A dialysis catheter including a first portion having an outer wall having a first diameter, an elongated distal portion having a second diameter smaller than the first diameter, and a transition region between the first portion and distal portion. A first longitudinally extending venous lumen is configured to deliver blood. First and second independent longitudinally extending arterial lumens are configured to withdraw blood from a patient. The venous lumen and arterial lumen have first and second regions each positioned a first distance from the outer wall of the catheter and a third region positioned a second shorter distance from the outer wall of the catheter to form an arch shaped wall portion progressively increasing in thickness from the third region toward the first region and from the third region to the second region.

1. Technical Field
This application relates to a catheter and more particularly to a multi-lumen catheter which facilitates hemodialysis.
2. Background of Related Art
Hemodialysis is a well known method of providing renal (kidney) function by circulating blood. The kidneys are organs which function to extract water and urea, mineral salts, toxins, and other waste products from the blood with filtering units called nephrons. From the nephrons the collected waste is sent to the bladder for excretion. For patients having one or both defective kidneys, the hemodialysis procedure is life saving because it provides a machine to simulate the function of the kidneys.
In the hemodialysis procedure, blood is withdrawn from the patient's body through a catheter or tube and transported to a dialysis machine, also commonly referred to as a kidney machine. The catheter is typically inserted through the jugular vein and maneuvered into position through the superior vena cava into the right atrium to provide high blood flow. In the dialysis machine, toxins and other waste products diffuse through a semi-permeable membrane into a dialysis fluid closely matching the chemical composition of the blood. The filtered blood, i.e. with the waste products removed, is then returned to the patient's body. In some instances, the catheter may be left in place for several years. As can be appreciated, proper access to the patient's blood and transport of the blood to and from the dialysis machine for this extended period of time is critical to hemodialysis.
One example of a dialysis catheter currently being marketed is the MedComp Ash Split catheter. This catheter has two lumens, one for arterial flow and the other for venous flow, which are each D-shaped in cross-sectional configuration. The catheter is bifurcated at its distal end to separate the lumens and the catheter is manually split to the desired length for selected separation before insertion into the target area. Another well-known catheter is a Med Comp catheter which has the venous flow lumen terminating proximally, i.e. axially recessed, from the arterial flow lumen. Each of these lumens is also D-shaped in cross-sectional configuration.
The use of a tear away sheath in catheter insertion is well known. It would be advantageous if a dialysis catheter could be provided which would also provide for readily insertion without the use of a tear away sheath in certain instances. Such insertion method, if utilized, can decrease the complexity of the procedure.
Another area of dialysis catheter design is to maximize venous and arterial flow rates while preventing collapsing the lumens. That is, it is known that the larger lumens will maximize flow rates, reduce arterial and venous pressure and improve dialysis by providing fastener dialysis. However, given the limited amount of space in the dialysis catheter, which is typically about 15-16 French, the size of the lumens is limited. The size is also limited by the fact that if the lumens are too large, the wall thickness of the catheter becomes too thin, thereby reducing the strength of the wall and resulting in collapse of the lumens which has a detrimental affect on the blood flow.
In navigating vessels to access the target site, such as the right atrium, it is desirable to provide the smallest catheter profile, i.e. the smallest outer diameter catheter body. This profile facilitates insertion through smaller vessels as it reduces the likelihood of the catheter engaging the wall of the vessel and reduces trauma to the vessel by minimizing frictional contact with the vessel wall. However, the desire for smaller diameter catheters must be balanced against the need for providing sufficient sized lumens to enable proper blood flow. If the lumens are too small, sufficient blood flow may not be able to be maintained and the blood can be damaged during transport. Also, a sufficient relationship must be maintained between the size of the lumens and the overall diameter of the catheter to maintain the structural integrity of the catheter.
Numerous attempts have been made in the prior art to optimize the multi-lumen configuration. In some approaches, such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,568,329 and 5,053,023, the inflow and outflow lumen are provided side by side in D-shaped form. In other approaches, such as those disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,493,696, 5,167,623 and 5,380,276 the inflow and outflow tubes are placed in concentric relation. Other examples of different lumen configurations are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,221,256, 5,364,344, and 5,451,206. Commonly assigned U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,814,718 and 7,011,645 disclose other lumen configurations.
The catheter lumen configuration must accommodate two competing factors: keeping the catheter as small as possible to facilitate insertion while keeping the lumens as large as possible for blood flow. This balance must be achieved while maintaining the structural integrity of the catheter. It would therefore be advantageous to provide a catheter which reaches an optimum compromise between these two competing factors.
Another important feature of dialysis catheters is the suction openings to withdraw blood. Keeping the suction openings clear of thrombolytic material and away from the vessel wall is clearly essential to dialysis function since an adequate supply of blood must be removed from the patient to be dialyzed.
The need therefore exists for an improved dialysis catheter which facilitates the surgical dialysis procedure, reduces unwanted kinking of the catheter during insertion and use, and strikes an optimal balance between overall catheter size and lumen size.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


An image forming apparatus including: a plurality of process units; a circuit board configured to generate voltages to be applied to the plurality of process units; and a plurality of separate power feeding members configured to supply the voltages to the process units, wherein the plurality of separate power feeding members holds the circuit board, the circuit board including: a plurality of voltage output portions arranged at different positions in a direction along an outer edge of the circuit board; and a plurality of positioning holes configured to position the plurality of separate power feeding members, and wherein the plurality of separate power feeding members each includes: a connecting portion to be connected to a corresponding one of the voltage output portions; a positioning portion to be fitted into a corresponding one of the positioning holes; and a latching portion configured to latch the circuit board.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus configured to form an image on a recording medium.
2. Description of the Related Art
An electrophotographic image forming apparatus is configured to form an image on a recording medium using an electrophotographic image forming process. As the electrophotographic image forming apparatus, for example, there are known an electrophotographic copying machine (such as digital copying machine), an electrophotographic printer (such as color laser beam printer and color LED printer), a multifunction peripheral (MFP), a facsimile apparatus, and a word processor. The electrophotographic image forming apparatus (hereinafter referred to as "image forming apparatus") not only encompasses an image forming apparatus configured to form a monochrome image but also encompasses a color image forming apparatus configured to form a color image.
The image forming apparatus includes a plurality of process units such as a photosensitive member, a charging device, a light scanning device (exposure device), a developing device, a transferring device, and a fixing device. The charging device uniformly charges a surface of the photosensitive member (image bearing member). The light scanning device emits a laser beam (hereinafter referred to as "light beam") modulated in accordance with image information onto the uniformly charged surface of the photosensitive member so as to form an electrostatic latent image on the surface of the photosensitive member. The developing device develops the electrostatic latent image into a developer image (toner image) using a developer (toner). The transferring device transfers the toner image, which is formed on the surface of the photosensitive member, onto the recording medium. The fixing device fixes the toner image onto the recording medium by heating and pressurizing the recording medium having the toner image transferred thereon. In this manner, the image forming apparatus forms an image on the recording medium.
The image forming apparatus includes a high-voltage circuit board configured to apply a high voltage to each of the photosensitive member, the charging device, the developing device, the transferring device, and the fixing device.
The photosensitive member, the charging device, the developing device, the transferring device, and the fixing device are electrically connected to the high-voltage circuit board through respective power feeding members.
U.S. Pat. No. 8,750,745 discloses an image forming apparatus including power feeding members which are electrically connected to respective high-voltage contact portions of a high-voltage circuit board through springs and hold the high-voltage circuit board.
However, in the related art, the plurality of power feeding members configured to feed high voltages to a plurality of process units, respectively, are connected to a single integrated holding member. Therefore, when the high-voltage circuit board is deformed due to heat or force, the position of the high-voltage contact portion of the high-voltage circuit board may be displaced from the position of the spring of the power feeding member. When the high-voltage contact portion and the spring of the power feeding member are displaced from each other, there is a problem in that reliability of electrical connection is degraded.

Image forming apparatus including power feeding members configured to hold a circuit board


An automatic skinning mechanism having an inlet conveyor, a take away conveyor, a skinning mechanism and a hold down mechanism that removes pressure form a food product as the skinning mechanism begins skinning food product.

This invention is directed toward a device for removing skin from food products and more particularly to a device for removing skin from delicate food products such as fish.
In the meat processing industry it is desirable to remove the skin from meat parts such as fish fillets. Today this is done by using a knife or one of several conveyor fed skinning machines. Removing skin with a knife may cause lacerations or repetitive motion injuries. Also, skinning with a knife typically results in poor yields. Alternatively skinning machines often require feeding fish fillets tail first for good results. This requires turning fish either manually or automatically to accommodate tail first skinning which can result in damage to fish fillets. It is desirable that the fillets be fed head first in some cases to match the rest of the production line. Furthermore, it is desirable to have a machine that can easily or automatically be adjusted to accommodate demands for different skin thicknesses and/or product appearances.
Skinning machines fed with a conveying system normally require some type of opening bite at the skinning mechanism to start the meat product. To do this, most manufacturers take a thicker cut at the start of the skinning action by moving the skinning mechanism out and/or in and/or up and down. The other method used is to rotate the skinning mechanism around the product pulling roller and pinch the leading edge of the product. In all cases a hold-down mechanism is used to keep the product in place, during the skinning. Typical hold-down devices include individual rubber (nitrile) rollers, conveyor belts over the infeed conveyor and skinning mechanism or delrin rollers only over the skinning mechanism. Each of these methods can be disadvantageous. First, they may not provide even pressure over products that have varying shapes front to back or side to side. Second, these devices may cause damage and yield loss due to their aggressive nature. Particularly with fish such as salmon, constant pressure causes gapping or separation of the meat fibers. In fact, once the skinning has begun, holding down on the product is not necessary or desirable in some cases.
Therefore, an objective of the present invention is to provide a method and apparatus that can skin meat products such as fish fillets either head first or tail first with minimal skin patches.
Another objective of the present invention is to provide a hold-down system that provides sufficient pressure over the varying thicknesses of a single piece of product.
A still further objective of the present invention is to provide linking the skinning mechanism with the hold-down device to reduce adjustments.
A further objective of the present invention is to provide a skinning mechanism and a hold-down device where the hold-down device follows the position of the skinning mechanism as it moves in and out of its opening bite and/or height adjustments.
Another objective of the present invention is to remove all hold down pressure on the food product to ensure that damage to the product via hold down force is eliminated.
Yet another objective of the present invention is to adapt this method to either a dual lane or single lane skinning device.
Also, an objective other the present invention is to be easily and/or automatically adjusted for different skinning thicknesses or product requirements.
Finally, it is an objective of the present invention to use this method to eliminate skinning with a knife and the undesirable impact that knife skinning has on workers.
These and other objectives will be apparent to one of ordinary skill based upon the following written description, drawings and claims.


This invention relates to methods of making graft copolymers, and articles having such graft copolymers. The methods may provide better control than in radicalization or photoinitiated polymerization techniques. For example, a graft copolymer can be prepared by reacting an alkoxide ion with a polymer. The alkoxide, in turn, can be provided by any suitable technique, for example, by reacting an alcohol with a base. In some embodiments of the invention, the graft copolymers may be a normally hydrophobic polymer, such as a polysulfone, that has been made more hydrophilic due to the attachment of hydrophilic side groups such as polyethylene glycol or polypropylene glycol. The copolymers of the invention have many uses, for example, in films or porous membranes.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to graft copolymers and, in particular, to methods of making graft copolymers such as polysulfone graft copolymers, and articles including such graft copolymers.
2. Description of the Related Art
The ability to control the physical properties of polymers, such as the hydrophilicity, lipophilicity, density, or the molecular weight, is desirable. For example, a polymer that may be desired for a particular application (e.g. a resilient polymer) may not have one or more other physical properties desired, such as wettability; modification of the polymer may achieve the desired properties. For instance, polymers having hydrophilic properties are of great utility, particularly in areas such as resistance to oils and proteins, biocompatibility, resistance to static charge build-up, and wettability to materials such as glues, inks, paints and water. Applications for such polymers include water filtration membranes, biocompatible medical devices and articles. However, most polymers are typically hydrophobic in nature.
One method of producing a hydrophilic polymer is to "coat" a polymer having hydrophobic properties, i.e., covering the polymer with a hydrophilic coating. The coat may be added, for example, by dipping or spraying. However, the coated areas are generally not permanently attached to the underlying polymer support.
Another technique of producing a hydrophilic polymer is to synthesize a polymer having a graft structure. A "graft copolymer" is produced by covalently bonding a species to be grafted (also referred to as a "comonomer"), to a backbone polymer. Graft copolymers may be used to provide a material having specific properties while retaining certain desirable properties of the original backbone polymer.
The production of graft copolymers has previously been achieved using two general techniques: photochemical and chemical. Photochemical techniques include exposure of a polymer to low-temperature plasma, ultraviolet irradiation, or gamma-ray irradiation to begin the polymerization process. Chemical techniques typically use free-radical polymerization or atom transfer radical polymerization to produce the grafted copolymer. For example, Mika, et al., "A New Class of Polyelectrolyte-Filled Microfiltration Membranes with Environmentally Controlled Porosity," J. Memb. Sci., 108, 37-56 (1995) describe UV-induced grafting of 4-vinylpyridine onto polyethylene and polypropylene microfiltration membranes. Iwata, et al., "Preparation and Properties of Novel Environmental-Sensitive Membranes Prepared by Graft Polymerization Onto a Porous Membrane", J. Memb. Sci., 38, 185-199, 1988) report a glow discharge technique to graft polyacrylamide and polyacrylic acid chains onto polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) membrane. Hautojarvi, et al, (J. Memb. Sci., 108, 37, 1995) published a similar study of PVDF membranes graft-modified with poly(acrylic acid). However, in many cases, the radicalization process is difficult to control, and unwanted side reactions such as degradation or cross-linking can occur, as well as difficulties in minimizing polydispersity. Also, in many cases a bulk polymer article is produced, and then functional groups are grafted onto polymer chains that define the article. This can result in non-ideal characteristics. Another graft copolymer synthesis technique is described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/951,125, filed Sep. 12, 2001, by Mayes et al.
While the above and other reports include, in many cases, useful graft copolymers, there is a continued need in the art for impoved, more versatile graft polymerization techniques and articles produced by these techniques.


An educational computer system includes a computer, a display device, a remote control character, and a wireless modem for communication between the computer and the remote control character. The remote control character can move and speak in response to signals from the computer, thereby allowing the remote control character to interact with the user and with characters displayed on the display device. When a program is run, the computer determines whether the remote control character is available. If it is not, the computer substitutes an animated character that is displayed on the display device. The computer periodically checks for the remote control characters while displaying the animated character. If the remote control character becomes available, the animated character is discontinued and the computer begins sending voice and movement information to the remote control character. Similarly, if the remote control character becomes unavailable while the program is running, the program will automatically revert to the animated character and the program will continue.

Microsoft Corporation has developed a product called "REALMATION," which is an educational computer product for young children. The product includes animated educational programs and physical characters ("REALMATION" performers), which are motorized plush toys that move and speak. When the child is using the program, a physical character "comes to life" and interacts with the user and with characters that are displayed on a display device. The physical character acts as a guide or friend to the child and provides assistance, encouragement, and guidance as the child uses the program. The physical character moves and speaks in response to signals that are retrieved from the educational program's storage medium and transmitted to the physical character. The physical character also includes various sensors for receiving input signals from the child.
Because the program content relies on interaction with the physical character, the physical character must be present in order for the software package to provide a satisfactory user experience. In other words, the programmed dialog and the "learning experience" will be incomplete without the involvement of the physical character. Because the physical character is a portable toy that runs on batteries, there will no doubt be times when the physical character will be unavailable. For example, the physical character may be unavailable because it has been moved to another room or its batteries are exhausted.
In one embodiment, the "REALMATION" program causes a computer to determine whether the physical character is available (i.e., in range and operative). If it is not, the computer prompts the user to locate the physical character and to turn it on. If the user does not activate the physical character, the program will not continue. This prevents the program from being used without the physical character, which, in many cases, would provide a less than satisfactory learning experience.
Because it is likely that the physical character will be unavailable from time to time, there is a need in the art for providing a substitute interactive character that will allow the "REALMATION" program to be used effectively despite the absence of the physical character. The system employs a physical character when it is available and provides a substitute character when the physical character is unavailable. The transition from the physical character to the substitute character should be transparent to the user and should maintain the continuity of the lesson or other content provided by the "REALMATION" program.

System and method for substituting an animated character when a remote control physical character is unavailable


The invention provides methods for detecting and analyzing protein-protein interactions and agonists and antagonists thereof, detecting and analyzing protein sequences, and regulatable gene expression in multicellular organisms or cells therefrom.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to methods for regulatable gene expression, detection and analysis of protein sequences, and detection and analysis of protein-protein interactions and agonists and antagonists thereof in multicellular organisms or cells therefrom.
This invention relates to interactions between biological molecules, particularly proteins, and methods for detecting and quantifying such interactions. The invention is particularly related to detection of protein-protein interactions that occur in the cellular cytoplasm of a cell from a multicellular organism. The invention further provides methods for detecting nuclear export sequences and nuclear localization sequences. This invention also relates to methods of regulatable gene expression. More specifically, the invention provides methods for inducible production of proteins in multicellular organisms or cells therefrom, including protein production from exogenously introduced GAL gene promoters, with or without galactose as the inducing molecule.
2. Background of the Related Art
The Human Genome Project has recently determined the complete human genetic sequence. From studies on only a very small fraction of the genome (likely less than 0.1%), it appears that protein-protein interactions most often comprise key mechanistic features of biological processes. Protein-protein interactions thus provide potential targets for therapeutic intervention in many disease states as well as manipulation of gene expression for any desired purpose.
Methods for detecting and analyzing of protein-protein interactions, as well as methods for achieving regulatable gene expression and detection and analysis of protein sequences, have been the focus of work based on several different native biological processes in a simple eucaryote, the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Such methods, which have generally employed native biological processes in S. cerevisiae, thereby using the yeast cell as the cellular platform, are recognized in the art as being useful in the biotechnology field, due in part to S. cerevisiae's genetic tractability and ease of biochemical and molecular manipulation. Thus, basic discoveries related to several native biological processes in S. cerevisiae have been exploited for detecting and analyzing protein-protein interactions and agonists and antagonists thereof, as well as methods of regulatable gene expression and detection and analysis of protein sequences in yeast cells.
An example of a system that has been exploited for detecting and analyzing protein-protein interactions and protein sequences and methods of regulatable gene expression in S. cerevisiae is the Gal3p-Gal80p-Gal4p gene switch, also known as the Y-GAL gene switch. The Y-GAL gene switch has been used in many biotechnology applications (U.S. Pat. No. 6,221,630 to Hopper; Mylin LM, et al., Methods Enzymol. 1990; 185:297–308; Cook J C, et al., Protein Expr Purif. December 1999; 17(3): 477–84; Ferreira B S, et al., Appl Microbiol Biotechnol. March 2003; 61(1): 69–76; Panuwatsuk W, et al., Biotechnol Bioeng. Mar. 20, 2003; 81(6): 712–8; Hwang W Z, et al., J Agric Food Chem. October 2001; 49(10): 4662–6; Brown R, et al., Enzyme Microb Technol. Jun. 1, 2000; 26 (9–10): 801–807; Yevenes A, et al., Biochimie. February 2000; 82(2): 123–7; Chen S, et al., Protein Expr Purif. December 1999; 17(3): 414–20; Hansen M K, et al., Receptors Channels. 1999; 6(4): 271–81; Hinz W, et al., FEBS Lett. Apr. 1, 1999; 448(1): 57–61; Hayden M S, et al., Protein Expr Purif. March 1998; 12(2): 173–84; Gerik K J, et al., J Biol Chem. Jan. 10, 1997; 272(2): 1256–62; Broder, E T, et al., Methods in Enzymology 1999 328: 430–443; Mitchell, D A, et al., 1993 Yeast 9: 715–723; Romanos, M A, et al., Yeast 8: 423–488). The Y-GAL gene switch is comprised of three proteins: i) a site-specific DNA binding transcriptional activator (Gal4p) that is tightly associated with its cognate DNA site (the UASGAL site) in the promoter regions of galactose-regulatable genes; ii) Gal80p, a protein that binds tightly to the transcriptional activation domain of Gal4p (amino acids 768–881) and inhibits Gal4p's capacity to recruit general transcription factors and RNA polymerase in the absence of galactose; and iii) Gal3p, a protein that binds to Gal80p in the presence of galactose and relieves Gal4p from Gal80p inhibition. Accordingly, Gal4p-mediated target gene expression occurs only in the presence of galactose (Johnston, M, 1987 Microbiol. Rev. 51:458–476).
The Y-GAL gene switch is a widely used tool for galactose-regulatable high level amplified expression of heterologous proteins in yeast (Mylin L M, et al., Methods Enzymol. 1990; 185:297–308; Cook J C, et al., Protein Expr Purif. December 1999; 17(3): 477–84; Ferreira B S, et al., Appl Microbiol Biotechnol. March 2003; 61(1): 69–76; Panuwatsuk W, et al., Biotechnol Bioeng. Mar. 20, 2003; 81(6): 712–8; Hwang W Z, et al., J Agric Food Chem. October 2001; 49(10): 4662–6; Brown R, et al., Enzyme Microb Technol. Jun. 1, 2000; 26 (9–10): 801–807; Yevenes A, et al., Biochimie. February 2000; 82(2): 123–7, Chen S, et al., Protein Expr Purif. December 1999; 17(3): 414–20; Hansen M K, et al., Receptors Channels. 1999; 6(4): 271–81; Hinz W, et al., FEBS Lett. Apr. 1, 1999; 448(1): 57–61; Hayden M S, et al., Protein Expr Purif. March 1998; 12(2): 173–84; Gerik K J, et al., J Biol Chem. Jan. 10, 1997; 272(2): 1256–62; Broder, ET, et al., Methods in Enzymology 1999 328: 430–443; Mitchell, D A, et al., 1993 Yeast 9: 715–723; Romanos, M A, et al., Yeast 8: 423–488). More recently, some of the instant inventors developed methodologies capable of detecting and characterizing protein-protein interactions, nuclear export and nuclear import sequences and galactose-independent inducibility of Gal4p-mediated gene expression in yeast by exploiting particular principles of the Y-GAL gene switch (see co-owned and co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/165,873, incorporated herein in its entirety).
The protein-protein interaction method of Y- GAL gene switch methodologies is referred to as the "80-Trap method" and differs significantly from classical two-hybrid methods that depend on an intra-nuclear location of both interacting proteins. Specifically, in the 80-Trap method, the protein-protein interaction occurs within the cytoplasm but is reported (detected) by gene activation in the nucleus. Other methods provided in the Y-GAL gene switch methodologies are useful for detecting and analyzing nuclear export and nuclear import sequences. Additional methods provide a galactose-independent method of inducing Gal4p-mediated target gene expression. This last method provides for Gal4p-mediated activation of desired target genes by use of any low molecular weight, cell-permeant molecule that is a known effector of protein-protein interaction.
The methods provided, using the Y-GAL gene switch, exploit the fact that Gal4p's activation of target genes is regulated by Gal80p, a protein that binds to the Gal4p transcriptional activation domain and prevents it from recruiting general transcription factors required for recruiting RNA polymerase to the Gal4p-regulatable target promoter. These methods additionally take advantage of either one or more of three heretofore unappreciated mechanistic features of the Y-GAL gene switch. These newly-recognized mechanistic features are that i) Gal3p need not enter the nucleus to form a complex with the Gal80 protein in the presence of galactose; ii) when Gal80p, a nuclear/cytoplasmic shuttling protein, shuttles out of the nucleus it binds to cytoplasmically-restricted Gal3p; and, iii) binding of Gal80p to Gal3p in the cytoplasm reduces the amount of Gal80p in the nucleus available to bind to UASGAL-associated Gal4p at the gene promoter and, as a consequence, Gal4p-mediated transcriptional activation of Gal4p-regulated genes is increased. Thus, galactose-triggered interaction of Gal80p and Gal3p in the cytoplasm traps Gal80p in the cytoplasm and reduces the concentration of Gal80p in the nucleus. Consequently, the amount of Gal80p bound to Gal4p decreases, which results in Gal4p-mediated gene activation.
Unlike in yeast, there are very few existing methods for detecting and analyzing protein-protein interactions and agonists and antagonists thereof or regulatable gene expression in multicellular organisms or cells therefrom. Moreover, existing methods suffer from serious limitations. For example, one method to activate promoters in multicellular organisms or cells therefrom utilizes the Gal4 protein, the UASGAL-specific transcriptional activator of yeast referred to above. However, Gal4p expression in multicellular organisms or cells therefrom causes constitutive activation of target promoters containing the UASGAL site (Sadowski, I, Genetic Engineering, 1995 17:119–147; Horikoshi M, et al., Cell. Aug. 26, 1998; 54(5): 665–9; Webster N, et al., Cell. Jan. 29, 1998; 52(2): 169–78; Brand A H, et al., Development. June 1993; 118(2): 401–15; Scott K, et al., Cell. Mar. 9, 2001; 104(5): 661–73; Hrdlicka L, et al., Genesis. September–October 2002; 34(1–2): 51–7). A method to regulate Gal4p-mediated target gene expression in mammalian calls has been developed that takes advantage of the FLP recombinase target sequence (FRT) and recombination by the FLP recombinase. This method involves engineering into the same cells an FRT-associated GAL80 gene that can be excised by the FLP recombinase when the expression of the recombinase gene is induced by the heat shock promoter (Lee T, et al., Trends Neurosci. May 2001; 24(5): 251–4). This system has numerous significant problems, among them the heat shock method of induction and the extended persistence of the Gal80 protein, which can remain in the cells for as long as 48 hours after recombination excision of the GAL80 gene sequences.
Another existing method used in mammalian cells is the Gal4p-based two-hybrid system for analysis of protein-protein interactions (Sadowski I, Genetic Engineering, 1995 17: 119–147; Sadowski I, Anal Biochem. Feb. 15, 1998; 256(2): 245–7; Feng, Xin-Hua, et al., Two-Hybrid Systems 2001 177: 222–239. Humana Press, Edited by Paul N. MacDonald; Shioda T, et al., Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. May 9, 2000; 97(10): 5220–4; Rojo-Niersbach E, et al., Biochem J. Jun. 15, 2000; 348 Pt 3: 585–90; Buchert M, et al., Biotechniques. September 1997; 23(3): 396–8, 400, 402; Luo Y, et al., Biotechniques. February 1997; 22(2): 350–2). One serious limitation of two-hybrid methods in multicellular organisms or cells therefrom is they are not applicable for a very large number of proteins including, but not limited to, most transcriptional activators, transcriptional repressors, RNA polymerase II components, components of the general (basal) transcription machinery, and proteins that are associated with chromatin or participate in chromatin remodeling. This limitation stems from the existing two-hybrid methods'detection of protein-protein interaction by activating reporter genes through either direct binding to the RNA polymerase or through binding to other proteins that in turn bind to an RNA polymerase subunit. Another serious limitation of existing methods is that they require that the relevant protein-protein interactions and the detection thereof take place in the nucleus at the reporter gene promoter. Thus, a protein that normally does not enter the nucleus is unlikely to participate in its normal protein interaction(s) if targeted to and sequestered in the nucleus. For example, post-translational modification (e.g., phosphorylation) of cytoplasmic proteins is often mediated by interaction with one or more cytoplasmically-confined proteins; this process is illustrated in many well-established membrane-based receptor signaling cascades wherein proteins are often tethered to membranes or in close proximity to membrane-associated proteins. Thus, direct targeting to the nucleus of a protein that normally would be post-translationally modified in the cytoplasm would prevent or severely hinder such modifications required for normal biological activity. Therefore, existing methods in the art requiring nuclear localization of both interacting proteins are not useful for detecting a significant fraction of protein-protein interactions that normally occur within the cell.
Given the limitations of existing analytical systems in multicellular organisms and cells therefrom, there is a need in the art for methods that provide a capacity to detect and analyze protein-protein interactions and agonists and antagonists thereof, detect and analyze protein sequences, and for regulatable gene expression in multicellular organisms or cells therefrom, including non-mammalian cells such as, for example, plant cells, particularly wherein such methods detect protein-protein interactions in the cytoplasm. Considering the highly regulated nature of most biologically-interesting genes studied to date and the fact that the estimated number of protein-coding sequences in the human genome will turn out to be only 25,000 to 30,000, it is important not to exclude a large fraction of genes from protein-protein interaction analyses, as occurs using the methods known in the art. In view of the large number of genetic sequences being determined, there is a need in the art for methods of identifying and characterizing the properties of the protein products encoded thereby in multicellular organisms (and cells thereof), including vertebrates, invertebrates and plants.

M-GAL: a Gal gene switch-based suite of methods protein analyses and protein expression in multicellular organisms and cells therefrom


Methods and systems to modulate and demodulate first and second path bits within sequences of pulses, where each pulse represents first and second path bits and is position-modulated and phase-modulated based on binary values of the corresponding bits, with no more than 1 phase change per N pulses. Position-modulation may be based on first-path bits. Phase-modulation may be based on second-path bits. A modulator first path has an input data rate Q times that of a second path. The first may include an N-bit encoder. The second path may include a Q-bit encoder and an N-bit repetition encoder. A demodulator includes a first path to determine first path bit values based on pulse coordinates integrated over N frames, and a second path to determine second path bit values based on further integration over Q frames.

Data rates within and amongst integrated circuits, multi-chip systems, and systems-on-a-chip (SoC), are being pushed to limits of conventional electrical communication channels and interconnections. This may lead to signal attenuation and distortion in electrical channels due to skin effect, dielectric absorption, and/or impedance mismatches.
Wireless radio-frequency (RF) interconnects are being explored, also referred to as wireless chip area networks (WCANs), to provide wireless interconnects within a chip (intra-chip) or amongst multiple chips (inter-chip).
A WCAN may be implemented with pulse-position or time-hopping spread spectrum modulation (TH-SS), where a data value is modulated as a pulse having one of multiple positions within a corresponding times slot based on the data value.
TH-SS data transfer rates may be increased with phase-shifting. Due to area and power consumption concerns, however, a WCAN transceiver may have limited phase shift agility.
In the drawings, the leftmost digit(s) of a reference number identifies the drawing in which the reference number first appears.

Time-phase-hopping modulation and demodulation of multiple bit streams with phase-change frequency control, such as for wireless chip area network


Two methods for energy-efficient idle listening enhancement for WLAN systems are provided. The first method performs a change of operation of a station (STA) from an active mode to an idle listening mode without notifying the change to an access point (AP) associated with the STA. In the idle listening mode, the AP may transmit frames to the STA using a higher bandwidth, but the STA can only sense channels in a lower bandwidth to save energy. The second method transmits a frame to the AP associated with the STA to notify the AP the change of operation of the STA from the active mode to the idle listening mode. In the idle listening mode, the AP may transmit frames to the STA using the lower bandwidth, and the STA can only sense channels in the lower bandwidth to save energy.

IEEE 802.11ac standard can provide high throughput wireless local area networks (WLANs) on the 5 GHz frequency band. IEEE 802.11ac standard specifies 80 MHz and 40 MHz operations for very high throughput (VHT) and high throughput (HT) stations (STAs), respectively. When an STA is associated with an access point (AP) operated in the 80 MHz bandwidth, the STA normally has to sense channels across the entire 80 MHz bandwidth if the STA is a VHT STA. If the STA is a HT STA, it normally has to sense channels across the primary 40 MHz channel. Sensing channels across the entire 80 MHz bandwidth or the primary 40 MHz channel often leads to elevated power consumption on the STA. This is partly because the system on chip (SoC) on the STA may constantly run in high-frequency operations.


A method for processing wafers includes learning a first pattern at a de-skew site on a first wafer layer, saving the first patterns in a recipe for de-skewing wafers, learning a second pattern at the de-skew site a second wafer layer, and saving the second pattern in the same recipe for de-skewing wafers. Learning the first pattern may include determining a score of uniqueness for the first pattern. The method further includes finding the de-skew site on the second wafer layer using the first pattern before learning the second pattern. Finding the de-skew site includes determining a score of similarity between the first pattern and the second pattern. Learning the second pattern is performed when the score of similarity is less than a threshold value. A recipe for de-skewing wafers includes multiple patterns of a de-skew site of a wafer, wherein the patterns include a first pattern at the de-skew site on a first wafer layer and a second pattern at the de-skew site on a second wafer layer.

Repeated loading of a wafer onto a stage can introduce offsets in the coordinates of a location on the wafer where measurements are taken. De-skewing is a method to correct the offset. De-skewing is often performed prior to taking metrology measurements of the wafer at different steps of wafer processing.
To de-skew a wafer, initial coordinates of two or more unique sites ("de-skew sites") on a wafer are determined after the wafer is loaded onto a mechanical stage at a first time and subsequent coordinates of the two de-skew sites are determined after the wafer (or a different wafer) is loaded onto the stage at a subsequent time. A transformation matrix is calculated from the initial and the subsequent coordinates of the de-skew sites. The transformation matrix is used to convert between the initial and subsequent coordinates of a measurement location. Thus measurements can be taken at the same locations on the wafer with convenience and accuracy.
A conventional pattern recognition system can be used in the de-skew process. The conventional pattern recognition system uses a "recipe" that includes one image of each de-skew site of the wafer after one specific process (i.e., for a specific layer of the wafer). During certain wafer processes such as chemical mechanical planarization (CMP), pattern images of the de-skew sites may change so significantly that the pattern recognition system is unable to find the de-skew sites using one recipe. Thus conventionally the pattern recognition system uses a different recipe after each specific process (i.e., for each specific layer of the wafer).

Method for automatically de-skewing of multiple layer wafer for improved pattern recognition


Durable antireflective coatings and glass articles having such coatings are described herein. The antireflective coatings generally include a layer of nominally hexagonally packed nanoparticles that are partially embedded either in a surface of the glass article or in a binder that is on the surface of the glass article. Methods of making the antireflective coatings or layers and glass articles having such antireflective layers are also described.

The disclosure relates to an antireflective layer. More particularly, the disclosure relates to a glass substrate having an antireflective layer.
Antireflective coatings are typically applied to display screens or windows in a variety of electronic devices, such as communication or entertainment devices, and the like. Such antireflective surfaces take the form of adhesive films that are attached to the screen or window. These adhesive films are sometimes coated with additional multiple index interference coatings that prevent reflections from the screen or window. Air sometimes is trapped between the display and the film during the attachment process, thereby creating air pockets that disrupt viewing of the display. Moreover, such films are easily scratched during use and lack the durability needed to withstand prolonged use.

Glass article having antireflective layer and method of making


An integrated dielectric substrate has a dissipating plate for dissipating the heat generated by an exothermic element mounted above the surface of the dielectric substrate. Either a cavity or a groove is cut through the surface of the dielectric substrate, preferably from one end to the other end of the dielectric substrate, the dissipating plate being fitted in the cavity or groove, both ends of the dissipating plate extending beyond the corresponding ends of the dielectric substrate to form extending end portions, and the exothermic element being mounted on the surface of the dissipating plate.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an integrated dielectric substrate, and more particularly to a dielectric substrate equipped with a dissipating plate, for mounting an exothermic element (e. g., a high-output transistor or integrated circuit) used for power modules in mobile communication tools, etc.
2. Description of the Related Art
FIG. 8A shows the structure of an integrated dielectric substrate. FIG. 8B is a fragmentary cross sectional view taken along the line A--A in FIG. 8A. The integrated dielectric substrate is composed of: a dielectric substrate 1; metallic blocks 2; a dissipating plate 3; exothermic elements 5 generating a large amount of heat, such as high-output transistors (power transistors) or integrated circuits (ICs); and connecting terminals 7.
As is shown in FIGS. 8A and 8B, the dielectric substrate 1 is mounted on the top face of the dissipating plate 3. The dielectric substrate 1 has through holes 4 corresponding to the number of the exothermic elements 5 to be mounted on the dielectric substrate 1. The metallic blocks 2 are inserted into the corresponding through holes 4 and the bottom face of each metallic block 2 is connected to the dissipating plate 3. The exothermic elements 5 are each mounted on the top face of a respective metallic block 2 according to a one-to-one correspondence. The top-face area of each metallic block 2 is larger than that of the corresponding exothermic element 5. Each of the through holes 4 defines a space between the corresponding metallic block 2 and the substrate 1.
On the surface of the dielectric substrate 1, circuit patterns (not shown in the figure) and land patterns 8 are formed, and also, devices (not shown in the figure) other than the exothermic elements 5 are loaded. The exothermic elements 5 and the land patterns 8 are connected by wires 10 so that the exothermic elements 5 achieve continuity with the predetermined connecting positions of the circuit patterns via the land patterns 8 and wires 10.
The dissipating plate 3 exhibits a high heat conductivity and has terminal portions 11 extending from the ends of the dielectric substrate 1. The heat generated by the exothermic elements 5 is conducted to the dissipating plate 3 through the metallic blocks 2, and then, dissipated outward through the terminal portions 11.
Connecting terminals 7 are used for fixing the above integrated dielectric substrate to a mother board (not shown in the figures).
As is mentioned above, in the above integrated dielectric substrate, one through hole 4 is made for receiving each exothermic element 5. The size of each through hole 4 is required to be large enough to insert the corresponding metallic block 2, whose top-face area is greater than that of the exothermic elements 5, with a space between the dielectric substrate 1 and the metallic block 2. Thus the size of the through holes 4 is considerably larger than the top face of the exothermic elements 5.
The size and the number of the through holes 4 made in the dielectric substrate 1 are predetermined and cannot be decreased. Therefore, when the size of the dielectric substrate 1 is reduced for achieving a compact integrated dielectric substrate, the proportional area of the through holes 4 in the dielectric substrate 1 significantly increases, resulting in the following problem: the minimum area necessary for forming the circuit patterns and for loading devices other than the exothermic elements 5 cannot be ensured, and thus achievement of compact integrated dielectric substrate becomes difficult.
In addition, when the dielectric substrate 1 has a multi-layer structure in which circuit patterns are formed in each layer, the area available for forming the circuit patterns becomes small in each layer because every layer has the through holes 4. Thus, to ensure a sufficient area for forming the circuit patterns, the dielectric substrate 1 must be large, undesirably resulting in a large-sized integrated dielectric substrate.


To obtain an adjustment method of rotor position detection of a synchronous motor with excellent productivity. An adjustment method of rotor position detection of a synchronous motor, wherein a synchronous motor having a stator wound around a stator coil and a rotor provided with magnetic poles, and a rotational position detector having a sensor rotor fixed to the rotor and a sensor stator disposed opposite to the sensor rotor for detecting a rotational position of the rotor are provided, and wherein an amount of deviation between the rotational position of the synchronous motor determined from an output of the rotational position detector and an actual rotational position of the synchronous motor is adjusted, the method comprising: a step of detecting the amount of deviation during rotation of the synchronous motor; and a step of mechanically adjusting a relative position between the rotational position detector and the synchronous motor based on a detected value of the amount of deviation, is provided.

A conventional method of correcting a deviation generated between a rotational position of a synchronous motor determined from an output of a rotational position detector and an actual rotational position of the synchronous motor includes: a step of detecting a no-load state of the motor with a no-load detector; a step of detecting a motor voltage applied to a winding of the motor with a motor voltage detector; a step of computing d-axis and q-axis voltages from rotation angle information of the rotational position detector and the motor voltage; and a step of correcting the rotation angle so that the d-axis voltage becomes zero (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
In the above described conventional method of correcting the deviation generated between the rotational position of a synchronous motor determined from the output of the rotational position detector and the actual rotational position of the synchronous motor, since a motor voltage detector and a no-load detector must be provided, an apparatus adopting this method becomes expensive.
Patent Document 1: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 6-165561

Adjustment method of rotor position detection of synchronous motor


An apparatus for the preparation of bread dough rolls is provided. The apparatus includes a first press for spreading the bread dough blank across the top surface of the mold and forcing a portion of the bread dough blank at least partially into the at least two depressions; and a second press for further spreading the bread dough blank across the top surface of the mold and forcing a portion of the bread dough blank completely into the at least two depressions. This provides a bread dough roll which can have a cross-section of intentionally varying thickness.

1. The Technical Field
The invention relates generally to methods and apparatus used for preparing bread dough rolls for baking. In particular, the invention relates to a method and apparatus for forming a bread dough roll of a desired, predetermined shape having a non-uniform cross section.
2. The Prior Art
It has long been practice in the baking industry to prepare bread dough rolls having a variety of shapes, such as round, square, oblong, and the like. Bread dough rolls are typically of substantially uniform cross-section, although the cross-section of a finished roll may be expected to be somewhat non-uniform as a result of uneven rising through the baking process.
It is possible to purposefully prepare bread dough rolls having substantially nonuniform cross-section. It may be desired to do so in order to, for example, produce a bread dough roll having a novel or decorative shape. In the past, preparing a bread dough roll having a desired, predetermined, novel or decorative shape and a nonuniform cross-section required a significant amount of human labor, thus making it commercially impractical to produce such bread dough rolls on a volume basis.
Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide a substantially automated method for preparing bread dough rolls having desired, predetermined shape and a non-uniform cross-section that requires a minimum of human intervention and labor.
It is a further object of the invention to provide an apparatus which substantially automatically prepares bread dough rolls having desired, predetermined shape and a non-uniform cross-section with a minimum of human intervention and labor.

Apparatus and method for making dough roll


An Email processing method and system comprising in response to obtaining an Email, parsing contents of the Email to obtain an Email subject identifier of the Email, at least one new interaction record, and interaction information corresponding to the at least one new interaction record; determining whether there is a merged Email, which has a merge Email subject identifier matching a subject identifier of the Email, and conforms to a predefined interaction content structure comprising at least one interaction record divided by interaction relationship of contents; and in response to that the determination result is yes, merging the at least one new interaction record of the Email into the merged Email to generate a new merged Email based on the interaction information corresponding to the at least one new interaction record.

Today, Email has become an important application for everyday communication and interaction among people. Email can be a primary form of communication, especially for transnational companies with global business practices spreading over extensive geographical regions and different time zones. In some companies, for example, it is common to communicate about a certain subject via Email. In this case, upon receipt of an Email, users often submit comments about contents related to the subject of that Email, and then reply to and/or forward the Email accordingly. Furthermore, as to those Emails replied or forwarded under the same subject, it is common for the recipients to send additional replies, or to forward those additional Emails. In these cases, Emails associated with the same subject can constitute a single Email thread. In order to clarify the response relationship within an Email thread and help understanding internal logical relationship of contents of the Email based on the response relationship within an Email thread, in the prior arts, Emails can be rearranged based on the response relationship.
FIG. 1 illustrates reorganization of an Email thread based on the response relationship among Emails. It can be seen that there are two direct replies "Re: meeting time" under the Email subject "meeting time", each of which has other two direct replies "Re: Re: meeting time" respectively. A recipient can read the Emails based the displayed response relationship among Emails to gain an understanding of the contents of the Emails.
However, the Email thread organized based on the response relationship among Emails cannot aggregate interaction content therein, and thus fail to reflect true interaction procedure and current state. In the case where an addresser needs to reply to a number of Emails under the same subject, for example, he can only reply to different Emails respectively, or reply to one of them without replying to other Emails simultaneously, possibly confusing the recipient. It is necessary for the recipient to review those Emails repeatedly to understand the causal relationship among the contents. Therefore, the Email thread constructed based on the response relationship cannot truly reflect an interaction among the logical sequence of contents of Emails, and can cause the user inconvenience to read the contents and submit the reply. It is difficult to understand the current status of interaction unless the user manually aggregates the contents of the multiple Emails.
Therefore, it is desired to improve existing Email systems by providing an Email-based method and system suitable for interaction applications, and thus enhancing user interaction experience and improving interaction efficiency.

International Business Machines Corporation


Purchase of an item bearing a unique identification code is verified by (a) ascertaining the identification code of an item to be purchased; (b) acquiring data representative of color features of the item to be purchased; and (c) comparing the data representative of color features of the item to be purchased to data representative of expected color features for items having the same identification code. Other physical characteristics of an item, such as height, may also be employed. The disclosed system is also capable of detecting whether a shopping cart is empty or not, and determining whether a non-empty cart is an indication that a theft is being attempted.

Retail stores, particularly supermarkets, lose a significant amount of their inventory due to fraudulent activities in the front-end checkout area. These losses are a combination of employee fraud, customer fraud, and procedural error. Understandably, the retail industry is continuously striving for ways to prevent such fraudulent activities.
With the advent of product identification codes, such as the Universal Product Codes (UPCs), most point-of-sale transactions are performed automatically or semi-automatically. For example, in supermarket environments, customers place items to be purchased on a feed belt at a checkout counter. A checkout clerk (i.e., "checker") passes each item over a scanning device and then places the item on a take-away belt that moves the item to a bagging area. The scanning device "reads" the UPC label on the item and sends the item's identification code to a point-of-sale (POS) system. The POS system maintains a database containing product information for each UPC code, including a description of the item and its price. When the POS system receives a scanned UPC code, it displays a description of the scanned item and adds the item's price to the purchase total. POS systems perform a number of other functions, including store inventory and accounting functions.
One form of customer fraud that can result in substantial losses for a supermarket involves removing the UPC label of a lower priced item and placing it over the UPC label of a more expensive item. At a checkout counter, unless the checker reads the description of each item after it is scanned, which is rarely the case, the customer will not be charged the true price of the item. Similar losses can occur if a store employee inadvertently misapplies the UPC code of a lower priced item to a higher priced item. A standard POS system simply cannot determine at the point of sale whether a UPC label has been deliberately or inadvertently misapplied to an item.
Unscrupulous checkout clerks can conspire with customers to defraud a store by failing to pass items over the UPC scanner before placing them on the take-away belt. Also, a checker can position a higher priced item on top of a lower priced item, scan only the lower priced item, and then place both items on the take-away belt. These and other methods of deceit can result in significant losses. Accordingly, systems and methods are needed for preventing fraud in retail checkout environments.
Schneider, U.S. Pat. No. 5,115,888, discloses a self-service checkout system in which customers perform scanning and bagging of items themselves at automated checkout counters. Once a customer has scanned all items to be purchased, the customer proceeds to a central area for payment. Such systems are intended to reduce the number of store personnel required for checkout operations. In an effort to prevent fraud, the customer is required to place each item on a scale after scanning the item's identification code. The scanned identification code and measured weight of the item are then transmitted to a computer that contains a database of expected weights for each unique product code so that the computer can verify the measured weight against the expected weight for the scanned item. If the measured and expected weights do not match within an acceptable tolerance, an alert is issued to a supervisory employee who may then review the transaction more closely. A video camera is positioned at each automated checkout counter so that a supervisory employee can review selected transactions from a remote location.
Humble et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,792,018, discloses a similar operator-unattended checkout system in which both weight and shape of an item are verified against the scanned product code. The shape of an item is discerned as it passes through a light curtain; essentially a silhouette of the item is obtained. A database in the system contains expected weight and shape characteristics for each unique product code. A discrepancy between the measured and expected characteristics will cause the item to be rejected.
While the systems of Humble et al. and Schneider provide some degree of security against customer fraud, the use of weight and/or shape characteristics to differentiate purchased items is unacceptable in most practical applications. Supermarkets can have inventories of more than 30,000 different items. Such a large number of items cannot be adequately differentiated based on weight and shape characteristics alone. For example, two different frozen dinner products (i.e., "TV dinners") may have identical weight and shape characteristics, but one may be significantly more expensive than the other. Consequently, security systems and methods capable of a much higher degree of product differentiation are needed to overcome the limitations of the aforementioned prior art systems. The system and methods of the present invention satisfy this need.

System and methods for preventing fraud in retail environments, including the detection of empty and non-empty shopping carts


Disclosed herein is a refrigerator having an improved configuration of an inner wall forming a storage compartment and capable of improving an appearance of the storage compartment. The refrigerator includes a main body having a storage compartment, an inner case forming an inner space of the main body, and a cover plate installed inside the inner case to form an exterior of the storage compartment and formed of a ceramic material.

Generally, a refrigerator is a home appliance capable of supplying cold air generated in an evaporator to a storage compartment including a freezer compartment and a refrigerator compartment and keep and store various types of food fresh for a long period.
Food that should be kept at freezing temperature or below, such as meat, fish, and frozen dessert, is stored in the freezer compartment of the storage compartment, and food that should be kept above freezing temperature, such as vegetables, fruits, and beverages are stored in the refrigerator compartment.
Such a storage compartment of a refrigerator has an open front surface, and the open front surface is sealed by a door at ordinary times to maintain temperature of the storage compartment.
There have been recent attempts to arouse a consumer's desire to purchase a refrigerator by forming a pattern on an exterior of the refrigerator to improve an appearance of the refrigerator or forming the exterior of the refrigerator with a metal material such as stainless steel. Accordingly, the need for further improving an appearance of an interior of a storage compartment that a user faces when the user opens a door of a refrigerator in addition to the exterior of the refrigerator has come to the fore.


The invention provides a novel polymer, a composition, and a molded article. The polymer contains a constitutional unit represented by the following formula (1):

The field of semiconductor manufacturing has a year-by-year increasing demand for further die shrink and higher integration of semiconductors. O-rings for semiconductor manufacturing devices also have an increasing demand for elimination of foreign substances that may cause process errors. In particular, filler (mainly, silica), which is a constituent material of O-rings, itself is found to be foreign substances to cause process errors when the O-rings are deteriorated. This creates a demand for an alternative material for filler that has functions of both exerting mechanical properties and protecting a base polymer from oxygen-based plasma.

Polymer, composition, and molded article

Abstract: wherein X11 and X12 are the same as or different from each other, and are each a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group optionally containing a fluorine atom, or a phenyl group; Y11 is an oxygen atom or a sulfur atom; Rf11 is a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group optionally containing a fluorine atom; and a is an integer of 1 to 4.


Example embodiments relate to methods and devices for generating (quasi-) periodic interference patterns. One embodiment includes a method for generating an interference pattern using multi-beam interference of electromagnetic radiation. The method includes computing a set of grid points in a complex plane representing a grid with a desired symmetry. The method also includes selecting a radius of a virtual circle. Additionally, the method includes selecting a set of grid points in the complex plane that lies on the virtual circle centered around a virtual center point. Further, the method includes associating an argument of each grid point of the selected set of grid points in the complex plane with a propagation direction of plane waves or quasi plane waves or parallel wave fronts. In addition, the method includes obtaining the interference pattern that is a superposition of the plane waves or quasi plane waves or parallel wave fronts.

The interference of multiple beams of electromagnetic radiation (e.g. electromagnetic radiation such as light, infrared, radio waves, microwaves, deep UV, etc) can give rise to complex intensity patterns that find application in several fields. For instance, multi-beam interference lithography (MBIL) has the flexibility to produce maskless high-resolution periodic patterning. This can reduce the feature size with large-area periodic nanoscale patterning. Several other technologies, such as photonic crystal technology, metamaterials, biomedical structures, subwavelength structures, optical traps, and optical tweezers can be developed or improved by advances in multi-beam interference (MBI) technologies.
As an extension, the generation of arbitrary (quasi-) periodic radiation interference patterns, e.g. using MBI, enables the fabrication of precise microstructures such as photonic crystals, plasmonic quasicrystals, micro-lens arrays, and fiber Bragg gratings. Other relevant application fields of (quasi-) periodic light patterns are optical traps for cold atoms, high-resolution and patternable photo-chemistry activation, optical lattices for quantum sensing and quantum computing, 3D printing, 3D surface imaging, and microscopy, such as multi-focal scanning laser microscopy and spectroscopy.
Generally, structured radiation patterns are generated by orienting multiple beams such that the structured radiation pattern is formed in the region where the beams intersect (multi-beam interference, MBI). Some of the ways to realize the interfering beams include non-linear materials, phase masks, and intricate light polarization schemes.
U.S. Pat. No. 9,019,468 B2 relates to an interference projection exposure system and a method of using the same for generating periodic illumination patterns. The interference projection exposure system comprises a beam-providing subsystem and an objective lens subsystem. A beam providing subsystem is configured to provide a plurality of light beams and the objective lens subsystem is configured to receive the plurality of light beams such that the plurality of light beams intersect and interfere at the image plane to produce illumination pattern.
However, it remains silent regarding a method or configuration used for achieving non-trivial illumination patterns. Trivial here is to be understood as either non-periodic speckle patterns (an example can be seen in FIG. 1B), or periodic patterns with periodicity on the order of a wavelength or half a wavelength of the used radiation. It is not described how to choose the parameters of the incident beams or their relation to the resulting interference (light) patterns.
In fluorescence microscopy, an essential tool in engineering, medical sciences, physical sciences, and biological sciences, structured light patterns provide a major impact on imaging resolution by enabling down-modulating spatial frequencies of microscopic structures in techniques such as Structured Illumination Microscopy enabling resolution below the diffraction limit, enable multi-focal scanning laser microscopy or spectroscopy.
Conventionally, fluorescence microscopy involves bulky lens-based optical microscopes, where the resolving power is provided by the lens or objective lens. Recent years have seen a strong effort towards miniaturization of microscopy by eliminating many of the conventional free-space optical components, such as the lens. Non-trivial, custom structured light patterns can provide efficient and affordable solutions to image objects without the use of bulky optical components.
Patent application EP 3 581 919 A1 relates to an imaging apparatus and a method for imaging an object. This document relates to enabling lens-free sub-pixel resolution imaging of objects using a compact imaging set up consisting of a planar photonic integrated circuit on a pixel sensor array. However, it remains open regarding a method used for achieving the desired illumination pattern.
None of the prior art discloses any method for illumination pattern generation or system that may be applied in a two-dimensional system such as the above described planar photonic integrated circuit, that is, input beams and a generated illumination interference pattern are on the same plane.
Some optical techniques such as super-resolution STED microscopy make use of annular-shaped focused spots instead of Gaussian spots. No methods to create arrays of such spots in a two-dimensional multi-beam interference setup have been realized in literature.

Method and device for generating (quasi-) periodic interference patterns

Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, KU Leuven R&D


An additive for a printing ink comprising a wax of either an ethylene homopolymer or ethylene.C3-20 α-olefin copolymer each has an intrinsic viscosity, weight-average molecular weight/number-average molecular weight ratio, z-average molecular weight/weight-average molecular weight ratio, density, penetration hardness, and acid value in specific ranges; a solvent dispersion obtained by dispersing the wax; and a printing ink containing the wax.

In the printing industry where a large amount of organic solvents is used, there has been growing concern about labor and safety, for example, a measure of hydrocarbon emission control regulations in local community, Fire Protection Law and Industrial Safety and Health Law amendment which have recently been enforced in succession. In particular, an aromatic hydrocarbon-based solvent such as benzene, toluene, xylene and the like, which has been preferably used up to now from the aspect of solubility, drying characteristics and the like, is evaporated and diffused into the atmosphere, and is a causative substance which forms an oxidant under photochemical reactions, and therefore strict legal restrictions are imposed on the use the solvent. From these issues, there is an increasing demand for a printing ink with reduced content of an aromatic hydrocarbon solvent. Currently, examples of a non-aromatic solvent, which are being used or which use is considered for a printing ink, include an ester-based solvent such as methyl acetate, ethyl acetate, n-propyl acetate, isopropyl acetate and the like, a ketone-based solvent such as acetone, methylethylketone and the like, and an alcohol-based solvent such as methanol, ethanol, n-propyl alcohol, isopropyl alcohol and the like.
With respect to a conventional printing ink, resistance to wear, abrasion and scratch of printed products is improved by wax. As such a wax, a polyethylene-based wax is particularly preferable.
Conventionally, in printing ink applications, a polyethylene-based wax has been primarily used in the form of a dispersion or paste prepared by a crystallization method. However, the non-aromatic solvents described above are poor solvents, making it extremely difficult for them to deal with the polyethylene-based wax in these forms. Moreover, a dispersion produced using a wet ball mill and the like has a drawback in that it lacks storage stability because the affinity of the polyethylene-based wax for the above-mentioned non-aromatic solvents is low, and therefore the polyethylene-based wax and the solvent are liable to separate in the dispersion or in the printing ink in which these solvents are used. Furthermore, although the polyethylene-based wax is sometimes used in the form of a fine powder, it is liable to precipitate in the above-mentioned non-aromatic solvents, and likewise it lacks the storage stability of the printing ink in which these solvents are used.

Additive for printing ink, solvent dispersion for printing ink, and printing ink


A constant speed control method for a vehicle on an inclined road allows a constant speed control allowance to be one mile per hour on a flat road and two miles per hour on an inclined surface. If the vehicle speed decelerates two or more times of 1.5 miles per hour or more compared to the preset speed, the vehicle is assumed to be on a slope. A control system is performed by changing the constant speed control allowance from one mile per hour to two miles per hour. If the vehicle speed is within the allowance for 20 seconds, the control system on the inclined road is released. Thus, engine noise according to the frequent change of the T.P.S. value is prevented in advance and frequent gearshifts due to the rapid increment of the T.P.S. value is also prevented, resulting in a stable constant driving speed.

Typically, a vehicle constant speed system detects the speed of the vehicle in real-time, receives speed information previously defined by a user (e.g., 34 miles per hour or more), and controls a throttle body of the engine to thereby allow the vehicle to be driven at a desired speed estimated by the user. In the conventional constant speed system a control operation for maintaining the constant vehicle speed within ±1 mile per hour of a preset speed is as described below.
When the actual vehicle speed increases one mile per hour or more compared to the preset speed, the constant driving speed unit lowers the engine Revolutions Per Minute (RPM) by decreasing the T.P.S. value, thereby, gradually closing the throttle body via a constant driving speed cable. As a result, the actual vehicle speed is restored to within one mile per hour of the preset speed. If the actual vehicle speed decreases one mile per hour or more in relation to the preset speed, the constant driving speed system unit increases the engine RPM by increasing the T.P.S., thereby rapidly opening the throttle body and maintaining the actual vehicle speed within —1 mile per hour of the preset speed.
However, there is a drawback in the conventional constant speed system that has a control system thus described. The engine is often overstrained to maintain the constant speed even when the vehicle rapidly decelerates, such as on an inclined road, thereby causing engine noise and frequent gearshifts. Under a rapid deceleration state on an inclined road, the conventional constant driving speed system carries out an acceleration control to maintain the speed. Thus, the T.P.S. value of the engine changes rapidly and significantly, and the engine noise increases in response to the increment of the vehicle speed. However, when the vehicle speed increases, the actual vehicle speed exceeds the predetermined speed allowance of one mile per hour due to the rapid change of the T.P.S. value. Thus, the constant driving speed system reduces the T.P.S. value of the engine by re-starting the deceleration control and decelerates the actual vehicle speed and the above operation is repeated. In short, when driving on a slope, engine noise continuously occurs due to the presence of a repeated rapid deceleration.

Constant speed control method for vehicle on inclined road


A fluid filtration device is disclosed which includes a capsule housing having an upper housing portion defining an axial fluid inlet and a lower housing portion defining an axial fluid outlet, a filter assembly including an elongated mounting post and a plurality of filtration cells supported on the mounting post in axially spaced apart relationship, and structure operatively associated with the mounting post and the lower housing portion for effectuating axial compression of the filtration cells relative to the mounting post when the mounting post is engaged in the lower housing portion during assembly.

1. Field of the Invention
The subject invention relates to fluid filtration devices, and more particularly, to a lenticular filter cartridge assembly housed within a disposable capsule and intended for use in conjunction with a fluid processing system.
2. Background of the Related Art
Cell type filter assemblies, often referred to as lenticular filter assemblies, are well known in the art and have been employed in fluid processing systems for many years. An early example is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 2,788,901 to Boeddinghaus et al. Lenticular filter assemblies often include a plurality of vertically oriented coaxially arranged filtration cells disposed within a cylindrical housing. Typically, such a filter housing is formed by structural portions which are secured together by conventional clamping devices that allow for access to the interior of the housing to facilitate filter replacement and maintenance. Examples of prior art filtration cells are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,783,262 to Ostreicher et al. and U.S. Pat. No. 4,347,208 to Southall
In known prior art lenticular filtration assemblies, the uppermost and lowermost filtration cells in a filter housing are oftentimes provided with a compressible gasket or O-ring to effect a seal against the housing. See, for example, commonly assigned U.S. Pat. No. 4,704,207 to Chu. In other devices, these cells may be welded to the top and bottom of the cartridge housing to seal process fluids within the system. Additionally,it is known to provide sealing gaskets intermediate adjacent filtration cell layers to effect a seal therebetween, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,704,207 to Chu.
During use, process fluid enters the filter housing through an inlet port, passes through the filtration cells, and exits the housing through an outlet port. Over time, the filtration cells will exhibit plugging or the batch will be completed, and the filtration cells are not reused to prevent cross-contamination of process fluids. Thus, to properly maintain the fluid processing system, the structural portions of a conventional filter housing must be separated, the spent filtration cells must be removed, the housing must be thoroughly cleaned to remove contaminants and residues deposited therein, and new filtration cells must be emplaced in the housing, along with any associated sealing gaskets. Such a maintenance procedure can be time consuming and costly since the fluid processing system must be brought off-line for an excessive time period. Thus, it would be extremely desirable to provide an inexpensive fully encapsulated cell type filter assembly that could be readily removed from a fluid processing system, discarded after removal, and replaced with a new filter assembly.
Another problem associated with the use of conventional inline filtration systems such as a lenticular filtration systems is that of hold-up volume. This is the volume of excess process fluid which accumulates in the bottom of the filter housing below the outlet opening thereof. During routine maintenance, or when spent filtration cells are replaced, the filter housing must be opened. This can result in contamination of the excess process fluid which must then be discarded. In filtration systems employed in the manufacture of biopharmaceuticals or pharmaceuticals, process fluids can be extremely valuable, and the loss thereof due to contamination can be very costly. A prior art filter assembly which employs a mechanism for reducing or decreasing hold-up volume in a filter housing is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,462,675 to Hopkins et al. This prior art assembly does not however, provide a mechanism for recovering excess process fluids from a filter housing. Clearly, the provision of such a mechanism would be extremely desirable.

Encapsulated lenticular filter cartridge


Techniques for detecting multiple touch points for touch screens are disclosed. A touch screen includes a first conductive layer and a second conductive layer, each conductive layer having a positive terminal and a negative terminal. Efficient operations of detecting multiple points on the touch screen are described using various voltage/currents differences from the positive and negative terminals of the first and second conductive layers.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to the area for touch screens, and more particularly to techniques for detecting multiple touch points on a touch screen.
2. Description of Related Art
Touch screens are gradually becoming main means of inputting information to an electronic system. Techniques for detecting multiple touch points are more attractive in the touch screen fields. However, techniques for detecting multiple touch points are mostly implemented on an optical touch screen, which are too expensive for most customers.
FIG. 1A is a schematic diagram showing a conventional four-wire resistive touch screen with a single touch point thereon. The four-wire resistive touch screen includes an X conductive layer and a Y conductive layer. The X conductive layer has a positive terminal Xp and a negative terminal Xn at two respective ends thereof. The Y conductive layer has a positive terminal Yp and a negative terminal Yn at two respective ends thereof. The X conductive layer is physically separated from the Y conductive layer by a spacer. When a touch point P1 with enough pressure appears on the resistive touch screen, the X conductive layer may contact with the Y conductive layer at the touching point P1. FIG. 1B is a circuit diagram showing an equivalent electrical circuit to the resistive touch screen shown in FIG. 1A.
To facilitate the description of the embodiment as shown, Xplate denotes a total resistance of the X conductive layer from the negative terminal Xn to the positive terminal Xp. The touching point P1 divides the total resistance Xplate into the resistances R1 and R3 proportionally as the X conductive layer has a uniform linear resistivity. Yplate denotes a total resistance of the Y conductive layer from the negative terminal YN to the positive terminal YP. The touch point P1 divides the total resistance Yplate into the resistances R4 and R6 proportionally as the Y conductive layer has a uniform linear resistivity. Rz denotes a contact resistance between the X conductive layer and the Y conductive layer at the touch point P1. Thus, the x and y coordinates of the touch point P1 may be located as long as the resistance values R3 and R6 are calculated.
The terminal Yp is connected to a positive reference voltage VT, the terminal Yn is grounded, and the voltage value V1 on the terminal Xp is measured. The voltage value V1 satisfies a following formula:
            V                                      1        VT    =                    R                                                  6            Yplate        .
Similarly, the terminal Xp is connected to the positive reference voltage VT, the terminal Xn is grounded, and the voltage value V3 on the terminal Yp is measured. The voltage value V3 satisfies a following formula:
            V                                      3        VT    =                    R                                                  3            Yplate        .
The resistance values R3 and R6 are calculated according to the above two formulas. So, the coordinates of the touch point P1 are located. However, the conventional four-wire resistive touch screen is mainly provided for detecting a single touch point on the touch screen. If there are two or more touch points on the touch screen, it is very difficult to determine a relative motion tendency of the two or more touch points by calculating the coordinates of each touch point.
Thus, improved techniques for method and device for detecting multiple touch points on a resistive touch screen are desired to overcome the above disadvantages.

Device and method for detecting multiple touch points


An optical transceiver comprises a transmitter configured to transmit a first signal, and a receiver coupled to the transmitter and configured to receive a first compensation, wherein the first compensation is based on a pattern-dependent analysis of the first signal, and provide the first compensation to the transmitter, wherein the transmitter is further configured to compensate a second signal based on the first compensation to form a first compensated signal, and transmit the first compensated signal. An optical transmitter comprises a digital signal processor (DSP) comprising a compensator, a digital-to-analog converter (DAC) coupled to the DSP, a radio frequency amplifier (RFA) coupled to the DAC, and an electrical-to-optical converter (EOC) coupled to the RFA. An optical receiver comprises an optical-to-electrical converter (OEC), an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) coupled to the OEC, and a digital signal processor (DSP) coupled to the ADC and comprising a calibrator.

Optical communication networks serve an important function in worldwide communication. They have increasingly replaced copper wire communications due to various advantages that they offer. Optical communication networks may include various nodes connected by optical fibers or free space. As users demand higher data rates, it is becoming increasingly important to transmit and receive optical data more accurately.

Compensation of non-linear transmitter impairments in optical communication networks


An information display method includes converting circuit diagram CAD data of a circuit board into a first standard format and converting layout diagram CAD data of the circuit board into a second standard format, displaying a circuit diagram based on the circuit diagram CAD data converted into the first standard format on a screen of a circuit-diagram viewer and displaying a layout diagram based on the layout diagram CAD data converted into the second standard format on a screen of a layout-diagram viewer, highlighting a circuit element selected on the screen of either the circuit-diagram viewer or the layout-diagram viewer using specified color, and giving information for identifying the circuit element selected on the screen to another viewer, and highlighting an element corresponding to the circuit element identified by the given information on the screen of the viewer receiving the information using specified color.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to information display system and method, which are capable of displaying circuit information and/or mount information based on PCB-CAD data.
2. Description of the Related Art
Software for browsing the content of data file is called as a viewer, and various type viewers are given. For example, one of the viewers is a circuit-diagram viewer for browsing circuit diagrams based on computer aided design (CAD) data of a printed circuit board (PCB). Another is a layout-diagram viewer for browsing the layout diagram of a circuit board. The foregoing circuit and layout-diagram viewers are provided and are used independently from each other.
JPN. PAT. APPLN. KOKAI Publication No. 7-262241 (e.g., FIG. 6) discloses the technique of displaying the mutual relationship between components and board when making a mount design of a printed circuit board.
However, the conventional technique described above has the following problem. More specifically, the circuit-diagram viewer and the layout-diagram viewer exist independently from each other. For this reason, it is difficult to grasp the corresponding relationship of components and wirings (including signal lines, power source/ground plane) in the foregoing circuit-diagram and layout-diagram viewers. For example, the ground plane on the circuit diagram is shown by symbol only; as a result, it is difficult to grasp where the ground plane is mapped on the layout diagram.
In addition, the foregoing Publication discloses the technique of simultaneously displaying several kinds of diagrams on one screen. This is the technique used under the environment for making a design, and thus, not suitable for browsing the diagrams. In other words, the technique disclosed in the foregoing Publication is not adaptable to circuit-diagram and layout-diagram viewers existing independently from each other.
From the reason described above, it is desired to propose the technique of readily grasping the corresponding relationship of components in different kinds of viewers.

Information display system and information display method


A composite lined tube is disclosed having end couplings. The tube includes a resin impregnated fiber preform pressed progressively along an inner wall of the tube. The tube may further include an inflatable bladder inserted into the tube. The bladder is adapted to inflate along a length thereof on application of increasing pressure to the interior of the bladder. The bladder has disposed on its exterior surface the fiber preform impregnated with resin, which is adapted to fit within the tube. The bladder is then inflated along its length by applying increasing pressure to the bladder. The preform is clamped to a shoulder of one of the couplings at another end of the tube, and the end of the preform is trimmed to conform to the shoulder. Pressure is maintained in the bladder while curing the resin.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention generally relates to fiber-reinforced composite conduits or tubes and methods for making such conduits or tubes. More particularly, the invention is related to composite pipe liner for oilfield tubular goods which have improved corrosion resistance, and methods for making such lined tubular goods.
2. Background Art
Oilfield tubular goods are threaded segments or "joints" of seamless pipes made from steel and are used in oil and gas well extraction and injection applications among other applications. Oilfield tubular goods are often exposed to fluids which cause corrosion. It is known in the art to try to control this corrosion by making the tubular joints from corrosion-resistant alloy ("CRA"), such as stainless steels or nickel-based alloys, or by adding corrosion-inhibiting chemicals to the fluid stream, or by lining the exposed inner surfaces of the tubular joints with a corrosion-resistant lining or coating.
Practical corrosion-resistant tubular joint linings known in the art are generally of three types: (1) thin, unreinforced thermoplastic or thermoset plastic coatings, deposited by spraying or other methods on the inner wall of the tube; (2) inserted (such as by pressing) thermoplastic liners; or (3) inserted, fiber-reinforced composite tube liners.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,382,421 issued to Warren et al discloses a typical apparatus for applying a thin (20–23 micrometers), unreinforced epoxy coating to the interior of a tube to prevent corrosion. Thin, unreinforced coatings of this type can have poor durability, particularly when the tubes are handled roughly in transportation or during installation, or when they are used in applications where the fluid flowing through the tube causes erosion, or when tools or instrument are run through the inside of the tubes during service operations.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,306,449 issued Brittain et al, U.S. Pat. No. 5,320,388 issued to Lacy, et al and U.S. Pat. No. 5,861,116 issued to Mandich disclose methods for inserting extruded, rigid, self-supporting thermoplastic tubes as corrosion-resistant liners for oilfield tubular goods. Typical thermoplastic liners, such as high-density polyethylene ("HDPE") or nylon 11, are limited to working temperatures below about 220 degrees Fahrenheit. So-called engineering thermoplastics, such as those known by their acronyms PVDF, PEEK, or PTFE, which generally have higher working temperatures, generally have been too expensive to be practical as oilfield tubular liners. In order to survive the insertion process, thermoplastic liners are relatively thick (typically about 10–20% of the inner radius of the tube in which they are installed), so they significantly reduce the flow area of the tube in which they are installed. Prior art inserted thermoplastic liners are typically not bonded to the inner diameter of the tube. This means that inserted liners are susceptible to collapse if a vacuum develops inside the tube, or if pressurized fluid in the tube permeates the liner and the internal pressure within the tube is subsequently reduced. Furthermore, unbonded thermoplastic liners cannot be used with threaded tubular end connections fitted with metal-to-metal seals, because these threaded connections require a thin bonded liner which confoms to the movement of the metal-to-metal seal area.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,593,391 issued to Routh discloses an apparatus for lining oilfield tubular goods with a rigid PVC plastic tube, which is then grouted in place inside the oilfield tube with a cement slurry. Lined oilfield tubular goods of this type are available commercially from Rice Engineering, Odessa, Tex. In addition to the grouted PVC liner as described in the Routh '391 patent, there is also available from Rice Engineering fiberglass filament-wound (reinforced) liners for higher-temperature and more-corrosive applications.
Just as is the case for thermoplastic liners, grouted rigid liners of the type described in the Routh '391 patent significantly reduce the internal flow area of the tubes in which they are installed. Furthermore, while thermoplastic liners can be molded around the ends of the tubular joint to seal the ends against corrosion, grouted rigid liners are generally truncated at the end of the tube joint, and are fitted with a seal ring which intrudes into the bore of the tubular joint. Still further, grouted rigid liners are not generally flexible enough to be used successfully with most so-called "premium" oilfield threaded end connections which have integral metal-to-metal seals.
There are also several prior-art methods available to line continuous pipelines, such as sewer pipes or gas distribution lines, with tubular composite liners. One method of sewer-pipe lining is described by U.S. Pat. No. 4,009,063 issued to Wood, which describes a technique for lining a passageway with a resin-impregnated tubular fibrous felt encased in inner and outer impervious linings. This laminated felt tube or "sock" is inserted into a passageway, typically a deteriorated sewer line, and simultaneously inflated and cured-in-place by injected hot water. Techniques of the type described in the Wood '063 patent yield a thick, resin-rich lining with integrated impervious linings, suitable for lining continuous, relatively low-pressure pipelines. They are not particularly suitable for oilfield tubular goods because they can reduce the flow area of the tube joint too much, and there is generally little adhesion to the surrounding pipe. Furthermore, the resin-rich composite lacks the mechanical strength required for oilfield tubular service, and there is no provision for properly terminating the liner at a tube end connection.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,451,351 issued to Blackmore describes a method for rehabilitating sewer pipe which uses a resin-impregnated woven graphite and polyester fiber liner which is expanded into shape by an internal polyurethane bladder. The liner is cured in place by heating resulting from an electrical current passed through the graphite fibers. During the curing process, the composite is bound on its outer layer to the inner wall of the pipe line section, and on its inner surface to the bladder. While this process will yield a relatively thin composite liner, it is not practical for use in lining conductive pipes, such as oilfield tubular goods, because the electrical current used to cure the composite liner will preferentially flow through the steel pipe being lined. Because the polyurethane bladder is left in situ, this method is not particularly suitable for applications exposed to oilfield chemicals. Finally, this process does not provide a means of terminating the liner at a threaded end connection.

Composite liner for oilfield tubular goods