A technique enables horizontal measurement of the airspeed of a low-speed flight vehicle. An airspeed measurement system is for a low-speed flight vehicle, and includes a flow sensor that measures an airspeed along at least two axes in a horizontal direction during flight of the low-speed flight vehicle.

The present invention relates to an airspeed measurement system.
Techniques for determining a local wind field based on airspeed and ground speed have been developed (e.g., Patent Literature 1). A technique described in Patent Literature 1 is applicable to helicopters and aircraft. Patent Literature 1 also describes processing that uses no airspeed sensor. Another known technique for estimating wind speed includes modeling the acceleration of an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) using an estimated ground speed of the UAV and integrating a difference between the modeled acceleration and an actual acceleration measured using a sensor (e.g., Patent Literature 2). The technique described in Patent Literature 2 further includes estimating airspeed based on the sum of the estimated wind speed and the ground speed.
Multicopters, multirotor UAVs, or other small unmanned aircraft, which are relatively compact and low-speed flight vehicles, are typically powered by batteries, and thus may not fly continuously for a long time. Possible flight times for such vehicles estimated using, for example, acceleration, can change depending on the flight speed or the wind speed, and thus are difficult to estimate accurately. Existing airspeed indicators on aircraft, such as pitot tubes, are commonly used for unidirectional measurement of airspeed, and are unsuitable for flight vehicles that are movable in all directions.
In response to the above issue, one or more aspects of the present invention are directed to a technique for horizontally omnidirectional measurement of the airspeed of a low-speed flight vehicle.


A connector has a housing (10) with a lock arm (18) and a slider (60) that is movable on the housing (10) between an advanced position and a retracted position. A deflection regulating portion (67) projects from the slider (60) into a deflection space (24) for the lock arm (18) on a rear part of the lock arm (18) when the slider (60) is at the retracted position. The deflection regulating portion (67) is configured to regulate deflection of a lock arm (18). The slider (60) includes an unlocking portion (64) configured to cover a releasing surface of the lock arm (18) from a side opposite the deflection space (24) at the advanced position and has a shape suspended toward the deflection space (24). The unlocking portion (64) presses the releasing surface by receiving an operation force (F) that deflects the lock arm (18) in an unlocking direction.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a connector.
2. Related Art
A connector disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 3419689 is provided with a housing (female housing) connectable to a mating housing and a slider (spring holder) to be mounted movably to an advanced position and a retracted position with respect to the housing. The housing includes a lock arm. In the process of connecting the two housings, the lock arm is deflected and deformed. When the two housings are properly connected, the lock arm is displaced in a return direction to be locked to the mating housing, whereby the two housings are held in a connected state.
The slider is supported slidably on the lock arm. The slider is held at the advanced position in the process of connecting the two housings and brought to the retracted position by a spring force of a coil spring when the two housings are connected properly. Further, the slider includes an unlocking portion covering a rear end part of the lock arm from above (side opposite to a deflection space for the lock arm) at the refracted position.
When the slider is pushed forward against the spring force of the coil spring and the unlocking portion is pushed down in that state by receiving an operating force in the case where the two housings are in a properly connected state, the rear end part of the lock arm is pushed down toward the deflection space, whereby a locked state of the lock arm is released and the two housings can be pulled apart from each other. Thus, according to the above configuration, there is an advantage of more easily securing a wide operation area for an unlocking operation than when unlocking is effected by directly pressing the rear end part of the lock arm.
However, in the above case, if the operation area of the unlocking portion is made excessively wide, a height of the unlocking portion tends to become larger and a height of the entire connector may become larger. Particularly, if the rear surface of the unlocking portion is used as an operating surface for pushing when the slider is pushed to the advanced position, the height of the unlocking portion becomes even larger.
Further, since the slider is only placed on the upper surface of the lock arm, external matters such as a wire easily enter the deflection space arranged below the rear end part of the lock arm. If a wire having entered the deflection space is lifted upwardly, the lock arm may be caught by the wire and turned up.
The present invention was completed based on the above situation and aims to provide a connector capable of avoiding the turning up of a lock arm and suppressing a height increase.


The present invention generally relates to a motor vehicle air cleaner assembly that is field or end user convertible to another variety of air cleaner having secondary air induction. The air cleaner is pre-configured to enable a field modification to provide for secondary air induction for admitting heated secondary air to the air cleaner and air filter to aid in melting snow or ice blockage of the air filter and permitting the vehicle to operate in snow and ice air filter blockage conditions.

Internal combustion engines require a source of combustion air. A typical source for combustion air is outside air which commonly includes particulate contaminants. An air cleaner including an air filter element is normally provided to capture these particulate contaminants before combustion air is delivered to the vehicle engine. When operated in colder climates where heavy or blowing snow is common, snow may be drawn into the air cleaner and lead to eventual blockage of the air filter element, thereby cutting off the supply of combustion air and leading to poor engine performance.
In the prior art, air cleaners are known that include a secondary air inlet having a movable damper or power operated valve operable to open a secondary air supply to the air cleaner when the primary air supply becomes obstructed by snow. One example is U.S. Pat. No. 4,969,939 which discloses an air cleaner equipped with a slideable valve including mechanical linkage extending into the operator cabin and operable by a vehicle operator to admit secondary air into the air cleaner in the event the normal air inlet becomes blocked by snow.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,395,048 discloses an air cleaner having an annular door with an open window that is rotatable between a first and a second position. In the first position outside air is admitted to the air cleaner. In the second position warmer under the hood air is provided to the air cleaner and the normal outside air inlet is blocked. The door is rotated by a mechanical actuator.
As can be understood from the above, many varieties of air cleaners equipped for secondary air induction are known. As can be seen from the prior art, air cleaners equipped for secondary air induction have a number of moving parts, are more complex and are therefore more costly that similar air cleaners lacking secondary air adaptations.
As can be appreciated, at the time of manufacture the ultimate service condition of the vehicles are not typically known and therefore the proper air cleaner type and configuration can not be predetermined. Only a portion of manufactured vehicles find service in northern frigid environments in which heavy snows and air cleaner snow pack conditions can be expected. Providing all manufactured vehicles with more costly secondary air equipped air cleaners is unnecessary and undesirable. Also as can be understood, known air cleaners are either secondary air equipped or are not so equipped. Known air cleaners are not configured for end user conversion to add secondary air induction to an air cleaner after market or in the field.

Air cleaner convertible for secondary air induction


A system for customizing an article. The system includes a base and at least one attachment having a decorative element and flanges flanking the decorative element and forming an opening on each side of the decorative element. The base has a plurality of projecting elements projecting from a surface of the base and having a protrusion at an end thereof or a plurality of pincers defining an inlet and a cavity. Each of the protrusions or pincers can be deformed to fit through the openings on each side of one of the decorative elements after which the protrusions or pincers will return to a non-deformed shape and secure the attachment with decorative element in the article. Also a method for customizing an article with the attachments.

There are known in the prior art systems comprising devices, such as bracelets and key chains, to which letters or other ornaments may be detachably affixed to customize the devices. British patent 511,023 describes one such system. U.S. Pat. No. 10,004,303 describes another. The former system is limited in the options available to a user whereas the latter is complicated to use. What is needed is a system for customizing articles that is simple to use and yet offers the user a multitude of different options for customizing the articles with ornaments or other decorative elements and for possible other uses of the ornaments.

Customizable article and methods for use thereof


A method for thinning a semiconductor substrate that does not impose a significant risk of breakage on the semiconductor substrate itself and is compatible with semiconductor wafers having electrically active bumps thereon. The method includes first forming at least one dummy bump on a semiconductor substrate (e.g., a silicon semiconductor wafer with electrically active bumps formed thereon). The dummy bumps are arranged on the semiconductor substrate (e.g., along its perimeter) in a manner that reduces a risk of establishing localized stress therein of a magnitude sufficient to result in breakage of the semiconductor substrate during a subsequent thinning step. The semiconductor substrate is then thinned using a mechanical backgrinding technique.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates, in general, to semiconductor device manufacturing and packaging methods and, in particular, to methods for thinning semiconductor wafers.
2. Description of the Related Art
Semiconductor devices, such as integrated circuits, are typically manufactured in and on a semiconductor substrate (e.g., a semiconductor wafer). The thickness of semiconductor wafers is predetermined, based on the semiconductor wafer""s diameter, to avoid breakage and/or warpage during manufacturing. For example, the thickness of a 150 mm diameter silicon semiconductor wafer is approximately 650 microns, while that of a 200 mm diameter silicon semiconductor wafer is approximately 725 microns.
Following their manufacture, individual semiconductor devices (i.e., die) are packaged in order to provide electrical connections to an external system and protection from deleterious environmental factors (e.g., moisture). To facilitate the use of uniformly sized packages and to reduce substrate resistance, semiconductor wafers are usually thinned prior to packaging of the individual semiconductor devices. Semiconductor wafers are also thinned in order to minimize the effects of thermal coefficient of expansion mismatch between an individual semiconductor device and a package. Such thinning is referred to as xe2x80x9cbackgrinding,xe2x80x9d since it is conventionally accomplished by mechanically grinding the lower surface (i.e., back) of the semiconductor wafer. The backgrinding process employs methods to protect semiconductor devices on the upper surface (i.e., front) of the semiconductor wafer and to securely hold the semiconductor wafer. A conventional method of protection is the application of a protective tape over the upper surface.
Following the backgrinding process, the semiconductor device is packaged and electrically connected to an external system. For example, in xe2x80x9cflip chipxe2x80x9d packaging processes, bond pads (for the provision of input signals, output signals, supply voltage and ground) on a semiconductor device are directly connected to package or circuit board bond pads via bumps (e.g., solder bumps) formed on the bond pads. During such a flip chip packaging process, a semiconductor device with attached solder bumps is flipped over and aligned with package or circuit board bond pads. The solder bumps are then subjected to reflow processing in order to attach the bond pads of the semiconductor device to the package or circuit board bond pads.
A drawback of employing bumps, however, is that the bumps produce points of high localized stress in the semiconductor wafer during the backgrinding processes. These high localized stress points can cause some semiconductor wafers to break during the backgrinding process, even in the presence of a protective tape covering the bumps and upper surface of the semiconductor wafers. If the semiconductor wafers are subjected to a backgrinding process prior to the formation of the bumps, the bump formation process can impose a significant risk of breakage to the thinned semiconductor wafers.
Still needed in the field, therefore, is a method of thinning a semiconductor substrate (e.g., a semiconductor wafer) that does not impose a significant risk of breakage on the semiconductor substrate. In addition, the method should be compatible with semiconductor wafers that have bumps on their upper surface.
The present invention provides methods for thinning a semiconductor substrate that do not impose a significant risk of breakage on the semiconductor substrate and are compatible with semiconductor wafers having conventional electrically active bumps thereon. A process according to one exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes first forming at least one dummy bump on a semiconductor substrate (e.g., a silicon semiconductor wafer with electrically active bumps formed thereon). The dummy bumps are arranged on the semiconductor substrate (e.g., along its perimeter) in a manner that reduces a risk of establishing localized stress therein that is sufficient to result in breakage of the semiconductor substrate during a subsequent thinning step. The semiconductor substrate is subsequently thinned using, for example, a mechanical backgrinding process.
Localized stress within a semiconductor wafer with electrically active bumps formed thereon is enhanced when a significant portion of the semiconductor wafer (e.g., a portion from which the manufacturing of complete semiconductor devices has been excluded) remains free of such electrically active bumps. The formation of dummy bumps in that portion precludes such stress enhancement and consequently reduces a risk of semiconductor wafer breakage during mechanical backgrinding.
A better understanding of the features and advantages of the present invention will be obtained by reference to the following detailed description that sets forth illustrative embodiments, in which the principles of the invention are utilized, and the accompanying drawings.

Method for thinning a semiconductor substrate


A rotary cutting tool is provided having an axis of rotation, a shank section, a fluted section, and a plurality of helical teeth. The shank section and the fluted section both extend along the axis of rotation. The fluted section has a first end integrally attached to the shank section, a second end, and an outer surface extending between the first and second ends. A plurality of helical teeth is disposed along the outer surface, each having a cutting edge and an undulating geometry. The helical teeth are arranged so that rotationally successive cutting edges are sufficiently dissimilar relative to one another to inhibit a detrimental periodic response in the rotary cutting tool.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to machine tool rotary cutting tools in general, and to end mills in particular.
2. Background Information
An end mill is an example of a rotary cutting tool that is used to remove material from a workpiece. Conventional end mills typically include a shank section and a fluted section. The fluted section typically includes a plurality of helical teeth, each tooth having a cutting surface and a relief wall. It is desirable to have an end mill that can rapidly remove material from a workpiece, while at the same time leave a relatively smooth surface on the workpiece. To that end, there are a variety of different end mill designs. U.S. Pat. No. 4,560,308 discloses an end mill with a plurality of helical teeth each with a sinusoidal edge that facilitates chip formation and removal. The '308 patent also discloses that the sinusoidal pattern is the same for each helical tooth, although the sinusoidal patterns may be axially offset from one another relative to the end of the end mill; e.g., the sinusoidal pattern for a first helical tooth begins at the tip of the mill; the sinusoidal pattern for a second helical tooth, that rotationally follows the first helical tooth, begins at a point located a distance "x" apart from the tip; and the sinusoidal pattern for a third helical tooth, that rotationally follows the second helical tooth, begins at a point located a distance "2x" apart from the tip, etc.
Rotary cutting tools are often subject to periodic forces as cutting edges repeatedly engage with the workpiece. The aforesaid forces can lead to undesirable harmonic responses (e.g., noise, chatter), particularly if the periodic forces are substantially uniform. A substantial harmonic response can limit the performance of the rotary cutting tool, including the finish produced by the tool.
Modern machining centers often utilize greater horsepower than older machining centers and very often include computer controls. The additional power and computer control enables the machining center to employ faster feed rates, provided the rotary cutting tool utilized by the machining center can accommodate the greater forces associated therewith.
What is needed, therefore, is a rotary cutting tool that has improved characteristics relative to the prior art rotary cutting tools currently available, and one that can accommodate the forces associated with higher than conventional feed rates without a detrimental harmonic response.


An exemplary system and method for determining handovers for a mobile device are disclosed. An exemplary system may generally include a handover server in communication with a communication network configured to support initiated communications from a mobile device. The handover server is configured to detect an initiated communication between the mobile device and a first communication link, determine a value for each of a plurality of factors associated with each of a plurality of available communication links, and assign a desired communication link to the mobile device from the plurality of available communication using a generally simultaneous assessment of the plurality of factors.

Mobile communication devices rely on handovers to ensure continuous service during a communication initiated by the device, e.g., a phone call, such as when the mobile device is moving in a car, train, while walking, etc. Generally, mobile devices will transmit a communication signal through an initial communication link, e.g., a communication tower, until it is determined that the signal strength between the device and the tower is relatively weak in comparison to other available communication links, such as when the mobile device is moving further away from the tower over time. The device or the tower may then initiate a handover of the communication signal to another communication link, e.g., a communication tower that is closer to the mobile device, or can provide a stronger signal strength to the device. The handover generally automatically transfers the connection of the mobile device from one location to another, while maintaining continuous connectivity of the mobile device. Known handover methodologies thus rely generally exclusively on signal strength to determine when and where to initiate a handover.
Employing signal strength as the sole factor to determine when and where to initiate a handover may force a handover when it is not optimal for a given mobile device. For example, if a communication between a mobile device and an initial tower is becoming weaker, and two other available towers are identified, a handover will generally be initiated to the tower having the strongest signal. However, if the difference in signal strength between the available towers is not significant, but other characteristics of the towers are much different such as a cost of using each respective tower, type of technology employed by the tower, etc., then the tower with the strongest signal may nonetheless have significant disadvantages in view of these other characteristics. As a result, a handover may be forced to a tower that is more expensive for the particular mobile device, does not provide an ideal connection type, or otherwise suffers from some disadvantage relative to other available towers despite any advantage in signal strength. This has become especially problematic in view of the recent proliferation of available technologies for supporting mobile communication, each of which may have different capabilities and costs for a given mobile device and service provider.
Accordingly, there is a need for an improved handover process that contemplates characteristics of available communication links other than the signal strength associated with the communication links.


Systems, methods and apparatus for harvesting atmospheric electricity are provided. The system includes a laser configured to form a plasma filament and a collector configured to collect electricity flowing along the plasma filament. The plasma filament comprises an electrically conducting plasma filament. Atmospheric electricity may be collected by having the plasma filament form at least a part of a conducting path: (1) between ground and a cloud, (2) between differently charged regions of the same cloud, (3) between differently charged regions of different clouds, and (4) between different regions of atmosphere, where there is a vertical voltage gradient. When the plasma filament is not long enough to form the entire conducting path, a lightning may be triggered to complete the conducting path needed to collect atmospheric electricity.

It is well known that large quantities of electrical energy are present in the atmosphere and in lightning. Lightning was one of the first forms of electricity harnessed in the modern age by Benjamin Franklin in his famous kite experiment.
A lightning discharge typically contains on the order of 1010 Joules of energy. It has been estimated that the total electrical power of lightning across the Earth is of the order of 1012 watts. Collection of electrical energy from clouds associated with lightning is a problem that needs to be resolved.
Lightning is but a small part of the total electrical activity of the atmosphere. When a local build up of charge above the Earth exceeds the local breakdown potential of the atmosphere a lightning discharge occurs. However, there is a continual invisible flow of charge from Ionosphere to Earth occurring day and night over the entire surface of the globe, which exceeds the global lightning power output by many times. The source of this flow of charge from the atmosphere to Earth is the Sun. Radiation from the Sun helps form most of the ions found in the Ionosphere, a highly charged region above the atmosphere, through ionization of atmospheric molecules. Solar radiation, particularly in the UV and soft x-ray bands, consist of photons whose energies are well suited to ionization. The Sun also emits continuously a solar wind of positively charged particles. These are captured by the Earth's magnetic field and further contribute to the Ionosphere. The positively charged region in the Ionosphere in turn induces (by electrostatic induction) a negative charge on the surface of the Earth. The Earth becomes in effect an enormous spherical capacitor. A potential gradient or electric field is thus established between the two "plates" of this capacitor, the Ionosphere (or Electrosphere) and the surface of the Earth. While the upper strata of the atmosphere conduct electricity reasonably well, the lower levels act as an insulator or dielectric. Near the surface of the Earth, this electrostatic potential gradient is on the order of about 100 Vm−1 in summer, rising to 300 Vm−1 in winter. This flow of charge can be tapped and directed to provide useable electrical power. This source of atmospheric electricity has the following advantages: (1) Simple and robust technology; (2) Low cost technology—much cheaper than photovoltaics or wind turbines; (3) Available day and night in all weather conditions—in fact, more power is produced at night than during the day; and (4) Available at any point on the Earth's surface. Collection of this source of atmospheric electricity is another problem that needs to be resolved.

System for harvesting atmospheric electricity


An ion beam source includes a magnetic field unit including a first side facing a target object to be treated and a second side, where the first side is opened and the second side is closed, and the first side includes a plurality of magnetic pole portions arranged at predetermined intervals with an N-pole and an S-pole alternatively or with same magnetic poles and configured to form a closed loop of plasma electrons and an electrode unit arranged at a lower end of the closed loop. The ion beam source is configured to rotate the plasma electrons within a process chamber along the closed loop, to generate plasma ions from an internal gas within the process chamber, and to provide the plasma ions to the target object.

1. Field
The present disclosure relates to an ion beam source.
2. Description of the Related Art
An ion beam source is a device that generates ions in a plasma shape by using ionized gas and emits the generated ions in a beam shape, which is an important component in a thinfilm process. The ion beam emitted from the ion beam source can be used to perform processes of surface modification, surface cleaning, pre-processing, assisted deposition of thinfilm, etching, post-processing, and the like. The ion beam source forms a closed loop (closed drift loop) using electrodes and magnetic poles and transfers electrons along the closed loop at high speed. The closed loop, in which the electrons are transferred, is continuously provided with ionization gas from outside for generating the ions.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,425,709 discloses an ion beam source including a gas supply tube for supplying ionization gas to the inside, i.e., backward of an electrode, an electrode that allows cooling water to flow therein, and an interval adjustment screw for maintaining an interval between the electrode and the magnetic pole constant, in order to solve problems of dissipating heat generated from the inside and keeping plasma uniformity constant.
However, such an ion beam source causes etching phenomenon in a direction of the internal electrode surface during the ionization processing under plasma and causes substrate contamination as etched impurities moves along with the generated ions to a substrate by pressure difference. Further, particles in emission area are attached on the electrode and generate an electric arc on the electrode. The generation of such impurities and the generation of the arc degrade the ionization capability of the ion beam source, affecting a continuous research for long time and a post-processing.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,750,600, U.S. Pat. No. 6,870,164, KR Pub. No. 10-2011-0118622 describe methods of changing the polarity of the electrode.


With a domestic appliance comprising a carcass (1), a door (2) hinged to the carcass (1) and a frame (8, 9, 10) fastened to the carcass (1) and surrounding the edges of the door (2), a foliate anti-trap element (17) extends from the door (2) through a recess (12) of the frame (8, 9, 10) to a hinge-side side wall (11) of the carcass (1).

The present invention relates to a built-in refrigerator, the door of which, when assembled, is enclosed on several sides by a fixed frame. Refrigerators of this type, in which brackets of the frame are fastened in each instance to side walls or a ceiling of the carcass and extend outwards to front edges of the walls of a unit recess surrounding the refrigerator, in order to conceal a gap between the refrigerator and the walls of the recess, are marketed in particular in America.
The fixed frame surrounding the door restricts the freedom of movement of the door, so that the use of multi-joint hinges is generally necessary in order to control an opening movement of the door originating from the frame, without the door striking the frame. If, when opening the door, a gap appears between said door and the frame, said gap being wide enough to insert a finger, there is a risk of injury to fingers when closing the door.
To eliminate this risk of injury, the unexamined German application DE 10 2005 057 133 A1 proposes fastening a flexible covering element to the device door, which engages into a gap in a moveable fashion between opposite side walls of the carcass and the unit recess accommodating the device. This covering element blocks the gap between the device door and the adjacent furniture front when the device door is open and thus eliminates the risk of trapped fingers. The use of such a covering element is however excluded if a fixed frame is fastened to the side wall of the domestic appliance as described in the introduction, since in accordance with DE 10 2005 057 133 A1 this frame occupies the space required for the covering element.


A magnetorheological fluid comprising magnetic-responsive particles, a thickener, an ionic thixotropic additive, and a carrier fluid wherein the carrier fluid comprises a glycol-water mixture comprising at least 50 percent by weight of a glycol compound. The thickener is preferably fumed silica and the ionic thixotropic additive is preferably one of sodium nitrite, sodium chloride, sodium acetate, and sodium benzoate.

Magnetorheological fluids are magnetic field responsive fluids containing a field polarizable particle component and a liquid carrier component. Magnetorheological fluids are useful in devices or systems for controlling vibration and/or noise. Magnetorheological fluids have been proposed for controlling damping in various devices, such as dampers, shock absorbers, and elastomeric mounts. They have also been proposed for use in controlling pressure and/or torque in brakes, clutches, and valves. Magnetorheological fluids are considered superior to electrorheological fluids in many applications because they exhibit higher yield strengths and can create greater damping forces.
The particle component compositions typically include micron-sized magnetic-responsive particles. In the presence of a magnetic field, the magnetic-responsive particles become polarized and are thereby organized into chains of particles or particle fibrils. The particle chains increase the apparent viscosity (flow resistance) of the fluid, resulting in the development of a solid mass having a yield stress that must be exceeded to induce onset of flow of the magnetorheological fluid. The particles return to an unorganized state when the magnetic field is removed, which lowers the viscosity of the fluid.
Magnetorheological (MR) fluids based on hydrocarbon or silicone oils are well-known in the literature and numerous patents, and many device applications based on these fluids are also known. Aqueous magnetorheological fluids are also known, but there are fewer device applications for this fluid because of its limited temperature stability and its lack of lubricity. Hydrocarbon-based magnetorheological fluids have been found to be unsatisfactory in devices that contain natural rubber (e.g., automotive engine mounts) due to an incompatibility between the rubber and the hydrocarbon carrier fluid. Silicone-based fluids are more compatible with the rubber material, but they are generally more expensive and are not as desirable from a user's viewpoint because of the potential for silicone cross-contamination.
Glycol-based fluids are compatible with natural rubber and have acceptable temperature stability without the drawbacks associated with silicone fluids. A patent for glycol-based magnetorheological fluid assigned to Delphi Corporation (U.S. Pat. No. 6,824,700 B2, Glycol-Based MR Fluids with Thickening Agent) uses organoclay as a thickening agent. Such fluids suffer from the drawback that they form a persistent foam when exposed to vacuum, which is a significant problem for vacuum-filling operations typically used by engine mount manufacturers.
The purpose of this invention is to provide a glycol-based fluid with minimal settling that is non-foaming and satisfactory for use in engine mounts or similar devices.

Non-settling glycol based magnetorheological fluids


A method and apparatus are provided for transferring growth media or infection fluids to a bioculture bag having Could Process fitting thereon in fluid communication with the inside of the bag. The media or fluid is placed in a flask. A cap is threaded onto the neck of the flask. The cap has a spout with an opening in a distal end of the spout and a vent hole in the cap. The spout has a tubular end in which the opening is formed, with an O-ring seal adjacent the distal end of the tubular end. The tubular end fits within the fitting and the seal forms a fluid tight seal with the fitting to allow fluid transfer to the bag in reduced time with reduced spillage. The cap is preferably used on a flask having shaped baffles in the bottom. The baffles are highest toward the centerline, and decline in height linearly toward the corners of the flask at an angle of about 9° to the horizontal. The flask is rotated about 80-180 RPM, and the baffles have leading and trailing sides in the direction of rotation that are inclined at about 32° relative to the vertical. A growth media is also provided to culture the cells in the flask.

Mammalian and insect cells are grown for biological testing and other uses. A starter culture is placed in a growth media such as Grace's media, which is contained in a generally flat bag ranging from 2 liters to 100 liters in volume. These bags have standard fittings on them, typically made by Colder Products Company, and covered by U.S. Pat. No. 5,052,725. The standard fitting is small, about ¼ inches (about 6 mm) in diameter. The bags are filled by pouring the Grace's media or other equivalents into the ¼ inch diameter fitting from the open lip of the bottle in which the Grace's media is shipped or addition of culture, which results in spillage of media that costs $300 to $1,000 per liter. Alternatively, the bags are filled by hand using pipettes, which takes a long time, exposes the media and culture to contamination, and still results in spillage. Pumps can also be used to transfer the growth media to the bags, but the pumps use ¼ inch tubing and fill the bag slowly and can contaminate the bags if not cleaned adequately. There is thus a need for an improved way to quickly transfer the growth media through the fitting into the bags while reducing spillage. There is a need for a direct and easy transfer of growing cells into these bags.
The bags are placed on a rocker which rocks from side to side. The bags have a smooth bottom and are rocked gently because the insect and mammalian cells rupture easily. A starting culture having a concentration of about 4×e5 is grown to 1-2×e6. Higher concentrations are desirable, and shorter times are also desirable as it decreases processing time. There is thus a need for a way to culture these cells to higher densities, and to do so in a shorter time.
These cells are often infected with a virus through smaller, ⅛ inch diameter ports (about 3 mm dia.) provided with the bag. Cell growth is continued for 48-72 hours after infection, at which time the cells are harvested. But the cells typically require a viability of about 90% or more to make harvesting viable. There is thus a need for a way to more consistently grow cells with not only desired viability, but higher viability.

Method and apparatus for transferring growth media and infection fluids to a cell growth bag


A pet dish apparatus that includes a spring loaded base unit, on top of which sits a permanent feeding and watering bowl. Multiple disposable bowls are nested in the permanent bowl, which keeps them aligned both vertically and horizontally. A hinged ring like lid that rims the apparatus and clamps down over the disposable bowls and outer top of apparatus to keep bowls in place, keeping them from popping up and keeping them free from food and debris that could be caught in between the disposable bowls and the inner lining of the apparatus. The spring loaded base will allow disposable inserts to rise to top of apparatus as each discarded bowl is removed. The permanent bowl can also be used for feeding when disposable bowls are unavailable. The solid construction of the base, weight of the apparatus and permanent bowl, and rubberized disc at bottom of bowl, will keep the pet dish apparatus stable to the floor.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates in general to a need for new and useful improvements in animal feeders, and more particularly, to an animal feeder that will dispense clean disposable inserts as the soiled inserts are disposed of after animal's feeding or watering. The disposable inserts are adapted to fit into the permanent unit and can be used for dry and wet food or liquid beverages.
2. Brief Description of Related Art
Heretofore the types of pet dishes used or patented with disposable inserts have not been designed to automatically dispense disposable inserts and have not included a spring loaded base, which allows disposable inserts to pot up to top of base. The apparatus includes a hinged ring like lid at top, which will hold the stored inserts in place, keeping all other inserts clean, until top insert is discarded. This apparatus also includes a permanent bowl, which can be used should the disposable inserts be unavailable. The disposable insert is molded of a light paper weight wax coated material in which one or two tabs are part of the mold at the top of each insert for easy removal of top insert from apparatus.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,060,807 discloses a disposable bowl dispenser that stores and dispenses disposable bowls from a dish shaped base with retailing arms and support members. This skeleton-like frame may be lightweight, resulting in less than optimum stability. Because of its' open sides, which exposes the stack of disposable bowls, there is probability of bowls becoming soiled. To provide for greater stability, optimal cleanliness of disposable inserts, an outer shell surrounding the disposable inserts and a hinged ring like lid rimming the top of apparatus would be desirable. An outer shell would also provide the apparatus with aesthetic value and resemble a pet dish. It is also desirable to have a permanent feeding bowl in apparatus, should the disposable inserts become unavailable at feeding time. It is preferred to use a spring in place of the retailing arms for simplicity of manufacturing.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,644,241 discloses a dish-shaped base unit which has a first dish lock portion in the form of an annular groove on an inside surface of the dish-shaped base unit and includes a dish member received in the dish-shaped base unit. The dish member includes a second dish lock portion in the form of an annular tongue on the outside surface of the dish member which can attach to the first dish lock portion annular groove.
Although the base is solid, it is designed for storing multiple disposable inserts. It does not include a permanent bowl that can be used when disposable inserts aren't available. Its design of internal wall bulges allows for food and debris to enter unit between disposable inserts and apparatus, which allows disposable inserts to become soiled prior to use. A spring loaded base will allow disposable units to rise to top of apparatus allowing pet to easily access food and drink and hinged ring like lid fits tightly to top of apparatus, keeping all disposable inserts clean until used for feeding.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,949,678 discloses a disposable one-piece pet feeding dish having a thin walled outwardly sloping skirt. The dish displays an adhesive strip on bottom of unit to hold unit to the floor. Although stability to floor is important, adhesive to the floor may be damaging and more permanent than required. It is preferred to have a fairly heavy weight to the apparatus and rubberized disc at bottom to prevent slippage.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,257,353 discloses a disposable pet dish for feeding and watering pets, which is made of very thin disposable material with a turned lip at top of bowl. It also provides a skeletal frame support. It is designed to hold one disposable bowl at a time and is not designed to dispense multiple disposable bowls. Although the design of the disposable bowl is a molded one-piece unit, it has a turned lip to accommodate the support frame in which it snaps on. It is preferred to mold the thin disposable material in a bowl shape to fit into the solid casing of the designed apparatus and to include in the mold one to two tabs at the top rim for easy removal of discarded inserts from apparatus.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,800,845 discloses a pet dish that uses raised portions on holder and two depressions on liner to lock into place. This pet dish is designed to house up to two liners and is not a pet dish dispenser. It is preferred to have an automatic dispensing of disposable inserts of up to twenty and a permanent bowl when disposable inserts are not available.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,426,995 discloses an apparatus used for storing stacked articles. It is not designed to be a pet feeder. The design is skeletal and vertically elongated and does not contain a permanent feeder bowl, when disposable inserts are unavailable. It is preferred to have a unit that will be stable to the floor and not be tipped over by the animal when feeding or drinking from apparatus.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,782,374 discloses a disposable liner made of a paper type material such a wax coated paper. It contains an upper ridge to set on top rim of a pet dish. This dish is not designed to dispense multiple disposable inserts. It is preferred to use a hinged ring to rim the top of the apparatus and disposable inserts without a rim to be able to stack more units in the apparatus. One or two tabs molded to top edge of the disposable bowl will allow for easy removal of discarded inserts.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,709,168 discloses similar design to U.S. Pat. No. 5,782,374, in which this is a disposable liner with upper ridge to accommodate resting on top of pet dish. The dish includes two removable spring-type clips, which clamp the liner to the rim of the bowl. It is preferred to use a hinged ring to rim the top of apparatus, holding disposable inserts in place and covering the outer top rim of the apparatus.

Pet dish dispenser with disposable inserts


It is an object of this exemplary embodiment to provide a lithium ion battery using a lithium manganese complex oxide, in which the dissolution of manganese and resistance increase are inhibited, and which is excellent in life characteristics at high temperature. One aspect of this exemplary embodiment is a lithium ion battery comprising at least a positive electrode comprising a positive electrode active material, and an electrolytic solution, wherein the positive electrode active material is a lithium manganese complex oxide, the positive electrode comprises a bismuth oxide, and a metal compound attached to part of a surface of the lithium manganese complex oxide, and a dissolution rate of a metal of the metal compound in the electrolytic solution is lower than a dissolution rate of manganese of the lithium manganese complex oxide.

In recent years, the application of lithium ion batteries to driving batteries for motorcycles and electric cars, and further to industrial batteries combined with primary power sources, such as solar batteries and wind power generation, in addition to small size equipment applications, such as cellular phones and notebook computers, has been promoted. In such large size applications, the cell size and number of cells that are laminated increase significantly, and the battery capacity also increases incomparably, compared with conventional small size applications, and therefore, their safety and cost have taken on increased important. From such a viewpoint, applying lithium manganese complex oxides to positive electrode materials has been studied.
Lithium manganese complex oxides are known as positive electrode materials having high safety because the oxygen desorption start temperature during charge is higher than that of layered lithium nickelate and lithium cobaltate. In addition, manganese, a main component, is more abundant in terms of resources and is also less costly than nickel and cobalt, and therefore, the lithium manganese complex oxides have great merits particularly in large size applications. Further, in the lithium manganese complex oxides, by replacing part of manganese in the crystal structure with other transition metals, such as nickel, the discharge potential increases to the 4.5 to 5 V range (vs. Li/Li+), and higher energy density can be achieved as the so-called 5 V class positive electrodes.
However, it is indicated that in lithium ion batteries using lithium manganese complex oxides, manganese is easily dissolved in high temperature environments, and problems include storage deterioration and cycle deterioration at high temperature. This is considered to be because water that present in the electrolytic solution, as an impurity, reacts with LiPF6 that is added as a supporting salt to produce HF, a strong acid, and this HF reacts with the lithium manganese complex oxide to thereby dissolve the manganese. The manganese dissolved in the electrolytic solution is deposited on the separator and the negative electrode, and therefore, it may become resistant to lithium ion diffusion, break the film (SEI) on the negative electrode, and further become a catalyst decomposing the electrolytic solution on the negative electrode. Therefore, it is thought that when manganese is dissolved, the battery characteristics deteriorate.
In order to inhibit the dissolution of manganese in the electrolytic solution, Patent Literature 1 discloses a method for modifying the surface of a lithium manganese complex oxide with a bismuth compound.
In addition, Patent Literature 2 discloses a lithium manganese complex oxide on the surface of which an Al2O3 layer obtained from an aluminum alkoxide solution is formed.


An anti-tilt mechanism for a drawer assembly, the drawer assembly being in a rack, is disclosed. The anti-tilt mechanism comprises two railing portions coupled to the rack and two brackets, each of the two brackets respectively coupled to one of the two railing portions. Each of the. two brackets comprises a first planar portion and a second planar portion, the second planar portion coupled to the top of the first planar portion and extending substantially perpendicular to the first planar portion, the second planar portion capable of preventing the drawer assembly from tilting during a slidable operation thereof. The anti-tilt mechanism in accordance with the present invention prevents the drawer assembly from tilting during the slidable operation of the assembly. This is desirable because if tilting occurs during the slidable operation of the assembly, the assembly could be damaged and/or a system operator could be injured.

The present invention relates generally to drawer assemblies and more specifically to an anti-tilt mechanism for a drawer assembly.
Computer drawer assemblies are typically utilized throughout the computer industry. FIG. 1(a) shows a conventional drawer assembly configuration. The configuration comprises a first railing portion 10 and a second railing portion (not shown) directly opposite the first railing portion 10. The railing portions are coupled to a rack 12 wherein a drawer assembly 14 is slidably mounted within the railing portions and withdrawn as desired in order to service a computer system, check computer system parameters, etc.
A problem occurs however when the drawer assembly 14 is withdrawn from the rack 12. When the drawer assembly 14 is withdrawn from the rack 12, gravitational forces cause the drawer assembly 14 to tilt in a downward direction. For an illustration, please refer now to FIG. 1(b). FIG. 1(b) shows the conventional drawer assembly configuration wherein the drawer assembly 14 has tilted due to the slidable operation thereof. This phenomenon could potentially cause injury to the system operator or to a bystander or damage the drawer assembly 14.
Accordingly, what is needed is a drawer assembly configuration that prevents the computer system from tilting due to the slidable operation thereof. The assembly should be simple, cost effective and capable of being easily adapted to current technology. The present invention addresses such a need.
An anti-tilt mechanism for a drawer assembly, the drawer assembly being in a rack, is disclosed. The anti-tilt mechanism comprises two railing portions coupled to the rack and two brackets, each of the two brackets respectively coupled to one of the two railing portions. Each of the two brackets comprises a first planar portion and a second planar portion, the second planar portion coupled to the top of the first planar portion and extending substantially perpendicular to the first planar portion, the second planar portion capable of preventing the computer system from tilting during a slidable operation thereof.
The anti-tilt mechanism in accordance with the present invention prevents the drawer assembly from tilting during the slidable operation of the assembly. This is desirable because if tilting occurs during the slidable operation of the assembly, the assembly could be damaged and/or a system operator could be injured.

Anti-tilt mechanism for a drawer assembly

International Business Machines Corporation


A chess-like game involves hidden information. The information provided to a player of the game includes positions and types of game pieces on a) squares that are occupied by game pieces belonging to the player and squares that are diagonally adjacent thereto, b) squares to which one or more of the game pieces belonging to the player can move according to their respective movement patterns and which are not occupied by an enemy game piece and squares that are diagonally adjacent thereto, and c) squares occupied by enemy game pieces that can be captured or put into check by one or more of the game pieces belonging to the player can move according to their respective movement patterns. The information excludes positions and types of game pieces on any other squares. The game may also involve non-alternating moves.

Traditional Western chess is a popular game. However, some players look to variants of chess in search of additional challenges. These variants, many of which are described at the Chess Variants website www.chessvariants.org, may involve new game pieces, different boards, more than two players, incomplete information, and or other changes from traditional Western chess.
Some chess variants involving incomplete information, for example, Kriegspiel, are played with the assistance of a referee, while other chess variants involving incomplete information, for example, Fog of War chess, are played as a computer application.
In the Dark Chess variant described at www.itsyourturn.com/t _helptopic2020.html#helpitem1275, a player can only see a space on the board if the player has a game piece on that square, the player can move a game piece to that square, the square is directly in front of one of the player's pawns, or the square is an adjacent forward diagonal from one of the player's pawns.
In the Kung Fu Chess variant, players are not required to alternate moves. Players move and capture game pieces in realtime. Game pieces take time to move to their destinations and must rest before receiving their next orders.
It will be appreciated that for simplicity and clarity of illustration, elements shown in the figures have not necessarily been drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions of some of the elements may be exaggerated relative to other elements for clarity.

Chess-like game involving hidden information


A filter element (1), which is formed particularly of a flat element wrapped into a compact body and which along its outer circumference has at least one continuous main sealing ring (2) disposed adjacent an end face (4) on the intake side, is provided with an additional emergency sealing collar (3) which encloses the filter body and is disposed near the end face (5) on the outlet side.

The present invention relates to a filter element comprising at least one flat element wrapped into a compact body through which fluid to be filtered flows axially between its two axial end faces, and which has at least one continuous main sealing ring around its outer periphery arranged adjacent the end face on the intake side.
German Patent Publication No. DE 32 49 151 C2 discloses a compact air filter element. This filter element is formed of a corrugated or pleated filter paper and a smooth filter paper. The filter papers are bonded together and then tightly wrapped together to form a filter element of the desired size. Bonding is effected by applying bands of adhesive in the margin such that intervening spaces between the corrugated and the smooth layer are alternately closed at the two end faces to prevent direct flow through the channels formed between the filter papers. A fluid stream, particularly air taken in by an internal combustion engine and flowing from the unfiltered air side to the filtered air side flows initially only into a dead-end channel, then through the filter paper and out of a dead-end channel on the other side. Compared to conventional pleated filters, these compact air filters have the advantage of offering either a larger filter surface for the same overall size or the same filter surface in a smaller overall size.
In round filters in which the outer circumference is the intake side or the unfiltered air side, the outside air that is taken in must still pass the filter medium even if the filter housing is damaged. In axial flow filters, there is a problem that if a stone, for example, strikes and damages an external filter housing of a commercial vehicle or if a dropped tool damages the air filter housing, the filter element may be bypassed so that dirt-laden unfiltered air enters a downstream internal combustion engine. Because compact air filters usually have a circumferential sealing collar that is formed onto the body of the filter near an end face, by which the unfiltered air side is separated from the filtered air side, the major part of the length of the compact air filter element is located on the filtered side of the housing. If the housing is damaged, dirt can flow unhindered through the gap between the housing and the air filter element to the filtered air connection. This can damage the downstream consumer, such as an internal combustion engine.


The apparatus for wrapping confectionery products and the like comprises a device for feeding the products to be wrapped, an organ for extracting such products from the aforesaid feeding device able to co-operate with a device dispensing a piece of material in sheet form, a wrapping head with pincers, rotating according to a horizontal axis to bring individual products with a respective piece of material in sheet form in correspondence with a series of operative stations. The feeding device comprises a circular disk, positioned horizontally and rotating about a vertical axis, which presents, peripherally distributed, a series of recesses for the reception of respective products, open outwards, each provided, in correspondence with the lower surface of said disk and posteriorly thereto, with a related slit. Below said rotating disk is positioned an annulus, fastened to the structure of the apparatus, for supporting the products introduced into the aforesaid recesses, able partially to hide said slit of the recesses during the feeding phase. The annulus is so shaped as to distance itself from the rotating disk, in correspondence with a station for transferring the individual products to be wrapped to the wrapping head, to render visible said slit during the transfer phase and allow means for thrusting said extractor organ to transit through it.

The present invention relates to an apparatus for wrapping confectionery products and the like, in particular candies.
Wrapping machines are currently known which automatically wrap confectionery products. In particular, wrapping machines are known which comprise a device for feeding the products to be wrapped and a wrapping head with pincers, positioned above the feeding device, rotating according to a horizontal axis for bring the aforesaid products, together with a respective piece of material in sheet form, in correspondence with a series of operative stations, in turn located above the feeding devices.
The feeding device is constituted for instance by a disk rotating about a vertical axis. The individual products to be wrapped are provided to respective recesses, distributed along the periphery of the feeding disk. The products fed by means of the disk device are transferred upwards in succession from the related recesses into one of the pincers of the wrapping head which envelops and encloses around them the respective piece of material in sheet form.
The transfer of the products from the feeding device to the wrapping head is effected, in a related operative station, by an extractor organ which is able to co-operate with a device for dispensing the aforementioned piece of material in sheet form. In an active stroke, the extractor organ engages the feeding device so as to draw the product to be wrapped and transfer it, together with the related piece of material in sheet form, to a corresponding set of pincers of the wrapping head; whereas in the return stroke the extractor organ does not interfere with the feeding disk, leaving it free to rotate to bring a new product to the transfer station.
Known wrapping machines are generally bulky and complex and often have limited productivity.
In the specific case of products of the candy type, moreover, wrapping with the related wrapping sheet is difficult or imprecise, or in any case not very flexible, due to the difficulty in correctly manipulating the candies. It should be noted that the candies are usually gripped by the pincers of the wrapping head in correspondence with the flanks, i.e. on the narrowest part, with obvious grip difficulties especially for products with particular shapes, for instance lenticular.
Another problem encountered in machines for wrapping the aforementioned products is constituted by the difficulty of assuring the environmental hygiene necessary to the products themselves, for instance due to the leakage of noxious substances (in particular lubricating oil and the like) from moving organs, which generally are positioned above the feeding disks.
The task of the present invention is to solve the aforementioned problems, devising an apparatus for wrapping confectionery products, in particular candies and the like, designed in such a way as to effect the enveloping of the products in optimal fashion, assuring complete environmental hygiene and giving the various organs the time required to perform their functions appropriately, to the advantage of productivity.
Within the scope of this task, a further aim of the present invention is to make available an apparatus for wrapping products of the aforementioned kind which presents a high simplicity and economy of construction, and which offers the guarantee of a certainly reliable operation and a versatile employment, in particular facilitating format changes.
This task and this aim are both achieved, according to the invention, by the present apparatus for wrapping confectionery products and the like, comprising a device for feeding the products to be wrapped, an organ for extracting said product from said feeding device able to co-operate with a device for dispensing a piece of material in sheet form, a wrapping head with pincers, rotating according to a horizontal axis to bring said products with a respective piece of material in sheet form in correspondence with a series of operative stations, wherein said feeding device comprises a circular disk, positioned horizontal and rotating about a vertical axis, which presents, peripherally distributed, a series of recesses for receiving respective products, open outwards, each provided, in correspondence with the lower surface of said disk and posteriorly thereto, with a related slit; and an annulus, fastened to the structure of the apparatus, positioned below said rotating disk for supporting said products introduced into said recesses, able partially to hide said slit of said recesses during the feeding phase and so shaped as to distance itself from the rotating disk, in correspondence with a station for transferring the individual products to be wrapped to the wrapping head, to render visible said slit during the transfer phase and allow means for thrusting said extractor organ to transit through it.

Apparatus for wrapping confectionery products and the like


A method for reducing or preventing elevated blood parathyroid hormone level in a human being suffering from hyperparathyroidism by administering a sufficient amount of 1.alpha.-OH vitamin D.sub.2, 1.alpha.-OH vitamin D.sub.4 or 1.alpha.,24(R)-(OH).sub.2 vitamin D.sub.4.

This invention relates to a method for treating or preventing hyperparathyroidism utilizing an active vitamin D compound.
Hyperparathyroidism is a generalized disorder resulting from excessive secretion of parathyroid hormone (PTH) by one or more parathyroid glands. It is thus characterized by elevated blood levels of parathyroid hormone. Typically, one or more parathyroid glands reveal a marked enlargement. In the case of primary hyperparathyroidism, the glandular enlargement is usually due to a neoplasm or tumor. In the case of secondary hyperparathyroidism, the parathyroid gland hyperplasia typically occurs because of resistance to the metabolic actions of the hormone. Secondary hyperparathyroidism occurs in patients with, e.g., renal failure, osteomalacia, and intestinal malabsorption syndrome. In both primary and secondary hyperparathyroidism, bone abnormalities, e.g., the loss of bone mass or decreased mineral content, are common and renal damage is possible. Hyperparathyroidism is thus also characterized by abnormal calcium, phosphorus and bone metabolism.
It has long been known that vitamin D plays a critical role regulating calcium metabolism. The discovery of the active forms of vitamin D in the 1970's M. F. Holick et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 68, 803-804 (1971); G. Jones et al., Biochemistry 14, 1250-1256 (1975)! and active vitamin D analogues M. F. Holick et al., Science 180, 190, 191 (1973);
H. Y. Lam et al., Science 186, 1038-1040 (1974)!, caused much excitement and speculation about the usefulness of these compounds in the treatment of bone depletive disorders.
Animal and early clinical studies examining the effects of these active vitamin D compounds suggested that such agents would be useful in restoring calcium balance. However, the best indicator of the efficacy of vitamin D compounds to prevent or treat depletive bone disorders is bone itself (or, in the case of renal osteodystrophy, serum levels of parathyroid hormone (PTH)) rather than calcium absorption or calcium balance. Certain clinical studies with 1.alpha.,25-(OH).sub.2 vitamin D.sub.3, and 1.alpha.-OH vitamin D.sub.3 indicate that the ability of these agents to restore lost bone mass or bone mineral content is dose-related. See, S. M. Ott, C. H. Chesnut, Annals of Int. Med. 1989; 110:267-274; J. C. Gallagher et al., Annals of Int. Med. 1990; 113:649-655; J. Aloia et al., Amer. J. Med. 84:401-08 (1988)! M. Shiraki et al., Endocrinol. Japan 32, 305-315 (1985)!.
These clinical studies also indicate that at the dosage ranges required for these agents to be truly effective, toxicity in the form of hypercalcemia and hypercalciuria becomes a major problem. Attempts to increase the amount of 1.alpha.,25-(OH).sub.2 vitamin D.sub.3 above 0.5 .mu.g/day have frequently resulted in toxicity. At dosage levels below 0.5 .mu.g/day, clinically significant effects are rarely observed on bone. See G. F. Jensen et al., Clin Endocrinol. 16, 515-524 (1982); C. Christiansen et al., Eur. J. Clin. Invest. 11, 305-309 (1981)!. Doses of 2 .mu.g/day of 1.alpha.-OH vitamin D.sub.3 were found to have efficacy in increasing bone mass in patients exhibiting senile osteoporosis O. H. Sorensen et al., Clin. Endocrinol. 7, 169S-175S (1977)!. Data from clinical studies in Japan, a population that has low calcium intake, indicate that efficacy is found with 1.alpha.-OH vitamin D.sub.3 when administered at 1 .mu.g/day M. Shiraki et al., Endocrinol. Japan. 32:305-315(1985); H. Orimo et al., Bone and Mineral 3, 47-52 (1987)!. However, at 2 .mu.g/day, toxicity with 1.alpha.-OH vitamin D.sub.3 occurs in approximately 67 percent of the patients, and at 1 .mu.g/day this percentage is approximately 20 percent.
Thus, the prior art teaches that due to their toxicity, 1-hydroxylated vitamin D compounds can only be administered at dosages that are, at best, modestly beneficial in preventing or treating loss of bone or bone mineral content. Indeed, Aloia recommends that alternative routes of administration be sought which might avoid the toxicity problems and allow higher dosage levels to be achieved. J. Aloia et al., Amer. J. Med. 84:401-408 (1988)!. Despite reported toxicities of 1.alpha.-OH vitamin D.sub.3 and 1.alpha.,25-(OH).sub.2 vitamin D.sub.3, these two compounds remain the drugs of choice for many bone depletive disease treatments.
As to secondary hyperparathyroidism and its occurrence in renal failure, at present, in the United States, end stage renal disease afflicts approximately 200,000 individuals. In this disease, there is a progressive loss of cells of the proximal nephrons, the primary site for the synthesis of the vitamin D hormones (collectively "1.alpha.,25-(OH).sub.2 D") from 25-hydroxyvitamin D.sub.3 and 25-hydroxyvitamin D.sub.2. In addition, the loss of functioning nephrons leads to retention of excess phosphorus which reduces the activity of the renal 25-hydroxyvitamin D-1.alpha.-hydroxylase, the enzyme which catalyzes the reaction to produce the D hormones. These two events account for the low serum levels of 1.alpha.,25-(OH).sub.2 D commonly found in patients with mild to moderate end stage renal disease.
Reduced serum levels of 1.alpha.,25-(OH).sub.2 D cause increased, and ultimately excessive, secretion of PTH by direct and indirect mechanisms. The resulting hyperparathyroidism leads to markedly increased bone turnover and its sequela of renal osteodystrophy, which may include a variety of other diseases, such as, osteitis fibrosa cystica, osteomalacia, osteoporosis, extraskeletal calcification and related disorders, e.g., bone pain, periarticular inflammation and Mockerberg's sclerosis. Reduced serum levels of 1.alpha.,25-(OH).sub.2 D also can cause muscle weakness and growth retardation with skeletal deformities (most often seen in pediatric patients).
All previous clinical studies of hormonally active vitamin D drugs in end stage renal disease patients have focused exclusively on compounds derived from vitamin D.sub.3. 1.alpha.,25-(OH).sub.2 D.sub.3 and 1.alpha.-OH-D.sub.3 are the only approved forms of 1.alpha.-hydroxylated vitamin D for treatment or prevention, although both drugs are not currently approved in all major pharmaceutical markets. Use of 1.alpha.,25-(OH).sub.2 D.sub.3 and 1.alpha.-OH-vitamin D.sub.3 as replacement therapy seeks to treat or prevent renal osteodystrophy by treating or preventing hyperparathyroidism in end stage renal disease patients. As noted above, 1.alpha.,25-(OH).sub.2 D.sub.3 often causes toxic side effects (hypercalcemia and hyperphosphatemia) at dosages above 0.5 .mu.g, especially when concomitantly administered calcium phosphate binders are used to control serum phosphorus. The minimum effective dose for preventing hyperparathyroidism is in the range of 0.25 to 0.50 .mu.g/day; most patients respond to oral treatment doses of 0.5 to 1.0 .mu.g/day or intravenous doses between 0.5 and 3.0 .mu.g three times per week. As described above, the other commonly used vitamin D drug is 1.alpha.-OH-D.sub.3 which often causes toxic effects at dosages over 1.0 .mu.g/day, especially when used with calcium phosphate binders. The minimum effective dosage for preventing hyperparathyroidism is in the range of 0.25 to 1.0 .mu.g/day, and most patients require treatment dosages of 1.0 .mu.g/day or more. When either drug, 1.alpha.,25-(OH).sub.2 D.sub.3 or 1.alpha.-OH-D.sub.3, is administered in higher dosages, both efficacy and toxicity are found to increase. Thus, the hormonally active vitamin D.sub.3 compounds are limited in their therapeutic usefulness due to their inherent toxicities.
To reduce the incidence of toxic side effects with 1.alpha.,25-(OH).sub.2 D.sub.3 or 1.alpha.-OH-D.sub.3, a low calcium dialysate with an ionized calcium concentration of 1.25 mM has been developed. However, it has been found that use of the low calcium dialysate has lead to higher serum PTH and phosphorus levels in patients who do not receive increased doses of oral calcium supplements and phosphate binders. When the dosages of calcium supplements and phosphate binders are increased, serum levels of phosphorus become controlled, but the incidence of hypercalcemia rises markedly. Thus, there are many problems associated with the use of current vitamin D therapies for secondary hyperparathyroidism in renal disease.
As to primary hyperparathyroidism, the current treatment is surgical, i.e., resection of the hyperplastic gland. For many patients, however, surgery is contraindicated. In such cases, medical management merely consists of following the patient without specific therapy but monitoring bone and renal function periodically to ensure that silent osseous and renal deterioration do not occur. Management of this disease would be greatly improved by the advent of effective medical modalities.
Notwithstanding these known problems with use of the hormonally active vitamin D.sub.3 for hyperparathyroidism, the art has not adequately responded to date with the introduction of other vitamin D compounds, derivatives or analogs that possess less inherent toxicity.

Method for treating and preventing hyperparathyroidism


An imaging member having a charge transport layer with multiple regions or layers is provided. The charge transport layer includes at least two charge transport layers coated from solutions of different components and concentrations, wherein the second (top) transport layer comprises a lower concentration of different charge transport compound than the first (bottom) charge transport layer. The charge transport compound included in the second (top) charge transport layer is a high mobility hole transport compound. The charge transport compound in each layer is dissolved or molecularly dispersed in an electrically inactive film forming polymer to form a solid solution. In such a construction, the resulting dual charge transport layer exhibits enhanced cracking suppression, improves wear resistance, provides excellent imaging member electrical performance, and delivers improved print quality.

Disclosed herein is an imaging member, such as a flexible photoconductive imaging member, comprised of a photogenerating layer, and overlayed thereon, a charge transport layer comprising multiple regions including a first (bottom) charge transport layer and a second (top) charge transport layer. The second or top charge transport layer contains certain effective amounts of high mobility charge transport components to thereby avoid or minimize undesirable bending stress induced cracking of the charge transport layer of the member, wherein such cracking decreases the lifetime function of the member.
An electrophotographic imaging member device comprising at least one photoconductive insulating layer can imaged by uniformly depositing an electrostatic charge on the imaging surface of the electrophotographic imaging member and then exposing the imaging member to a pattern of activating electromagnetic radiation, such as light, which selectively dissipates the charge in the illuminated areas of the imaging member while leaving behind an electrostatic latent image in the non-illuminated areas. This electrostatic latent image may then be developed to form a visible image by depositing finely divided electroscopic marking toner particles on the imaging member surface. The resulting visible toner image can then be transferred to a suitable receiving member such as paper.
A number of current imaging members are, for example, referred to as multilayered photoreceptors that, in a negative charging system, comprise a supporting substrate, an electrically conductive layer, an optional charge blocking layer, an optional adhesive layer, a charge generating layer, a charge transport layer, and an optional protective or overcoating layer. The imaging members of multilayered photoreceptors can take several forms, for example, flexible belts, rigid drums and the like. Flexible photoreceptor belts may either be seamed or seamless belts. An anti-curl layer may, for example, be employed on the back side of the substrate support, opposite to the electrically active layers, to achieve the desired photoreceptor flatness.
Multilayered photoreceptors, when functioning under electrophotographic machine service conditions, do exhibit typical mechanical failures such as frictional abrasion, wear, and surface cracking. Surface cracking frequently seen in belt photoreceptors is induced either due to dynamic fatigue of the belt flexing over the supporting rollers of a machine belt support module or caused by exposure to airborne chemical contaminants such as solvent vapors and corona species emitted by machine charging subsystems while the photoreceptor belt is subjected to bending stress. The cracks start on the surface of the transport layer, propagate through the transport layer and eventually cause the delamination of the cracked transport layer from the generator layer. The charges on the photoreceptor surface leak through the cracks and cause dark lines printed out on the prints. Such a short photoreceptor life profoundly increases the UMR rate and cost. In fact, photoreceptor surface cracking is one of the common and most urgent mechanical problems seen, particularly in flexible belts. This problem requires quick resolution, because the cracks so generated produce printout defects that seriously impact copy quality.

Imaging member having a dual charge transport layer


An illuminating device for a display device includes a tube lamp which can be driven in parallel by power supplied from a power supply device through a first power supply member and a second power supply member; the first power supply member; and the second power supply member. The illuminating device is provided with illuminating sections whose equivalent circuit is a serially connected body having capacitors connected to the both ends of a negative resistance. The illuminating sections are driven in parallel by separating them into two systems. A voltage to be applied to the left end of the illuminating sections which belong to the first system, and a voltage to be applied to the left end of the illuminating sections which belong to the second system are permitted to be in opposite phases, and a voltage to be applied to the right end of the illuminating sections which belong to the first system and a voltage to be applied to the right end of the illuminating sections which belong to the second system are permitted to be in opposite phases. Thus, display noise of the display device can be reduced.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a display device illuminating device, and to a display device. More particularly, the present invention relates to a display device illuminating device, and a display device, that is provided with a plurality of lamps that can be driven in parallel.
2. Description of the Related Art
Common cold cathode lamps used as light sources for display devices have a non-linear negative impedance characteristic, and therefore cannot be driven in parallel. Typically, each cold cathode lamp is provided with a separate power supply circuit. Inconveniently, however, this configuration, requiring as many power supply circuits as there are cold cathode lamps, is costly, and also is disadvantageous in terms of size reduction, weight reduction, and cost reduction.
Moreover, common cold cathode lamps used as light sources for display devices are connected to power supply circuits via harnesses (also called leads) and connectors, and therefore their fitting is troublesome, resulting in poor assembly efficiency with display device illuminating devices employing cold cathode lamps; likewise their removal also is troublesome, resulting in poor replacement efficiency on occasions of replacement of cold cathode lamps, and in poor disassembly efficiency on occasions of discarding of display device illuminating devices employing cold cathode lamps.
Lamps that are free from such inconveniences are external electrode fluorescent lamps (EEFLs) (see, e.g., JP-A-2004-31338 and JP-A-2004-39264), and so are the cold cathode lamps for which the present applicant applied for a patent (see Patent Document 3 listed below).
An external electrode fluorescent lamp is, in terms of an equivalent circuit, a serial circuit composed of a negative resistance and a capacitor connected to each end of it, and thus has a non-linear positive impedance characteristic. External electrode fluorescent lamps can therefore be driven in parallel. On the other hand, a circuit including a cold cathode lamp disclosed in WO 2006/051698 A1, a first power feeding member, and a second power feeding member, the cold cathode lamp being fed with electric power from a power supply device via the first and second power feeding member, is, in terms of an equivalent circuit, a serial circuit composed of a negative resistance and a capacitor connected to at least one end of it, and thus has a non-linear positive impedance characteristic. The cold cathode lamp disclosed in WO 2006/051698 A1 can therefore be driven in parallel.
As discussed above, these lamps can be driven in parallel, with the end portions of the lamps pinched in, under the resilience of holding members made of a resilient metal material (e.g. spring steel). Thus, the lamps can be fed with electric power via the holding members. Conveniently, this construction makes fitting and removal of lamps easy.
The illuminating sections disclosed in WO 2006/051698 A1 will be described. WO 2006/051698 A1 discloses a cold cathode lamp, a first power feeding member, and a second power feeding member, the cold cathode lamp being fed with electric power from a power supply device via the first and second power feeding members, and that is, in terms of an equivalent circuit, a serial circuit composed of a negative resistance, a capacitor connected to one end of the negative resistance, and another capacitor connected to the other end of the negative capacitance.
In a display device illuminating device incorporated in a display device and having a plurality of illuminating sections each of which includes a cold cathode lamp, a first power feeding member, and a second power feeding member, the cold cathode lamp being fed with electric power from a power supply device via the first and second power feeding members, and is, in terms of an equivalent circuit, a serial circuit composed of a negative resistance, a capacitor connected to one end of the negative resistance, and another capacitor connected to the other end of the negative capacitance, adopting a configuration as shown in FIG. 7 in which the equivalent circuits 21 to 24 of those illuminating sections are connected, in parallel with one another, to a power supply device 25 and in which the voltage output from one end of the power supply device 25 and the voltage output from the other end of the power supply device 25 are opposite in phase helps make zero as a whole the power supply noise that enters the display panel via the parasitic capacitance between the display panel and the power supply lines for the illuminating sections.
Inconveniently, however, when attention is focused on one end—call it the first end—of the power supply device 25, all of the illuminating sections receive a voltage of the same phase; thus power supply noise may enter the portion of the display panel corresponding to the first end of the power supply device 15 via a parasitic capacitance, causing display noise. Likewise, when attention is focused on the other end—call it the second end—of the power supply device 25, all of the illuminating sections receive a voltage of the same phase (though opposite to the phase at the first end of the power supply device 25); thus power supply noise may enter the portion of the display panel corresponding to the second end of the power supply device 25 via a parasitic capacitance, causing display noise. In this way, even when the power supply noise that enters the display panel is made zero as a whole, in reality, display noise may appear locally, leading to degraded display quality.

Display device illuminating device and display device provided with the illuminating device


Reusable cups for collecting catamenia having a base, outer and inner walls, apertures, ribs, and ridges. In some examples, the reusable cups include a trimmable stem. In some further examples, the reusable cups include a circumferential band as a double seal for leak protection and to aid the reusable cups in fully expanding upon insertion and while in situ. In further examples, the reusable cups include indentations and indicia at the base of the reusable cups to work in tandem with the ribs and the apertures such that when the reusable cup is pinched at the base, the suction seal at the aperture and the lip is broken.

The present disclosure relates generally to feminine hygiene products. In particular, reusable menstrual cups for collecting and disposing of catamenia are described.
Known menstrual cups are not entirely satisfactory for the range of applications in which they are employed. For example, existing menstrual cups can be difficult to use, are uncomfortable, and prone to leaking. They are also difficult to properly clean and sterilize and tend to become dislodged during exercise or other movement. Other cups can be painful to remove because they provide improper suction that does not break at the top of the cup where the seal is formed.
Thus, there exists a need for cups for collecting catamenia that improve upon and advance the design of known menstrual cups. Examples of new and useful menstrual cups relevant to the needs existing in the field are discussed below. The present invention includes features that improve leak protection, placement and retention, removal efficiency, storage, portability, and comfort.


A hardware Trojan immunity device and an operation method thereof are provided. The hardware Trojan immunity device is disposed in a data transmission path between an output terminal of a first circuit and an input terminal of a second circuit. The hardware Trojan immunity device includes a multiplexer, an arbitrary pattern generator (APG) and a monitoring circuit. A first input terminal of the multiplexer is coupled to the output terminal of the first circuit. An output terminal of the multiplexer is coupled to the input terminal of the second circuit. The APG is coupled to a second input terminal of the multiplexer to provide pseudo-random data. The monitoring circuit is coupled to a control terminal of the multiplexer. The monitoring circuit is configured to monitor a data activity of the data transmission path and to control a routing of the multiplexer according to the data activity.

With the development of electronic circuits, the complexity of circuits in integrated circuits is getting higher. Integrated circuits may include intellectual property core (also known as "silicon intellectual property" in Chinese) or a process service (design service) integrated system chip. It is already common for integrated circuits to include third party circuits. However, any data transmission path using (or via) a third-party silicon intellectual property may have electronic security issues.
For example, the third-party silicon intellectual property may be pre-embedded with a hardware Trojan (a circuit with spy function). In an operation with highly computationally intensive (a normal operation mode), it is difficult for the hardware Trojan implanted in a circuit module to openly steal data in an encrypted environment of the normal operation mode. In an operation with low data activity rate (e.g., a standby mode), there is not much data transmission in the data transmission path. In general, a data activity in the standby mode is lower (to save power). Moreover, the system may not pay much attention to (does not care) a logic state of the data transmission path in the standby mode. Therefore, the hardware Trojan is likely to steal data in the standby mode.
It should be noted that, the content in the paragraph "Description of Related Art" are intended to assist understanding the invention. Part of the content (or all content) disclosed in the paragraph "Description of Related Art" may not be the conventional technology known by a person of ordinary skill in the art. The content disclosed in the paragraph "Description of Related Art" may not mean the content is known by a person of ordinary skill in the art before application of the invention.

Hardware trojan immunity device and operation method thereof


A transfer utility 18 provides for the transfer of data from a host computer 20 to the ROM socket 30 of a microprocessor based target system 28. The transfer occurs through an interface board 26 which includes a ROM socket 42 for mounting an option optional ROM 44.

Microprocessors are being designed into an increasing number of products every day. During the development of these microprocessor based products, the software controlling the microprocessor must be loaded into the product and debugged. Very often, the product being developed includes neither a parallel nor serial device suitable for communicating with a host computer. Communication with the host computer is necessary to download the microprocessor program into the product and to also debug both the product's hardware and software. Almost all microprocessor based systems (except those systems that have all the memory on the same chip as the microprocessor) do include ROM (Read Only Memory) and/or SRAM (Static Random Access Memory) devices.
Every one of the products that include a microprocessor must also include software for the microprocessor. Usually the software is developed in a host computer such as for example, a Digital Equipment VAX minicomputer or an IMB PC and transferred to the microprocessor based target product for testing. The number of software transfers that must take place during the development of a product can be in the tens of thousands.
Typically, for example, Motorola S Records, Intel Hex Records and transfer formats devised by other manufacturers are used to transfer the software from the host computer to the microprocessor based product. All of those popular transfer formats involve converting the data into characters that can be transmitted over a standard RS-232 Serial line. The characters are then converted back into their original form in a receiver at the other end of the line. Such transfer techniques are used almost universally because RS-232 serial ports (the ports by which most terminals talk to computers) are found on almost all computers.
RS-232 based transfer utilities have one major drawback. These utilities are very slow. Using the Motorola S Records utility and a 9600 Baud RS-232 serial line, data can be transferred at the rate of 300 bytes per second. At that rate a 100,000 byte program would take about 51/2 minutes to transfer. If such a program had to be loaded 10,000 times during the development of a product, over 900 hours would have been spent waiting for data transfers to complete.

ROM socket communication device for data transfer beween a host computer and a microprocessor based system


Compositions and methods are provided that utilize an injectable ropinirole having a therapeutically effective amount of ropinirole in an aqueous solvent, the composition having a pH of from about 3.0 to about 6.5. The compositions and methods provided contain less than 3% by weight of impurities and are suitable for administration by infusion pumps. In some embodiments, the compositions are made in an oxygen free environment and/or are made with an antioxidant to reduce impurities and improve stability. In some embodiments, the compositions provided are utilized to treat Parkinson's disease.

Parkinson's disease is the second most prevalent neurodegenerative disease. There are over 4 million patients in the world and the incidence rate is rapidly increasing with a rising elderly population. The symptoms of Parkinson's disease typically show progressive locomotive defects such as rigidity, tremor, bradykinesia of the limbs, and postural instability, and non-locomotive defects such as cognitive dysfunction, depression, sleep disorder, and pain.
In the aspect of anatomy, selective degeneration of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra is the pathological hallmark of Parkinson's disease. When 60-80% of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra are decreased, extrapyramidal tracts cannot efficiently work and the symptoms of Parkinson's disease occur.
Parkinson's disease is currently treated using dopamine replacement therapies. Because of the loss of dopamine-containing neurons in the brain, oral levodopa and dopamine agonist drugs are mainstay therapies for Parkinson's disease. These drugs are generally administered several times a day or more to increase dopamine levels in the brain. One oral formulation that is administered three to four times a day is the combination of levodopa and carbidopa.
However, the blood levels resulting from oral administration may often fluctuate between high blood concentrations (e.g., peaks) that are often associated with side effects such as dyskinesias (e.g., diminished voluntary movements and the presence of involuntary movements) and low blood levels (e.g., troughs) that are often associated with return of the motor symptoms ("off" time) of Parkinson's disease. As the disease progresses and oral drug therapy is continued, the peak-trough effects may become more exaggerated and severe leading to poor patient compliance.
To counter the peak-trough effects of short acting oral formulations, sustained release oral formulations are currently available to treat Parkinson's disease. Sustained release oral ropinirole is an example of one such formulation, which is marketed by GlaxoSmithKline under the name Requip XL®. This sustained release formulation is administered less frequently than the oral immediate release formulation and generally contributes to better patient compliance.
However, Parkinson's disease patients often have dysfunctional gastric motility, especially as the disease progresses, which can lead to delayed emptying of the stomach and delayed absorption of the oral formulation and thus a delayed onset of dopaminergic symptom relief.
It would therefore be desirable to provide injectable ropinirole compositions and methods that do not rely on a functioning gastrointestinal tract for efficacy. Injectable ropinirole compositions and methods that are stable for extended periods of time and that can be administered by an infusion would also be beneficial in the treatment of Parkinson's disease.

Injectable ropinirole compositions and methods for making and using same


An electronic device according to one embodiment of the present disclosure may include: a housing; an optical element unit which may be configured to emit light toward a user's body, receive light reflected from the user's body, and convert the received light into a first signal; an IC element which may be configured to convert the first signal provided from the optical element unit into a second signal, and provide the second signal to a main circuit board disposed in the housing; a first circuit board that may be disposed between the optical element unit and the IC element and may be electrically connected to the optical element unit and the IC element; and a second circuit board that may include at least one first opening in which the IC element is mounted. The housing may include at least one transparent region such that the light generated by the optical element unit is transmitted through the transparent region to an exterior of the housing.

Electronic devices, such as electronic schedulers, portable multimedia players, mobile communication terminals, tablet PCs, desktop/laptop PCs, vehicular navigation systems, home appliances, etc., may be programmed to perform specific functions. For example, an electronic device may output information stored therein as text, sound or image As the degree of integration of these electronic devices has increased, and as super-high speed and large capacity wireless communication networks become more available, single mobile communication terminals are now designed to be capable of various functions. For example, a single mobile communication terminal may be capable of functions such as entertainment functions (e.g., gaming), multimedia functions (e.g., music/video playback), communication and security function for mobile banking, calendar function, and e-wallet function.
These portable electronic devices may be designed in various form factors, such as bar type, folder type, or sliding-type. Typically, the device also is equipped with one or more flat screen displays and one or more batteries. These devices may also be equipped with sensors. The sensors may collect information related to the electronic device, the environment of the electronic device, the user, etc. Various functions provided by electronic devices may use the information obtained by the sensors. Recently, as these electronic devices become increasingly more compact, wearable devices such as smart watches or head mounted devices have become increasingly more commercially available.

Electronic device including biometric sensor