An apparatus for the supply of humidified gases to a patient is disclosed that comprises a gases supply passage downstream of a humidified gases supply, and upstream of a patient in use, where at least one sensor is embedded in or located on the outside of the wall of the passage. In preferred forms the wall of the passage divides the sensor(s) from a flow of gases in the passage. In use, a controller receives an output of the sensor(s) and derives from the output of the sensor(s) an estimation of a property of gases flowing through the passage or provides a control output to the humidified gases supply according to the output of the sensor(s).

Field of the Invention
This invention relates to an apparatus for supplying a stream of heated, humidified gases to a user for therapeutic purposes. This invention particularly relates to sensors used in the apparatus for controlling the humidity of a gases stream in devices that provide humidified air for: respiratory humidification therapy, high-flow oxygen therapy, CPAP therapy, Bi-PAP therapy, OPAP therapy, etc, or humidification of gases used for insufflation or keyhole surgery.
Description of the Related Art
Devices or systems for providing a humidified gases flow to a patient for therapeutic purposes are well known in the art. Systems for providing therapy of this type (for example respiratory humidification) have a structure where gases are delivered to a humidifier chamber from a gases source. As the gases pass over the hot water, or through the heated, humidified air in the humidifier chamber, they become saturated with water vapour. The heated humidified gases are then delivered to a user or patient downstream from the humidifier chamber, via a gases conduit and a user interface.
The gases delivery system can be a modular system that has been assembled from separate units, with the gases source being an assisted breathing unit or blower unit. That is, the humidifier chamber/heater and the blower unit are separate (modular) items. The modules are in use connected in series via connection conduits to allow gases to pass from the blower unit to the humidifier unit.
Alternatively, the breathing assistance apparatus can be an integrated system, where the blower unit and the humidifier unit are contained within the same housing in use.
In both modular and integrated systems, the gases provided by the blower unit are generally sourced from the surrounding atmosphere.
A third general form of breathing assistance system, which is typically used in hospitals, is one where the breathing assistance system receives at least a portion of the gases which it uses from a central gases source, typically external to the area of use (e.g. a hospital room). A gases conduit or similar is connected between an inlet which is mounted e.g. in the wall of a patients room (or similar). The gases conduit is either connected directly to the humidifier chamber in use, or a step-down control unit or similar can be connected in series between the gases inlet and the humidifier chamber if required. This type of breathing assistance system is generally used where a patient or user may require oxygen therapy, with the oxygen supplied from the central gases source. It is common for the pure oxygen from the gases source to be blended with atmospheric air before delivery to the patient or user, for example by using a venturi located in the step-down control unit. In systems of the type where at least some of the gases are delivered from a central source, there is no need for a separate flow generator or blower—the gases are delivered from the inlet under pressure, with the step down control unit altering the pressure and flow to the required level.
An example of a known, prior art, type of modular system using atmospheric gases only is shown in FIG. 1.
In typical integrated and modular systems, the atmospheric gases are sucked in or otherwise enter a main 'blower' or assisted breathing unit, which provides a gases flow at its outlet. The blower unit and the humidifier unit are mated with or otherwise rigidly connected to the blower unit. For example, the humidifier unit is mated to the blower unit by a slide-on or push connection, which ensures that the humidifier unit is rigidly connected to and held firmly in place on the main blower unit. An example of a system of this type is the Fisher and Paykel Healthcare 'slide-on' water chamber system shown and described in U.S. Pat. No. 7,111,624. A variation of this design is a slide-on or clip-on design where the chamber is enclosed inside a portion of the integrated unit in use. An example of this type of design is described in WO 2004/112873.
One of the problems that has been encountered with systems that provide a flow of heated, humidified gases to a patient via a gases conduit and an interface is that of adequately controlling the characteristics of the gas. Clearly, it is desirable to deliver the gas to the patient (i.e. as it exits the user interface) with the gas at precisely the right temperature, humidity, flow, and oxygen fraction (if the patient is undergoing oxygen therapy) to provide the required therapy. A therapy regime can become ineffective if the gases are not delivered to the patient with the correct or required characteristics. Often, the most desirable situation is to deliver gases that are fully saturated with water vapour (i.e. at substantially 100% relative humidity) to a user, at a constant flow rate. Other types or variations of therapy regime may call for less than 100% relative humidity. Breathing circuits are not steady-state systems, and it is difficult to ensure the gases are delivered to a user with substantially the correct characteristics. It can be difficult to achieve this result over a range of ambient temperatures, ambient humidity levels, and a range of gas flows at the point of delivery. The temperature, flow rate and humidity of a gases stream are all interdependent characteristics. When one characteristic changes, the others will also change. A number of external variables can affect the gases within a breathing circuit and make it difficult to deliver the gases to the user at substantially the right temperature, flow rate and humidity. As one example, the delivery conduit between the patient or user and the humidifier outlet is exposed to ambient atmospheric conditions, and cooling of the heated, humidified gases within the conduit can occur as the gas travels along the conduit between the exit port of the humidifier chamber and the user interface. This cooling can lead to 'rain-out' within the conduit (that is, condensate forming on the inner surface of the conduit). Rain-out is extremely undesirable for reasons that are explained in detail in WO 01/13981.
In order to assist in achieving delivery of the gases stream with the gases having the desired characteristics, prior art systems have used sensors (e.g. temperature and humidity sensors) located at various positions throughout the breathing circuit. Thermistors are generally used as temperature sensors, as these are reliable and inexpensive. Humidity sensors such as the one described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,895,803 are suitable for use with systems that deliver heated humidified gases to a user for therapeutic purposes.
Patent publication WO2001/13981 describes a system for using the output of these sensors to control aspects of the humidified gases supply system. Patent publication WO 2009/145646 another system for using the output of sensors to control aspects of the humidified gases supply system. The content of this publication is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.
The conventional approach to providing sensors in the gases stream is to provide a probe that penetrates the tube wall. The probe extends into the gases stream. A thermistor is provided at the probe tip, usually positioned at approximately the middle of the gases stream.
The probe can be fixed in place (for example, where it is provided in a permanent location within the body of the gases supply) or as a removable probe (for example, where it is positioned in part of a replaceable component such as a breathing circuit). In the case of a removable probe, the component to which the probe attaches may include a suitable port with the probe being pushed into the port to protrude into the inside of the conduit.
Positioning the sensor portion of the probe centrally in the gases stream is thought desirable to provide a representative reading of the property of the gases stream (whether this be temperature, humidity or flow). Unfortunately, in this location, the sensor is vulnerable to efforts to clean the inside of the gases passages, for example, with a small sponge on the end of a narrow handle. Furthermore, the projecting sensor can impede the ability to fully clean the gases passage. This can be particularly the case where the protruding probe extends into the passage between an open end of the passage and a bend in the passage. The area between the bend and the probe becomes difficult to access, particularly the surface areas directly behind the probe. Attempts to access these areas can lead to damage to the probe.

Apparatus for supplying gases to a patient


The present invention is an "over-the-wire" catheter having a proximal adapter system which may be used to open a longitudinally closed guidewire lumen, thereby facilitating rapid removal of the catheter without a guidewire extension mechanism.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to an over-the-wire catheter, and more particularly to an over-the-wire catheter which may be simply and rapidly removed while a guidewire remains in place without use of an exchange wire or extension mechanism.
2. Brief Description of the Prior Art
Various configurations of catheters and guidewires have been developed over the years for the purpose of satisfying different functional requirements. "Over-the-wire" catheter systems permit full rotational and full coaxial mobility of the guidewire relative to the catheter component of the system. "Over-the-wire" catheters can be fully withdrawn over a guidewire, and they will accept the antegrade and retrograde introduction of a guidewire therethrough. U.S. Pat. No. 4,323,071 describes an "over-the-wire" system.
While "over-the-wire" systems allow for removal of catheters along a fixed guidewire, such removal is mechanically difficult because "over-the-wire" systems require that an exchange wire or other extension mechanism protrude from the patient's body by a length greater than the length of the catheter. Thus, manipulation of the catheter and guidewire during catheter removal is complicated.
A different type of catheter-guidewire system has been developed to address this problem. Known generically as "rapid exchange" or "monorail" catheters, the design permits catheter removal over a standard 175 cm length guidewire. U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,762,129 to Bonzel, 4,748,982 to Horzewski et al., and 5,040,548 to Yock teach variations of such designs. The designs include an inflation lumen within the catheter which runs the length of the catheter, and a separate guidewire lumen which extends a relatively short distance from the distal end toward the proximal end of the catheter. Horzewski et al. describe use of a slit in the guidewire lumen to further reduce the closed length of the guidewire lumen. Since the guidewire lumen is relatively short compared to the overall length of the catheter, when a catheter is withdrawn over the guidewire and replaced with another guidewire, a guidewire extension is not required.
The "monorail" concept has been readily accepted because it permits simple and rapid catheter removal. However, a major problem of the design is that once a "monorail" catheter has been positioned, the guidewire is extremely difficult to exchange. This is because the guidewire lumen is relatively short. When the catheter is in place and the guidewire is withdrawn, it is impractical to locate the guidewire lumen with a replacement guidewire while the "monorail" catheter (and entrance to the guidewire lumen) is within a patient's body.
Crittenden et al., U.S. Patent No. 4,988,356, have addressed this problem with a catheter system including a guidewire lumen which is slit longitudinally along the length of the catheter and a guide member which serves to spread the slit of the guidewire lumen to guide the guidewire into or out of the slit lumen. The system acts in zipper-like fashion over the length of the catheter.


In a separation device for separation of blood into its components, the hematocrit value of the blood to be separated plays a significant role relative to the sedimentation of cellular blood components. Since in blood processing, particularly in the intraoperative area, significant fluctuations of the incoming hematocrit value may occur, for example, due to infused volume expander, irrigation solutions, anticoagulant additives, etc., it is useful for maintenance of a blood separation working with constant values, particularly a constant hematocrit value of the erythrocyte fraction, to take the preset hematocrit value of the blood to be separated into account. According to the invention, the rate of blood flow through the separation device is automatically adjusted as a function of the hematocrit value of the incoming blood.

The invention concerns a separation device for separation of blood into its components within the framework of in-vivo blood processing, with a separator which has a intake line with a pump whose flow can be adjusted to supply the blood to be separated and discharge lines for the separated output of at least the erythrocyte fraction and the cell-poor plasma, as well as a return line via which at least one component can be returned to the donor/patient, and with a control arrangement to which a signal representing the hematocrit value of the incoming blood (hematocrit signal) is sent.
Such a separation device, which is used in particular during intraoperative blood processing, is known from U.S. Pat. No. 3,957,197. In the known case, the hematocrit signal is connected to a regulating step with which the hematocrit value of the whole blood (proportion of erythrocytes to the volume of the peripheral blood in vol.-%) is kept at a constant value. For this the hematocrit value of the whole blood is measured in the intake line (actual value) and compared to a desired value. If the hematocrit value measured is higher than the desired value, it is adjusted to the preset value by addition into the intake of a separated fraction from the appropriate discharge lines via a precision dosing pump. Thus, the relationship of plasma flow to erythrocyte flow can be adjusted to a constant defined value and an improvement in the efficiency of the separation device with regard to cell collection in treatment of relatively large amounts of blood can thus be obtained.
Devices with improved efficiency in blood collection and treatment of larger amounts of blood are also presented in DE 34 10 286 A1 (identical to EP 0 155 684 A2). DE 34 10 286 A1 describes a device whereby the hematocrit of whole blood delivered to a centrifuge is adjusted in the desired low range (e.g., 25%) by means of plasma return, and whereby the centrifuge accomplishes optimum separation efficiency. The centrifuge separates the blood the most rapidly at an input value of 25% erythrocytes in the whole blood and with constant input flow and constant speed; the final value of the hematocrit of the cell concentrate, i.e., the erythrocyte fraction (e.g., 70%) is obtained the most rapidly. For this reason, plasma obtained through centrifuging is added and the blood thus thinned.
An analogous prior art device with control of the hematocrit value of the whole blood delivered at a constant value was disclosed in the article by B. J. Van Wie and S. S. Sofer: "The effect of recycle on the continuous centrifugal processing of blood cells", The International Journal of Artificial Organs, Vol. 8, No. 1, 1985, pp. 43-48.
However, in certain medical applications, in particular in intraoperative blood processing, one must assume widely scattered (i.e., extremely varied) high hematocrit values for the whole blood supplied to a separation device, which values cannot be influenced by control technology. The known devices cannot be used in those cases. However, the hematocrit value of the incoming blood plays a significant role relative to the sedimentation of cellular blood components in a centrifuge, since sedimentation is a function of the hematocrit value in addition to the size, density, and shape of the blood cells. Consequently, incoming blood with different hematocrit values is separated into cell fractions of differing concentrations if it is processed for the same length of time in a centrifuge. This relationship between the hematocrit value of the blood (=Hk blood in %) and the hematocrit value of the erythrocyte fraction (HkEk in %) with a constant blood flow of 120 ml/min is depicted in FIG. 1. The HkEK decreases as Hk blood increases.
The relationships are similar with other separation devices, in particular filtration systems which can also be used.
The dependency depicted in FIG. 1 is without particular significance in those typical cases wherein adequate processing periods in the centrifuges can be implemented and wherein possibly even relatively poor separation efficiency is acceptable. Furthermore, on average the incoming hematocrit value of the donor blood has only slight fluctuations, so that the associated effects are also negligible in such cases.
However, the situation is different particularly in the area of intraoperative autotransfusion, in particular during plasma separation and irrigation processes. There, the hematocrit value plays a very critical role. Intraoperative blood suctioned in the operative field and temporarily held in a collection container has quite variable hematocrit values depending on the type of operation, the hematocrit value of the patient, the amount of irrigation solution used in the operative field, the amount of volume expander infused, patient blood loss, the amount of anticoagulant added, or the amount of fluid flowing in, for example from the tissue. These are in the range from ten to forty percent and can vary arbitrarily during an operation. In contrast, the normal values are forty-six percent by volume for men and forty for women. The processing methods currently used do not take these fluctuations in the hematocrit value into account and usually operate with constant, preset rates of delivery of blood into the centrifuge. This leads to the following consequences:
1. The hematocrit value of the erythrocyte concentrate produced is subject to large fluctuations. PA1 2. The plasma washout rate, which is defined by the volume relationship of the residual plasma to be washed out remaining in the cell concentrate to the irrigation solution added, is subject to significant fluctuations. PA1 3. The sedimentation capacity of the separation device cannot be optimally utilized.
Furthermore, a constant hematocrit value of the erythrocyte concentrate produced is imperative for the exact documentation of the retransfused erythrocyte quantity by the retransfused erythrocyte concentrate volume. It is desirable to work with the highest possible blood processing speed and to work with a constant washout rate.
The object of the invention is to improve the separation device described in the introduction such that despite the widely fluctuating hematocrit value of the incoming blood a constant hematocrit value of the prepared cell concentrate can be obtained. Additional objectives are a constant washout rate and optimum utilization of the sedimentation performance of the separation device used to optimize blood throughput.

Method and apparatus for separation of blood into its components


A melt of nickel nitrate hydrate is introduced as droplets or liquid flow into a heated reaction vessel and thermally decomposed in a gas phase at a temperature of 1200° C. or more and at an oxygen partial pressure equal to or below the equilibrium oxygen pressure of nickel-nickel oxide at that temperature to manufacture a highly crystalline fine nickel powder with an extremely narrow particle size distribution. The oxygen partial pressure during the thermal decomposition is preferably 10−2 Pa or less, and a metal other than nickel, a semimetal and/or a compound of these may be added to the nickel nitrate hydrate melt to manufacture a highly crystalline nickel alloy powder or highly crystalline nickel composite powder. The resultant powder is suited in particular to thick film pastes such as conductor pastes for manufacturing ceramic multilayer electronic components.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing a metal powder suitable for use in electronic components and the like, and relates more particularly to a method for manufacturing a fine, highly crystalline nickel powder of a uniform particle size which is useful as a conductive powder for the conductor pastes used in electronics components.
2. Description of the Related Art
The conductive metal powders used in conductor pastes for forming electronic circuits are desired to be fine powders having few impurities and an average particle size of about 0.01 to 10 μm, and to be composed of monodispersed particles of a uniform size and shape without aggregation. They also need to have good dispersibility in paste, and to have good crystallinity so as not to cause nonuniform sintering.
In particular, when used to form an internal conductor or external conductor in a multilayer capacitor, multilayer inductor or other multilayer ceramic electronic components, a powder needs to have a fine particle size as well as a uniform particle size and shape so that the conductor can be formed as a thin film, and in addition it needs to have a high sintering initiation temperature and be resistant to expansion and contraction caused by oxidation and reduction during sintering so as to prevent delamination, cracks and other structural defects. Consequently, there is demand for submicron-sized nickel powders that are spherical, of low reactivity and highly crystalline.
Conventional methods of manufacturing such highly crystalline nickel powders include a vapor phase chemical reduction method in which nickel chloride vapor is reduced with a reducing gas at a high temperature (see for example Japanese Patent Publication No. 4-365806A), and a spray pyrolysis method in which a solution or suspension of a metal compound dissolved or suspended in water or an organic solvent is formed into fine droplets, and these droplets are heated and thermally decomposed at a high temperature preferably near or above the melting point of the metal to thereby precipitate a metal powder (see for example Japanese Patent Publication No. 62-1807A). A method is also known of thermally decomposing a solid metal compound powder that has been dispersed at a low concentration in a gas phase (see for example Japanese Patent Publication Nos. 2002-20809A & 2004-99992A). In this method, a powder of a thermally decomposable metal compound is supplied using a carrier gas to a reaction vessel where it is dispersed at a low concentration in a gas phase, and then heated at a temperature higher than the decomposition temperature and at or above a temperature (Tm −200° C.) 200° C. lower than the melting point (Tm) of the metal to produce a highly crystalline metal powder.
However, because nickel chloride is normally used as the nickel compound in the vapor phase chemical reduction method because of its high vapor pressure, the resulting metal nickel powder contains residual chlorine. The chlorine needs to be removed by washing because it can adversely affect the properties of electronic components, but washing is likely to cause aggregation, and separation may require long periods of time or complex processes. Moreover, the composition cannot be accurately controlled when preparing an alloy of metals with different vapor pressures.
With the spray pyrolysis method, on the other hand, highly crystalline or single-crystal metal powders and alloy powders which have a high purity, a high density and a high dispersibility can be obtained. However, because this method uses large quantities of solvent the energy loss during thermal decomposition is extremely high, and aggregation and splitting of the droplets also cause the resulting powder to have a broad particle size distribution, making it difficult to set the reaction conditions such as droplet size, spray rate, droplet concentration in the carrier gas and retention time in the reaction vessel so as to obtain a powder with a uniform particle size, and leading to increased costs because the dispersion concentration of the droplets cannot be increased. Because evaporation of the solvent occurs from the surfaces of the droplets, moreover, they are likely to become hollow or split when the heating temperature is low.
In comparison with the spray pyrolysis method, the method of thermally decomposing a solid metal compound powder in a gas phase offers the advantages, for example, of no energy loss due to evaporation of the solvent, high efficiency because the raw material powder is not prone to aggregation and splitting and can be dispersed at a relatively high concentration in the gas phase, and the fact that a solid powder with good crystallinity can be obtained even at a relatively low temperatures. However, further increasing the dispersibility requires more energy or special dispersion equipment to increase the ejection speed into the reaction vessel for example, and the raw material powder must be even finer when manufacturing an extremely fine metal powder, making particle size adjustment and dispersion difficult. Moreover, when cheap, easily available cost nickel nitrate powder or nickel nitrate hydrate powder is used as the raw material, because these compounds are extremely hygroscopic the particles tend to stick together, and also tend to adhere to and block the disperser and nozzle, making the powder itself difficult to deliver to the reaction vessel in a dispersed state.


A machining tool, such as a forming, embossing, punching or pinching tool carries at least two tool elements at radial external faces for processing sheet metal. The tool elements are fixed to a tool body, either as separate pieces or integrated therein, and the tool body is rotatably supported in a receptacle. The tool body is rotatable about a rotation axis which is not perpendicular to the sheet metal during processing.

Machining tools for forming sheet metals, in particular for producing ribbings, gills, pinching contours and embossing, comprising a rigid or relatively inflexible structure, are known. In some cases, several single tools occupying respective tool places in the tool magazine in the punching machine are made for different extensive forming.
This causes either an enlargement of the tool magazine or increased set-up effort because the tools are to be exchanged again and again.
If another forming operation is to be performed, e.g. manufacturing another ribbing or gill, or another shape is embossed or different pinching contours are manufactured, furthermore, exchange of the tools causes an increase of the non-productive time and, thus, decelerates the workflow and renders the workflow uneconomic.
Thus, it is the object of the invention to provide a machining tool with which workflow can be optimized, whereby the usage of the tool magazine is improved and non-productive time is decreased.

Machining tool for machining sheet metal


A system for containing oil in a containment tank received from a transformer bank for a hydroelectric power generating station. A capacitance proximity sensor is mounted at a predetermined height within the tank and is operative to sense the passage of an oil/water interface in close proximity to the sensor to generate an output control signal for controlling a solenoid operated valve for the tank to close the valve and prevent spillage of oil into the environment. Collected water can be drained from the tank to a point where the oil/water interface has been reduced to a predetermined height within the tank, thereby leaving adequate remaining oil containing capacity within the tank in the event of further oil discharge from a transformer.

In conventional hydroelectric power generating stations, the energy developed by the water passing from the higher elevation of the forebay to the lower elevation of the tail-race turns a turbine which, in turn, is directly connected to a generator. The terminals of the generator or generators are then connected to power transformers which, by virtue of their association with the power plant, are located near the adjacent bodies of water. These transformers are required to "step up" the generated voltage to the levels necessary for transmitting the energy the relatively long distances from the production facilities to the system loads. Typically, these transforms will have a power carrying capability of up to several hundred megawatts, and in order to provide electrical insulations as well as cooling, they will contain several thousand gallons of insulating oil.
Occasionally, failures will occur in these power transformers which can result in a fire, or a loss of some or all of the insulating oil, or both. In order to protect against the uncontrolled release of this oil into the environment, containment basins have been constructed under and around such units. In practice, these basins collect rain and other water which requires occasional draining. In the past, the drains have occasionally either been left open inadvertently, or have failed to close completely due to obstructions, thus providing a path for oil leakage or spillage into the environment.
More recently, insurance companies have issued Safety and Protection Regulations which call for the installation of automatic fire protection systems for these transformers. These systems are designed to respond to a fire or explosion by releasing a fire retarding substance such as water in order to prevent the fire from spreading to adjacent units or to the adjacent structures. Typically, these fire suppression systems might release up to several hundred gallons per minute of water onto such a fire. In the event of such a catastrophe, the existing containments would have to be large enough to contain not only the oil released from the transformer due to the damage of the event, but also the water released by the fire protection system. The existing containment structures are not large enough to accomplish this.
The solution to both of the above problems lies in the means by which these containments are drained. Whereas in the past, the practice was to drain the containments into the river once the operator was satisfied that the contents did not constitute an environmental threat, the preferred solution is to plumb the containment basins into a larger, central containment vessel. Typical hydroelectric generating facilities provide such an option. Such facilities are generally designed and built with a station sump into which various water sources such as generator and bearing cooling water, dam leakage, rainwater and the like, as well as the drainage from the transformer oil containment basins if they were so plumbed, might drain. Assuming that a means existed by which oil could be separated from water satisfactorily, this station sump would be an excellent containment vessel for the above purpose. The big problem to be addressed is that, by necessity, the only means of evacuating the contents of the station sump is to pump the water into the river, but only when there is assurance that the contents being pumped is water, and only water. The additional use of the station sump as a master containment for the various oil spill containment basins does add to the complexity of the sump evacuation system, and it is the solution to this latter problem to which the present invention is directed.

Method, system, and apparatus for operating large power generating stations with improved environmental protection measures


Techniques for capturing query execution statistics are disclosed. The disclosed system determines which queries are executing during a sampling interval. The system identifies related queries that share similarity criteria with the currently executing query. The system obtains query execution statistics for the query executing during the sampling interval and any related queries. The system generates or obtains statistics during a monitoring window that spans a longer period of time than a single intervening period between the current sampling interval and a prior interval. The statistics are stored in permanent storage or transmitted to a requesting computer. The system refrains from analyzing statistics for queries (and any related queries) that did not execute during a current sampling interval.

Large organizations are often required to perform complex operations that rely on a large number of computer processes. These computer processes can be executed occasionally or on a scheduled basis. For example, an organization may wish to update its databases in response to changes. Database changes may take the form of query operations to the database that result in database operations such as data creation, data updates, and data deletion. Each query may execute for a certain period of time on a computing device.
During execution of these operations, administrators may wish to track progress of the execution. For example, one may wish to track the time period taken for a certain process's execution, the resources expended to execute the operation, and other execution-related statistics (e.g., a count of execution). A large number of processes may be running at a given time. Some processes may execute several times repeatedly. Certain processes may execute for a very brief period of time, making tracking difficult. Tracking the execution of each of multiple operations may cause overhead costs in the form of the additional resources required to comprehensively capture details of each execution's progress. For example, an execution monitoring operation on one computing device may require that details of every execution be recorded and transmitted to another computing device. This may mean that an excessive amount of computer processing resources and network resources may be used in monitoring the execution of a process in addition to the actual execution.
The approaches described in this section are approaches that could be pursued, but not necessarily approaches that have been previously conceived or pursued. Therefore, unless otherwise indicated, it should not be assumed that any of the approaches described in this section qualify as prior art merely by virtue of their inclusion in this section.


A receiver has a receiving unit including a PLL, a mixer, and a filter, and demodulating unit including a frequency error detector for detecting a frequency error in a signal from a filter. The PLL includes a local oscillator for supplying a local oscillation signal to a mixer, a variable frequency divider for frequency-dividing the local oscillation signal based on a signal from the frequency error detector, and a phase comparator for comparing a signal from the variable frequency divider with a signal from a crystal oscillator. The PLL can reduce the frequency error of the local oscillation signal.

Terrestrial digital broadcasting service has been begun, and receivers for receiving the broadcasting service have been developed actively. Japanese Patent Unexamined Publication No. H11-112460 discloses an orthogonal-frequency-division-multiplex (OFDM) signal demodulator that can receive such broadcasting service and shorten the locking time of the frequency synchronization.
A conventional receiver will be described hereinafter with reference to the drawing. FIG. 8 is a circuit block of the conventional receiver. In FIG. 8, the receiver has the following elements:                input terminal 1004;        receiving unit 1001 connected to input terminal 1004;        demodulating unit 1002 connected to the output side of receiving unit 1001; and        output terminal 1040 connected to the output side of demodulating unit 1002.Receiving unit 1001 has the following elements:        phase locked loop (PLL) 1010;        mixer 1006 for mixing local oscillation signals from PLL 1010 and signals from input terminal 1004; and        filter 1008 connected to the output side of mixer 1006.PLL 1010 has the following elements:        local oscillator 1007 for supplying the local oscillation signals to mixer 1006;        variable frequency divider 1102 for frequency-dividing the local oscillation signals from local oscillator 1007;        crystal oscillator 1012; and        phase comparator 1104 that is connected to the input side of local oscillator 1007 and compares signals from variable frequency divider 1102 with signals from crystal oscillator 1012.The output part of phase comparator 1104 is connected to the input part of local oscillator 1007 via loop filter 1003.
In the conventional receiver having such a configuration, variation in temperature causes a frequency error in signals of quartz crystal 1011. The frequency error in the signals of quartz crystal 1011 is about 100 ppm or lower. When the reference frequency of the signals of quartz crystal 1011 is assumed to be 18 MHz, for example, the frequency error range is ±1.8 kHz, extremely small. The output frequency of the local oscillation signals from local oscillator 1007 that are generated based on the error-included signals from quartz crystal 1011 includes a frequency error of the value derived by multiplying the error by the ratio between the output frequency of the local oscillation signals and the reference frequency of the signals of quartz crystal 1011. A large frequency error occurs in the output frequency of the local oscillation signals.
When the local oscillation signals including such a large frequency error that have been supplied from local oscillator 1007 are fed into mixer 1006, the selected intermediate frequency (IF) signals supplied from mixer 1006 have a similar frequency error. Therefore, filter 1008 for removing undesired signals from the IF signals supplied from mixer 1006 must have a pass band width of desired signals that is larger by a band width corresponding to the frequency error. As a result, the attenuation characteristic of filter 1008 is not steep, and the attenuation amount of unnecessary undesired signals existing near the frequency of the desired signals decreases inevitably.


A device for improving the view in a motor vehicle. It includes with a radiation source for illumination of the vehicle environment with infrared radiation, an infrared sensitive camera for detecting at least a part of the illuminated vehicle environment and a display for presenting the image information detected by the camera. In accordance with the invention, the camera is provided with an IR-filter which exhibits areas of differing transmission characteristics. The IR-filter thereby exhibits at least one area with a degree of transmission of approximately 70% for visible light or parts thereof and preferably at least a second area with a degree of transmission of approximately or less than 10−5 for visible light. By this design of the device for improving the view in a motor vehicle it is made possible to provide a reliable detection if the vehicle environment and thereby to more reliably map out the road traffic.

1. Field of Invention
The invention concerns a device for improving the view in a motor vehicle according to the precharacterizing portion of Patent Claim 1.
2. Related Art of the Invention
Devices of this type are known from DE 41 07 850 A1 and from DE 41 37 551 A1. Therein there is shown an emission source for illuminating the vehicle environment with infrared radiation, an infrared sensitive camera for detecting at least a portion of the illuminated vehicle environment and a display for depicting the image information detected by the camera. In addition, the infrared sensitive camera is provided with an IR-filter, which is transparent to the infrared radiation of the radiation source, while being non-transparent for the remainder of the infrared emission spectrum as well as visible light due to its high blocking effect. Thereby it is accomplished that daylight as well as normal light from headlights of oncoming vehicles is completely blocked or very strongly attenuated and the interference with or disruption of the detected image information due to this extraneous light is substantially precluded.
One IR-filter of this type is available for example from the company LINOS PHOTONICS as product RG 780. It exhibits in the infrared radiation range, that is, at a wavelength of greater than 780 nm, a degree of transmission of approximately 98%, in comparison to which in the range of the visible light it exhibits a typical degree of transmission of approximately 10−5. From DE 41 37 551 A1 it is known to use an IR-filter variable in the degree of transmission in the infrared radiation range over its surface, in comparison to which the visible light is completely attenuated.


Systems and methods for providing localized heat treatment of gas turbine components are provided. In this regard, an exemplary method includes: identifying an area of a gas turbine component to which localized heat treatment is to be performed; positioning a resistance heating element, sized and shaped to transfer heat to the area, adjacent the area; electrically coupling a current-limiting power controller to the resistance heating element; and locally heating the area using the resistance heating element, with power being provided to the resistance heating element via the current-limiting power controller.

The manufacture, service and/or repair of gas turbine engines oftentimes requires localized heating of specified areas of engine components to allow for stress relief, metal forming and/or brazing applications. Localized heating is preferred when processing the entire component in an isothermal heat treatment oven could adversely affect the metallographic properties of the materials of the component.
In this regard, prior art localized heating methods include resistance and induction heating. Induction heating methods tend to be costly, afford little process control, and require extensive experience of an operator in order to match induction coils to both the induction generator and the component/cross sectional area being heated. In contrast, resistance heating is somewhat limited in that the power supplies are current matched to specific heating element designs. The necessity in the prior art of matching the power supplies and the heating elements has typically resulted in rather generic heating assemblies in the form of blankets that typically are much larger than the areas that require heating.


The present embodiments include a cable cerclage system and method for the correction of fractures. The system and method can include a cable saddle including first and second loops extending from an upper surface thereof, the first and second loops including apertures extending therethrough and sized and shaped to receive a cerclage cable therethrough. The present embodiments are also directed to a cable cerclage system including at least one cable link, the cable link having a through-hole extending therethrough from a first end to a second end and including a first coupling member at a first and a second coupling member at a second end. The first coupling member of a first cable link is configured to couple to the second coupling member of an adjacent second cable link so that the through-holes of the first and second cable links align to form an elongated cerclage cable passageway.

Bones are often treated using cerclage techniques in which a wire or other cable is wrapped around a portion of bone to facilitate fixation or repair thereof. Cerclage procedures generally involve looping a wire or cable around the bone to be repaired. In some cases, typically in periprosthetic fractures, the cable has a tendency to subside into osteoporotic bone, causing the loosening of the overall construct. In these instances, it may be necessary to replace the wire or cable with a new cable system. Sometimes these procedures have to be repeated with second or third replacement procedures being required. Thus, there is a need for a cable instrument or implant that prevents cerclage cables from subsiding into bone while offering a value-added upgrade to existing customers who may not be willing to undergo replacement of a subsided cable with a completely new cabling system.


The present invention is directed to an adjustable pressure injection device system for delivering an agent into a tree, comprising at least two fill bottles for containing the agent; a cap attached to the open end of the bottles, the cap comprising at least two ports and an on/off valve; a main line connected to the cap through a port, wherein the agent flows out of the bottle and into the main line; a parallel distribution system (PDS) connected to the main line, wherein the PDS comprises multiple ports, each port either being closed or connected to an injection line, and further wherein the PDS is optionally expandable by combining a PDS with additional PDS units; at least 2 injection lines connected to the PDS through the PDS ports, and an injection needle attached to each injection line, wherein the agent flows through the injection needle into the tree.

Tree injection devices typically are used to inject various agents, such as growth retardants or regulators, fertilizers, fungicides, insecticides, herbicides, pesticides and the like into the trunk of a tree or plant. Ideally the injection is into the xylem cells of the outer grown rings of the tree. All micro infusion and macro infusion devices currently deployed offer pressures up to 60 PSI.
There are problems associated with the infusion devices presently available. Current micro infusion devices require the removal of the bottle cap for filling which exposes the applicator and risks contaminating the contents with dirt and debris. Frequent removal can also wear on threads and cause leaking. Some also lack flexibility of number of injectors which does not allow the user to use the optimal number of injection sites. Some current devices that offer additive injection sites are connected in series which leads to a lack of flow balance from port to port. Currently, common with all micro infusion systems, a single bottle size is used, limiting flexibility and requiring unnecessary time and effort to add volumes of un-needed pressurized air. Whether injecting 100 ml or 650 ml, the bottle size for the prior art injection devices is the same, requiring extra time and effort to fill and fully pressurize the extra air space. For example, a 100 ml injection may require the user to pump air in at 30 or more strokes of an air pump, whereas a 650 ml injection fills more of the bottle and may require only 10 strokes of an air pump. By providing different size pressure fill bottles of the same height, the present invention overcomes the obstacles associated with prior art devices by offering a much faster pressurization suitable for the size of the job requiring less pressurized air.
Additionally, some prior art infusion devices use a serial method of connecting additional ports. This method sends more product to the ports closest to the source and less to the outer ports. Standard, larger manifolds, cause tangling of the injector lines. Although some devices do have parallel porting, such devices only have a maximum of 4 ports. The current invention includes a parallel distribution system ("PDS"), which uses in one embodiment a six ported hexagonal shaped hub ("Hex PDS"). The Hex PDS provides advantages over the prior art devices by allowing the user to add up to 6 ports in parallel, and it has a built in expander that allows for additional parallel ports to be added.
There is still a need in the art for a tree injection micro infusion or macro infusion device in which the device can deliver high pressure or low pressure, high volume or low volume, that is distributed through a parallel distribution system that is expandable to an optimal number of injection sites with uniform flow to each point of injection. The present invention includes integrated customized valve control at the bottle and ¼ turn full open valves in-line to the injection at each port and the ability to fill the bottle without removing the bottle from the cap. The present invention also includes flexible body volume to minimize time and effort to pressurize the device allowing up to two times the pressure of current devices with similar or less effort resulting in faster set-up and operating times. The intended invention is directed to these, as well as other, important ends.

High pressure micro-infusion tree injection device


An information playback method and apparatus that includes reading first identification information from an auxiliary recording region of a recording medium, including the auxiliary recording region in which writing of content data is prohibited and a main storing region in which the content data can be written and reading second identification information from the main recording region. When first identification information is read from the auxiliary recording region and second identification information is read from the main recording region, comparing the first identification information with the second identification information, and outputting the content data read from the main recording region when the first identification information corresponds to the second identification information. When first identification information is not read from the auxiliary recording region or second identification information is not read from the main recording region, outputting the content data read from the main recording region.

For disc-shaped recording media, such as compact discs (CDs) and digital versatile disks (DVDs), measures have been taken to protect productions, such as content, by preventing content recorded on such recording media from being illegally copied. Compact discs with copy protection will be sold.
However, since content of compact discs without copy protection is easily copied, copied CD-Rs and CD-RWs are distributed. It is obvious that illegal copying by evasion of copy protection exists. In this case, such copied discs will also come into circulation.
Since no measures are taken for copy protection for copied discs, copying of a copied disc (CD-R, CD-RW, or the like) to another disc (CD-R, CR-RW, or the like) is permitted without any restriction. Such copying may reach beyond personal use, and this is also unwanted in view of protecting copyright holders.
In addition to the recording media mentioned above, DVD-Rs, DVD-RWs, and the like are viewed as disc-shaped recording media that can be copied and that may need copy protection.
The present invention solves the known problems described above and proposes, in particular, a writable recording medium, an information recording method, an information playback method, an information recording apparatus, and an information playback apparatus that record copy-protectable information on the writable recording medium and that determine the recording medium to be a copied recording medium when the information is not satisfied when playing back the recording medium.

Writable recording medium identification information recording method information recording device identification information reproduction method and information reproduction device


An RPF Neighbor having the least traffic flow is estimated and a multicast distribution path via the RPF Neighbor is selected so as to split the load between routers constituting the Equal-cost Multipath and lines.

The present invention relates to the multicast relay technique in the Internet and in particular, to the multicast path building technique and the load splitting technique in the multicast network using the equal-cost multipath.
The multicast is a technique used in the Internet by a router to copy and output a packet to a plurality of lines so that one transmitted packet is simultaneously transmitted to a plurality of receivers. Since it is possible to transmit a packet with a small quantity of packet to a plurality of transmission destinations as compared to the transmission of a packet to one transmission destination by a plurality of times, the multicast technique is appropriately used in a real time medium requiring a large-capacity traffic such as streaming and teleconference.
In order to transmit a multicast packet only to the users who are to receive the packet, the router should select an appropriate line for outputting the multicast packet to a plurality of lines. The line selection judgment standard is created by a multicast route control protocol such as the PIM-SM (Protocol Independent Multicast Sparse-Mode) (see IFTF, "Protocol Independent Multicast Sparse-Mode (PIM-SM): Protocol Specification", RFC2382).
In the PIM-SM path control calculation, the RPF (Reverse Path Forwarding) calculation plays a significant role. In the RPF, when the router receives from a downstream reception terminal, a request for participating in a multicast group from a certain multicast transmission server, the router calculates an adjacent PIM-SM router (RPF Neighbor) for reaching the multicast transmission server according to a unicast path table (hereinafter, this calculation is referred to as "RPF Neighbor calculation") and sends the received request for participating in the group as a PIM Join message to the RPF Neighbor. Moreover, the router registers the path of the inverse direction with respect to the direction in which the request for participating in the multicast as a multicast packet relay path. With this repetition, all the requests for participating in the multicast are reported to all the routers between the transmission server and the reception terminal and the path of the inverse direction is registered as the multicast packet relay path. Accordingly, the multicast packet from the transmission server flows in the direction where the request is made for participating in the multicast packet.
On the other hand, in the unicast, ECMP (Equal Cost Multipath) technique is used for splitting a load on a router and a line. According to this technique, a plurality of adjacent routers are specified for one destination, and one adjacent router is elected as a relay destination in accordance with the content. By selecting a relay device for each stream at random, it is possible to split the load on the router and the line in stream unit. For the random selection for each stream, the Hash value of the stream information (such as a transmission source, a transmission destination address, and a port number) is normally used.
When operating the multicast by a network using the ECMP, there is a case that a plurality of RPF Neighbors are found as a result of the RPF Neighbor calculation. In this case, the PIM-SM specification makes the adjacent router having the maximum IP address to be the RPF Neighbor. Accordingly, there is a problem that even in the network using the ECMP, the multicast traffic is always concentrated in a particular router and the load splitting cannot be performed.
In order to solve this problem, the Cisco Co., Ltd. (see Cisco Systems "Load Splitting IP Multicast Traffic over ECMPO", http://www.cisco.com/univercd/cc/td/doc/product/software/ios124/124tcg/timc_c/mcbspltt.htm#wp1053023) has developed a technique for selecting an RPF Neighbor by using a multicast transmission server IP address, a multicast group address and a Hash of an adjacent router address. By using this technique, it is possible to split the multicast traffic to a certain degree for each stream by using Hash value even in the network using the ECMP.

Multicast path building method and device


A method and compositions for reducing ischemic, inflammatory or septic injury in an animal that includes administration to the animal of an effective amount of a modified superoxide dismutase, wherein the modification comprises substituting a first amino acid residue located within 3-12 .ANG. of the active site of the superoxide dismutase with a second amino acid residue capable of reacting with a highly reactive nitrating species, such as nitronium ion, formed from the reaction of peroxynitrite and superoxide dismutase.

The present invention relates generally to the field of administration of superoxide dismutase (SOD) to reduce ischemic injury or injury following sepsis or inflammation. In particular, this invention relates to a method and compositions for reducing toxic side effects caused by the reaction of SOD and peroxynitrite. Specifically, an effective amount of SOD, modified by substituting amino acid residues close to the active site of the SOD with amino acid residues, such as tyrosine, methionine, or cysteine residues, that can trap the toxic side products of the reaction of SOD with peroxynitrite, such as nitronium ion, is administered to an animal. This invention has particular relevance in the treatment of stroke and head trauma, myocardial ischemia, sepsis, inflammation, adult respiratory distress syndrome, and bronchiopulmonary dysplasia.
Peroxynitrite anion (ONOO.sup.31) is a potent oxidant. Peroxynitrite is formed by the reaction of superoxide (O.sub.2.sup.31) and nitric oxide in tissues subjected to ischemic, inflammatory or septic conditions. Nitric oxide is present in such tissues. For example, in ischemic injury, ischemia allows calcium entry into endothelial cytoplasm due to failure of ionic pumps and opening of ion channels. Endothelium and neurons produce nitric oxide by an oxygen (O.sub.2) dependent calmodulin activated nitric oxide synthetase which oxidizes arginine in the presence of NADPH (Palmer et al., Nature (London) 333:664-666 (1988); Knowles et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. (USA) 86:5159-62 (1989); Marletta et al., Biochem., 27:8706-8711 (1988)). Reperfusion allows rapid nitric oxide synthesis by providing O.sub.2 to the enzyme and other substrates already present as a result of ischemia.
Superoxide is also present in injured tissue. For example, ischemia induces intracellular O.sub.2 production by xanthine oxidase, mitochondria and other sources. The O.sub.2 can escape into the extracellular millieu through anion channels (Lynch et al., J. Biol. Chem., 253: 4697-4699 (1978)). Extracellular O.sub.2.sup.- and nitric oxide are also produced in the vascular lumen by activated neutrophils and macrophages, and by circulating xanthine oxidase released from liver (Yokoyama et al., Amer. J. Physiol., 258:G564-G570 (1990); Moncada et al., Biochem. Pharmacol., 38:1709-1715 (1989)). The superoxide radical is also an important mediator of both the inflammatory response of neutrophils and of the damage that occurs during reperfusion of anoxic tissue after organ transplantation or when a blood clot is removed. (Petrone et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci (USA), 77:1159-163 (1980)).
NO reacts rapidly with O.sub.2.sup.- both intracellularly and in the vascular lumen to form peroxynitrite (Blough et al., Inorg. Chem., 24:3504-3505 (1985); Beckman et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. (USA), 87:1620-1624 (1990)). The rate of peroxynitrite formation depends upon O.sub.2.sup.- and nitric oxide concentrations. Peroxynitrite can be toxic by at least three mechanisms: hydrogen ion-catalyzed homolytic cleavage to form hydroxyl radical (.cndot.OH) and nitrogen dioxide (NO.sub.2), direct reaction with sulfhydryl groups, and reactions with SOD and transition metals to form hydroxyl ion (.sup.- OH) and nitronium ion (NO.sub.2.sup.+) a potent nitrating agent (Beckman et al., Nature (London) 345:27-28 (1990). Thus, peroxynitrite is a reactive species which can produce other highly reactive species such as .cndot.OH, NO.sub.2, and NO.sub.2.sup.+.
Superoxide dismutases consist of several distinct families of metal-containing enzymes that catalyze the dismutation of the oxygen radical superoxide by the following two step reaction: EQU O.sub.2.sup.- +Me-SOD====.fwdarw.O.sub.2 +Me.sup.-1 -SOD EQU 2H.sup.+ +O.sub.2.sup.- +Me.sup.-1 -SOD====.fwdarw.H.sub.2 O.sub.2 +Me-SOD
where Me refers to the metal bound in the active site. This metal undergoes repeated cycles of oxidation and reduction in the reactions given above. Many compounds can either reduce or oxidize superoxide, but the distinguishing feature of a superoxide dismutase is the catalysis of both reactions given above. A series of positively charged amino acids positioned near the active site of the SODs generates an electrostatic gradient which attracts the negatively charged O.sub.2.sup.- into the active site.
Three families of SODs are distinguished by the metal in the active site: the copper+zinc (Cu,Zn) SOD family, the manganese (Mn) SOD family and the iron (Fe) SOD family. The vast majority of therapeutic studies have been performed using Cu,Zn SODs, which naturally occur in the cytoplasm of eukaryotic cells as a dimer of two identical 16 Kd peptides. There is also a distinct Cu,Zn SOD found in plasma, which is a tetramer. Another form of SOD contains manganese (Mn) and is found in mitochondria. This protein has an amino acid sequence distinct from the Cu,Zn SOD but is similar to the sequence for Mn and Fe SODs found in bacteria.
SOD's have been commonly utilized to prevent or reduce oxidation injury in the treatment of stroke and head trauma, myocardial ischemia, abdominal vascular occlusion, cystitis, and a variety of inflammatory conditions (Greenwald, Free Radical Biol. and Med., 8:201-209 (1990); McCord, New Eng. J. Med., 312:159-183 (1985); U.S. Pat. No. 4,695,456; U.S. Pat. No. 4,656,034).
However, there have been several disappointing results in humans treated with native human Cu,Zn SOD. One explanation for these results may be that the native enzyme has a circulatory half life of only minutes because of rapid clearance by the kidneys (Petkau et al., Res. Commun. Chem. Pathol. Pharmacol., 15:641-657 (1976)).
To address this problem, several longer-lived derivatives of SODs have been developed. Human Mn SOD has been cloned and human trials have been reported by Nimrod et al., in Medical Biochem. and Chem. Aspects of Free Radicals, N.Y.: Elsevier Science Pub., 743-746 (1989). Genetic engineering has produced a long-lived modification of human cytoplasmic Cu,Zn SOD (Hallewell et al., J. Biol. Chem., 264:5260-5268 (1989)). Other modifications, such as polyethylene glycol conjugates of both human and bovine Cu,Zn SOD have longer half lives and are less immunogenic than unmodified forms (Pyatak et al., Res. Commun. Chem. Pathol. Pharmacol., 29:113-127 (1980); Saifer et al., Proc. Fifth Internatl. Conf. on Suoeroxide and Suoeroxide Dismutase (Jerusalem) (1989)).
Another problem with in vivo SOD therapy has recently been reported in which treatment with higher SOD dosage levels to reduce ischemic injury resulted in an increased infarct size (Omar et al., Circulation 80:SII-294 (1989); Werns et al., Tr. Pharmacol. Sci., 1:161-166 (1988)). Further, the use of SOD in tissues containing ONOO.sup.- can lead to the production of other destructive species, such as NO.sub.2.sup.+. Thus, there exists a need for an improved therapy to treat ischemic, inflammatory or septic conditions.


A method for detecting the data strobe signal from a Double Data Rate (DDR) Synchronous Dynamic Random Access Memory (SDRAM). The method executes a data reading process at first and records the latency period of the data read process to be a basis for detecting the arrival timing of the preamble in the data strobe signals in the subsequent data reading process.

1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates to a method for detecting the data strobe signal (DQS) of a double data rate (DDR) synchronous dynamic random access memory (SDRAM). More particularly, the present invention relates to a method for detecting the data strobe signal when a DDR SDRAM is outputting the data.
2. Description of Related Art
In present data process systems, a SDRAM module is often used in memory unit. The SDRAM module is synchronous with the system, the data is accessed at rising edges of the system clock. Therefore, an SDRAM module can provide a higher data transmission rate than a memory module having an independent clock.
A new memory module, called a double data rate (DDR) SDRAM module is similar to conventional SDRAM modules, but the data is accessed at both rising edges and falling edges of the system clock. Therefore, the DDR SDRAM module can provide double data transmission rate better than the conventional SDRAM module. However, some problems have appeared because of the endless promotion of the system clock rate.
FIG. 1 shows a timing diagram of data reading from a DDR SDRAM. CLK is the system clock. When a signal RC is enabled at low logic state with one clock cycle long as a reading command and then after passing through the latency 102, the data will be transmitted in the data lines DQ at the rate of two data per clock cycle for reading. Assuming that eight data (data D0-D7) can be read in a read operation. When the data is transmitted in the data lines DQ, a data strobe signal DQS, which is synchronous with the data lines DQ, is provided. Each rising edge and falling edge of the signal DQS indicates the one data arriving in the data line DQ. Signal DQS also provides a low logic state preamble 104 with one clock cycle to indicate data is arriving before transmitting the first data D0 in the data lines DQ; and a low logic state postamble 106 with a half clock cycle to indicate the end of the data in the data lines DQ. Other than the foregoing conditions, the signal DQS maintains in a high impedance (HI-Z) status (between the high logic state and the low logic state), the signal DQS is a tristate logic signal.
After the data and the data strobe signal DQS are outputted from the DDR SRAM, data in the data lines DQ is received next.
On the whole, when a read command signal RC is asserted, an input enable signal TNI is enabled by a receiving unit to receive the data lines DQ and the data strobe signal DQS after a few time. When a preamble 104 of the data strobe signal DQS is detected by the input enable signal TNI, a high logic state of the input enable signal TNI will be maintained until a postamble 106 of the data strobe signal DQS is detected. The data receiving unit can provide a data reading signal ZI, which is synchronous with the data strobe signal DQS, for controlling the data receiving operation during the enable time of the input enable signal TNI, wherein the data receiving unit will read the data in the data lines DQ at both rising edges and falling edges of the data reading signal ZI.
For a variety of reasons, such as the acceleration of clock frequency and different layouts of memory modules and circuit boards among all kinds of products, therefore the latency 102 is not the same (not a constant) for various products As a result, the appearance time of the preamble 104 of the data strobe signal DQS is also variable.
In the conventional method, when asserting a reading command signal RC, the input enable signal TNI detects the preamble of the data strobe signal DQS after a fixed time. If the latency 102 is larger than the fixed time, the data read signal TNI will detect a high impedance part of the data strobe signal DQS, and then the data reading signal ZI will be unknown state. If the latency 102 is smaller than the fixed time, the input enable signal TNI will detect the data strobe signal DQS after the preamble, this will cause data reading lost.


Provided are an optical fiber connector component which holds an optical fiber and is capable of being inserted through a thin pipe and capable of being inserted smoothly through a pipe, and an optical fiber connector provided with the optical fiber connector component. The optical fiber connector component comprises a ferrule having a fiber hole to hold an inserted coaxially disposed optical fiber, a stop ring arranged on the base end side of the ferrule, and an urging means arranged in between the ferrule and the stop ring; the optical fiber connector is characterized by having a housing and cover member coaxially connected to the optical fiber, and the cover member being fixed to the stop ring of the optical fiber component by means of a fixing member.

An optical communication technique in which an electric signal is converted into an optical signal to transmit information is characterized by enabling to raise communication speed more and transmit larger-capacity data than an electric communication. Recently, such characteristics of the optical communication technique attract attention, and a newly constructed building is designed in advance so that an optical fiber can be laid at the time of construction in many cases while an existing building is also provided with an optical fiber in many cases.
As a method for distributing an optical fiber, various wiring methods such as under-carpet wiring, exposed wiring, and concealed wiring are conventionally known. Recently, the concealed wiring is carried out in many cases from a viewpoint of enabling preservation of appearance even with distribution of the optical fiber. The concealed wiring is a wiring method for providing a pipe under a floor, in a ceiling, in a sidewall of a building, and the like in advance at the time of construction of the building and inserting the optical fiber into the provided pipe. In a case where the optical fiber is laid in an existing building, a pipe cannot be buried in a wall and the like, and thus a pipe is provided in an inconspicuous position of the building in advance before the optical fiber is distributed, and the optical fiber is inserted into this pipe.
Conventionally, a method of inserting the optical fiber provided at a tip end with an optical fiber connector into the pipe has been general. However, the optical fiber connector has a complicated structure provided with various members such as a latch to be used when the connector is connected to an adapter and when connection to the adapter is cancelled and easily gets stuck when the optical fiber is inserted into the pipe, which may cause disconnection of the optical fiber or breakage of the optical fiber connector. Also, when the disconnection of the optical fiber or the breakage of the optical fiber connector occurs, the optical fiber that has been inserted into the pipe has to be pulled, a new optical fiber has to be connected, or the optical fiber connector has to be replaced, and thereafter the optical fiber has to be inserted into the pipe again, which brings about poor operating efficiencies.
Also, the pipe is provided in a bent or curved state in some cases depending on a structure of the building and ways to arrange or lay the pipe. Especially in a case where the pipe is provided in this manner, the optical fiber connector easily gets stuck, which easily causes the aforementioned disconnection of the optical fiber or breakage of the optical fiber connector.
Various methods for solving such problems have been considered conventionally. For example, in an optical connector described in Patent Literature 1, a cap formed in a shape that does not cause the cap to easily get stuck in a pipe is attached to the optical connector to insert an optical fiber into the pipe, and the optical connector is adapted to enable the optical fiber to be inserted into the pipe smoothly and enable to reduce disconnection of the optical fiber or breakage of the optical connector.
Also, conventionally known is an optical fiber in which a surface of a covering material is subjected to a special process so as to reduce resistance between the optical fiber and an inner circumferential surface of a pipe to facilitate insertion into the pipe. This optical fiber is adapted to attach and fix an optical connector to the optical fiber after the optical fiber is inserted into the pipe.
Further, conventionally known as a method for inserting an optical fiber into a pipe is a method for inserting an optical fiber into a pipe while supplying gas such as compressed air in the pipe in an equal direction to a direction in which the optical fiber is inserted. By this method as well, the optical fiber can be inserted into the pipe easily, which can reduce disconnection of the optical fiber or breakage of an optical connector.

Optical fiber connector component and optical fiber connector provided with optical fiber connector component


The mapping system maps a physical table of a database to a logical table representing a logical view of the database that integrates standard columns and custom columns. The physical table includes a standard table with standard columns and a custom table with custom columns. The custom table may be implemented as a pivot table. The mapping system provides a map between standard and custom columns and logical columns. The physical table may include multiple standard tables. The mapping system allows for individual standard tables to be updated, rather than updating all the columns across all the standard tables for a row.

Many applications use a database to store their data. The database for an application is typically designed by the developer of the application to include a table for each entity used by the application. Each entity table contains a row for each specific entity and various columns for storing properties of the entity. For example, in the case of a project management application, the entities may include a project, a task, an assignment, or a resource, and a specific entity is a specific project, a specific task, a specific assignment, or a specific resource. The project table may contain a project identifier column, a project name column, a project start date column, and so on. The project identifier column contains the unique identifier of a specific project and is referred to as a "unique key" of the project table. Each row of the project table corresponds to a specific project, and the cells of a row contain the data of that specific project for the columns. A task table may contain a task identifier column, project identifier column, task name column, and so on. The task identifier column contains the unique identifiers of specific tasks. The project identifier column contains the project identifier of the specific project with which the task is associated and is referred to as a "foreign key." Each row of the task table corresponds to a specific task.
Complex applications may have many hundreds of properties associated with an entity. This presents problems for databases that limit the number of columns of a table. For example, some databases may limit the number of columns to 128 or 256. To overcome this problem, applications may store data for an entity in multiple database tables. For example, if an application needs 300 columns to represent the properties of an entity and the limit on the number of columns of a table is 128, then the developer of the application may divide the 300 columns across three tables with 101 columns in each table. Each table may contain a unique key column and 100 property columns. When the properties of a specific entity is added to the database, the application generates a unique identifier for that specific entity and adds a row to each of the three tables with its unique key set to that unique identifier. The combination of the rows from the three tables with the same unique identifier corresponds to the columns for the entity. To access the data for that specific entity, the application may join the three tables. As a result, at least for viewing purposes, the join results in a logical data view that contains the unique identifier column and the 300 property columns.
Even though these complex applications have many properties associated with an entity, referred to as "standard" properties or columns, users may need to have additional properties associated with an entity. For example, in the case of a project management application, a user may need to track project type and project status, which may have no corresponding standard column. To assist users in defining their own properties for an entity, applications may allow custom columns to be defined. For example, a user may define a type custom column and a status custom column to track the type and status of projects. The custom column can be considered just one more column associated with an entity.
Although custom columns could be supported by modifying the schema of the database, such modifications can be time-consuming and error-prone, especially if performed by the users of the application. To allow users the flexibility to create custom columns without modifying the schema of the database, some applications use a "pivot" table to store information relating to custom columns. A pivot table for an entity would typically include a key column, a custom column name column, and a data column. Whenever data for a custom column is to be added for a specific entity, a new row is added to the pivot table that contains the unique key associated with that specific entity, the name of the custom column, and the data.
The use of pivot tables to represent custom columns may make it difficult for a user to retrieve all the properties associated with a specific entity. In particular, although a join can be used to combine the data of standard tables, the data of the custom columns cannot be joined so easily. Moreover, even if with only standard tables are joined to provide a logical data view, some databases may not allow updates via the logical data view. It would be desirable to provide a logical data view that would integrate both standard columns and custom columns and would allow for the updating of data of both standard columns and custom columns via a logical data view.

Method and system for mapping between logical data and physical data


Compositions and methods for reducing the decomposition rate of polymeric bioadhesives and viscosity enhancers, such as poly(acrylic acids). The compositions include at least one strong, stable chelating agent, preferably an organophosphorous compound such as diethylene triamine penta(methylene phosphonic acid). These biocompatible compositions are especially useful in the ophthalmic field.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates broadly to compositions and method for stabilizing polymers. In a preferred embodiment, the invention relates to stabilization of bioadhesives and viscosity enhancers in ophthalmic compositions.
2. Description of the Related Art
Water soluble and water swellable (i.e., hydrophilic but water insoluble) polymeric materials are known to be useful as bioadhesives and viscosity enhancers. For example, poly(acrylic acids) are used in ophthalmic solutions or mixtures to increase viscosity, thereby increasing the retention time in the eye. An example of a commercially available viscosity enhancer is NOVEON.TM. AA-1 resins (polycarbophil) available from B. F. Goodrich.
Typically, polymeric viscosity enhancers and bioadhesives decompose, or are otherwise altered, during extended storage periods. The decomposition of a viscosity enhancer reduces the viscosity of the composition, eventually to a point at which the composition is no longer deemed sufficiently effective. Thus, there exists shelf-life problems with compositions, most notably ophthalmic compositions, which include bioadhesives and viscosity enhancers. Accordingly, there is a need to reduce the rate of decomposition of bioadhesives and viscosity enhancers, and to increase the shelf life of compositions including these polymeric materials.

Compositions and methods for stabilizing polymers


In the data call handover method, the mobile communication terminal registers a Mobile Internet Protocol (MIP address) through an asynchronous mobile communication network and receives data call service when a data call connection event is initiated by the mobile communication terminal. It is determined whether the mobile communication terminal has entered an area in which the asynchronous mobile communication network and a synchronous mobile communication network overlap. If the mobile communication terminal has entered the overlap area, it is determined whether to perform handover to the synchronous mobile communication network based on the intensity of a signal of the asynchronous mobile communication network. If handover is to be performed, a data call between the mobile communication terminal and the synchronous mobile communication network is established and the MIP address is registered. The service of the data call, which is provided by the asynchronous mobile communication network, is linked with the service of the synchronous mobile communication network. The data call between the mobile communication terminal and the asynchronous mobile communication network is released.

With the development of mobile communication technology and the evolution of communication networks, a variety of mobile communication systems have been developed. In order to solve the problem of global roaming between the mobile communication systems, the International Mobile Telecommunication (IMT)-2000 systems have been developed. The IMT-2000 systems are classified into a Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) 2000-based synchronous system and a Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (WCDMA)-based asynchronous system.
Furthermore, in order to support global roaming between the mobile communication systems, a mobile communication terminal capable of being used in both a synchronous type system and an asynchronous type system, that is, a Dual Band Dual Mode (DBDM) mobile communication terminal, has been developed. Using the mobile communication terminal, different types of services can be respectively used in an asynchronous system area and a synchronous system area.
Currently, the asynchronous mobile communication network is being constructed in regions having high demand for service and, therefore, the synchronous mobile communication network is evolving such that the service area thereof includes the service areas of an asynchronous system. In such a process, handover between the systems is necessary so as to provide continuous service in the case where a user moves between an asynchronous mobile communication system and a synchronous mobile communication system.
In this environment, roaming between a synchronous type system and an asynchronous type system becomes the most critical issue. Conventionally, a problem occurs in that a data interruption time of more than 10 seconds occurs and, therefore, it is difficult to provide normal data service, in consideration of modem initialization, initial call establishment, data call establishment, and MIP address registration time, when a mobile communication terminal receiving service in an asynchronous mobile communication network performs handover to a synchronous mobile communication network, such as a CDMA2000 1x/Ev-Do network, at the time of performing a data call.

Controlling method and data call handover method for dual band/dual mode mobile communication terminal


An image of the solder portion is taken. Values of goodness/poorness judgment factors are calculated from the image of the solder portion. Grades of the goodness/poorness judgment factors are calculated from the values of the goodness/poorness judgment factors and from predetermined membership functions of the goodness/poorness judgment factors according to predetermined rules each having a condition part related to the goodness/poorness judgment factors and a conclusion part related to a goodness degree. Partial figures are calculated from predetermined membership functions of the goodness degree and from the calculated grades of the goodness/poorness judgment factors. The partial figures are combined into a final figure. A position of a centroid of the final figure is calculated. A decision is made as to whether or not the solder portion is good on the basis of the calculated position of the centroid with respect to a predetermined judgment scale.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a method of automatically inspecting a solder portion of a printed circuit board or others. This invention also relates to an apparatus for automatically inspecting a solder portion of a printed circuit board or others.
2. Description of the Prior Art
It is known to automatically inspect solder portions of a printed circuit board. In a prior art apparatus, each of solder portions is observed by a camera, and a signal representing an image of the solder portion is generated by the camera. A computer processes the image signal, calculating the values of goodness/poorness judgment factors such as the length, the width, and the area of a dark region or a bright region on the basis of the distribution of the luminance of the image. The calculated values are compared with reference values to decide whether the solder portion is good or poor.
In the prior art apparatus, each of the calculated values of the goodness/poorness judgment factors is subjected to judgment through the comparison with the related reference value. In the case where all the goodness/poorness judgment factors are judged to be acceptable, the solder portion is finally decided to be good. In the case where at least one of the goodness/poorness judgment factors is judged to be unacceptable while the other goodness/poorness judgment factors are judged to be acceptable, the solder portion is finally decided to be poor. Since some of good solder portions have an unacceptable judgment factor although the other judgment factors are acceptable, the final decision regarding the solder portion tends to be low in accuracy.
Some of solder portions are in a gray zone between a good zone and a poor zone. It is generally difficult to execute accurate and reliable decision regarding such gray-zone solder portions. It is better to execute closer inspection of gray-zone solder portions.

Method and apparatus for inspecting solder portions using fuzzy inference

Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.


A method for manufacturing an image display panel includes the steps of heating a substrate for the image display panel having a different-emissivity member on at least a part of one surface of the substrate, with the member having an emissivity different from that of the substrate, and then placing a cooling plate opposite the heated substrate to absorb radiation heat from the substrate to cool the substrate. The cooling plate has a different-emissivity area in a pattern that can suppress a temperature distribution that may be created in the substrate if the substrate is cooled using a cooling plate with a uniform emissivity, with the different-emissivity area having an emissivity different from that of other areas.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a cooling device used for cooling, for example, in a process for manufacturing an electronic or electric apparatus such as an image display panel or a semiconductor device, the cooling device being used after heating a substrate used in the electronic or electric apparatus, as well as an apparatus manufacturing an image display panel using this cooling device and a method for manufacturing a display image panel using the cooling device. More specifically, the present invention relates to a cooling device with which a cooling plate is placed opposite a heated substrate for the electronic or electric apparatus to absorb radiation heat to cool the substrate, as well as an apparatus manufacturing an image display panel using this cooling device and a method for manufacturing a display image panel using the cooling device.
2. Related Background Art
In a conventional process for manufacturing an image display panel or a semiconductor, a substrate is cooled by thermally treating it in a vacuum. The cooling of the heated substrate in the vacuum atmosphere is carried out by absorbing radiation heat (radiant heat) from the substrate. For example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H7-216550 discloses a technique in which to cool a substrate in manufacturing a semiconductor, a metal plate is provided parallel with the substrate, while a radiation absorbing layer is formed on a surface opposite to the substrate of the metal plate. The radiation absorbing layer can absorb radiant heat generated by the substrate. Then, the absorbed heat can be transmitted to the metal heat. Moreover, the heat can be discharged via the metal plate.
However, this conventional cooling has problems described below.
First, the temperature of the substrate to be cooled starts to decrease at its peripheral edges, notably in its corner portions, where heat is radiated from its front and back surfaces and side end surfaces. However, an increase in the size of the substrate increases the distance between a central portion and edges of the substrate, thus hindering fast heat transfer. Consequently, there is a large difference in temperature between the peripheral edge, where cooling progresses fast, and the central portion, where cooling is difficult. This temperature distribution associated with the cooling may cause the substrate to be distorted or damaged.
Second, many substrates that require cooling after heating have a member (for example, wiring or phosphor, or the like) provided on a part of a surface of the substrate and which has an emissivity different from that of the substrate itself, for example, as in the case of a substrate (electron source substrate or phosphor substrate) for an image display panel in which an electron source substrate and a phosphor substrate are located opposite each other. A further description will be given taking the case of a substrate for an image display panel. Normally, the substrate is glass, having a relatively high emissivity, and wiring is metal, having a relatively low emissivity. Accordingly, cooling by a cooling plate starts in the vicinities of corner portions of the substrate which are away from an area in which wiring is formed. Thus, disadvantageously, a temperature distribution is created which may cause the substrate to be distorted or damaged. In particular, when the wiring concentrates at a position close to the center of the substrate, the temperature distribution created for the above first reason is further enhanced to crack the substrate.

Cooling device, and apparatus and method for manufacturing image display panel using cooling device


1-Alkyl-substituted-quinolone-3-carboxamides have therapeutic utility via inhibition of Phosphodiesterase IV esterase and/or Tumour Necrosis Factor activity. The compounds of the invention have the general formula (I): ##STR1## The compounds of the invention encompassed by formula (I) include enantiomers, diastereoisomers and mixtures, including racemic mixtures.

Quinolone compounds are known primarily as antibacterial agents (see JP-A-05025162; U.S. Pat. No. 5037834; EP-A-0420069; WO-A-9410163; JP-A-02040379; EP-A-0343560; U.S. Pat. No. DE 3816119; EP-A-0304158; and U.S. Pat. No. DE 3641312) or antiviral agents (U.S. Pat. No. 4,959,363) but also as inhibitors of 5-lipoxygenase (JP-A-02124871), cardiotonics and vasodilators (JP-A-01061461) and 5-HT.sub.3 antagonists for the treatment of peripheral disorders associated with pain (WO-A-9501793 and GB-A-2236751). None of these publications discloses utility as PDE IV inhibitors.
Phosphodiesterases regulate cyclic AMP/GMP concentrations. Phosphodiesterase IV (PDE IV) has been demonstrated to be a principal regulator of cyclic AMP in respiratory smooth muscle and inflammatory cells see Torphy and Cieslinski, Molecular Pharmacology 37:206 (1990); Dent et al, British Journal of Pharmacology, 90:163p (1990)!. Inhibitors of phosphodiesterase IV have been implicated as being bronchodilators and asthma-prophylactic agents, as agents for inhibiting eosinophil accumulation and the function of eosinophils see for example Gembycz and Dent, Clinical and Experimental Allergy 22:337 (1992)! and for treating other diseases and conditions characterised by, or having an etiology including, morbid eosinophil accumulation. Inhibitors of PDE IV are also implicated in treating inflammatory diseases, proliferative skin disease and conditions associated with cerebral metabolic inhibition.
Tumour Necrosis Factor (TNF) is a serum glycoprotein. Excessive or unregulated TNF production has been implicated in mediating or exacerbating a number of diseases including rheumatoid arthritis, rheumatoid spondylitis, osteoarthritis, gouty arthritis and other arthritic conditions; sepsis, septic shock, endotoxic shock, gram negative sepsis, toxic shock syndrome, adult respiratory distress syndrome, cerebral malaria, chronic pulmonary inflammatory disease, silicosis, pulmonary sarcoidosis, bone resorption diseases, reperfusion injury, graft vs. host reaction, allograft rejections, fever and myalgias due to infection, such as influenza, cachexia secondary to infection or malignancy, cachexia secondary to human acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS), AIDS, ARC (AIDS-related complex), keloid formation, scar tissue formation, Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, or pyresis, in addition to a number of autoimmune diseases, such as multiple sclerosis, autoimmune diabetes and systemic lupus erythematosis.
AIDS results from the infection of T lymphocytes with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). At least three types or strains of HIV have been identified, i.e., HIV-1, HIV-2 and HIV-3. As a consequence of HIV infection, T-cell mediated immunity is impaired and infected individuals manifest severe opportunistic infections and/or unusual neoplasms. HIV entry into the T lymphocyte requires T lymphocyte activation. Viruses such as HIV-1 or HIV-2 infect T lymphocytes after T cell activation and such virus protein expression and/or replication is mediated or maintained by such T cell activation. Once an activated T lymphocyte is infected with HIV, the T lymphocyte must continue to be maintained in an activated state to permit HIV gene expression and/or HIV replication.
Cytokines, specifically TNF, are implicated in activated T-cell mediated HIV protein expression and/or virus replication by playing a role in maintaining T lymphocyte activation. Therefore, interference with cytokine activity such as by inhibition of cytokine production, notably TNF, in an HIV-infected individual aids in limiting the maintenance of T cell activation, thereby reducing the progression of HIV infectivity to previously uninfected cells which results in a slowing or elimination of the progression of immune dysfunction caused by HIV infection. Monocytes, macrophages, and related cells, such as Kupffer and glial cells, have also been implicated in maintenance of the HIV infection. These cells, like T cells, are targets for viral replication and the level of viral replication is dependent upon the activation state of the cells see Rosenberg et al, The Inmunopathogenesis of HIV Infection, Advances in Immunology, Vol. 57, (1989)!. Monokines, such as TNF, have been shown to activate HIV replication in monocytes and/or macrophages See Poli et al, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci., 87:782-784 (1990)!. Therefore, inhibition of monokine production or activity aids in limiting HIV progression as stated above for T cells.
TNF has also been implicated in various roles with other viral infections, such as the cytomegalovirus (CMV), influenza virus, adenovirus, and the herpes virus for similar reasons as those noted.
TNF is also associated with yeast and fungal infections. Specifically, Candida albicans has been shown to induce TNF production in vitro in human monocytes and natural killer cells. See Riipi et al, Infection and Immunity, 58(9):2750-54 (1990); and Jafari et al, Journal of Infectious Diseases, 164:389-95 (1991). See also Wasan et al, Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy, 35(10):2046-48, (1991); and Luke et al, Journal of Infectious Diseases, 162:211-214, (1990)!.
The ability to control the adverse effects of TNF is furthered by the use of the compounds which inhibit TNF in mammals who are in need of such use. There remains a need for compounds which are useful in treating TNF-mediated disease states which are exacerbated or caused by the excessive and/or unregulated production of TNF.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,786,644 discloses a variety of compounds including what may be quinolone-3-carboxamides. There is also an aryl substituent at the 1-position.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,621,088 discloses 1-ethylquinolone-3-carboxamides, and heterocyclic analogues, having an acyl substituent on the carboxamide group; the acyl substituent may be cyclohexylmethyl carrying a COOH group. These compounds are disclosed as having an antiallergic action.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,524,858 and GB-A-1191443 disclose, inter alia, 1-alkylquinolone-3-carboxamides having an aryl or aralkyl substituent on the carboxamide group. These compounds are disclosed as having anti-viral activity.
Other quinolone-3-carboxamides are known, in which there is an optionally-substituted phenyl substituent on the carboxamide group. None of these disclosures mentions utility as PDE IV inhibitors.


A reinforced rubber article containing a rubber article and a fibrous layer embedded into the rubber article. The fibrous layer contains monoaxially drawn tape elements having a rectangular cross-section and at least a first layer having a draw ratio of at least about 5, a modulus of at least about 2 GPa, a density of at least 0.85 g/cm3. The first layer contains a polymer selected from the group consisting of polyamide, polyester, and co-polymers thereof. Methods of forming the reinforced rubber article are also disclosed.

Reinforced rubber goods are used in a wide variety of consumer and industrial applications. The performance of reinforced molded rubber goods depends on the adhesion of the reinforcement to the rubber. Fabrics made with synthetic yarns tend to be difficult to bond to rubber.
In practice several things are done to improve adhesion, most of them involving coating fibers and/or fabric with an adhesion promoter. For example, as the fibers are drawn a spin finish may be applied which may contain an adhesion activator such as an epoxy resin.
There remains a need for reinforced rubber articles having fibrous layers with enhanced adhesion due to geometry and other physical properties of the fibers in addition to adhesion promoting chemistries.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Rubber reinforced article with high modulus, rectangular cross-section fibers