An automotive door latch device comprises a latch body having a horizontal passage into which a striker enters, a latch rotatably mounted to the latch body by a latch shaft, a ratchet rotatably mounted to the latch body by a ratchet shaft, a lock lever switched between an unlocked position and a locked position, a block lever rotatably mounted to the latch body by a block shaft and engaging with the lock lever when the latch is in an unlatched position to prevent the lock lever from moving from the unlocked position to the locked position. The latch and the ratchet is substantially arranged along a vertical direction. A straight line connecting the ratchet shaft and the block shaft is substantially in parallel to the horizontal passage of the latch body. The block lever is connected to the ratchet lever by a connection pin.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an automotive door latch device, and particularly relates to a latch device in which an automotive door cannot be locked when it is in a door-open position.
2. Description of the Related Arts
In a conventional automotive door latch device, a door can be simply and easily locked by switching the latch device of the door into a locked state by an locking operation of an inside locking button of the door even if the door is in an open position. Therefore, there frequently occurs a trouble of closing the door under the locked state while putting the door key within a vehicle cabin.
Further, in a conventional art, in order to reduce the trouble mentioned above, there is suggested an automotive door latch device which requires an additional entry operation such as an opening operation of a door open handle. This latch device comprises, as shown in FIG. 9, a latch B displaceable from an unlatched position to a full-latched position by engaging with a striker A, a ratchet C for holding an engagement between the latch B and the striker A by engaging with the latch B, an open lever D connected to an open handle of a door, an open link G having an engagement surface F which engages with a ratchet pin E of the ratchet C when the open lever D rotates so as to disengage the ratchet C from the latch B, and a lock lever H connected to a key cylinder and an inside lock button of the door and switched between an unlocked position for enabling an opening operation of the open link G and a locked position for disabling the opening operation of the open link G. The ratchet pin E is displaceable between a door-closed position shown by a solid line in which the the ratchet C is engaged with the latch B and an door-open position shown by a dot line in which the ratchet C is disengaged from the latch B. The open link G has a projection J which is engageable with the ratchet pin E at the door-open position but is disengageable with the ratchet pin E at the door-closed position.
In the full-latched or door-closed state shown in FIG. 9, since the projection J is disengageable with the ratchet pin E shown by the solid line, the lock lever H can be rotated clockwise by a locking operation of the inside lock button so as to move the open link G leftward, thereby the latch device can be switched to a locked state in which the engagement surface F is disengageable with the ratchet pin E.
On the contrary, in the unlatched or door-open state, the ratchet pin E is displaced to the door-open position shown by the dot line, and precludes the open link G from moving leftward by engaging with the projection J, thereby the lock lever H cannot be rotated clockwise and the latch device is held in the unlocked state. A facing between the pin E and the projection J can be cancelled by the opening operation of the open handle as an entry operation. The opening operation moves the open link G downward so as to make the projection J apart from the ratchet pin E shown by the dot line, thereby the lock lever H can be rotated clockwise even when the door is in the open position.
As mentioned above, the conventional latch device shown in FIG. 9 prevents the latch device from being erroneously switched to the locked state by requiring the entry operation. However, when the same automotive vehicle is used for a long time, the driver unconsciously performs the entry operation, so that the trouble mentioned above is repeated.
Then, the applicant or the assignee of the present invention suggests, in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 7-34742, a latch device in which an automotive door cannot be locked when it is in a door-open position. As shown in FIG. 10, this latch device is substantially constituted by the same construction as that of the conventional latch device mentioned above and further comprises a sub projection K formed at a lower end of the open link G and an immovable blocker L formed in the latch body. In this latch device, when the open link G is moved downward by the entry operation, the sub projection K becomes engageable with the blocker L before the main projection J is apart from the ratchet pin E. Accordingly, even when the entry operation is performed, the clockwise rotation of the lock lever H is precluded by an engagement between the sub projection K and the blocker L, so that the latch device cannot be switched to the locked state.
The latter latch device shown in FIG. 10 is structured simply but a cost for manufacturing the same is unexpectedly high. Because, in the latter device, switching the lock lever H to the locked position is precluded by utilizing two engagements such as the engagement between the main projection J and the ratchet pin E and the engagement between the sub projection K and the blocker L, so that a high accuracy is required for manufacturing the parts, particularly the open lever D and the open link G. Further, a high accuracy is required for mounting a rod used for connecting the open lever D to the open handle.
There is suggested another latch device, as shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, in which an automotive door cannot be locked when it is in a door-open position. This latch device comprises a latch B rotatably mounted to a latch shaft M and engageable with a striker A fixed to a vehicle body, a ratchet C rotatably mounted to a ratchet shaft N and engageable with the latch B, an open lever D connected to an open handle of the door, an open link G releasing the ratchet C from the latch B by engaging with the ratchet C when the open lever D is rotated, a lock lever H connected to a key cylinder and an inside lock button of the door and switched between an unlocked position for enabling an opening operation of the open link G and a locked position for disabling the opening operation of the open link G, a cam member P fixed to the latch B, and a block lever S rotatably mounted to a block shaft R.
In the another latch device, when the latch B is in the unlatched position, the block lever S is pushed by the cam member P, and a front end T of the block lever S is then moved into a space formed below a tip end U of the lock lever H as shown in dot line, thereby a locking rotation of the lock lever H in a clockwise direction in FIG. 12 is precluded.
As in the case of the another latch device, when the block lever S is used, a high accuracy with respect to the various kinds of parts is not required and a freedom in designing the latch device is increased. However, the another latch device has some disadvantages. A first problem is that the number of the parts is increased since the cam body P is used for transmitting the rotational movement of the latch B to the block lever S. A second problem is that a longitudinal length of the latch device is increased since the block lever S is disposed on an opposite side of the ratchet C on the basis of the latch B.
A third problem is that the block lever S can easily block the lock lever H supported by a shaft X perpendicular to the latch shaft M, but cannot easily block the lock lever supported by a shaft parallel to the latch shaft M. When the lock lever is supported by the shaft X perpendicular to the latch shaft M, the lock lever may be accessed by a gripping tool inserted into a gap between a window glass and the door frame with a high possibility, so that it is desirable that the lock lever is supported by the shaft parallel to the latch shaft M. A fourth problem is that three parts, i.e. the latch B, the cam member P and the block lever S are overlapped in the axial direction of the latch shaft M, as shown in FIG. 12. Due to this overlapping, a thickness, on a straight line connecting the latch shaft M and the ratchet shaft N, of the latch device becomes thick. Since the straight line substantially coincides with a moving locus of the window glass of the door, the thickness of the latch device gives a bad influence to a design of the window glass.


A hollow vessel (1) which is partitioned into one or a plurality of hollow chambers (S) by blow molding is used as a resonator (2), and the hollow vessel (1) is arranged to form a fan shroud body (3), and that a drain hole (13) is formed in a bottom portion and/or a lower side portion of the hollow vessel (1), and a communicating pipe (4) fitted to the hollow vessel (1) and an air intake duct (5) connected to the communicating pipe (4) are formed integrally with the hollow vessel (1).

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a resonator-integrated fan shroud and a resonator-integrated fan shroud with an air intake duct, each of which is installed in an engine compartment of a vehicle.
2. Description of the Related Art
Recently, a demand for reducing noise of an automobile to a low level has heightened year by year, and has become particularly stringent concerning an intake system of an engine 77 (FIGS. 14 to 17). A resonator 80, a side branch, or the like has hitherto been used as a means for reducing the noise from the intake system. Recently, however, in conjunction with a reduction in the number of component parts and a tendency toward a smaller space, the capacity of a muffler such as the resonator 80 has tended to become small or to be disused. Further, development of a substitute item such as a tuning hole for a high-frequency band (100 Hz or higher) is under way. In FIGS. 14 to 17, reference numeral 70 denotes a fan; reference numerals 71 and 72 denote air intake ducts; reference numeral 73 denotes an air cleaner; reference numeral 74 denotes an air intake duct (air cleaner hose); reference numeral 75 denotes an intake connector; reference numeral 76 denotes an intake manifold; reference numeral 78 denotes a radiator; and reference numeral 79 denotes a fan shroud.
For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,649,587 discloses automotive radiator fan shrouds and, more particularly to such shrouds which are blow molded to include hollow compartments which serve as reservoirs for fluids, such as coolant fluid, and/or window and headlamp washer fluids, including air and other gasses.
However, the situation is such that if an attempt is made to reduce the noise in the low-frequency band (100 Hz or lower), the large-capacity resonator must be still used. The reason for this is that the increase in the capacity lowers the frequency to be attenuated, and the amount of attenuation can be made large.
Due to its large capacity, the low-frequency resonator 80 could be conventionally installed in a very limited specific position inside the engine compartment. In addition, since there is a limitation and the like in the installation of the equipment, there has been a problem in that the intake passages 71, 72, and 74 become long. Further, with the conventional resonator 80 made by injection molding or the like, only two hollow chambers (chambers having two kinds of resonance frequencies) at most could be formed. Additionally, since the resonator 80 is fabricated separately, the cost tended to be high.
The invention overcomes the above-described problems, and an object of the invention is to provide a resonator-integrated fan shroud and a resonator-integrated fan shroud with an air intake duct which make it possible to install a resonator without taking up much space and without making the intake passages long.
To attain the above object, there is provided a resonator-integrated fan shroud characterized in that a hollow vessel which is partitioned into one or a plurality of hollow chambers is used as a resonator, and the hollow vessel is arranged to form a fan shroud body.
The resonator-integrated fan shroud is characterized in that a communicating pipe to be connected to an air intake duct is formed integrally with the hollow vessel.
The resonator-integrated fan shroud is characterized in that a drain hole is formed in a bottom portion of the hollow vessel.
There is provided a resonator-integrated fan shroud with an air intake duct, characterized in that a hollow vessel which is partitioned into one or a plurality of hollow chambers by blow molding is used as a resonator, and the hollow vessel is arranged to form a fan shroud body, and that a drain hole is formed in a bottom portion of the hollow vessel, and a communicating pipe fitted to the hollow vessel and an air intake duct connected to the communicating pipe are formed integrally with the hollow vessel.
If the hollow vessel is used as the resonator, and the hollow vessel is arranged to form the fan shroud body, practically no space is required for installing the resonator in addition to the fan shroud.
If the communicating pipe and the air intake duct are integrally formed by blow molding or the like, the number of component parts is reduced, leading to a reduction in the cost.
If a drain hole is formed, it is possible to easily drain water and the like which entered the air intake duct and condensed.
There is provided a resonator-integrated fan shroud comprising a fan shroud body and a cover member formed in the shape of a vessel and having one side formed as an opening, wherein a hollow box whose interior is hollow is formed as the cover member is joined to and integrated with the fan shroud body in a state in which the opening of the cover member is oriented toward a wall surface of the fan shroud body, and the hollow box is used as a resonator.
The resonator-integrated fan shroud is characterized in that a communicating pipe to be connected to an air intake duct is formed integrally with the hollow vessel.
If the hollow box whose interior is hollow is formed as the cover member is joined to and integrated with the fan shroud body in a state in which the opening of the cover member is oriented toward the wall surface of the fan shroud body, and this hollow box is used as a resonator, practically no space is required for installing the resonator in addition to the fan shroud.
If the communicating pipe is integrally formed, the number of component parts is reduced, leading to a reduction in the cost.

Resonator-integrated fan shroud and resonator-integrated fan shroud with air intake duct


A folding collapsible clothes rack includes two wheeled side frames, two retractable side frames moved in and out of the wheeled side frames and releasably locked by lock screws, two pivoted links coupled between the wheeled side frames, a bottom frame, the bottom frame having a fixed end hinged to one wheeled side frame and a free end adapted for supporting on a bearing bar at the other wheeled side frame, and a top frame, the top frame having a fixed end hinged to one retractable frame and a free end adapted for supporting on the other retractable frame.

The present invention relates to a clothes rack for hanging clothes and, more particularly, to such a clothes rack, which is folding collapsible.
Conventional clothes racks for home use or for use in shops for exhibiting commercial products are commonly made of wooden slats, metal tubes, or plastic members. These conventional clothes racks require much storage space when not in use because they are not collapsible. There are also known detachable clothes racks. When not in use, a detachable clothes rack can be collapsed. However, when the parts of a detachable clothes rack are detached, they must be well kept. If one part of a detachable clothes rack is lost, the detachable clothes rack can no longer be set up again.
The present invention has been accomplished to provide a folding collapsible clothes rack, which eliminates the aforesaid problems. It is one object of the present invention to provide a clothes rack, which is folding collapsible. It is another object of the present invention to provide a folding collapsible clothes rack, which can be easily collapsed without detaching any part thereof. According to one aspect of the present invention, the folding collapsible clothes rack comprises two wheeled side frames, two retractable side frames moved in and out of the wheeled side frames and releasably locked by lock screws, two pivoted links coupled between the wheeled side frames, a bottom frame, the bottom frame having a fixed end hinged to one wheeled side frame and a free end adapted for supporting on a bearing bar at the other wheeled side frame, and a top frame, the top frame having a fixed end hinged to one retractable frame and a free end adapted for supporting on the other retractable frame. According to another aspect of the present invention, the top frame has a longitudinally extended hanging rod for hanging clothes and the like.


A system for tagged interrupt forwarding comprises a multiprocessor including a first and a second processor, an I/O device, and I/O management software. In response to an application I/O request, the I/O management software may be configured to prepare a request descriptor at the first processor, including an identification of the first processor. The I/O management software may then send a hardware or device-level I/O request to the I/O device. When the I/O device completes the requested hardware I/O operation, it may send a response, which may be received at the second processor. I/O management software at the second processor may be configured to transfer control for processing the response back to the first processor at which the I/O request was initiated, using the tag to identify the first processor. Processing of the response may then be completed at the first processor.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to the field of computer systems and, more particularly, to input/output (I/O) operations in multiprocessor systems.
2. Description of the Related Art
Processing associated with an I/O operation in a computer system may logically be divided into two parts. A first part may include preparation and dispatch of a device-level I/O request to a hardware I/O device in response to a read or write request from an application. A second part may include receiving and processing a response from the hardware I/O device and returning a completion indication to the application. The first part may be termed "request processing", while the second part may be termed "response processing". Other terms such as "top half" processing or "kernel context" processing may also be used to describe part or all of the first part of the processing in operating systems literature, while terms such as "bottom half" processing or "interrupt context" processing may also be used to describe part or all of the second part of the processing.
Several layers of an operating system may be traversed during both request processing and response processing. Various data structures may be accessed at each layer. For example, an application thread or process may invoke a system call for the read or write request. A file system may translate the read or write system call to a block address within a block device, and may prepare a first data structure (such as a block request header or a "buf" structure in some UNIX™-like operating systems) including a pointer to a buffer for storing the data corresponding to the I/O request. The first data structure may also be used for storing the state of the request, for specifying various parameters for the request (e.g., whether direct I/O to a user buffer is being requested), and for specifying a routine to be invoked when the I/O response is received (which may be termed an "I/O Done" routine). A pointer to the first data structure may then be passed to one or more additional layers of the operating system (such as a volume manager layer), each of which may in turn reference additional data structures including layer-specific information. Eventually (i.e., either by the file system or by some other intermediate layer), a device driver entry point (such as a "strategy" routine in some UNIX™-like operating systems) may be invoked. The device driver entry point may interpret the contents of the first data structure (and/or additional data structures) to prepare a device-level, I/O protocol-specific request descriptor for the I/O request, and enqueue or issue a device-level request for the I/O hardware.
Once the I/O hardware has performed the device-level I/O operation, the I/O hardware may generate a response such as an interrupt signal. An interrupt handler within the operating system may begin response processing. The layers of the operating system traversed during request processing may then be traversed in reverse order, with the various data structures being referenced (i.e., accessed and/or updated) at each corresponding layer. In some cases (e.g., for some read operations), one or more buffers filled by the I/O device may be copied to other buffers, such as a user-level buffer. Response processing may also include cleaning up certain data structures (e.g., by deallocating the data structures or by returning the data structures to a free pool) that may have been used during request processing.
In a uniprocessor system, both request processing and response processing are performed (by necessity) at the same processor. If the uniprocessor system includes a cache hierarchy (e.g., one or more levels of data cache, instruction cache or combined data and instruction cache), the various data structures described above may be brought into the cache hierarchy during request processing. A subset or all of the data structures may remain in the cache hierarchy when response processing occurs, especially if the device-level I/O operation is completed in a relatively short time. Therefore, response processing may benefit from the presence of the data structures in the cache hierarchy (i.e., relatively expensive memory accesses may be avoided during references to the data structures).
In multi-processor systems, on the other hand, request and response processing may be handled by different processors. For example, a first processor may receive the application's I/O request and perform the request processing, but a second processor may receive the interrupt signal and perform the response processing. In such cases, the data structures that may be referenced during response processing may remain in a cache hierarchy at the first processor, and may not be present in a cache hierarchy at the second processor at the time response processing begins. The second processor may therefore encounter cache misses during response processing, which may require data to be transferred between main memory and the cache hierarchy of the second processor or between cache hierarchies of the two processors. Such cache misses may result in decreased system efficiency. A mechanism to reduce the likelihood of such cache misses may therefore be desirable.


Disclosed are a method of preparing a zeolite nanosheet and a zeolite nanosheet particle prepared thereby, and more particularly a method of preparing a zeolite nanosheet capable of preparing a monolayer zeolite nanosheet through a simple process of mixing a multilayer zeolite precursor with a swelling agent to swell the multilayer zeolite precursor and drying and calcining the multilayer zeolite precursor, wherein the monolayer zeolite nanosheet is useful to separate a catalyst or gas, and a zeolite nanosheet particle prepared thereby.

Zeolites are microporous crystalline materials and are widely used as catalysts/supports and adsorbents in the refinery/petrochemical industries because of their large surface areas, unique pore structures, and acidities (Degnan, T. F., J. Catal., 2003, 216, 32-46; Yilmaz, B. et al., Top. Catal., 2009, 52, 888-895; Degnan, T. F. et al., Microporous Mesoporous Mater., 2000, 35-6, 245-252; Vispute, T. P. et al., Science, 2010, 330, 1222-1227). Despite their widespread use in industry, zeolites suffer one particular disadvantage; the pore sizes (less than about 0.8 nm) are small with respect to reactants used in refinery/petrochemical industries; thus, methods to increase the accessibility of pores, which permit access to the active sites is highly desirable. One such effective approach is based on the introduction of mesopores into conventional zeolites, which results in a hierarchical porous structure (Choi, M. et al., Nature, 2009, 461, 246-249; Groen, J. C. et al., J. Mater. Chem., 2006, 16, 2121-2131; Groen, J. C. et al., J. Am. Chem. Soc., 2007, 129, 355-360; Perez-Ramirez, J. et al., Adv. Funct. Mater., 2009, 19, 3972-3979; Na, K. et al., Science, 2011, 333, 328-332; Zhang, X. Y. et al., Science, 2012, 336, 1684-1687). Conventionally, mesopores can be created in the microporous zeolite via so-called top-down strategies, such as desilication or dealumination processes (Groen, J. C. et al., J. Mater. Chem., 2006, 16, 2121-2131; Groen, J. C. et al., J. Am. Chem. Soc., 2007, 129, 355-360; Perez-Ramirez, J. et al., Adv. Funct. Mater., 2009, 19, 3972-3979; Mitchell, S. et al., J., Nat. Commun., 2015, 6, 14; Verboekend, D. et al., J., Adv. Funct. Mater., 2012, 22, 916-928). However, the resulting particles often show random mesopore formation and low reproducibility. On the other hand, a hierarchically structured zeolite can be synthesized using organic structure-directing agents (OSDAs), which typically contain long carbon chains with ammonium groups (Choi, M. et al., Nature, 2009, 461, 246-249; Na, K. et al., Science, 2011, 333, 328-332; Moliner, M. et al., Angew. Chem.-Int. Edit., 2013, 52, 13880-13889; Jiang, J. X. et al., Science, 2011, 333, 1131-1134). Although the resulting particles have hierarchical porous structures, the appropriate OSDAs often require labor-intensive synthesis and are inevitably costly.
Among the many types of zeolites, MCM-22 (Mobile Composition of Matter-22), a representative MWW type zeolite, has been widely studied, because it has pore sizes similar to those of ZSM-5 but provides a unique product distribution (Degnan, T. F. et al., Appl. Catal. A-Gen., 2001, 221, 283-294; Corma, A. et al., J. Catal., 2000, 192, 163-173; Vermeiren, W. et al., Top. Catal., 2009, 52, 1131-1161) and, more importantly, can act as a platform for further structural transformations (Roth, W. J. et al., Sci. Catal., 1995, 94, 301-308; Corma, A. et al., Nature, 1998, 396, 353-356; Wang, L. L. et al., Microporous Mesoporous Mater., 2008, 113, 435-444; Varoon, K. et al., Science, 2011, 334, 72-75). Specifically, MCM-22 is formed by condensing the adjacent layers in a MCM-22 precursor (MCM-22(P)) along the c-axis and contains two independent pore systems. FIG. 1 shows schematic images of (a1)-(a2) MWW type zeolite pore structures and (b1)-(b2) delaminated MWW type zeolite pore structures. Individual pores are indicated with differently colored arrows (red for an intra-layer 10 MR pore window, blue for an inter-layer 10 MR pore window, and black for 12 MR supercages). In (a1)-(b 1), the structural changes of the inter-layer 10 MR pore window and 12 MR supercages during the delamination process are indicated by the blue- and black-boxed regions, respectively. In particular, a 12 MR cup or half-supercage exposed after the delamination process is indicated by a gray arrow in (b1).
One includes sinusoidal 10 membered-ring (MR) pores inside the MWW layer and the other includes large cylindrical 12 MR supercages or pockets (indicated by the black arrow in FIG. 1) (Leonowicz, M. E. et al., Science, 1994, 264, 1910-1913; Corma, A. et al., J., Zeolites, 1995, 15, 2-8; Lawton, S. et al., Microporous Mesoporous Mater., 1998, 23, 109-117). The outer surface of MCM-22 is terminated with the opened 12 MR half-cup (indicated by the blue arrow in FIG. 1), which is known to selectively host large organic molecules (Lawton, S. et al., Microporous Mesoporous Mater., 1998, 23, 109-117). In fact, direct exposure of the 12 MR half-cups to reactants with a comparable molecular size provides unique and greatly improved real-world catalytic performance (Degnan, T. F. et al., Appl. Catal. A-Gen., 2001, 221, 283-294; Lawton, S. et al., Microporous Mesoporous Mater., 1998, 23, 109-117).
Regarding its use as a platform for obtaining other structural types, MCM-22(P) can be transformed into (1) MCM-36 via pillaring (Roth, W. J. et al., Sci. Catal., 1995, 94, 301-308; He, Y. J. et al., J. A., Microporous Mesoporous Mater., 1998, 25, 207-224), (2) ITQ-2 (Instituto de Tecnologia Quimica Valencia-2) via delamination (Corma, A. et al., Nature, 1998, 396, 353-356; Wang, L. L. et al., Microporous Mesoporous Mater., 2008, 113, 435-444.19; Corma, A. et al., J. Catal., 2000, 191, 218-224; Corma, A. et al., Microporous Mesoporous Mater., 2000, 38, 301-309; Corma, A. et al., J. Catal., 1999, 186, 57-63), and (3) MCM-56 via mild acid treatment (Corma, A. et al., J. Catal., 2000, 191, 218-224; Corma, A. et al., Microporous Mesoporous Mater., 2000, 38, 301-309; Corma, A. et al., J. Catal., 1999, 186, 57-63; Polozij, M. et al., Dalton Trans., 2014, 43, 10443-10450). Recently, it was demonstrated that swollen MCM-22(P) can encapsulate Pt clusters within the 12 MR supercages (Liu, L. C. et al., Nat. Mater., 2017, 16, 132-138). Because both MCM-36 and ITQ-2 provided better accessibility to the acid sites than MCM-22, an improvement in catalytic performance was secured, along with improved resistance to deactivation (Mitchell, S. et al., J., Nat. Commun., 2015, 6, 14; Corma, A. et al., J. Catal., 2000, 191, 218-224; Corma, A. et al., J. Catal., 2000, 191, 218-224; Osman, M. et al., Catal. Sci. Technol., 2016, 6, 3166-3181; Corma, A. et al., J. Catal., 2001, 200, 259-269; Liu, D. X. et al., Microporous Mesoporous Mater., 2014, 200, 287-290; Arias, K. S. et al., ACS Sustain. Chem. Eng., 2016, 4, 6152-6159; Rodrigues, M. V. et al., Appl. Catal. A-Gen., 2015, 495, 84-91). On the basis of these promising results, a precise understanding of the physicochemical properties of these hierarchically structured particles is required in order to understand their catalytic performance.
However, the multiple steps required to obtain these hierarchically structured particles should be simplified. In particular, a procedure for obtaining ITQ-2 is still elusive, though several studies have reported the synthesis of ITQ-2 through various reactions and the benefits thereof (Corma, A. et al., Nature, 1998, 396, 353-356; Corma, A. et al., J. Catal., 2000, 191, 218-224; Corma, A. et al., J. Catal., 1999, 186, 57-63). Thus, many studies have attempted to identify the required swelling and delamination steps (Maheshwari, S. et al., J. Am. Chem. Soc., 2008, 130, 1507-1516; Schwanke, A. J. et al., Microporous Mesoporous Mater., 2017, 254, 17-27). It has been demonstrated that the MWW type zeolite structure was damaged with respect to the swelling process at high temperatures (80° C.) (Maheshwari, S. et al., J. Am. Chem. Soc., 2008, 130, 1507-1516; Schwanke, A. J. et al., Microporous Mesoporous Mater., 2017, 254, 17-27). In contrast, swelling conducted at room temperature helped to preserve the MWW structure, and subsequent melt blending with polystyrene led to delamination to an about 2.5 nm thick nanosheet, which is equivalent to a nanosheet of the MWW type zeolite consisting of one unit cell in the c-direction (Varoon, K. et al., Science, 2011, 334, 72-75). For convenience, one unit cell in the c-direction is denoted UC. The critical role of sonication for delamination was further investigated, revealing that prolonged sonication could result in the formation of an undesirable mesoporous structure (Frontera, P. et al., Microporous Mesoporous Mater., 2007, 106, 107-114). In addition, an approach using a low pH for swelling with the help of different swelling agents such as tetrapropylammonium fluoride and tetrapropylammonium chloride was effective for delamination and did not require ultrasonication (Ogino, I. et al., J. Am. Chem. Soc., 2011, 133, 3288-3291; Maluangnont, T. et al., Chem. Commun., 2014, 50, 7378-7381).
As described above, the conventional multilayer zeolite delamination method (ITQ-2 synthesis method) further includes very severe post-treatment processes, such as (1) inter-layer swelling of the zeolite through basic solution processing at high temperatures, (2) structure separation through ultrasonic stimulation, and (3) introduction of hydrochloric acid. Such severe post-treatments tend to collapse the inherent porous structure of the zeolite.
Also, an approach to synthesize 1 UC nanosheets of MWW type zeolite was recently attempted using new types of OSDAs (Luo, H. Y. et al., Chem. Sci., 2015, 6, 6320-6324; Margarit, V. J. et al., Angew. Chem.-Int. Edit., 2015, 54, 13724-13728). However, the above approach requires the preparation and use of organic structure-directing agents, mass production is difficult due to the problem of high cost thereof, etc. In addition, an approach to synthesize nanosheets was attempted by isomorphous replacement of boron atoms in borosilicate MWW type zeolites (Ouyang, X. Y. et al., J. Am. Chem. Soc., 2014, 136, 1449-1461; Ouyang, X. Y. et al., Dalton Trans., 2014, 43, 10417-10429). However, this approach is applicable only to zeolites including boron atoms.
Despite the effectiveness of the aforementioned approaches, a reliable methodology that allows for the delamination of swollen MCM-22(P) without harming the original structure thereof is highly desirable as a simple method to exfoliate MCM-22(P) layers and thus to prepare a zeolite nanosheet having the inherent pore structure of zeolite (Martinez, C. et al., Coord. Chem. Rev., 2011, 255, 1558-1580).
Therefore, as the result of extensive efforts to solve these problems, the present inventors found that a monolayer zeolite nanosheet can be prepared through a simple process of mixing a multilayer zeolite precursor with a swelling agent to swell the multilayer zeolite precursor and drying and calcining the multilayer zeolite precursor, the prepared monolayer zeolite can be used as a commercial catalyst in an alkylation process, accessibility to reactants is improved, whereby reaction activity is increased, and products are more easily discharged, whereby the lifetime of the catalyst is also increased. The present invention has been completed based on this finding.

Method of preparing zeolite nanosheet via simple calcination process and zeolite nanosheet particle prepared thereby

Korea University Research and Business Foundation


A particle counting system includes a collector, a liquid input/output operation executing means, and a particle counter. The collector performs a collecting operation to introduce the surrounding air into a container storing a liquid to collect airborne particles in the liquid. The liquid input/output operation executing means executes a series of liquid input/output operations to supply an additional liquid for the collecting operation to the collector and discharge the liquid after the collecting operation from the collector. The particle counter measures the number of particles contained in the liquid discharged from the collector with the series of liquid input/output operations.

In general, electronic devices typified by semiconductors, and pharmaceutical products, and the like are manufactured in clean rooms. Such electronic devices, pharmaceutical products, and the like are affected in performance and quality by adhesion of fine particles and microorganisms in the process of manufacture. It is thus preferred that the clean rooms are kept in clean and sterile as much as possible.
Therefore, there have been conventionally used procedures for monitoring the clean condition of a clean room by measuring particles floating in the clean room with a particle counter.
As for measurement of particles floating in a clean room, there has been known a first prior art using an airborne particle counter (see, for example, JP-T-2009-539084: Patent Literature 1). The first prior art is characterized in that an airborne particle counter is equipped with a scroll pump and a photomultiplier-tube. This makes it possible to measure the number of particles in the air at the maximum flow rate of 100 L/min.
There also has been known a second prior art for collecting particles in the air by a collector prior to measurement of the particles by a particle counter (see, for example, Japanese Patent No. 4571623: Patent Literature 2). According to this prior art, a liquid is poured into the container of the collector, the air is sucked into the collector (container), and particles contained in the sucked air are introduced into the liquid by centrifugation.
According to the second prior art, the air can be sucked within the range of flow rates of 200 to 400 L/min., and besides particles in the sucked air can be collected into a liquid of 10 mL.
Besides the second prior art, there has been known a third prior art for collecting airborne particles in a liquid and measuring the number of particles (see, for example, Japanese Patent No. 3745719: Patent Literature 3). According to this prior art, water is reserved in a microorganism analyzer, and the (sucked) air is passed through the water to mix microorganisms and fine particles in the air with the water. Then, the water mixed with the microorganisms and fine particles is irradiated with a laser beam to measure the microorganisms with utilizing their autofluorescence phenomenon.
In recent years, there has been demand for a measurement technique as described below from the viewpoint of more efficiently monitoring the clean condition of a clean room. Specifically, there has been demand for a technique of collecting samples (air) as many as possible in a short time and measuring the number of particles contained in the collected samples in real time. In the first to third prior arts described above, it is simulated that particle measurement is performed at appropriate times at a place as a target of measurement. Accordingly, these prior arts are not suitable for use in automatic measurement of particles at a measurement place for a long period of time.
From the viewpoint of collecting and measuring a large number of samples, the first to third prior arts described above have problems described below.
Specifically, in the first prior art for an airborne particle counter, the more the measurable flow rate of air is increased, the longer the measurement time is taken. In addition, with an increase in flow rate of the air, the inner diameter of a flow cell becomes larger corresponding to the flow rate. This requires expansion of a region for detection of particles. Thus, the range of laser irradiation needs to be expanded. In this case, expanding the range of laser irradiation leads to decrease in the energy density of laser beam. This causes a problem of deteriorated detection sensitivity.
As a countermeasure for the above problems, maintaining the energy density of the laser beam is necessary in order to maintain the sensitivity of detection by increasing the flow rate of the air as well as the flow velocity in the flow cell. In this case, a high-power laser beam source corresponding to the range of irradiation mentioned above is needed. Alternatively, a high-sensitivity light receiving element is needed. However, the use of the high-power laser beam source or the high-sensitivity light receiving element results in cost increase.
As described above, it is extremely difficult to use an airborne particle counter to collect a large number of samples and maintain high detection sensitivity for the particle diameter. If an attempt is made to harmonize collection of a large number of samples with maintenance of high detection sensitivity, the degree of technical difficulty becomes high. Therefore, the first prior art is not suitable for use in collecting a large number of samples and automatically measuring the number of particles at a measurement place for a long period of time.
Meanwhile, according to the method for measuring the number of particles collected in a liquid, the amount (flow rate) of air sucked can be raised without increasing the amount of the liquid as a sample.
The second prior art is thus suited to collecting a large number of samples. However, on measurement of samples with the particle counter, the operator needs to remove the container as a collector and set the container in the particle counter. Thus, the second prior art is not suitable for use in so-called constant monitoring by which changes in the number of particles are monitored for a long time (for example, 24 hours).
According to the third prior art, the state of the air in batches can be measured at a certain time. However, the third prior art does not allow measurement of chronological changes in the number of particles. Therefore, the third prior art is not suitable for use in constant monitoring as with the second prior art.
Under such circumstances as described above, there has been demand for a technique suitable for monitoring of clean condition in relation to collection of particles contained in the air and measurement of the number of the particles.


An electronic component includes a component base body and first and second outer electrodes covering respective end faces of the component base body. The component base body includes an element main body and a magnetic body portion covering the element main body. The element main body includes a linear inner conductor, a dielectric layer covering the periphery of part of the inner conductor, and a conductor layer formed to cover the dielectric layer.

Hitherto, there has been proposed an electronic component including a cylindrical feed-through capacitor, a central conductor inserted in the feed-through capacitor, ferrite beads through which the central conductor is inserted, and metal caps connected to both end portions of the central conductor (for example, see Japanese Examined Utility Model Registration Application Publication No. 5-28751, hereinafter, Patent Document 1). This electronic component functions as an LC composite filter with the inductor components of the central conductor and the feed-through capacitor.
An electronic component such as the above is typically formed by inserting a through-feed capacitor and ferrite beads into a central conductor, processing metal caps, and welding the metal caps with the central conductor. Thus, in the case of miniaturization, the individual members become smaller, and there is a possibility that desired characteristics are not achieved.
An object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problem, and to provide an electronic component capable of achieving desired characteristics even when the electronic component is miniaturized.


A remote control system is provided for producing a secondary on screen display (OSD). The secondary OSD is produced by a display device of a remote control unit. The remote control unit includes a remote receiver responsive to the OSD function parameters of an operably linked electronic device. A data processor generates a secondary on-screen display in response to the received OSD function parameters. A display operably linked to the data processor for displaying a menu corresponding to the received OSD parameters. A transmitter for providing a control parameter corresponding to a menu selection from the remote control unit to the electronic device.

The present invention relates to a remote control system, and, more particularly, to a remote control unit including an on-screen display (OSD) for providing an auxiliary OSD for a video signal processor.
Remote control devices for remotely operating electronic devices are well known. Operators of electronic devices utilize hand held remote control units to operate the electronic devices and/or adjust their functionality from a remote location. For example, consumer electronic devices such as televisions, video recorders, audio systems, digital versatile disc (DVD) players and the like are typically controlled via hand held remote control units. As remote control devices have become numerous and commonplace in day-today use, operators of consumer electronic devices have become increasingly dependent upon these devices to properly operate consumer electronic equipment.
The functionality of consumer electronic devices has become increasingly complex in operation as devices include more features for processing digital television broadcasts and advanced audio features (i.e., Surround Sound, closed captioning, picture-in-picture (PIP), THX®, etc). As device complexity increases, the corresponding hand held remote control unit likewise increases in complexity.
Often times remote control operation initiates the display of a menu on a responsive video display device. These "on-screen menus", enable an operator to select from a plurality of further functions which would be impracticable to include as separate buttons on the remote control unit. For example, an operator may select an "audio menu" button on a remote control unit, in turn a display device responsive to the remote control produces an audio menu on the display of the device, such as 1. MONO 2. STEREO 3. SURROUND 4. SAP. In this way, by selecting the corresponding number key on the remote control unit, and transmitting a corresponding remote control signal, the operator selects the desired menu function of the video display device.
Yet, operators with vision problems, such as the elderly may have difficulty reading/seeing on-screen menus from a remote location. Additionally, the on-screen menu either fully or partially obstructs the display of video content on the display device for the duration of the on-screen menu utilization.

Remote control system including an on-screen display (OSD)

Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.


A guard device for a handrail in an entry zone of an escalator is disclosed, which assures safety of an entry of the escalator, sanitary maintenance of the handrail by sterilization, efficient advertisement of products and business corporations, and clean maintenance of air in the entry of the escalator. The guard device includes a guide channel at its bottom to receive a part of the handrail. The guard device further includes a sterilization unit to sterilize the handrail, an advertising display provided on a front face thereof, and an air-cleaning unit provided at a side wall thereof.

Generally, escalators are installed on plural stories of buildings in such a way that the escalator are connected to each other in the zigzag fashion, unlike elevators which travels between a riding story and a desired story. Accordingly, the escalators are predominantly used in department stores in which various products are sold, subways, airports, terminals and the like, to which people flock, rather than business buildings. Recently, moving walkways, which are horizontal traveling type of escalators, are used even in the same story, in order to reduce traffic.
Such an escalator is usually designed to travel only in one direction. As shown in FIG. 1, the escalator 10 includes a pair of skirt bases 11, which are spaced from each other with a spacing of about 80 cm–120 cm therebetween, and a step belt consisting of a plurality of steps 12, which travel continuously while maintaining the upper surfaces in the horizontal position and on which passengers mount.
Each of the pair of skirt bases 11 is provided thereon with a lateral balustrade 13 made of glass or metal. The lateral balustrade 13 is provided thereon with a handrail 14, which travels in the same direction and at the same speed as those of the step belt 12, and serves as a handgrip for passengers.
The handrails 14, which serve as handgrip, are intended to prevent passengers from falling down or slipping. To prevent slippage by the passengers, the handrails 14 are commonly made of a rubber material.
Since the handrails 14 come into contact with hands of a multitude of people, if sanitary maintenance of the handrails 14 is not assured, various viruses, bacteria and the like harmful to humans are apt to propagate on the handrails 14. Therefore, the handrails 14 must be always maintained in the clean condition. Up to now, sanitary maintenance of the handrails 14 has been fulfilled by frequently mopping and cleaning surfaces of the handrails 14 with neutral detergent or antiseptic solution.
However, since the conventional handrails of escalators must be frequently cleaned manually, there is a problem in that the maintenance of the handrail requires very high costs. In addition, since the cleaning work cannot positively sterilize and disinfect the handrails by a simple wiping operation, the passengers are exposed to hazard such as disease and bacterial infection due to viruses and bacteria existing on the handrails.
Since escalators are used to transport a multitude of people, it is possible to maximize the advertising effectiveness for products and corporations by providing advertising copies to the escalators. However, heretofore, there are only triangular guide plates positioned at intersections of crossed escalators to prevent passengers' heads from being caught in the intersections, and small advertising boards erected at transferring area between successive escalators, as the advertising copies.
By way of an example, Korean Utility Model Registration No. 20-0298362 discloses an advertising object "P" consisting of a printed layer attached on handrails 14 of an escalator, and a film cover attached to the printed layer, as shown in FIG. 2. However, since the advertising object "P" is attached to the handrails 14 rotating around balustrades of the escalator, the advertising object "P" comes into contact with a multitude of passengers' hands, leading to maculae and contaminant on the advertising object and color fading of the advertising object. For this reason, it is difficult to attract people's attention for the advertising object.
When getting on the escalator 10, a passenger first grips handrails 14 in the entry zone of the escalator and then treads on a step 12. At this point, because the elderly aged or weaker man or children have slow reflexes, his/her arms are pulled forward by the handrails 14 before treading on the steps 12, thereby causing the passenger to be fall down or to be injured.
In addition of the above problems, since the escalators are used by a multitude of people, dust and various bacteria exist in the entry zone of the escalator, reading to unsanitary equipment. However, although the fact that the entry zone of the escalator is unsanitary has been recognized, a specific solution to overcome the problem cannot be achieved.


A substrate transport apparatus includes a first substrate transport robot, a second substrate transport robot and a substrate transfer mechanism. The first substrate transport robot includes an upper hand and a lower hand vertically arranged. The second substrate transport robot includes an upper hand and a lower hand vertically arranged. The substrate transfer mechanism includes an upper hand and a lower hand vertically arranged and a hand driving mechanism adapted to perform hand opening and closing operations to vertically move the upper and lower hands.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a substrate transport apparatus and a substrate transport method. Exemplary substrates to be transported include semiconductor wafers, glass substrates for liquid crystal display devices, glass substrates for plasma display devices, substrates for optical disks, substrates for magnetic disks, substrates for magneto-optical disks, and substrates for photo masks.
2. Description of Related Art
Substrate treatment apparatuses of a single substrate treatment type for use in a semiconductor device production process typically include an indexer section and a treatment section. The treatment section includes a treatment unit for treating a substrate, and a main transport robot which loads and unloads the substrate with respect to the treatment unit (see, for example, U.S. Patent Application Publication No. US2002/0150459A1). The indexer section includes a carrier retaining portion for retaining a carrier which is capable of accommodating a plurality of substrates in a stacked state, and an indexer robot which transports a substrate between the carrier retained by the carrier retaining portion and the main transport robot.
An untreated substrate is taken out of the carrier and transferred to the main transport robot by the indexer robot, and loaded into the treatment unit by the main transport robot. A substrate treated by the treatment unit is unloaded from the treatment unit and transferred to the indexer robot by the main transport robot, and carried into the carrier by the indexer robot.
The main transport robot and the indexer robot are, for example, of a double arm type, each including an upper hand and a lower hand vertically arranged in a retractable manner and adapted to hold the treated substrate by the upper hand thereof and hold the untreated substrate by the lower hand thereof. That is, the main transport robot loads the untreated substrate into the treatment unit by the lower hand thereof immediately after unloading the treated substrate from the treatment unit by the upper hand thereof. Further, the main transport robot transfers the treated substrate from the upper hand thereof to the upper hand of the indexer robot, and receives another untreated substrate from the lower hand of the indexer robot by the lower hand thereof. The indexer robot transports the treated substrate to the carrier and carries the treated substrate into the carrier by the upper hand thereof, and takes out another untreated substrate from the carrier by the lower hand thereof.
The substrates are transferred between the main transport robot and the indexer robot in the following manner.
1. The indexer robot is moved to a position opposed to a substrate transfer position.
2. The indexer robot advances the lower hand thereof holding the untreated substrate to the substrate transfer position.
3. The main transport robot is moved to a position opposed to the substrate transfer position.
4. The main transport robot advances the lower hand thereof to the substrate transfer position, slightly moves up the lower hand thereof to take up the untreated substrate from the lower hand of the indexer robot, and then retracts the lower hand thereof.
5. The indexer robot retracts the lower hand thereof.
6. The indexer robot advances the upper hand thereof to the substrate transfer position.
7. The main transport robot advances the upper hand thereof holding the treated substrate to the substrate transfer position, slightly moves down the upper hand thereof to transfer the treated substrate to the upper hand of the indexer robot, and then retracts the upper hand thereof.
8. The indexer robot retracts the upper hand thereof.
With the aforesaid arrangement, the main transport robot requires time for the advancement and retraction of the upper and lower hands thereof and for the upward and downward movement of the upper and lower hands thereof for the transfer of the substrates between the main transport robot and the indexer robot. Further, the indexer robot requires time for the advancement and retraction of the upper and lower hands thereof.
Therefore, the main transport robot and the indexer robot are constrained for a longer period for the transfer of the substrates therebetween, thereby hindering the improvement of the substrate transport speed and the reduction of the substrate transport time.

Substrate transport apparatus and substrate transport method


A surgical instrument is provided including a handle assembly, a shaft electrically coupled to the handle assembly and extending therefrom, an electrode assembly electrically coupled to the shaft for transmitting energy to tissue to treat tissue, and a chamber defined in the shaft and positioned proximal a distal end thereof and configured to selectively expand. The expansion of the chamber anchors the surgical instrument to the tissue.

1. Technical Field
The present disclosure relates to surgical instruments and, more particularly, to an electrosurgical ablation device utilizing a limited-use component, such as a disposable needle, and having an expandable chamber for anchoring the ablation device to tissue.
2. Background of Related Art
Energy-based tissue treatment is well known in the art. Various types of energy (e.g., electrosurgical, ultrasonic, microwave, cryogenic, thermal, laser, etc.) are applied to tissue to achieve a desired result, e.g., to cut, ablate, coagulate, and/or seal tissue.
Electrosurgery involves the application of radio frequency (RF) or microwave energy to a surgical site to cut, ablate, coagulate, and/or seal tissue. In monopolar electrosurgery, a source or active electrode, which is typically part of the surgical instrument held by the surgeon, delivers RF electrical current from a generator to tissue, while a patient return electrode is placed remotely from the active electrode to carry the current back to the generator.
In tissue ablation electrosurgery, for example, the RF or microwave energy may be delivered to targeted tissue by a limited-use component, such as a probe, needle, or electrode assembly. More specifically, with respect to the use of a needle, the needle is typically advanced through tissue to a desired position either prior to or during application of energy to tissue. After repeated use, these needles may become dull, bent, or otherwise deformed and, consequently, may become more difficult to place and operate upon subsequent use. As such, ablation devices have been developed which include replaceable needles, thus allowing the needle to be replaced after one or more uses without requiring replacement of the entire device (e.g., the handpiece).
During electrosurgery it is typically desirable to position the probe, needle or electrode assembly adjacent to tissue to be ablated and maintain the same position for a period of time necessary to ablate the tissue.

Ablation device having an expandable chamber for anchoring the ablation device to tissue


Embodiments of a method, an IC device, and a circuit board are disclosed. In an embodiment, the method involves at an IC device of the system, monitoring activity on a bus interface of the IC device, wherein the bus interface is connected to a bus on the system that communicatively couples the IC device to at least one other IC device on the system, applying machine learning to data corresponding to the monitored activity to generate an activity profile, monitoring subsequent activity on the bus interface of the IC device, comparing data corresponding to the to subsequently monitored activity to the machine learning generated activity profile to determine if a system-level Trojan is detected, and generating a notification when it is determined from the comparison that a system-level Trojan has been detected.

Various security threats exist at the integrated circuit (IC)-level of IC devices. For example, IC-level Trojans may be configured to implement malicious actions including: 1) leaking confidential information and secret keys covertly to an adversary (e.g., a confidentiality attack); 2) changing the value of a certain register in the IC device (e.g., an integrity attack); and 3) disabling, deranging, or destroying the entire hardware or components of the IC device (e.g., availability attack).
Some measures have been identified to counteract IC-level Trojans. Although measures may be implemented to counteract IC-level Trojans, once an IC device is integrated into a broader system, such as once the IC device is attached to a circuit board (e.g., a printed circuit board (PCB)) that includes multiple IC devices connected by a bus, the IC device may be vulnerable to a Trojan that is on another IC device on the PCB, referred to herein as system-level Trojans.
System-level Trojans are a relatively new and growing threat that can come in many forms and that may enter the system (e.g., a PCB) at different points in the supply chain, including, for example, an IC device being surreptitiously attached to a PCB during PCB assembly or distribution to unleash a system-level Trojan, an uncompromised IC device (e.g., a genuine IC device) that is replaced on a PCB by a compromised IC device (e.g., a counterfeit IC device that carries a system-level Trojan) during PCB assembly or distribution, and/or an IC device that is compromised with a system-level Trojan during manufacturing or after manufacturing but before being attached to the PCB. Thus, although measures have been identified to counteract IC-level Trojans, there is still a need to address system-level Trojans that may enter a system (e.g., a PCB) at any point in the supply chain.

Methods for detecting system-level trojans and an integrated circuit device with system-level trojan detection


The present invention relates to methods for efficient and reliable construction of adenovirus vectors which contain and express foreign DNA and are useful for gene transfer into mammalian cells, for vaccines and for gene therapy. The invention provides for the growth and purification of adenovirus vectors (helper dependent vectors or HDVs) from which all or most of the viral genes have been removed. The vector system described herein is a new method designed to eliminate helper viruses from the final HDV preparation by cleavage of the helper virus DNA with an endonuclease, alone or in combination with other methods known to limit the level of helper virus contamination of helper dependent vector preparations. The disclosed methods and compositions also provide for regulated control of gene expression.

In U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/473,168, (the '168 application), published as WO96/40955, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,919,676, hereby incorporated by reference, a system for making helper-dependent adenovirus vectors and helper andenoviruses was disclosed. That system employed a recombinase, such as Cre, expressed by a cell into which a helper virus, comprising loxP sites flanking the adenovirus packaging signal, was introduced, (i.e. the packaging sequence was "floxed"). By virtue of the recombinase expressed by the host cell, the helper adenovirus packaging signal was excised, thereby restricting the packaging of the helper virus. Co-introduction of a helper-dependent, recombinant adenovirus vector (HDV) containing a packaging signal permitted isolation of efficiently packaged helper-dependent virus. However, as may be appreciated by those skilled in the art, any "leakage" of that system results in the contamination of helper-dependent adenovirus vector preparations with helper virus. The present invention is directed to methods and helper virus constructs, which result in production of HDV preparations wherein the level of packaged helper virus contamination is reduced by an endonuclease. The constructs and techniques taught herein may be employed independently from the Cre-loxP system described according to the WO96/40955 publication, or the techniques taught herein may be used to augment the effectiveness of that system.
Furthermore, those skilled in the art will appreciate, based on the disclosure provided herein, that a system such as that disclosed in parent application Ser. No. 08/719,217 (now U.S. Pat. No. 6,080,569), a foreign equivalent of which published as WO98/13510, hereby incorporated by reference, maybe augmented by the system disclosed and claimed herein. In the WO98/13510 system, a helper adenovirus was described wherein the pIX gene was deleted or disabled. In such a modified adenovirus, a genome greater than about 35 kb is not efficiently packaged, irrespective of the presence or absence of a functional packaging signal, ψ, unless the helper virus is propagated in a cell which complements the pIX deficiency. In combination with the present invention, a doubly or triply disabled helper virus is produced, if the Cre/loxP recombination system is also used, which is still capable of providing, in trans, all of the functions necessary to support replication of a helper-dependent adenovirus vector (HDV).
Those skilled in the art are familiar with endonucleases and the use of such compositions, whether expressed endogenously or introduced from an external source, in the cleavage of specific target sequences in a segment of nucleic acid.
Those skilled in the art will also appreciate that adenoviruses contain inverted terminal repeats (ITRs) at each end of the genome, which are essential to replication of adenoviruses. The ITRs (representing the most terminal approximately 100–200 bp of the viral genome) are the only Ad DNA sequences needed in cis for viral DNA replication, and the packaging signal (ψ), which is needed for packaging of viral DNA into virion capsids, is the only additional cis acting sequence needed for production of virions. Thus, appropriate helper viruses may be used to provide, in trans, all other factors required for replication of the HDV. Furthermore, it is known that adenoviruses containing an ITR embedded within the genome are capable of replicating, through a repair process, even though an external ITR is eliminated (see, for example, Haj-Ahmad and Graham, Virology 153:22–34, 1986). What has not been previously demonstrated, however, is the application of this observation in the production of helper viruses and helper dependent virus preparations substantially free of helper virus contamination.

System for production of helper dependent adenovirus vectors based on use of endonucleases


In a cellular telecommunications system having mobile exchanges, base stations and mobile stations, the mobile exchanges are capable of both intra-exchange and inter-exchange soft handoffs. Thereby, a seamless soft handoff with signal diversity combining is obtained throughout the service area of the system, which preferably is a CDMA system.

The use of code division multiple access (CDMA) modulation is but one of several techniques enabling digital communications among a number of mobile users utilizing a common part of the radio spectrum, as is the case for cellular telecommunications systems. Other well-known radio access techniques are time division multiple access (TDMA) and frequency division access (FDMA). The concept of soft handoff to which the present invention is closely related, is indeed applicable to all three of the mentioned multiple access techniques and will result, if applied instead of the conventional hard handoff schemes, in increased system capacity and fewer dropped calls. However, soft handoff is mandatory for CDMA, as the use of conventional hard handoff would result in a very poor system performance. The background of the present invention will be presented for a CDMA cellular telecommunications system. However, it should be understood that the present invention is not limited to CDMA. An exemplary application of CDMA to cellular telecommunications systems has been substantially described in "On the System Design Aspects of Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) Applied to Digital Cellular and Personal Communications Networks", Allen Salmasi and Klein S. Gilhousen, presented at the 41st IEEE Vehicular Technology Conference on May 19-22, 1991 in St. Louis, Mo.
In the above mentioned publication, a direct-sequence CDMA (DS-CDMA, or, for short, CDMA in the following) technique is described in which a number of user mobile stations (MSs) communicate via CDMA radio spread spectrum signals with base stations (BSs, also referred to as cell sites) in the uplink (mobile station to base station) and downlink (base station to mobile station) direction. The base stations convert these CDMA radio signals respectively originating from, and terminating at, the user's MS into a form appropriate for use in conjunction with terrestrial telecommunications transmission equipment such as the commonly deployed Pulse Code Modulation (PCM) circuit facilities. The base stations further relay these user signals in the uplink and downlink directions to a mobile switching center (MSC, also referred to as a mobile exchange or mobile telephone switching office (MTSO)) for further processing.
The above-mentioned user communication signals comprise digitized voice signals and control information (also referred to as signalling). The MSC performs multiplexing and conversion operations on the above-mentioned tributaries, and relays the voice signal to another user, e.g. within the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN). The MSC also interprets, reacts upon, and generates signalling information, thus controlling the overall communication links between the users. These communications link control functions comprise the management of general call related events such as call setup and tear down, as well as CDMA radio link-related events such as deterioration of CDMA radio link quality, and subsequent handoff initiation.
If CDMA is deployed within the typical medium, to large-sized cells of land mobile telecommunications systems, then the average time delay spread of the multipath radio propagation environment is usually longer than the duration of each chip of the DS-CDMA signal. This forces CDMA to operate in an asynchronous mode, with the consequence that the orthogonality of the spread spectrum multiple access user signals cannot be achieved by means of orthogonal spreading codes alone. Therefore, the communications suffer from system self-induced interference, not only among signals originating from different cells, but in addition to that, also, considerably, within a single cell (referred to as CDMA intra-cell interference). For such CDMA cellular systems, it is therefore an important overall system design objective to minimize any excessive CDMA interference among the communicating users and it is a complementary design objective, to capture and utilize as much energy from a desired CDMA user signal as possible. This system design requirement, although a generic requirement applicable to any multiple access method within cellular telecommunications systems, is less stringent for FDMA and TDMA based systems in which intra-cell interference is avoided by the intrinsic properties of the respective multiple access method and inter-cell interference is limited by means of pre-planned cellular frequency re-use schemes. Thus, CDMA unlike FDMA or TDMA operates in a strictly interference-limited manner.
Nevertheless, soft handoff will also improve the TDMA system capacity. However, the gain will be less than for a CDMA system. In the following, the invention is for the case of a CDMA cellular telecommunications system.
Several methods for implementing the above-mentioned CDMA system design objective can be readily identified for the above-referenced exemplary embodiment of a CDMA cellular telecommunications system. For example, the described closed loop MS transmit power control method has the objective to continuously equalize the received qualities of all uplink CDMA signals within a single BS against the background of rapidly changing radio propagation channels undergoing fast and slow fading processes. For this purpose, the BS measures periodically the received E.sub.b /N.sub.o value, indicative of the signal quality, from each MS CDMA uplink communication and subsequently transmits an appropriate power control command on the downlink communication channel to the MS which, in turn sets the CDMA transmitter power accordingly- Ideally, all MS CDMA uplink signals are received at the BS with the same quality, and, in addition to that, minimum strength necessary in order to maintain the communication link subject to a predetermined quality threshold.
Another embodiment of the previously mentioned system design objective is the method of mobile assisted soft handoff in conjunction with signal diversity combining during an active CDMA communication which will be summarized in the following and to which the present invention is closely related.
Mobile assisted soft handoff in conjunction with signal diversity combining comprises the method of relaying user communication signals on the transmission segment between MS and MSC concurrently via a first and a second BS in the uplink and downlink direction and performing signal diversity reception at the MS and MSC in order to enhance the user signal quality. This method is invoked by the MSC when an MS communicating initially with a BS has moved into the overlapping coverage areas of this first BS and a second BS and has reported the availability of a sufficiently strong signal from this second BS to the MSC. At no time instant during soft handoff in conjunction with signal diversity combining does the MS interrupt its communications with the MSC. The MSC typically deploys postdetection/decoding, selective combining of the digitally encoded speech frames.
In order to enable the reporting assistance of the MS during soft handoff initiation, all BSs may transmit a CDMA downlink reference signal, referred to a pilot signal. MSs when roaming throughout the service area of the CDMA cellular telecommunications system periodically demodulate the pilot signals of the various neighboring BSs during an ongoing communication with a first BS and derive a corresponding pilot signal quality indication. Again, the measured pilot E.sub.b /N.sub.o may come as a signal strength/quality indication. This indication determines a ranked list of candidate BSs for handoff and is transmitted in the form of signalling information to the MSC. It should be understood that, also the first BS may perform continuously CDMA uplink signal quality measurements, and, based upon these observations, may give a soft handoff request indication to the MSC.
Usually, soft handoff in conjunction with signal diversity combining is initiated by the MSC if the MS reports that the pilot signal quality of a second BS in addition to that of the first BS is sufficiently good according to the predetermined thresholds made available to the MS . The MSC, as well as the second BS, can obtain the required resources for the soft handoff transition. Subsequently, the MS will be instructed by the MSC via the first BS by means of signalling to initiate a soft handoff and to commence signal diversity combining on the downlink.
Moreover the MSC initiates the additional relay of user signals via the second BS and commences diversity combining of the user signal in the uplink direction. Both participating BSs invoke autonomously the previously mentioned closed loop power control method. The MS sets its CDMA transmit power to the minimum of the two commanded power levels in order to reduce excessive CDMA interference with the other communication links.
Finally, when the MS is firmly established within the area of the second BS and the pilot signal received from the first BS has weakened sufficiently according to the predetermined thresholds made available to the MS it the MS will report this condition to the MSC which in turn decides to terminate the soft handoff with signal diversity combining and will use subsequently only the second BS for maintaining the CDMA communications.
This process of soft handoff with signal diversity combining may be repeated as the MS moves within the service area of the CDMA cellular telecommunications system and as the measured CDMA signal quality indications suggest.
Some of the contemporary TDMA based cellular telecommunications systems also utilize the assistance of the MS in form of corresponding MS downlink signal quality measurements as a trigger for requesting a handoff from a first BS to a second BS, much in the same way as summarized above. However, these systems usually use a scheme referred to as hard handoff, in which the MS, in response to instructions from the MSC disrupts the communication with the first BS, tunes into the indicated TDMA radio channel of the second BS, and then resumes the uplink and downlink communications. At no time instant does the MS communicate with more than one BS simultaneously and hence, no corresponding signal diversity combining takes place in the MS nor in the MSC as is the case for the soft handoff method described above. This hard handoff scheme is applicable to CDMA in a similar manner as well, but should be avoided whenever possible, for reasons of CDMA system capacity as explained in the following. As mentioned above, though less useful, the inter-exchange soft handoff is applicable to TDMA and FDMA as well.
Within the context of soft and hard handoff the previously mentioned predetermined thresholds used in conjunction with the MS downlink signal quality measurements for the determination of handoff candidate BSs are also referred to as handoff margins. The use of these handoff margins in conjunction with time a hyphen averaging processes is necessary in order to avoid frequent handoffs (also referred to as handoff Ping-Pong effect) when the MS moves within the usually fuzzy border between the radio signal coverage areas of two neighboring BSs. Such frequent handdoffs would overload the processing capacity of the MSCs. For the purpose of controlling the CDMA soft handoff with signal diversity combining, the handoff margin can be chosen, as small as 1-3 dB, in contrast to the hard handoff case where usually 6-10 dB are required in order to avoid the deleterious handoff Ping-Pong effect.
Referring to the previously mentioned interference limited operation of CDMA, small handoff margins are indeed an essential requirement for an efficient operation of CDMA. The use of CDMA hard handoff in conjunction with the necessary large hard handoff margins would substantially decrease the CDMA system capacity. In a CDMA cellular telecommunications system, hard handoff can be tolerated only in exceptional situations but not as a normal mode of system operation. Soft handoff with signal diversity combining therefore is to be provided on a seamless basis throughout the CDMA system service area.
Prior art CDMA cellular telecommunications systems provide soft handoff with signal diversity combining only between BSs which are connected to one and the same MSC (referred to as intra-MSC soft handoff with signal diversity combining). If the MS is to be handed off between BSs connected to different MSCs, prior art CDMA cellular telecommunications systems use CDMA hard handoff instead with the above, mentioned disadvantages from the capacity point of view.

Inter-exchange soft handoff in a cellular telecommunications system


A magnetic resonance imaging method capable of discriminating the flow directions of fluids, such as bloodstreams, and suitable for MR angiography first selectively excites two side regions, which are located in the vicinity of a region to be imaged including fluids in an object to be examined, and which include first and second fluids flowing into the region to be imaged along different directions, by using RF pulses (90.degree. pulses) different from each other in phase by 90.degree.. A spin in one side region is rotated to the x'-axis direction in a rotating coordinate system, and that in the other side region is rotated to the y'-axis direction in the system. A 180.degree. pulse is applied to the region to be imaged to invert the polarity of a spin, thereby generating MR signals. The acquired MR signals are subjected to quadrature detection, and MR images are reconstructed for both a real-part component and an imaginary-part component different from each other in phase by 90.degree.. In each of the two images, only a fluid flowing in one direction appears. The flow directions of the fluids can be discriminated by comparing the two images.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) apparatus and MRI method and, more particularly, to a magnetic resonance imaging apparatus and MRI method capable of discriminating the flow directions of fluids, such as bloodstreams, and suitable for magnetic resonance (MR) angiography.
2. Description of the Related Art
Recently, MR angiography for imaging only a bloodstream portion without using any contrast medium has attracted attention as non-invasive angiography. As a method of discriminating the flow directions of fluids in this angiography, a pre-saturation method is known.
The principle of this pre-saturation method will be described with reference to FIGS. 1A to 1C. Consider the case wherein, as shown in FIG. 1A, two blood vessels BD1 and BD2 extend through three parallel slices A, B, and C substantially perpendicularly to these slices.
First, as shown in FIG. 1B, a nucleus spin in the slice A is excited sufficiently to saturation beforehand by a 90.degree. pulse. Consequently, the direction of the nuclear spin in the slice A is rotated 90.degree. from the z'-axis to x'-axis direction in a rotating coordinate system. Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 1C, the slice B is similarly excited by the 90.degree. pulse, and an MR signal from the slice B is acquired. Since a bloodstream flowing into the slice B through the blood vessel BD1 is already saturated in the slice A, the signal value of the blood vessel BD1 is so small that the signal forms a blank image in black in an MR image of the slice B. On the contrary, a bloodstream flowing into the slice B through the blood vessel BD2 in a direction opposite to that of the blood vessel BD1 appears in the MR image of the slice B.
Subsequently, although not shown, a nucleus spin in the slice C is excited sufficiently to saturation by the 90.degree. pulse in the same manner as described above. Thereafter, the slice B is similarly excited by the 90.degree. pulse, and an MR signal from the slice B is acquired. Since, in this case, the bloodstream flowing into the slice B through the blood vessel BD2 is already saturated in the slice C, the signal value of the acquired MR signal is small, so that the signal of the blood vessel BD2 forms a black blank image in the MR image of the slice B. However, the bloodstream flowing into the slice B through the blood vessel BD1 appears in the MR image of the slice B.
Hence, the flow directions of the blood vessels BD1 and BD2 can be discriminated by checking which of the slices A and C adjacent to the signal acquisition slice B is pre-saturated when the blank image is formed. Note that the excitation pulse for the slice B is not limited to a 90.degree. pulse but may be a 180.degree. pulse.
To discriminate bloodstream flow directions by the above pre-saturation method, however, it is necessary to perform the signal acquisition and image reconstruction twice in the two directions. This results in a long imaging time and a reduction in throughput of patients. In addition, when the imaging time is prolonged, there is a high possibility that a patient to be examined or a portion to be examined moves, thus interfering acquisition of a correct diagnostic image.


A mild hydrocracking process for the hydrodemetallation (HDM), hydrodesulfurization (HDS) and hydroconversion (HC) of hydrocarbon feedstocks such as residuum feedstocks which provides increased conversion and increased yields of middle distillates is disclosed. The process utilizes a catalyst comprising about 1.0 to about 6.0 wt. % of an oxide of a Group VIII metal, about 12.0 to about 25.0 wt. % of an oxide of molybdenum and about 0 to about 5.0 wt. % of an oxide of phosphorus supported on a porous alumina support containing about 0.1 to about 10.0 wt. % of lithium oxide.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a process for mild hydrocracking of heavy oils. More particularly, this invention relates to catalytic process for converting heavy oils boiling above 650.degree. F., such as vacuum gas oil (VGO) and VGO containing a high proportion of vacuum resid (VR) to lighter distillate products boiling at or below 650.degree. F.
In the mild hydrocracking process of this invention a sulfur- and metal-containing hydrocarbon feedstock, such as residua containing heavy oils, is contacted at an elevated temperature with hydrogen and a catalyst composition comprising a specified amount of a Group VIII metal, such as an oxide of nickel or cobalt, a specified amount of an oxide of molybdenum and, optionally, a specified amount of an oxide of phosphorus, such as phosphorus pentoxide supported on a porous lithium oxide-containing alumina support. In the catalytic mild hydrocracking process of this invention the sulfur- and metal-containing hydrocarbon feed is contacted with hydrogen and the catalyst, which has specified pore size distribution, in a manner such that an increased production of middle distillates is achieved over that obtained with the use of prior art hydroprocessing catalysts while at the same time high levels of sediment formation are avoided.
2. Prior Art
U.S. Pat. No. 4,941,964, incorporated herein by reference, discloses a process for the hydrotreatment of a sulfur- and metal-containing hydrocarbon feed which comprises contacting the feed with hydrogen and a catalyst in a manner such that the catalyst is maintained at isothermal conditions and is exposed to a uniform quality of feed. The catalyst has a composition comprising 3.0-5.0 wt. % of an oxide of a Group VIII metal, 14.5-24.0 wt. % of an oxide of a Group VIB metal and 0-2.0 wt. % of an oxide of phosphorus supported on a porous alumina support, and the catalyst is further characterized by having a total surface area of 150-210 m.sup.2 /g and a total pore volume (TPV) of 0.50-0.75 cc/g with a pore diameter distribution such that micropores having diameters of 100-160 A constitute 70-85% of the total pore volume of the catalyst and macropores having diameters of greater than 250 A constitute 5.5-22.0% of the total pore volume of the catalyst.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,670,132 (Arias, et al.) discloses a catalyst preparation and a catalyst composition useful in the hydroconversion of heavy oils, the catalyst comprising a high iron content bauxite with the addition of one or more of the following promoters: phosphorus, molybdenum, cobalt, nickel or tungsten. The bauxite catalysts typically contain 25-35 wt. % aluminum. The catalysts have certain characteristic features for the elemental components (including aluminum and where present, molybdenum) when the pellet exteriors are examined in the fresh oxide state using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). For those catalysts which contain molybdenum, the surface Mo/Al atomic ratios on the pellet exteriors are in the range of 0.03 to 0.09.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,652,545 (Lindsley, et al.) discloses a catalyst composition useful in the hydroconversion of heavy oils, the catalyst containing 0.5-5% Ni or Co and 1.8-18% Mo (calculated as the oxides) on a porous alumina support, having 15-30% of the Ni or Co in an acid extractable form, and further characterized by having a TPV of 0.5-1.5 cc/g with a pore diameter distribution such that (i) at least 70% TPV is in pores having 80-120 A diameters, (ii) less than 0.03 cc/g of TPV (6% TPV) is in pores having diameters of less than 80 A and (iii) 0.05-0.1 cc/g of TPV (3-20% TPV) is in pores having diameters of greater than 120 A. Lindsley, et al. is distinguished from the instant invention in that although it teaches that having a proportion of nickel or cobalt contained in its catalyst in an acid extractable form is advantageous in terms of heavy oil hydroconversion. Lindsley, et al. does not teach or suggest that catalysts which have a prescribed molybdenum gradient are advantageous in terms of heavy oil hydroconversion.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,588,709 (Morales, et al.) discloses a catalyst preparation and a catalyst composition useful in the hydroconversion of heavy oils, the catalyst comprising 5-30 wt. % of a Group VIB element (e.g., molybdenum) and 1-5 wt. % of a Group VIII element (e.g., nickel). Morales, et al. indicate that the finished catalysts have average pore diameters of 150 to 300 Angstroms. The catalysts have certain characteristic features for the active components (Mo and Ni) when the pellet exteriors are examined in a sulfided state using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Morales ('709) requires a large average pore diameter (150 to 300 Angstroms) and Morales ('709) requires certain characteristic XPS features of the pellet exteriors after presulfiding.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,579,649 (Morales, et al.) discloses a catalyst preparation and a catalyst composition useful in the hydroconversion of heavy oils, the catalyst containing a Group VIB element (e.g., molybdenum), a Group VIII element (e.g., nickel) and phosphorus oxide on a porous alumina support. The catalyst has certain characteristic features for the three active components (Mo, Ni and P) where the pellet exteriors are examined in a sulfided state using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Morales ('649) requires certain characteristic XPS features of the pellet exteriors after presulfiding whereas the catalyst of the instant invention requires a specified molybdenum gradient as determined by measuring the molybdenum/aluminum atomic ratios by XPS for catalyst pellet exteriors and the pellets in a crushed form as measured on the fresh catalysts in an oxide state.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,520,128 (Morales, et al.) discloses a catalyst preparation and a catalyst composition useful in the hydroconversion of heavy oils, the catalyst containing 5-30 wt. % of a Group VIB element (e.g., molybdenum), 0.1-8.0 wt. % of a Group VIII element (e.g., nickel) and 5-30 wt. % of a phosphorus oxide on a porous alumina support. The finished catalysts of Morales ('128) have mean pore diameters of 145 to 154 Angstroms. The catalyst has certain characteristic features for the three active components (Mo, Ni and P) when the pellet exteriors are examined in a sulfided state using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The catalyst of Morales requires a high phosphorus oxide content.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,047,142 (Sherwood, Jr., et al.) discloses a process of hydroprocessing a sulfur- and metal-containing hydrocarbon feed which comprises contacting said feed with hydrogen and a catalyst in a manner such that the catalyst is maintained at isothermal conditions and is exposed to a uniform quality of feed, where said catalyst has a composition comprising 1.0-5.0 wt. % of an oxide of nickel or cobalt and 10.0-25.0 wt. % of an oxide of molybdenum, all supported on a porous alumina support in such a manner that the molybdenum gradient of the catalyst has a value of less than 6.0, 15-30% of the nickel or cobalt is in an acid extractable form, and said catalyst is further characterized by having a total surface area of 150-210 m.sup.2 /g, a total pore volume of 0.50-0.75 cc/g, and a pore size distribution such that pores having diameters of less than 100 A constitute less than 25.0%, pores having diameters of 100-160 A constitute 70.0-85.0% and pores having diameters of greater than 250 A constitute 1.0-15.0% of the total pore volume of said catalyst.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,886,582 (Simpson) discloses a catalyst comprising at least one metal hydrogenating component comprising Group VIB, such as molybdenum, or Group VIII metal, such as nickel, on a porous refractory oxide, such as lithia-alumina, said composition comprising less than 15 wt. % of said metal hydrogenation component calculated as the trioxide, and having a pore size distribution where at least 75% of the total pore volume is in pores of diameters from about 20 Angstroms below the pore mode diameter to about 20 Angstroms above the pore mode diameter, less than 10% of the total pore volume is in pores of diameters less than 60 Angstroms and greater than 3% to less than 10% of the total pore volume is in pores greater than 110 Angstroms and the pore mode diameter is in the range of about 70 to about 90 Angstroms.

Mild hydrocracking of heavy hydrocarbon feedstocks employing lithia promoted catalysts


A motion seat is described that includes a chassis, a seat frame, a seat cushion, a backrest, and a resilient hinge. The seat frame is attached to the chassis and the seat cushion and the backrest are each attached to the seat frame. The resilient hinge formed as a unitary body and may be formed from a resilient polymer. The seat cushion and/or the backrest is pivotably attached to the seat frame with the resilient hinge

Shoppers for home furnishing have traditionally been provided with three principle options when in search of upholstered seating. The first type is stationary seating. Stationary chairs have been known for centuries and have been designed in a vast array of styles to meet the owner's preferred aesthetic. Stationary chairs, however often do not meet more modern desires for comfort when used continuously for a long period of time.
The second and third types of upholstered chairs, gliders, and recliners respectively, may be combined into the category of motion seating, which is seating designed to be capable of achieving at least two distinct positions. Gliders, which can include rocking chairs, are designed to receive the user, and are capable of forward and backward oscillating motion. Typically, the angle between the seat cushion and the back cushion is fixed in a glider or rocker style chair. Rocking motion has been shown to provide several physical and mental health benefits, including increased balance, improved muscle tone, and pain management/reduction. Rocking is also well-known to help sooth colic in babies.
Reclining furniture, on the other hand, is able to adjust the angle between the seat cushion and the back cushion to allow the user to assume a reclined position, often with the assistance of a footrest extending from below a recliner style chair. Reclining reduces the load on the spine and surrounding musculature. This enables the human back to rest, invoking general physical and mental relaxation. Recliners, however, typically do not provide the oscillating motion available from a glider. Further, while powered recliners can often provide infinite adjustment of the reclining angle, these seats do not conform naturally to the user as the user shifts in the chair.
There is a desire to create a seat, particularly an upholstered chair for furnishing a home or hospitality environment, that can naturally adjust to the position of the user without complex motors or actuators while combining the benefits of reclining furniture and gliding furniture.