A bandpass .SIGMA..DELTA. DC utilizing either a single-loop or a MASH architecture wherein the resonators are implemented as either a delay cell resonator, a delay cell based resonator, a Forward-Euler resonator, or a two-path interleaved resonator. The resonator can be synthesized with analog circuit techniques such as active-RC, gm-C, MOSFET-C, switched capacitor, or switched current. The switched capacitor or switched current circuits can be designed using single-sampling, double-sampling, or multi-sampling circuits. The non-stringent requirement of a .SIGMA..DELTA. ADC using switched capacitor circuits allows the ADC to be implemented in a CMOS process to minimize cost and reduce power consumption. Double-sampling circuits provide improved matching and improved tolerance to sampling clock jitter. In particular, a bandpass MASH 4-4 .SIGMA..DELTA. ADC provides a simulated signal-to-noise ratio of 85 dB at an oversampling ratio of 32 for a CDMA application. The bandpass .SIGMA..DELTA. ADC can also be used in conjunction with undersampling to provide a frequency downconversion.

I. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to electronic circuits. More particularly, the present invention relates to a novel and improved sigma-delta analog-to-digital converter (.SIGMA..DELTA. ADC).
II. Description of the Related Art
An analog-to-digital converter (ADC) is an important component in many electronic circuits, and is especially important in digital communication systems. An ADC converts a continuous analog waveform into discrete samples at evenly spaced time intervals. The samples can subsequently be processed by other digital signal processing blocks to provide enhancement, compression, and/or error detection/correction of the sampled data. Exemplary applications which require ADCs are code division multiple access (CDMA) communication system and high-definition television (HDTV).
Some important performance parameters of an ADC include linearity, DC offset, and signal-to-noise ratio (SNR). Suboptimal values for these parameters can cause degradation in the performance of a communication system. Linearity relates to the difference between an actual transfer curve (digital output versus analog input) and the ideal transfer curve. For a flash ADC, good linearity is more difficult to obtain as the number of bits in the ADC increases. The DC offset can degrade the acquisition and tracking performance of phase locked loops and the error detection/correction capability of the decoder, such as the Viterbi decoder. SNR can affect the bit-error-rate (BER) performance of the communication system because the quantization and circuit noise from the ADC results in degradation of the sampled data.
In many communication systems, the received RF signal is downconverted to baseband before quantization. Typically, the received signal is downconverted from an RF frequency to an intermediate frequency (IF) in the first downconversion stage. The first downconversion allows the receiver to downconvert signals at various RF frequencies to a fixed IF frequency where signal processing can be performed. For example, the fixed IF frequency allows for a fixed bandpass filter, such as a surface acoustic wave (SAW) filter, to remove undesirable images and spurious responses from the IF signal before the second downconversion stage. The IF signal is then downconverted to baseband where sampling is performed to provide the digitized baseband samples.
In most communication applications, an ADC is required at the receiver. In some applications, the receiver is a commercial unit where cost and reliability are important design criteria because of the number of units produced. Furthermore, in some applications, such as a CDMA mobile communication system, power consumption is critical because of the remote/portable nature of the receiver.
In the prior art, a flash ADC or a successive approximation ADC is used to sample the received signal. In the flash ADC, the input signal is compared against L-1 reference voltages, which are generated by a resistive ladder, by L-1 comparators. Flash ADCs are bulky and consume large amount of power because L-1 comparators and L resistors are required.
Furthermore, flash ADCs can have poor linearity and poor DC offset characteristics, if the L resistors in the resistive ladder are not matched. However, flash ADCs are popular because of their high speed.
Successive approximation ADCs are also often used in communication systems. These ADCs minimize complexity by performing approximations of the input signal over two or more stages. However, these ADCs can also exhibit the same poor linearity and poor DC offset characteristics as exhibited by the flash ADCs. Therefore, successive approximation ADCs as well as flash ADCs are not ideal candidates for use in many communication applications.

Multi-loop .SIGMA. .DELTA. analog to digital converter


A liquid crystal lens unit is provided for use in an autostereoscopic 3D image display. Light passing through the liquid crystal lens unit is refracted by a liquid crystal layer arranged by an electric field. The voltage levels applied to the to the liquid crystal layer are periodically changed thereby periodically oscillating the position of the focus profile of the liquid crystal lens unit. As a result, moiré patterns are removed and display quality is improved.

(a) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a three dimensional image display.
(b) Description of the Related Art
Currently, the ability to transmit information over communication networks at high speeds has allowed the development of multi-media that provides sight and sound based on a digital terminal processing of characters, audios, videos, etc., at high speeds, and in particular, the development of a three-dimensional stereoscopic information communications. Such three-dimensional stereoscopic information communication services provide a realistic three-dimensional image and accompanying sound to the user.
Generally, a stereoscopic image, which is an image represented in three-dimensions, is made according to a stereo vision principle in the eyes. In particular, parallax of the eyes, that is, a binocular parallax generated as the result of the eyes being spaced apart from each other by about 65 mm, may be the most important factor for creating a three-dimensional effect in an image. When the left eye and right eye each see a different two-dimensional image, and the two different images are then transferred to the brain, the brain accurately fuses images to reproduce the sense of depth of the image.
This capability is generally called stereography.
A stereoscopic image display device that uses binocular parallax to achieve the illusion of depth generally uses either a stereoscopic polarization scheme or an autostereoscopic scheme. In a stereoscopic polarization scheme, polarization and time division are used when displaying the image, and an observer must wear special glasses to see the image in three dimensions. In an autostereoscopic scheme an observer does not need additional glasses, and such autostereoscopic schemes can include, for instance, a parallax-barrier, lenticular, and/or blinking light schemes when displaying the image.
The stereoscopic polarization scheme has advantages in that, while users do need to wear special glasses, usually either polarization glasses or liquid crystal shutter glasses, they can view the stereoscopic images from a wide range of viewing angles. However, because viewers need to wear the separate polarization glasses or the liquid crystal shutter glasses, the stereoscopic polarization scheme is not practical for daily, routine use. As a result, the stereoscopic polarization scheme has been restrictively used in theaters, etc.
On the other hand, a variety of systems which utilize autostereoscopic schemes have been developed because they allow viewers to see the stereoscopic images without the use of special glasses. A disadvantage, however, of autostereoscopic systems is that they have a limited viewing angle, and the stereoscopic image can only be viewed at a specific distance and a specific position relative to the display.
Among the various autostereoscopic systems, stereoscopic display devices that use a lenticular lens are most suitable when considering the thickness and aperture ratio of the display device. In other words, using a lenticular lens is advantageous because the thickness of the display device can be made quite thin, and the use of the lens does not cover the display device. As a result, display devices that use a lenticular lens have been prevalently used and developed.
A stereoscopic image is created in a display device that utilizes a lenticular lens by refracting light from a display panel while it passes through the lenticular lens and polymer of the lenticular lens unit, which divides the progressing direction of light, passing the divided light through a polarizer, and inputting it to both eyes. As a result, light incident into a right eye and light incident into a left eye have different information, such that images are recognized three dimensionally.
A stereoscopic display device that uses a lenticular lens may have a problem in that a black matrix between the color filters is visualized at a specific position.
The view of the black matrix is periodically formed, such that Moiré-pattern artifacts may be formed in the stereoscopic display, which are distracting to the viewer. Also, the quality of the stereoscopic image is degraded because, at a position where the black matrix is displayed, the black matrix is viewed instead of the image, and the stereoscopic display is incomplete.
An additional problem is that the manufacturing process of lenticular lenses is complicated, such that it is difficult to stably secure the process and the yield is low, thereby reducing the economic feasibility of large scale production. In particular, it is difficult for the lenticular unit to be durable at high temperatures, and it is difficult to control the focal distance of the lenticular lens.
The above information disclosed in this Background section is only for enhancement of understanding of the disclosure and therefore it may contain information that does not form the prior art that is already known to a person of ordinary skill in the art.


Device that assists in maintaining the position of a date indicator disc (2; 3) for a timepiece, the position of the date indicator disc (2; 3) being indexed by a jumper spring (50; 50′), said device being characterized in that it includes a locking member (52; 52′) which, outside the date indication correction phases, keeps the jumper spring (50; 50′) locked, said locking member (52; 52′) moving away in the date indication correction phase to release the jumper spring (50; 50′).

An example embodiment of a date indicator mechanism is shown in perspective in FIG. 1 annexed to this patent application. Designated as a whole by the general reference numeral 1, this type of mechanism is for mounting in the bottom plate of a watch (not illustrated), typically a wristwatch for displaying the day of the month. Date mechanism 1 includes a top date ring 2 and a bottom date ring 3. The top date ring 2 is superposed on the bottom date ring 3. Top date ring 2 has sixteen sectors regularly distributed over its circumference. On the top face of ring 2, the sixteen sectors include successive markings that go from "17" to "31", and a window 21, which, in the example shown, is a through aperture arranged in top date ring 2. The bottom date ring 3 also has sixteen sectors regularly distributed over its circumference. On the top face of ring 3, the sixteen sectors have successive markings from "1" to "16". The watch will typically have an aperture through which the markings on top and bottom date rings 2 and 3 can be seen.
FIGS. 2 and 3 show more specifically constituent details of top and bottom date rings 2 and 3. Teeth 22 project radially towards the interior of top date ring 2 from a peripheral inner edge 23 of said top ring 2. Similarly, teeth 32 project radially towards the interior of bottom date ring 3 from an inner edge 33 thereof. Teeth 22 and 32 are regularly spaced along inner peripheral edges 23 and 33 of the respective date rings 2 and 3. Each tooth 22 is associated with a marking 24 or with window 21 of top date ring 2. Likewise, each tooth 32 is associated with a marking 34 of bottom date ring 3.
Date indicator mechanism 1 also includes a control wheel 4, which is for driving top and bottom date rings 2 and 3 and which completes one revolution in 31 days, driven by a pinion 61 that is driven onto the hour wheel, and gears 62 and 63 which will not be described further here.
FIG. 4 annexed to this patent application is a detailed perspective view of control wheel 4. As is clear from the Figure, control wheel 4 has first and second superposed toothings stages 41 and 42. On the periphery of each of stages 41 and 42 there is a portion fitted with successive adjacent teeth and a portion with no teeth. In the toothed portion of each of first and second toothing stages 41 and 42, the teeth are regularly spaced at an angle of 2π/31.
As is visible in FIG. 4, a reference numeral has been added to each of the teeth of toothing stages 41 and 42, indicating which sectors of top and bottom date rings 2 and 3 is controlled by that tooth. Thus, first toothing stage 41 includes teeth that will control sectors "17" to "31" and window 21 of top date ring 2. The toothless portion of first toothing stage 41 thus extends between the tooth that controls the sector corresponding to window 21 and the tooth that controls sector "17". The second toothing stage 42 includes teeth that control sectors "1" to "16". The toothless portion of second toothing stage 42 thus extends between the tooth that controls sector "16" and the tooth that controls sector "1". The toothed portion of one stage is placed plumb with the toothless sector of the other stage. Thus, the teeth of the first toothing stage 41 controlling markings "17" to "31" of top ring 2 are arranged plumb with the toothless portion of second toothing stage 42. The toothless portion of first toothing stage 41 is placed plumb with the teeth of second toothing stage 42 that control markings "2" to "16" of bottom ring 3. By way of exception, the tooth of first toothing ring 41 which controls sector "1" of bottom date ring 3 is arranged plumb with the tooth of second toothing stage 42 that controls the sector corresponding to window 21 of top date ring 2.
First and second toothing stages 41 and 42 are coupled in rotation, such that a simple rotation of one revolution of control wheel 4 drives one or other of the two top and bottom date rings 2 and 3. First and second toothing stages 41 and 42 are arranged for respectively driving top date ring 2 and bottom date ring 3 via their toothed portions. Multiplier wheel sets 11 and 13 form a kinematic link between first and second toothing stages 41 and 42 and top and bottom date rings 2 and 3 respectively. Multiplier wheel sets 11 and 13 ensure that the daily rotation of control wheel 4 means that one date ring moves forward one step from one day of the month to the next.
FIG. 5 annexed to this patent application is a side view of the date indication corrector mechanism. As illustrated in this Figure, first toothing stage 41 is kinematically connected to top date ring 2 via first multiplier gear 11, third multiplier gear 13 and the top gear of a corrector gear train 9. Multiplier gear 11 includes a pinion 112 driven by the toothed part of first toothing stage 41. Multiplier gear 11 further includes a wheel 111 secured to pinion 112. Multiplier gear 13 includes a pinion 131 driven by wheel 111. Multiplier gear 13 further includes a wheel 132, secured to pinion 131, that drives the top gear of corrector gear train 9.
During the rotation of control wheel 4, date indicator mechanism 1 operates as follows. Let us assume that window 21 and marking "1" are initially placed underneath the watch aperture. The first day of the month is thus visible to the person wearing the watch. At the change, controlled by control wheel 4, from the first day of the month to the second, then from the second to the third and so on until the "16":                the toothless part of first toothing stage 41 is opposite first wheel set 11. Top date ring 2 is thus not being driven and window 21 remains stationary, placed underneath the aperture of the watch;        the teeth of second toothing stage 42, which control the movement of markings "2" to "16", will mesh in succession with second multiplier gear 12 and will thus drive bottom date ring 3, via its teeth 32. Thus, the dates "2" to "16" will be visible in succession in the watch aperture through window 21.
At the change, controlled by wheel 4, from day "16" of the month, marked on bottom date ring 3 to day "17" of the month, marked on top date ring 2 then subsequently from day "17" to "31":                the toothless portion of second toothing stage 42 is opposite second multiplier gear 12. Bottom date ring 3 is thus not being driven and the date "16" remains stationary under the aperture;        the teeth of first toothing stage 41, which control the movement of markings "17" to "31" will mesh in succession with wheel set 11, and thus drive top date ring 2, via its teeth 22. Thus, the dates "17" to "31" will be displayed in succession in the aperture.
At the change from the date "31" carried by top ring 2 to the date "1" carried by bottom ring 3, the tooth of first toothing stage 41, which controls the movement of window 21, and the tooth of second toothing stage 42 that controls the movement of marking "1", are simultaneously meshed with wheels sets 11 and 12 respectively, the tooth of first toothing stage 41 being superposed on the tooth of second toothing stage 42. Top date ring 2 thus pivots to place window 21 underneath the aperture, whereas bottom date ring 3 pivots to place marking "1" underneath the aperture.
An examination of FIG. 1 reveals that the position of top and bottom date rings 2 and 3 is indexed by a jumper spring 50, maintained by a spring 51. These jumper springs 50 are used for keeping date rings 2 and 3 in position and preventing them from rotating unexpectedly outside the date indication correction periods, for example via the effect of a shock. When one wishes to obtain a date mechanism with a jump duration that is as short as possible, the multiplication ratio between the control wheel and the date ring concerned must be as high as possible. Thus, the available torque at the output of the gear train that connects the control wheel to the date ring is low, such that the force exerted by the jumper spring on said date ring must be as small as possible so that it can be overcome when the date ring is made to move forward one step. However, if the retaining force exerted by the jumper spring on the date ring is low, there is a significant risk of the date ring jumping in the event of a shock and of the date indication being incorrect.

Device that assists in maintaining the position of a date indicator disc for a timepiece


A method includes dividing a Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA) structure into a plurality of first time slots and a plurality of second time slots. The first and second time slots are allocated to communications using first and second protocols, respectively. The method also includes communicating with at least one first wireless device using the first protocol during the first time slots. The method further includes communicating with at least one second wireless device using the second protocol during the second time slots.

Wireless networks are frequently used in industrial process control systems. For example, a process control system often includes sensors that provide measurements over a wireless network and actuators that receive control signals over the wireless network. The wireless network may include interconnected network devices such as multinodes acting as backbone routers, field device access points (FDAPs) acting as field routers, field instruments, and wireless device managers (WDMs) acting as gateway/security managers or network managers.
A wireless network in an industrial facility often supports network devices compatible with only one specific communication standard. Generally, a wireless network requires extensive hardware modifications in order to enable the network to support network devices compatible with multiple standards. Thus, additions or replacements of network devices in a particular industrial facility are typically allowed only if the new network devices are compatible with the communication standard used in the industrial facility.

Slot segregation for supporting multiple communication protocols in an industrial wireless network


A method for determining whether data is included in a database is described. In one embodiment, the method may include receiving, from a remote computing device, a search request that includes a portion of a signature, comparing the portion of the signature with a plurality of signatures stored at the database, determining whether at least one match exists between the portion of the signature and the plurality of signatures, upon determining at least one match exists, identifying each match and identifying a bloom filter that includes each match, and transmitting the bloom filter to the remote computing device.

Data breaches or leaks often expose large quantities of secure user data (e.g., a user password). The exposed data may result in associated accounts and/or secure information being compromised. Systems may be implemented that allow users to provide potentially-exposed user data to determine whether the particular data was subject to a breach or leak. However, providing such user data may further subject the user's information to additional data breaches or leaks.

Probabilistic set membership using bloom filters


A kinetic energy absorption method includes receiving a force from kinetic energy at a composite article and distributing a load associated with the force across a designated pattern of lower strength length portions or lower modulus length portions of fibers within the composite article, where the load is distributed by: plastically deforming a ply and a matrix material; separating multiple substantially parallel fibers at the lower strength length portions or plastically stretching the multiple substantially parallel fibers at the lower modulus length portions; and creating gaps in the ply where the multiple substantially parallel fibers are separated or creating shear boundaries in the ply where the multiple substantially parallel fibers are plastically stretched.

Aircraft, spacecraft, and other structures may be impacted by various foreign objects. Examples include debris (such as tire treads, rocks, etc.), hail, micrometeoroids, etc. Breach of the structure could significantly damage internal components and effect structural integrity, even resulting in catastrophic loss of aircraft, spacecraft and other vehicular structures.
Aircraft, spacecraft, and other vehicular structures that carry fuel may experience a breach of fuel containment during a ground impact. A variety of self-sealing fuel bladders and impact containment structures exist with the goal of resisting breach of fuel containment during such events. Known fuel bladders and containment structures designed with such goals in mind are often made of either fabrics or unidirectional fibers. However, a desire exists to reduce the mass of fuel bladders and containment structures while still providing the same breach resistance or increasing breach resistance.
Accordingly, it will be appreciated that more efficient materials to reduce breach of structures would be beneficial for aircraft, spacecraft, and other vehicular structures subject to impact by foreign objects. More efficient materials exhibit a higher specific strength (strength/density), sometimes referred to as the strength-to-weight ratio. Similarly, more efficient breach resistant fuel bladders and containment structures would be beneficial. Materials with higher efficiency maintain or increase resistance to breach with less mass of the structural material compared to known structural materials.


The hands-free car kit allows a mobile handset to enter and exit privacy mode without the user having to press a privacy button. The simple act of picking up the mobile handset out of its cradle switches the hands-free car kit from hands-free mode to privacy mode. When the mobile handset is installed in the cradle the hands-free car kit enters hands-free mode. If the mobile handset is removed from the cradle the hands-free car kit enters privacy mode.

Mobile communications devices are increasingly popular in our society. It is popular to talk on mobile handsets while driving. Many users of mobile handsets would like a simple and convenient way to make a mobile telephone call easily while driving. One attempt to solve this problem is a hands-fee car kit.
A hands-free car kit is an electronic device, which will enable a person to have a conversation on a mobile call without having to hold a mobile handset. The hands-free car kit is a speaker that is loud enough to be heard from several feet away and over the noise of a typical car, combined with a microphone designed to receive a human voice from several feet away. Typically the microphone has some filtering function for filtering out common noises of a car. The hands-free car kit may include a cradle for holding the mobile handset. Many hands-free car kits also supply power to the mobile handset.
Some hands free car kits allow the user to push a button on the unit to operate in privacy mode. Privacy mode allows the user to switch modes so that the mobile handset microphone and speaker are active and the hands-free car kit microphone and speaker are deactivated. This prevents others in the car from hearing what the caller is saying to the person in the vehicle. If the hands-free car kit microphone and speaker are active the unit is in hands-free mode.
While many hands-free car kits are external to the mobile handset, it will be clear to one of skill in the art that a mobile handset could have a hands-free car kit mode. In hands-free car kit mode the mobile handset would have a built in speaker loud enough to be heard from several feet away and a microphone designed to receive a human voice from several feet away.
On many current hands-free car kits with privacy mode, if privacy becomes an issue, the user is required to engage a switch known as a privacy button and pick up the mobile handset for normal use. The reason that a person uses a hands free car kit is to minimize the complexity of operating a mobile handset while driving. Pushing a button to enter and exit privacy mode adds unnecessary complexity to the task of conducting a mobile call while driving.
Some hands-free car kits enter privacy mode automatically when the user picks up the mobile handset by using a mechanical switch. When a mechanical switch is used the switch is typically placed in the cradle, requiring wiring to be placed in the cradle. Additionally, a mechanically switch can more easily become contaminated and fail to function properly.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


A handguard system for a handlebar of a bicycle is provided and includes a handguard article having a handguard first end communicated with a handguard second end via a handguard center portion, wherein the handguard second end is configured to associate with the handlebar. The handguard system also includes a handguard collar, wherein the handguard collar includes a handguard collar structure which defines a collar cavity configured to contain the handlebar and having a collar cavity diameter CCD which is configurable between a first collar cavity diameter CCD1 and a second collar cavity diameter CCD2. and Additionally, the handguard system further includes a handguard mounting device, wherein the handguard mounting device is configured to securingly associate with the handguard first end and the handlebar, wherein when the handguard article is securingly associated with the handlebar, the handguard center portion is configured to cover a portion of the handlebar.

Bicycles were introduced in the 19th century and have been increasing in popularity ever since. In fact, it is estimated that by the early 21st century there were over 1 billion bicycles in existence across the globe at any given time, thus outnumbering automobiles. During this time, bicycles have had such an impact on society, that several well-known components, such as ball bearings, pneumatic tires, chain-driven sprockets and tension spoked wheels, were all invented for use on the bicycle. Bicycles have many different styles and shapes and have been adapted for many difference purposes, such as general transportation, exercise, sport, toys and business (such as bike couriers). In fact, in many regions around the world (such as China), bicycles have become the principal means of transportation.
As a sport, biking has evolved to include several different types of sport biking, such as speed bike racing, endurance bike racing, stunt biking and off-road or mountain biking. Each of these types of biking carries a risk of injury to the rider and/or damage to the components of the bike. For example, off-road or mountain biking involves riding a specially designed bicycle, called a mountain bike, over mountainous, rough, rocky and/or wooded terrain. As such, mountain bike riders frequently encounter brush, rocks and other obstacles that can injure the rider and/or bike equipment if the bike impacts hard objects. As a mode of transportation and as business couriers, bikes are riding on roads and paths with other bikes, automobiles and pedestrians. Thus, it is common to see bicycles and bicycle riders involved in accidents with other bicycles, as well as with automobiles and pedestrians. This is especially true at night-time or during the dark. Accordingly, a common injury among bicyclists involve hand and finger injuries and damage to components located on the ends of the handlebar, such as brake handles.
One reason for this is that the handlebar of the bicycle extends outwardly from the sides of the front of the bike. Accordingly, the handlebar and/or handlebar grips are more susceptible to impacting an object, such as a pole, a vehicle, brush, pedestrian, etc, as that object is being passed by the bike than are other parts of the bicycle. Moreover, because the riders hands are located on this protruding section of the handlebar, this makes the hands of the rider more susceptible to injury during object impact. This is undesirable because when the handlebar and/or handlebar grip contacts a hard object, the hand of the rider may become seriously injured and/or components of the bike may become damaged and unusable.


An agricultural vehicle including a chassis, at least one rotor supported by the chassis and configured for threshing a crop material, at least one exterior side member supported by the chassis and including at least one outlet, and an air conduit located underneath the at least one rotor. The air conduit is configured for providing an airstream directed to the at least one exterior side member such that the airstream forces a material other than grain out through the at least one outlet.

An agricultural harvester known as a "combine" is historically termed such because it combines multiple harvesting functions with a single harvesting unit, such as picking, threshing, separating, and cleaning. A combine includes a header, which removes the crop material from a field, and a feeder housing which transports the crop material to a threshing and separating system. The threshing and separating system may include a threshing rotor that rotates within a housing and performs a threshing operation on the crop material to remove the grain. The housing may include adjustable concaves with perforations for the grain to pass therethrough. Once the grain is threshed, it falls through the perforations in the concaves onto a cleaning system. The cleaning system generally includes a grain pan, one or more sieve(s), and a cleaning fan. The cleaning fan blows air through the sieves to discharge chaff and other debris toward the rear of the combine. The clean grain is then transported to a grain tank onboard the combine via a clean grain auger. Material other than grain (MOG), such as straw, debris, dust, etc., from the threshing and separating system proceeds through a residue system, which may utilize a discharge chopper to process the MOG and direct it out through the rear of the combine. Typically, a combine is equipped with side doors that allow an operator to easily access the threshing and separating system.
During operation of the combine, a substantial amount of back pressure may build up inside of the combine, which can decrease the overall efficiency of the threshing and/or cleaning systems. The back pressure within the combine may be caused by numerous factors including the buildup of MOG, the construction of the combine itself, the intake of air into the chamber from the threshing unit, and/or the operation of the cleaning fan which directs an airstream rearwardly across the cleaning system. MOG may burden the cleaning system because the MOG is typically only allowed to exit the rear of the combine; and thus, the presence of MOG may cause the cleaning system to less efficiently clean the grain. As to the construction of the combine, the side doors and paneling of the combine create a sealed environment in which generally all of the air and MOG within the combine may only exit through the rear of the threshing and separating system and then out through the rear of the combine via the residue system. The intake of air via the inflow of crop material and/or by the cleaning fan may create an imbalance of air inflow and outflow because more air can be introduced into the combine than can exit through the rear of the combine. Hence, back pressure builds up within the combine since the air outflow, exiting through one location at the rear of the combine, is not in proportion to the air inflow. The back pressure within the combine may cause the airstream created by the cleaning fan to be less effective and it may also cause MOG, and other airborne debris, to stagnate and/or exit the combine less efficiently.
What is needed in the art is an agricultural vehicle that efficiently and cost-effectively allows air and MOG to more easily exit the combine and increases the efficiency of the threshing and cleaning systems.

Vented side member for an agricultural vehicle


The disclosure relates to data retrieval in an enterprise system through use of a graphical selection tree. An exemplary device to implement and display such a selection tree includes one or more processors, and also a data selection component and a query engine that are each executable by the one or more processors. The data selection component, when operable, receives, within a graphical user interface (GUI), user input to select a predefined data metric, and displays, within the GUI, a selection tree containing graphical branches associated with a data dimension, wherein each branch corresponding to a data attribute within the data dimension. The query engine generates, for each branch in the selection tree that is selected, a data query to request data of the selected data metric that matches the data attribute corresponding to the selected branch. The query engine also is capable of sending each generated data query to a data storage system.

Enterprise software systems are typically sophisticated, large-scale systems that support many (e.g., hundreds or thousands) of concurrent users. Examples of enterprise software systems include enterprise performance management systems, financial planning systems, budget planning systems, order management systems, inventory management systems, sales force management systems, business intelligence tools, enterprise reporting tools, project and resource management systems, and other enterprise software systems.
Many enterprise applications, such as performance management and business planning applications, may require a large number of users to enter data that the applications then accumulate and provide to higher-level areas of responsibility in an organization. Once data has been entered, one or more selected portions of the data typically must be retrieved and/or displayed to be utilized. The enterprise system may perform calculations on the selected data, or combine data submitted by one user with data submitted by another. Using the selected data, the system may generate reports for review by higher-level management. Often, an enterprise system may even make use of multi-dimensional data sources that organize and manipulate tremendous volumes of data in a plurality of data dimensions. Select portions of the information contained in a multi-dimensional data source may also be accessed or displayed.

Generating data queries using a graphical selection tree

International Business Machines Corporation


A new cultivar of Lonicera×brownii, ‘Bailelle’, characterized by its dense flowering display of inflorescences in June with consistent repeat bloom into September and October, its flowers that are deep gold in color, its compact twining plant habit, its vigorous growth and ability to grow in a wide range of growing conditions with drought and moisture tolerance, its ability to attract hummingbirds and butterflies, and its hardiness in U.S.D.A. Zones 3 to 8.

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Lonicera×brownii will be referred to hereafter by its cultivar name, 'Bailelle'. 'Bailelle' is a new cultivar of Brown's Honeysuckle, a vine grown for use as an ornamental landscape plant for its funnel-shaped flowers, deep green leaves and ability to cover walls and trellises.
The Inventor discovered 'Bailelle' as a naturally occurring branch mutation of Loniera×brownii 'Dropmore Scarlet' (not patented) in the summer of 2003 in a cultivated garden in St. Cloud, Minn.
Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar was first accomplished under the direction of the Inventor using softwood stem cuttings in summer of 2004 in St. Paul, Minn. The characteristics of this cultivar have been determined to be stable and are reproduced true to type in successive generations.


A yard blower is provided which includes a housing mounting a source of high volume pressurized air, a hose fluidly communicating with the housing for directing the pressurized air, a nozzle with a rear end connected with the hose for distributing the pressurized air. The nozzle has a front end with an opening for releasing the pressurized air. The nozzle also has a generally rigid rake formed by a plurality of spaced apart tines projecting from the nozzle allowing the nozzle to agitate yard debris.

This invention relates in general to high volume pressurized air blowers utilized in lawn maintenance; specifically, to an air yard blower and a nozzle for such a blower.
It is well know in the art of lawn maintenance to use high volume pressurized air yard blowers to blow away grass clippings, shrubbery clippings, or yard debris. Another major use of air yard blowers is for gathering tree leaves.
In most conditions, an air yard blower can be used to gather leaves easily by moving them with high pressure air. Particularly initially fallen leaves that are supported above the ground on underlying blades of grass. These leaves are easily lifted by the air exiting an air yard blower nozzle. However, under some conditions, air yard blowers suffer deficiencies in gathering leaves. An air yard blower's deficiency is partly due to the absence of a mechanical means to free leaves that become entangled between blades of grass.
While large leaves are generally supported by underlying blades of grass, small or thin leaves settle between blades of grass. Even the stems of large leaves sometimes become entangled between blades of grass making removal with an air yard blower difficult. When the stem of a large leaf is entangled between blades of grass, the operator of an air yard blower may attempt to free the leaf by increasing the blower's air flow. Increasing the air flow sometimes causes the leaf to be pressed against the ground or to just spin about its entangled stem. In such situations the leaves are incapable of being swept away by the air yard blower.
Another example of an air yard blow's deficiency is apparent when use to gather leaves that have piled on top of each other. These leaves become heavy and have a tendency to stick together and stick to the grass. This tendency to stick increases when there is moisture present from rain or dew and is further increased when moisture freezes. Often when sticking occurs the air stream from a blower will be incapable of moving leaves.
The use of air yard blowers and nozzles found in prior art also experience deficiencies when used to remove fallen leaves from ground covering; such as, rocks, barks, vegetation or flowering plants. Since many ground coverings are vegetation that have large leaves, it is easy for fallen leaves to become caught between them. Furthermore, shrubbery leaves are generally smaller than leaves from trees and often settle on ground covering during trimming. To sweep debris from rock or bark type ground covering, the air flow rate must be carefully adjusted so as not to blow them from a defined area. These are some of the reasons the present invention, which integrates a mechanical means with a typical air yard blower nozzle to assist in the gathering of leaves, is brought forth.
A Sears CRAFTSMAN.RTM. gasoline powered blower Model No. 358.797931 discloses an air yard blower with a blower tube. The blower tube has a nozzle with an integrated straight edge. The straight edge is integral to the bottom front edge of the nozzle and is approximately three inches long and one-eight inches thick. The straight edge projects one-quarter of an inch downward. Although, the purpose of this edge is not described in the owner's operations manual this nozzle suffers many disadvantages over the present invention. The edge is too wide and blunt to effectively spread apart blades of grass. The edge does not extend far enough from the bottom of the nozzle to reach the root area of the grass. Even if the edge was made to extend further it would not be capable of pulling leaves, grass clipping or debris from the grass. The use of a flat straight edge to agitate ground covering also suffer disadvantages over the present invention in that it would shove rather than agitate the ground covering much like a hoe rather than a rake.


A system and method for extracting botanical herbal oil is disclosed. The method includes washing plant material with liquid solvent forming a solvent-oil extract solution, pumping the solvent-oil extract solution to an atomizer, pumping vapor solvent to the atomizer, atomizing the solvent-oil extract solution with vapor solvent forming an atomized mixture, and vaporizing the atomized mixture to isolate the botanical herbal oil from the mixture. The system includes a first pressure vessel to chill a solvent, a second pressure vessel to wash plant material with liquid solvent forming a solvent-oil extract solution, an atomizer to mix the solvent-oil extract solution with vapor solvent forming an atomized mixture, a liquid transfer pump to pump the solvent-oil extract solution to the atomizer, a vapor transfer pump to pump the vapor solvent to the atomizer, and a vaporizer to vaporize the atomized mixture and isolate the botanical herbal oil.

Botanical herbal oil extraction methods employ solvents to isolate desired oils from plant material. Current methods soak the plant material with a liquid solvent for a period and then filter the plant material from the solvent. What is left is a liquid solution including the solvent and any extracted botanical herbal oil. After the plant material is filtered, the liquid solution is heated to vaporize the solvent out from the solution and isolate the botanical herbal oil. These steps typically occur in a closed system wherein the plant material is soaked with the solvent in one vessel and the liquid solution is transferred to an evaporation chamber, in its liquid or original phase, for isolation of the botanical herbal oil. However, this process is slow in that the liquid solution is heated as a mass, either as a pool or a thinner film, which prolongs the solvent's rate of vaporization from the liquid solution. Therefore, a quicker rate of solvent vaporization is required in order to create a faster, more efficient system and method for extracting botanical herbal oil, which yields better results.
Accordingly, there is a need for a system and method for extracting botanical herbal oil that includes a means of increasing the rate of vaporization of a solvent from a solvent-oil extract solution.

System and method for extracting botanical herbal oil


A Pyramid Easel display holder for primarily flat objects includes ten main contiguous, triangular and polygonal (modified triangular) planes with additional contiguous triangular and trapezoid planes as part of optional base(s). On each of two display sides, objects are supported by a modified triangular center face, a triangular wing on each side of the center face, with two base options which brace the bottom of display objects, and aid in expansion control through friction with the surface support area. Front and mirrored back, and mirrored side wings, are connected by modified triangular swing arms, which are essentially the dynamic planar backsides of the front and back center pyramids, meeting at the crown of the embedded pyramids and “swinging” inside the center of the easel structure.

No prior research was done before the invention was composed. The invention evolved as a result of folding material to create a display holder for decorative greeting cards and art pieces.
Results of patent searches disclosed no utility or design patents with a composition of matter similar to the invention in structure, simplicity of assembly, useful scalability, the large scope of assembly material's options, and in composite functionality.
References to patents found in the fields of related art follow.
A classic easel is found in Multipurpose Easel, Holmgren, U.S. Pat. No. 5,005,795, Apr. 9, 1991; classifications: 248/449, 248/455, 248/465. While Holmgrem's easel contains one triangle display frame, and relies upon the weight of the display piece for stability, the Pyramid Easel invention incorporates three modified triangle frames/planes, each on two display sides, and has inherent greater stability with and without the weight of a display object. The swinging, attached arm and stabilizer 'foot' functionality in the Holmgren patent is enhanced in the Pyramid Easel invention by integrated easel and display object stabilization features combined with display face angle adjustability through easel expandability between 90 degrees to 155 degrees from the 'floor' or support surface for the easel.
Many patents make use of a square or rectangular base, coupled with a triangular side plane for support (Triangle Card Holder, Design 413, 147 Ruff et al 8/99, class D19/88; Display Easel with Self-Adjusting Paper Clamp, U.S. Pat. No. 5,152,490, Deutsch Oct. 6, 1992, class 248/452, 40/341, 248/316.3, 248/457, 40/341; Book Rest, U.S. Pat. No. 1,821,060, Isaacson 9/31, Class 248/455; Studio Easel, U.S. Pat. No. 5,004,204, Cook Apr. 2, 1991, class 248/449, 451, 452, 453, 455, 463, 456, 457, 460, 464, 465; Easel, U.S. Pat. No. 4,610,414, Schuck Sep. 6, 1986, class 248/449, 248/464; Adjustable Easel, U.S. Pat. No. 4,109,892, Hartuag Aug. 29, 1978, class 248/449, 248/455, 248/458, 248/464.
While Ruff and Hartuag patents are double-sided, the Ruff, Deutsch, Schuck, Isaacson patents have no horizontal extensibility. Hartuag attaches a triangular arm extending out from the side, but involves complex assembly and portability, as with the Cook patent. All these patents' primary display face planes are rectangular, except for Cook, and unlike the triangular-like face planes of the Pyramid Easel invention.
While Easel, U.S. Pat. No. 3,809,354, Phifer, May 7, 1974 has a triangular face plane, it is single-sided and has relatively complex assembly and portability.
The Glick patent (Easel for Displaying Cards and the Like, U.S. Pat. No. 5,388,798 Feb. 14, 1995, 248/459, 248/453) has many functional advantages similar to the Pyramid Easel, including simplicity, economy, adjustability, strength, and portability. The embodiments, i.e., composition of matter, of the Pyramid Easel are entirely different, allowing limitless decorative treatments; in the Pyramid Easel, further functional enhancements include expanded materials and construction options, enhanced horizontal extensibility and display angle adjustment range, a stackable characteristic for added strength and decorative value, and the inclusion of two display holder sides.


A circuit for providing a bias signal for a power amplifier includes a first input, a second input and an output. The first input is configured to receive an input signal to be amplified by the power amplifier. The second input is configured to receive the amplified input signal. The output is configured to provide the bias signal.

Recently, in order to save current in a transmit chain, the mobile phone manufacturers have been moving towards "envelope tracking", which is a technique where the power amplifier is supplied through a fast DC/DC converter whose output voltage is varying over time as a function of the amplitude modulation. The concept of envelope tracking is to operate as close as possible to saturation during the modulation peaks and to lower the voltage when the instantaneous amplitude signal is low, thereby boosting the power amplifier efficiency.
However, there are significant challenges in this concept. In fact, the gain of the power amplifier is affected by the DC/DC voltage. Thus, if one simply tries to follow the peaks of the signal with the DC/DC converter, the gain variation will result in a distortion of the modulation.
Furthermore, AM/PM phenomena may take place, which will also impair the modulation quality, therefore resulting in spurious emissions (unwanted energy in neighboring channels) or an error vector magnitude (EVM) degradation.
In conventional systems there are two ways to minimize the unwanted phenomena highlighted above. One conventional approach is to choose the trajectory of the DC/DC control voltage accurately so that the power amplifier gain stays constant. It has to be noted, however, that as the signal level increases and the power amplifier approaches saturation, its instantaneous gain diminishes. In particular, the intention of envelope tracking is to increase the DC/DC voltage when the amplitude signal goes through a peak. Here, increasing the DC/DC voltage generally leads to a gain increase. By combining these two effects, a cancellation can be obtained; hence limiting the unwanted distortion of the signal. For this concept, the AM/PM phenomena introduced by the power amplifier should be negligible.
Another conventional approach is to compensate both AM/AM and AM/PM distortions by adequately predistorting the input wave into the power amplifier. This can be accomplished with an analog real-time closed loop architecture or using some fixed predistortion. The predistortion based on closed loop architectures typically requires extremely wide bandwidth in order to not create excess noise at a duplexer offset. When using the predistortion without the closed loop architecture, it is typically required that the characteristic of the power amplifier is known with good detail.
The first conventional approach of the envelope tracking relies heavily on the knowledge of the so-called "isogain" contours, which have to be individually calibrated on each phone. However, also the second conventional approach of the predistortion requires the knowledge of the AM/AM and the AM/PM curves as a function of the instantaneous DC/DC voltage.
A disadvantage of the first conventional approach is that calibrating the isogain contours is a long task, which prolongs the calibration time in the factory. Also, the calibrated isogain contours typically have to be stored in a random-access memory (RAM) and they are characterized in that they are fixed. This results in the fact that if the power amplifier characteristic is not perfectly stable over different conditions (e.g. aging, temperature, load, etc.), the matching of the gain loss because of a proximity to saturation and the gain expansion because of an increased DC/DC voltage can no longer be achieved, therefore leading to a spectrum worsening.
A disadvantage of the second conventional approach is that the AM/AM and AM/PM predistortion also requires a significant individual calibration. Furthermore, its adequateness is typically not always guaranteed under all circumstances.
Therefore, conventional systems are disadvantageous in that they are rather inflexible and in that a time-consuming calibration task in the factory is required.

Circuit, transceiver and mobile communication device


Skin irritation, such as diaper rash, appearing when the skin is allowed to remain in contact with proteolytic enzymes found in feces is prevented by inactivating the fecal proteolytic enzymes by contact with organophilic clays. The organophilic clays are applied to the skin in areas likely to come into contact with feces or to garments such as diapers. A composition suitable for practicing the method of the invention comprises an amount of an organophilic clay effective to inactivate irritating fecal proteolytic enzymes dispersed in a pharmaceutically acceptable non-toxic dermatological vehicle. A fabric incorporating organophilic clay, preferably dispersed in a matrix of a superabsorbent polymer is useful for preparing diapers for infants that can help to prevent skin irritation by fecal enzymes.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to methods of prevention of skin irritation such as diaper rash and more particularly to prevention and treatment of diaper rash caused by fecal enzymes.
2. Brief Description of the Prior Art
Diaper rash is a form of contact dermatitis which afflicts infants whose wet and/or soiled diapers are not promptly changed. Because of the practical impossibility of attending promptly to all of an infant's needs, even those infants receiving a high level of care sometimes suffer from diaper rash.
It has recently come to be understood that the initial stages of some types of diaper rash are the result of skin irritation caused by contact with digestive enzymes present in infant feces, particularly trypsin, chymotrypsin and elastase. These enzymes are proteolytic enzymes produced in the gastrointestinal tract to digest food. In infants, the feces tend to be watery and they contain, among other materials such as bacteria, some amounts of undegraded digestive enzymes. These enzymes, if they remain in contact with the skin for any appreciable period of time have been found to cause an irritation that is uncomfortable in itself and can predispose the skin to infection by microorganisms.
Conventional methods of preventing or alleviating diaper rash have included application of powders to keep the skin dry and creams and ointments to protect the skin from contact with irritants. However diaper rash continues to be a problem for infants and parents.
Similar conditions conducive to skin irritation by proteolytic enzymes present in feces are found in patients having colostomies and the like. Such patients also would benefit from improved treatments to prevent skin irritation due to fecal enzymes.
Accordingly, a need has continued to exist for additional methods of preventing and treating diaper rash and similar skin irritations.

Method of preventing skin irritation caused by fecal enzymes


Compositions of matter comprising 5-phenoxyalkoxypsoralen compounds and their method of synthesis and use. The compounds are useable to treat diseases or disorders in human or animal subjects, including autoimmune diseases. The compounds inhibit potassium channels, including the Kv1.3 channel and at least some of the therapeutic effects of such compounds may be due at least in part to potassium channel inhibition. In some embodiments, the compounds are more selective for certain potassium channels (e.g., Kv1.3 channels) than other potassium channels (e.g., Kv1.5 channels).

T Cells and Their Functions
T cells are lymphocytes that have receptors capable of recognizing protein fragments (antigens) derived from foreign, potentially harmful proteins or organisms such as bacteria and viruses or from proteins present in the body of the host. Each T cell receptor recognizes a different string of amino acids, which comprise the antigen. Essentially there will always be at least one T cell receptor in the total repertoire of T cells, which will recognize any given antigen, which is in the body.
There are two main types of T cells, namely CD4+ helper T cells and CD8+ killer T cells. Helper T Cells (Th) carry receptors that engage antigens present on the surfaces of an antigen-presenting cell (APC) such as dendritic cells and sometimes macrophages. It is only by engagement with an antigen present on an APC and a subsequent process known as co-stimulation that a Th cell can become activated so that it may attack that specific antigen. Before the Th cell has become activated it is known as a "naïve" T cell. After the Th cell has become activated it becomes an "effector" T cell and wages an immune attack against the particular antigen. After cells containing the antigen have been destroyed, most of the effector T cells die. However, some effector T cells remain in a resting or quiescent state and are then known as "memory T cells." At least two types of Memory T cells exist, each having different migratory characteristics and effector functions. The first type of memory T cells are known as "effector memory T cells" (TEM) and produce IFN-γ, TNF-α and IL-2 or pre-stored perforin (in the case of CD8s) when they encouner an antigen. The second type of memory T cells, known as "central memory T cells" (TCM), express the chemokine receptor CCR7 similar to naïve T cells and lack immediate effector function. When TEM cells encounter the same antigen that initially caused their activation, they quickly convert back to effector T cells without the need for co-stimulation. Such rapid redeployment of effector T cells without the need for co-stimulation allows the immune system to attack the antigen in a very efficient manner.
Ion Channels: Molecular Targets for Pharmacologic Intervention
Ion channels are proteins embedded within the cell membrane that control the selective flux of ions across the membrane, thereby allowing the rapid movement of ions during electrical signaling processes. Because ion concentrations are directly involved in the electrical activity of excitable cells (e.g., neurons), the functioning (or malfunctioning) of ion channels can substantially control the electrical properties and behavior of such cells. Indeed, a variety of disorders, broadly termed as "channelopathies," are believed to be linked to ion channel insufficiencies or dysfunctions.
Ion channels are referred to as "gated" if they can be opened or closed. The basic types of gated ion channels include a) ligand-gated channels, b) mechanically gated channels and c) voltage-gated channels. In particular, voltage-gated channels are found in neurons and muscle cells. They open or close in response to changes in the potential differences across the plasma membrane.
In recent years, drug development efforts have included work aimed at identifying and characterizing various ion channels and designing agents that increase or decrease the flux of ions through those ion channels to bring about desired therapeutic effects.
Kv1.3 Channels and Their Roll in T Cell Physiology.
The predominant voltage-gated potassium ion channel in human T-lymphocytes is encoded by Kv1.3, a Shaker-related gene. Kv1.3 channels have been characterized extensively at the molecular and physiological level and are known to play a vital role in controlling T-lymphocyte proliferation, mainly by maintaining the membrane potential of resting T-lymphocytes. For example, encephalitogenic and arthritogenic rat T cells that have been chronically activated with myelin antigens have been shown to express a unique channel phenotype (high Kv1.3 channels and low IKCa1 channels), distinct from that seen in quiescent and acutely activated T cells (Beeton et al., 2001, Selective blockade of T lymphocyte K(+) channels ameliorates experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis, a model for multiple sclerosis. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 98:13942) and such findings have been confirmed in myelin antigen specific T cells from human patients suffering from multiple sclerosis (MS). Contrary to myelin-reactive T cells from healthy controls and to mitogen or control antigen activated T cells from MS patients, myelin reactive T cells from MS patients predominantly expressed surface markers of terminally differentiated effector memory T cells (CCR7−CD45RA−) and exhibited the Kv1.3highIKCa1low phenotype (Wulff et al., The voltage-gated Kv1.3 K(+) channel in effector memory T cells as new target for MS. 2003, J. Clin. Invest. 111:1703). In the same study, it was shown that this special K+ channel phenotype made the proliferation of effector memory T cells highly sensitive to inhibition by Kv1.3 blockers. Naïve and central memory T cells were only affected at 10-fold higher concentrations of Kv1.3 blockers and could escape Kv1.3 inhibition during subsequent stimulation through the up-regulation of the calcium-activated potassium channel IKCa1. Thus, it may be possible to develop a selective potassium channel blocker that will target the disease-inducing effector memory T cell population without affecting the normal immune response.
Kv1.3 and IKCa1 Expression and Functional Roles in Naïve and Memory T-cells
Naïve, central memory (TCM) and effector memory T (TEM) cells are classified based on the expression of the chemokine receptor CCR7 and the phosphatase CD45RA. Naïve (CCR7+CD45RA+) and TCM (CCR7+CD45RA−) cells migrate to the lymph node using CCR7 as an entry code, before migrating to sites of inflammation. In contrast, TEM cells have the ability to home directly to sites of inflammation, where they can secrete high amounts of interferon (IFN-γ) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and exhibit immediate effector function. The expression patterns of Kv1.3 and IKCa1 change dramatically as naïve cells become memory cells. At rest, CD4+ and CD8+ T-cells of all three subsets exhibit ˜200 to 400 Kv1.3 channels, and 0 to 30 IKCa1 channels (Wulff et al., The voltage-gated Kv1.3 K(+) channel in effector memory T cells as new target for MS. 2003, J. Clin. Invest. 111:1703). Activation has diametrically opposite effects on channel expression; as naïve and TCM cells move from resting to proliferating blast cells, they transcriptionally up-regulate IKCa1 to ˜500 channels per cell. In contrast, activation of TEM cells enhances Kv1.3 expression without any change in IKCa1 levels (Wulff et al., 2003, J. Clin. Invest. 111:1703). Functional Kv1.3 expression increases dramatically within 15 h of activation to a level of 1500 Kv1.3 channels/cell, remains elevated for the following 48 to 72 h, and then returns to baseline over the next five days (Beeton et al., A novel fluorescent toxin to detect and investigate Kv1.3 channel up-regulation in chronically activated T lymphocytes. 2003, J. Biol. Chem. 278:9928)
The subset-specific channel expression has important functional consequences, since Kv1.3 and IKCa1 regulate Ca2+ entry into T-cells through Ca2+-release-activated Ca2+ channels that exhibit 'upside-down' voltage-dependence compared with voltage-gated Ca2+ channels. A negative membrane potential drives Ca2+ entry through these channels. The electrochemical gradient supporting Ca2+ entry is initially large, resulting in significant Ca2+ influx. However, Ca2+ entry results in depolarization of the plasma membrane, limiting further influx. To maintain Ca2+ entry over the time scale required for gene transcription, a balancing cation efflux is necessary; this is provided by the efflux of K+ ions through Kv1.3 and/or IKCa1 channels, which supply the electrochemical driving force for Ca2+ entry via membrane hyperpolarization.
Depolarization resulting from Kv1.3 and IKCa1 blockade is inhibitory for Ca2+ influx, signaling and lymphocyte activation. As Kv1.3 channels predominate in resting T-cells of the three subsets, the Kv1.3 blocker ShK, but not the IKCa1 blocker TRAM-34, suppress antigen or mitogen-driven activation. However, ShK is 10-fold more effective on TEM cells than on naïve and TCM cells (IC50 values of 400 pM and 4 nM, respectively), due to the fact that the latter cells rapidly up-regulate IKCa1 after stimulation and become less sensitive to Kv1.3 inhibitors (Wulff et al., The voltage-gated Kv1.3 K(+) channel in effector memory T cells as new target for MS. 2003, J. Clin. Invest. 111:1703). Once IKCa1 is up-regulated in naïve and TCM cells, the reactivation of these cells is sensitive to IKCa1 but not Kv1.3 blockade. Naïve and TCM cells can up-regulate IKCa1 following mitogen or antigen stimulation, even if their initial activation is suppressed by Kv1.3 blockade; and can consequently escape further inhibition by Kv1.3 inhibitors (Wulff et al., 2003, J. Clin. Invest. 111:1703). Early in vivo studies support these in vitro findings. The Kv1.3 blockers MgTX (Koo et al., Blockade of the voltage-gated potassium channel Kv1.3 inhibits immune responses in vivo. 1997, J. Immunol. 158:1520) and correolide (Koo et al., Correolide and derivatives are novel immunosuppressants blocking the lymphocyte Kv1.3 potassium channels. 1999, Cell Immunol. 197:99) effectively suppress the primary delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) response in mini-pigs, but are much less effective in suppressing the secondary DTH response, presumably due to the fact that the activated naïve or TCM cells involved have up-regulated IKCa1 expression. In contrast, TEM cells exclusively up-regulate Kv1.3 channels, and are persistently suppressed by Kv1.3 inhibitors.
Kv1.3 and IKCa1 Expression and Functional Roles in Naïve and Memory B-cells
A similar change in potassium channel expression takes place during the differentiation from naïve into class-switched memory B cells. While naïve (IgD+CD27−) and "early" memory B cells (IgD+CD27+) rely on IKCa1 for their proliferation, class-switched (IgD−CD27+) memory B cells rely on Kv1.3 and their proliferation is therefore potently inhibited by the Kv1.3 blockers ShK and Psora-4 (Wulff et al. K + channel expression during B cell differentiation: implications for immunomodulation and autoimmunity. 2004. J. Immunol. 173:776-86). Thus, Kv1.3 blockers selectively target "late" memory responses in both the T- and B-cell lineage should be useful for the treatment of autoimmune disorders.
Kv1.5 Channels and Regulation/Deregulation of Cardiac Rhythm
Ion flux through voltage gated potassium channels also plays a role in regulation of cardiac rhythms. Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a common cardiac rhythm disturbance. AF can be treated or prevented by agents that prolong the atrial action potential duration and refractoriness. Indeed, drugs such as dofetilide, almokalant, amiodarone and d-sotalol can effectively suppress AF. However, such drugs may also prolong the ventricular action potential duration, thereby giving rise to life threatening or lethal ventricular arrhythmias. This potential for antiarrhythmic drugs to actually cause certain types of arrhythmias while preventing others is sometimes referred to as the drug's "proarrhythmic potential." Proarrhythmic potential is an important dose-limiting factor in the use of antiarrhythmic drugs. In fact, a common proarrhythmic event reported to result from the use of traditional antiarrhythmic drugs that prolong ventricular repolarization (QT interval) to treat AF is a condition known as torsades de pointes, which is a rapid polymorphic ventricular tachycardia.
Because voltage gated Kv1.5 potassium channels are predominantly located in atrial tissue, drugs that inhibit Kv1.5 channels are being developed for the treatment of AF (Brendel, J. and Peukert, S.; Blockers of the Kv1.5 Channel for the Treatment of Atrial Arrhythmias; Current Medicinal Chemistry—Cardiovascular & Hematological Agents, Volume 1, No. 3, 273-287 (2003)). Drugs that selectively inhibit Kv1.5 channels could prove to be a viable new approach for the treatment of AF with minimal or no proarrhythmic potential. However, it is also possible that, untoward inhibition of Kv1.5 channels in patients who have normal heart rhythms could induce an electrical imbalance and actually cause arrhythmias in such patients. Thus, when developing drugs that are intended to inhibit potassium channels other than Kv1.5 (e.g., drugs intended to inhibit Kv1.3 channels to treat T cell mediated diseases), it may be desirable to design these drugs to display selectivity for the target potassium channels (e.g., Kv1.3 channels) over the heart-affecting Kv1.5 channels.
In view of the foregoing, there remains a need for the synthesis and development of new potassium channel inhibitors that are specific for certain potassium channels over other potassium channels, thereby providing specific therapeutic effects with minimal side effects.

5-phenoxyalkoxypsoralens and methods for selective inhibition of the voltage gated Kv1.3 potassium channel

The Regents of the University of Califonia


Described are a sterile, ready-to-use, pharmaceutical oil-in water emulsion compositions for parenteral administration comprising:                0.015 to 1.2% wt/vol of progestogen;        0.5-30% wt/vol oil, wherein the oil comprises at least 85% wt/wt triglyceride;        0.0425-12.5% wt/vol phospholipid;        61.4-99.4% wt/vol aqueous medium;wherein the phospholipid is present in an amount of 6.8%-43% of the oil (wt/wt), and wherein the progestogen is present in an amount greater than or equal to 2.1 wt % of the oil.

Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) is a non-degenerative, non-congenital insult to the brain from an external mechanical force, possibly leading to permanent or temporary impairments of cognitive, physical and psychosocial functions with an associated diminished or altered state of consciousness (Brown, A. W., et. al., 2008, Arch. Phys. Med. Rehabil., 89 (Supp. 1), S3-8). TBI is a major cause of death and disability worldwide. It is estimated that more than 1.5 million Americans sustain a TBI each year, and the incidence of TBI in other industrialized countries is comparable to the U.S. (Traumatic Brain Injury: Methods for Clinical and Forensic Neuropsychiatric Assessment, p. 2, Granacher, ed., CRC Press 2003). For example, in Europe there are approximately 66,000 deaths annually attributed to TBI (Socin, D. M., et al. (1995). JAMA 273(22), 1778-80). Some patients have a long-term or lifelong need for help to perform activities of daily living as a result of TBI.
Despite the enormity of the problem posed by TBI, there are currently no approved medications proven to be effective in improving mortality or in improving outcomes following TBI. However, two recent clinical trials have demonstrated successful treatment of TBI with the steroid hormone progesterone (Xiao et al, 2008, Crit. Care, 12: R61; Wright et al Ann. Emerg. Med. 2007, 49: 391-402). Both studies showed that progesterone is safe and well tolerated in TBI patients, and that administration of progesterone to TBI patients leads to decreased mortality. Furthermore, patent applications WO2006/102644, WO2006102596, and WO2008/039898 outline methods for treatment of TBI by parenterally administering progestogen.
The most effective route of administration of progestogens such as progesterone is via parenteral, or intravenous administration. However, the hydrophobic nature of the progesterone molecule, and hence its poor solubility in water, presents formulation limitations. Aqueous solutions do not offer formulations capable of delivering effective therapeutic doses of progesterone to patients. However, progesterone is sufficiently lipophilic to enable therapeutically effective concentrations to be prepared in hydrophobic solvents, such as triglyceride based solvents.
The delivery of hydrophobic drugs via intravenous infusion of oil-in-water emulsions is known in the art. Examples include Taxol® and Abraxane®, which are nanoformulations of the chemotherapy drug paclitaxel designed for intravenous administration, and Diprivan®, which is a lipid emulsion formulation of the anaesthetic propofol marketed by APP pharmaceuticals, IL, USA. Intravenous administration of progesterone with an oil-in-water emulsion has also been previously described (Wright D W et al. supra; Trotter et al, Journal of Clin. Endocrinol. & Metab. (1999) Vol. 84, page 4531).
The ProTECT study (Wright et al., Ann. Emerg. Med. 2007, 49: 391-402) utilized a 2-component system, wherein progesterone is firstly dissolved in an alcoholic solution (first component), and this alcoholic progesterone solution is subsequently injected into the commercially available lipid emulsion Intralipid® 20% (Fresenius Kabi, Sweden) (second component), and manually mixed (such as by shaking) shortly before intravenous administration of the alcoholic solution/emulsion mixture. There are multiple disadvantages of using this method of preparation:
Firstly, administration of alcoholic solutions to TBI patients is not desirable. Secondly, whilst the presence of alcohol aids solubilisation of the progesterone, low shear manual mixing does not enable all of the progesterone to enter the oil phase. Consequently such emulsions are capable of solubilising only a limited amount of progesterone, and large amounts of lipid must therefore be administered in order to achieve the desired serum-progesterone levels. However, administration of large volumes of emulsion, and/or large amounts of lipid to the patient can have serious consequences, such as induction of hyperlipidemia or oedema. The patient is, as a result, exposed to an undesirable lipid and/or liquid load and is placed at risk of adverse reactions.
Furthermore, non-dissolved progesterone is susceptible to crystallisation, and subsequently oxidation in the aqueous phase, thus causing not only elevated levels of particulate matter to accumulate in the composition, but also high levels of degradation products of the active ingredient. Indeed, it has been shown that, when an alcoholic solution of progesterone is injected into a commercial lipid emulsion composition (such as Intralipid® 20%), a fraction of the hormone is found in crystalline form rather than becoming solubilised in the emulsion. This non-solubilized progesterone has been reported to be adsorbed at the surface of the infusion bags and feed ducts. The observation that not all of the progesterone enters the oil phase of these 2-component emulsions leads to uncertainty as to the concentration of progesterone achieved in the final composition, and the bio-availability of the hormone.
Finally, due to stability issues, the progesterone-lipid mixture of 2-component systems must be prepared only hours ahead of administration (i.e. the first component is added to the second component and mixed within hours of use), as the resulting mixture may not be stored at room temperature. It is both time consuming and inconvenient for medical practitioners to prepare such mixtures on demand, and particularly unsatisfactory in the context of TBI therapy, where prompt treatment can be important to patient outcome.
Alternative methods for making hormone-containing emulsions describe the incorporation of hormone directly into the oil during manufacture of the lipid emulsion.
WO 96/10991 describes pharmaceutical compositions for transmucosal administration of estradiol in combination with a progestin.
WO 01/28555 describes oil-in-water emulsion systems for the delivery of polyfunctional active ingredients. The emulsions comprise, in addition to an active ingredient, polarity modifiers, said to be capable of modifying the interaction between the polyfunctional active ingredient and the oil phase, by serving as a bridge to reduce the effects of the gap in polarity between the active ingredient and the oil.
US 2007/0071777 describes a method of making a 20% lipid emulsion comprising progesterone, which serves as a stock solution that is used to prepare (by dilution) a 5% lipid emulsion.
CN 101152186 describes the use of the surfactants Solutol S15 or poloxamer 188 in the preparation of injectable progesterone formulations. Whilst use of these surfactants may achieve a high progesterone solubility, intravenous administration of high concentrations of these surfactants is associated with undesirable side-effects including moderate elevation in histamine release, urticaria, and anaphylactic reactions (pruritis, erythema).
One method of increasing the solubility of progesterone in lipid emulsions known in the art is the use of organic solvents. Progesterone is highly soluble in benzoic acid or its derivatives. For example, JP 60-258110 describes the use of benzyl benzoate to increase progesterone solubility in an oil emulsion. However, since benzyl alcohols and benzyl benzoate are commonly toxic and are known to elicit allergies, their inclusion in compositions for parenteral administration is considered a serious danger.
There remains a need, therefore, for physically stable formulations of progestogen suitable for parenteral, particularly intravenous, administration.

Pharmaceutical emulsion compositions comprising progestogen

Abstract: Also described are methods of making such compositions and method of using such compositions in therapeutic or prophylactic treatment, such as treatments comprising intravenous administration of the pharmaceutical composition.


An extracorporeal blood treatment machine for carrying out a blood treatment including a machine front on which a hollow fiber filter module is arranged in a horizontal position, which hollow fiber filter module includes a cylindrical housing, a blood chamber having a blood inlet nozzle and a blood outlet nozzle and a solution chamber having a solution inlet nozzle extending transversely to the longitudinal direction of the hollow fiber filter module and a solution outlet nozzle extending transversely to the longitudinal direction of the hollow fiber filter module, the solution chamber being semi-permeably communicated at least in portions with the blood chamber, wherein a height potential is present in the horizontal position between the solution inlet nozzle and the solution outlet nozzle so that drainage of solution is enabled via one of the solution nozzles and evacuation of air bubbles is enabled via an other of the solution nozzles.

The use of hollow fiber filter modules for blood treatment/purification in extracorporeal blood treatment machines is a wide-spread standard. Recently, increasing attention has been drawn to coupling the respective hollow fiber filter modules in a compact arrangement to the blood treatment machine such as a dialysis machine so that the lengths of the lines will be reduced.
For obtaining a compact arrangement it is useful when the hollow fiber filter module can be flexibly attached to the machine at various operating positions.

Blood treatment machine comprising a hollow fiber filter module for horizontal arrangement as well as hollow fiber filter module and use thereof


A process of automatically transferring a file can be performed via an external network without using a VPN. A plurality of client terminals is separately connected with a relay server and can share a resource. The client terminal monitors the addition of a resource to a specified transfer source folder. When the resource is added, the client terminal adds information regarding the resource to the shared resource information. The updated shared resource information is shared with other client terminals via the relay server. When the client terminal detects the update, the client terminal transmits a resource transfer request to the client terminal via the relay server. When data of the resource is received via the relay server, the client terminal stores the resource in a specified transfer destination folder.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a relay server and a relay communication system that enable automatic resource transfer via a network.
2. Description of the Related Art
A communication system referred to as a Virtual Private Network (VPN) is known in the conventional art. The VPN is used, for example, to provide communication over the Internet between terminals connected to a Local Area Network (LAN) of a plurality of branch offices (base points) located in separate regions. Through the VPN, each client terminal can share various resources (such as folders, files, etc.) held by devices connected to another LAN arranged in a remote location, and thus, the resources can be shared and transferred through the network.
Such systems as the VPN, however, tend to be rigid because the network is virtual. Therefore, it is not easy to establish a scalable and flexible system.
However, without the VPN, it is difficult to automatically transfer a file to a storage area of a terminal that belongs to another network.

Relay server and relay communication system including a relay group information registration unit, a shared resource information registration unit, and a control unit


Apparatus and method for the prevention of echo signals in terminals connected to a network carrying telephony traffic. The echo prevention occurs prior to the introduction of signal delay by a network. The method and apparatus function to control echo contained in audio signals transmitted between the nodes of a network, wherein the audio signals experience delay in transit from node to node and wherein the echo controlling method is distributed across the nodes.

In a telephone network which employs analog transmission over 2-wire circuits, echo is introduced at the point of conversion between 4-wire and 2-wire circuits--typically referred to as the "hybrid". This echo results from an imperfect impedance match between the 4-wire and 2-wire circuits. Proper control of impedance matching, however, limits the echo to an allowable level.
The subjective effect of this echo is quite acceptable. Indeed, a controlled amount of near-end echo, known as sidetone, is desirable to prevent a telephone from sounding "dead". When transmission delay is introduced into the voice path, however, the effects of echo become much more objectionable and may ultimately render a circuit unusable. This situation can occur in the public network if multiple transatlantic hops utilizing geo-stationary satellites are connected in tandem. In order to mitigate this effect, long distance circuits in the public network are often equipped with echo suppressers which attenuate the strength of unwanted echo signals.
Local telephone networks and customer premise equipment are not equipped with echo suppressers, since local connections made by conventional space/time division switching means can never encounter the long transmission delays that would produce unacceptable echoes.
However, it is becoming more common to provide voice services over packet switched networks using technologies such as Asynchronous Transfer Mode, Ethernet, isoEthernet and TCP/IP. Control over transmission delay is less secure under packet switched technologies than with space/time division switching and in some cases may not be provided at all. This migration from space/time division switching to packet switching creates a requirement for echo suppression to be provided in local switching and transmission equipment.
There exists another situation in which echo can be introduced to a local telephone network. This occurs when speakerphones are utilized. Sounds originating from a far-end talker are broadcast into the room occupied by the speakerphone user. Some of this sound is reflected off objects in the room and the walls of the room itself, and picked up by the microphone attached to the speakerphone. This reflected sound is transmitted back to the far-end talker and experienced as echo. This situation occurs even when 4-wire circuits are used throughout the connection.
There is, therefore, a need for a method and apparatus for controlling echo at its point of introduction to a local telephone network, in a practical and cost-effective manner.

Distributed audio signal processing in a network experiencing transmission delay


A semiconductor device comprises a semiconductor region including silicon, and an insulating film including silicon, oxygen, nitrogen, and helium, the dielectric film provided on the semiconductor region, and the dielectric film having a concentration distribution with respect to a film thickness direction, the concentration distribution having a maximal value of concentration of the helium in a surface portion on the semiconductor region side and a maximal value of concentration of the nitrogen in a surface portion on a side opposite to the semiconductor region.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a semiconductor device and manufacturing method, particularly to a semiconductor device including a thin dielectric film such as a gate dielectric film or capacitor dielectric film, and a manufacturing method of the device.
2. Description of the Related Art
In a semiconductor field such as LSI, miniaturization of a semiconductor device has heretofore been proceeded, but it has gradually become difficult to miniaturize the device. In an example of a MOS transistor, for instance, it has been increasingly difficult to reduce a gate leakage current and to decrease a physical film thickness of a gate dielectrics film.
To solve the problem, the use of a dielectric film having a higher permittivity than that of a silicon oxide film as a gate a dielectric film has been studied in order to inhibit increase of the gate leakage current involving the reduction of the physical film thickness of the gate dielectric film. As this type of the dielectric film, a dielectric film including silicon, oxygen, and nitrogen (hereinafter referred to as an SiON film) has been known.
A conventional process of the SiON film is as follows. First, the ultra-thin silicon oxide film (base oxide film) which is to be the SiON film is formed on a silicon substrate by thermal oxidation. Thereafter, the base oxide film is nitrided by plasma such as N2 plasma (nitrogen radical, nitrogen ion) to form the SiON film (e.g., see 2001 Symposium on VLSI Technology Digest of Technical Papers).
However, this type of conventional process of the SiON film has the following problem.
When the film thickness of the base oxide film is 2.5 nm or less, particularly 1.4 nm or less, at a nitriding time of the base oxide film by a nitrogen radical, and the like, oxygen replaced with nitrogen reaches an interface between the silicon substrate and base oxide film, the oxygen oxidizes the silicon substrate, and the physical film thickness of the SiON film increases. In other words, it is difficult to reduce the electrical film thickness of the SiON film.
Therefore, in the conventional process of the SiON film, even if the base oxide film is thinned, it is difficult to obtain an SiON film which has a desired small film thickness. This inhibits the miniaturization of the MOS transistor.

Semiconductor device and manufacturing method thereof including heating a silicon oxide in a helium gas


Discussed is a display device. The display device includes a thin film transistor, a first protective layer, a second protective layer, a pixel electrode, a connection line, a third protective layer, and a common electrode.

The present disclosure relates to a display device, and more particularly, to a display device with an integrated touch screen.
A related art display device is described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3.
FIG. 1 is a sectional view of one pixel area of a related art display device. FIGS. 2 and 3 are varied views of portion B of FIG. 1. The related art display device as illustrated in FIG. 1, includes a substrate 100, a thin film transistor that is a switching element, a first protective layer 134, a second protective layer 140, a pixel electrode 151, a connection line 161, a third protective layer 170, and a common electrode 181.
The thin film transistor is formed in a unit pixel area, and includes a gate electrode 110, a gate insulation layer 120, an active layer 130, a source electrode 131, a drain electrode 132, and an etch stopper 133.
The first protective layer 134 and the second protective layer 140 are formed on the thin film transistor, and particularly, the second protective layer 140 is formed of photo acryl.
The pixel electrode 151 is used as an electrode for display driving and is connected to the drain electrode 132 of the thin film transistor through a contact hole 141 that is formed in the second protective layer 140.
The connection line 161 (e.g. formed of metal) is on the second protective layer 140. The connection line 161, for example, applies a display driving signal or a touch driving signal to the common electrode 181. The third protective layer 170 is formed on the connection line 161, the pixel electrode 151, and the second protective layer 140.
The common electrode 181 and the pixel electrode 151 are formed on different layers. In a display driving mode of a display device with an integrated touch screen, the common electrode 181 generates an electric field together with the pixel electrode 151 and is thereby used as an electrode for display driving. In a touch driving mode of a display device with an integrated touch screen, the common electrode 181 is used as a touch electrode for sensing a touch.
On the other hand, as illustrated in a portion A of FIG. 1, when the connection line 161 of metal is deposited on the second protective layer 140 of photo acryl, due to an adhesive failure between metal and photo acryl, a peeling problem can occur in a subsequent process after deposition, and thus, there is a possibility that the connection line 161 will be damaged.
Even though the connection line 161 is not damaged due to the peeling problem, when a peeling problem occurs in a boundary portion of an adhesive surface, the boundary portion of the adhesive surface can be contaminated by an etching solution and a stripping solution in an etching process and a stripping process. For this reason, additional cost and time are expended to remove the contamination.
To solve the peeling problem, a buffer passivation layer can be formed between the second protective layer 140 and the connection line 161. In this case, however, cost and time are expended by such an additional process.
Moreover, as illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, in forming the contact hole 141 for connecting the pixel electrode 151 and the drain electrode 132, when the step height of the contact hole 141 is large or an error, such as a reverse taper, occurs in the first protective layer 134, the disconnection of the pixel electrode 151 can occur in a connection portion connected to the drain electrode 132, and the disconnected portion is exposed by the etching solution and the stripping solution, causing the damage of the drain electrode 132.
Some limitations of the related art display device are described below.
First, a peeling problem can occur due to an adhesive failure between the second protective layer of photo acryl and the connection line of metal, resulting in damaging the connection line and/or contaminating the boundary portion of the adhesive surface.
Second, when the buffer passivation layer is formed for solving the peeling problem between photo acryl and metal, cost and time are expended by an additional process.
Third, when the step height of the contact hole for connecting the pixel electrode and the drain electrode is large or when a reverse taper occurs in the first protective layer, the pixel electrode can be disconnected, and the drain electrode in the disconnected portion is damaged by the etching solution and the stripping solution.

Display device and method for manufacturing the same


An apparatus for injecting a fuel-air mixture, including a cup-shaped gas delivery hood with a bottom part of a jacket part between the valve end of a fuel injection valve and a gas delivery element, the jacket part has at least one gas delivery opening through which gas is injected and which strikes the injected fuel. The size of the opening cross section, which meters the gas, of the at least one gas delivery opening is accordingly fixed from the very outset and need not be adjusted. Moreover, because of a directional flow of the delivery of gas, very good atomization of the fuel is attained. The embodiment of the apparatus is especially well-suited for use in mixture-compressing internal combustion engines with externally supplied ignition.

The invention is based on an apparatus for injecting a fuel-air mixture into an intake tube of a mixture-compressing internal combustion engine. German Patent Document 32 40 554 A1 (U.S. Pat. No. 4,545,354) has already disclosed an apparatus for injecting a fuel-air mixture that relates to a throttle tang-type injection valve with a gas guide element; the injection opening of the injection valve is surrounded, in the immediate vicinity of the gas guide element, by an annular gas gap communicating with an annular gas conduit. However, this apparatus has the disadvantage that because of production tolerances, the annular gas gap that meters the gas and is predetermined by engine requirements must be adjusted by displacement or bending of the gas guide element. Adapting the annular gas gap entails high costs in large-scale mass production of this known apparatus. Because of capillary action, the danger exists in the known apparatus that during operation without the delivery of gas, fuel may intermittently enter the annular gas conduit through the annular gas gap, so that when gas flow ensues, an undesirable enrichment of the fuel-air mixture can occur.

Apparatus for injecting a fuel-air mixture


A controllable-frequency oscillator has a first portion for generating a signal having a controllable frequency. The controllable-frequency oscillator has a second portion for controlling the frequency of the signal generated by the first portion in response to a first control signal. The controllable-frequency oscillator has a third portion for controlling the frequency of the signal generated by the first portion in response to a second control signal separate from the first control signal.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a controllable-frequency oscillator or an adjustable-frequency oscillator.
2. Description of the Related Art
A typical temperature-compensated crystal oscillator has an oscillating section and a temperature compensating section. The oscillating section includes a quartz-crystal resonator. The oscillating section also includes a circuit connected to the quartz-crystal resonator for generating a signal having a frequency which can be adjusted by a control signal in a range around the resonance frequency of the quartz-crystal resonator. The temperature compensating section includes a temperature sensor. The temperature compensating section also includes a circuit connected to the temperature sensor for generating a temperature-dependent signal. The temperature compensating section feeds the temperature-dependent signal to the oscillating section as a control signal in order to compensate for a temperature-dependent variation in the frequency of the signal generated by the oscillating section.
Japanese published unexamined patent application 6-276020 discloses a controllable-frequency crystal oscillator of the Colpitts type. The crystal oscillator in Japanese application 6-276020 includes only one variable-capacitance diode in a resonator. Furthermore, only one control signal can be applied to the variable-capacitance diode. The frequency of a signal generated by the crystal oscillator can be varied in response to the control signal applied to the variable-capacitance diode. In Japanese application 6-276020, the control signal is generated on the basis of the output signal of a temperature sensor to implement temperature compensation with respect to the frequency of the signal generated by the crystal oscillator.

Oscillator circuit with first and second frequency control elements

Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.