A pixel cell and imager device, and method of forming the same, where the pixel cell has a plurality of metallization and via layers formed over a photosensitive region. The metallization and via layers form a step-like light tunnel structure that augments the photosensitive region's ability to capture light impinging on the photosensitive region.

Solid-state image sensors, also known as imagers, were developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s primarily for television image acquisition, transmission, and display. An imager absorbs incident radiation of a particular wavelength (such as optical photons, x-rays, or the like) and generates an electrical signal corresponding to the absorbed radiation.
There are a number of different types of semiconductor-based imagers, including charge coupled devices (CCD's), photodiode arrays, charge injection devices (CID's), hybrid focal plane arrays, and complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) imagers. Current applications of solid-state imagers include cameras, scanners, machine vision systems, vehicle navigation systems, video telephones, computer input devices, surveillance systems, auto focus systems, star trackers, motion detector systems, image stabilization systems, and other image acquisition and processing systems.
Solid-state imagers typically consist of an array of pixel cells. Each pixel cell contains a photosensor that produces a signal corresponding to the intensity of light impinging on the photosensor. When an image is focused on the array of pixel cells, the combined signals may be used, for example, to display a corresponding image on a monitor or otherwise used to provide information about the optical image.
The photosensors are typically phototransistors, photoconductors or photodiodes, in which the conductivity of the photosensor, or the charge stored in a diffusion region, corresponds to the intensity of light impinging on the photosensor. The magnitude of the signal produced by each pixel, therefore, is proportional to the amount of light impinging on the photosensor. Accordingly, it is important that all of the light directed to the photosensor impinges on the photosensor rather than becoming reflected or refracted. If light does not impinge on the correct photosensor, optical crosstalk between pixels may occur.
For example, optical crosstalk may exist between neighboring photosensors in a pixel array of a solid-state imager. In an idealized photosensor, a photodiode for example, light enters only through the surface of the photodiode that directly receives the light stimulus. In reality, however, light intended for neighboring photosensors also enters the photodiode, in the form of stray light, through the sides of the photosensor structure for example. Reflection and refraction within the photosensor structure can give rise to stray light, which is referred to as optical crosstalk.
Optical crosstalk can bring about undesirable results in images that are produced. The undesirable results can become more pronounced as the density of pixels in imager arrays increases, and as pixel size correspondingly decreases. The shrinking pixel sizes make it increasingly difficult to focus incoming light on the photosensor of each pixel.
Optical crosstalk can manifest as a blurring or reduction in contrast in images produced by a solid-state imager. In essence, crosstalk in an image sensor array degrades the spatial resolution, reduces overall sensitivity, causes color mixing, and leads to image noise after color correction. As noted above, image degradation can become more pronounced as pixel and device sizes are reduced. Furthermore, degradation caused by optical crosstalk is more conspicuous at longer wavelengths of light. Light at longer wavelengths penetrates more deeply into the silicon structure of a pixel cell, providing more opportunities for the light to be reflected or refracted away from its intended photosensor target.
One method to combat optical crosstalk is to employ a micro-lens array with the imager pixel array. The micro-lenses focus light onto respective photosensors, thereby increasing the amount of light energy impinging on each photosensor. Despite the use of micro-lens arrays, a large amount of incident light is still not directed efficiently onto the photosensors due to the geometry of the micro-lens array. As a result, the ability of a photosensor array to accurately reproduce an image varies between pixels across the array.
Another method to reduce optical crosstalk, in an imaging device, is the use of light shields. Light shields are formed in layers fabricated above the light-admitting surface through which the photosensor directly receives light stimulus. The light shield layers generally include metal and other opaque materials.
The light shields generally are formed as part of the uppermost layers of the solid-state imager array. Light shields have been formed, for example, in multi-level metal interconnect layers (e.g., Metal 1, Metal 2, or, if utilized, Metal 3 layers) of the photosensor's integrated circuitry. Light shields formed in such upper fabrication layers have inherent drawbacks, however. For example, metallization layers dedicated to light shielding are limited in their normal use as conductive connections for the imager array.
Additionally, light shields formed in upper device layers are separated from the light-admitting surface of the photosensor by several light transmitting layers. Moreover, the light shields are imperfect, and allow some light to pass into the light transmitting layers. Consequently, optical crosstalk still occurs through the light transmitting layers between the photosensor and the light shields. Having the light shields spaced apart from the surface of the photosensor can also increase light piping and light shadowing in the photosensors, leading to further errors in imager function.
Another method of reducing optical crosstalk uses optical waveguides, i.e., light tunnels. Optical waveguides are structures used for spatially confining light. For instance, optical waveguides can be used to reduce the detrimental affects associated with light shields such as light piping and light shadowing. Optical waveguides, however, are not currently used to focus light directly on the photosensor. Moreover, the optical waveguide structures that are currently employed, require additional processing steps, adding to the complexity and costs of imager fabrication.
Accordingly, solid-state imagers would benefit from a more efficient and effective optical waveguide structure that can focus light directly onto the photosensor, similar to a micro-lens. Of particular benefit would be a light tunnel that can be incorporated into current imagers to better mitigate optical crosstalk without added complexity to the manufacturing process.

Structure and method for building a light tunnel for use with imaging devices


A method and system are described for the on-board treatment of a hydrocarbon-fueled internal combustion engine (ICE) exhaust gas stream to reduce CO2 emissions from the vehicle which include:                a. contacting the exhaust gas stream with a CO2 sorbent capture agent on board the vehicle to produce a mixture containing modified CO2-containing sorbent and a treated exhaust gas stream with reduced CO2 content;        b. separating the modified CO2-containing sorbent from the treated exhaust gas stream;        c. passing the modified sorbent in heat exchange with heat from the ICE to release CO2 and regenerate the CO2 sorbent capture agent;        d. recycling the regenerated CO2 sorbent for use in step (a);        e. discharging the treated exhaust gas stream having a reduced CO2 content into the atmosphere;        f. recovering and compressing the CO2 for temporary storage on board the vehicle.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to the reduction of carbon dioxide emissions from the exhaust gas stream of vehicles powered by internal combustion engines and other heat engines that produce waste heat.
2. Description of Related Art
The currently accepted thinking is that global warming is due to emissions of greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide (CO2) and methane (CH4). About a quarter of global CO2 emissions are currently estimated to come from mobile sources, i.e., automobiles, trucks, buses and trains that are powered by internal combustion engines (ICEs). This proportional contribution is likely to grow rapidly in the foreseeable future with the projected surge in automobile and truck ownership in developing countries. At present, the transportation sector is a major market for crude oil, and controlling CO2 emissions is both an environmental responsibility and a desirable goal in order to maintain the viability of the crude oil market in the transportation sector in the face of challenges from alternative technologies, e.g., cars powered by electric motors and storage batteries. Regulations to limit CO2 emissions from the tail pipe have been enacted in many countries.
CO2 management from mobile sources presents many challenges including space and weight limitations, the lack of any economies of scale and the dynamic nature of the operation of the ICEs powering the mobile sources.
Prior art methods for the capture of CO2 from combustion gases have principally focused on stationary sources, such as power plants. Those that address the problem of reducing CO2 emissions from mobile sources employ either combustion using oxygen, provide no means for the regeneration and reuse of the CO2 capture agent, and/or make no use of waste heat recovered from the hot source. Combustion using oxygen requires an oxygen-nitrogen separation step which is more energy-intensive than separating CO2 from the exhaust gases and would be more difficult if attempted on board the vehicle.
The focus of CO2 capture technology has been on stationary or fixed sources. Processes have been developed that use amines and amine functionalized liquids and solutions to absorb CO2 at temperatures ranging from ambient up to about 80° C. At temperatures above 100° C., and particularly in the range of from about 130° C. to 300° C. that are encountered in vehicles powered by an ICE, the amine solutions exhibit low capacity for CO2 absorption. Thus, the high temperature of the ICE exhaust gas makes direct treatment to remove CO2 with liquid amine solutions impractical without cooling the exhaust gas.
The capture of CO2 from mobile sources has generally been considered too expensive, since it involves a distributed system with a reverse economy of scale. The prior solution to the problem has appeared to be impractical due to on-board vehicle space limitations, the additional energy and apparatus requirements and the dynamic nature of the vehicle's operating cycle, e.g., intermittent periods of rapid acceleration and deceleration.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a method, a system and an apparatus which address the problems of efficiently and cost-effectively reducing the CO2 emissions from vehicles by temporary on-board storage of the CO2.
As used herein, the term "internal combustion engine," or ICE, includes heat engines in which a carbon-containing fuel is burned to produce power or work and generates waste heat that must be removed or dissipated.
As used herein, the term "mobile source" means any of the wide variety of known conveyances that can be used to transport goods and/or people that are powered by one or more internal combustion engines that produce an exhaust gas stream containing CO2. This includes all types of motor vehicles that travel on land, as well as trains and ships where the exhaust gas from the ICE is discharged into a containing conduit before it is discharged into the atmosphere.
The term "vehicle" as used herein is to be understood as a convenient shorthand and synonymous with "mobile source" and is coextensive with "conveyances", generally, as that term is used above.
As used herein, the terms "CO2 capture agent" and "capture agent" mean a phase-changing absorbent liquid or a solid adsorbent material having a magnetic core that has a predictable capacity to absorb or adsorb CO2 reversibly over a significant number of absorption/adsorption and desorption cycles.
As used herein, the term "waste heat" is the heat that a typical engine produces which is contained mainly in the hot exhaust gases ranging from about 300° C. to 650° C. and the hot engine coolant from about 80° C. to 120° C. in liquid coolant systems. Additional heat is emitted and lost by convection and radiation from the engine block and its associated components, and other components through which the exhaust gas passes, including the cylinders in air-cooled engines, the manifold, pipes, catalytic converter and muffler, and the engine's liquid coolant and the hot engine oil. This waste heat energy totals about 60-75% of the energy that typical hydrocarbon fuels provide.
The ICE can be air-cooled, in which case there will be no source of hot engine coolant. However, the engine block and associated metal components can provide the heat required to release the CO2 from, and thereby regenerate the CO2 capture agent. In the case of a manual gear shift as distinguished from an automatic transmission, there will be no source of hot transmission fluid.

Process and system employing phase-changing absorbents and magnetically responsive sorbent particles for on-board recovery of carbon dioxide from mobile sources


A convertible dolly cart system which may convert between a traditional floor dolly and a sheet goods cart in a quick and efficient manner. The convertible dolly cart system generally includes a flat, rectangular cart having a central opening and a panel support insert which is removably positioned within the central opening of the cart for use in transporting large sheets of material such as sheetrock or wall panels. The panel support insert includes a base on which the sheets of material may be placed and an upper support assembly against which the sheets of material may be rested. Thus, the present invention is easily convertible between a dolly cart and a sheet goods cart.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a dolly cart and more specifically it relates to a convertible dolly cart system which may convert between a traditional floor dolly and a sheet goods cart in a quick and efficient manner.
2. Description of the Related Art
Any discussion of the related art throughout the specification should in no way be considered as an admission that such related art is widely known or forms part of common general knowledge in the field.
Dolly carts are commonly used in various sites for movement of various heavy or bulky goods. For example, dolly carts are used widely at work sites for moving construction materials, appliances, and the like. However, when moving construction materials such as sheet rock or other sheets or materials, the sheets must be placed flat upon the dolly cart and thus be difficult to move around.
To efficiently move sheets of material, a sheet cart may be utilized. However, the sheet cart is not ideally suited for movement of large, bulky objects such as appliances. Thus, it is often required to have both a dolly cart and a sheet cart at a work site, which can take up space and be expensive to purchase.
Because of the inherent problems with the related art, there is a need for a new and improved convertible dolly cart system which may convert between a traditional floor dolly and a sheet goods cart in a quick and efficient manner.


An image bearing member unit includes an image bearing member on which a toner image is formed, and a support member supporting the image bearing member such that the image bearing member protrudes through an opening formed in the support member. The image bearing member unit is drawn out of and put into a main body of an image forming apparatus. The image bearing member unit further includes a shutter for covering and uncovering the image bearing member protruding through the opening formed in the support member. The shutter is assembled with the support member to move in directions, substantially perpendicular to directions in which the image bearing member unit is drawn out of and put into the main body of the image forming apparatus, to be located, when the image bearing member unit has been drawn out of the main body of the image forming apparatus, in a closed position wherein the shutter covers the image bearing member protruding through the opening formed in the support member, and to be located, when the image bearing member unit has been set in a predetermined position inside of the main body of the image forming apparatus, in an opened position wherein the shutter does not cover the image bearing member protruding through the opening formed in the support member.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image bearing member unit that includes an image bearing member on which a toner image is formed and a support member supporting the image bearing member and that can be taken out of and put into the main body of an image forming apparatus, a process cartridge including the image bearing member unit, and an image forming apparatus using the image bearing member unit or the process cartridge.
2. Discussion of the Background
It is known that an image bearing member unit including an image bearing member on which a toner image is formed and a support member supporting the image bearing member is used in image forming apparatuses such as a copier, a printer, a facsimile apparatus, or a multi-function apparatus having functions of at least two of these apparatuses. The image bearing member unit can be taken out of and put into main bodies of the image forming apparatuses. When the image bearing member unit has been taken out of respective main bodies of the image forming apparatuses, if the image bearing member of the image bearing member unit is directly exposed to light, the image bearing member is deteriorated. If the image bearing member is touched by a hand or a thing, the surface of the image bearing member may be soiled or damaged.
In order to avoid such problems, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-open Publication No. 2001-337580 proposes an image forming apparatus, in which a shutter is provided to an image bearing member unit. When the image bearing member unit is taken out of the main body of the image forming apparatus, the shutter is moved to a closed position wherein the shutter covers an image bearing member of the image bearing member unit. When the image bearing member unit is put into the main body of the image forming apparatus to be set therein, the shutter is moved back to an opened position wherein the shutter does not cover the image bearing member.
In a known image forming apparatus in which a shutter is provided to an image bearing member unit to cover and uncover an image bearing member of the image bearing member unit as in the image forming apparatus of the above JP Publication, the shutter is supported by a support member of the image bearing member unit to rotate, and in conjunction with an operation of attaching and detaching the image bearing member unit to and from the main body of the image forming apparatus, the shutter is rotated to move to the opened or closed position. When a shutter is configured to rotate to move to opened and closed positions, in order that the shutter is rotated without any trouble, a relatively large space is necessary inside of the main body of an image forming apparatus, so that the size of the main body of the image forming apparatus inevitably increases.

Image bearing member unit, including image bearing shutter


Stable tablets and pharmaceutical compositions in particulate form comprising a fibrate, for example fenofibrate, dissolved or dispersed in an non-aqueous vehicle with improved bioavailability, thereby eliminating the food effect so that the tablet or composition can be administered to a patient irrespective of being in fed or fasted state.

Fibrates are lipid regulating agents. Examples of fibrates include gemifibrozil, fenofibrate, bezafibrate, clofibrate and ciprofibrate. The compounds are regarded as prodrugs and are metabolised in vivo to their active metabolites. For illustrative purposes only, the following is based on a specific example of a fibrate, namely fenofibrate. Fenofibrate is chemically named 2-[4-(4-chlorobenzoyl]-2-methyl-propanoic acid, 1-methylethyl ester and has the following structural formula:

Fenofibrate is a white solid. The compound is insoluble in water. The melting point is 79-82° C. Fenofibrate is metabolised to the active substance fenofibric acid. Fenofibric acid has an elimination half-life of about 20 hours. Measurement of the detected amount of fenofibric acid in the blood of a patient can reflect the efficacy of fenofibrate uptake. Fenofibric acid produces reductions in total cholesterol (total-C), LDL-C, apo-lipoprotein B, total triglycerides, and triglyceride rich lipoprotein (VLDL) in treated patients. In addition, treatment with fenofibrate results in increases in high density lipoprotein (HDL) and apo-lipoprotein apoAI and apo AII. Fenofibrate acts as a potent lipid regulating agent offering unique and clinical advantages over existing products in the fibrate family of drug substances. Fenofibrate produces substantial reduction in plasma triglyceride levels in hypertriglyceridemic patients and in plasma cholesterol and LDL-C in hypercholesterolemic and mixed dyslipidemic patients.
Fenofibrate also reduces serum uric acid levels in hyperuricemic and normal subjects by increasing the urinary excretion of uric acid.
Clinical studies have demonstrated that elevated levels of total cholesterol, low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), and apo-lipoprotein B (apo B) are associated with human atherosclerosis. Decreased levels of high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and its transport complex, apolipoprotein A (apo AI and apo AII) are associated with the development of atherosclerosis.
Fenofibrate is also effective in the treatment of Diabetes Type II and metabolic syndrome.
Further, the lipid improvements seen with fenofibrate therapy are associated with reduced progression to microalbuminuria in patients with Diabetes Type II. A recent study shows that fenofibrate treatment for at least 3 years is effective in reducing the progression of renal disease in patients with Diabetes Type II without diabetic nephropathy (Am. J. Kidney Dis. 2005, vol. 45, p. 485-493)
Fenofibrate is also indicated as adjunctive therapy to diet for treatment of adult patients with hypertriglyceridemia (Fredrickson Types IV and V hyperlipidemia). Improving glycemic control in diabetic patients showing fasting chylomicronemia will usually reduce fasting triglycerides and eliminate chylomicronemia and thereby obviating the need for pharmacologic intervention.
Fibrates are drug substances known to be are poorly and variably absorbed after oral administration. Normally they are prescribed to be taken with food in order to increase the bioavailability.
There have been a number of improvements in dosage form of the currently most used fibrate, fenofibrate, in an effort to increase the bioavailability of the drug and hence it's efficacy. However, there is still a need for improved dosage forms relative to the currently available compositions including dosage forms providing crystalline fenofibrate in micronized form. In particular, there remains a need for a composition and a dosage form exhibiting a suitable bioavailability, which substantially can reduce or overcome the differential between the bioavailability of the drug in patients who are fasted versus the bioavailability of the drug in patients who are fed, and/or which substantially can reduce or overcome the intra- and/or inter-individual variations observed with the current treatment with the available commercial products. Furthermore, there is also a need for novel dosage forms and/or compositions that enable reduction in observed side-effects.
Especially, there is an unmet need for developing a solid composition in particulate form in which the fibrate is in a dissolved state and that appears as a composition that is in the form of a powder, granules, granulates, particles, beads, pellets or other forms for particulate material and not in the form of a soft dosage form containing a liquid medium.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


A differential pumping seal apparatus includes a differential pumping seal for sealing a first space and a second space from each other in a non-contact manner, and a back up seal mechanism for sealing the first space and the second space from each other in a contact manner. The back up seal mechanism is operated to seal the first space and the second space from each other only when the differential pumping seal is stopped or while operation of said differential pumping seal is stopped.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a differential pumping seal apparatus for use as a part of a semiconductor fabrication apparatus or the like, and more particularly to an improved differential pumping seal apparatus having a seal element referred to as a differential pumping seal for sealing a gap between a space defined by a fixed member and a movable body movable with respect to the fixed member, and another space having an atmosphere which is different from an atmosphere in the above space with respect to a pressure, cleanliness, type of a gas, or the like in a non-contact manner.
2. Description of the Related Art
A differential pumping seal is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,118,042 entitled "Air Bearing Vacuum Seal Assembly", filed in 1977, and U.S. Pat. No. 4,191,385 entitled "Vacuum sealed Gas bearing Assembly", filed in 1979. A differential pumping seal used in a semiconductor fabrication apparatus is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,425,508 entitled "Electron beam Lithographic Apparatus", filed in 1982.
The conventional differential pumping seal has been used for moving an object quickly and smoothly in a rotary-motion manner or in a linear-motion manner within a clean space such as a vacuum space without contaminating the clean space.
There are at least two cases in which the differential pumping seal is used. In the first case, the differential pumping seal is used in the case where an actuator for moving the object, a guide mechanism for guiding the object, and other components are placed outside of the clean space, and only a minimum structural assembly and the object such as a specimen are adapted to be disposed in the clean space. In the second case, the differential pumping seal is used in the case where a hydrostatic fluid bearing such as an air bearing is used for sealing two spaces from each other without impairing the advantage of a non-contact bearing.
Specifically, in the second case, the differential pumping seal is used for sealing the two spaces from each other in the following situation:
1) The bearing is placed in a clean space, and a space in which a fluid used for the bearing is present and the clean space are sealed from each other.
2) The bearing is placed outside of a clean space, and the clean space and the exterior space of the clean space are sealed from each other.
The differential pumping seal is capable of separating two spaces from each other in a non-contact fashion. This feature is recognized as a great advantage, and the differential pumping seal tends to be applied to practical apparatuses. When the differential pumping seal is in a normal or steady state in which the differential pumping seal functions normally, the differential pumping seal can certainly perform an excellent function as a non-contact seal. However, from a total viewpoint in terms of the reliability and service life of the differential pumping seal, and also cleanliness, it is necessary to sufficiently recognize the effects (features) of the differential pumping seal when the differential pumping seal is in an unsteady state in which the differential pumping seal does not function normally.
When an apparatus having a differential pumping seal is in operation, the failure of a continuous sealing function may occur due to an emergency shutdown of the apparatus, or the entire apparatus including the differential pumping seal may be brought out of operation. When such cases occur, the differential pumping seal has a disadvantage resulted from a non-contact seal. This disadvantage can easily be imagined because an invisible and virtual wall which has separated the two spaces from each other is eliminated when the sealing function is stopped. For example, when operation of the differential pumping seal which has separated a clean space (vacuum space) and a space (the atmosphere) outside of the clean space from each other in a non-contact manner is suddenly stopped, the vacuum space which has been kept clean is instantly filled with air of the atmosphere.
Normally, a substance which has a greatest effect on the degree of vacuum is water, which is typical of moisture of the atmosphere. The humidity in a clean room is normally in the range of about 40 to 55%, and thus a gas in the clean room contains a large quantity of moisture. If air of the atmosphere flows into the clean room each time the differential pumping seal stops its sealing function, then it is difficult to increase the degree of vacuum in a vacuum chamber which is to be cleaned. Further, there is a possibility that particles in the atmosphere outside of the vacuum chamber enter the vacuum chamber. In an apparatus having an ordinary vacuum chamber, no atmosphere is introduced into the vacuum chamber, and the humidity of a gas which is introduced into the vacuum chamber is controlled at an extremely low degree.
When the differential pumping seal stops its sealing function in a non-contact manner, the vacuum chamber is the same as a vacuum chamber whose partition wall for separating the vacuum chamber from the exterior has a large crack. Therefore, the differential pumping seal is, so to speak, a troublesome apparatus from the standpoint of the commonsense in the field of the conventional vacuum apparatus.
As described above, the conventional differential pumping seal (non-contact seal) has an operational disadvantage in an apparatus incorporating the differential pumping seal such as a vacuum apparatus which requires a cleanliness of an atmosphere.
In order to apply a non-contact seal to a semiconductor fabrication apparatus in practical use, it is necessary to compensate for the above operational disadvantage by adding other element.


Floor covering, consisting of floor panels (2), which, at least at two opposite sides (3-4), comprise coupling parts (5-6), which, in the coupled condition of two of such floor panels (2), provide for a vertical as well as for a horizontal locking, characterized in that in coupled condition, at least at the location of the aforementioned two sides (3-4) of at least two mutually coupled floor panels (2), a strip (11), more particularly a prefabricated strip (11), is present in the floor covering (1), said strip extending up to the visible side of the floor covering (1).

A. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to floor coverings, to floor panels for realizing such floor coverings, as well as to methods for manufacturing floor panels and methods for realizing a floor covering from floor panels.
B. Related Art
More particularly, the invention relates to floor coverings that are composed of hard floor panels and wherein it is intended that this floor covering is floatingly installed.
In particular, the invention relates to laminate floor panels, which does not exclude that it can be applied for other types of floor panels, such as veneer parquet, prefabricated parquet, solid parquet and the like.

Floor covering, floor panel and method for manufacturing floor panels


An improved urethral cap for alleviating urinary incontinence when positioned on the body of the user is provided. The improved urethral cap includes a body portion defining an interior chamber, the chamber providing a vacuum therein to hold the urethral cap in contact with the body of the user. The cap further includes at least one flange supported by the body portion, the flange having a thickness of less than 0.75 millimeters, and preferably less than 0.5 millimeters. The improved urethral cap has increased flexibility and therefore provides increased comfort to a user when in place over the urethra.

Urinary incontinence, such as stress incontinence, in females is a substantial problem throughout the world. A variety of mechanisms have been suggested for use to alleviate the condition which can be a social as well as medical problem for those so afflicted.
Many suggested medical devices to alleviate urinary incontinence in females require the use of internal components such as catheters, balloons, pessary or the like which pass into the urethra and are positioned within the body in use. Such internal components can be a source of irritation to the body, thereby causing discomfort to the user and, in some cases, can result in an unwanted body reaction, such as an infection. In addition, such devices as are known, can be expensive and/or inconvenient to use and transport for use.
More recently, a urethral cap has been used for alleviating urinary incontinence, which cap overcomes many of the afore-mentioned problems associated with conventional medical devices. In use, the urethral cap is positioned exterior to the body and utilizes atmospheric pressure to create a vacuum in order to maintain the cap in position on the body of the user. The cap has been shown to be helpful in many cases to alleviate urinary incontinence in females, thereby providing the user with an inexpensive device which is easy to transport, simple to apply and remove and which is unlikely to cause infection in the user when properly used.
In order to provide the user with a device resistant to collapse or deformation by atmospheric pressure, previous designed urethral caps were provided with walls of certain thickness. While providing a comfortable fit for many women, the predetermined thickness decreased the flexibility, i.e. the compliance or softness of the device, thereby sometimes causing discomfort, and hence irritation, in some women. In addition, previously designed caps often included a generally circular flange which has also been found to cause discomfort in some user due to its geometric configuration.
There is therefore needed an improved urethral cap which provides increased comfort to a wide range of users while maintaining the integrity of the device.


In one embodiment, a method for health and trend monitoring for aircraft systems includes receiving, by a processor on the aircraft, a plurality of sensor signals from a respective plurality of sensors onboard the aircraft and determining a reference signal from a subset of the plurality of sensor signals. Next, each of the plurality of sensor signals is individually compared to the reference signal to provide a plurality of difference signals. Each of the plurality of difference signals is compared to a threshold value, and a maintenance message is provided for any respective sensor associated with any of the plurality of difference signals exceeding the threshold value. An aircraft employing the health and trend monitoring system is also disclosed.

Modern aircraft are often equipped with sophisticated systems that report information and store in-flight data. For safety critical subsystems, conventional aircraft typically include a fault monitoring method configured to reject failed sensor inputs. However, due to the need to preserve system availability during operations, these fault monitoring methods are generally not designed to detect subtle performance degradation of a sensor. When an aircraft is in flight, it can be difficult to detect when sub-systems or components of an aircraft begin to operate abnormally, and/or to correctly diagnose the specific source that is causing that sub-system or component to operate abnormally. These abnormal operating conditions may persist after the aircraft has landed in some cases, but not all cases, which can make it more difficult to correctly diagnose the specific source that is causing that sub-system or component to operate abnormally.
There is a need for methods and systems for monitoring the health of an aircraft and the aircraft's various components and sub-systems. It would be desirable to provide methods and systems that can automatically detect abnormal conditions that indicate when one or more sub-systems or components of an aircraft have experienced a degradation in performance. It would also be desirable if such methods and systems can identify the specific source(s) within those particular sub-systems or components that are causing the degradation in performance so that corrective actions can be taken with respect to the identified sub-systems or components prior to fault or failure. It would also be desirable if such methods and systems execute automatically and do not require crew intervention. Furthermore, other desirable features and characteristics of the present invention will become apparent from the subsequent detailed description and the appended claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and the foregoing technical field and background.

Methods and systems for aircraft systems health trend monitoring


Embodiments of the present invention generally provide devices and systems for re-routing escaping steam and grease from an oven interior to a separate compartment of the oven where the live steam and grease can be condensed and safely disposed.

Convection microwave ovens often create steam during the cooking process. Depending upon the food products being cooked, the steam may also be laden with grease, which can create a mess if the oven is not cleaned properly on a regular basis. Some ovens provide a vent that vents the steam directly to the outside atmosphere at the back of the oven. However, the steam can condense on the back (or side) of the oven, and if the steam is laden with grease, once the water evaporates, there remains a grease film that is unsanitary and unsightly. This film may also form on surfaces outside the oven. Accordingly, new systems are need in order to manage and re-route escaping grease-laden steam from convection microwave ovens, or other ovens that may experience similar problems.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,434,390 describes a filter box that is provided within the oven. In use, the air stream containing the debris passes from the cooking chamber into a filter duct, which causes the airborne grease to liquefy and condense thereon; the filter duct may be removed from the oven for cleaning. The filter box of this patent, however, is designed to be housed within the actual oven body. The new moisture management system described herein can work in addition to this filter duct, adding extra grease laden removal and accumulation properties.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,886,326 describes a microwave waste incinerator, which draws vapor through a pipe by a vacuum blower and uses a two-way valve that directs vapor from the cooking chamber to a cooler, where the vapor is condensed and drained into a storage tank. After the condensates are drained, they are moved to an incineration phase.
U.S. Publication No. 2009/0200295 describes a microwave oven with a drain orifice, which allows discharge of steam condensates, fat, and water. The discharge orifice is positioned on the oven floor and is protected by a protective grid or strainer, which is placed against a surface of the oven floor at the periphery of the discharge orifice.

Moisture management devices and systems for ovens


According to the present invention, a multi-layered capacitor includes a first capacitive element having a first conductor plate formed on a first layer, a second conductor plate formed on a second layer and an insulator arranged between the first and second conductor plates; and a second capacitive element which is arranged just on a layer above or below the first capacitive element.

A conventional MIM (Metal-Insulator-Metal) capacitor includes a top conductor plate, a bottom conductor plate and an insulator, arranged between the top and bottom conductor plates. According to such a MIM capacitor, a lower resistance and a higher density of capacitance can be provided.
However, according to a design rule, it could be prohibited that an active device or a passive device is arranged in above or below layer of the capacitor. In other words, the above and below layers of the capacitor are not used efficiently. As a result, the more capacitance is provided, the more dead space is made in a semiconductor chip.


A single ITO layer design for a touchscreen panel incorporates a matrix of sensor cells formed from a single ITO layer of capacitive sensor pads, sensor bars, force lines and sense lines. Columns of multiplexed force lines are connected to rows of sensor pads to form force trees such that the force line of the end pair of sensor pads has a wide track, with the force lines of each subsequent pair of sensor pads having a reduced track width. Disposed between the columns of force trees, the matrix of sensor cells also includes columns of sensor bars connected to control circuitry via sense lines. The control circuitry applies a signal to the force trees to generate capacitance between rows of sensor pads and adjacent sensor bars. The control circuitry senses changes in the capacitance and resolves the location of a user touch in the matrix of sensor cells.

Touchscreen panels are typically incorporated in various electronic devices to detect a user input (i.e., user touch) and to display content. The touchscreen panels include an active portion capable of detecting the user touch and displaying content. This active portion is typically formed from multiple layers of sensing circuitry, wherein each layer includes sensing nodes and routing circuitry for connecting the sensing nodes or other touch-detection circuitry to a controller. Each layer of sensing circuitry contributes to the manufacturing expenses and limitations for fabricating the touchscreen panels. Thus, it may be beneficial to reduce the number of layers of sensing circuitry used to fabricate touchscreen panels.


A method and apparatus are disclosed for assessment of a sealed package. Light is emitted from a narrow-band laser source towards said package from outside of said package. An absorption signal of said light scattered in said package is measured, wherein said absorption is caused by said at least one gas when said light is scattered and travels in said sealed package. Measuring is made outside of said package, whereby said assessment is non-intrusive with regard to said package. It is determined if a deviation exists from a predetermined, expected gas composition and/or concentration of said at least one gas within said sealed package based on said measured absorption signal. Thus sealing of said package for said gas is detected.

In modern society, the trend among consumers to prefer fresh products leads to that chilled food is more and more competing with frozen and ambient counterparts. Fresh or chilled food is more sensitive, thus enhancing the demand from food consumers to be able to trust that the food they buy and consume is safe. One important issue in the transfer from ambient or frozen food products to chilled food is therefore the issue of safety and quality which is identified as an increasing concern, emphasized frequently in industry and media.
The demand for fresh chilled food has created a need for distribution of fresh products around the year. Fresh and chilled foods require both quicker distribution due to shorter shelf life, and better product and package integrity due to safety and quality issues at the point of consumption. The two most important factors concerning the shelf life are time and temperature. Most of the deteriorating changes that take place in food are temperature dependent and occur at a slower rate at lower temperatures. In addition to the time and temperature parameters, the natural presence of oxygen in food products and packaging environments, hastens chemical breakdown and microbiological spoilage of food. Traditional packaging methods are therefore largely being replaced by newer techniques where other gases than oxygen are filled in the package headspace. Modified Atmosphere Packaging (MAP) is one example of such techniques, used to reduce the oxygen content and to prolong the shelf life of the product it contains.
Due to food deteriorating aspects, the food handling, preservation and packaging have become important aspects of great public interest and concern. The MAP technology theoretically meets the new consumer requirements of prolonged shelf-life for chilled or fresh products, and the MAP packaging concept is growing in importance in the food packaging market. The main benefit of MAP is argued to be the reduction of indirect costs due to less product waste. But with the increased quality and safety concerns, the importance to be able to assess the status of packed food to ensure its quality and suitability for consumption must also be stressed. Many sensing techniques have been developed; however, most of them destroy the packaged sample and thereby cause waste of both products and packages. E.g., gas chromatography and other sampling techniques require puncturing the package for gas extraction, while measurement techniques should preferably be non-intrusive in nature, in order to maintain packaging integrity and reduce waste of samples.
Modified Atmosphere Packaging
Oxygen is a very reactive gas, naturally present in air. Most packaged food items come with a natural headspace of air between the product and the package. Oxygen is thus frequently present in the headspace. Due to the high activity of this molecule, it is important to control its concentration in order to secure quality and increase shelf-life of the product. Generally, it is desirable to reduce its concentration from ambient (21 percent) to a few percent or to a completely oxygen-free environment. By replacing the oxygen in the headspace the oxidative processes are reduced and the shelf life of the food product is extended.
In order to reduce the natural concentration of oxygen in air, food products are packaged in modified or controlled atmosphere. Modified atmosphere packaging (MAP), as used in this disclosure, is defined by Hintlian and Hotchkiss as "the packaging of perishable product in an atmosphere which has been modified so that its composition is other than air". In MAP the natural oxygen content inside the package is replaced with other gases such as carbon dioxide (CO2) or nitrogen (N2). Frequently, the gas composition is actively changed at the time of packaging, either by flowing gas during the packaging or by first subjecting the product to vacuum followed by inlet of the desired gas mixture.
Fresh products such as fruits or cured meat are the most common products to pack in modified atmosphere. But more frequently, products such as high quality fruit juices are packed in modified atmosphere in order to reduce deterioration from oxidation and to extend the product shelf-life. The modified atmosphere is slowing chemical and biochemical deteriorative processes as well as slowing or preventing the growth of spoilage organisms. For high quality fruit juices, nitrogen is the most common gas to use in the headspace for replacement of oxygen. Nitrogen is an inert gas and does not dissolve well in water or lipids and thus ensures that a package looks filled and is not collapsing. It has no anti-microbial activity but by displacing oxygen in the headspace of packages the oxidative processes of the products are delayed.
For MAP, the package integrity and tightness are necessary to maintain the correct composition of gas inside the package, thus securing that no gas exchange takes place between the package and its environment. It is important to control the oxygen permeability in order to secure the prolonged shelf life of liquid food products, such as for example high quality orange juice. Packages with a modified atmosphere therefore require packaging materials that are tight to gas transfers, in order to avoid oxygen from getting into the headspace. For packages that have an exchange, (intended or not intended) with the outside environment, equilibrium will be reached between the inside and outside of the package over time with oxygen entering the headspace. Furthermore, in a modified atmosphere package, equilibrium of gas concentrations inside the package may arise due to the interaction between the product and the gas contained in the package. A measurement method or apparatus is desired for assessing the sealing tightness of the packaging. Such method or apparatus is for instance suitable to detect the headspace gas composition that will include the simultaneous gas movement from permeation and through the exchange from product to headspace, in a dynamic MAP system.
Non-Intrusive Gas Sensing of Food Packages
Measurement of oxygen contents in sealed packages might be the most pertinent aspect of monitoring the gas composition in the headspace of packages. Oxygen assessment can be made by performing optical measurements, using small sensor disks prepared to change in colour in the presence of oxygen. Alternatively and more commonly used, the sensor disk is prepared with a ruthenium- or platinum-containing dye, with fluorescence properties that decreases with the amount of oxygen. However, these techniques are intrusive from the point of view that the small disks have to be introduced in the package at the time of sealing. In addition there is a cost and a safety aspect ensuring that the active reactive agent does not influence the product or the consumer. Hence, an alternative non-intrusive method or apparatus would be advantageous.
From a safety and consumer perception aspect, non-intrusive measurements, without devices put on or inside the package are therefore called for. In addition all extra items incur an extra cost, in terms of direct costs and indirect costs such as extra handling time, machine investments etc. Non-intrusive measurements also allows for measurements over time for packages during its entire shelf life.

Apparatus and method for non-intrusive assessment of gas in packages


A meter drive apparatus using a counter for counting reference clocks and a comparator for comparing the output value of the counter and the data indicating a directive target of a meter. The output of the comparator is supplied to steering logic where the sign of a current flowing a drive coil of the meter is determined. When supplying the counted value of the counter to the comparator, parallel bits indicating the counted value are cyclically changed. The output of the comparator is PWM-modulated to drive the meter. The effective frequency of PWM waveform is increased, compared to the direct PWM modulation based on the data indicating the directive target of the meter. With this meter drive apparatus, the frequency of the reference clocks may be relatively low.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a cross-coil meter including a pair of mutually perpendicular coils for generating a magnetic field and a pointer driven by the magnetic field, and more particularly to a PWM modulation circuit to be used in a meter drive apparatus which drives such a cross-coil meter.
2. Description of the Related Art
A cross-coil meter is currently known which generates a magnetic field by supplying a current through a pair of mutually perpendicular excitation coils and indicates a desired angular bearing by imparting to an angularly movably supported magnet a torque by this magnetic field. This cross-coil meter is widely used in, for example, a speedometer and a tachometer of a motor vehicle.
FIGS. 5 and 6 of the accompanying drawings show the general construction of this conventional cross-coil meter.
As shown in FIG. 5, a pair of excitation coils L.sub.s, L.sub.c disposed so as to be perpendicular to each other generate a magnetic field as a pulse current according to the input quantity such as of a speedometer flows therethrough, and a angularly movable permanent magnet M receives a torque due to the magnetic field generated by the two excitation coils L.sub.s, L.sub.c.
Then a pointer fixed on the permanent magnet M is angularly moved through .theta. from a reference position to indicate a predetermined position of a scale plate on which scale marks represent physical quantity (speed in FIG. 6) to be measured and shows a directive value according to the inputted quantity.
A conventional meter drive apparatus for driving the cross-coil meter to be used in a speedometer such as of a motor vehicle inputs usually a pulse signal varying in frequency according to the inputted quantity such as speed. The conventional meter drive apparatus also uses predetermined periodic reference clock signals to be generated by a reference clock generating means and counts the number of pulses of the reference clock signals, which are generated in a cycle of the pulse signal, to calculate the frequency of the pulse signal.
Further the conventional meter drive apparatus supplies to the two mutually perpendicular excitation coils L.sub.s, L.sub.c a current PWM-modulated based on the calculated frequency.
FIG. 7 shows the PWM waveform.
For supplying to the excitation coils L.sub.s, L.sub.c a current according to the frequency of the input pulse signal, angle indices .theta. corresponding to some input quantity values S are predetermined and these values (S, .theta.) are stored in a ROM. When calculating an angle of index .theta. according to the input quantity value S to be indicated, a parameter is read from the ROM and .theta. is calculated according to a predetermined equation stored in the ROM, whereupon a predetermined operating process is performed to cause a current to flow according to the calculated .theta.. This prior art is exemplified by Japanese Patent application No. HEI 1-332280.
As mentioned above, in the conventional cross-coil meter, since a PWM-modulated current, i.e. a current of FIG. 7, is supplied through the excitation coils L.sub.s, L.sub.c, a magnetic field generated by the excitation coils L.sub.s, L.sub.c will also vary in the same cycle as the cycle of PWM. The mechanical system of the meter angularly moves according to the change of this magnetic field and at that time, if the frequency of the magnetic field change coincides with the resonant frequency of the mechanical system, the mechanical system resonates to generate a buzzing noise.
For preventing this buzzing, the base frequency of the field change should be outside the audible frequency range, i.e. usually higher than 20 kHz. Accordingly a cycle of a PWM signal should be less than 50 .mu.sec (=1/20 kHz). If the resolution of 10 bits (=1024) is to be obtained in this cycle, the number of reference clocks should be 48 nsec (=50 .mu.sec/1024), i.e. 20.5 MHz.
Although it is not impossible to design a CMOS circuit which is operable at a frequency of higher than 20 MHz, it could have been easy by far to design the CMOS circuit of a compact size, if the operating frequency was 6.144 MHz, i.e. lower than 1/3.

Pulse width modulation driving circuit for a cross coil meter


A system includes a high energy laser (HEL) configured to transmit a HEL beam aimed at a first location on an airborne target. The system also includes a beacon illuminator laser (BIL) configured to transmit a BIL beam aimed at a second location on the target, wherein the second location is offset from the first location. The system also includes at least one fast steering mirror (FSM) configured to steer the BIL beam to be spatially and angularly offset from the HEL beam. The system also includes at least one Coudé path FSM configured to simultaneously receive both the HEL beam and the BIL beam and steer the HEL beam and the BIL beam to correct for atmospheric jitter of the HEL beam and the BIL beam while maintaining the offset of the BIL beam from the HEL beam.

For high energy laser (HEL) tactical ground-to-air engagements with elevation angles greater than the horizon, HEL beam quality loss from atmospheric disturbances on the laser beam propagation is due to atmospherically induced beam tip-tilt or jitter, in addition to optical transmission losses. Uncompensated HEL beam jitter decreases the HEL power on the intended target, which increases target kill times and reduces target kill probability. Compensation for the atmospheric jitter of the HEL is important to maximizing HEL power-on-target. Similarly, for any laser beam pointing systems, such as laser communications, compensating for atmospheric jitter of the laser beam maximizes signal-to-noise-ratios, as in communications and laser imaging and laser spot location for remote imaging and laser weapon guidance.

System and method for correcting for atmospheric jitter and high energy laser broadband interference using fast steering mirrors


Computer-implemented methods for optimized compute resource addition and removal in a distributed storage platform. In a case of a newly added compute resource being connected to a storage subsystem shared by compute resources in the distributed storage platform, the distributed storage platform formulates a redistribution plan to redistribute a subset of a global address space of the storage subsystem to a newly added logical volume in the storage subsystem. In a case of a removed compute resource being disconnected from the storage subsystem, the distributed storage platform formulates a redistribution plan to redistribute respective logical blocks in a logical volume for the removed compute resource to respective remaining logical volumes for respective remaining compute resources in the distributed storage platform. The distributed storage platform executes the redistribution plan to reassign data block ownerships on one or more physical memory devices in the storage subsystem.

The present invention relates generally to compute resources in a distributed storage platform, and more particularly to optimized addition and removal of compute resources in a distributed storage platform by implementing mapping changes in a shared storage subsystem.
Distributed storage platforms provide a means to store and retrieve large amounts of data spread across multiple compute resources. A fundamental selling point for such distributed storage platforms is their scalability; not only can the distributed storage platforms manage large amounts of data, but they can also grow as needs grow. The distributed storage platforms are typically constructed from storage and compute resources. The storage resources are entities that have the capability to store and retrieve data from non-volatile media. The compute resources are typically server-like platforms that field storage requests and map those requests to the storage resources. The compute resources may also implement advanced storage functions such as erasure-coding, replication, and deduplication.
Distributed storage platforms should maintain balance in the face of growth, i.e., after new resources are added, the storage platform should automatically rebalance so that the workload is evenly spread. By maintaining workload balance, local bottlenecks which limit the overall performance capability of the platform are avoided.
When a new compute resource is added to a distributed storage platform, it is inherently necessary to redistribute storage over compute resources in order to achieve balance. In a distributed storage platform where each compute resource has locally-attached storage, the only way to rebalance after adding a compute resource is to move some data from existing compute resources to the newly added compute resource. Such operations can involve moving large amounts of data, which in turn consumes system resources and takes a long period of time. In a distributed storage platform where multiple compute resources are attached to a shared (i.e., storage area network-attached or SAN-attached) storage subsystem, all compute resources have access to all data on the storage subsystem, so physical data moves can potentially be avoided during a rebalance. Unfortunately, in naïve implementations, the compute resources and storage subsystem lack the shared common understanding needed to avoid the physical data moves, and physical data moves still take place.

Optimized addition and removal of compute resources in a distributed storage platform by implementing mapping changes in a shared storage subsystem

International Business Machines Corporation


A titanium plate includes a chemical composition of industrial pure titanium, in which an arithmetic mean roughness Ra of a surface is 0.05 μm or more and 0.40 μm or less, the surface has titanium carbide regarding which a ratio between a total sum of integrated intensities Ic derived from the titanium carbide and a total sum of integrated intensities Im of all diffraction peaks derived from the titanium carbide and titanium obtained from X-ray diffractometry ((Ic/Im)×100) is 0.8% or more and 5.0% or less, a number density of asperities on the surface is 30 to 100 pieces/mm, and an average spacing of the asperities is 20 μm or less.

A titanium plate is a metal material excellent in corrosion resistance, and thus is used for a heat exchanger using seawater, various chemical plants, and so on. Further, the titanium plate has a high specific strength, so that it is also utilized as a structural member.
In particular, when the titanium plate is used for a small-sized component, there is a case where surface treatment is performed on the titanium plate in order to impart various characteristics. For example, since titanium cannot exhibit sufficient corrosion resistance in an alkaline environment, by making the titanium plate to be subjected to plating of resin or metal such as Ni having a resistance to alkali corrosion, it becomes possible to utilize the titanium plate also in the alkaline environment. Further, by making the titanium plate to be subjected to plating of metal such as Al, ceramic such as AlN, resin, or the like with different rigidity, it is possible to use the titanium plate as a diaphragm for speaker in which a sound quality is controlled. It is possible to impart, other than the above, various characteristics such as thermal conductivity and abrasion resistance to the titanium plate, which enables to manufacture highly functional products.
However, titanium forms a passive film of TiO2 on a surface thereof, so that deficiency of adhesiveness with a surface treatment coating film is a problem, and particularly, in surface treatment performed for the purpose of imparting conductivity, it is important to sufficiently secure the adhesiveness with the surface treatment coating film. As above, in order to provide the aforementioned various highly functional products, improvement of adhesiveness between a coating layer (surface coating layer) and a base material is an important task.
A large number of inventions for improving adhesiveness between a surface coating layer formed through plating or the like and a base material, have been disclosed so far.
Patent Document 1 discloses an invention in which hot-dip aluminum plating is performed on titanium beforehand, to thereby improve adhesiveness between a coating layer at the uppermost surface and a base material (including the pre-formed plating layer).
Patent Document 2 discloses an invention in which, for the purpose of performing noble metal plating, C and N on a surface of a material to be plated are cleaned, to thereby improve adhesiveness between a noble metal plating layer and the material to be plated.
Patent Document 3 discloses an invention in which graphite is pressure-bonded to a base material, to thereby physically perform graphite coating on a surface of the base material.
Patent Document 4 discloses an invention in which titanium carbonitride is formed on a surface through cold working and annealing, to thereby improve a corrosion resistance.
Regarding a reaction with a rolling oil during cold rolling and the like related to the invention disclosed in Patent Document 4, Non-Patent Document 1 discloses an analysis method regarding a stress and a frictional force generated among a rolling roll, a lubricating oil, and a material to be rolled in a rolling process.
Besides, Patent Document 5 discloses a technique in which a rolling-altered layer that includes titanium carbide (TiCx) is formed by rolling, and by an anchoring effect provided by the layer, adhesiveness with a carbon film to be formed thereafter is improved.


An improved imager pixel arrangement having a light shield over the pixel circuitry, but below the conductive interconnect layers of the pixel. The light shield can be a thin film of opaque (or nearly-opaque) material with openings for contacts to the underlying circuitry. An aperture in the light shield exposes the active region of the pixel's photoconversion device.

A CMOS imager circuit includes a focal plane array of pixel cells, each one of the cells including a photoconversion device, for example, a photogate, a photoconductor, or a photodiode, for generating and accumulating photo-generated charge in a portion of the substrate. A readout circuit is connected to each pixel cell and includes at least an output transistor, which receives photogenerated charges from a doped diffusion region and produces an output signal which is periodically read-out through a pixel access transistor. The imager may optionally include a transistor for transferring charge from the photoconversion device to the diffusion region or the diffusion region may be directly connected to or part of the photoconversion device. A transistor is also typically provided for resetting the diffusion region to a predetermined charge level before it receives the photo-converted charges. A CMOS imager circuit is often associated with a color filter, such as a Bayer filter for discerning varying wavelengths of light.
One typical CMOS imager pixel circuit, the three-transistor (3T) pixel, contains a photodiode for supplying photo-generated charge to a diffusion region; a reset transistor for resetting the diffusion region; a source follower transistor having a gate connected to the diffusion region, for producing an output signal; and a row select transistor for selectively connecting the source follower transistor to a column line of a pixel array. Another typical CMOS imager pixel employs a four-transistor (4T) configuration, which is similar to the 3T configuration, but utilizes a transfer transistor to gate charges from the photodiode to the diffusion region and the source follower transistor for output.
Exemplary CMOS imaging circuits, processing steps thereof, and detailed descriptions of the functions of various CMOS elements of an imaging circuit are described, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 6,140,630 to Rhodes, U.S. Pat. No. 6,376,868 to Rhodes, U.S. Pat. No. 6,310,366 to Rhodes et al., U.S. Pat. No. 6,326,652 to Rhodes, U.S. Pat. No. 6,204,524 to Rhodes, and U.S. Pat. No. 6,333,205 to Rhodes. The disclosures of each of the forgoing are hereby incorporated by reference herein in their entirety.
Typical imager devices have a light shield providing apertures exposing at least a portion of the photoconversion devices to incoming light while shielding the remainder of the pixel circuit from the light. Light shields serve to better separate received light signals of adjacent pixels and prevent photocurrent from being generated in undesirable locations in the pixel so that the imager device can achieve higher resolution images with less blooming, blurring, and other detrimental effects. Light shields can also serve to protect the circuitry associated with the pixels.
In the prior art, light shields have typically been formed in the metal interconnect layering (e.g., Metal 1, Metal 2, or, if utilized, Metal 3 layers) of the integrated circuit. A metallization layer light shield structure has some drawbacks, such as limiting use of the metal layer to the light shield rather than for its normal conductive interconnect purpose. Additionally, having the light shield in upper metallization (conductive interconnect) layers spaced from the photo-sensitive area can increase light piping and light shadowing in the pixels, which can cause errors in device functioning.


A system for monitoring multiple power supply signals with respect to a threshold has multiple inputs for receiving input power supply signals. A processing circuit of the system produces an output signal at a first level when the power supply signals have a prescribed relationship to a threshold value, and produces the output signal at a second level when at least one of the input power supply signals does not have the prescribed relationship to the threshold value. The processing circuit is configured for selecting the first level corresponding to a level of an input power supply signal at a pre-selected one of the inputs.

Electronic systems may employ a power supply supervisor to indicate when an input power supply voltage is above or below a prescribed threshold. For example, an integrated power-on-reset (POR) device may produce a low logic level at its /RESET output when the input supply voltage is below a prescribed threshold voltage. A high logic level at the /RESET output may be generated when the power supply voltage has been above the threshold level for a defined period of time.
A multi-input power supply supervisor monitors multiple input power supply voltages applied to its respective inputs. It issues a low logic level at its /RESET output when at least one of the input power supply voltages is below the threshold level, and a high logic level when all of the input power supply voltages are above the threshold for a defined period of time.
An output signal produced by a power supply supervisor may be provided to external circuitry. Therefore, logic levels of the output signal must be electrically compatible with the external circuitry. In particular, the designer of a multi-input power supply supervisor often faces the problem of providing an output voltage at a high logic level without knowledge of external circuit characteristics.
A common method used to avoid defining high logic levels in a power supply supervisor is to leave the /RESET output node without an internal "pull-up" structure, i.e. make it an "open-drain" output. Users are required to connect their own "pull-up" devices, such as a resistor, to the output of the supervisor to provide a desired high logic level. However, this method increases system cost and requires larger system area.
Another method used to define a high logic level at the output of the supervisor is to provide a "digital Vcc" pin on the supervisor chip. Users apply a compatible voltage to this pin. The high logic level at the output of the supervisor is pulled up to the voltage defined by the "digital Vcc" pin. However, this method also increases system cost and area.
Also, the designer of a power supply supervisor often faces the problem of specifying power supply order at the supervisor's inputs to maintain compatibility of the power supply supervisor with the applied power supply voltages.
It would be desirable to create a multi-input power supply supervisor that eliminates the need to ascertain the high logic level of an output voltage and to specify the power supply order at its inputs.


A sports training device which is suitable for developing skills in sports in which attempts are made by players of opposing teams to maneuver a ball, puck or other object into a goal of the opposing team includes a target support frame, a device attachment assembly carried by the target support frame for attaching the device to the goal, a device anchor assembly carried by the target support frame for anchoring the device in the ground or other surface and at least one target carried by the target support frame between the device attachment assembly and the device anchor assembly.

Several popular team sports utilize goals in which each of two teams attempts to place a ball or other object in the goal of the opposing team. Each team defends its own goal by attempting to prevent placement of the ball or other object into that team's goal by the opposing team. For example, in soccer the players of opposing teams attempt to maneuver a ball downfield and into the goal of the opposing team by kicking the ball. In hockey, a puck is maneuvered on an ice rink by striking of the puck with a hockey stick, whereas in lacrosse, a ball is thrown downfield by tossing and catching of the ball by the players using lacrosse sticks. In these types of sports, a "goalie" or goalkeeper stands in front of each team's goal and defends the goal by attempting to deflect the ball or puck from the interior of the goal as the players on each team attempt to place the ball or puck in the opposing team's goal.
These types of sports may present several challenges to coaches as they teach athletes to improve and repeat skills in maneuvering the ball or other object into an opposing team's defended goal. Because the goalkeeper is typically positioned at the center portion of the goal opening during play, the tendency, particularly for young athletes, is to aim directly at the goalkeeper as though the goalkeeper were the target. Therefore, athletes may be coached to maneuver the ball or other object into the areas of the goal opening which are most difficult for the goalkeeper to defend (typically the upper and lower corners of the goal opening).
Therefore, a sports training device which is suitable for developing skills in maneuvering a ball or other object into an area of a goal which is difficult for a goalkeeper to defend is desirable.


The invention provides isolated nucleic acid and amino acid sequences of HsKip3, antibodies to HsKip3, methods of screening for HsKip3a modulators using biologically active HsKip3, and kits for screening for HsKip3a modulators.

The kinesin superfamily is an extended family of related microtubule motor proteins. It can be classified into at least 8 subfamilies based on primary amino acid sequence, domain structure, velocity of movement, and cellular function. This family is exemplified by "true" kinesin, which was first isolated from the axoplasm of squid, where it is believed to play a role in anterograde axonal transport of vesicles and organelles (see, e.g., Goldstein, Annu. Rev. Genet. 27:319–351 (1993)). Kinesin uses ATP to generate force and directional movement associated with microtubules (from the minus to the plus end of the microtubule, hence it is a "plus-end directed" motor).
Within this functional group of kinesins resides a group of kinesins from several organisms that share significant sequence homology. These include Drosophila Klp67A, S. pombe BC2F12.13, S. pombe BC649.01c, S. cerevisiae Kip3, and HsKif1c.
Drosophila Klp67A has been shown to be a plus end-directed motor. This activity implicates KPL67A in the localization of mitochondria in undifferentiated cell types. In situ hybridization studies of the KLP67A mRNA during embryogenesis and larval central nervous system development indicate a proliferation-specific expression pattern. When affinity-purified anti-KLP67A antisera are used to stain blastoderm embryos, mitochondria in the region of the spindle asters are labeled. These data suggest that KLP67A is a mitotic motor with the role of positioning mitochondria near the spindle.
The discovery of a new kinesin motor protein, and more particularly, one having sequence homology to KLP67A, and the polynucleotides encoding it satisfies a need in the art by providing new compositions which are useful in the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of cancer, neurological disorders, and disorders of vesicular transport.

Motor proteins and methods for their use


An audio codec and a BIST method adapted for the audio codec are provided. The BIST method includes the following steps. A first channel digital-to-analog converter (DAC) of the audio codec converts a test signal into an analog signal. A first channel analog-to-digital converter (ADC) of the audio codec converts the analog signal into a digital signal. Use a second channel DAC of the audio codec and a second channel ADC of the audio codec to calculate the magnitudes of a plurality of spectral components of the DFT of the digital signal. Determine whether the audio codec passes the test according to the magnitudes of the spectral components.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to an audio code, and more particularly, to a built-in self test (BIST) method for an audio codec.
2. Description of Related Art
Typically, au audio codec is often employed in an electronic product for processing speech or music, such as a pen recorder, or an MP3 player. Performance of the audio codec must be tested during a mass production. FIG. 1 shows a conventional test method. As shown in FIG. 1, an audio codec 110 includes a digital-to-analog converter (DAC) 111, and an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) 112. A test signal that is a digital sine wave having a frequency of 1 KHz is provided to the DAC 111. The DAC 111 converts the test signal 121 into an analog signal 122. Then, the ADC 112 converts the analog signal 122 into a digital signal 123. Therefore, a signal to noise and distortion ratio (SNDR) analysis is executed to the digital signal 123, and a result can be obtained thereby. Typically, a fast Fourier transform (FFT) is calculated to the digital signal 123, and a spectrum thereof is analysed. Ideally, there would be a spectral component of 1 KHz only. However, when noises of other frequencies are too strong, the audio codec is generally believed as being failed in the quality test.
This method can be used for testing the DAC and the ADC of the codec at the same time. When testing the DAC only, the test signal can be directly inputted to the DAC, and an SNDR analysis can be conducted to the analog signal outputted from the DAC. Likewise, when testing the ADC only, the test signal can be directly inputted to the ADC, and an SNDR analysis can be conducted to the digital signal outputted from the ADC.
Provision of the test signal and analysis of the test result require additional circuits or equipment, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. Referring to FIG. 2, it shows a mixed-signal test equipment 220 for providing a test signal and a clock signal for the test, and conducting an SNDR analysis to the signal fed back from au audio codec 210. Such a mixed-signal test equipment 220 is very expensive, and is capable of providing many types of tests. Unfortunately, it is very expansive and complicated in setting the test environment.
FIG. 3 shows a self test method. Referring to FIG. 3, an audio codec 310 includes a digital signal processor (DSP) core 313. The DSP core 313 provides a test signal and conducts an SNDR analysis to a signal fed back from the DAC 311 or the ADC 312. An external logic test equipment is provided for providing a clock signal for the test. Comparatively, the cost for the DSP core 313 and the logic test equipment 320 is cheaper than the cost for the mixed-signal test equipment 220, and the test environment is convenient to set. However, this self test method is adapted to only a limited amount of tests. Further, a DSP core must be included in a chip of the audio codec, and thus correspondingly increasing the area and the cost of the chip.

Audio codec and built-in self test method for the same


The present invention provides a method of improving skin condition by administering to the skin a physiologically acceptable substrate that is exposed to a magnetic vector potential field and that optionally contains information energy.

Homeopathy has been explained as copying information, e.g., a pattern or a combination of oscillations of different frequencies, onto a substrate from the information or pattern existing in the molecular structure of natural substances, e.g., herbs, antibodies, or pollen. The substrate with the copied information or pattern incorporated therein can then be used to effect a desired response. For example, in homeopathic medicine, the desired response might be the reduction of allergy symptoms in hay fever sufferers.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,138,172 of K. E. Werner Kropp teaches a method for applying information energy to a substrate such as saline solution or oil by exposing the substrate to a magnetic vector potential field. U.S. Pat. No. 5,012,110 of K. E. Werner Kropp teaches a process for the manufacture of a synthetic homeopathic substrate by placing the substrate between opposing sets of magnets.
French patent application, Publication No. 2,634,381, published Jan. 26, 1990 and WO 91.10450, published Jul. 25, 1991 of J. J. C. Morez teach a method of producing larger quantities of homeopathic medicine by transferring to a large mass of material such as water the electromagnetic information of a homeopathic remedy by way of a transmitter-receiver.
An object of the present invention is to provide a novel method of using physiologically acceptable substrates containing information energy for use in cosmetics, e.g. for improving skin condition.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a novel method of using physiologically acceptable substrates containing information energy for use in homeopathic medicine.


A disposable reusable vacuum cleaner bag for a vacuum cleaner of the home appliance type is disclosed. The vacuum bag has an inlet for receiving materials from the vacuum cleaner, an apparatus for attaching the bag to the vacuum cleaner, and a resealable outlet for removing collected vacuumed materials from the bag whereby the bag is reusable in a next dirt collection/disposal cycle. The outlet may be sealed by a compression fit polymer fastener, a zipper, hook and loop fasteners, or any other suitable closure.

1. Field of Invention
This invention pertains to the art of methods and apparatus for collecting dirt in a vacuum cleaner of the home appliance type and disposing of the collected dirt, and more specifically to a reusable disposable bag for use with a home vacuum cleaner and a multiple use disposable vacuum cleaner bag.
2. Description of the Related Art
The typical home use vacuum cleaner bag is a permanently sealed paper bag that when filled with dirt is tossed out in the trash. Vacuum cleaner bags contain an inlet at the point where the vacuum cleaner bag is attached to the vacuum cleaner. When the vacuum cleaner bag becomes full, the vacuum cleaner bag is disposed of in the garbage. Additionally, if a small object such as jewelry, toy parts, etc., is accidentally vacuumed, the vacuum cleaner bag needs to be cut open to retrieve the object, regardless of the age or fill status of the vacuum cleaner bag.
The present invention is a new and improved vacuum cleaner bag which is simple in design, effective in use, and overcomes the foregoing difficulties and others while providing better and more advantageous overall results. The bag of the invention, from a cost standpoint, fits within the scope of a disposable product but is nevertheless capable of use and re-use through multiple dirt fill and dirt disposal cycles.

Multiple use disposable vacuum cleaner bag


Encoded transmission and reception which reduces time side lobe are realized while suppressing increase of circuit scale. Transmission signals corresponding to a composite modulation code sequence composed from two or more modulation code sequences are outputted as transmission signals. A reception means demodulates reception signals stepwise by two or more demodulators. The demodulator can be thereby divided into two or more stages, and therefore with a circuit scale corresponding to the sum of the operation circuit numbers of two or more demodulators, time side lobe reduction effect can be obtained at a level equivalent to that obtainable with a circuit scale corresponding to the product of the operation circuit numbers of two or more demodulators.

An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus outputs driving signals from a transmission means so as to transmit ultrasonic waves from a probe on an object to be inspected, receives echo signals reflected by the object with the probe, and reconstructs an ultrasonogram (ultrasonic image) on the basis of the received signals. The probe consists of an array of oscillators, and the focal position of the ultrasonic waves in the object can be controlled by adding predetermined time lags to received signals of the oscillators upon receiving of ultrasonic waves. The method of shifting a focal position by changing the time lags is called dynamic focus.
It is desirable on an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus that the waveform of the transmitted ultrasonic wave should be a pulse wave which is short in the direction of the time axis in order to improve the depth resolution, and have a large signal intensity in order to improve the SN ratio (Signal Noise Ratio). However, it is necessary to control the maximum intensity of the ultrasonic waves to such a level that they should not affect living bodies. Therefore, in order to increase transmission energy with suppressing the maximum intensity of ultrasonic waves, it is described in, for example, Japanese Patent Unexamined Publication (KOKAI) No. 2003-225237 and so forth to apply an encoded transmission technique widely used in the field of radars also to ultrasonic diagnostic apparatuses. In this technique, a single pulse waveform having a large peak intensity is diverged into a sequence along the time axis direction of signals each having a small peak intensity and transmitted to an object, signals reflected in the object are received, and then a decoding operation is performed with a demodulation filter to converge the signals along the time axis direction and thereby restore them into the pulse waveform having a large peak intensity.
As the code, the Barker code, Golay code and the like widely known in the field of radars can be used, and as the decoding filter, an autocorrelation filter, which performs autocorrelation operation, a mismatched filter, and so forth can be used.    Patent document 1: Japanese Patent Unexamined Publication (KOKAI) No. 2003-225237


A sustainable power supply unit for ISO containers that includes photo voltaic solar panels that produce electric power allowing standardized mounting and attachment on top of ISO containers. The power supply unit can include ISO container corner castings that allow two or more sustainable power supply units to be stacked during transportation and storage. The power supply unit can include a maximum power point tracker, electrical batteries, data handling equipment and an inverter for supplying plug and play electric power to an ISO container or other electricity demanding equipment.

Intermodal freight containers, which can be moved from one mode of transport to another (from ship, to rail, to truck, etc.) without unloading and reloading the contents of the container, are often referred to simply as ISO containers, insofar as they fulfill the requirements of certain standards from the International Organization for Standardization (ISO).
Whereas the specification of the ISO container itself are defined in the standard "ISO 668, Series 1 freight containers—Classification, dimensions and ratings", special ISO container corner castings are defined in the standard "ISO 1161, Series 1 freight containers—Corner fittings—Specification". A standardized way of mounting, by use of such ISO container corner castings, ISO containers to each other and to the carrier (ship/rail/truck) on which they are to be transported is described in the standard "ISO/NP 3874, Series 1 freight containers—Handling and securing.
Examples of solar power systems for containers are already known. Until now, however, these solutions have shown different draw backs, especially by difficult and slow attachment systems. Some of the known power systems are also hindering easy movement of the container when first attached.

Sustainable power supply unit for ISO containers


A data processing system and method providing a jumper which provides standby power from a redundant power supply to one of at least two critical functions in a frame having bays for holding at least two nodes. The redundant power supply supplying power to one of the nodes in the frame and one of the critical functions. A jumper is slidably engageable in the frame in place of one of the nodes. The jumper, when engaged in the frame, transfers power from the redundant power supply to the other of the critical functions. The jumper is included in a jumper book of an airblock which includes passive airblock books. Mechanical keys on the passive airblock books prevent the removal of the jumper book until after the passive airblock books are removed.

In a multi-node computer system, critical functions common to all nodes must be highly reliable and therefore redundantly powered. In the disclosed system, the configurations vary from one node to four nodes. The oscillator (OSC) and system control processor referred to herein as the Flexible Service Processor (FSP) is duplicated for all configurations. For multimode configurations, it is a Reliability Availability Serviceability (RAS) requirement to power each OSC/FSP pair from an independent set of power supplies, but both pairs must be powered when a single node is installed.
One prior art solution is to always power the critical function from the first node power supplies since the power supplies are themselves N+1. This solution does not meet more stringent requirements of newer systems and requires the first node installed to be in a fixed position which is not flexible for future applications.
Another prior art solution is to install the power supply set for the second node in a single node configuration. This solution is costly and does not provide flexibility in the power connection.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,166,919 issues Dec. 26, 2000 to Nicolici et al. for CASING MOUNTABLE FILLER MODULE discloses a filler module slidably mountable in an otherwise unused slot of a multi-slot, multi-module electronic system housed in a casing. The casing provides that air flow is maintained in the shelf independent of the number or position of used and unused slots.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,738,262 B2 issued May 18, 2004 to Trioli et al. for PORT FILLER BAFFLE discloses an apparatus for hindering the collection of dust and particulate matter within unutilized housings or ports of hardware component chassis.
U.S. Patent Application Publication No. US2003/0016515 A1 published Jan. 23, 2003 by Jackson et al. for SCALABLE INTERNET ENGINE discloses a scalable internet engine comprised of a large number of commercially available server boards each arranged as an engine blade in a power and space efficient cabinet.
U.S. Patent Application Publication No. US 2003/0112582 A1 published Jun. 19, 2003 by Sanders et al. for REDUNDANT DATA AND POWER INFRASTRUCTURE FOR MODULAR SERVER COMPONENTS IN A RACK discloses a modular infrastructure of a computer server rack comprising modular server chassis, each chassis configured to receive a plurality of servers and two network switches and including redundant AC to DC power supplies. Each power supply is sufficient to power the entire rack.
U.S. Patent Application Publication No. US 2003/0169580 A1 published Sep. 11, 2003 by Brooks et al. for KEYED FILLER PANEL WITH REMOVABLE-COUPLEABLE AIRFLOW RESISTIVE FILLER CARD ASSEMBLY discloses a keyed filler panel with removable-coupleable airflow resistive filler card assembly.
U.S. Patent Application Publication No. US 2003/0206402 A1 published Nov. 6, 2003 by Tsuyuki et al. for SYSTEMS FOR USE WITH DATA STORAGE DEVICES discloses systems for mounting data storage devices to a chassis.
U.S. Patent Application Publication No. US 2004/0062002 A1 published Apr. 1, 2004 by Barringer et al. for HIGH DENSITY MODULAR INPUT/OUTPUT PACKAGE IN A DATA PROCESSING SYSTEM discloses an I./O subsystem for providing a high density modular input/output package in a data processing system including redundant power supplies. When a DASD device of the subsystem is not included, a blank cartridge is used in its place to preserve cooling air flow.

Fail safe redundant power supply in a multi-node computer system


A manually operable fluid dispensing system having a fluid dispenser connected to a fluid source by flexible tubing. The dispensing system provides a supply fluid path from the source of fluid to the dispenser and a recirculation fluid path from the dispenser to the source of fluid. A dispenser mount is rigidly attached to a support surface for releasably holding the dispenser, and the dispenser mount supports the dispenser in a fixed position for dispensing fluid therefrom. In addition, the dispenser can be removed from the mount for dispensing fluid at a remote location. A manually operable trigger is pivotally connected to the dispensing valve and has a quiescent position which closes the dispensing valve. When in the quiescent position, a trigger handle extends over an exterior portion of the dispenser body in a generally forward direction toward the dispensing outlet and forms an included angle with the dispenser body. The trigger is movable toward the dispenser body to open the dispensing valve, thereby permitting fluid to flow through the dispensing outlet. A spring biases the trigger handle toward its quiescent position, thereby closing the dispensing valve and stopping the flow of fluid through the dispensing outlet.

Self-contained water purifiers have been available for decades and principally are used in laboratory environments to provide highly purified, for example, ultra pure, reagent water. The highest quality reagent water conforms to or exceeds ASTM Type I standards which require water having a specific resistance of greater than 18.0 megohm-cm and a total organic carbon (TOC) content of no more than 100 parts per billion (ppb). Such water purifiers are normally connected to a water source which may, or may not, provide pretreatment. Further, the water purifiers have a manually operable dispensing valve fixed at a convenient location, for example, on a forward surface of the water purifier. When applications dictate the need for a capability of dispensing liquid remote from the purifier, in addition to a normal dispenser, a separate and independent dispenser is connected to the water purifier by means of flexible tubing. Therefore, to obtain the benefits of the capability of remote dispensing, a separate, redundant, manually operable dispenser is used. The additional dispenser not only substantially increases the cost of the system, but provides an additional potential source of water contamination from the surfaces required by the second dispensing valve. Therefore, such purifiers have the disadvantages of increased costs, as well as a reduced efficiency in removing contaminants to compensate for the additional impurities introduced by the remote dispenser.
Prior remote dispensers generally fall into one of two categories. A first category includes generally pistol-shaped dispensers in which the grip element is approximately perpendicular to the centerline of the dispensing outlet. Such dispensers are most conveniently used when fluid is to be dispensed in a stream or a spray at a relatively low elevation, for example, from hip level. However, in a laboratory, such pistol-shaped dispensers are more difficult to use when filling a container being held up at eye level in front of a user. For example, a flask having graduations on its side is most conveniently held approximately at head level so that the user may observe the flask graduations as fluid is being filled therein. Utilizing a pistol-shaped dispenser in such an application requires an awkward bending of the wrist, which makes precise operation of the trigger very difficult.
A second category of dispenser includes designs in which the grip is more in line with the dispenser outlet and forms an obtuse angle with the centerline of the dispenser outlet. Those dispensers also conveniently dispense fluid to be dispensed into a container at a lower elevation. In addition, the shape of those dispensers permits them to be grasped at a position forward of the dispensing control and held upside down for filling flasks that are of a higher elevation, generally at the eye level of the user. However, the dispensers are relatively large and bulky and not conveniently gripped by users having smaller hands. Therefore, it is possible to differently grip the second category of dispensers for different dispensing applications, their larger size makes such use awkward and hard to control.
Normally, remote dispensers have a recirculation capability, that is, when the dispensing outlet is closed, fluid continually recirculates through the dispenser so that any impurities leaching into the water are flushed away on a continuing basis. Consequently, the purifier remains in an "at ready" state to dispense reagent water. The designs of prior dispensers often permit a small quantity of water to reside between the dispensing valve and the point of use dispensing outlet, thereby avoiding the recirculation path. Consequently, over a period of time, for example, overnight, that non-recirculating, stationary water will often leach material from the dispenser components and, will further begin to stagnate and promote the growth of bacteria. In that situation, the fixed dispenser must be used until the remote dispenser can be cleaned, for example, by dousing in a bleach solution to rid it of the bacteria. Therefore, there is a need for an improved dispensing system to overcome the problems described above.