A system to adjust a predetermined dosage of main livestock feed products in a predetermined feed recipe, which includes one or more feed dosages, each indicative of a predetermined amount of a corresponding main feed product in said feed recipe. The system includes a memory for storing the recipe, a meteorological monitoring system suitable for determining one or more meteorological parameters in the storage areas of the feed products and a processing unit, configured to: determine a first value indicative of the humidity in each feed product as a function of meteorological parameters associated with the related storage area, determine a differential value indicative of the difference between the first value and a second value indicative of a reference humidity of said feed product, and adjust the feed dosage associated with each feed product in the recipe based on the differential value of humidity in the main feed product.

The diet of livestock, of cattle for example, is normally specified by a specialist, typically a nutritionist. In detail, the nutritionist identifies, through laboratory analysis, a set of information regarding the chemical components and nutritional values, such as starch, proteins, dry substance etc., which characterize each feed product specified in the animal's diet and then determines, on the basis of the chemical components and nutritional values identified for each feed product and on the basis of the nutritional requirements of the animals deriving from their physical and productive conditions, the correct feed rations, in terms of the absolute weight of each feed product to be put in the feed diet.
At many livestock farms, the amount of each feed product and the preparation of the feed ration to be given to each animal is carried out by means of mixer wagon, inside which the various feed products are loaded, by appropriate subsystems provided on the mixer wagon or mechanical shovels or other loading systems mounted on motorized vehicles, according to the respective target weights specified in feed diet prepared by the nutritionist.
State-of-the-art mixer wagons are equipped with a weighing system, which comprises one or more load cells connected to the chassis and/or the bin of the mixer wagon to detect the weight of the feed products loaded in the bin and an electronic control unit connected to the load cells to measure, moment by moment, the weight of the feed product emptied by the mechanical shovel or whatever other loading system into the bin, so as to control that the weight of the loaded feed product reaches the respective predetermined target weight.
In detail, the electronic control unit comprises a memory for storing at least one recipe of feed products to load onto the mixer wagon, a processing and control module configured to control, on the basis of the recipe, the weight of the feed products as they are loaded onto the mixer wagon and a display unit to inform an operator of the measured weight, moment by moment, and of reaching the target weight in the feed recipe.
It often happens that the various feed products that form the recipe must be taken from different storage areas or deposits subjected to prolonged weather exposure, which is known to alter the percentages of the chemical components in feed products and, in consequence, significantly alter the nutritional value of feed products. Therefore, for the same weight of feed products given to an animal, the nutritional values effectively given can vary significantly with respect to those specified in the "theoretical" feed diet specified by the nutritionist.
In consequence, conditions of dietary imbalance can arise in the animal that can even harm the animal's physical conditions and that, in any case, can lead to a qualitative and quantitative deterioration of the products obtained from the animal (milk, meat, etc.). Nutritionists know this risk very well and therefore tend to give a diet able to satisfy the nutritional requirements of the animals even in the worst case by giving, in the majority of circumstances, a diet with an excess of nutritional elements that increase feed costs more than is effectively necessary and also increase the levels of nitrogen and phosphorus in the faeces.
It should be added that when an animal ingests an excessive quantity of proteins with respect to its needs, through its digestive cycle, the animal transforms the excess proteins into nitrogenous compounds that are expelled in the form of faeces: the resulting environmental impact is significant and obviously proportional to the number of animals subjected to a feed diet with excess proteins.

System and method for automatically adjusting the dosage of feed products in a livestock feed recipe


A semiconductor integrated circuit has an amplifier circuit which includes a phase compensating capacitor and has a feedback loop, and a stability determining and adjusting circuit which measures an amplitude of a voltage outputted from the amplifier circuit at a predetermined plurality of frequencies and adjusts a capacitance value of the phase compensating capacitor on the basis of a ratio between measured values of the amplitude.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a semiconductor integrated circuit and a method for adjusting a capacitance value of a phase compensating capacitor.
2. Related Art
Many of circuits using operational amplifiers are ones with feedback (negative feedback). In a circuit with negative feedback, the negative feedback may change to positive feedback due to phase rotation in a high-frequency band to cause oscillation. For this reason, whether the circuit with a feedback loop has an element satisfying an oscillation condition (the stability of the circuit) is determined.
As a method for determining the stability of a feedback loop, there is available one using phase margin (see, e.g., Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2006-10596). In this method, a closed-loop circuit is opened at a point to form an open-loop circuit. A signal is inputted from one end of the open-loop circuit while varying frequency, an output from the other end is obtained, and a loop transfer function is calculated.
A unity gain frequency "fu" where gain is 0 dB (1×) is calculated from the gain-frequency characteristic of the loop transfer function, and the difference between a phase at the unity gain frequency "fu", and a phase lag of 180° is calculated from the phase-frequency characteristic. The difference is phase margin.
If the phase margin is not less than a reference value (e.g., 15°), it is determined that the circuit is oscillation-free and stable. However, a circuit for phase characteristic evaluation is complicated and causes increase in cost.
The process is also performed of setting the capacitance value of a phase compensation capacitor of an operational amplifier to be large, making the phase margin large, and ensuring stability. However, along with increase in the capacitance of a phase compensation capacitor, the gain of a circuit decreases, and the bandwidth becomes narrow. If the capacitance of a phase compensation capacitor is large, slew rate decreases, and distortion occurs in an output waveform.
If device elements, each constituting a part of a circuit, are formed in the manufacturing process to vary widely, phase compensation capacitor samples need to be optimized (adjusted) individually.

Semiconductor integrated circuit and method for adjusting a capacitance value of a phase compensating capacitor


Provided is a novel crystal form of pioglitazone hydrochloride and a method for making it. Also provided is a method for making a known crystal form of pioglitazone hydrochloride.

Diabetes is a disorder of metabolism in which either the pancreas produces too little or no insulin, or the body cells do not respond to the insulin that is produced. In type I diabetes, the pancreas does not produce any insulin. In type II diabetes, also known as adult onset diabetes, there are two potential problems: the pancreas produces too little insulin, or the body cells do not respond to the insulin that is produced. In either scenario, the glucose cannot efficiently move from the blood to the cells, which leads to a buildup of glucose in the blood and an overflow into the urine. As a result, the body loses its main source of fuel. Administering insulin or oral antihyperglycemic agents allows the glucose to enter the cells more efficiently, thus providing a source of fuel.
Pioglitazone is an oral antihyperglycemic agent that acts primarily by decreasing insulin resistance. Pharmacological studies indicate that pioglitazone improves sensitivity to insulin in muscle and adipose tissue and inhibits hepatic gluconeogenesis. Pioglitazone improves glucose resistance while reducing circulating insulin levels.
Pioglitazone is currently marketed as ACTOS® Pioglitazone hydrochloride has the chemical name [(±)5-[[4-[2-(5-ethyl-2-pyridinyl)ethoxy]phenyl]methyl]-2,4-] thiazolidinedione monohydrochloride. (CAS Registry No. 111025-46-8) The chemical structure of pioglitazone is shown as Formula I.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,585,495, incorporated herein by reference, discloses methods for the synthesis of pioglitazone.


A protective corner guard includes a main body formed integrally from an ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer foam material. The main body has two side walls connected to and intersecting with each other at a predetermined angle. Each of the side walls has an inner surface adapted to face a wall corner, an outer surface opposite to the inner surface, and two opposite end portions, each of which has a recessed section formed in the outer surface and a fastener hole formed in the recessed section. A fastener extends through a respective one of the fastener holes for fastening the main body to the wall corner. Light reflective pieces are received in the recessed sections for covering the fasteners, respectively.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a protective corner guard, more particularly to one which is less susceptible to deformation and which provides an enhanced protective effect.
2. Description of the Related Art
A protective corner guard is commonly used for covering an angled corner of a wall of an upright post so as to protect people or children from being injured by the angled corner. A conventional corner guard is formed by bending a sheet of rubber material, and is fastened to the angled corner by screw fasteners. However, the conventional rubber corner guard is susceptible to deformation and is relatively hard. People can still be hurt by the conventional corner guard in the event of accidental collision.
Therefore, the main object of the present invention is to provide a protective corner guard that is less susceptible to deformation and that provides an enhanced protective effect.
Accordingly, the protective corner guard of the present invention is adapted to be mounted on and to cover a wall corner, and includes a main body, a plurality of fasteners and a plurality of light reflective pieces.
The main body is formed integrally from an ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer foam material, and has first and second side walls connected to and intersecting with each other at a predetermined angle. Each of the first and second side walls has opposite end portions, an inner surface adapted to face the wall corner, and an outer surface opposite to the inner surface. Each of the opposite end portions of the first and second side walls has a recessed section formed in the outer surface, and a fastener hole formed in the recessed section. The fasteners extend respectively through the fastener holes in the recessed sections of the first and second side walls, and are adapted to fasten the main body to the wall corner. The light reflective pieces are received in the recessed sections for covering the fasteners.


To provide a valve system for an engine, in which a valve stem for an engine valve is slidably fitted in a guide cylinder provided in a cylinder head. A rocker arm is interlocked to rock with rotation of a camshaft. The rocker arm is also interlocked with the valve stem. With the above construction, local wear, galling, and the like in the guide cylinder can be prevented. Accordingly, the reliability can be improved. A lifter is interposed between a rocker arm and a valve stem. The lifter is formed into a cylindrical shape with a closed bottom and has a diameter larger than an outside diameter of the valve stem. The lifter is fitted in a lifter housing in such a manner as to be slidable in the axial direction of the valve stem. The lifter housing is fixed to a cylinder head.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a valve system for an engine, in which a valve stem for an engine valve is slidably fitted in a guide cylinder provided in a cylinder head of the engine. In addition, a rocker arm is interlocked with a camshaft of the engine to rock with rotation of the camshaft. The rocker arm is interlocked with the valve stem.
2. Description of Background Art
Valve systems of this type have been known, for example, from Japanese Patent Laid-open No. Sho 56-27009 and Japanese Patent Publication No. Hei 1-20290.
In the above-described background art valve system, an upper end of a valve stem is pressed down by a threaded tappet screwed in a rocker arm, with the forward/backward position of the tappet screw being adjustable. With this structure, since the threaded tappet is moved along a circular-arc centered at the fulcrum of the rocker arm, a bending load is applied to the valve stem. This results in the occurrence of local wear, galling, and the like in the guide cylinder provided in the cylinder head to thereby effect the guiding of the valve stem.
In view of the foregoing, the present invention has been made, and an object of the present invention is to provide a valve system for an engine, which is capable of preventing occurrence of local wear, galling, and the like of a guide cylinder, thereby enhancing the reliability.
To achieve the above object, according to a first aspect of the present invention, a valve system for an engine is provided, in which a valve stem for an engine valve is slidably fitted in a guide cylinder provided in a cylinder head. A rocker arm is interlocked with a camshaft to rock with rotation of the camshaft. The rocker arm is interlocked with the valve stem. The first aspect of the present invention is characterized in that a lifter is interposed between the rocker arm and the valve stem. The lifter is formed into a cylindrical shape with its bottom closed and having a diameter larger than an outside diameter of the valve stem. The lifter is fitted in a lifter housing in such a manner as to be slidable in the axial direction of the valve stem. The lifter housing is fixed to the cylinder head.
With this configuration, a drive force from the rocker arm is applied to the valve stem of the engine valve via the lifter having a cylindrical shape with its bottom closed. Accordingly, a bending load is not applied to the valve stem having a relatively small diameter, so that it is possible to prevent the occurrence of local wear, galling, and the like in the guide cylinder. Furthermore, the lifter has a relatively large diameter. Accordingly, even if a bending load is applied from the rocker arm to the lifter, it is possible to minimize the occurrence of local wear, galling, and the like between the lifter housing and the lifter, and hence to improve the reliability.
According to a second aspect of the present invention, in addition to the configuration of the first aspect of the present invention, the lifter housing is formed into a cylindrical shape to allow the lifter to be slidably fitted therein. The lifter housing has an oil hole opened in an inner surface of the lifter housing. With this configuration, since the lifter can be more smoothly slid in the lifter housing, it is possible to more surely prevent the occurrence of local wear, galling, and the like between the lifter housing and the lifter.
Further scope of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description given hereinafter. However, it should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating preferred embodiments of the invention, are given by way of illustration only, since various changes and modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this detailed description.


A process for preparing derivatized poly(4-hydroxystryrene) having a novolak type structure which comprises the steps of (i) supplying a solution of methanol containing 4-hydroxyphenylmethylcarbinol, (ii) subjecting said solution to an acid catalyzed displacement reaction for a sufficient period of time and under suitable conditions of temperature and pressure to convert substantially all of said carbinol to 4-hydroxyphenylmethylcarbinol methyl ether in solution, (iii) polymerizing said ether containing solution in the presence of a suitable acid catalyst for a sufficient period of time and under suitable conditions of temperature and pressure to form a novolak type polymer. New compositions of matter which comprise the derivatized poly(4-hydroxystyrene) prepared in the above manner and which have application in the electronic chemicals market such as in a photoresist composition, and in other areas such as in varnishes, printing inks, epoxy resins, copying paper, tackifiers for rubber, crude oil separators, and the like.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a new derivatized poly(4-hydroxystyrene) (DPHS) and a process for the production of DPHS indirectly from 4-hydroxymethyl-carbinol (HPMC) and which DPHS has a novolak type structure which has utility in the electronic chemicals market such as photoresist compositions. In addition to the use of DPHS in the microelectronic chemicals market, such DPHS can be employed in standard novolak applications such as varnishes, aniline printing inks, raw materials (e.g. curing agents) for epoxy resins, copying paper, tackifiers for rubber, crude oil separators, solder masks and photoimageable coverlays for rigid and flexible printed circuit boards, and further, derivatized epoxy resins and polyisocyanuates which have been reacted with the hydroxy groups of the DPHS, such as paint formulations containing the same. The DPHS may also be used as a viscosity modifier for highly viscous polymers with the capability of crosslinking after casting and thus providing antioxidation protection therefore.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In the past, one of the ways of preparing poly(4-hydroxystyrene) (PHS) was the use of 4-hydroxystyrene (HSM) as the starting material; note European Patent Application No. 0-108-624. 4-Hydroxystyrene is a well-known compound in the art.
Although there are several known ways to prepare 4-hydroxystyrene, these known methods are not commercially feasible in the further utilization of the 4-hydroxystyrene. The 4-hydroxystyrene itself is difficult to isolate since it (1) readily decomposes, and (2) is toxic via skin absorption and, as a result, those skilled in the art have made numerous attempts at finding a method of synthesizing PHS in a manner which avoids using the 4-hydroxystyrene as the starting material.
The following prior art references are disclosed for informational purposes.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,087,772 (issued Feb. 11, 1992) discloses the preparation of HSM by reacting 4-acetoxystyrene (ASM) with a suitable alcohol in the presence of a catalytic amount of a suitable base.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,340,687 discloses the alkylation of a linear poly(4-hydroxystyrene).
European Patent Application No. 0-128-984 (publication no.) filed Aug. 30, 1983 discloses a process for the production of para-vinyl phenol (HSM) by dehydrogenation of para-ethyl phenol.
European Patent Application No. 0-108-624 (publication no.) filed Nov. 4, 1983, discloses a process for the production of p-vinyl phenol polymer (poly(4-hydroxystyrene) polymer-PHS) by polymerizing p-vinyl (HSM) in the presence of water and iron.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,032,513 (issued Jun. 28, 1977) discloses a process of producing PHS by cationically polymerizing HSM in the presence of a nitrile such as CH3CN using a cationic polymerization initiator in a homogeneous reaction system.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,554,719 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,565,544 disclose a process for preparing a branched PHS directly from HPMC which comprises the single step of polymerizing a mixture of carboxylic acid and at least one substituted phenyl carbinol such as HPMC.
However, it is highly desirable to have a linear DPHS and the prior art does not disclose this, much less a process for preparing the same.
Other prior art references which relate to the present invention include U.S. Pat. No. 2,276,138; U.S. Pat. No. 3,547,858, U.S. Pat. No. 4,544,704; U.S. Pat. No. 4,678,843; U.S. Pat. No. 4,689,371; U.S. Pat. No. 4,822,862; U.S. Pat. No. 4,857,601; U.S. Pat. No. 4,868,256; U.S. Pat. No. 4,877,843; U.S. Pat. No. 4,898,916; U.S. Pat. No. 4,912,173; U.S. Pat. No. 4,962,147; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,965,400.
All of the above-cited prior art and any other references mentioned herein are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

Derivatized novolak polyhydroxystyrene from hydroxyphenylmethylcarbinol


A cylindrical cell is disclosed which is so constructed that an insulating ring is seated on the outside of the sealed part of the opening part of a cell case, the terminal face of a negative electrode plate is depressed below the outer face of a facing label covering the insulating ring, and a gas discharge hole formed in the negative electrode plate is concealed with the insulating ring. This construction prevents the cell from allowing flow of a current to an adjacent cell and consequently from being charged by the adjacent cell. Since the cell uses a thermally shrinkable insulating facing member, it enjoys improved reliability of the outer covering. Even if a plurality of such cells of the construction described above are used as arranged in series and part of the cells are erroneously connected with the direction of polarity thereof reversed to the remaining cells, the possibility of the reversely connected cells allowing flow of current to the remaining cells and consequently being charged by the remaining cells will be precluded and the possibility of the device in use being smeared or harmed by the electrolyte otherwise suffered to leak when the reversely connected cells are charged by the remaining cells will be eliminated.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a mouth-sealing structure in a cylindrical alkaline battery.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The cylindrical alkaline battery such as, for example, an alkaline dry cell uses a highly concentrated aqueous caustic alkali solution as an electrolyte. If this battery has a gap, very small as it is, therefore, it tends to suffer leakage of the electrolyte due to the so-called creeping, namely the exudation through the gap. The alkaline dry cell, accordingly, is provided with a mouth-sealing structure which is highly capable of tightly sealing the shell thereof.
In a device which uses a plurality of batteries arranged in series, for example, if the device is operated in such a state that one of the batteries is connected with the direction of polarity thereof reversed to the remaining batteries, the reversely connected battery will possibly burst when it is charged by the other batteries and caused to undergo internally a strong gas-generating reaction and, consequently, the internal pressure thereof is suffered to increase past the durability inherently owned by the mouth-sealing structure capable of sealing the shell of the battery with prominent tightness. The device, therefore, must be prevented from this accident.
For the purpose of solving this problem, mouth-sealing structures of varying types provided with an explosion-proof mechanism have been heretofore proposed for use in alkaline dry cells (as published in JP-A-59-98,452, for example).
A typical mouth-sealing structure will be specifically described below with reference to drawings.
FIG. 4 is a halved cross section of a conventional alkaline dry cell.
In a cell case 1, a positive electrode agent 2 formed of manganese dioxide and graphite and shaped cylindrically is inserted. The cylinder of this agent 2 is packed therein with an alkaline electrolyte formed mainly of potassium hydroxide and a negative electrode gel substance 3 having a gelling material and a zinc allow powder as main components thereof through the medium of a separator 4. The alkaline dry cell is further provided with a negative electrode collector 5 and a resinous gasket 6 adapted to block the opening part of the cell case 1 and possessed of a thin-wall part (an annular thin-wall part as depicted in the diagram) 7 which breaks under the pressure of gas. A negative electrode terminal plate 9 concurrently serving as a negative electrode terminal and containing a gas discharge hole 8 is mounted on the resinous gasket 6 as welded to the head part of the negative electrode collector 5 and inserted into the opening part of the cell case 1 so that the cell case 1 may be tightly sealed by folding the opening part inward. The outer lateral face of the cell case 1 and the continuing outer face of the sealed part of the opening part of the cell case 1 which has been folded inward are covered with a facing label 10 which is a thermally shrinkable insulating facing member. A positive electrode terminal 11 is disposed contiguously to the bottom face of the cell case 1.
The alkaline dry cell constructed as described above is prevented from the accidental burst mentioned above because the thin-wall part 7 of the resinous gasket 6 fractures as a safety valve when the pressure in the cell case 1 is raised past a prescribed level by the gas generated inside the cell and the gas in the cell is released through the fracture and discharged from the cell via the gas discharge hole 8 in the negative electrode terminal plate 9, with the result that the internal pressure of the cell case 1 will be lowered.
In a device which uses a plurality of dry cells each constructed as described above and together arranged in series, for example, if this device is operated in such a state that part of the batteries are erroneously connected with the direction of polarity thereof reversed to the remaining batteries, the erroneously connected cells will be charged with the other cells.
FIG. 5 illustrates the arrangement of four serially connected alkaline dry cells of the conventional construction, in which one of the four cells is connected with the direction of polarity thereof reversed to the remaining cells. The positive electrode terminal face of the reversely connected cell contacts the positive electrode terminal face of the adjoining cell and the negative electrode terminal face of the reversely connected cells contacts the negative electrode terminal face of the adjoining cell. In this case, the reversely connected cell is charged by the other cells and caused to undergo a strong gas-generating reaction. If the internal pressure of the cell case is consequently increased past a prescribed level, the annular thin-wall part of the resinous gasket as an explosion-proof mechanism for preventing the cell from the burst will fracture and the gas in the cell case will be discharged from the cell via the gas discharge hole in the negative terminal plate.
The actuation of the explosion-proof mechanism in response to an abnormal rise of the internal pressure of the cell indeed prevents the cell from the burst. It, however, has the possibility that the emanating gas will entrain the electrolyte and impel it to leak through and spout from the cell.
The electrolyte which is used in the alkaline dry cell such as, for example, a cylindrical alkaline cell is a highly concentrated aqueous caustic alkali solution. For the purpose of preventing the electrolyte from doing harm to the device in use when the explosion-proof mechanism is actuated, therefore, the alkaline dry cell is required to be so constructed that the electrolyte, even when the gas emanates through the gas discharge hole in the negative terminal plate, may neither leak nor scatter widely.
In the dry cell which is faced with such a thermally shrinkable member as mentioned above, the shrinking outer face of the facing label covering the terminal face side of the opening part of the cell case is possibly caused to peel, tear, or fracture by the friction or drop during the transportation of the cell or the insertion of the cell into the device or the extraction of the cell therefrom. Further, since the opening part of the cell case concurrently serving as the positive electrode terminal and the negative electrode terminal which approximate closely to each other are made of metallic materials, the positive and the negative electrode have the possibility of forming a short-circuit through the medium of the leading end part of a coil spring terminal on the device side while the cell is being loaded and causing the cell to gather heat and leak the electrolyte. Thus, this dry cell is required to prevent this trouble.

Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.


The present invention is an improvement in a solid state devolatilization finishing process for a wet feed material of syndiotactic vinyl aromatic polymer containing volatiles, including at least one vinyl aromatic monomer, wherein the improvement comprises: rapidly heating the wet feed material, such that the temperature of the wet feed material is increased at a rate of at least 10.degree. C./min., to a temperature between about 150.degree. C. and the melting point temperature of the syndiotactic vinyl aromatic polymer, while concurrently removing evolved volatiles.

The process of the present invention relates to methods of producing syndiotactic vinyl aromatic polymers.
In the production of syndiotactic vinyl aromatic polymers such as syndiotactic polystyrene (SPS), a devolatilization finishing step is required to remove residual monomers, process solvents, and other volatile components from the SPS polymer. Residual vinyl aromatic and other monomers can autopolymerize upon heating to form atactic vinyl aromatic and other polymers which are undesirable contaminants in SPS polymers. The presence of atactic vinyl aromatic polymers in SPS polymers adversely affects product properties such as the heat distortion temperature and crystallization rate of the SPS homopolymers and copolymers.
JP 03056504 by Yamamoto discloses a melt devolatilization finishing step, wherein wet SPS powder containing volatiles is fed to a twin screw extruder, where it is melted and devolatilized by passage through one or more vacuum vents. However, extrusion devolatilization processes have limited capacity, higher equipment costs and are more difficult to scale to a commercial level when compared to solid state devolatilization processes.
JP 03064303 by Yamamoto discloses a solid state devolatilization finishing step, wherein wet SPS powder containing volatiles is predried at a temperature between the glass transition temperature, (typically about 100.degree. C.) and the melting point of SPS, and further devolatilized by melt devolatilization in a vacuum vented twin screw extruder as described in JP 03056504, above. However, Yamamoto discloses long residence times (9 or 10 hours) indicating low heating rates of the SPS powder which can result in the formation of significant quantities of atactic vinyl aromatic polymer.
Therefore, there remains a need for a method of removing volatiles and residual monomer(s) from syndiotactic vinyl aromatic polymers while minimizing the amount of atactic vinyl aromatic polymers produced.

Finishing process for syndiotactic vinyl aromatic polymers


An apparatus includes a tubular member defining a lumen and a channel, and a support member. The tubular member has a connection portion configured to be coupled to an organ wall. An outer edge of the connection portion is configured to contact a first portion of an inner surface of the wall when the connection portion is in an expanded configuration such that an interior volume of the organ is in fluid communication with the lumen. The support member is movably disposed within the channel and is configured to minimize movement of the wall relative to the tubular member. An end portion of the support member is disposed within the channel when the support member is in a first configuration. The end portion of the support member configured to contact a second portion of the inner surface of the wall when the support member is in a second configuration.

Embodiments described herein relate generally to apparatus and methods for optimizing flow of a bodily fluid, and more particularly, devices, systems, and methods to facilitate blood flow from the heart to a blood pump.
The use of devices to assist the function of an ailing heart is increasing. In some instances, a ventricular assist device (VAD) can be used to partially or completely replace the function of the heart. For example, in some instances, a left ventricular assist device (LVAD) can be used to assist a heart of a patient by placing an inlet flow cannula in fluid communication with the left ventricle of the heart and an outlet flow cannula in fluid communication with a portion of the aorta. The LVAD can include a pumping mechanism that can pump, transfer, draw, push, or otherwise produce a flow of blood between the inlet flow cannula and the outlet flow cannula, thereby assisting heart. The chamber of the left ventricle can be relatively large to act as a suitable source for blood pump inflow and the wall of the left ventricle is relatively thick to support the inlet flow cannula. Known methods for coupling an inlet flow cannula to the left ventricle, however, often require major surgery, which can damage the heart or surrounding tissue and/or can result in death of the patient. Such known procedures can also be relatively expensive due to long surgical times and/or the complexity and risk of the surgery. Furthermore, in some instances, the drawing of blood through the inlet flow cannula can produce a negative pressure within the left ventricle that can cause a wall of the left ventricle to collapse, thereby obstructing the inlet flow cannula and/or other veins.
In some instances, an inlet flow cannula can be placed in or at a desired location within, for example, the left atrium which can reduce the complexity, severity, risk, and/or cost of placing an assist device. In some such instances, the inlet flow cannula is advanced through the superior vena cava (SVC) and is coupled to the septum between the right atrium and the left atrium. In other instances, the inlet flow cannula can be coupled to the dome of the left atrium. Placing the inlet flow cannula in fluid communication with the left atrium, however, can be complicated by the anatomy of the heart. For example, the walls of the left atrium are very thin (e.g., between 1 and 2 mm in thickness) and the interior of the left atrium can be at a relatively low pressure, due to the function of the heart, which can increase the likelihood of tissue collapsing into the left atrium. Such a collapse of tissue can obstruct the inlet flow cannula and/or can result in undesirable kinking of veins in fluid communication with the left atrium. Thus, the inflow rates to the blood pump using such methods can be limited, which can result in poor efficiency of the pump and can result in clot formation.
Thus, a need exists for devices, systems, and methods to improve flow of blood from the heart to a blood pump.

Devices, systems, and methods for facilitating flow from the heart to a blood pump


A package includes a bottom substrate and a bottom die over and bonded to the bottom substrate. A metal-particle-containing compound material is overlying a top surface of the bottom die, wherein the metal-particle-containing compound material comprises metal particles. A molding material molds at least a lower part of the bottom die therein, wherein the molding material is overlying the bottom substrate.

In a conventional Package-on-Package (PoP) process, a top package, in which a first device die is bonded, is further bonded to a bottom package through solder balls. The bottom package may also include a second device die bonded therein. The second device die may be on the same side of the bottom package as the solder balls.
Before the bonding of the top package to the bottom package, a molding compound is applied on the bottom package, with the molding compound covering the second device die and the solder balls. Since the solder balls are buried in the molding compound, a laser ablation or drilling is performed to form holes in the molding compound, so that the solder balls are exposed. The top package and the bottom package may then be bonded through the solder balls in the bottom package.
There is significant mismatch between the Coefficients of Thermal Expansion (CTEs) of the materials in the PoP packages. For example, the package substrate and the molding compound have CTEs that are much higher than that of the device dies. Accordingly, in the resulting package, there is a significant warpage.

Warpage control in package-on-package structures

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.


A moisture absorber garment for use by athletes during playing breaks in which front and rear panels of a towel material such as terrycloth are joined along one side, with a head opening and hood at the juncture of the two panels. Upper arm covering sections of material project from each side.

This invention concerns towels and more particularly towels used by participants during sporting events.
Towels are commonly used by athletes during sporting contests. Basketball players in particular very often drape towels over their heads and shoulders when temporarily sidelined during the game. The towels are used to dry perspiration and also as a make-shift warmup suit. The lightly clad players often become sweaty and overheated by the exertions of the game, but desire some covering when on the sidelines for short intervals, since drafty conditions typically prevail in large arenas and soon becomes uncomfortable after a short period of inaction.
Putting on a regular warmup garment is often deemed too slow and cumbersome for players out of the game only for a short time. Additionally, there is often a need to towel off the head and face.
This situation has led players to drape towels around their heads and/or shoulders to keep players warm, which is relatively ineffective and outlandish in appearance.
It is the object of the present invention to provide an improved towel for use by sidelined athletes.


An interface apparatus and method for transmitting data between a host computer and a telecommunication network without requiring special host-based computer programs to communicate with the interface apparatus. The invention uses existing ports of the host computer, utilized in their standard method of operation, such as driving a printer or communicating with a workstation. This reduces cost, simplifies use, and permits the use of the telecommunication interface apparatus with any computer utilizing its existing programs. The interface apparatus scans the beginning of a message for a command code comprising a string of special characters and the addressee number and/or code. If such a code is detected, the message is transmitted over the telecommunication network. Otherwise, the message is passed through the interface apparatus unchanged to be printed or otherwise output.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a telecommunication interface apparatus and method, and more particularly to an interface apparatus and method for transmitting data between a host computer and a telecommunication network without requiring special host-based computer programs.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Computers today are often used to communicate to other people and computer systems via telecommunication networks and services such as telex, electronic mail, and facsimile (fax) transmissions. To perform this function, special communication programs (or "software") are required in the user's (or "host") computer to meet the requirements of the telecommunication network.
In the present art, to connect a host computer to a telecommunication network, a physical connection of a communication interface (such as a modem or network gateway module) to a port of the host computer is necessary. The communication interface is in turn connected to the telecommunication network (for example, via telephone wires). The computer port is commonly an RS-232 serial interface port, communicating in ASCII, BSC, or SDLC codes with communication protocols varying depending on the brand of computer. Such protocols are typically implemented within the communication interface in the form of ROM-resident software ("firmware"). The communication protocol must include all of the necessary commands and controls to permit the handling of the interface and to transmit or receive data. Similarly, the protocol must include all necessary controls to differentiate between status and control data coming from the interface and data forming a user's message. Higher level communication software uses the command and control structure of the protocol to effectuate telecommunication sessions. An example of one such protocol is the Hayes AT command protocol used in the microcomputer environment. On larger computers, no standard has emerged at this time.
Requiring special communication software resident in the host computer requirement presents an inconvenience for computer users, since not only must they purchase or write such software, but they also have to write or purchase compatible editing or word processing software to generate the messages or files to be transferred. Alternatively, they can write additional software to link such communication software to their existing word processing or editing software.
It is desirable to provide a method for connecting a computer to a telecommunication interface which does not require any special software in the host computer to communicate with the interface. This would reduce the cost, simplify the use, and permit the installation of the telecommunication interface in any host computer while utilizing the host computer's existing programs. Consequently, the training time of users would be dramatically reduced since they would communicate to the telecommunication interface using their existing programs.
The present invention achieves this goal by linking a transmission interface to the printer port of a host computer, and optionally to a workstation port of the host computer. The invention enables communications to be accomplished using existing programs included in most computers. The invention therefore eliminates the need for special host computer resident communication software.

Telecommunications interface apparatus and method


This invention concerns a new grain unloading system using an integrated ramp, horizontal transfer conveyor and elevating system. The unit is towed, positioned and powered by an agricultural tractor.

In farming, "grain augers" are commonly used to unload granular agricultural materials from trucks into bins.
Over the years, the scale of farms and of the equipment used in farming has progressively increased. Formerly, loading/unloading augers were relatively small and light, and it was possible for a physically fit operator to manually position them for use (operation). It was also possible for a reasonably skilled operator to back up a simple dump truck and position its discharge chute over the inlet of a material transfer auger. Also in the past, a helper was often available to assist with the physical movement of equipment and to provide guidance in positioning the truck.
As large grain auger/conveyors have come into use, it is no longer possible or easy to practically position them by hand, and some are sufficiently large to require a tractor to tow, position and power them.
Much less manoeuvrable belly-dump semi-trailers and highway tractor trucks are now often utilised to haul agricultural materials rather than end-dump grain trucks. It is much more difficult or at times impossible to manoeuvre a semi-trailer or highway tractor trucks into position relative to a conventional unloading system.
Work on a grain farm is seasonal in nature, and opportunities for full time employment have continuously decreased over time. Consequently, there has been less and less labour available on the typical farm. Whereas in the past another person may have been available to assist with positioning equipment, that is no longer the case in many situations. To compound the problem, the age of the farming population has increased significantly and farmer operators are less able to perform physically demanding tasks.
With fewer available operators, the time of the farmer/operator is increasingly valuable. Time-consuming, low value-adding physical operations must be minimized in the interest of improved economics of scale and the avoidance of personal injury.
Safety is also an issue when an operator is working alone, as farmers are often required to do.
With current economic pressures, farming operations increasingly demand equipment that is safe, simple and easy to use and maintain, cost effective, and which offers the highest possible overall efficiency of use.
To address current needs, industry has responded with innovations in unloading system design. Various adaptations of existing equipment have been devised.
Swing-Away Conveyor Systems
The current standard in the industry is the swing-away type screw auger that is connected to an agricultural tractor. Such a system is disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,963,066 to Boppart and 4,603,775 to Plett. The system has a lower, swingable transfer auger portion that is swung under a grain trailers unloading chutes. The lower transfer auger then unloads into the main transfer auger. This is a somewhat cumbersome system that requires the swingable auger to be swung under the grain trailer and removed each time the trailer is unloaded. If the trailer is a B-train type or a Super-B-train type™, meaning two trailers with a fifth wheel pivot and a set of two or three axles respectively located in between the unloading chutes or group of unloading chutes of each trailer, the swingable auger has to be swung under and from under each of the trailers.
As illustrated in Boppart, the tractor is connected to the swing-away auger system at the outboard end of the main transfer auger. The swing-away portion is then typically approximately 90 degrees to the main transfer auger to allow the grain trailer to approach the unloading system close enough to allow for unloading. This arrangement is often not convenient or even suitable for some yards where the ability to manoeuvre the highway tractor unit and the grain semi-trailer is restricted by the grain bins themselves, buildings, overhead power lines or trees, et cetera.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,068,103 to Werner discloses an alternative swing-away auger extension.
Westfield's MK Series™ grain augers are present-day swing-away conveyor systems.
Generally with swing-away type conveyor systems, a sometimes awkward, less than ideal positioning of the main conveyor and its power unit is required. This type of system requires cumbersome manual handling of the swing-away auger extension before and after unloading, and for each trailer and often for each unloading chute in a semi-trailer train. Typically the user has to jockey the auger conveyor, the semi trailer and tractor unit, truck, or both.
Ramp/Ramp Over Systems
In an attempt to improve upon the swing-away auger system, various types of ramps and combinations of ramp and self-contained intermediate transfer augers have been devised which make it possible to simply drive a truck or semi-trailer over the inlet of the transfer auger system; facilitating use and eliminating the need for repositioning of the unloading equipment for each truckload. One such system is manufactured by Westfield™.
In the Westfield™ device, the ramp system is simply placed over the hopper of a conventional swing-away auger system. This approach still has serious drawbacks in that such a ramp is typically too large to be handled manually Y and requires another tractor to carry and position it. Otherwise, the tractor that is being used to power the auger needs to be disconnected from the main elevating device, and re-connected before and after (respectively) each repositioning of the ramp. The process needs to be repeated each time the conveyor system is moved to a different bin. The positioning of auger and its power unit remain somewhat awkward and less than ideal. Initial manual handling/positioning of the swing away auger extension and separate handling of the ramp is required.
Separate Transfer Conveyor/Ramp System
The separate horizontal transfer auger, alone or in combination with a drive-over ramp is another approach that has been employed to improve upon the ease and efficiency of unloading agricultural materials, as illustrated in the Portable Pit™ device.
The device includes a frame with a pair of support wheels and a hitch. Connected to the frame is a pit with manual, spring-assisted, folding ramps. There are twin screw lateral transfer augers located at the bottom of the pit. In addition, there is a single screw intermediate auger. Thus the whole device is built into a trailer-type unit.
The ConveyAll™ belt-type conveyor similarly has a ramp. However, this device uses an endless belt rather than screw lateral transfer augers and has a ramp detachable from the transfer conveyor.
With both of these systems, there are either one or two components (transfer conveyor and ramp) in addition to the main elevating device that must be handled/positioned each time the loading system is relocated. The components are too large to be handled manually so another tractor is required to carry and position the components. Otherwise, the tractor that is being used to power the main elevating device needs to be disconnected, and re-connected before and after (respectively) the positioning of the intermediate transfer unit and ramp. That process needs to be repeated each time the auger is moved to a different bin.
Other devices use an expensive, separately powered intermediate transfer system.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,964,566 to Stewart et al discloses a portable, drive-over grain hopper that comprises a substantially horizontal, paddle-type transfer conveyor. A belly-dump truck may be easily positioned over the hopper of this invention for unloading bulk granular materials. This transfer conveyor also comprises a removable tow hitch and transport wheels to allow it to be easily relocated. One disadvantage of this invention is that the horizontal transfer conveyor must be towed and positioned separately from the elevating conveyor that it is intended to discharge into. A further disadvantage is the need to manually elevate the hitch for attachment to the towing vehicle, and where necessary, to install and remove the transport wheels. Yet another disadvantage is the need to manually fold the ramps for transport.
This equipment as developed to date, is typically cumbersome, complex and costly and leaves unaddressed, opportunities to further increase cost effectiveness. Either a separate tractor is required to position the equipment or it is necessary to disconnect the tractor that is powering the unloading auger for the purpose of positioning the ramp and auxiliary auger system. Each piece of the unloading equipment system must still be separately positioned when moving from one bin to another, consuming valuable time. Complexity leads to more required maintenance, a higher probability of breakdown and increased costs. High cost compounds the economic pressures on farming operations.
Integrated Systems
An integrated belt conveyor with ramps has a flexible-walled hopper and drive-over belt conveyor. One such device is named INNO-Veyor™.
One benefit of such a device is that it allows normal positioning of the elevating auger relative to the bin. The lateral transfer section, complete with ramps is integrated with the elevating section, eliminating the need for separate handling and positioning of ramps and transfer section. In addition, the lateral transfer section and elevating section share a common towing/power unit. Finally, the unit incorporates a hitch for towing and wheels for trailering the entire lateral transfer and elevating unit.
One of the problems with this system is that it is limited to a belt-type conveyor, to be able to drive upon it without damaging it. The system also requires a heavy transfer structure also to enable driving on it. Another problem is the relatively narrow opening to receive material because the width of the belt is limited to that which can be used in the elevating section. Also, the structure/mechanism needed to support and operate a drive-over belt may be relatively tall which limits the clearance between the belly dump chute of a grain trailer and the flexible hopper above the device and also the size of the opening into which material can be dumped.
The present inventor believes that a hydraulic cylinder is used to position and hold the joint rigid between the lateral and elevating sections of the device. The structures of both sections must therefore be sufficiently strong to bear the bending that tends to occur in this area. It seems to the present inventor that if an error is made in positioning the transfer section for use, or if part of the lateral transfer section sinks into soft soil under the weight of the truck/trailer, an undue stress would be imposed on the structure. It is not likely to be economical to build the unit heavy enough to withstand such loading.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,471,031, which issued to Stanley R. Duncalf discloses a material handling conveyor adapted for ease of hitching to a towing vehicle. A substantially horizontal transfer conveyor portion is pivotally connected to an elevating conveyor portion and the horizontal transfer conveyor portion comprises a hitch. One or more hydraulic cylinders are provided for positioning the horizontal transfer conveyor portion and hitch for ease of connection to the towing vehicle. This patent does not address the difficulties in an agricultural situation where bulk particulate materials must be unloaded onto the conveyor from large, difficult to manoeuvre, multi-trailer, highway tractor truck units.
It is an object of this invention to improve upon existing particulate material unloading systems that are presently made up of a number of separate components which can include a main elevating conveyor; a separate auxiliary horizontal transfer conveyor; an integrated swing away horizontal transfer conveyor; and a separate ramp system. It is a further object to dispense with separate handling and positioning of separate components and eliminate disconnection and re-connection of the towing vehicle.
Specifically, it is an object of this invention to provide, in a particulate material unloading system: an integrated main conveyor and transfer conveyor complete with an integrated drive-over ramp/platform such that only one piece of equipment is used to transport, position and power the system. Thus it is not necessary to utilise a separate transfer auger and ramp. It is a further object to make the positions of conveyor and truck tractor trailer(s) unit more normal and convenient, and finally provide all functions powered by and conveniently and remotely operated from the towing vehicle, including operation of ramps, transport wheels, hitch and conveyors without having to disconnect the towing vehicle or the powering systems. It is also an object of this invention to provide power actuated ramps for ease of use and easy positioning of trucks for tractor and trailer(s) units unloading; said ramps being foldable for narrow transport width; said system having no requirement for manual effort in the operation, apart from operating powered equipment through remote controls; said system providing power actuated transport wheels and hitch for ease of changing from operating to transport position; said system further providing articulation between auxiliary and main conveyor as well as support by transport wheels such that no portion of the weight of a truck tractor and trailer(s) unit on the ramp/platform is transferred to the main conveyor; towing for transport is accommodated without having to provide a rigid joint between auxiliary and main conveyors; and relative movement in transport is accommodated and does not impose strain on either transfer or main conveyor structure; said system further providing the option of using different types of conveyors that may be preferred, including auger/screw, belt, paddle, and bucket; said invention providing a conveyor drive train connection at the hitch so that conveyors are driven by the tractor and the drive need not be disconnected for transporting. Another object is to provide a truck position indicator means to facilitate aligning truck trailer unloading chutes and hoppers with the material receiving area of the unloading system.

Unloading system for particulate material


A network is assessed, in particular, a network having a main line and a plurality of branch lines. The method includes the steps of: (i) introducing test signals into the main line, the main line being coupled to the branch lines; (ii) imposing a modulation on test signals which propagate along the branch line, and (iii) monitoring test signals returned along the main line. The imposed phase modulation is detected interferometrically such that the test signals from the designated branch line can be distinguished with respect to the signals returned from other branch lines.

1. Technical Field
It is known to assess a network having a main line and a plurality of branch lines by introducing a test signal into the main line and monitoring a return signal that arises due to the reflection or the backscattering of the test signal along the branch lines. An analysis of the return signal is performed to ascertain whether there are any faults or losses along the branch lines. However, if the return signal suggest a fault, it can be difficult to determine which branch line is responsible for the fault. In particular, as the number of branch lines increases it becomes increasingly difficult even to detect that there is a fault.
2. Related Art
According to the present exemplary embodiment, there is provided a method of assessing an optical network having a main line and a plurality of branch lines, the method including the steps of: (i) introducing test signals into the main line, the main line being coupled to the branch lines in a branching fashion such that the test signals propagate along the branch lines; (ii) imposing a modulation on test signals which propagate along a designated branch line; and (iii) monitoring test signals returned along the main line, the imposed phase modulation being detected interferometrically such that the test signals from the designated branch line can be distinguished with respect to the signals returned from other branch lines.

British Telecommunications Public Limited Company


In a capacitance type pressure sensor (1) including capacitance detecting portions formed in opposed regions in a capacitance chamber which is at least partially formed of a diaphragm, the capacitance detecting portions being a pressure-sensitive capacitance detecting portion (101) formed in a region of the diaphragm having large sensitivity with respect to a pressure and a reference capacitance detecting portion (102) formed in a region of the diaphragm having small sensitivity with respect to a pressure, there is provided the capacitance type pressure sensor which is entirely small in size and superior in reliability by independently detecting a signal output value of the reference capacitance detecting portion (102).

For example, in a semiconductor chip manufacturing process, there has been widely used a pressure sensor configured to include a capacitance detecting portion in a capacitance chamber partially formed of a diaphragm (see, e.g., Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2002-111011 as Patent Document 1).
Such a vacuum pressure sensor which measures a pressure in a semiconductor chip manufacturing process or in any other vacuum equipment is provided with a vacuum chamber and having individual two sensors, i.e., an atmospheric pressure sensor which confirms that an atmospheric pressure is achieved in a vacuum chamber when inputting or removing a silicon wafer as a material or a semiconductor chip as a product and a vacuum pressure sensor which measures a pressure of a process gas which flows into the vacuum chamber in a process, e.g., CVD (Chemical Vapor Deposition) is almost close to a vacuum.
It is to be noted that such a vacuum pressure sensor is generally provided with a pressure-sensitive capacitance detecting portion in a region of a sensor diaphragm where sensitivity with respect to a pressure is large and a reference capacitance detecting portion in a region where sensitivity with respect to a pressure is small, and the reference capacitance detecting portion is used to just compensate an output drift of the pressure-sensitive capacitance detecting portion involved by a change in temperature around the pressure sensor.
Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2002-111011


Techniques for improved multicast content delivery are described. In some embodiments, for example, an apparatus includes a processor circuit, a communication component operative by the processor circuit to receive a data transmission containing a description segment and a correspondence segment, a correspondence processing component operative by the processor circuit to determine a plurality of multicast content streams representing different versions of a media content based on the correspondence segment, and a selection component operative by the processor circuit to select and receive one or more of the plurality of multicast content streams based on characteristics identified in the description segment. In various such embodiments, the apparatus includes an adaptation component operative by the processor circuit to adaptively switch across the plurality of multicast content streams for reception and processing based on characteristics identified in the description segment. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

Computing systems are commonly employed by users to obtain and consume various types of media content, such as videos, audio files, and images. Numerous technologies and standards exist that are employed in various contexts in downloading and consuming media content. Some such technologies and standards pertain to unicast transmission of media content, which involves transmission of media content from one source to one destination. Other such technologies and standards pertain to multicast transmission of media content, which involves transmission of media content from one source to multiple destinations. Multicast transmission may offer improvements in transmission efficiency, and/or the advantageous reduction of bandwidth consumption. Due to wide variation in the capabilities of various computing systems used to consume media content, variation in user subscription profiles, and variation in the qualities and capacities of communications channels used to transmit media content from content suppliers to content consumers, suppliers of media content may make multiple versions of media content available for consumption. Different versions of a particular media content item may correspond, for example, to different underlying bit rates, different resolutions, different quality layers, and/or different views. Each media content version may be suited to a number of media content consumers. In order to take advantage of the benefits of multicast transmission while providing multiple versions of media content, techniques for improved multicast content delivery may be desirable.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


A heat power management system is disclosed for an alternating current (AC) power controller for use with portable reverse osmosis water purification systems requiring precise control of a heating action for an internal water heater coupled with energy savings and the reduction of AC line disturbances. The heat power management system is designed to operate with various international electrical systems while protecting such system from excessive current draws.

Power line conditioning systems and circuits are used regularly with systems connected to the AC power grid and are tailored to reduce energy disturbances on the connected AC grid. Systems that draw on AC power grid may also cause damage or frequent interruptions to these power delivery systems where the current draws may be too high leading to AC line distortions. Finally, portable systems that may be used in different parts of the US and the world will be exposed to variations in voltage and operating frequency. These variations may adversely affect the underlying device that is connected to such an AC power source.
With the increasing demand for portable heat sanitizing RO filtration systems and the demand for such devices in global markets, it is frequently too expensive for manufacturers to have two sets of devices for operation on each of the major global power systems. Other purification systems including drinking water purification, wastewater purification, and water purification for health care uses (e.g., dialysis systems) can also benefit from portability and power line flexibility.
It would be highly advantageous to the market to provide an AC power line conditioning system and module for use in portable RO devices with the capability to compensate for variations or drastic changes in city or country AC distribution grids/power systems.

Universal heating power management system


An image transfer sheet in which a releasing layer is formed on at least one side of a substrate and an image transfer layer including a self-crosslinkable polymer is formed on the releasing layer. An image is formed on the image transfer layer by an electrophotography method, a thermal transfer recording method or the like, and then transferred onto an image receiving material. The transferred image on the image receiving material has good image qualities and good resistance to heat of iron and washing.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image transfer sheet and an image forming method therefor in which an image is formed on the image transfer sheet by an image recording method, such as electrophotography, thermal transfer recording, ink jet recording or the like and the formed image on the image transfer sheet is transferred onto an image receiving material, such as cloth, canvas, plastics, paper, wood, leather, glass, china, metals or the like.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
Recently, a variety of image forming apparatus have been developed and utilized for copiers and printers for computers or the like. The images formed with these image forming apparatus are not only used for a purpose of reading or viewing, but also tried to be applied for various new applications.
As one of these new applications of the images, a method is proposed in which the images are transferred onto an image receiving material, such as cloth, canvas, plastics, paper, wood, leather, glass, china, metals or the like. This method is useful for manufacturing a small lot of made-to-order goods having original pictures thereon, such as T-shirts, sweat shirts, aprons, jackets, cups, plates or stained glass and for duplicating of pictures on canvas. Currently, since full color copiers are developed and high quality full color images can easily be obtained, the demand for this method is increasing more and more.
Such an image transfer sheet that transfers toner images thereon onto an above-mentioned image receiving material is discussed in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No. 52-82509, incorporated herein by this reference. In the patent application, an image transfer sheet is disclosed in which an adhesive layer including an adhesive material selected from the group consisting of silicone and fluorine-containing polymers is formed on a substrate and an image transfer layer including a specific polymer having a relatively low melting point is formed on the adhesive layer. Toner images are formed on the image transfer layer and the formed toner images are then transferred onto an image receiving material together with the image transfer layer which is softened when heated to transfer the toner images. The specific examples of the polymer having a relatively low melting point which are described for use in the image transfer layer of the patent application are the polymers selected from the group consisting of polyvinyl chloride, polyvinyl acetate, polymethyl methacrylate, polyethyl methacrylate, polybutyl methacrylate and polyvinylidene chloride and the mixtures and the copolymers thereof. However, the adhesion of these polymers to the above-mentioned image receiving materials is insufficient, so that a problem occurs in which transferred images on the image receiving materials are easily peeled from the image receiving materials after several times of washing. In addition, a problem also occurs in which transferred images are destroyed or adhered to an iron when the image receiving material bearing transferred images is ironed. This is because the transferred images are melted or softened by the heat of the iron.
Because of these reasons, a need exists for an image transfer sheet which has good image receivability when an image is formed on the image transfer sheet and good image transferability and fixability when the image is transferred onto various receiving materials.

Image transfer sheet and image forming method therefor


In some embodiments, the invention involves a system and method relating to switching to protected mode to access extended memory while executing instruction code that is designed for real mode memory access. In at least one embodiment, the present invention is intended to enable complex option-ROM code to be executed during pre-boot without corrupting system memory used by the BIOS or other option-ROMs. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

Even though computers have been shipping with several megabytes of random access memory (RAM) for years now, the total memory available for pre-boot add-in devices is still limited to a mere 1 MB of memory when operating in real mode. This 1 MB limit becomes a burden during pre-boot because there is no standard method for allocating memory from the 640K base memory area. In many cases, the memory allocated by one program will be overwritten by another program because the program either is not aware of the memory allocation method being used or the program has a bug. Nothing prevents one program from overwriting the data of another program in memory because there is no protection scheme during pre-boot. Every program has access to all of the available memory in real mode. Some of the programs competing for the memory are device-specific option-ROMs, the basic input/output system (BIOS), and the operating system (OS) boot loader. There are ways to get past the 1 MB boundary in order to use extended memory, but this typically requires significant changes to a program that was previously written to run in real mode.
When a computer system starts up, the BIOS takes control and the processor executes in real mode. Real mode is typically a 16-bit mode for the processor, but 20-bit addresses can be accessed because of segment addresses. 16-bit mode implies being able to access 16-bit addresses. Segment addressing gives access to 1 MB of memory as opposed to only 64K of memory which would be accessible using only 16-bit addresses with no segments. 1 MB is the total memory space available in real mode. Traditionally the lower 640K of memory is available to applications in real mode. Extended memory, or memory above 1 MB, is not available in real mode.
Referring now to FIG. 1, there is shown a method for using 20-bit segment addresses and offsets to access 1 MB of memory in real mode. The segment register 101 is 16-bits. The offset register 103 is also 16-bits. These registers are combined by shifting the segment register left 4-bits so it is now a 20-bit number 105. The offset register 103 is added to this segment address 105 to generate a 20-bit segment+offset memory reference 107.
A simple way to understand this addressing scheme is to imagine that the segment register 105 always has 4 additional bits on the low order end 109 that cannot be changed. Therefore, the segment register is actually 20 bits, but only 16 are visible outside of the processor. The 16-bit offset 103 is added as follows, according to the example values in FIG. 1. The actual 20-bit Segment Register is
1001 1101 1111 0000 0000
where the bolded bits 0-3 are not visible outside of the processor. The segment register and offset are added as below to generate the physical address in the 1 MB range.
Visible Segment Register:1001 1101 1111 0000 (9DF0h)Real Offset: +0000 0100 0000 0000 (400h)Physical (or linear) address =1001 1110 0011 0000 0000 (9E300h,also written as 9DF0:0400)
A new potential segment starts every 16 bytes in memory. Each segment is 64K long. Thus, segments may overlap each other, i.e., offsets added to a segment address may span more than one segment. There may be over 4000 combinations of segment+offset combinations that will result in an actual address in memory. In other words, each physical address may be within more than one segment.
FIG. 2 illustrates the overlap of 16K segment addresses with segment addresses and 64K offsets. For instance, segment address 0 (201), segment address 1 (203) and segment address 2 (205) are shown. Adding an offset of up to 64K to segment address 0, for example, references memory 207 that overlaps memory referenced using segment address 2 (209). This addressing scheme is well known in the art.
Protected mode enables programs to access more than 1 MB of memory. The processor may switch to protected mode at anytime. The executing software initiates a switch to protected mode. The executing software may also switch back to real mode. This switch to protected mode typically is executed by the boot loader upon loading the operating system (OS) so that all of memory is available to the OS. During protected mode, extended memory can be addressed using a selector and offset combination.
There is a need in the industry to enable pre-boot applications, such as those found on device-specific option-ROMs, to use extended memory in lieu of the lower 1 MB of memory when memory requirements of the application are high. There is also a need for pre-boot applications which have been designed to run in real mode to execute in protected mode without being rewritten.

System and method for simulating real-mode memory access with access to extended memory


A method for ablating a patient, consisting of ascertaining a CHA2DS2-VASc score for the patient and inserting a probe into the patient, so as to contact a pulmonary vein of the patient. The method further includes applying energy via the probe so as to ablate the pulmonary vein until pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) is achieved. When PVI is achieved and the CHA2DS2-VASc score is less than a preset value, ablation of the pulmonary vein is ceased. When PVI is achieved and the CHA2DS2-VASc score is greater than or equal to the preset value, energy is applied to perform a further ablation.

Pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) is the cornerstone of treating atrial fibrillation, and is used for both Paroxysmal AF (PAF) and Persistent AF (PsAF). However, while the results of PVI for patients with PAF are consistently good, the results for patients with PsAF are much more variable. Thus, some patients with PsAF do well with just PVI, while other patients in the category need more treatment than just PVI.

Using pulmonary vein isolation for patients with atrial fibrillation


The present invention discloses a biological detection device and a detecting method. The biological detection device comprises a substrate, an electric field unit, a liquid crystal/polymer composite film (LCPCF), a power supply, a processing unit, and an image sensor. Because of the electrically tunable orientations of the liquid crystal (LC) director anchored among the polymer grains, the wettability of the LCPCF changes with an applied electric field. As a result, we can manipulate a blood droplet on the LCPCF by a wettability gradient owing to the distribution of LC directors on the LCPCF. The motion states of the blood droplet can be related to the various qualities of the blood, and finally determines the health of the test sample. The change of contact angle of blood on LCPCF and the blood droplet motion on LCPCF indicate the concentration of TG and the concentration of HDL.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a detection device and a detecting method, and more particularly to a biological detection device that changes the hydrophilic property of a liquid crystal/polymer composite film to produce a serum droplet motion, and combines with an image sensor to detect biological information of the blood droplet to determine the health condition of the blood.
2. Description of Related Art
Conventional methods of testing triglyceride in blood is to take out serum composition from the blood by cell separation and add a specific testing agent after purification and a series of chemical conversions, and the extent of a color change of the testing agent is observed to measure the concentration of triglyceride. Medically, many factors must be taken into consideration for determining hyperlipidemia, and these factors include a comprehensive comparison of concentrations of triglyceride (TG), high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL), and low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL), and different chemical methods are used for testing each item, and thus the detection device and detecting method adopted require complicated and time-consuming processes.
In addition, the present hyperlipidemia testing technologies are still being developed with the targets of miniaturization, low cost and easy portability. At present, there is still a long waiting time in hospitals for patients requiring to have a physical examination to check whether or not they are a risk group of hyperlipidemia.
As disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,478,912B2, a primer is coated on a metal surface, and a voltage is applied to switch the hydrophilic and hydrophobic properties. Although the primer can be used for protecting the metal surface, problems of a higher voltage (˜1000V) and absolute temperature and unstable acid-alkali sensitivity still exist. As disclosed in PCT Pat. No. WO 03/058239A2, a dry-phase test is used for testing the concentration of triglyceride. Although this method can extend the retention period of triglyceride and can store triglyceride at room temperature, yet chemical analyses are required to test the concentration of triglyceride. During the chemical analysis process, the nature of the triglyceride may be damaged. As disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,795,038B2, a testing board combined with a micro-channel and is used with molecules of a polysaccharide and poly-anions, and the testing board can be combined with HDL to induce an electrochemical reaction. An optical detection method is used to determine the concentration of HDL, but it is necessary to sieve extra molecules of LDL and VLDL fatty acids before the testing precision can be improved. This process is also complicated and time-consuming. As disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,811,780B2, HDL test sample solution and testing solution are used to observe the concentration of the resultants or the residual of reactants to determine the concentration of HDL, but this method requires special solutions and complicated testing procedures, and the test can be used for the testing of HDL concentrations only. As disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,838,631B2, HDL, VLDL, LDL and chylomicron with different physical properties can be used for manufacturing a simple filter device to separate HDL and other molecules, but this method cannot give the concentration levels of the HDL.
Although the aforementioned PCT and U.S. patents have provided various different detection devices and detecting methods to determine hyperlipidemia, these devices and methods still have many problems.
The prior art still lacks of a hypelipidemia detection device capable of detecting the concentration of triglyceride and high density liposome by a simple, easy and quick detecting method.

Biological detection device and method utilizing LCPCF film for testing liquid form samples containing triglyceride/HDL disposed thereon


A system may scan various reporting services and application manufacturers' websites for recent security upgrades, hot fixes, and service packs. The system may then retrieve these patches and automatically apply these patches on every computer within the corporate network. A server and/or a client may each run a web module, a main module, and a patch module. The modules may interact with each other, and with a user interface and/or database through a listen-process-respond procedure. This ensures effective communication between users requesting patch updates and servers providing the patches themselves.

The rise of Internet attacks via computer viruses and other techniques has caused significant financial damage to many corporations. Current anti-virus software operates by comparing incoming files against a list of "offensive" code (e.g., known viruses). If a file looks like one of these offensive codes, then it is deleted and the system protected. There are several major problems with this approach, however, with regard to modern virus attacks.
First, if the virus is new and not in the list of known viruses, the anti-virus solution will not identify it is a virus and therefore it will not keep it from spreading. Second, modern worms such as "code red" and "SQL slammer" do not rely on any of the methods of transmission guarded by most virus protection systems. These new strands of viruses are designed to attack the computer system directly by exploiting faults in the software used by the computer to perform its operations. The viruses are therefore able to crack corporate networks and replicant without the intervention of anti-virus software.
Another critical factor in preventing anti-virus software from protecting modern networks is the speed of modern virus replication and propagation. Whereas years ago it could take years for a virus to disseminate across the United States, modern viruses can spread across the whole world in a matter of minutes.
At the root of the modern virus problem lies system management and maintenance. All network applications are vulnerable to some level of attack, but the software manufacturers work diligently to resolve these errors and release fixes to the problems before they can be exploited by virus producers. In fact, most of the time the application manufacturers have released the fixes to the application that would have prevented a virus from utilizing these holes before the viruses are even released. Unfortunately, due to the complexity of modern networks, most system administrators are unable to keep pace with the increasing number of security patches and hot fixes released from the software manufacturers on every computer in the network.
What is needed is a solution that automates the process of identifying and managing network application security holes. What is also needed is a mechanism that allows distributed portions of the solution to communicate with each other in an effective manner.


A differential physical chemical cleaning system including a plurality of charged cleaning devices for engaging a surface to be cleaned and a fluid delivery system for delivering precipitating agents to the surface to be cleaned and the plurality of cleaning devices.

This invention relates to cleaning systems.
More particularly, the present invention relates to differential physical chemical cleaning.
In a further and more specific aspect, the present invention concerns ionic sponge materials and a method of producing the same used in differential physical chemical cleaning systems for cleaning hydrophobic surfaces.
Many industries today require the ability to efficiently clean highly finished surfaces, removing particles and other surface contaminants. Specific articles having highly finished surfaces include, but are not limited to, wafers of semiconductor material, and memory disks.
Semiconductor wafers must be cleaned prior to any processing steps used to produce semiconductor devices. Due to the fragile nature of semiconductor wafers, achieving a high degree of cleanliness, as well as a high yield of clean wafers is difficult. Many cleaning devices produce a low yield of clean wafers due to breakage or an unacceptable level of surface contaminants. Memory discs provide less of a problem with breakage, being more durable.
Currently, cleaning devices have been developed to overcome some of these problems. Devices for cleaning wafers generally consist of a cylindrical roller passing over a wafer. The cylindrical roller conventionally includes tufted nylon or other types of bristles extending from a central core. The bristle roller brushes are fixed horizontally and rotate as the wafer or memory disk is passed between the bristle surfaced brushes while the surfaces are copiously drowned in cleaning solution or de-ionized water.
Wafers cleaned in this manner are often unacceptable due to particles and other surface contaminants missed or passed over in the cleaning process. In addition, the softness of the bristles varies according to their composition, resulting in a heterogeneous mixture of bristles, each harder or softer than their counter parts. This results in breakage of the wafers as well as damage to wafer surfaces. Other drawbacks, resulting in unsatisfactory cleaning, may be attributed to the hydrophobic nature of bristle tufted brushes. The fiber surfaces of these brushes are never wetted, and require large amounts of de-ionized water or cleaning solution to work in the cleaning process.
Substantially more effective, are roller brushes formed from sponge material. Typically, roller type cleaning devices employ an outer layer of sponge material. While cleaning devices employing sponge material are effective in generally cleaning a surface by removing a great deal of particulate material and other surface contaminates, they are less effective in removing fine particles to provide a more extensively cleaned surface.
These mechanical scrubbing devices, however, are still deficient in their ability to clean the surfaces. The mechanical cleaning of wafers, memory discs and other electronic materials and substrates is deficient because substantially complete cleaning takes place at the molecular level and not at the mechanical level. Ultra-fine particles adhere to the surfaces of substrates by mechanical means and more importantly, by electrostatic forces. Attempting to remove these particles by mechanically washing the surface with brushes and conventional sponge material is often futile. When the size of a particle approaches sub-micron and amicron sizes, they take upon themselves a formal charge which is held to a hydrophobic surface by what is described as electrostatic or van der Waals forces. This well known phenomena is observed in many aspects of wafer and memory disk processing.
Removal of electrostatically attracted particles is almost impossible by conventional means. Various claims have been made that removal of ultra-fine particles can be achieved solely by controlling the porosity of micro-porous sponge devices used in the cleaning process. This cannot be substantiated, since cleaning of a hydrophobic surface entails many variables such as water pressure or solvent volume, forces applied upon the surface, surfactants and their polarity, interface relations between the hydrophobic surface and the hydrophilic surface and a host of physical/chemical variables. Therefore, conventional cleaning devices cannot provide the close cleaning a finely finished surface requires.
It would be highly advantageous, therefore, to remedy the foregoing and other deficiencies inherent in the prior art.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved sponge material.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved method of cleaning surfaces of articles.
And another object of the present invention is to provide an improved method of producing sponge material.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a sponge material capable of removing ultra-fine particles including sub-micron and amicron sizes, from hydrophobic surfaces.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a sponge material capable of attracting charged particles.
Yet still another object of the present invention is to provide a cationic sponge material.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a system for removing undesirable particles.
And a further object of the present invention is to provide a material capable a attracting undesirable particles.
Briefly, to achieve the desired objects of the present invention in accordance with a preferred embodiment thereof, provided is a differential physical chemical cleaning system including a plurality of formally charged cleaning devices for engaging a surface to be cleaned and a fluid delivery system for delivering precipitating agents to the surface to be cleaned and the plurality of cleaning devices.
Further provided is an ionically charged sponge material for attracting and for retaining charged particles. The sponge material includes a plurality of ionic hydroxylated polymers cross-linked to a plurality of hydroxylated polymers.
The ionic hydroxylated polymer preferably includes cationic polyvinyl alcohol wherein the cationic polyvinyl alcohol includes formally cationically charged atoms.
Further provided is a method of forming cationic sponge material including the steps of forming a plurality of cationic hydroxylated polymers, forming a plurality of hydroxylated polymers, and cross-linking the cationic hydroxylated polymers and the hydroxylated polymers.
In a more specific method the step of forming the plurality of cationic hydroxylated polymers includes the step of forming an epoxide and reacting it with polyvinyl alcohol. Forming an epoxide includes reacting a quaternary ammonium complex with a metallic hydroxide.
Also provided is an ionically charged material for attracting and for retaining charged particles including a plurality of cross-linked hydroxylated polymers, a host molecule cross-linking the hydroxylated polymers, and a guest molecule having a high charge density carried by the host molecule.

Charged ion cleaning devices and cleaning system


Improvements to base beams and self-propelled derrick rigs are described. The base beam can have two or more stabilizer arms which can be deployed. The base beam is also designed to support the derrick rig. An optional counterweight assembly can be connected to the front of the rig. The self-propelled derrick rig can be easily and quickly mounted to the base beam, and when mounted, the assembly will be able to withstand high hook loads and wind loading without the danger of the rig coming off of its wheels or falling over.

A completion or workover rig is used to do repair work on a well, such as tubing or pump replacement. When a workover rig is used to do repair work on a well, the rig must be able to pull weights near the rated capacity of the derrick of the rig, withstand high wind gusts, and otherwise be stably supported. Further, a workover rig should operate to its design capacity on a high frequency basis, and be highly mobile and self-contained.
A trend in workover rigs to maintain mobility and higher load capacities has been to use guy wires to stabilize the rig. The use of guys can significantly increase the rated capacity of the rig without changing the basic design.
However, there are drawbacks to a guy system. For example, guy wires need to be in specific locations for the stability and safe operation of the rig, and setup time is longer with a guy setup due to the specific locations. In addition, workover rigs typically tie off to permanent anchors set in the ground in a rectangular pattern around the well head. However, with the growing utilization of multi-well pads, it is nearly impossible to guy the workover rig to the anchors that were originally set in the ground when the well was drilled.
Solutions have been sought to solve the problem of a workover rig not being able to be supported by permanent anchors. One solution has been to utilize one or more base beams that are heavy, portable structures placed on the ground and to which the workover rig is guyed. Existing base beams have a relatively small footprint as well as set locations with which to attach guy wires, which makes set-up easier and faster.

Base beam and self-propelled derrick rig assembly


A system and method for providing an improved ladder for enabling a user to climb up or down and forward or backwards movement relative to a surface. The system enables increased mobility and stability. The system can be designed in multiple ways which some of them have been shown in the present invention. The present invention clearly saves production time, keeping the user on the ladder while relocating, and it definitely more convenient and time saving to the user.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to improvements in devices for enabling a user to climb up or down, forward or backwards relative to a surface. In particular, it relates to a new and improved system and method for providing a move-on ladder.
2. Description of the Related Art
The systems and methods of the present invention are particularly useful for enabling efficient, effective and increased mobility forward or backwards movements relative to a surface while the user is on the ladder. The present invention clearly saves production time, keeping the user on the ladder while relocating, and it definitely more convenient and time saving to the user.
A variety of systems and methods have been unsuccessfully developed over the years for providing alternatives to walking while on the ladder.
It would be desirable to provide a ladder which enables the user great forward or backwards mobility, on a non smooth surface floor, without requiring the user to step down from it.
It would be desirable to provide a rungless ladder which contains less material and parts for increased economy and efficiency, which is lighter in weight for greater forward or backwards mobility and which provides a place holder to necessary working tools and materials.
Therefore, the present invention provides improved systems and methods for providing and efficient, effective and increased mobility, without requiring the user to step down from it, ladder. The inventions described herein satisfy these and other needs.


An air-conditioning apparatus includes a controller configured to control operations of an outdoor fan. The controller has a voltage acquisition unit configured to acquire drive voltages of the outdoor fan at set time intervals while the rotation speed of the outdoor fan is maintained at a reference rotation speed, a determination unit configured to determine whether or not an acquired drive voltage is equal to or greater than a lower limit threshold and less than an upper limit threshold, an extraction unit configured to calculate an evaluation value by extracting a drive voltage determined to be equal to or greater than the lower limit threshold and less than the upper limit threshold, and a defrosting determination unit configured to decide to defrost the outdoor heat exchanger if the calculated evaluation value is equal to or greater than an evaluation threshold.

Conventionally, an air-conditioning apparatus in which a compressor, a flow switching unit, an outdoor heat exchanger, an expansion unit and an indoor heat exchanger are connected by pipes, the air-conditioning apparatus being provided with an outdoor fan and an indoor fan, is known. In a heating operation, if the pressure saturation temperature of the outdoor heat exchanger, which functions as an evaporator, is equal to or less than the dew-point temperature of outdoor air and is equal to or less than the freezing point of water, frost becomes attached to heat radiation fins of the outdoor heat exchanger. The air-conditioning apparatus suppresses deterioration of heat exchange performance of the outdoor heat exchanger due to such a frost formation phenomenon by performing a defrosting operation to remove the frost attached to the outdoor heat exchanger.
Patent Literature 1 discloses an air-conditioning apparatus that performs a defrosting operation if the drive voltage of the outdoor fan is equal to or greater than a predetermined voltage while the rotation speed of the outdoor fan is maintained constant. When frost is attached to an outdoor heat exchanger, the resistance of air passing through the outdoor heat exchanger increases. Therefore, to maintain the rotation speed of the outdoor fan constant, the drive voltage of the outdoor fan increases. In Patent Literature 1, the formation of frost on the outdoor heat exchanger is determined from an increase in the drive voltage of the outdoor fan. In the determination process in Patent Literature 1, drive voltages of the outdoor fan are detected a predetermined number of times, and a defrosting operation is performed if the average of the drive voltages detected the predetermined number of times is equal to or greater than a predetermined voltage. In this manner, an attempt to reduce the influence of a disturbance such as a gusty wind is made.