A portable oxygen dispenser for providing an emergency supply of oxygen-rich gas includes a closed cannister defining a cannister axis and diameter and containing a quantity of pressurized, oxygen-rich. A dispensing orifice includes an externally actuable valve at one axial end of said cannister for maintaining the orifice normally closed. The valve includes a nozzle stem generally arranged along the cannister axis. An annular neck wall is generally concentrically arranged about the nozzle stem and dimensioned to form an annular space between the nozzle stem and the neck wall. A generally conical diffusing member defines a diffusion axis and opposing axial ends, one of which is a dispensing open end dimensioned to substantially correspond to the cannister diameter; the other end is a closed infusion end and is provided with an inlet opening defining an axis generally transverse to the diffusion axis and structure for engaging the stem for selectively applying an axial force to the nozzle stem. The dispensing end is configured to fit over the cannister when not in use. The cannister and the diffusion axes are generally aligned and adapted to be placed over the mouth and/or nose of a user. A protective guide extends into the annular space slidingly engaging the annular neck wall for substantially limiting the forces applied to the nozzle stem to axial forces along the cannister axis. In this way, forces on the nozzle stem other than the axial forces along the cannister axis are avoided, thus preventing damage to the nozzle stem during use of the diffusing member.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention generally relates to inhalers and, more particularly, to a portable oxygen dispenser.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Actuators for aerosol inhalers of various types have been proposed. In most instances, the devices are used for dispensing medicinal aerosol formulations. See, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,899,201. A dispensing package for material under pressure is also disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,012,555. In these patents actuators are disclosed for specialized cannisters used for storing drugs for treating various disorders such as asthma, chronic bronchitis, emphysema and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. The specialized cannisters are relatively small, and the actuators are designed to actuate the nozzle valve while engaging the outside rim or periphery of the cannister. In such cases, the actuator typically has a cylindrical housing portion the inner surface of which engages the outside rim or periphery of the cannister. This is also shown, for example, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,860,416 and 3,012,555. In most of these applications, the cannisters include a relatively small mouthpiece through which a patient can inhale a metered dose of a drug expelled from the aerosol cannister. Accordingly, both the actuators and the aerosol cannisters tend to be relatively small, and especially designed to cooperate with each other.
One of the difficulties with aerosol cannisters generally is that they typically include a nozzle or valve stem which is frequently in the form of a thin-walled small diameter tube made of a deformable material, such as plastic. Such stems are substantially stronger in compression, when axial forces are applied to them, than in bending when transverse forces are applied to them which causes such stems to bend and frequently break. Unfortunately, once the valve stem breaks, there is no other mechanism for opening the aerosol cannister valve and, therefore, the entire cannister and its contents must be discarded.
The same is normally true of more traditional aerosol cannisters or containers of the type, for example, frequently used for deodorants, hairsprays, cleaners, etc. In connection with more traditional consumer-oriented, off-the-shelf cannisters, very little is done to protect the valve or nozzle stems against bending and premature breakage. Such stems are designed with the intent of having the consumer apply a force to the valve stem that is generally aligned or coextensive with the axis of such stem. Under such conditions, the valve stem causes the valve to be opened and the contents to be released without jeopardizing the integrity of the stem. However, application of forces to the valve stem other than axial forces can cause bending and damage to such stem, as suggested.
Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide a portable oxygen dispenser which does not have the disadvantages associated with prior art aerosol cannisters.
It is another object of the invention to provide a portable oxygen dispenser which utilizes a conical diffusing member, particularly suitable for dispensing oxygen or a mixture of gases including oxygen.
It is still another object of the invention to provide a portable oxygen dispenser which uses a conventional aerosol cannister.
It is yet another object of the invention to provide a portable oxygen dispenser which includes a protective guide on the conical diffusing member which eliminates or minimizes the risk of damage or breakage of the nozzle-stem of the aerosol valve during use.
It is a further object of the invention to provide a portable oxygen dispenser which is easier to use under various conditions without risk of damage to the valve stem which releases the oxygen or oxygen mixture.
It is still a further object of the invention to provide a portable oxygen dispenser which is simple in construction and economical to manufacturer.
It is yet a further object of the present invention to provide a portable oxygen dispenser which has a dual purpose diffuser member that can be used, on the one hand, to receive the oxygen from a cannister and diffuse it for intake by a user through the nose and/or mouth, and, on the other hand, to cover that end of the cannister which includes the cannister valve and nozzle stem and protects the same when not in use.
In order to achieve the above objects, as well as others which will become evident hereinafter, a portable oxygen dispenser in accordance with the present invention for providing an emergency supply of oxygen-rich gas comprises a closed cannister having a top closure portion in a cylindrical side wall defining a cannister axis in diameter and containing a quantity of oxygen-rich gas in a pressurized condition. A dispensing orifice includes an externally actuatable valve means at one axial end of said cannister for maintaining said dispensing orifice in a normally closed condition. Said valve means includes a nozzle stem generally arranged along said cannister axis for opening said orifice when an axial force is applied thereto. An annular neck wall is generally concentrically arranged about said nozzle stem and dimensioned to form an annular space between the nozzle stem and said neck wall. A generally conical diffusing member defines a diffusion axis and opposing axial ends, one of which is a dispensing open end dimensioned to substantially correspond to said cannister diameter, and the other end of which is a closed infusion end provided with an inlet opening defining an axis generally transverse to said diffusion axis and stem engaging means for selectively applying an axial force to said nozzle stem. Said one dispensing end is configured to fit over and be supported on said cannister when not in use, and said cannister and said diffusion axes are generally aligned and are adapted to be placed over the mouth and/or nose of a user. Protective guide means is provided extending from said closed infusion end along said transverse axis into said annular for slidingly engaging said annular neck wall with little clearance during use once said cannister and transverse axes are generally aligned and oxygen-rich gas is to be released and for substantially limiting forces applied to said nozzle stem to axial forces along said cannister axis. In this manner, forces on said nozzle stem other than said axial forces along said cannister axis are avoided, thereby to prevent damage to said nozzle stem during use of said diffusing member.


A sewing ring for a heart valve prosthesis to allow the valve to be sutured into operative position in association with a region of a human heart from which a defective valve has been excised. The generally cylindrical exterior surface of a valve body of circular cross-section is provided with either an encircling groove or a protruding annular band. To interconnect with such groove or band, a metal split sleeve is provided which has either a radially inward directed projection or an annular cavity for mating, respectively, with the groove or band of the valve body. A tubular fabric sleeve from which a sewing cuff is constructed is first fitted about the valve body, and a central portion of such fabric sleeve is sandwiched between the split sleeve and the valve body so that it is entrapped and preferably compressed between the interconnecting elements. A continuous locking ring, e.g. a rigid tubular metal sleeve, is frictionally fit about the exterior surface of the split sleeve to lock the fabric sleeve in place, which is then fashioned into a sewing cuff. The components may be sized so that the cuff is rotatable on the valve body or non-rotatable, as desired.

A wide variety of mechanical heart valves have been developed for the replacement of defective natural valves. Artificial valves are essentially check valves that operate hemodynamically and in conjunction with the pumping action of the heart. These valves commonly have a valve body of generally hollow cylindrical shape which is designed to support one, two or three occluders or leaflets that are arranged to alternately open and close in order to permit or halt blood flow through a central passageway therein. To install such prosthetic valves into a location associated with a human heart from which a defective natural valve has been excised, a sewing ring is commonly provided which surrounds the valve body and which includes a generally annular cuff through which the prosthetic valve assembly can be sutured to the surrounding tissue to implant the valve in its desired location. Examples of such sewing rings are shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,535,483, 5,035,709 and 5,104,406.
Conventional sewing rings often are fabricated from tubes or sleeves of cloth made of Dacron.TM. fabric or the like. Such a sleeve is often appropriately tied in place by cords or held in place by a plurality of rings, frequently in conjunction with a metal stiffening ring that will be shrink-fit onto the exterior of the valve body when a pyrocarbon valve body is employed. The tubular cloth sleeve is then often rolled upon itself, and its ends may be individually secured or stitched in some way to each other to complete the assembly. Often a foam material ring is incorporated within the rolled tube to serve as a filler that can be easily penetrated by suturing needles.
Just as improvements continue to be sought in the design of occluder constructions for prosthetic heart valves, improvements are likewise sought for heart valve sewing rings, including improvements which will simplify the assembly of such sewing rings and thus reduce the production expense.


A user authentication method of authenticating a user on an on-line basis using a user's e-mail address and hardware information is provided. The user authentication method includes the steps of: transmitting a user's authentication client platform hardware information and e-mail address to an authentication server module through an authentication client module installed in the authentication client platform; and the authentication client module determining user authentication according to whether or not the e-mail address and hardware information received from the authentication server module is identical to user's e-mail address and hardware information stored in an authentication database. A user's authentication request and authentication is confirmed through an e-mail in the case that authentication fails in the primary authentication process. The user authentication method performs authentication by using a user's hardware information and e-mail address, their uniqueness of which is verified. Accordingly, since a user's password is not required, inconveniences of reissuing the user's password due to losing the same can be reduced.

With the advent of various kinds of on-line services targetting users who connect to the Internet, each and every service website uses a range of methods for user authentication. The most generalized authentication method is a method of requiring a user to input a user's identification (ID) and password when the user accesses a website to then perform a log-in operation, and checking whether the input ID and password are identical to user's existing established and registered ID and password, thereby performing user authentication.
However, when a user intends to join various websites and register as a member, by using his or her own identification (ID), he or she should change his or her own ID with a new ID and register as a member with the new ID if his or her own ID has been already registered by a different user.
Further, since each website frequently requires a string of different structures, for example, that an ID and a password be input with only alphabetical characters or only numbers, or only a mixture of alphabetical characters and numbers, at the time of subscribing for the website or performing a log-in operation, the user must inevitably register different IDs and passwords at each respective website.
As a result, it is not easy to decipher and input the appropriate registered ID and password at a website, among the many established and registered IDs and passwords. Also, since users forget infrequently used IDs and passwords at times, they must go through a very burdensome process of confirming their IDs and passwords to then perform a log-in operation.
Recently websites increasingly adopt users' e-mail addresses as their IDs, rather than a separate ID. However, since a separate password is still required, it is inconvenient for users when they lose and wish to alter their passwords.
An authentication method based on a public key infrastructure (PKI) which is a composite security system providing encryption and an electronic signature through a PKI algorithm does not require a user ID, and has merits in that it enables nearly perfect data security when encrypting and decrypting data since encryption and decryption differ from each other between the transmission and reception ends. However, since each user should manage his or her own password in the case of the PKI-based authentication method, he/she must receive authentication again at the time of having lost his or her password. In addition, it consumes much costs and time to construct a PKI-based authentication system, and it is difficult to manage issuance and cancellation authentications.

User authentication method and system using user's e-mail address and hardware information


A multi-staged cam assembly comprises a connecting element 1 secured to a tip of a stamping pedal 2; a cam 10 of which a front end is secured to the other end of the element 1, wherein the element 1 is guided along an outer periphery of the cam 10; a drive shaft 6 to which a drum beating rod 5 is fixed; and a revolving body 3 comprising a boss 14 and a space keeping plate 16, wherein a hole 7 for the drive shaft 6 is formed in the boss 14. An elongated hole 17 is formed in the middle of the plate 16. A bolt 22 is inserted in the hole 17 and screwed in a screw hole 21 in the front face of the cam 10, such the cam 10 is fixed at a desired position. A length from the center of the hole 7 of the boss 14 to the back end of the cam 10 is varied in a multi-staged way according to the fixed position of the bolt 22 in the hole 17.

A drummer, as a user of a drum system, beats a plurality of drums holding sticks in both hands and at the same time beats a bass drum by stamping a drum pedal with a foot or both feet during a performance, so that characteristic beating sounds are generated.
Since when the drummer plays the bass drum usually a drum pedal comprising mechanical devices (see for example, Ref.1, Ref.2 and Ref.3) is stamped with foot or feet, it is difficult for the drummer to adjust the beating force against the bass drum.

Multi-staged cam assembly for drum pedal


The present disclosure relates to methods for estimating an accuracy and robustness of a model and devices thereof. According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the method comprises calculating a parameter representing a possibility that a sample in the first dataset appears in the second dataset; calculating an accuracy score of the model with respect to the sample in the first dataset; calculating a weighted accuracy score of the model with respect to the sample in the first dataset, based on the accuracy score, by taking the parameter as a weight; and calculating, as the estimation accuracy of the model with respect to the second dataset, an adjusted accuracy of the model with respect to the first dataset according to the weighted accuracy score.

With the development of deep learning technology, artificial intelligence (AI) models have been widely applied in various scenarios such as autonomous driving, face recognition, handwritten character recognition, health management and the like. When an AI model (also referred to as a "model" for short in this disclosure) is applied in an actual scenario, the quality of the model is important.
Characterization parameters of the quality of the model include an accuracy of the model. The accuracy of the model is defined, for example, as a ratio of the number of correct output results to the total number of output results among model output results for an object dataset.
FIG. 1 shows a flowchart of a conventional exemplary method 10 for determining an accuracy of a model. In operation S101, a model is trained with a training set selected from a source dataset. In operation S103, the model is tested with a test set selected from the source dataset. In operation S105, the accuracy of the model is determined according to test results, wherein the model here refers to a trained model, and samples in the test set have been assigned with labels, thereby making it possible to determine whether the test results outputted by the model are correct with respect to the labels. Preferably, the data in the test set is data that has never appeared in the training set. The source dataset can also include a validation set, which is used to select a model with the best accuracy.

Methods for estimating accuracy and robustness of model and devices thereof


The present invention discloses a method for debugging in an application program and an apparatus thereof, in order to control a task to be performed in a designated region, based on an interrupt signal. The interrupt signal may or may not be generated depending on whether the task is performed in the designated region. The present invention can write information on a task to be performed, and check if the current task is performed in a designated region. In a case where the task is performed in another region instead of the designated region, an interrupt signal is generated, which consequently enables determination or location of an application program with an error more quickly or accurately. The interrupt signal further allows a separate diagnosis process of an error on each application program to be performed.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method for debugging in an application program, and an apparatus thereof.
2. Background of the Related Art
One typical method for debugging in an application program is to ban users from writing into a memory. That is to say, the related art application program uses a memory management unit (MMC) to separately protect on each page. In general, the related art application program has been used for protecting a code region.
FIG. 1 diagrammatically illustrates a page descriptor used in a MMC in a related art for protecting memory. As shown in FIG. 1, when an error occurs in the application program, the MMC inside of a central processing unit (CPU) takes the responsibility of protecting the memory from the error and managing the subject memory. As shown in FIG. 1, depending on the condition whether a region is manifested as write-protected or not using a 'W' data/descriptor among other page descriptors, the MMC can designate write-protected by '1' or '0' in the 'W' data. In other words, if the MMC intends to designate a certain page region for saving as a write-protect region, the MMC can designate the W data as '1'. In contrast, if the MMC intends to save the page region, it can designate the W data as '0'.
Therefore, the related art method for protecting memory uses the MMC enabled to protect a write on each page. However, the related art method for protecting memory has various disadvantages. The write protection was not applicable to many application programs. Further, since the application programs have different stacks and are variable among one another, when an error occurred, the related art MMC was neither sufficient nor helpful to determine which application program had the error.
The above references are incorporated by reference herein where appropriate for appropriate teachings of additional or alternative details, features and/or technical background.

Method of generating an interrupt signal when application is performed outside of designated region


Recombinant polynucleotides have expression control sequences that have a senescence responsive element and a minimal promoter, and which are operatively linked to a heterologous nucleotide sequence. The molecules are useful for achieving high levels of expression of genes in senescent cells. Methods of inhibiting expression of genes in senescent cells also are provided.

This invention relates to the field of regulation of gene expression.
Animal cells undergo replicative senescence--age-dependent decrements in function and integrity. One aspect of replicative senescence is that cells have a finite replicative life-span. After undergoing a limited number of mitotic divisions, they can no longer divide. Upon replicative senescence, cells stably arrest growth with a G1 DNA content, irreversibly losing the ability to enter S phase in response to physiologic mitogens. Another aspect of replicative senescence is that senescent cells acquire altered functions, resembling terminally differentiated cells. A third aspect of replicative senescence is that senescent cells acquire resistance to apoptotic cell death.
Senescent cells exhibit altered gene expression compared with pre-senescent cells. In particular, several genes increase expression. For example, senescent human fibroblasts show a marked increase in interstitial collagenase mRNA and protein. Burke et al., Exp. Gerontol., (1994) 29:37-53. Senescent cells also exhibit increased expression of stromelysin, the adhesion molecule ICAM, and certain inflammatory mediators, such as IL-1. Other genes, such as certain mitogen inducible genes and IL-6, are repressed in senescent cells. Altered gene expression manifests itself at the tissue and organismic level.
For example, collagenase breaks down collagen, particularly, the fibrillar collagens (types I, II and III). The extracellular matrix is made of a complex network of proteins and proteoglycans, including collagen, that maintain the integrity of tissues. J. D'Armiento et al., Cell, (1992) 71:955-961. The turnover of these molecules is effected by, among other things, matrix metalloproteinases such as interstitial collagenase. Interstitial collagenase has been implicated in osteoarthritis, periodontal lesions, bullous skin lesions, cancer invasion and a variety of liver and lung diseases. For example, injection of collagenase into the joints of mice results in lesions similar to osteoarthritis. P. M. van der Kraan, J. Exp. Path., (1990) 71:19-31. Emphysema is characterized by disruption of the alveolar walls and coalescence of the alveolar spaces. Mice made transgenic for a construct that expresses the collagenase gene in lung cells exhibited these symptoms. D'Armiento et al., supra. Epithelial organs, including the skin, have an outer epidermal layer, a basement membrane and a layer of dermis comprising a stroma that includes fibroblasts. Skin, in particular, is composed of stratified, squamous, keratinized epithelium, called the epidermis. Aged skin contains a greater number of senescent cells than young skin. Aged skin tends to be wrinkled, dry and scaly. Mice made transgenic for a construct that expresses the collagenase gene in skin took on characteristics of aged skin: Their skin was dry, wrinkled and scaly, and exhibited acanthosis, hyperkeratosis and epidermal hyperplasia. Also, the transgenic mice demonstrated increased susceptibility to tumorigenesis. J. D'Armiento et al., Molec. and Cell Biol., (1995) 15:5732-39.
Certain premature aging syndromes, such as Werner syndrome, are characterized by premature cellular senescence. Persons with Werner syndrome show hair and dermal thinning, atherosclerosis, osteoporosis and increased incidence of cancer.
Replicative senescence and its regulation are an increasingly active area of study. Genetic markers of senescence and methods of expressing genes in senescent cells or altering expression of genes in senescent cells would constitute advances in the art.

Senescence responsive transcriptional element


A shoe has a retractable heel which is normally latched in an upright position and spring biased into an inclined position. A wearer's foot, when the shoe is donned, acts on a floor member, forcing the heel section into the upright position, causing the heel section to latch to the shoe. The shoe is thus maintained in the donned state, and grips the foot without laces or other attachment devices. A release mechanism is operated by a rod projecting from the rear of the shoe. Release is actuated by moving the shoe rear end against any solid object, thus depressing the release rod. A wearer thus dons the shoe by stepping into it, and releases the heel in order to doff the shoe by manipulating the shoe by foot. Thus, a wearer does not need to use his or her hands either to don or doff the shoe.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a shoe having a tiltable or inclining heel, the heel of the shoe being tilted about a pivot point on demand by a release mechanism.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Shoes having hinged heel wall sections are known, as exemplified by U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,452,502, issued to J. P. Tarbox on Oct. 26, 1948; 2,452,649, issued to C. H. Graves on Nov. 2, 1948; and 3,146,535, issued to C. W. Owings on Sep. 1, 1964. Tarbox provides latching of the heel wall section, and a finger operated release. Graves provides a spring constantly biasing the hinged heel to a tilted position. The heel is retained in an upright position by the wearer's foot. Owings spring biases the heel wall section into the upright position. The shoe includes a latching arrangement to maintain the heel section in the upright position. The heel section is released by pushing downwardly on the heel, thus causing relative pivoting between the heel and the rest of the shoe.
Graves's invention does not positively latch the heel section in the upright position. Tarbox and Owings require manipulation by hand to release the heel for removal of the shoe.
None of the above inventions and patents, taken either singly or in combination, is seen to describe the instant invention as claimed.


An ignition scheme for a high intensity discharge ballast. The ballast includes a down converter for producing a varying level of current during the glow stage of the lamp. The level of current available at the time of lamp ignition is equal to or greater than any other level of current produced during at least takeover of the lamp. The need for building up the level of current during at least takeover is eliminated thereby minimizing the need for re-ignition of the lamp.

This invention relates generally to a high intensity discharge (HID) lamp ballast and, more particularly, to an improved scheme for ignition of an HID ballast.
An HID lamp generally includes high pressure mercury, high pressure sodium, metal halide, high pressure metal vapor and low pressure sodium lamps. Each of these lamps is ignited through application of a high voltage pulse, nominally of several thousand volts, across the electrodes of the lamp. Following lamp ignition, the lamp enters a glow stage in which very little (i.e. a stream of) current initially flows between the electrodes of the lamp. Once the mercury, metal halides or salts serving as the plasma within the lamp has been sufficiently vaporized, the lamp enters an arc stage in which an arc rather than a stream of current continuously flows between the lamp electrodes.
The glow stage, which typically can last up to several milliseconds, includes both an unstable period and a stable period. During the unstable period (commonly referred to as "takeover"), which precedes the stable period and which begins immediately following lamp ignition, the lamp voltage drops from, for example, several thousand volts to several hundred volts. Following take over (which typically lasts for about 1-3 microseconds after lamp ignition) and for the remainder of the glow stage (i.e. the glow stage stable period), the lamp voltage alternates between several hundred volts and a much lower voltage level (e.g. about 20 volts for a metal halide type) prior to entering the arc stage.
A conventional HID ballast includes a down converter. The down converter serves as a current source for the ballast and must therefore meet the ever increasing current demands of the HID lamp during takeover and otherwise during the glow stage. The down converter increases its current output slowly and frequently is unable to meet the current demand. When the current demanded by the HID lamp during takeover or otherwise during the glow stage cannot be met, the stream of current between lamp electrodes will extinguish.
The lifetime of a HID lamp is decreased each time the lamp is ignited due to sputtering of the emissive electrode material. The sputtered, emissive electrode material eventually covers the inner lamp wall reducing lumen output and can result in flicker.
Accordingly, it is desirable to provide an HID ballast having improved ignition properties so as to minimize the need for re-ignition of the lamp during takeover and otherwise during the glow stage. In particular, the HID ballast should minimize the possibility of arc extinction due to insufficient current being available from the down converter during takeover and otherwise during the glow stage. The improved HID ballast should make it possible for the discharge lamp to more quickly enter the arc stage, increasing lamp life and maintaining for a longer period of use the nominally rated lumen output of the lamp.

Ignition scheme for a high intensity discharge ballast


A portable terminal connectable to various external accessories. The potable terminal includes an earjack in which the external accessories can be plugged; an analog-to-digital conversion (ADC) section for converting a resistance value of an external accessory plugged in the earjack into an ADC value; a memory for storing ADC values of the external accessories; and a controller for converting a resistance value of the external accessory plugged in the earjack into an ADC value by controlling the ADC section, determining what type of external accessory plugged in the earjack by comparing the converted ADC value with the ADC values stored in the memory, and performing a function of the plugged-in external accessory via a corresponding pin of the earjack.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a portable terminal, and in particular, to a portable terminal having a multipurpose earjack in which various external accessories can be plugged to perform multimedia functions, and a method for controlling the same.
2. Description of the Related Art As various functions are added to a portable terminal, the portable terminal can perform various new functions in addition to the existing call function. Currently, users can add external accessories such as an external camera and an MP3 player to the portable terminal.
However, a conventional 3-pole or 4-pole earjack used in the portable terminal is specialized for a particular function. Therefore, users could not use various external accessories such as a stereo earphone and an external camera with the portable terminal.

Portable terminal with multipurpose earjack


Pitch control of a variable pitch fan is obtained using pulsed pressure. Pitch is varied incrementally either towards or away from full pitch by pulsed application of fluid to a piston used to drive the blades of the fan into or away from full pitch. Reverse pitch is used to clear debris from the fan. Valves control flow of fluid to the piston. The valve operation is controlled by a controller.

Flexxaire Manufacturing Inc. of Edmonton, Canada, manufactures a hydraulically controlled fan, and a pneumatically controlled fan. The pneumatic fan uses a single acting spring return piston, and the hydraulic fan uses a double acting piston. The current control systems for both fans have either two or three positions: full pitch and full reverse pitch, or full pitch, neutral and full reverse. A method of giving better control (partial pitch) is required. Both fans have similar difficulties, the force to pitch relationship has poor repeatability, high hysterisis, and is dependant on many variable factors (rpm, static pressure, blade length, and counterweight size). Both applications are cost sensitive.


A blood pressure monitor of the present invention includes a cuff to be wrapped around a measurement site. The blood pressure monitor includes a unit including, as elements for blood pressure measurement, a pump, a valve, a pressure sensor, and an inner pipe connecting the pump, valve, and pressure sensor such that fluid can pass therethrough. The blood pressure monitor includes a connecting pipe connecting the cuff and the inner pipe in the unit such that fluid can pass therethrough. The blood pressure monitor includes a self failure diagnosis unit configured to determine whether or not there is a failure in a fluid system including the pump, the valve, the pressure sensor, the inner pipe, the connecting pipe, and the cuff, in a state in which the cuff is empty-wrapped into a cylindrical shape and the capacity of the cuff is restricted.

Conventionally, for example, Patent Document 1 (JP H7-178065A) has disclosed a blood pressure monitor that includes a blood pressure monitor main body and a compression belt (cuff) connected to the blood pressure monitor body via a tube. In a state in which an air tank with a certain capacity is attached instead of the compression belt (cuff), the blood pressure monitor performs pressure increase and pressure reduction and detects an abnormality, such as failure of an air discharge valve or air leakage.
Also, Patent Document 2 (JP 2011-200290A) has disclosed a blood pressure monitor including a blood pressure monitor body and a cuff to be connected to the blood pressure monitor body via a tube. In a state in which the cuff is wrapped around an upper arm or the like, the blood pressure monitor performs pressure increase and pressure reduction for blood pressure measurement, compares the total applied pressure that has been accumulated and stored, and a threshold value for the applied pressure corresponding to a durability limit set in advance, and if the total applied pressure exceeds the threshold, the blood pressure monitor determines that the usage has reached the durability limit.


Novel antisense oligonucleotides are disclosed. The present oligonucleotides have increased resistance to nuclease attack and manifest increased efficacy in combating pathogenic infections. The present oligonucleotides comprise two or more identical or different sequences, each complementary to a nucleic acid sequence of a pathogen that is essential to the pathogen""s metabolism and/or reproduction. The sequences may be complementary to the same or different target nucleic acid sequence within a single pathogen, to target sequences on different strains of the same pathogen, or to target sequences on different pathogens. In the preferred embodiment, the sequences are coupled via a 3xe2x80x2-3xe2x80x2 linkage, which greatly reduces 3xe2x80x2 nucleolytic degradation.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to synthetic oligonucleotides that have an inhibitory effect upon pathogens. More particularly, the invention relates to anti-pathogen synthetic oligonucleotides having superior inhibitory properties relative to known oligonucleotides.
2. Summary of the Related Art
The use of synthetic oligonucleotides as anti-infecting agents has recently developed into a promising field. Agrawal, Trends in Biotechnology 10:152-158 (1992), reviews the development of antisense oligonucleotides as antiviral agents. Synthetic oligonucleotides now show considerable promise not only as antiviral agents, but as inhibitors of other pathogens as well. Rapaport et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 89:8577-8580 (1992), discloses antimalarial activities of oligonucleotide phosphorothioates against Plasmodium falciparum.
Due to the great promise of synthetic oligonucleotides as anti-infective agents, considerable interest has developed in improving the pharmacological properties of such compounds. Many such efforts have involved introducing modified internucleoside linkages into oligonucleotides, thereby providing increased resistance to nucleolytic degradation and improving biostability. Agrawal et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 85:7079:7083 (1988), teaches inhibition of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) propagation by oligodeoxynucleotide phosphorothioates and phosphoramidites. Sarin et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 85:7448-7451 (1988), discloses inhibition of HIV by oligodeoxynucleotide methylphosphonates. Padmapriya and Agrawal, Bioorganic and Medicinal Chemistry Letters 3:761-764 (1993), discloses oligonucleotides having novel methylphosphonothioate internucleoside linkages.
Goodchild and Zamecnik (U.S. Pat. No. 4,806,463) disclose antisense oligonucleotides that inhibit HTLV-III replication and protein expression. These oligonucleotides are targeted to highly conserved regions in the HTLV-III genome. Among the sites targeted are: a) the rRNAlys primer binding site, b) regions of the HTLV-III genome vicinal in the 5xe2x80x2 direction to the rRNAlys primer binding site, c) the tRNAlys primer binding site and regions of the HTLV-III genome vicinal in the 5xe2x80x2direction to the tRNAlys primer binding site, d) the mRNA donor splice sites, e) the mRNA acceptor splice sites, f) the initiator codon for the gag gene, g) the initiator condon for the env gene, h) the initiator codon for the tat gene, i) the initiator codon for the sor gene, j) the initiator codon for the 3xe2x80x2 orf gene, k) the cap nucleotide of the HTLV-III genome, l) the art gene or portions thereof, m) and the region of the HTLV-III genome encoding a grameshift.
Other modifications, not necessarily involving solely the use of modified phosphodiester internucleotide linkage, have included the introduction of chemical blocking structures at the 3xe2x80x2 end of oligonucleotides. Temsamani et al., Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences 660:318-320 (1992), teaches that 3xe2x80x2-capped oligonucleotide phosphorothioates have superior in vivo pharmacokinetics and bioability relative to uncapped oligonucleotide phosphorothioates. Tang et al., Nucleic Acids Res. 21:2729 (1993), teaches that oligonucleotides having 3xe2x80x2 terminal hairpin structures demonstrate superior biostability. Koga et al., J. Org. Chem. 56:3757-3759 (1991), reports improved nuclease resistance for alternating xcex1,xcex2-oligothymidylates having alternating (3xe2x80x2 to 3xe2x80x2) and (5xe2x80x2 to 5xe2x80x2) internucleotide phosplhodiester linkages. Seliger et al., Nucleosides and Nucleotides 10:469-477 (1991), and Ortigao et al., Antisense Research and Development 2:129-146 (1992), disclose improved resistance to nucleolytic degradation for oligodeoxynucleotides having single terminal 3xe2x80x2 to 3xe2x80x2 and 5xe2x80x2 to 5xe2x80x2 linkage inversions.
Methods for synthesizing oligonucleotides having at least one 3xe2x80x2 to 3xe2x80x2 internucleoside linkage can involve the use of modified nucleoside monomers that allow 5xe2x80x2 to 3xe2x80x2 synthesis or the use of linkers from which dual 3xe2x80x2 to 5xe2x80x2 synthesis of oligonucleotides having 3xe2x80x2 to 3xe2x80x2 and 5xe2x80x2 to 5xe2x80x2 linkages using commercially available 5xe2x80x2 phosphoramidite nucleoside monomers. CLONETECHniques (April 1993) discloses synthesis of oligonucleotides having a single 3xe2x80x2 to 3xe2x80x2 internucleoside linkage using a commercially available branched linker. Horne and Dervan, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 112:2435-2437 (1990); Luebke and Dervan, Nucleic Acids Res. 20:3005-3009 (1992); and van de Sande et al., Science 241:551-557 (1988), disclose similar synthesis of oligonucleotides having a single 3xe2x80x2 to 3xe2x80x2 linkage for the purpose of studying alternate strand triple helix formation or parallel stranded DNA.
Certain potential problems for effective use of synthetic oligonucleotides as anti-infective therapeutics arise, however, from the nature of the target, rather than the oiligonucleotide, and are thus not addressed by improving the biostability of the oligonucleotide. One such problem is the potential for an infective agent to escape oligonucleotide-mediated therapy by mutation of the target sequence, thereby reducing the ability of the oligonucleotide to interact with the target sequence. For example, Lisziewicz et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 89:11209-11213 (1992) teaches that a splice acceptor site antisense oligonucleotide initially suppressed HIV in infected MOLT-3 cells, but that after 25 days, viral breakthrough of the suppression was observed. This report suggests that combined or sequential treatment with oligonucleotides complementary to distinct targets may be useful in avoiding viral breakthrough.
There remains a need for additional means of providing biostability to synthetic oligonucleotides that inhibit pathogens. There also remains a need for new ways to avoid mutation-derived breakthrough of pathogens. Ideally, an oligonucleotide should be developed that overcomes both of these problems.
The invention relates to synthetic oligonucleotides that have an inhibitory effect upon pathogens. The invention provides anti-pathogen synthetic oligonucleotides that have superior inhibitory properties, relative to known oligonucleotides. The superior inhibitory properties of oligonucleotides according to the invention are the result of the primary structural feature of such oligonucleotides, which is the linking together of two or more oligonucleotide sequences that are complementary to one or more essential gene of one or more pathogen.
In a first aspect, the invention provides oligonucleotides having two or more identical oligonucleotide sequences linked together, wherein each oligonucleotide sequence is complementary to the same target sequence of a pathogen. The target sequence is the sequence of a portion of a gene or regulatory sequence that is essential for the propagation of the pathogen. According to this aspect of the invention, the identical oligonucleotide sequences may be linked together in a 5xe2x80x2 to 3xe2x80x2 configuration or in a 3xe2x80x2 to 3xe2x80x2 configuration. In this latter configuration, the oligonucleotide is highly resistant to nucleolytic degradation.
In a second aspect, the invention provides oligonucleotides having two or more different oligonucleotide sequences linked together, wherein each oligonucleotide sequence is complementary to a different target sequence of the same pathogen. The different oligonucleotide sequences may be complementary to different portions of the same gene or regulatory sequence or they may be complementary to different genes and/or regulatory sequences. Oligonucleotides according to this aspect of the invention provide improved resistance to mutation-induced pathogen escape from the inhibitory effect of the oligonucleotide. The different oligonucleotide sequences may be linked together in 5xe2x80x2 to 3xe2x80x2 or 3xe2x80x2 to 3xe2x80x2 configurations, with the latter configuration providing greatly increased resistance to nucleolytic degradation.
In a third aspect, the invention provides oligonucleotides having two or more different oligonucleotide sequences linked together, wherein one or more oligonucleotide sequence is complementary to a target sequence from one pathogen and one or more oligonucleotide sequence is complementary to a gene or regulatory sequence from another pathogen. Oligonucleotides according to this aspect of the invention provide combined treatment for infections involving two different pathogens. The different oligonucleotide sequences may be linked together in 5xe2x80x2 to 3xe2x80x2 or 3xe2x80x2 to 3xe2x80x2 configurations, with the latter configuration providing greatly increased resistance to nucleolytic degradation.
In a fourth aspect, the invention provides oligonucleotides having two or more different oligonucleotide sequences linked together, wherein one or more oligonucleotide sequence is complementary to a gene or regulatory sequence from one strain of a pathogen and one or more oligonucleotide sequence is complementary to a gene or regulatory sequence from another strain of the same pathogen. Oligonucleotides according to this aspect of the invention provide the advantage of being effective at inhibiting two or more strains of the pathogen, thus allowing the oligonucleotide to be used as an inhibitory agent even before the particular strain of the pathogen is known.
Those skilled in the art will appreciate that combinations of the various aspects of the invention may be employed within a single oligonucleotide to provide an oligonucleotide having superior characteristics for the treatment of particular disease conditions. They will also recognize that if the identical or different oligonucleotide sequences of the first three aspects of the invention have a 3xe2x80x2 terminal ribonucleotide, then the identical or different oligonucleotides can be linked by 5xe2x80x2 to 3xe2x80x2, 5xe2x80x2 to 2xe2x80x2, 2xe2x80x2 to 3xe2x80x2, 3xe2x80x2 to 2xe2x80x2, or 3xe2x80x2 to 3xe2x80x2 linkages.
It is an object of the invention to provide anti-pathogen oligonucleotides that reduce or eliminate mutation-induced pathogen escape from the inhibitory effect of the oligonucleotide. It is a further object of the invention to provide anti-pathogen oligonucleotides that can inhibit more than one pathogen simultaneously, particularly where such pathogens commonly coinfect host organisms in nature.
The foregoing merely summarizes certain aspects of the present invention and is not intended, nor should it be construed, to limit the invention in any way.
All patents and publications cited herein are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.

Branched oligonucleotides as pathogen-inhibitory agents


The invention relates to a process for preparing an overbased metal detergent in an oil medium comprising the steps of: (1) providing a metal salt selected from the group consisting of a hydrocarbyl-substituted organic acid; a hydrocarbyl-substituted phenol, a phenate, a hydrocarbyl-substituted carboxylate and mixtures thereof; (2) further providing methanol and a mixture of alcohols containing 2 to about 7 carbon atoms, wherein the mole ratio of methanol to the mixture of alcohols is about 2.2 or less, to form a mixture; (3) further providing a basic metal compound; (4) reacting the mixture of step (3) with carbon dioxide to form a carbonated overbased metal sulphonate; (5) performing steps (3) and (4) at least three additional times upon the product of step (4); (6) thereafter removing at least a portion of the water produced in steps (1)-(5) and of the alcohols introduced in step (2); (7) performing step (2) again, upon the product of step (6); (8) performing steps (3) and (4) at least two additional times upon the product of step (7); and (9) thereafter removing a substantial portion of the water and of the alcohols from the composition; wherein the oil medium is present in an amount such that the weight ratio of the acid corresponding to the metal salt of (1) to the oil medium is 0.3 to 1.4; and wherein step (6) is required when the hydrocarbyl-substituted organic acid is a hydrocarbyl-substituted sulphonic acid. The invention further relates to its use in internal combustion engines.

It is known to use overbased detergents in an oil of lubricating viscosity to reduce engine wear and improve cleanliness. Overbased detergents include sulphonates, salixarates or salicylates, and they provide alkalinity to neutralize sulphur-containing acids produced from the combustion of carbonaceous fuels. These detergents are prepared by a number of low and high temperature processes. However, the preparation of a highly overbased detergent is difficult because the in-process viscosity and final viscosity tend to be too viscous and the final product is not soluble or lacks clarity or becomes too viscous to be readily handle-able.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,444,625 (Muir et al.) discloses a method for preparing a handle-able overbased metal sulphonate detergent having a TBN of 400 or more, and having a viscosity of at least 180 mm2s−1 (cSt) at 100° C. The process for preparing the overbased sulphonate detergent requires a solvent system containing a hydrocarbon solvent and an alcohol with 1 to 4 carbon atoms. However, the hydrocarbon solvent is known to be environmentally unfriendly requiring safe storage and disposal of waste.
It would be desirable to have a process for preparing an overbased metal detergent that is handle-able, environmentally friendly, and substantially free of hydrocarbon solvent, in a cost effective manner. The present invention provides a process for preparing an overbased metal detergent that is handle-able, environmentally friendly, and substantially free of hydrocarbon solvent, in a cost effective manner.

Process for preparing an overbased detergent


An ultrasonic microscope of this invention generates a transmission signal from a transmission timing circuit, converts this transmission signal into an ultrasonic pulse, radiates the ultrasonic pulse on a sample, receives an echo from the sample, and generates an electrical echo signal corresponding to the echo. This echo signal is distributed by a distributor to generate a plurality of echo signals. The plurality of echo signals are input to a delay circuit and a gate timing signal generator. The gate timing signal generator generates a gate timing signal with reference to an echo signal exceeding a threshold value. A first gate signal generator generates a first gate signal for determining a first gate period with reference to the transmission timing of the transmission signal. The first gate signal is input to a second gate signal generator. When the gate timing signal is generated within the first gate period, a second gate signal for determining a second gate period is generated with reference to this gate timing signal. A predetermined echo component is extracted by the second gate signal from the echo signal delayed by the delay circuit.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an ultrasonic microscope for observing an internal defect of a sample such as an IC or FRP (Fiber-Reinforced Plastic).
2. Description of the Related Art
A conventional ultrasonic microscope in which only an echo component at a predetermined depth from the surface of a sample can be extracted from an echo reflected from a sample is known. An ultrasonic microscope of this type is described in, e.g., Published Unexamined Japanese Patent Application No. 62-87854.
In this ultrasonic microscope, an ultrasonic pulse generated by a pulse circuit is radiated on a sample, an echo from the sample is received by a reception circuit, and the echo is converted into an electrical echo signal. A trigger signal is generated by the first echo signal having a value exceeding a threshold value when a predetermined period of time elapses from oscillation of the ultrasonic pulse. A gate signal is generated on the basis of this trigger signal. The gate signal is supplied to a gate circuit through which the echo signal is gated. The gate circuit is enabled at a timing and for a period of time determined by the gate signal, thereby extracting an echo component at a predetermined depth from the echo signal.
As described above, since the threshold value is set such that an echo component corresponding to an echo from the surface of the sample exceeds the threshold value for the first time upon oscillation of the ultrasonic pulse, only the echo component at the predetermined depth from the sample surface can be extracted. This echo component is converted into an image to obtain an observation image at the predetermined depth from the sample surface.
An actual time lag of several hundreds of nsec is present from the time when the echo signal from the surface of the sample exceeds the threshold value to the time when the gate circuit is enabled. Each echo from the boundary between the first and second layers inside the sample such as an FRP is reflected with a delay of about 100 nsec from the surface echo.
When the gate signal is generated by using the echo signal from the sample surface as a trigger signal as in the conventional ultrasonic microscope, no echo can be extracted from this boundary. This indicates that an observation image at the boundary between the first an second layers cannot be obtained.
In the conventional ultrasonic microscope described above, the echo from the sample surface cannot be gated, and an observation image on the sample surface cannot be obtained, either.
In addition, as shown in FIG. 5, when a target boundary 1 is not present at a predetermined depth from the surface of the sample, an image at the boundary 1 cannot be obtained even if an echo from the sample surface is used as a trigger signal.
In the internal structure shown in FIG. 5, it is preferable that an echo from a boundary 2 is used as a trigger signal, and a previous echo from the boundary 1 is gated using the above trigger signal. The conventional ultrasonic microscope cannot generate such a gate signal.
As shown in FIG. 6, if a boundary in a sample is stepped and condition L1=L2 is established, an echo from a boundary 1 for a portion A returns at the same timing as that for a portion B. Therefore, the resultant images at the portions A and B are the same, resulting in inconvenience.
When no echo returns from the surface of the sample or exceeds the threshold value, a gate signal is generated using internal reflection of an acoustic lens as a trigger signal. As a result, an accurate observation image cannot be obtained.


The wafer mobile phone platform system provides a minimalist mobile telephone that can be used alone as a wireless communication device or utilized to transfer its mobile telephone functions from one peripheral device to another. A transceiver unit having telephone circuitry and componentry is mounted on a mobile phone wafer having a battery, memory storage device, display screen and an on/off switch. A short range radio frequency device, such as a Bluetooth or Wi-Fi enabled module, provides short range communication to an earpiece, headset, or other peripheral devices. The wafer can have an antenna, headphone jack and be adapted for use with wired communication devices, such as USB, serial, parallel or firewire cables. The wafer can be used with a vehicle stereo, a health monitoring device to monitor health statistics of the user or a console having a telephone to combine the functions of the wafer with the peripheral device.

A. Field of the Invention
The field of the present invention relates generally to communication systems that are configured to transmit sound, data, pictures and other information from one device to another. More particularly, the present invention relates to such systems that are configured to permit wireless communication of such information over a cellular or mobile telephone network. Even more particularly, the present invention relates to such systems that utilize a wafer or card apparatus adapted to connect to a variety of peripheral devices and be utilized with the devices to communicate information over the wireless network.
B. Background
Once not very common or widely available, the use of a cellular or mobile telephone to communicate over a wireless communication network has now become very common. In general, conventional cellular telephones utilize high frequency radio waves to transmit and receive data over the wireless network. Many different companies manufacture mobile telephone devices and/or offer communication services across their wireless network. Although the original mobile telephones were relatively large and very limited in the features they offered, today's mobile telephones are much smaller and include a variety of features that make them more useful than merely as a device for making telephone calls. For instance, mobile telephones in use today frequently have the ability to transmit messages, connect with the Internet, store information for the user and connect to a variety of devices that make the mobile telephone easier and more effective to use. These devices include microphone/speaker systems, charging systems, adapters for use in a vehicle and headphones.
Although the various manufacturers have different features, virtually all mobile phones have certain common characteristics. These include a cellular transceiver unit having appropriate telephone circuitry and componentry, a battery to supply power to the transceiver unit, a multi-key keypad that includes the standard twelve keys and other function keys, on/off switches, a microphone and speaker assembly for transmitting sound, a display panel (typically a LCD panel) for displaying, at a minimum, telephone numbers, and one or more connection ports for connecting to headphones, battery chargers and other such devices. The standard mobile telephone device is adaptable for receiving and operatively interacting with a subscriber identity module (or SIM card) that is provided by the user's cellular telephone network operator. The SIM card stores all of the important information pertaining to the user's wireless telephone account that allows him or her to access the wireless network. With the SIM card configured for the user's own account, he or she may use that Sim card in different manufacturer's mobile telephones and maintain their personalized data, including telephone numbers and other stored features. In this manner, the manufacturer can manufacture a "generic" mobile telephone that can be utilized with any wireless network provider to communicate across the network system. Although all mobile telephones have the common features described above, most wireless network providers have manufacturers provide mobile telephones that are somewhat customized for use on their own network.
In addition to mobile telephones, many people also utilize a variety of other digital devices, including digital cameras, video cameras, personal digital assistants (PDAs), desktop computer systems, laptop computers, printers and fax machines. With regard to PDAs and laptop computers, it has been found to be particularly advantageous to be able to connect these devices to a wireless communication network so the user may transmit data over the network and to connect to the Internet via that network. Although PDAs and laptop computers are available in relatively smaller sizes and are capable of storing data that includes telephone numbers and the like, they are generally not utilized to make or receive voice communications (i.e., telephone calls). Cameras, video cameras, desktop computers and printers are generally incapable of being used with a wireless communication network. Fax machines, which are typically connected to a land-line telephone network, often have the capability to make telephone calls across the same line used to receive and send faxes. Recently, some manufacturers offer mobile telephones that include or are adaptable for connection to a camera device that allows the user to take a picture or short video clip and transmit the picture or clip over the same wireless network used to transmit telephone calls.
Devices such as computers, PDAs, digital cameras, video cameras, printers and other devices typically connect to each other via cables or wires that transmit electrical signals from one such device to another. Recent development in the area of short distance wireless communication has allowed manufacturers to include mechanisms in their devices that allow like-configured devices to communicate with each other over short range radio frequency (RF). For instance, this technology allows a computer, desktop or laptop, to communicate wirelessly with a PDA, printer, fax machine or other device. With this technology a PDA or laptop can be used to communicate with vending machines, turnstiles, vehicle computer systems and a variety of merchant establishments. This same RF technology is used in mobile telephones to allow the phone to connect to a wireless headset worn by the user while the mobile telephone is in their pocket or located remotely from them (i.e., five to thirty feet away). This wireless RF system can also be used in small wireless local area network (LAN) systems, also known as piconets, where all of the RF-enabled devices within the piconet communicate with a master device (i.e., desktop computer) and/or other devices in the piconet.
Naturally, a variety of wireless digital or analog interfaces or connection systems are available for wirelessly interconnecting different devices together. One type of such wireless communication is the use of infrared (IR) transmitters and receivers. These are of limited acceptability, however, due to directional and visual problems that are known to exist with IR systems. Until relatively recently, the most common configuration for short range RF systems has been the IEEE 802.11 (or Wi-Fi) based radio frequency standard. More recently, the communications industry has developed Bluetooth, a trademark owned by Bluetooth SIG, Inc., as a new wireless technology standard that utilizes the unlicensed 2.4 Ghz radio spectrum (i.e., not licensed by the United States' applicable governmental regulating authority, the Federal Communications Commission or FCC). In a relatively short period of time, the Bluetooth standard for wireless piconet networks has become very well known. Information about Bluetooth is available from many different sources, including from the Internet at www.bluetooth.com. In general, the Bluetooth network technology is an open, worldwide specification for wireless communication of data and voice that is based on a low-cost, short-range radio link that allows wireless communication over a typical range of up to 100 feet. Bluetooth has been incorporated into a variety of devices for various uses, including the interface between mobile telephones and wireless headsets.
Although the present state of wireless communication is vastly improved over what has been available, there remains certain important limitations that prevent easy and efficient use of the various mobile phones and digital peripheral devices. For instance, when a person desires to upgrade their mobile phone to take advantage of new features offered by a new phone, he or she must replace the entire phone. Even though many of the mobile phone's components are still functional and suitable for use, only the SIM card is actually transferred to the new mobile phone. The rest of the phone is recycled or sent to disposal. Another limitation is that mobile phones do not directly interact with many peripheral devices where such interaction would be highly beneficial. For instance, mobile phones do not interact directly with high quality digital cameras or digital video cameras. While some mobile phones have a camera or attach to a camera, these cameras are of the low quality (i.e., typically less than 1 pixel) that are not highly desired for photographs one would wish to develop into a printed picture or use in a newspaper, magazine or other text. If a high quality mobile phone adaptable camera became available, it is likely that the new camera would not be readily transferable to the user's current mobile phone, thereby forcing the user to purchase a new mobile phone when it was not necessary. In addition, it would be beneficial if the mobile phone could be added to the user's high quality camera or video camera, which was selected by the user based the photographic qualities desired by the user. It would also be beneficial to connect a mobile phone with a PDA, laptop or desktop computer to transfer data, such as telephone numbers, to the mobile phone so telephone calls can be made to those numbers. In addition to having functional benefits, being able to selectively combine a mobile phone with a peripheral device has the practical effect of reducing the amount of equipment a person must carry and deal with. What is needed, therefore, is a system that allows the user to move his or her mobile phone from one peripheral device, including a cellular telephone body, to another such that the mobile phone is incorporated into the peripheral device to function therewith. Such a system should allow the user to use the mobile phone alone as a minimalist phone or in combination with a peripheral device to operate the mobile phone through the peripheral device to send voice or data across a wireless network.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


A multi-stage transmission for vehicle includes an input shaft, an output shafts, first to fourth planetary gear devices each having three rotary elements and transmitting rotary forces between the input and output shafts, and at least six shifting elements connected to the rotary elements of the planetary gear devices. Of the first planetary gear device, the first rotary element is permanently connected to the input shaft and the second rotary element of the third planetary gear device, the second rotary element is installed to be fixable by any one of the shifting elements and variably connected to the first rotary element and third rotary element of the second planetary gear device, and the third rotary element is permanently connected to the second rotary element of the second planetary gear device.

Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a multi-stage transmission for a vehicle, and more particularly, to a multi-stage transmission technology capable of improving fuel efficiency of a vehicle by implementing highest possible number, of shifting stages using fewer components and simpler configuration.
Description of Related Art
Recently, a rise in an oil price has become a factor pushing automobile manufacturers throughout the world to enter into unlimited competition toward fuel efficiency improvement, and in the case of an engine, efforts to improve fuel efficiency and decrease a weight through a technology such as downsizing, or the like, have been conducted.
Meanwhile, among methods of improving fuel efficiency that may be made by a transmission mounted in a vehicle, there is a method of allowing an engine to be driven at a more efficient driving point through a multi-staging of a transmission to ultimately improve fuel efficiency.
Further, the multi-staging of a transmission as described above allows an engine to be driven in a relatively low revolution per minute (RPM) range to further improve silence of the vehicle.
However, as the number of shifting stages of a transmission increases, the number of internal parts constituting the transmission also increases, such that a mounting feature and transfer efficiency may be deteriorated and a cost and a weight may be increased. Therefore, in order to maximize fuel efficiency improving effect through the multi-staging of a transmission, it is important to devise a transmission structure capable of deriving maximum efficiency by a small number of parts and a comparatively simple configuration.
The information disclosed in this Background section is only for enhancement of understanding of the general background of the invention and should not be taken as an acknowledgement or any form of suggestion that this information forms the prior art already known to a person skilled in the art.


A differential lock control system for controlling a differential lock of a work vehicle is adapted to determine if the work vehicle is oriented to travel in a generally straight direction, and, if the work vehicle is so oriented, automatically command activation of the differential lock. An associated method is disclosed.

A differential may be used on a work vehicle to transmit power to ground-engaging wheels of the work vehicle while allowing the wheels to rotate at different speeds. A differential lock may be associated with the differential such that, when activated, the differential lock disallows the wheels to rotate at different speeds. This is helpful in order to prevent spinning of, for example, one of the wheels due to traction loss.

Differential lock control system and associated method


This invention describes an adhesive used for bonding dental and medical biomaterials to hard tissues via a molecular bridge formed from calcium-reactive amines and acrylic or methacrylic ester monomers to hard tissues such as enamel, dentin, and bone. This formulation consists of an acid-stable polymerizable compound with multi-functional acrylate cross-linkers. This formula provides good self-adherence without prior preparation of the hard tissue substrates. The formulation can contain chemical- and/or light-activated free-radical initiators.

1. Field of Invention
This invention relates to a biomaterial and more specifically a high molecular weight, multifunctional acrylate cross-linking composition that, when formulated with other compounds will self-etch and self-adhere to hard tissues, such as enamel, dentin, and bone.
2. Description of the Related Art
The use of synthetic materials to expedite healing is becoming more widespread. A burgeoning area of growth is the use of relatively inert hardening agents for use as adhesives or as a substitute for hard tissue. Hard tissue typically means tissues that have become mineralized, or tissue having a firm intercellular substance, such as enamel, dentin, cartilage, and bone. Bone and tooth structure, such as enamel, dentin and cementum, have certain compositional and morphologic similarities. Like enamel and dentin, bone consists primarily of inorganic material, which is almost exclusively in the form of an apatite of calcium and phosphate that resembles hydroxylapatite, and a lesser amount of organic material, which is 90% collagen. Morphologic similarities also exist. Enamel and dentin both contain tubules which meet their respective surfaces at a perpendicular angle, while bone contains tube-like Haversian Canals. The Haversian Canals run parallel to the bone's surface, but Volkmann's Canals, which run from them meet the bone surface at a perpendicular angle.
Teeth that are fractured or have lost dental restorations often involve exposed dentin. These exposed teeth are prone to tooth decay, and patients usually experience pain. For treatment purposes, the exposed teeth are usually restored with permanent dental restorations. However, definitive dental restorations often are not performed in a timely fashion. In these cases, temporary dental restorations (fillings) are usually placed onto the exposed teeth. There are a variety of restorative dental materials that can be used as temporary fillings.
The materials most commonly chosen as temporary fillings are zinc oxide-eugenol (ZOE) compounds, glass-ionomer materials, and resin-based dental materials. These filling materials are retained in teeth through mechanical retention and/or chemical bonding with the tooth structure.
ZOE fillings require mechanical retention. These materials are relatively weak compared to the other types of temporary filling materials.
Glass-ionomer dental filling materials can bond to tooth structure without the need of a separately applied bonding agent. In addition, glass-ionomer materials release fluoride, which strengthens the surface of the tooth. A disadvantage of glass-ionomer dental filling materials is their relatively long setting time and concomitant sensitivity to moisture. Moisture exposure can result in premature disintegration of the glass-ionomer material and reduce bond strength. Furthermore, the chemical bond formed between glass-ionomers and tooth structure is relatively weak.
Resin-based filling materials can be bond to teeth using both mechanical and chemical retentions. Bonding of resin-based dental materials to tooth structure is currently achieved through a multi-step process. A dentin-enamel bonding agent must be applied to the tooth prior to placing the dental material. Applying this bonding agent often requires multiple steps and a significant amount of clinical time. Misapplication of the bonding material may also occur.
In general, retention of temporary fillings through chemical bonding is quicker, requires less preparation of the tooth, and is usually stronger. Often teeth can be temporarily restored with dental materials using only chemical bonding. Acid etching of the tooth surface are often performed to improve adhesion of resin-based filling materials by promoting mechanical retention. However, many acid-etching agents must be removed prior to application of the bonding agents, which further increases clinical time. Acid etching can also cause dental sensitivity in some patients.
There are dental restorative materials on the market that are self-etching adhesives. These compositions generally use water and/or organic solvents and take a liquid form. Consequently, these self-etching adhesives have a short shelf-life, which may pose additional problems for storage. For example, these materials may experience a premature setting in extreme conditions such as those presented in a desert battlefield. Furthermore, many of these formulations require multiple applications of a single component or application of several separate components. Therefore, they require more clinical time to apply than the inventive formulation.
U.S. Pub. No. 2007/0244215 A1 by Junjie Sang, describes a one-component self-etching dental adhesive, which requires a simple one-coat application, without the need of separate acid-etching, priming or bonding step. This is achieved through the employment of a hydrolytically stable, acidic, high-strength adhesive monomer (such as PENTA) with a stable, bifunctional, hydrophilic monomer (such as AHPMA) that yields greater cross-linking. However, this material lacks filler content and does not provide a fluoride source.
U.S. Pub. No. 2007/0155853 A1 by Chen et al., is another one-component self-etching self-priming dental adhesive composition. The formulation contains BisGMA (2,2-bis[4-(2-hydroxy-3-methacryloylpropoxy)-phenyl]-propane), DPPA (dipentaerythrytol pentaacrylate), GDM (glycerol dimethacrylate), GPDM (glycerol phosphate dimethacrylate), and PMGDM (pyromellitic glycerol dimethacrylate). The formulation contains both water and an organic solvent such as acetone or ethanol. Additional clinical steps and resin materials are required to bond composite resins to dentin or enamel.
U.S. Pub. No. 2006/0069181 by Thalaker et al. presents a liquid self-etch adhesive that is composed of a carboxylic acid functional polymer and water. This dental adhesive composition consists of two liquid components and contains no fluoride releasing agents or glass fillers. Additional clinical steps and resin materials are required to bond composite resins to dentin or enamel.
U.S. Pub. No. 2007/0248927 A1 by Luchterhandt et al. is a self-adhesive composition based on polyacrylate, Kayamer, MH-P (Methacryloxyhexyl phosphate), MO-P (8-Methacryloxyoctyl phosphate), and MD-P (10-Methacryloxydecyl phosphate) polymerizable compounds. This formula is only photo-curable and requires additional priming step and curing equipment.
U.S. Pub. No. 2007/0203257 A1 by Xuejun Qian, describes a two-part paste/paste self-etch adhering dental composition based on UDMA (reaction product of 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate with 2,4,4-trimethylhexane diisocyanate), BisGMA, GDM-P (glyceryldimethacrylate phosphate), and GDM (glyceryidimethacrylate). It also contains a solvent, which may increase the oxidation rate of the formula. The formula does not contain any fluoride releasing agent.
U.S. Pub. No. 2005/0277706 A1 by Han et al., describes a highly functional dental adhesive that is based on multifunctional pre-polymer mixture of BisGMA, Tri-GMA, 4-MBTA (4-methacryloxybutyltrimellitic anhydride), MDP, HPMA and water. This adhesive is only photo-curable, which requires additional curing equipment. In addition, this formula contains a maximum of five percent filer material and does not include a fluoride releasing agent.

Multifunctional acrylates used as cross-linkers in dental and biomedical self-etching bonding adhesives

The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy


The present invention relates to a quick reference electrical voltage testing tool utilizing a variable voltage range light bulb and digital read out voltage meter both incorporated in the testing tool's handle. The variable voltage range light bulb indicates to the user the knowledge of voltage present and the digital voltage read out indicates the measured amount of voltage available to the tested component. This allows for a faster diagnosis of an electrical problem particularly when voltage sensitive components are being tested. When testing electrical components for non-operation, this quick reference tool will allow a much quicker diagnoses of an electrical problem without the need of a voltage meter.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a quick reference tool used to test 12 volt direct current electrical voltage and primarily designed for automotive applications.
2. Background of the Related Art
Commonly used today for electrical testing is a quick reference 12 volt test light probe equipped with a variable voltage light bulb. The light bulb having a variable range from 7 to 16 volts indicates electrical power to an electrical component however, the exact amount of voltage is not indicated and the amount of voltage could be too little or too much to operate the component. As an example most vehicles today use multi voltage electrical components in the operation of the vehicle. While most automotive vehicles utilize a 12 volt direct current systems many electrical components operate on lesser voltage such as the on board computer and sensors. The sensors are used to relay messages back to the computer for changing engine operations. Some of these components may require as little as 3 volts to function. When diagnosing sensitive electrical components such as compute sensors, some quick reference testing tools on the market today allow voltage to flow in both directions, in and out. If a technician should make an improper connection and allows voltage to flow to a grounded electrical component, the influx of positive voltage could further damage the component. A common practice for diagnoses of a vehicle experiencing a drivability problem is the technician will check component voltage using the quick reference 12 volt test light probe to check the presence of voltage. Once the verification of voltage is present the technician should re-verify the amount of voltage with a voltage meter. This two step process causes more time spent on the diagnoses. If the technician does not use a voltage meter for the accurate measurement of voltage present could lead to a false indication causing more time spent on the diagnosing of the electrical problem. The proper tool needed to check accurate voltage is a common voltage meter. However, due to hands on multiple wire connections needed to operate the voltmeter and the placement of some electrical components inside a vehicle, it can at times be very awkward to use and could require 2 technicians for voltage testing. The present invention incorporates a test light and digital voltage meter in the handle. The light portion allows for the quick reference of voltage present while the digital voltage meter allows for the accurate voltage reading. The present invention eliminates the need for the 2 step voltage checking process and the possible need of the second technician for an accurate voltage check.

Quick reference test light probe with digital voltage meter


Provided is a method and apparatus for executing a function based on a user input. The method of executing a function in an electronic device includes: sensing a user input for selecting an object in a first area; recognizing a surface pattern of an input unit used for providing a user input in a third area when the user input is sensed in the third area; and executing a related function, based on a surface pattern recognition result in the third area when the user input of the first area and the user input of the third area are associated with each other. Accordingly, a function desired by a user may be readily executed.

A variety of methods for user authentication have been applied to various electronic devices such as a smart phone and the like. One of the methods for the user authentication is a user authentication method through fingerprint recognition. For example, a sensor for recognizing a fingerprint may be contained in one side of an electronic device. The electronic device recognizes a fingerprint input by a user, and determines whether the corresponding user is a proper user.

Function execution method based on a user input, and electronic device thereof


The invention provides a solar photovoltaic three-phase micro-inverter system comprising a plurality of three-phase micro-inverters. Every three of the three-phase micro-inverters form a group and are coupled to a three-phase AC power grid. Each of the three-phase micro-inverters comprises 3 single-phase inverter circuits, each of the single-phase inverter circuits comprises 2 conversion circuits, and each of the conversion circuits corresponds to one phase of the three-phase AC power grid. AC outputs of the same conversion circuits of the three micro-inverters in one group are coupled to three-phase live wires of the three-phase AC power grid respectively. Accordingly, the invention provides a method for improving conversion efficiency of the solar photovoltaic three-phase micro-inverter system.

Recently solar photovoltaic systems tend to employ distributed micro inverters (micro-inverters). Micro-inverters may provide maximum power point control for each photovoltaic assembly, such that each assembly can generate maximum energy, thereby improving the performance of the photovoltaic system. The micro-inverters may also have alternating current (AC) low voltage outputs, rather than a direct current (DC) high voltage output from a centralized inverter system, so that security and efficiency can be improved.
FIG. 1 is a simplified internal block diagram of a three-phase micro-inverter in the prior art. As shown, a three-phase micro-inverter 101 includes three single-phase inverter circuits 102, three DC terminals and one three-phase AC terminal (not shown). The three-phase micro-inverter 101 is coupled with three independent solar photovoltaic assemblies 103 via the DC terminals, and couples the three single-phase inverter circuits 102 to a three-phase AC cable via the three-phase AC terminal, with each single-phase inverter circuit 102 being coupled to one phase of a commercial three-phase AC power grid 104.
In FIG. 1, the three single-phase inverter circuits 102 in the above three-phase micro-inverter 101 are typically identical. Each single-phase inverter circuit 102 has one DC input, such that each three-phase micro-inverter 101 is coupled to three solar photovoltaic assemblies 103 via three DC terminals. Each single-phase inverter circuit 102 also has one single-phase AC output, and is coupled to the neutral wire N and one of the live wires L1, L2, or L3 of the three-phase AC power grid 104. As such, the three single-phase inverter circuits 102 are coupled to live wire L1/neutral wire N, live wire L2/neutral wire N, and live wire L3/neutral wire N of one three-phase AC power grid 104, respectively. Each three-phase micro-inverter 101 is coupled to the three-phase AC power grid 104 via the three-phase AC terminal. As described above, each single-phase inverter circuit 102 converts the AC current generated by a connected solar photovoltaic assembly 103 into a single-phase AC current. Since the single-phase inverter circuits 102 are coupled to the three phases of the three-phase AC power grid 104 respectively, the single-phase inverter circuits 102 generate AC currents with phases matching those of the voltages of the three-phase AC power grid 204.
FIG. 2 is a simplified schematic diagram of a three-phase micro-inverter coupled to a three-phase AC power grid in the prior art. As shown, each three-phase micro-inverter 101 is coupled to the three-phase AC power grid 104 in the same way, and the AC outputs A, B, C of each three-phase micro-inverter 101 are coupled to the live wires L1, L2, and L3 of the three-phase AC power grid 104, respectively.
FIG. 3 is a simplified flowchart diagram illustrating how a three-phase micro-inverter turns off a conversion circuit to improve the conversion efficiency in the prior art. Each three-phase micro-inverter 101 includes three single-phase inverter circuits 102, wherein each single-phase inverter circuit 102 includes two interlaced parallel conversion circuits A1, A2, B1, B2, C1 and C2. As such, each three-phase micro-inverter 101 includes six conversion circuits A1, A2, B1, B2, C1 and C2. Each single-phase inverter circuit 102 has its two conversion circuits operate when the power is high, and turns off one of the two conversion circuits when the power is low, in which case only one conversion circuit functions. For example, a three-phase micro-inverter 101 may have a full power of 200 W, and one conversion circuit is turned off when the operating power is lower than 100 W, thus only one conversion circuit functions, thereby reducing the loss.
FIG. 4 is a simplified schematic diagram of a three-phase micro-inverter which turns off one conversion circuit to reduce loss in the prior art. As shown, each three-phase micro-inverter 101 is coupled to the three-phase AC power grid 104 in the same way. If a three-phase micro-inverter system consists of a group of 3 three-phase micro-inverters 101, the full power P0 for this three-phase micro-inverter system is 600 W. When the system has an operating power less than P0/2, i.e., 300 W, the 3 single-phase inverter circuits 102 each have to turn off one conversion circuit at the same time, e.g., A2, B2, and C2, in order to reach balance among the three phases of the power grid 104. That is, each three-phase micro-inverter 101 has to turn off three conversion circuits in total. Consequently, when the system has an operating power of 300 W, the power ratio is 50%, and the efficiency is equivalent to a single-phase inverter that has an operating power of 100 W. At an even lower power, the efficiency of the three single-phase inverter circuits 102 will decrease similarly as a single-phase inverter circuit 102 with one conversion circuit in operation.
In fact, the operation efficiency of a three-phase micro-inverter varies with the input power, and especially, it drops quickly at low power. For a solar photovoltaic system, the inverters will operate in a low power state for a long duration, due to the environment characteristics. Then, there is a need to simply improve the conversion efficiency of a solar photovoltaic three-phase micro-inverter system while operating in low power.

Solar photovoltaic three-phase micro-inverter system and a method for improving the conversion efficiency thereof


A method of fabricating an access device in a crosspoint memory array structure during BEOL processing includes: forming at least a first doped semiconductor layer on an upper surface of a first conductive layer, the first doped semiconductor layer being in electrical connection with the first conductive layer; exposing at least a portion of the first doped semiconductor layer to a directed energy source to cause localized annealing in the first doped semiconductor layer to activate a dopant of a first conductivity type in the first doped semiconductor layer, thereby converting at least a portion of the first doped semiconductor layer into a polycrystalline layer; forming a second conductive layer over a least a portion of the first doped semiconductor layer; and etching the first doped semiconductor layer and the first and second conductive layers to form an access device that is self-aligned with the first and second conductive layers.

The present invention relates generally to the electrical, electronic and computer arts, and, more particularly, to memory devices and methods of forming such devices.
In a crosspoint array, memory cells are sandwiched between perpendicular wordlines (WLs) and bitlines (BLs). The maximal ideal density of a two-dimensional memory array is generally achieved with a 4F2 crosspoint array, where F is the minimum resolvable feature size, with a memory cell residing at each unique intersection of perpendicular wiring lines in the memory array. Moreover, the memory cells are fabricated in a back end of line (BEOL) process, which enables peripheral circuits to be hidden underneath the crosspoint array. Using a multilayer (e.g., three-dimensional) structure could further reduce the effective cell area, however the absence of access transistors in a crosspoint array complicates write and read operations.
Crosspoint memory arrays generally require non-linear elements serving as access devices to block leakage from other lines (e.g., wordlines and bitlines). Ovonic threshold switches (OTSs) are presently being proposed for use as access devices for stackable 3D memory applications. However, arsenic (As) and selenium (Se) materials which are commonly employed to produce ovonic threshold switches are generally incompatible with standard fabrication processing techniques, and arsenic and selenium are considered toxic and therefore pose a serious risk to human health (see, e.g., Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR)). Furthermore, these ovonic threshold devices are difficult to pattern, are sensitive to reactive ion etching (RIE) and are often damaged during the patterning step, which results in reduced yield. The sharp turn-on voltage of an OTS device inhibits its use in a multilevel memory cell architecture.
Silicon diodes have been proposed for use as an alternative access device. A silicon diode typically consists of a junction formed by doping two different parts of a same semiconductor material with opposite conductivity types, one P-doped and one N-doped, thereby forming an active P-N junction. The dopants are usually implanted using a high-energy beam (e.g., ion implantation) and then require high temperature processing (e.g., rapid thermal anneal (RTA)), generally at about 900 degrees Celsius, to activate the dopants (by partially substituting silicon atoms with the dopant atoms in the crystal lattice). However, this implantation and high temperature processing step has a significant time overhead associated therewith, and furthermore during RTA, the elevated temperature required by the dopant activation is not compatible with 3D integration in the BEOL.

Crosspoint phase change memory with crystallized silicon diode access device

INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION


A voltage-controlled oscillator has a tuned circuit for controlling the oscillation frequency. The tuned circuit has a variable-capacitance element whose capacitance varies in response to a control voltage and a negative capacitance circuit whose impedance frequency characteristics have opposite characteristics to those of a normal capacitance, and which is connected to the variable-capacitance element. The configuration enables increasing the variation ratio corresponding to the control voltage of the combined capacitance composed of the variable-capacitance element and negative capacitance circuit, thereby broadening the oscillation frequency band.

As a conventional voltage-controlled oscillator, there is one that has an active element for oscillation composed of a field-effect transistor; a first reactance circuit connected to the source terminal of the field-effect transistor; a second reactance circuit connected to the gate terminal of the field-effect transistor; a third reactance circuit connected to the drain terminal of the field-effect transistor; a load resistance connected to the third reactance circuit for outputting the oscillation power amplified by the field-effect transistor; and a variable-capacitance element provided to the first reactance circuit for varying the capacitance in response to a control voltage as a tuned circuit for controlling the oscillation frequency.
The operation is as follow: Noise within the voltage-controlled oscillator circuit is amplified by the active element for oscillation, part of the amplified power is fed back to the active element for oscillation through the first to third reactance circuits connected to the active element for oscillation, and the active element for oscillation further amplifies the power, thereby carrying out the oscillation operation and causing the oscillation output to be produced from the load resistance. The oscillation frequency is determined by the resonance frequency of the tuned circuit. To control the oscillation frequency, the junction capacitance of the variable-capacitance element is varied by varying the control voltage applied to the variable-capacitance element, thereby varying the resonance frequency of the tuned circuit. Thus, the oscillation frequency varies. The relation between the oscillation frequency and the junction capacitance of the variable-capacitance element is given by the following expression.(fmax/fmin)2∝Cj-max/Cj-min where fmax and fmin are a maximum oscillation frequency and minimum oscillation frequency, respectively, and Cj-max and Cj-min are a maximum variable-capacitance value and minimum variable-capacitance value (for example, see Patent Document 1).
Patent Document 1: Japanese patent application laid-open No. 8-335828/1996.
With the foregoing configuration, the conventional voltage-controlled oscillator achieves a broad oscillation frequency band by greatly varying the junction capacitance of the variable-capacitance element. The conventional voltage-controlled oscillator, however, has a problem in that its oscillation frequency band is limited by a fixed capacitance in the active element for oscillation or in the reactance circuit, and the variation ratio of the junction capacitance of the variable-capacitance element.
The present invention is implemented to solve the foregoing problem. Therefore it is an object of the present invention to provide a voltage-controlled oscillator capable of broadening the oscillation frequency band by equivalently increasing the variation ratio of the capacitance of a combined variable-capacitance element.