluid and windshield washer fluid chambers are provided integrally molded on opposite side surfaces of the cylindrical wall surrounding the air flow opening.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,649,587, Plant, issued Jul. 22, 1997, discloses a fan shroud and receptacle arrangement in which there is a shaped hollow body. Oppositely disposed recesses are formed in a front and rear face of the fan shroud to form a wall for dividing the hollow body into two or more internal fluid storage chambers.
Modern engine design often now includes a plurality of chambers for engine coolant fluid. The fluid must circulate through the radiator core for the usual cooling process. The cooling process is often supplemented by addition of a fan to enhance air flow through the radiator. The fan may be an electric fan independently powered from the engine or the fan may be attached to the engine and driven by a belt driven by the crank shaft. Heretofore it has been common for the vehicle to provide an overflow chamber so that when fluid is released from the radiator under pressure it flows into an overflow container. More recently with engine design, an additional chamber is desired. This chamber is subject to engine coolant temperatures and pressures.
There has therefore developed a need for a fluid storage system which is suited to handle the requirements of an engine coolant storage container.


A driver IC and passive parts, which convert a direct current voltage into a three-phase voltage, and an FP coil for cyclically generating a magnetic field through the driver IC are mounted on a flexible substrate, which constitutes a small vibration motor. The driver IC is a so-called bare chip in which a circuit section is exposed and is not molded with resin and the like. Magnets and an unbalance weight are installed on a yoke having a shaft. The FP coil and the magnet are placed so as to face each other. A cover is caulked to fixed to a bottom plate. Thus, the vibration motor can be miniaturized and thinned. Moreover, the vibration motor can be automatically manufactured, and installing them to an electronic apparatus can be automatically performed.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a small vibration motor for generating vibrations, which is built in an electronic apparatus, such as a mobile telephone, a PDA and the like, and to a method of manufacturing the same.
2. Description of Related Art
Conventionally, an electronic apparatus such as the mobile telephone, the PDA and the like includes a mechanism of a so-called silent mode to notify an incoming call through vibrations, and an alarm to notify a predetermined time through vibrations, and the like. As a mechanism for generating a vibration, a vibration actuator is built into such an electronic apparatus.
FIG. 14A is a schematic view showing the inner structure of a mobile telephone in which a vibration motor serving as a conventional vibration actuator is built. FIG. 14B is a schematic view showing the appearance of the vibration motor. As shown in FIG. 14A, printed circuit boards (motherboards) 101, 102 are mounted within the mobile telephone 100. A speaker 103 and a vibration motor 104 are connected to the side of the printed circuit board 101. The vibration motor 104 is driven by a driver IC 105 mounted on the printed circuit board 101. On the other hand, a power supply IC 110, a converter IC 111, an MPU 112, a memory IC 113 and the like are mounted on the side of the printed circuit board 102.
The illustrated vibration motor 104 is a motor with a brush. As shown in FIG. 14B, a weight 125 is fixed around an output shaft 120. When the vibration motor 104 is driven, the output shaft 120 is rotated, and the weight 125 is eccentrically rotated. The eccentric rotation of the weight 125 causes rotationally unbalanced energy to be generated as a vibration component.

Method of manufacturing a small vibration motor


A center-of-gravity determining circuit for pulse generation which is used to obtain a manipulated variable for, for example, a fuel injection device, by using the result of fuzzy reasoning. The result of fuzzy reasoning is obtained in the form of a pulse width as a determined value.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a center-of-gravity determining circuit for pulse generation which obtains a manipulated variable required to control an actuator or the like by using results of fuzzy reasoning.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Fuzzy information obtained as a result of fuzzy reasoning appears in the form of electric signals distributed over a plurality of lines. Accordingly, it is necessary in order to control an actuator or the like by using these signals to convert them into a manipulated variable. A converting mechanism designed for this purpose is called defuzzifier. In general, the conversion is performed by arithmetically determining the center of gravity of fuzzy quantities (JP Appln No. 63-206007, 1988).
The prior art will be explained below on the basis of the contents of the above-mentioned publication.
One example of fuzzy information will be explained with reference to FIG. 6. Elements of fuzzy information are denoted by x, and it is assumed that there are discrete values x.sub.1, x.sub.2, . . . x.sub.n-1, x.sub.n. These elements are output onto a plurality of signal lines l.sub.1, l.sub.2, . . . l.sub.n, respectively, and grades (functional values corresponding to variables) .mu..sub.1, .mu..sub.2, . . . .mu..sub.n corresponding to these elements are represented by analog voltages or current signals appearing on the respective signal lines.
In this case, the grades .mu..sub.1, .mu..sub.2, . . . .mu..sub.n are assumed to be represented by voltages. In FIG. 6, the center of gravity (position on the X axis) of fuzzy information is given by ##EQU1## Accordingly, multiplication, addition and division are needed to obtain the center of gravity.
Therefore, in order to obtain the center of gravity only by addition, Equation (1) is transformed into Equation (2), and the latter is adjusted so that the denominator in Equation (2) is 1: ##EQU2##
That is, if K is adjusted so that the denominator is 1, the center of gravity can be obtained from Equation (3): ##EQU3##
Referring to FIG. 7 which is a specific circuit diagram, voltages .mu..sub.1, .mu..sub.2, . . . .mu..sub.n representative of elements of fuzzy information are led out onto n signal lines l.sub.1, l.sub.2, . . . l.sub.n and then multiplied by the coefficient K in a variable-grade reasoning engine 1. Fuzzy quantities K.mu..sub.1, K.mu..sub.2, . . . K.mu..sub.n output from the reasoning engine 1 are input to both a weighted summing circuit 2 and a simple summing circuit 3. In the weighted summing circuit 2, calculation of the right-hand side of Equation (3) is executed to output a voltage signal representative of the center of gravity.
In the meantime, the simple summing circuit 3 executes calculation of the denominator of Equation (2) and inputs the result of the calculation to a voltage adjusting circuit 4. The other input terminal of the voltage adjusting circuit 4 is supplied with a voltage corresponding to the grade 1. Accordingly, in response to the output signal from the voltage adjusting circuit 4, the coefficient K in the variable-grade reasoning engine 1 is adjusted so that the output from the simple summing circuit 3 is 1 at all times.
According to the above-described prior art, the output signal from the simple summing circuit 3 for electric signals distributed over a plurality of lines is controlled so as to be equivalent to 1. In general, this type of control is executed by using a membership function circuit that is provided with a grade control means. In this case, no dividing circuit is needed, and the circuit configuration is simplified correspondingly, resulting in an increase in the operating speed, but on the other hand, the membership function circuit becomes complicated, and a control mechanism must be added.
In a case where the manipulated variable is the width of a pulse (e.g., an injector drive control signal of a fuel injector device or an ignition timing pulse), the determined value is output in the form of a voltage, and it is therefore necessary to provide an interface for converting the output voltage into a pulse width.

Center-of-gravity determining circuit for pulse generation


A method of tracking an entity (130) through a plurality of tracking stations (205, 210, 215, 220) in a wireless ad-hoc network. A unique identifier (250) can be assigned to the entity at a first (205) of the plurality of tracking stations and wirelessly transmitted to at least a second tracking station (210). The number of the tracking stations can be dynamically varied on an ad-hoc basis responsive to variations in a tracking environment. The unique identifier can be selectively communicated to at least a second tracking station based on a predicted transit scenario of the entity. The identifier can be stored on a datastore, such as a radio frequency identification tag (125) attached to the entity. A biometric scan of the entity can be performed. For example, a facial scan, an iris scan, a fingerprinting, or palm printing can be performed to assign a unique identifier.

1. Statement of the Technical Field
The inventive arrangements relate generally to methods and apparatus for tracking people and objects.
2. Description of the Related Art
Tracking of people and objects continues to become increasingly important in modern times, in large part due to increased levels of security that are often required to protect against terrorism and corporate espionage. In response, tracking systems have been developed for tracking people and objects, although many of these systems are very costly to implement, maintain and operate.
To address concerns about operational costs, passive electronic product code (EPC) radio frequency identification (RFID) tags have been developed. In contrast to conventional RFID tags which actively transmit identification data, the passive RFID tags do not require an independent power source, but instead operate using power received from compatible RFID scanners. Accordingly, systems using the passive EPC RFID tags are less expensive to operate as compared to other types of RFID systems. However, the range at which the passive RFID tags can be scanned is much smaller than the scanning range of active RFID tags. Thus, when passive RFID tags are used, RFID scanners must be deployed in a manner that compensates for the reduced scanning range.
Notwithstanding the operational cost savings that can be realized using passive RFID tags, the implementation and maintenance costs of such systems still make the technology cost prohibitive for use in many venues, for example for use in commercial travel centers. In particular, cable installation and the installation of specialized RFID system components are expensive.
Further, it is also very expensive to re-wire facilities and move the specialized RFID system components when building modifications are made or operational requirements change. Moreover, the time necessary to re-wire the facilities and move the system components also is unacceptable in many instances. This is especially significant when threats are constantly changing and rapid deployment and configuration is critical to the overall effectiveness of the system.
Reliability is yet another issue of concern with existing RFID tracking systems. Such systems typically utilize a central server or controller based architecture. If the central server or controller fails or goes off-line, the entire RFID tracking system becomes inoperable; this is unacceptable in certain venues. To reduce the risk of a server or controller going off-line, such system components are usually located in an area having special security provisions, again increasing the cost associated with using such systems.
A small number of patents have issued in recent years which are useful for understanding the prior art. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,608,551 to Anderson, et al. ("Anderson") discloses a system for tracking RFID devices using RFID tags in lieu of special purpose radios. The system uses active tags that radiate energy to a series of interrogators connected to a computer. The computer processes data from the interrogators and determines the location of the RFID tag within its cellular array of readers. Anderson relies on the user of active RFID tags.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,246,882 to Lachance ("Lachance") discloses a system using a cellular network to provide a network for communicating RFID information to a central database. The location of the cells is known and can be correlated to a geographic area.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,509,829 to Tuttle ("Tuttle") discloses a system for locating an individual in a facility. The system uses a portable wireless transponder device borne by the individual; an interrogator; and a plurality of antennas distributed in the facility. The interrogator repeatedly transmits a wireless command to the portable wireless transponder device using alternating antennas. In response, the portable wireless transponder device transmits data identifying the portable wireless transponder device if it is within communications range of the antenna sending the command. The individual in the facility is therefore locatable by determining with which antenna the interrogator was able to establish communications with the portable wireless transponder device. However, Tuttle depends on a fixed network.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,014,628 to Kovarik ("Kovarik") discloses a system for tracking objects through a collection of distributed nodes that are networked together. The system addresses the underlying tracking process utilizing predictive methods based on temporal relationships integrated with a workflow representation that is encapsulated on the object being tracked. Kovarik does not, however, address RFID or any other means of externally identifying objects being tracked in a physical environment.


Embodiments described herein relate generally to electrochemical cells having high rate capability, and more particularly to devices, systems and methods of producing high capacity and high rate capability batteries having relatively thick semi-solid electrodes. In some embodiments, an electrochemical cell includes an anode, a semi-solid cathode that includes a suspension of an active material and a conductive material in a liquid electrolyte, and an ion permeable membrane disposed between the anode and the cathode. The semi-solid cathode has a thickness in the range of about 250 μm-2,500 μm, and the electrochemical cell has an area specific capacity of at least 5 mAh/cm2 at a C-rate of C/2.

Embodiments described herein relate generally to electrochemical cells having high rate capability, and more particularly to devices, systems and methods of producing high capacity and high rate capability batteries having relatively thick semi-solid electrodes.
Batteries are typically constructed of solid electrodes, separators, electrolyte, and ancillary components such as, for example, packaging, thermal management, cell balancing, consolidation of electrical current carriers into terminals, and/or other such components. The electrodes typically include active materials, conductive materials, binders and other additives.
Some known methods for preparing batteries include coating a metallic substrate (e.g., a current collector) with slurry composed of an active material, a conductive additive, and a binding agent dissolved or dispersed in a solvent, evaporating the solvent, and calendering the dried solid matrix to a specified thickness. The electrodes are then cut, packaged with other components, infiltrated with electrolyte and the entire package is then sealed.
Such known methods generally involve complicated and expensive manufacturing steps such as casting the electrode and are only suitable for electrodes of limited thickness, for example, less than 100 μm (final single sided coated thickness). These known methods for producing electrodes of limited thickness result in batteries with lower capacity, lower energy density and a high ratio of inactive components to active materials. Furthermore, the binders used in known electrode formulations can increase tortuosity and decrease the ionic conductivity of the electrode.
Thus, it is an enduring goal of energy storage systems development to simplify and reduce manufacturing cost, reduce inactive components in the electrodes and finished batteries, and increase energy density, charge capacity and overall performance.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Semi-solid electrodes having high rate capability


This invention is in technical field of electric heating, and relates to a kind of kettles for beverage, electric water kettles and cableless electric kettles for beverage. Its aim is to solve the problem appearing at existing kettles for beverage, i.e. Vapor and water generated in existing kettles for beverage flies out through top port of funnel. This may not only go through the lid of inner vessel, but also reach onto the lid of kettle body. As result, inner side of the lid of kettle body would be with tea or coffee stains, and its surface will be very hot to make its use difficult and there is sanitary problem due to contamination on surface of the lid. Kettles of this invention contain an inner vessel fixed on bottom of the kettle body inside the kettle. A funnel is provided at top opening of the inner vessel. There are two separate filtering layers inside the funnel: an upper and a lower filtering layer. On the inner vessel, there is a cap covering the opening of the kettle body and having a pipe from cavity of inner vessel to space between kettle body and inner vessel. Kettles of this invention are easy to use, and avoids accidental touch of the funnel with high temperature. It may prevent from burned as well as contamination due to touch of inner part of the kettle body.

Chinese patent no. 031268358 titled kettle for beverage, electric water kettle and cableless electric water kettle disclosed a kind of kettles for beverage. Such kettles have inner vessel on bottom of its kettle body, a funnel is provided at top opening of its inner vessel, and the funnel contains two separate filtering layers: upper filtering layer and lower filtering layer. Such upper filtering layer is set up on a lid covering top opening of the inner vessel. On operation, the kettle is heated from its bottom side. Boiling water in the inner vessel flies out through upper and lower filtering layers from lower port of the funnel. With tealeaf or coffee powder placed between these two filtering layers, this water will become delicious tea or coffee. Its shortcoming is as follows: there is a lid on top of inner vessel covering the inner vessel only, while there is also a lid on top of kettle body. When water in the inner vessel is boiling, vapor and water generated in inner vessel flies out through top port of the funnel. This may not only go through the lid of inner vessel, but also reach onto the lid of kettle body. In case of tea or coffee, inner side of the lid of kettle body would be full with tea or coffee stain, and its surface will be very hot to make it difficult to open the lid of kettle body as well as the lid of inner vessel. In addition, it is necessary to open two lids, which brings inconvenient for the operation. Besides, when opening lid of inner vessel, the user will touch the outer surface of the lid and contaminate it. Therefore, sanitary problem may arise too.

Kettle for beverage, electric water kettle and cableless electric kettle for beverage


A new flash memory cell structure and operational bias is based on the use of a triple well flash memory cell which allows Fowler Nordheim (F-N) tunneling with lower absolute value bias potentials. Thus, the floating gate memory cell is made in a semiconductor substrate having a first conductivity type, such as p-type. A first well within the substrate by having a second conductivity type different than the first conductivity type is included. A second well within the first well is also included having the first conductivity type. A drain and a source are formed in the second well having the second conductivity type, and spaced away from one another to define a channel area between the drain and the source. A floating gate and control gate structure is included over the channel area. The floating gate memory cell is coupled with circuits that induce F-N tunneling of electrons out of the floating gate into the channel area of the substrate for erasing by applying a positive voltage to the second well, such as a voltage higher than the supply voltage, applying a positive voltage to the first well, which is substantially equal to the positive voltage of the second well, applying a negative voltage to the control gate of the cell, while the substrate is grounded. A block wide pre-program operation involves F-N tunneling of electrons into the floating gate from the channel area, using a negative voltage in the second well. Also, circuits are coupled with the cell to induce hot electron injection current of electrons into the floating gate for programming or byte by byte preprogramming.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to nonvolatile memory devices, and more particularly to an improved nonvolatile memory based on floating gate transistors.
2. Description of Related Art
Flash memory is a class of nonvolatile memory integrated circuits, based on floating gate transistors. The memory state of a floating gate cell is determined by the concentration of charge trapped in the floating gate. The operation of flash memory is largely dependent on the techniques used for injected or removing charge from the floating gate.
There are at least two basic techniques utilized for moving charge into and out of floating gate memory cells. A first technique is referred to as hot electron injection. Hot electron injection is induced by applying a positive voltage between the drain and source of the memory cell, and a positive voltage to the control gate. This induces a current in the cell, and hot electrons in the current are injected through the tunnel oxide of the floating gate cell into the floating gate. Hot electron injection is a relatively high current operation, and is therefore usually limited to use for programming a few cells at a time in the device.
A second major technique for moving charge into and out of the floating gate of flash memory cells is referred to as Fowler-Nordheim tunneling (F-N tunneling). F-N tunneling is induced by establishing a large electric field between the control gate and one of the drain, source, and channel or between the control gate and a combination of these terminals. The electric field establishes a F-N tunneling current through the tunnel oxide and can be used for both injecting electrons into the floating gate, and driving electrons out of the floating gate. The F-N tunneling process is relatively low-current, because it does not involve a current flowing between the source and drain of the cells. Thus, it is commonly used in parallel across a number of cells at a time on a device.
Operation of flash memory involves programming the array, which requires a cell-by-cell control of the amount of charge stored in the floating gate, and erasing by which an entire array or a sector of the array is cleared to a predetermined charge state in the floating gate. In one kind of flash memory, F-N tunneling is used both for programming and for erasing cells in the array. In a second kind of flash memory, hot electron injection is used for programming and F-N tunneling is used for erasing.
The F-N tunneling erase used in prior approaches, has been a limiting factor on the ability to use low supply voltages (VDD less than 5 volts) with the integrated circuit chips. For example, one common approach is based on a memory cell formed in a p-type semiconductor substrate having n-type source and drain regions. A source-side F-N tunneling erase operation is biased by applying an erasing potential of about twelve volts to the source, grounding the substrate, and setting the wordline connected to the control gate of the cells to be erased at zero volts. Thus, an erase operation is achieved by F-N tunneling between the source and the floating gate. However, a large voltage difference (12 volts) is established between the source and the substrate. This voltage difference induces unwanted substrate current and hot hole current. To suppress the unwanted current a so-called double diffusion source process is used. The double diffusion creates a gradual or two stage change in concentration of n-type doping between the source and the substrate. This reduces the stress at the interface between the source and the substrate, and suppresses the unwanted current. However, the double diffusion source limits the ability to shrink the size of the cell.
An alternative approach to source side erase is achieved using a cell formed on a p-type substrate with n-type source and drain regions. To induce erase, the source potential is set at the supply voltage VDD, such as at five volts. The substrate is grounded, and the wordline is set to a negative high voltage such as negative seven volts. This approach has advantages over the approach described above where the wordline is grounded. However, the unwanted substrate current and hot hole current are not eliminated completely. At low supply voltages, such as 2.2 volts, an extremely high negative potential is required for the wordline to establish the large voltage difference between the source and wordline that is necessary for F-N tunneling. Alternative approaches that apply higher voltage to the source do so at the cost of the source current loading at levels difficult to supply by charge pump type voltage sources typically used on flash memory chips.
In a third common approach, the flash cell is formed in an n-type substrate, in which a p-well is formed. N-type source and drain regions within the p-well are used for the cells. F-N tunneling erase is biased by setting the p-well to the supply potential and the wordline of selected cells to a negative high voltage, while the wordlines of cells that are not selected are set to the supply voltage. This induces F-N tunneling between the floating gate and the channel (in the p-well) of the devices. The substrate current and hot hole generation problems are eliminated. See, Bergemont et al. "NOR Virtual Ground ("NVG")--A New Scaling Concept for Very High Density Flash EEPROM and its Implementation in a 0.5 um Process" IEDM, 93-15 to 93-18 (1993). However, this approach is not suitable for low supply voltages because of the very highly negative wordline voltage required for the electric field between the p-type well and the wordline that is necessary for the F-N tunneling, because the voltage applied to the p-type well is limited by the substrate potential. As the p-type well is biased to a voltage higher than the n-type substrate, a current flows from the well to the substrate, which is normally connected directly to the power supply for the chip. Also, the peripheral circuitry may include p-type MOS transistors, in which a higher substrate voltage results in a higher body effect, and impacts the performance of the peripheral circuitry. Thus, at a low supply potential, the channel potential available for inducing F-N tunneling is limited to about the level of the low supply potential. Therefore, the control gate must be driven to a more highly negative voltage for lower supply voltages.
Accordingly, it is desirable to provide a flash cell design, which operates at very low supply voltages, with limited unwanted current during the F-N tunneling operations, and with other improved features.

Triple well floating gate memory and operating method with isolated channel program, preprogram and erase processes


A commodity recognition apparatus comprises an image capturing unit for capturing image of a commodity in an image capturing area, a first unit for illuminating a first illumination area closer to the image capturing unit within the image capturing area according to an exposure period of the image capturing unit, a second unit for illuminating a second illumination area including part of the first illumination area and an area further than the first illumination area from the image capturing unit within the image capturing area for an illumination period according to the exposure period, and a control module for controlling, if overexposure of the image is detected, an execution timing of the second unit so that a shifting amount of the illumination period of the second unit to an exposure period next to the exposure period in which the overexposure is detected is different from a predetermined reference value.

There is known a commodity recognition apparatus which recognizes a commodity, through an object recognition for the commodity or by extracting and analyzing a code-symbol, e.g., a barcode, from an image captured by photographing the commodity through an image capturing unit using a CCD (charge coupled device) and the like.
In such types of commodity recognition apparatus, it is general to illuminate the commodity held in front of the image capturing unit by an operator with light emitted by a light emission device arranged nearby the image capturing unit.
To cope with the variation in the position of the commodity held by the operator, a first illumination unit for illuminating an area nearby the image capturing unit and a second illumination unit for illuminating an area further than the area mentioned are respectively arranged in the commodity recognition apparatus. With such a constitution, it is easy to achieve brightness suitable for photographing both the commodity held close to the image capturing unit and the commodity held far away from the image capturing unit with the image capturing unit.
However, intensity of light emitted from the second illumination unit is generally greater than that from the first illumination unit. If the commodity held close to the image capturing unit is illuminated by the second illumination unit, overexposure may occur in the image obtained by the image capturing unit, and in this case, there is a possibility that the commodity cannot be recognized correctly.
Thus, it is desired that the commodity can be recognized correctly even if the commodity held close to the image capturing unit is illuminated by the second illumination unit.

Commodity recognition apparatus and control method thereof


A heat exchanger (7) for an exhaust system (5) of an internal combustion engine (1), includes a heating tube (16) for carrying hot exhaust gas and a cooling tube (17) for carrying a liquid cooling agent. A thermoelectric generator (13) generates an electric voltage from a temperature difference and is arranged with the adjacent tubes in a stacking direction (18) to form a stack (21). A support tube (28) is supported in the stacking direction on wall sections (29) of the respective tube (16, 17), which wall sections mutually face each other, and is arranged in the respective heating tube (16) and/or cooling tube (17). Increased energy efficiency is achieved if at least two support tubes (28), which differ from one another by tube length and/or tube end (30) and/or by tube cross sections, are arranged in the respective tube (16, 17) at right angles to a longitudinal direction (31).

A heat exchanger, which comprises a plurality of heating tubes for carrying hot exhaust gas of the internal combustion engine, a plurality of cooling tubes for carrying a liquid cooling agent and a plurality of thermoelectric generators for generating an electric voltage from a temperature difference, wherein the thermoelectric generators are arranged each between such a heating tube and such a cooling tube, is known from DE 10 2010 022 225 A1. Furthermore, the heating tubes, thermoelectric generators and cooling tubes are arranged adjacent to each other in a stacking direction and form a stack.
A thermoelectric generator can convert a heat flux into an electric current or a temperature difference into an electric voltage by utilizing the so-called Seebeck effect. The Seebeck effect is based on an inversion of the Peltier effect. Such thermoelectric generators can therefore be used to recover heat or to generate electrical energy from heat and can be correspondingly used, e.g., in exhaust systems of internal combustion engines, preferably in motor vehicles, to improve the energy efficiency of the internal combustion engine or of the vehicle.
To improve the heat transfer between the thermoelectric generators and the heating and cooling tubes, it is, moreover, common practice to load the stack in the stacking direction with a force of pressure. To prevent the heating and cooling tubes from becoming indented in their cross sections in the process, a support structure, which braces the respective tube from the inside, is arranged in the heating and cooling tubes in the prior-art heat exchanger. Such a support structure may also be designed as a tube, i.e., as a support tube.

Eberspächer Exhaust Technology GmbH & Co. KG


A pool apparatus that simultaneously removes debris from the water and kills bacteria in a portion of the water passing through the pool apparatus with the pool apparatus having an intake head for drawing water and debris from a first region of the pool and directing the water and debris to a housing having a restrictor therein for directing a portion of the water through a bacteria killing material and the remaining portion with the debris therein to a collector where the debris is collected and the water is returned to the pool.

Pool cleaning systems for removing debris from the bottom of spas and pools are known in the art, as are inline systems for killing bacteria in spas and pools. The two systems operate independently with respect to one another. The pool cleaning system has a mobile suction apparatus for collecting debris that has fallen or blown into the pool. To remove debris from the pool, one moves a water intake head around the bottom of the pool to suck water and debris into the pool cleaner where the debris is removed from the water. The water is then returned to the pool. On the other hand, the bacteria killing system is generally a stationary device that circulates pool water through a dispersal valve containing a bacteria killing material such as chlorine or the like. The water passing through the bacteria killing system kills the bacteria that pass therethrough. The water is then returned to the pool. Thus, one system removes debris that falls into the water and requires a mobile intake head to reach all areas of the pool, while the other system kills harmful bacteria that are present in the water utilizing a stationary device that sucks water from one area of the pool. Both systems are necessary to maintain the water in a spa or pool in a sanitary condition; however, the systems are kept separate because the debris in the water could quickly clog the pathways through the bacteria killing material thus rendering the bacteria killing material ineffective. As the debris usually settles to the bottom of the pool the water containing debris does not usually enter the bacteria killing system thus avoiding the problem of clogging the bacteria killing system with debris.
In contrast to the prior art pool cleaning devices that only remove debris, or the bacteria killing systems that only kill bacteria, the present invention provides a pool cleaning device that not only cleans the pool of debris but simultaneously kills bacteria in a portion of the uncleaned water passing through the pool cleaning device by separating the stream of water passing therethrough into two streams. A first stream that carries the heavier debris through the housing and a second stream that is substantially free of debris that is directed through a bacteria killing material to thereby simultaneously kill bacteria and remove debris from water drawn for various locations in the pool.
The present invention has been found particularly useful in addressing the problem of inadequate water circulation through an offsite bacteria killing system. That is, because of the geometric configuration of certain pools, the pool may contain "dead spots" where water in the pool does not circulate through the bacteria killing system. Consequently, there may be pockets of pool water with higher bacteria concentrations then other parts of the pool simply because the water from one or more portions of the pool does not circulate through the bacteria killing system. Unfortunately, the presence or location of these dead regions are not easy to detect. The present invention addresses the problem of inadequate water circulation in dead pockets of water by providing a pool cleaner with an off-line bacteria killing system that kills bacteria in a portion of the water passing through the pool cleaning apparatus. With the present invention, which is generally moved throughout the bottom of the pool, the intake head comes into contact with the regions of the pool that contain dead pockets of water that would not normally circulate through the inline dispersal valve. The pool cleaning apparatus not only removes debris but it draws water from the dead pockets with a portion of the water from the dead pockets being sent through the pool cleaner off-line bacteria killing canister to kill bacteria therein. The remaining portion of the water carrying the debris is sent to a collector where the debris is removed from the water. Consequently, the use of the pool cleaner of the present invention simultaneously allows one to remove debris and to bring the bacteria killing chemicals or minerals to the water in different parts of the pool, rather than bringing the water in the pool to a stationary offsite bacteria killing site which would create dead spots.


A method is disclosed for producing Ag/Ni composite ion selective electrode on polymer substrates. By utilizing a nitrogen glow discharge pretreatment of the polymer substrate, silver may be deposited directly thereon. Further, because of the glow discharge pretreatment, aging of the silver layer prior to nickel deposition and bleaching operation is not necessary.

Ion selective electrodes (ISE) are used in the medical field, for example as blood analyzer assays. The particular ISE which the present invention is primarily concerned with is a multi-layer ISE having vacuum deposited Ag/Ni coatings deposited on a plastic substrate. U.S. Pat. No. 4,214,968, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference, discloses such ISE's and methods for their manufacture. A particular preferred substrate for the present invention is polyethylene terephthalate (PET).
Prior to the process of the present invention, the method of manufacturing Ag/Ni electrodes consisted of first providing a PET substrate with an adhesion promoting sub-coating thereon, such as poly(acrylonitrite-co-vinylidene chloride-co-acrylic acid), to improve the adhesion between the PET substrate and the deposited metal layers. A silver layer was then vacuum deposited over the sub-coating. Prior to the subsequent step of depositing nickel, the silver layer required aging of approximately 10 weeks. After the aging process, nickel was selectively deposited in a striped formation over the silver layer. The exposed silver areas were then exposed to a bleaching agent which converted a portion of the silver layer to AgCl. If the silver was not aged sufficiently prior to the Ni deposition step, then during the bleaching operation cracking would frequently occur in the silver layer between the nickel stripes, rendering the electrode useless. The mechanism which caused the cracking is unknown. Since the cracking occurred regardless of whether the adhesion promoting sublayer was employed and in fact occurred even on electrodes that exhibited relatively good PET/Ag adhesion, the cracking did not seem to be adhesion related. Consequently, prior to the nickel deposition, to achieve the requisite aging, the silver deposited on the PET substrate required storage for some 10 to 12 weeks, greatly increasing manufacturing cost. Further, prior to the present invention, an adhesion promoting sublayer, mentioned above, was needed to prevent both cracking and delamination of the electrode during manufacture.
Glow discharge pretreatment and similar techniques are known techniques for improving the adhesion between polymer substrates and metal coatings deposited by physical deposition processes. However, there is no teaching that such a pretreatment in a nitrogen atmosphere will prevent cracking of the silver layer in a Ag/Ni electrode, even though the nickel layer is applied without substantial prior aging of the silver layer.
High energy ion beams have been used to enhance the adhesion between deposited metal layers and organic substrates. In ion beam enhanced adhesion, a high energy beam of ions is incident upon the organic substrate prior to deposition of a metal layer. For example, copper can be deposited on polymer substrates by electron beam deposition, after high energy ion irradiation of the substrates. In this procedure, both reactive and inactive ions can be used, and the ion beam energy ranges upward from about 200 keV.
Such systems are costly and require complicated apparatus to produce the high energy, focused ion beam. The nature of the ion beam makes it impossible to be able to process large substrate areas simultaneously, and therefore this technique is not readily suitable for high throughput in commercial systems. Further, high energy ion beams can cause damage to the organic substrate and require large amounts of power. It is also extremely difficult to make large, high energy ion beams with the proper flux and power over a large area.
Glow discharge or plasma discharge has also been used to affect the polymer surface prior to metal deposition. In glow discharge techniques, a brush or glow discharge is created by introducing residual gasses into a vacuum chamber and applying a high voltage in order to create ions which activate the polymer substrate surface. Examples of the gasses which can be introduced into the vacuum chamber include air, oxygen, nitrogen, helium, neon, argon, krypton, xenon, and radon. After the glow discharge activation, the metal film is deposited by techniques such as electroless plating, evaporation, and sputtering.
A method for producing Ag/Ni ion selective electrodes is needed which does not require long aging periods for the Ag layer prior to the Ni deposition and bleaching operation. Ideally, the process should be one in which the Ag and Ni layers can be deposited within a short period of time, and ideally where they can be deposited during one manufacturing operation, after which the PET/Ag/Ni apparatus can be immediately bleached.


A system for fuel tank inerting includes a humid on-board inert gas generating system coupled with a proton exchange membrane dryer. The on-board inert gas generating system produces humid inert gas, which is dried by the proton exchange membrane dryer prior to use in a fuel system for inerting.

This application relates generally to inert gas production and specifically to fuel tank inerting systems.
Fuel tanks can contain potentially combustible combinations of oxygen, fuel vapors, and ignition sources. In order to prevent oxidation of fuel in aircraft fuel tanks, commercial aviation regulations require actively managing the risk of explosion in ullage of fuel tanks; this is typically accomplished by decreasing the oxygen partial pressure in the ullage in fuel tanks to less than 12%, or less than 9% for military vehicles.
The technology readiness of catalytic oxidation or electrochemical methods for fuel tank inerting have improved such that they are under consideration for replacement of hollow fiber membranes in air separation modules. However, these methods produce humid inert gas, which should be dried prior to introduction to a fuel tank.

Electrochemical drying of humid inert gas for fuel tank inerting


An apparatus for sealing the drum of a clothes dryer comprising an attachment with a recess sized to receive the lip of a dryer drum to mount the seal about the lip and a seal element abutting the corresponding front or rear bulkhead wherein the length of the seal is such that when in place there remains an intervening gap in which a spacer capable of changing shape is located allowing the seal to expand and contract with thermal variations.

Contemporary laundry treating appliances include clothes dryers that utilize a heating element, such as a gas or electric heater or a heat pump, to heat air forced through the clothes dryer to dry a load of washed clothes. Contemporary laundry treating appliances can also include condensing dryers. Traditionally, clothes dryers can include a cylindrical drum held between opposing bulkheads with a felt seal along the interface between the drum and to bulkheads to retain the heated air during the drying cycle. The loss of heated air through the interface can negatively impact the drying time and lead to resource waste.


The invention comprises a process for preparing quetiapine and/or its salts, including, quetiapine fumarate. The process generally comprises reacting dibenzothiazepinone (dibenzo[bf][1,4]thiazepin-11(10H)-one) with phosphorous oxychloride in the presence of triethylamine in an aromatic organic solvent such as toluene or, preferably, xylene at reflux temperature to obtain an aromatic hydrocarbon solution of 11-chloro-dibenzo[bf][1,4]thiazepine. Thereafter, the 11-chloro-dibenzo[bf][1,4]thiazepine is reacted with 2-(2-piperazin-1-ylethoxy)-ethanol to yield, following several processing steps, quetiapine. Compound I can then be further reacted with fumaric acid at elevated temperature to yield quetiapine fumarate. The resulting quetiapine fumarate obtained is suitable for use in pharmaceutical preparations.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a process for preparing quetiapine and its salts (e.g., quetiapine fumarate). The invention further includes formulating quetiapine and/or its salts (e.g., quetiapine fumarate) (collectively, "the compounds of the invention") into readily usable dosage units for the therapeutic treatment (including prophylactic treatment) of mammals including humans.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
Quetiapine (Compound I) is the common name for 2-[2-4-Dibenzo[b,f][1,4]thiazepin-11-ylpiperazin-1-yl)ethoxy]ethanol.
Quetiapine fumarate (Compound II) is a commercially marketed pharmaceutically active substance useful for the treatment of schizophrenia. Compound II may be made by a variety of methods.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,879,288 and its equivalent EP 240 228 disclose three general processes for preparing quetiapine and quetiapine fumarate.
According to U.S. Pat. No. 4,879,288 and EP 240 228, and as illustrated in Scheme I (below), one mole of Compound III (i.e., dibenzothiazepinone, dibenzo[b,f][1,4]thiazepine-11(10H)-one) is combined with 14.8 moles of phosphorous oxychloride and 0.6 moles of N,N-dimethylaniline and the mixture is refluxed for about 6 hours. The excess phosphorous oxychloride can then be removed under vacuum to yield a brown residue, which can then be dissolved in toluene and treated with an ice-water mixture. The toluene layer is then separated, washed twice with water and dried with anhydrous magnesium sulphate. After removal of the drying agent by filtration, the filtrate can be concentrated under vacuum to give a 92.6% yield of Compound IV (i.e., 11-chlorodibenzo[b,f][1,4]thiazepine).
Compound IV can then be combined with 2.58 L of xylene and 2 mol of Compound V (i.e., 2-(2-Piperazin-1-ylethoxy)-ethanol) and refluxed for approximately 30 hours. Thereafter, the mixture is subjected to a complex work-up, which includes using diethyl ether, in which Compound I (i.e., quetiapine) is extracted as a dichloromethanic solution. Compound I is then concentrated under vacuum to yield a viscous amber oil which is purified by flash chromatography using a silica gel column and dichloromethane as eluent. The yield of Compound I following purification is 77.7% (overall yield=71.9%).
Compound I (1 mole) is then optionally treated with 1.04 mol of fumaric acid in 3.6 mL of ethanol to yield 49.63% of Compound II (i.e., quetiapine fumarate) (overall yield of quetiapine fumarate=35.7%).
Although the process illustrated in Scheme I is feasible on an industrial scale, it is nonetheless difficult and uneconomical. Specifically, the process of Scheme I requires the use of large amounts of phosphorous oxychloride, which is both highly toxic and environmentally hazardous. Additionally, N,N-disubstituted anilines, such as N,N-dimethylaniline, are similarly dangerous and pose irreversible side effects and can be toxic to aquatic organisms. Similarly, diethyl ether and dichloromethane are toxic materials. In addition to the toxicity of some of the chemicals involved, Scheme I also requires long reaction times and the use of flash and column chromatography to obtain purified products.

A similar process disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,879,288 and EP 240 228 is illustrated in Scheme II (below) in which Compound III is converted to the corresponding thiolactam, Compound VI, followed by conversions to the corresponding thioether, Compound VII. Compound VII is then converted to Compounds I and II via reaction with Compound V.

Another process disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,879,288 and its equivalent EP 240 228 is illustrated in Scheme III (below).

In Scheme III, Compound III is converted to Compound IV via treatment with phosphorous oxychloride (yield=92.6%). Compound IV is then reacted with piperazine to yield 88% of Compound VIII (i.e., 11-piperazin-1-yldibenzo[b,f][1,4]thiazepine·2 HCl). Compound VIII is then reacted with 2-chloroethoxyethanol to yield Compound I (yield=78%) which is in turn readily converted to Compound II (overall yield=63.6%). A phase transfer catalyst can also be used in Scheme III (WO 2004/076431). As with Scheme I, Scheme III is both difficult and uneconomical on a large scale and, in particular, Scheme III requires the use of large quantities of phosphorous oxychloride as well as N,N-dimethylaniline (discussed above).

Process for preparing quetiapine and quetiapine fumarate


A memory chip has an on-board search engine adapted to accept programming from a system CPU and to perform a search for a search object or pattern independently of further action by the CPU, wherein the CPU is free to perform other tasks while a search of memory banks composed of two or more such chips takes place. In some embodiments the memory chip has a dedicated bus connection for programming by the system CPU and for reporting the results of a search. In some embodiments as well the on-board search engine has a dedicated on-board bus for communication with column amplifiers and decoders of memory cell arrays on the chip. CPU and memory combinations are disclosed and methods for practicing the invention.

The present period of history has been termed by many the information age. Every business and nearly every field of human activity is involved with references, instructions, briefs, periodicals, articles, books, electronic files, video files, and the like. In the area of electronic files, the term multimedia has been applied to mean systems capable of dealing with and displaying/playing electronic files of many sorts. It is clear that an enormous amount of human effort goes into preparing all of these files and documents, and an equally enormous amount of electronic storage has to be allocated to store vast quantities of data.
There exist today many computer applications (programs) designed to work with very large data bases, and in many instances such programs are required to search such data bases for particular and specific pieces of information. As data bases become larger and larger with the many new and sophisticated kinds of electronic files and the proliferation of digitized information in general, and because a system CPU must perform repetitive tasks in searching many data structures in a system, such searching can be a major consumer of system resources.
What is needed as data bases become larger is an apparatus and system that allows a search to be conducted in memory structures while the managing CPU is left free to perform other tasks in parallel with many or all of the search functions.


A sliding track for sliding doors includes a sliding door track and a glass fixed panel track which have an inverted U-shape cross section with an opening facing downward. The sliding door track has a left and a right inner wall that have a pair of guiding tracks formed thereon to allow a plurality pairs of rollers which are hinged on a hanging track which is fastened to a sliding door on a lower side to roll thereon in a straddle manner. The sliding door track further has a pair of first wedge troughs on the upper left and upper right corners, and a pair of second wedge troughs on a lower side. The first and second wedge troughs are coupled with the glass fixed panel track. The sliding door track and the glass fixed panel track may also be coupled with an ornamental plate on the top. The glass fixed panel track may further be coupled with a sealing plate on the bottom.

The general sliding doors (may be glass doors driven electrically) can provide partition function and do not take much space during opening and closing, thus are widely used. For instance they are commonly used on shops or bathrooms to separate an inner room and an outer room. Some sliding doors are fixedly fastened to the ceiling. Some other sliding doors have the top portion spaced from the ceiling at a selected distance to provide desired air ventilation and light projection effect. Some sliding doors are mounted onto one side of a glass fixed panel to facilitate opening and closing of the sliding doors. There are also sliding doors installed on display windows of shops. The display windows have a glass fixed panel on one side and a sliding door on another side that can be opened or closed.
Depending on installation sites of the sliding door, different types of tracks have to be provided. For instance, if a track is provided for moving a sliding door, the track also has to provide a clipping trough on another side to fasten and clip a glass fixed panel. To install the sliding door on the left side and right side the profile of the track is also different. Because of installation sites vary widely the conventional fixed track cannot be flexibly adapted, thus is not convenient in use.

Sliding track coupling structure for sliding doors


A steering system (10) for a vehicle (16) comprises a housing (20) having first and second end portions (32, 34) and an intermediate portion (50). A steering member (66) is supported for axial movement in the housing (20). A piston (100) fixed for movement with the steering member (66) has opposite end faces (104, 106). First and second springs (130, 132) engage the end faces (104, 106) of the piston (100) and bias the piston and thereby the steering member (66) in first and second axial directions toward a straight ahead position. Steering linkage (124, 126) connected with the piston member (100) transmits movement of the piston member (100) to steerable wheels (12, 14) of the vehicle.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to a steering system for a vehicle, and more specifically to a system that is self-centering upon the occurrence of a predetermined operating condition, such as the cessation of operation of an electric drive motor of the system.
2. Description of the Prior Art
U.S. Pat. No. 6,019,026 discloses a hydraulic power assist rear wheel steering system with a self-centering feature that sets the rear wheels in a straight ahead position upon failure of the system.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,856,606 discloses an electric power assist rear wheel steering system including a rack and pinion gearset.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,683,971 discloses an electric power assist rack and pinion steering system with a center takeoff. The steering system includes a rack and pinion gearset.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,811,813 also discloses an electric power assist rack and pinion steering system with a center takeoff.