The specification discloses a system, method and apparatus for re-using garment hangers with size indicia mounted thereon. The method provides a closed loop for re-using the garment hangers by shipping hangers and the size indicia to clothing manufacturers, assembling the hangers with the size indicia and also hanging garments thereon, grouping the hangers with size indicia and garments thereon into batches which are then sent to retail stores for display and sale, at the point of sale removable a percentage of the hangers from the clothing and returning them to a reuse center where the size indicia is removed and the hangers cleaned before the hangers are returned to the clothing manufacturers to repeat the process. The supply of hangers may be augmented with newly molded hangers to maintain a constant and adequate supply for the clothing manufacturers.

The present invention is directed to the field of garment hangers and is more particularly directed to a method apparatus and system for reusing hangers with size indicia mounted thereon.
An article of clothing typically includes one or more labels located somewhere inside of the clothing article. The label usually includes size, fiber content and manufacturer details as well as information relating to country of origin and care instructions. In addition, a tag is attached to the article of clothing identifying the price of the garment as well as size. The tag often includes additional information relating to the store name, manufacturer and possibly a bar code which when scanned provides such information.
In some cases a particular retailer or garment manufacturer has attached a further tag to the garment which bears a design that is in part colored to permit sorting according to some attribute of the garment such as style, color or size. For instance, the portion of the design that is colored may be blue to indicate a women""s size 6 or green to indicate a women""s size 8 or blue to indicate a men""s size 44 or green to indicate a men""s size 48. When such information is included on the tag attached to a garment, the consumer or retailer need not review the label of each item of clothing but merely locate the appropriately colored tag.
However, tags are often attached to either the front, back or sleeve of the garment and thus, are not readily visible to either the retailer or the consumer. The retailer or consumer must rifle through the garments on the rack to locate the tags with the pertinent information. If the garment is not hung on a rack but folded in stacks (as is typical with sweaters and jeans) the tags are often tucked inside the garment for purposes of a neater display, thus, it is necessary to unfold the garment to find the appropriate information.
Furthermore, there is virtually no uniformity between manufacturers and/or retailers as to the designation of the desired attribute of the clothing. For instance, the color blue may mean size 6 for one manufacturer or retailer but size 12 for another. Thus, the consumer is not aided by the color designation when visiting different areas of the store. Further, blue may refer to large in a men""s jacket size but medium for men""s slacks.
For purposes of displaying garments suspended on hangers in an orderly and attractive manner to the retail customer, it is often desired to affix an indicating means on the hanger in a position visible to the retail customer while the hanger is suspended on a rack. The indicating means identifies some attribute of the garment suspended from the hanger, such as size, quality, color, manufacturing data, or pattern.
The provision of a readily visible size indicator on a garment hanger is now accepted by retailers as a desirable addition to a garment hanger. To accommodate the various types of hangers available in the industry numerous indicating means have been developed in a variety of shapes, sizes and materials. Similarly, hangers have been developed to accommodate a variety of different indicating means.
In Australian Patent No. 638436 and corresponding U.S. Pat. No. 5,388,354, assigned to the assignee of the present invention, a low-profile molded plastic indicator for a garment hanger which requires limited modification to the hook of the hanger to enable the indicator to be securely attached to the top of the hook where it is most visible is described. The indicator is also designed to enable sorting into a predetermined orientation to enable automated handling and fitting of the indicators to hangers as described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,272,806 and 5,285,566 which are assigned to the assignee of the present invention.
Such hangers and indicia are typically used only a single time and then shipped to either a landfill as waste or a recycling center where the plastic hangers are granulated into pellets which are then resold.
However, landfills are taking up more and more space and recycling is often an expensive venture which renders such an option cost inefficient despite the need to conserve our environment""s resources. Furthermore, many companies do not want to purchase recycled-content plastic products for either safety (i.e., food containers) or aesthetic purposes.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus and method for reusing hangers having size indicia removably mounted thereon wherein plastic hangers used to display garments in a retail store are re-used several times before being shipped as waste or recycled.
More particularly, the apparatus and method of the present invention comprises:
(a) molding a first plurality of hangers with reuse enhanced properties, and then shipping the hangers to a plurality of clothing manufacturers at scattered geographic locals;
(b) shipping a plurality of removable size indicia to the plurality of clothing manufacturers at the scattered geographic locals, the removable size indicia adapted to be removably secured to the first plurality of hangers;
(c) assembling one hanger from said plurality of hangers with a garment and one of the removable size indicia, wherein the size indicia represents the size of the garment and the size indicia is preferably attached to the hanger automatically;
(d) batching a plurality of the hangers with garments suspended therefrom and size indicia mounted thereon and then shipping the batch to a retail outlet for display and sale of the garments;
(e) removing a definable percentage of the hangers with the size indicia mounted thereon from the garments as said garments are sold, and returning the defined percentage of hangers with size indicia to a reuse center;
(f) removing the size indicia from the hangers at the reuse center and inspecting the hangers to obtain a plurality of selected hangers for reuse, wherein the removal of the size indicia from the hanger is preferably performed by automated removal; and
(g) cleaning the plurality of hangers selected for reuse to recondition the same for reuse; and
(h) augmenting the selected hangers with newly molded hangers to provide the first plurality of hangers and repeating step (a) to form a loop for reused hangers.
The method of the present invention particularly addresses environmental concerns to reduce plastic waste by reducing the overall number of plastic garment hangers being manufactured.
The first plurality of hangers is molded and shipped to numerous clothing manufacturers in a variety of geographic locals throughout the world. In a preferred embodiment batches of the removable size indicia, which correspond to the hangers in the first plurality of hangers, are molded from plastic and then shipped to the various clothing manufacturers. The batches are typically molded by size and color to form batches of color coded size indicia in a plurality of different colors. In a preferred embodiment the batches of color coded size indicia are bundled into stacks and automatically attached to the hangers. To ensure color uniformity the color coded size indicia can be molded at a single location. Each size indicia is mounted on a hanger from which a garment is also suspended such that the size of the garment corresponds to the size indicia.
Groups of hangers with size indicia mounted thereon and garments suspended therefrom are organized according to a retail store""s order and then the batch of hangers with size indicia and garments are shipped to a retail store or retail distribution center for display and sale of the garments. Such garments are floor ready meaning that the garment can literally go from the packing box to the rack for display. Much of the back room sorting, sizing and pricing is eliminated. Because the garments arrive at the store already hung on hangers, the number of hangers the store is required to store is also vastly reduced. It will be noted that when the hangers with garments and size indicia may be shipped to a retail distribution center, the center then forwards the appropriate number of such items to the appropriate retail store.
In the present method as the garments are sold in the retail store the hangers with size indicia are removed from the garments and separately packaged for return shipment to a reuse center. The number of hangers set aside for reuse is a definable percentage taking into account that some customers will request that they be permitted to keep a hanger at the point of sale and that hangers may be inadvertently damaged, thrown out or kept by a store. In a preferred embodiment the definable percentage of hangers removed for reuse is 65% to 90%. It has been found that about 10% to 35% of the hangers identified as the first plurality of hangers will be unrecoverable.
At the reuse center the size indicia are automatically removed from the hangers and the hangers are inspected for damage or other contamination. The non-damaged and non-contaminated hangers are selected for reuse. It is contemplated that about 10-30% of the returned hangers will be unrecoverable which means that in a preferred embodiment the number of hangers selected for reuse constitutes about 50% to 80% of the first plurality of hangers originally molded and sent to the garment manufacturers. In a preferred embodiment the hangers not selected for reuse are ground into pellets and either recycled or sold as scrap plastic. In a preferred embodiment the recycled plastic is ground, fed into a hopper and melted down in a barrel extruder to form a molten plastic which is then injected into a mold machine to form recycled plastic hangers for retail consumer usage. The consumer grade hangers are then returned to the retail store for sale.
The hangers which are selected for reuse are returned to garment manufacturers and batched with newly molded hangers to repeat the present process. Statistical averages indicate that a hanger will complete 2 to 6 loops of reuse before being considered unrecoverable. Typically the hangers are cleaned before being returned to the garment manufacturers for reuse.
Since fewer than 100% of the hangers are reused it is necessary to augment the supply of hangers being reused with newly molded hangers in order to maintain a constant adequate supply. In the preferred embodiment the supply of selected hangers is augmented with about 20 to 50% of the number of the first plurality of hangers. However, the number of overall hangers which are molded is less than if there was no reuse.
In yet another embodiment the present invention contemplates the reuse of the color coded indicia. Accordingly, the present method further includes the steps of sorting the removed size indicia from the hangers by color. If different size designations are utilized for the same color coded size indicia then a secondary sort by size must also be completed. The sorted size indicia would then be bundled and shipped to the garment manufacturers for mounting on hangers. In a preferred embodiment the method further includes the step of washing the color coded size indicia.

Apparatus for reusing hangers with size indicia


An efficient, multistep process for the synthesis of certain 6-(1-hydroxyethyl) 2-substituted penem antibiotics from 2-[4R-(triphenylmethylthio)-3S-(1R-(dimethyl-t-butylsilyloxy)ethyl)-2-azet idon-1-yl]acetic acid esters.

The present invention is directed to efficient multistep processes for the preparation of compounds of the formula (6) and (6'), as shown in Scheme 3 below; and to certain of the intermediates, specified by the general formulas (8) and (9) below, which find special value in these multistep processes. The compounds of the formulas (6) and (6') are useful as precursors of the various penem antibiotics specified by the formula (7) and (7'), also shown in Scheme 3 below.
Heretofore, a number of processes have been reported for the preparation of penem antibiotics substituted at the 2-position with an alkyl group or a thioether group, --SR.sup.2, as found in the formulas (6), (6'), (7) and (7') below. For thioether compounds (6) and (7), two of the more general of these processes are illustrated in Schemes 1 and 2. In Scheme 1, an alternative intermediate to the silver salt of the mercaptan is the mercaptan itself, reportedly obtained by Zn/H.sup.+ reduction of the tritylated thiol (Girijavallabhan et al., J. Antibiotics 39, 1182 (1986); U.S. Pat. No. 4,584,133). Menard et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,272,437, has also described processes related to those of Scheme 2, which were applied more generally to the synthesis also of the compounds (6') and (7'). For example intermediates of the type (K) are reacted with an acylating agent such as EQU R.sup.5 R.sup.6 CH--COCl
to form compounds structurally related to (L), which in turn are heated to close the ring and thus form said compounds (6') and (7'). See also published application EP 199,446, where compounds of the type (6') and (7') below in which R.sup.5 and R.sup.6 are taken together are similarly prepared. ##STR1##

Intermediate for the preparation of penems


A built-in flash system is disclosed which includes a housing chamber provided in the upper front of a penta-house of a finder optical system, and a casing provided in the housing chamber and having a flashlight emitter arranged so as to be movable between a projecting position where the casing is projected for light emission and a housing position where the casing is housed in said housing chamber, the casing is arranged to be moved between the projecting position and the housing position by a linkage mechanisms disposed at sides of said built-in flash system.

The present invention relates to a camera having a built-in flash.
Recently, with the progress of automatic mechanization in the field of single-lens reflex cameras, various cameras including an autofocusing device and a built-in flash have been proposed. An example of such an autofocusing device is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,801,963 to Koyama et al, wherein the focus condition of the camera lens is determined based on the contrast of an image transmitted through the lens of the positional relationship (often referred to as a phase difference) between images or image portions transmitted through the lens. If the lighting conditions or object contrast are low, there may be insufficient light or insufficient contrast for the image sensors to operate effectively. Accordingly, Koyama et al provides an auxiliary light projector for radiating a contrast pattern (stripe pattern) toward the object during conditions of low light or low contrast. However, Koyama et al provides the auxiliary light projector separately, and their remains a problem as to how to secure a space for the auxiliary spotlight projector in the single-lens reflex camera having a limited in space.
Also, a single-lens reflex camera has an object within a range of from a close-up distance to an infinite distance as its aim. An optimum focal-length lens is selected corresponding to the kind of the subject and the distance from the subject. The cylinder length of the interchangeable lens is enlarged corresponding to the focal length thereof. Recently, with the advance of zoom lenses, photographers ordinarily using such zoom lenses to cover from wide-angle lenses to telephoto lenses, instead of conventional fixed-focal-length interchangeable lenses, have increased in number. Generally, the minimum cylinder length of the zoom lens is at the maximum focal length. Accordingly, if the zoom lens is shifted to the minimum focal length, the cylinder length is not so shortened.
Therefore, in the case where a built-in flash mechanism is incorporated in a single-lens reflex camera, it becomes important to design the camera to prevent flashlight from being blocked by the lens cylinder.
Also, in a conventional built-in flash, the flash is held in the housing position by a lock mechanism for causing a pin provided the flash or on the linkage mechanism to engage with a hook provided on the camera body. However, the lock mechanism has a disadvantage as follows. When pressure is applied to the light emission portion to move down to the housing position and then released after the pin has engaged with the hook, the light emission #portion slightly moves in the direction reverse to the pressure or in other words slightly returns toward the projecting position because a clearance always arises between the pin and the hook. For this reason, a slight space arises between the opening line portion of the housing chamber and the ceiling plate.
Such a space gives the user an unfavorable impression of the outside appearance and handling properties of the camera as a precision machine.
Also, three are two types of built-in flashes in cameras, that is, of the stationary type and of the housing type. The conventional housing type built-in flash is arranged such that a flash unit urged by a spring means in
the direction of projection is normally kept at a housing position by a stoppage/engagement means so that the flash unit can be moved to a projecting position by removing the stoppage/engagement in use. Therefore, a shock due to projection was unavoidable and, further, good operational feeling could not be attained. In addition, there is no denying the fact that the shock has a bad influence upon the camera which is a precision instrument. In addition, according to the conventional housing type built-in flash, the light emission surface of the flash unit could not be moved to the bouncing position where the light emission surface looked more upward than the direction toward the subject. If bounce-photographing was necessary, it was necessary to use another outside flash.


A connection element (1) for stabilizing vertebral bodies that has a variable stiffness along its longitudinal axis in that particularly the cross-section of the connecting element varies along its longitudinal axis and extends over a plurality of bone screws (6). In spite of the varying cross-section (h1, h2), in a preferred embodiment, the same bone screws (6) may be used in all locations by inserting clamping elements (9, 10) of different lengths.

The present invention relates to a spinal implant set for the dynamic stabilization of the spine according to the preamble of claim 1 and a use thereof.
The present invention allows to realize an elastic connecting rod having different degrees of stiffness along its longitudinal axis and usable for dynamically stabilizing vertebral bodies. Elastic connecting rods are typically used in conjunction with bone screws (pedicle screws) for the dynamic stabilization of the spine. If such a rod is provided with a section of higher stiffness, the possible indications can be substantially extended. Thus, a section of higher stiffness may e.g. be used for the fusion of a vertebral body while a section of lower stiffness may be used for the elastic connection of a neighboring segment.
The "golden standard" in spinal surgery today still consists in the fusion (stiffening) of pathologic vertebral bodies. However, the stiffening often leads to premature degeneration of the segments adjacent to the fusion. Therefore, attempts are being made to provide rods having different degrees of stiffness and to include the neighboring segments in the surgical treatment.
As shown below, the approaches that are known in the art relate to combinations of metal and plastic rods, on one hand, and to plastics rods having variable cross-sections, on the other hand.
The invention according to patent application EP 1 719 468 connects a metal bar to a textile band that is intended to act as an inner traction structure in an outer plastic cushion to form a connected dynamic stabilization.
The invention according to patent specification EP 1 815 812 provides, at the end of a metal rod, a part for receiving a connectable plastic rod.
The invention according to patent application US 2009/0118767 shows a connecting element having variable flexibility along its longitudinal axis. Here the variable flexibility is limited to the area between two anchoring elements, and only the outer body of the connecting element is varied in its stiffness.
The invention according to patent application US 2009/0248083 shows connecting rods having areas of different stiffness along their longitudinal axis which only extend over one motion segment, however, i.e. act between two consecutive fastening screws.
The invention according to patent application WO 97/32533 shows (rigid) connecting rods varying in diameter along their longitudinal axis, which is however limited to the area between two fastening screws.
The invention according to patent application WO 2007/038429 shows a stack of load-bearing elements that should be stiff in the longitudinal direction and elastic in the transversal direction. However, the intended difference in stiffness is only achieved between two respective fastening screws.
The invention according to patent application US 2005/0203513 aims to achieve different degrees of stiffness between respective motion segments or pairs of fastening screws. However, the suggested solution provides no continuous variation over the respective fastening screws so that the connecting element necessarily requires predetermined graduations of the fastening locations, which may result in considerable difficulties for the surgeon in multisegmental applications.
The invention according to patent application US 2007/0191832 suggests a plurality of bodies having different degrees of elasticity between at most two fastening screws and is therefore limited to at most unisegmental treatments.
The invention according to patent application WO 2007/087476 provides different degrees of stiffness between two fastening screws in that the connecting rods have a longitudinal cavity and different external contours. However, the variable cross-sections are limited to unisegmental treatments and due to the cavities are barely suitable for anchoring e.g. elastic rods in bone screws.
The invention according to patent U.S. Pat. No. 7,326,210 suggests connecting elements having elastic areas between the fastening screws that are either suitable for unisegmental applications only or necessarily subject to the problem of the predetermined graduation.
The invention according to patent application WO 2007/089957 also describes variable cross-sections along the rod axis, however in predetermined segments, which requires an individually adapted rod with corresponding segment lengths for each patient. The flattened sides of the rod are orthogonal to the axis of a potential bone screw. Connections of the rod to the bone are not shown.
The invention according to patent application WO 2009/021116 describes variable cross-sections along the rod axis, too, however only between the fastening screws, therefore again requiring a particular rod with corresponding segment lengths for each patient. The suggested dynamic rod system seems not to be suitable for fusions, i.e. for predominantly compressive forces. Furthermore it is doubtful whether the combination of fibers over a molded core can withstand several millions of load cycles without degradation.
The invention according to patent application EP-A-2047812 describes variable cross-sections along the rod axis, however only between the fastening screws, which is again linked to the problem of predetermined segment lengths. Furthermore, the rod is made of metal and cannot be considered as a dynamic fixation system, neither isolated nor on a transitional segment.
The invention according to patent application US 2010/0114165 shows a round rod having a variable cross-section along the rod axis in that the radius decreases in the cranial direction. However, at the cranial end, the rod is not firmly connected to the vertebral body, especially not by using the same bone screws as used further caudally. The invention according to patent specification U.S. Pat. No. 5,217,461 also describes two different diameters of the connecting rod along the rod axis, but does not specify how these different rods are connected to the spine, and even less that one single type bone screw can be used therefore.

Spinal implant set for the dynamic stabilization of the spine


An above ground liquid holding tank installation includes an inner tank nested within a rigid enclosure. An open bottomed precast concrete vault encloses both the enclosure and the inner tank. The enclosure contains any leakage or spills from the tank. The vault protects the tank and the enclosure against detrimental external forces while providing access for inspection, maintenance and replacement thereof.

The present invention relates to a secure and environmentally safe tank installation for holding liquids, and more particularly, to a concrete protective vault for use with a liquid storage tank.
Many hazardous (including highly flammable) or noxious liquids are stored in above-ground holding tanks. Environmental and safety considerations require that leakage from such tanks be avoided, and that any accidental leakage be securely contained. In addition, the tanks may be exposed to a number of detrimental external forces, such as fire, weather, projectiles, physical impact and vandalism, against which they should desirably be protected. Such protection, however, must not be achieved in a way which obstructs access to the tank for operation, inspection and maintenance, or which prevents replacement if this becomes necessary.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a novel, secure and environmentally safe liquid holding tank installation.
It is also an object to provide such a liquid holding tank installation which may be readily fabricated and which effectively insures against leakage.
It is another object to provide such a liquid holding tank installation which offers protection against detrimental external forces while providing access for inspection, maintenance, and replacement.
It is yet another object to provide a convenient and effective means of protecting existing or conventional tanks against such external forces.


A MEUV that is able to navigate aerial, aquatic, and terrestrial environments through the use of different mission mobility attachments is disclosed. The attachments allow the MEUV to be deployed from the air or through the water prior to any terrestrial navigation. The mobility attachments can be removed or detached by and from the vehicle during a mission.

An unmanned vehicle (UV) is an autonomous or semi-autonomous craft that performs one or more functions as if one or more persons were aboard. In recent years, developmental interest in unmanned land, sea, air and space vehicles and vehicle systems has increased for a variety of military and civilian applications. Unmanned vehicle use has potential economic and risk benefits. Especially attractive is the ability of unmanned vehicles to perform dangerous or hazardous tasks without risk to humans. "Unmanned aerial vehicles" (abbreviated "UAVs") are also referred to as "unpiloted aircraft" or "flying drones."
At this time, UVs have been designed to perform in multiple environments, including land, sea and air environments. Unmanned Ground Vehicles (UGVs) are most predominant in the Explosive Ordinance Disposal (EOD) community for their ability to remove humans from dangerous situations. However, other UGV systems have been developed for discreet surveillance of targets, patrolling of security perimeters, and remote sensing. Unmanned Underwater Vehicles (UUVs) are currently used for a variety of missions including ocean floor mapping, remote sensing and countermeasure operations. UAVs are primarily used for remote sensing and surveillance as well as payload delivery. The mission that all three of these unmanned vehicles support is remote sensing; however there are gaps in each system's abilities to provide sensor feedback of a remote target. UAV's have limited loiter time and to remain undetected must maintain a fairly sizable standoff distance from the target. UUVs operate only in water and rarely is a target located in this environment. UGVs have a limited range and mobility limits the terrain the vehicle can cover.
A need remains, therefore, for a UV that is capable of operating in multiple environments. A need also remains for a ground based vehicle that allows for close proximity surveillance that is initially delivered through UUV or UAV modes.


A method for manufacturing the semiconductor device may include forming a capping layer including a bit line contact hole on a substrate, forming a spacer on inner walls of the bit line contact hole, forming a bit line contact in the bit line contact hole, forming a bit line layer on the substrate, exposing the spacer by etching the bit line layer, and etching the spacer.

1. Field
Example embodiments of the inventive concepts relate to a semiconductor device and a method for fabricating the same.
2. Description of the Related Art
In a dynamic random access memory (DRAM) device having a unit cell consisting of a MOS transistor and a capacitor, decreasing a chip area occupied by a capacitor while increasing capacitance of the capacitor is an important factor to achieve high integration of the DRAM device.
In order to form a capacitor having high capacitance in a narrow area, increasing the height of the capacitor or decreasing the thickness of a dielectric layer is being attempted.
However, in the former case, a problem may arise due to an increase in the step difference by increasing the height of the capacitor. In the latter case, leakage current may increase by decreasing the thickness of a dielectric layer.
To overcome the problems, there has recently been proposed a method for reducing the capacitance of the capacitor required to maintain the capability of a sense amplifier at the same level by reducing bit line parasitic capacitance in half using a buried type gate structure.
However, according to the tendency toward high integration, a margin between a storage node contact and a bit line contact may be unavoidably reduced.

Semiconductor device and method for fabricating the same


An internal combustion engine includes a cylinder block, an auxiliary machinery attachment member arranged at a side wall of the cylinder block, the auxiliary machinery attachment member to which an auxiliary machine is attached, and a separator portion disposed in a void between the cylinder block and the auxiliary machinery attachment member, the separator portion being provided as a separate member from the cylinder block and the auxiliary machinery attachment member to perform gas-liquid separation on blow-by gas.

A known internal combustion engine disclosed, for example, in JP3423649B which will be hereinafter referred to as Reference 1 includes a separator portion for performing a gas-liquid separation on blow-by gas.
The internal combustion engine disclosed in Reference 1 includes a metallic cylinder block, a metallic auxiliary machinery bracket (an auxiliary machinery attachment member) to which auxiliary machines are attached, and a breather chamber (separator portion). In a state where the auxiliary machinery bracket is fixed to a side wall of the cylinder block, a void portion including an inner wall in a predetermined protruding and recessed form is formed between the side wall of the cylinder block in a recess form and a surface of an attachment portion of the auxiliary machinery bracket in a recess form, the side wall of the cylinder block and the surface of the auxiliary machinery bracket facing each other. The void portion is called the breather chamber to function as the separator portion for separating oil for recovery from blow-by gas that is leaked to a crank chamber from a lower portion of a cylinder. In addition, a portion of a coolant flow passage for cooling the internal combustion engine penetrates through the breather chamber across a conduit wall. Accordingly, heat of coolant warmed or heated by the internal combustion engine is transmitted to the breather chamber to thereby warm or heat the breather chamber (void portion). Water vapor in blow-by gas flowing within the breather chamber is thus inhibited from being condensed.
Nevertheless, according to the aforementioned configuration of the breather chamber in the internal combustion engine disclosed in Reference 1, because the breather chamber (separator portion) is formed by the side wall of the cylinder block in a recess form and the surface of the auxiliary machinery bracket in a recess form facing each other, the inside of the breather chamber is likely to be influenced by an outside air temperature. Specifically, in a case where outside air temperature is low and engine coolant temperature is low at the time of start of the internal combustion engine, for example, the metallic cylinder block and/or the metallic auxiliary machinery bracket are cooled, so that the breather chamber (separator portion) and the inside thereof are inhibited from being easily warmed or heated. Accordingly, immediately after the start of the internal combustion engine, water vapor in blow-by gas flowing within the breather chamber in a cold state appears as dew condensation water that may be easily mixed in oil obtained by the gas-liquid separation within the breather chamber.
A need thus exists for an internal combustion engine and a separator structure of the internal combustion engine which are not susceptible to the drawback mentioned above.

Internal combustion engine and separator structure thereof


In a fixed-length cell handling-type exchange, a private line connection is set by automatically reserving a usable path and a necessary band at a designated time. The exchange includes a storage unit which has a connection reservation information storage unit which stores private line connection reservation information and control unit which includes a command reception unit for receiving a command having the private line connection reservation information. A reservation information management unit stores the private line connection reservation information received by the command reception unit into the connection reservation information storage unit of the storage unit. A time information confirming unit confirms the period of the private line connection by referring to the connection reservation information storage unit at constant time intervals. The exchange further includes a private line connection control unit for automatically controlling the setting or canceling of the private line connection between the designated subscriber terminals via an exchange switching unit, based on the private line connection reservation information stored in the connection reservation information storage unit, according to the confirmation result by the time information confirming unit.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a private line connection controlling method in a fixed-length cell handling-type exchange that can set private line connection between specific subscriber terminals (hereinafter referred to as an ATM exchange) and a fixed-length cell handling-type exchange.
2. Related Art
FIG. 29 is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of a general ATM exchange which handles fixed-length cells. As shown in FIG. 29, the ATM (Asynchronous Transfer Mode) exchange 1 accommodates a plurality of subscriber terminals 2 and is mutually connected to other ATM exchanges (other stations) 1A and 1B. The ATM exchange 1 exchanges data between subscriber terminals 2 accommodated in the local station (ATM exchange 1) as well as data between other stations 1A and 1B.
More specifically, the ATM exchange 1 (or 1A, 1B) is generally an exchange that handles cell data with a fixed length (normally, data of 53 bytes formed of a header of 5 bytes and a data part of 48 bytes) called an ATM cell transmitted or received between subscriber terminals 2 (or ATM exchanges 1A, 1B). Each ATM cell can be asynchronously delivered (or exchanged) according to the header added to each ATM cell to transferred sites.
For that reason, the ATM exchange 1 (or 1A, 1B), as shown in FIG. 29, includes usually an ATM switch 3, a main control device (CC) 4 that performs various controls in the ATM exchange 1 (or 1A, 1B) including the ATM switch 3, a main storage device (MM) 5 that holds software for the main control device 4, a line interface device (DS3: Digital Signal Level 3) 6, middle-rate interface shelves (MIFSH) 7, optical line interface devices (OC3c: Optical Carrier 3 concatenated) 8, high-rate interface shelf (HIFSH) 9, and an optical line interface devices (OC12c: Optical Carrier 12 concatenated) 10.
In concrete, the ATM switch 3 selects automatically a transfer route for an ATM cell according to tag information (routing information such as transfer destination address) set in the header of the ATM cell input. Here, the ATM switch 3 has three switch stages 3A to 3C. For example, as shown in FIG. 30, eight switching units 31 for 20 Gbps each that can accommodate eight 2.4 Gbps lines are arranged in the first switch stage 3A. Four switching units 32 for 40 Gbps each that can accommodate sixteen 2.4 Gbps lines are arranged in the second switch stage 3B. Eight switching units 31 for 20 Gbps are arranged in the third switch stage 3C, like the first switch stage.
In such a configuration, in the ATM switch 3, the tag information set in a binary form within the header of an input ATM cell is sequentially read bit by bit by means of the switching units 31 and 32 in each of the switching stages 3A to 3C. Then the ATM cell transfer route is automatically selected by repeating a selecting operation of "1" or "0".
The line interface device (DS3) 6, the middle-rate interface shelves (MIFSH) 7, the optical line interface devices (OC3c) 8, the high-rate interface shelf (HIFSH) 9, and the optical line interface devices (OC12c) 10 standardize each line rate to the ATM switch 3 to 2.4 Gbps because the line rate in the ATM switch 3 is 2.4 Gbps, as described above.
For example, if it is assumed that the line interface device (DS3) 6 (or the optical line interface device (OC3c) 8) is an interface that can accommodate lines corresponding to about 155 Mbps and that the middle-rate interface shelf (MIFSH) 7 is an interface that can accommodate lines corresponding to about 2.4 Gbps, and that the line rate between subscriber terminals 2 and the ATM switch 3 is about 44 Mbps, the line interface device (DS3) 6 (or the optical line interface device (OC3c)8) accommodates three lines (44 Mbps.times.3). Further, as shown in FIG. 31, each line rate to the ATM switch 3 can be standardized to about 2.4 Gbps by accommodating sixteen lines (155 Mbps.times.16) in the middle-rate interface shelf (MIFSH) 7.
In contrast, the optical line interface device (OC12c) 10 is an interface that can accommodate lines corresponding to about 622 Mps. The high-rate interface shelf (HIFSH) 9 is an interface that can accommodate lines corresponding to about 2.4 Gbps. In this case, when the line rate between the subscriber terminals 2 and the ATM switch 3 is about 44 Mbps, each line rate to the ATM switch 3 can be standardized to about 2.4 Gbps by accommodating twelve 44 Mbps-lines (44M bps.times.12) in the optical line interface device (OC12c) 10 and accommodating four lines (622 Mbps.times.4) in the high-rate interface shelf (HIFSH) 9, as shown in FIG. 32.
That is, the ATM exchange 1 can perform a high-rate exchange process to the low-rate ATM cells by multiplexing a predetermined number of ATM cells from each subscriber terminal 2 or other stations 1A and 1B in each interface thereof and then standardizing and converting the transfer rate of all the ATM cells input to the ATM switch 3 (lines accommodated in the ATM switch 3) into a high transfer rate of 2.4 Gbps.
The other ATM exchanges 1A and 1B have the configuration equivalent to that of the ATM exchange 1. However, they use different interfaces according to the transfer rate of an ATM cell handled (the transmission rate of an accommodated line). For example, as shown in FIG. 29, the other exchange 1A uses an optical line interface device (OC3c) 8 and a middle-rate interface shelf (MIFSH) 7 to accommodate the middle-rate (155 Mbps) line while the other exchange 1B uses a high-rate interface shelf (HIFSH) 9 and an optical line interface device (OC12c) 10 to accommodate the high-rate (622 Mbps) channel.
When accommodating only middle-rate (155 Mbps) channel, the ATM exchanges 1, 1A or 1B, for example, as shown in FIG. 33, uses only the optical line interface devices (OC3c) 8 and the middle-rate interface shelves (MIFSH) 7, whereby they are mutually connected via the interfaces.
In FIG. 29, numeral 11 represents an Ethernet control device (ETC). Numeral 12 represents a maintenance and operation management control device (OMP). The Ethernet control device 11 controls a device connected to the Ethernet network 13. The maintenance and operation management control device 12 informs the Ethernet control device 11 in response to a maintenance and operation command from a maintenance personnel) operator of the ATM exchange 1. As shown in FIG. 29, various controls such as operation and maintenance of the ATM exchange 1 are performed via the Ethernet network by connecting the main control device 4 in the ATM exchange 1 via the Ethernet control device 11 and the Ethernet network 13.
As an example of such a control, for example, it may be considered that a private line (PVC: Permanent Virtual Channel) connection is set between subscriber terminals 2 accommodated in the ATM exchange 1. First, the operator of the ATM exchange 1 issues the connection request command 14 of a PVC having the format, e.g. shown in FIG. 34, from the maintenance and operation management control device 12 to the main control device 4 of the ATM exchange 1 via the Ethernet control device 11 and the Ethernet network 13 at a PVC path setting time.
The PVC connection request command 14 stores various kinds of information including service type (PVC connection), the location of each subscriber terminal 2 on an originating side/destination side, telephone number of each subscriber terminal 2 of an originating side/destination side, a virtual route identifier (VPI: Virtual Route Identifier) of an originating side/destination side, and a virtual channel identifier (VCI: Virtual Channel Identifier) of an originating side/destination side and the like.
When receiving the PVC connection request command 14, the main control device 4 analyzes main information contained in the command 14 and then informs the interface shelf 7 or 9 of routing information regarding the path on which a PVC is set based on VPI and VCI, via the ATM switch 3. Thus, the cell transfer route is fixed by rewriting tag information on an ATM cell passing the ATM switch 3 so that a PVC path using a path designated with VPI and VCI is set between the corresponding subscriber terminals 2.
However, in the ATM exchange 1 described above, since the PVC path connection can be achieved (set) only when an operator inputs a PVC connection request command, an operator which operates the maintenance and operation management control device 12 must be stationed all the time at a PVC path setting time in, for example, nighttime and holidays.
When an operator inputs a PVC connection request command, the PVC route cannot be set if the band of a route designated by the VPI and VCI is not left more than a using band.

Private line connection controlling method in fixed-length cell handling-type exchange and fixed-length cell handling-type exchange


An electric dryer circuit system is disclosed consisted of a 110 V/220 V power voltage selection switch, a low/high/off power switch, a load circuit, an automatic circuit breaker, a DC power converter, a timer and display system, a driver system, an automatic conducting device, whereby the driver system drives the automatic conducting device to turn on the load circuit according to the predetermined setting made through the timer and display system; said automatic circuit breaker automatically cuts off power supply from the load circuit as the automatic conducting circuit does not work.

The present invention relates to an electric dryer circuit system for an electric dryer, and more particularly the present invention relates to an automatic circuit breaker which automatically cuts off power supply as the load does no work.
Various electric dryers have been proposed for drying things, and have appeared on the market. The electric circuit system of an ordinary electric dryer, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, is generally comprised of a 110 V/220 V voltage selection switch for 110 V/220 V voltage selection control, a power switch for low-power/high-power/off controls, a DC power converter for converting AC power supply into the desired DC working voltage, a timer and display system for automatic timing control, a driver system controlled by the timer and display system to drive a load via an automatic conducting device. This structure of electric dryer circuit system can not prevent overcurrent and overheat, and the load may be burnt out easily in case of an overheat.


A firearm support includes an elongated tubular member. A receptacle attachable to a user worn belt supports a first end of the tubular member. An attachment member on a second end of the tubular member movably attaches the tubular member to a firearm. The attachment member allows pivotal movement of the firearm to form a first substantially vertical storage position in the receptacle to a substantially horizontal firing position. The receptacle enables universal movement of the tubular member relative to the receptacle. The tubular member may be formed of two telescopingly extendible members lockable in a selected extended position.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates, in general, to firearms and, more particularly, to firearm supports.
2. Description of the Art
While hunting, hunters frequently carry a firearm over long distances and for a considerable period of time before a target presents itself. When a target comes within range, the hunter must be able to quickly and quietly move the firearm into a firing position without alerting the animal or requiring an extended period of time which would enable the animal to move out of firing range.
Various holders or supports have been devised for supporting a firearm during non-firing activities, such as walking, etc. Other holders or supports have been devised to provide the separate function of supporting a firearm in a firing position for extended periods of time to eliminate fatigue which is known to interfere with proper sighting of the firearm.
Such firearm supports or holders have been, in some instances, attached to a belt worn by the hunter. However, such firearm supports have not provided all of the desired characteristics of a support, namely, enabling the firearm to be easily supported without fatigue in a non-firing position, enabling a firearm to be quickly and quietly moved into a firing position, and enabling the firearm to be easily moved in the support in any position to enable the hunter to track a target.
Thus, it would be desirable to provide a firearm support which enables a firearm, particularly a rifle or shotgun, to be easily carried by a hunter without causing excessive fatigue. It would also be desirable to provide a firearm support which enables a firearm to be easily moved from a storage position into a firing position in a quick, quiet manner. It would also be desirable to provide a firearm support which can be easily attached to various firearms, both with and without sight mounts. It would also be desirable to provide a firearm support which supports a firearm adjacent to the body of a hunter to enable easy, unhindered movement of the hunter through brush and under trees. It would also be desirable to prevent a firearm support which is easily attachable to many variety of firearms without modification to such firearms. Finally, it would be desirable to provide a firearm support which enables a firearm supported on the support to be easily moved, while in a firing position, into substantially any position to enable a hunter to track a target.


A thin sensor for heat flux and temperature, designed for adhesive attachment to a surface, is manufactured on a flexible insulated metallic substrate, using conductive and dielectric inks. The sensor exhibits a combination of high sensitivity for heat flux and low resistance to the flow of heat. These characteristics enable it to measure heat flux at surface boundaries with improved accuracy over conventional heat flux transducers (HFT's) because the temperature drop produced by the sensor is very small. The high sensitivity of the sensor makes it ideal for measuring heat flow through insulating materials, and well adapted to instrumenting heat flow in buildings, detecting fires at an early stage, or remotely measuring the temperature of string and web products in industrial processing.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,779,994 discloses a thin film heat flux sensor and a method for manufacturing it. The manufacturing method has certain drawbacks which limit the sensor performance and restrict the range of applications. The manufacturing cost of the sensor is high because it is made by multiple stages of sputtering through shadow masks. Another drawback is the relatively low sensitivity of the sensor; heat flux is measured by measuring the temperature drop across a very small thermal resistance, and signals are of the order of a few microvolts per watt/cm.sup.2. In many applications for such sensors, heat flows to be measured are a small fraction of 1 watt/cm.sup.2, and thin film sensors cannot be used.
A heat flux sensor indicates the rate and direction of heat energy flow. When the measurements of such a sensor are combined with those of a temperature sensor at the same location, all of the following quantities are indicated:
(a) the present temperature; PA1 (b) the present heat flux; PA1 (c) the heat transfer coefficient; PA1 (d) the effective thermal capacity; PA1 (e) the projected rate of temperature change at the present heat flux; and PA1 (f) the projected rate of temperature change at any other value of heat flux. PA1 R.sub.m =effective series thermal resistance PA1 R.sub.h =series thermal resistance (conductive) of the HFT alone PA1 R.sub.c =thermal contact resistance between HFT and substrate PA1 R.sub.ms =total thermal surface resistance (convective and radiative) over HFT PA1 R.sub.s =total thermal resistance (convective and radiative) over surrounding area
In addition, the temperature and heat flux signals can be compared to detect drift or failure of either sensor.
Measurement of heat flux is critical to the understanding or control of many thermal systems. When both heat flux and temperature data are available for the same point on a surface, one can calculate such material properties as thermal resistance and thermal diffusivity. In situ measurement of heat flux is essential for the performance evaluation of insulative building materials. This is because it is often difficult or impossible to predict the installed performance of insulative materials from laboratory experiments.
Heat flux transducers (HFT's) have been used in building energy management applications since the 1950's. Methods for using them to evaluate the thermal performance of building materials are generally well understood. HFT's designed for surface mounting are inexpensive and easy to install. However, it is often difficult to acquire accurate, useful data with them.
The heat flux through a surface cannot be measured without some disturbance caused by insertion of the measuring device into the path of heat flow. The amount of change produced by the measuring device depends on many factors. These include; the contact resistance between the HFT and the test wall and other physical parameters such as surface emissivity, surface roughness and the thermal resistance of the HFT itself. These factors comprise the effective series thermal resistance, R.sub.m defined by EQU R.sub.m =R.sub.h +R.sub.c +(R.sub.ms -R.sub.s) (1)
Where:
The effective series resistance of a surface mounted HFT is the most important single factor affecting the error produced by disturbance of the measured heat flux. If R.sub.ms and R.sub.s are made approximately equal by matching the emissivity and the surface roughness of the HFT to corresponding values for the surrounding material, the effective series resistance is reduced to the sum of the HFT series thermal resistance and the thermal contact resistance. The series thermal resistance can vary widely in commercially available surface mounted HFT's; from about 0.002 m.sup.2 .degree.C./W to 0.1 m.sup.2 .degree.C./W. The thermal contact resistance is minimized by attaching the sensor to the surface with a very thin layer of high thermal conductivity adhesive.
For maximum utility in building energy management, a heat flux sensor should have a series thermal resistance of less than 1.times.10.sup.-4 m.sup.2 .degree.C./W. However, when the series thermal resistance of a thermopile type HFT is very low, its sensitivity may also be low because the low thermal resistance only produces a small temperature difference.
Another factor which affects the utility of a heat flux sensor in building energy management is shunting of heat flux around the sensor. Shunting can be significantly reduced by increasing the dimensions of a sensor. This solves the problem because the thermal resistance of the path around the sensor is directly proportional to the distance the heat travels. Large area HFT's can also provide more accurate data over non-homogeneous areas, such as across wall studs in framed buildings or on truss roofs. A large surface mounted HFT averages out the effects of such features. Unfortunately large HFT's are very expensive. According to a recent survey, the typical cost of a commercially available 12".times.12" HFT is over $600.00.
The copper conductors of printed circuit boards are produced by a number of processes. The most common of these is photoetching. In this process a board completely coated with copper and covered by a photopolymer is exposed to ultraviolet light through a negative transparency of the desired conductor pattern, solvent washed to remove the polymer where it has not been hardened by exposure, and then acid etched to expose the desired conductors.
A second process for producing printed circuit boards, known as the additive process, consists of a first step of electroless deposition of a very thin nickel layer representing the desired conductor pattern, followed by a second step of electrolytic deposition of the desired thickness of copper on the nickel conductors.
There is a lesser known third process for making printed circuit boards. In this process conductors are deposited as inks on an insulating substrate by screen printing. The ink traces are dried to a solid by rapid heating in a vapor reflow oven, then converted to metal by an elevated heat treatment. This process could be adapted to heat flux sensor manufacturing, if it could be used to deposit conductors of two different metals in an appropriate pattern.

Differential thermopile heat flux transducer formed by depositing metals and non-metals from liquids onto a substrate


A system for the preparation and handling of multiple solid state samples, in particular for spectroscopic and microscopic analysis. The system comprises a sample holder assembly for multiple solid-state samples. The sample holder assembly comprises a sample holding body having first and second sides (3a, 4a), provided with multiple sample receiving open-ended bores (5) extending through said body between said first and second sides, each bore (5) having a first opening at the first side and a second opening at the second side. Furthermore a closure body (10) is provided adapted to be mounted against the second side of the sample holding body, said closure body (10) having a closure side adapted to rest against the second side of the sample holding body for closing off the second openings of the bores (5) in said sample holding body. Compacting (23) means are provided for compacting samples filled in bores (5) of the sample holding body as these bores are closed off on the second side by the closure body.

In U.S. Pat. No. 5,675,410 a sample holder for a single sample is disclosed. This sample holder has an open ended bore with a first and second opening, the bore being delimited by an annular wall.
In order to prepare a sample the sample holder is placed on a closure body, thereby closing of the second opening of the bore.
The material to be sampled is introduced in the bore and then compacted using a compacting means. Once the sample is prepared the sample holder is placed in an analyser, in particular a spectroscopic analyser.
The known system is ineffective in case a large number of samples are to be analysed.

System for the preparation of multiple solid state samples, in particular for spectroscopic and microscopic analysis


A method of analyzing blood includes delivering a blood sample to a test device, applying a spatially varying electric field to the blood sample to provide a depleted cell concentration in a portion of the blood sample, and sensing a property of the portion of the blood sample.

Millions of people across the globe face the daily challenge of managing their diabetes. Several times a day, they must test their blood for glucose levels. Currently, most consumers monitor their daily glucose levels by themselves through the use of electrochemical glucose meters. In these devices, a sample of blood is collected from a pin prick in the body into a test strip, which is inserted into a meter for calculation and display of the glucose level. The longevity and health of diabetics is directly related to how tightly their glucose levels are controlled through daily self-testing and administration of insulin, as well as diet and exercise. Accordingly, highly accurate glucose testing in self-monitoring can aid millions of diabetics who daily endeavor to maintain optimal blood glucose levels.
Moreover, since blood is a vital component of the body, many other blood analytes are of significant interest in managing human health. Accordingly, self-testing or measuring other components or properties of blood are also of interest as the medical industry seeks rapid and effective methods to monitor various medical conditions.
However, the speed and accuracy of conventional analyte detection is currently limited by difficulty in accessing the analyte of interest within the blood sample and difficulty in maximizing both chemical and optical/electrical interactions with the analyte under detection.

Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.


A method for designing Wavelets for communications and radar which combines requirements for Wavelets and finite impulse response FIR filters including no excess bandwidth, linear performance metrics for passband, stopband, quadrature mirror filter QMF properties, intersymbol interference, and adjacent channel interference, polystatic filter design requirements, and non-linear metrics for bandwidth efficient modulation BEM and synthetic aperture radar SAR. Demonstrated linear design methodology finds the best design coordinates to minimize the weighted sum of the contributing least-squares LS error metrics for the respective performance requirements. Design coordinates are mapped into the optimum FIR symbol time response. Harmonic design coordinates provide multi-resolution properties and enable a single design to generate Wavelets for arbitrary parameters which include dilation, down-sampling, up-sampling, time translation, frequency translation, sample rate, symbol rate, symbol length, and set of design harmonics. Non-linear applications introduce additional constraints. Performance examples are linear communications, BEM, and SAR.

I. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to CDMA (Code Division Multiple Access) cellular telephone and wireless data communications with data rates up to multiple T1 (1.544 Mbps) and higher (>100 Mbps), and to optical CDMA. Applications are mobile, point-to-point and satellite communication networks. More specifically the present invention relates to a new and novel approach to the design of waveforms and filters using mathematical formulations which generalize the Wavelet concept to communications and radar.
II. Description of the Related Art
Multi-resolution waveforms used for signaling and/or filters and which are addressed in this invention are defined to be waveforms of finite extent in time and frequency, with scale and shift properties of multi-resolution over the time-frequency (t−f) space. These waveforms can also be referred to as multi-scale waveforms, and include multi-rate filtering and the Wavelet as special cases. The emphasis will be on digital design and applications with the understanding that these multi-resolution waveforms are equally applicable to analog design and applications.
Background art consists of the collection of waveform and filtering design techniques which can be grouped into six broad categories. These categories are: C1) least squares (LS) design algorithms for filters and waveforms that design to specifications on their frequency response, C2) analytic filters and waveforms which are specified by a few free design parameters that can be sub-categorized into current applications and theorectical studies, C3) combinations of C1 and C2 for greater flexibility in meeting communications and radar performance goals, C4) special design techniques to control the noise levels from intersymbol interference (ISI) and adjacent channel interference (ACI) in the presence of timing offsets for multiple channel applications, C5) Wavelet filter design using scaling functions (iterated filter banks) as the set of design coordinates or basis functions, C6) filter and waveform design techniques for non-linear channels and in particular for operation in the non-linear and saturation regions of a high power amplifier (HPA) such as a traveling wave tube (TWT) or a solid state amplifier, and C7) LS dynamic filters derived from discrete filtering and tracking algorithms that include adaptive equalization for communications, adaptive antenna filters, Wiener filters, Kalman filters, and stochastic optimization filters.
Category C1 common examples of LS digital filter design are the eigenvalue algorithm in "A New Approach to Least-Squares FIR Filter Design and Applications Including Nyquist Filters" and the Remez-Exchange algorithm in "A Computer Program for Designing Optimum FIR Linear Phase Filters'. The eigenvalue algorithm is a direct LS minimization and the Remez-Exchange can be reformulated as an equivalent LS gradient problem through proper choice of the cost function. Both LS algorithms use the FIR (finite impulse response) digital samples as the set of design coordinates. LS design metrics are the error residuals in meeting their passband and stopband ideal performance as shown in FIG. 3. Category C2 common examples of analytical waveforms and filters for system applications are the analog Chebyshev, Elliptic, Butterworth, and the digital raised-cosine, and square-root raised-cosine. For theorectical studies, common examples are polyphase multirate filters, quadrature mirror filters (QMF), and perfect reconstruction filters. Although these theorectical studies have yet to yield realizable useful filters for system applications, their importance for this invention lies in their identification and application of ideal performance metrics for filter designs. Category C3 common digital example is to start with the derivation of a Remez-Exchange FIR filter and then up-sample and filter with another bandwidth limiting filter. This results in an FIR over the desired frequency band that is larger than available with the Remez-Exchange algorithm and with sidelobes that now drop off with frequency compared to the flat sidelobes of the original Remez-Exchange FIR. A category C4 common example is to select the free parameters of the category C3 filter in order to minimize the signal to noise power ratio of the data symbol (SNR) losses from the ISI, ACI, and the non-ideal demodulation. A second common example is start with a truncated pulse whose length is short enough compared to the symbol repetition interval, to accommodate the timing offsets without significant impact on the ISI and ACI SNR losses. This shortened pulse can then be shaped in the frequency domain.
Category C5 Wavelet filter design techniques discussed in the next section will serve as a useful reference in the disclosure of this invention. Category C6 common example is the Gaussian minimum shift keying (GMSK) waveform. This is a constant amplitude phase encoded Gaussian waveform which has no sidelobe re-growth through a non-linear or saturating HPA. Category C7 common examples are the adaptive equalization filter for communication channels, the adaptive antenna filter, and the Kalman filter for applications including target tracking and prediction as well as for equalization and adaptive antennas.
Minimizing excess bandwidth in the waveform and filter design is a key goal in the application of the C1, . . . , C6 design techniques for communications and radar. Excess bandwidth is identified as the symbol α in the bandwidth-time product BTs=1+α where the two-sided available frequency band is B and the symbol repetition interval is Ts. Current performance capability is represented by the use of the square-root raised-cosine (sq-rt r-c) waveform with α=0.22 to 0.4 as shown in FIG. 8. The goal is to design a waveform with α=0 within the performance constraints of ISI, ACI, passband, sideband, and passband ripple. This goal of eliminating the excess bandwidth corresponds to the symbol rate equal to the available frequency band 1/Tx=B/(1+α)=B for α=0. This symbol rate 1/Ts=B is well known to be the maximum possible rate for which orthogonality between symbols is maintained. A fundamental performance characteristic of the new waveform designs is the ability to eliminate excess bandwidth for many applications.
Scope of this invention will include all of the waveform and filter categories with the exception of category C4 special design techniques and category C7 LS dynamic filters. Emphasis will be on the category C5 Wavelets to establish the background art since Wavelets are multi-resolution waveforms that can eliminate the excess bandwidth and have known design algorithms for FIR waveforms and filters. However, they do not have a design mechanism that allows direct control of the ISI, ACI, passband, sideband, and passband ripple. Category C2 theorectical studies also eliminate the excess bandwidth. However, they are not multi-resolution waveforms and do not have realizable FIR design algorithms. So the emphasis in background art will be on Wavelets whose relevant properties we briefly review.
Wavelet background art relevant to this invention consists of the discrete Waveform equations and basic properties, application of Wavelets to cover a discrete digital time-frequency (t−f) signal space, and the design of Wavelets using the iterated filter construction. Wavelets are waveforms of finite extent in time (t) and frequency (f) over the t−f space, with multi-resolution, scaling, and translation properties. Wavelets over the analog and digital t−f spaces respectively are defined by equations (1) and (2) as per Daubechies's "Ten Lectures on Wavelets", Philadelphia:_SIAM, 1992
Continuous Wavelet
                                                        ψ                                                                                a              ,              b                                                      (            t            )                          =                                                          a                                                    -                              1/2                                                                    ψ                                      (                                                t                  -                  b                                a                            )                                                          (        1        )
Discrete Wavelet
                                                        ψ                                                                                a              ,              b                                                      (            n            )                          =                                                          a                                                    -                              1/2                                                                    ψ                                      (                                                n                  -                  b                                a                            )                                                          (        2        )            where the two index parameters "a,b" are the Wavelet dilation and translation respectively or equivalently are the scale and shift. The ψ is the "mother" wavelet and is a real and symmetric localized function in the t−f space used to generate the doubly indexed Wavelet ψab. The scale factor "|α|−1/2", has been chosen to keep the norm of the Wavelet invariant under the parameter change "a,b". Norm is the square root of the energy of the Wavelet response. The Wavelets ψa,b and ψ are localized functions in the t−f space which means that both their time and frequency lengths are bounded. The discrete Wavelet has the time "t" replaced by the equivalent digital sample number "n" assuming the waveform is uniformly sampled at "T" second intervals.
Wavelets in digital t−f space have an orthogonal basis that is obtained by restricting the choice of the parameters "a,b" to the values a=2−P, b=qM2P where "p, q" are the new scale and translation parameters and "M" is the spacing or repetition interval Ts=MT of the Wavelets (which from a communications viewpoint are symbols) at the same scale "p". Wavelets at "p,q" are related to the mother Wavelet by the equationψp,q(n)=2−p/2ψ(2−pn−qM)  (3)where the mother Wavelet is a real and even function of the sample coordinates at dc (dc refers to the origin f=0 of the frequency f space). The orthonormality property means that these Wavelets satisfy the orthogonality equation with a correlation value equal to "1".
                                                                                ∑                  n                                                                                ψ                                          p                      ,                      q                                                                                ψ                                          k                      ,                      m                                                                                =                                                1                                                                                if                                                                                both                                                                                p                                =                                                      k                                                                                and                                                                                q                                    =                  m                                                                                =                              0                                                                                otherwise                                                                        (        4        )
Wavelet representation of a digital t−f space starts with selecting an N sample time window of a uniform stream of digital samples at the rate of 1/T Hz (1/second) equivalent to a "T" second sampling interval. The N point or sample t−f space in FIG. 1 illustrates a Wavelet representation or "tiling" with Wavelets that are designed analytically or by an iterated filter construction.
The t−f space in FIG. 1 is partitioned or covered or tiled by a set of Wavelet subspaces {Wp,p=0, 1, . . . , M−1} where N=2m. Each Wavelet subspace Wp 1 at scale "p" consists of the set of Wavelet time translations {q=0, 1, . . . , N/2p+1−1l} over this subspace. These Wavelet subspaces are mutually orthogonal and the Wavelets within each subspace are mutually orthogonal with respect to the time translates. This N-point t−f space extends over the time interval from 0 to (N−1)T 2 and over the frequency interval from 0 to (N−1) 3 in units of the normalized frequency fNT 4.
The iterated filter bank in FIG. 2 is used to generate the Wavelets which cover the t−f space in FIG. 1. Each filter stage 5 consists of a high pass filter (HPF) and a low pass filter (LPF). Output 6 of the LPF is subsampled by 2 which is equivalent to decimation by 2. This t−f space space is an N-dimensional complex vector metric space V 7. At stage m in the iterated filter bank, the remaining t−f space Vm−1 8 is partitioned into Vm+1 9 and the Wavelet subspace Wm+1 10.
Scaling functions and Wavelets at each stage of this filter bank satisfy the following equations
                                          φ                                      (              n              )                                =                                    2                                                -                  1                                /                2                                                                                ∑                q                                                                                h                  q                                                                  φ                                                        (                                                                  2                                                n                                            -                      q                                        )                                                                                ∀                  q                                                                                ψ                                      (              n              )                                =                                    2                                                -                  1                                /                2                                                                                ∑                q                                                                                g                  q                                                                  φ                                                        (                                                                  2                                                n                                            -                      q                                        )                                                                                ∀                  q                                                                                (        5        )            where σ is the scaling function, ψ is the Wavelet, HPFP coefficients are {hq, ∀q}, LPFp coefficients are {gq, ∀q}, and the equations apply to the stages 0, 1, . . . , m−1. Identifying the scale parameter and using the previous Wavelet formulations enable these equations to be rewritten for stages p=0, 1, . . . , m−1 as
                                          φ            p                    =                                    ∑              q                                                                                h                q                                                          φ                                                      p                    -                    1                                    ,                  q                                                                          ∀                p                                                                                ψ            p                    =                                    ∑              q                                                                                g                q                                                          φ                                                      p                    -                    1                                    ,                  q                                                                          ∀                p                                                                        (        6        )            For the application the HPFp and LPFp are quadrature mirror filters (QMF) with perfect reconstruction. This means they cover the subspace Vp with flat responses over the subband frequency including the edges of the frequency subband, and the HPFp coefficients are the frequency translated coefficients for the LPFp: {gq=(−1)qhq, ∀q}.
Wavelet design using iterated filter bank starts with the selection of the scaling functions. Starting with a primative scaling function such as the one proposed by Daubechies, one can use the iterated filter construction given by equations (5) and (6) to derive successive approximations to a desired scaling function which has properties that have been designed into it by the selection of the filter coefficients {gq,∀q} at each level of iteration. The Wavelets can be derived from these scaling functions using the iterated filter construction or scaling equations (5) and (6).
Another use of the iterated filter construction is to design the scaling functions as Wavelets thereupon ending up with a larger set of Wavelets for multi-resolution analysis and synthesis as illustrated by Coifman's Wavelets in "Wavelet analysis and signal processing".


A side light type spread illuminating apparatus comprises: a light conductive plate having a plurality of prisms formed on a light exit surface thereof, point light sources; and a prism sheet disposed on the light conductive plate, wherein the prisms have respective circular arc configurations with a common curvature in cross section taken along a line orthogonal to the direction the prisms extend, and are arrayed such that distances each defined between apexes of adjacent two of the prisms differ irregularly from one another within a range of 10 to 200 μm, and such that overall tangential angles at respective ends of the prisms vary irregularly within a range of 40 to 70 degrees, and wherein the respective ridges of the prisms are located on a common virtual plane, whereby the prism sheet are supported evenly by all of the prisms of the light conductive plate.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a spread illuminating apparatus as a lighting means for a liquid crystal display apparatus, and more specifically to a side light type illuminating apparatus using a point light source.
2. Description of the Related Art
Recently, a liquid crystal display (hereinafter referred to as "LCD" as appropriate) apparatus is extensively used as a display device for electronic equipments, such as personal computers, cellular phones, and the like. Since the liquid crystal, unlike a cathode ray tube, does not emit light by itself, a transmission type LCD apparatus requires a lighting means for illuminating its liquid crystal panel, and also a semi-transmission type LCD apparatus which utilizes outside light must have an auxiliary lighting means for enabling a usage in the dark. A side light type illuminating apparatus mainly comprises a light conductive plate and a light source disposed at a side surface of the light conductive plate, readily enables its profile to be lowered, and therefore can be suitably used as a lighting means for the LCD apparatus, for which a cold cathode tube, that is a line light source, is conventionally used.
Conventionally, in such a spread illuminating apparatus, outgoing light is converged within the viewing angle of a liquid crystal panel, or the like as an object to be illuminated, thereby enhancing brightness within the viewing angle (front brightness), which is practically important (refer to, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H10-253960). FIG. 12 is an exploded perspective view of a conventional side light type spread illuminating apparatus 100 having such a light converging means as described above. The spread illuminating apparatus 100 comprises a light conductive plate 101 defining a light entrance surface 101c, a light reflection surface 101b and a light exit surface 101a, a line light source 102 disposed at the light entrance surface 101c of the light conductive plate 101, and a prism sheet 103 disposed on the light exit surface 101a of the light conductive plate 101.
The light conductive plate 101 is formed of a transparent resin material, such as methacrylate resin, polycarbonate resin, and the like. On the light exit surface 101a which is one major surface of the light conductive plate 101, a plurality of triangular prisms are formed which are shaped identical with one another, extend in a direction orthogonal to the light entrance surface 101c , and which are arrayed at a regular interval. On the light reflection surface 101b which is the other major surface of the light conductive plate 101 opposite to the light exit surface 101a, a diffuse or regular reflecting means (not shown) is provided which reflects light toward the light exit surface 101a so that the light impinges on the light exit surface 101a at an angle less than an critical angle. The prism sheet 103 is formed of a transparent resin material, for example a PET film, and has, on a major surface (prism surface) 103a thereof, a plurality of triangular prisms which are formed of a transparent resin material, such as methacrylate resin, polycarbonate resin, and the like, and which extend in one same direction. The prism sheet 103 is disposed on the light conductive plate 101 such that the prism surface 103a faces the light exit surface 101a with their respective triangular prisms extending orthogonally to each other.
In the following discussion, a direction orthogonal to the light entrance surface 101c of the light conductive plate 101 is defined as an X-axis direction, a direction normal to the light exit surface 101a of the light conductive plate 101 is defined as a Z-axis direction, and a direction perpendicular to both the X-axis and Z-axis directions is defined as a Y-axis direction. Also, planes defined by the coordinate axes (X, Y, Z) shown in FIG. 12 are referred to as an XY plane, a YZ plane, and an XZ plane, which will be used also for any planes parallel thereto.
In the spread illuminating apparatus 100, light emitted from the line light source 102 is introduced into the light conductive plate 101 through the light entrance surface 101c thereof, then partly exits out from the light exit surface 101a while traveling inside the light conductive plate 101 with repeated reflections at the light reflection surface 101b and the light exit surface 101a, and finally illuminates a liquid crystal panel, or the like as an object illuminated. When the light exits out from the light exit surface 101a, the YZ plane directivity of the light is compensated with respect to the XZ plane by means of the triangular prisms formed on the light exit surface 101a, and then the XZ plane directivity of the light is compensated with respect to the YZ plane by means of the triangular prisms formed on the prism surface 103a of the prism sheet 103, whereby brightness for the Z-axis direction neighborhood, which is the front brightness, is enhanced. This arrangement is advantageous compared with an arrangement in which two prism sheets are disposed on a light exit surface of a light conductive plate with their respective prisms extending orthogonally to each other such that their respective plain surfaces opposite to the prism surfaces face toward the light exit surface of the light conductive plate, in that the number of expensive prism sheets is reduced, and in that light exiting out the light conductive plate is not reflected at the plane surfaces of the prism sheets so as to go back to the light conductive plate. It is known that if the light reflection surface 101b is provided with a regular reflecting means comprising, for example, V-shaped grooves extending in the Y-axis direction so that light reflected by such a reflecting means falls incident on the light exit surface 101a at an angle slightly smaller than a critical angle, then the light exits out from the light exit surface 101a with a narrow directivity inclined in the X-axis direction within the ZX plane, whereby the light converging efficiency is improved resulting in further enhanced brightness.
Recently, a white light emitting diode (LED) with enhanced performance is increasingly used as a point light source in a spread illuminating apparatus for the purpose of downsizing and lowering power consumption. However, while a line light source emits light with comparatively uniform brightness along its length direction, a plurality of point light sources, which are disposed in a line and parallel to a light entrance surface of a light conductive plate, have respective different brightness distributions with their peaks positioned at the front direction, which causes light outgoing from the apparatus to involve brightness variation unless a uniformizing means is provided. For example, in the spread illuminating apparatus 100 of FIG. 12, if a plurality of point light sources, in place of the line light source 102, are disposed parallel to the light entrance surface 101c of the light conductive plate 101, when light exits out from the light emit surface 101a, the brightness distribution of the outgoing light has its non-uniformity diminished to some degree with respect to the Y-axis direction by means of the prisms formed on the light emit surface 101a, but each point light source normally has emission lines at its both sides in a symmetrical manner thus failing to lead to resolving the brightness variation problem. Especially, when the light reflecting surface 101b is provided with the regular reflecting means described above, the non-uniformity of the brightness distribution of light emitted from the light source is materially reflected thus making the aforementioned problem further noticeable.
To address the problem, the present inventor proposed previously in Japanese Patent Application No. 2002-368805 a spread illuminating apparatus which incorporates a light diffusing means. According to the first embodiment of the aforementioned Japanese Patent Application No. 2002-368805, the light diffusing means disclosed therein comprises a plurality of prisms of various kinds extending in the direction orthogonal to a light entrance surface of a light conductive plate. The prisms include circular arcs in cross-section taken along a line perpendicular to the extension direction, and the maximum tangential angles of respective circular arcs with respect to a principal virtual plane are different from one another. By the light diffusing means thus structured, light traveling in the light conductive plate is caused to be diffused in the direction parallel to the light entrance surface, which enables a spread illuminating apparatus with point light sources to brightly and uniformly illuminate an object.
However, the prisms, which constitute the light diffusing means of the light conductive plate in the spread illuminating apparatus disclosed in the aforementioned Japanese Patent Application No. 2002-368805, may have their respective heights differing from one another, and therefore a prism sheet to be disposed on the light conductive plate is supported only partly by some of the prisms of the light diffusing means that have relatively large heights, rather than entirely by all of the prisms. Consequently, when the illuminating apparatus is subjected to vibration or change of ambient temperature, the contact portions of both the light conductive plate and the prism sheet may have scratches, and the scratches are viewed as emission lines (defects) thus degrading the display quality on the object illuminated.


The present invention provides a nanogel nasal vaccine that induces cell-mediated immunity. The present invention relates to a vaccine preparation comprising a complex of a nanogel, a vaccine antigen, and an adjuvant, wherein the vaccine preparation can efficiently induce the cell-mediated immunity, and can also induce a systemic and mucosal immune response.

Acquired immunity is played by two different mechanisms, namely, humoral immunity and cell-mediated immunity.
Humoral immunity is an immune system mainly involving antibodies, complements and the like that are present in blood. If a foreign antigen invades into a living body, the foreign antigen is taken in an antigen-presenting cell such as a dendritic cell and is then fragmented. Thereafter, the thus fragmented antigen is presented on the surface of the cell via an MHC class II molecule. Thereafter, a Th2 cell stimulated by the antigen-presenting cell recognizes the antigen fragment presented on a B cell via a T cell antigen receptor (TCR) and then performs the release of a Th2 cytokine, etc. The B cell produces an antibody, in response to the action of the released Th2 cytokine.
On the other hand, cell-mediated immunity is an immune system for eliminating foreign matters from a living body by macrophages, cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL), natural killer cells, etc. If a Th1 cell is activated by an antigen fragment presented on an antigen-presenting cell via an MHC class II molecule, the Th1 cell releases IFN-γ and activates a macrophage. Moreover, the Th1 cell induces not a neutralizing antibody but an antibody binding to the cell surface, and activates a macrophage or an NK cell via an Fc receptor of the antibody, so that the macrophage or the NK cell attacks and destroys a target cell. Thus, induction of antibody-dependent-cellular-cytotoxicity (ADCC) is also considered. In addition, the activated Th1 cell releases IL-2 and activates CTL that recognizes the presented antigen fragment together with an MHC class I molecule. The activated macrophage and CTL attack cells infected with viruses and the like, cancer cells, etc., and eliminate them. Since cell-mediated immunity is also able to eliminate infected cells, cancer cells, etc., it is expected that the cell-mediated immunity will be applied to elimination of Mycobacterium tuberculosis that can be parasitic in cells, or to cancer immunotherapy.
To date, the present inventors have developed an effective vaccine delivery system by utilizing self-aggregating nano-sized hydrogel constituted with cationic type of cholesteryl group-bearing pullulan (cCHP) (Patent Literature 1 and Non Patent Literature 1). When a cCHP nanogel includes a protein antigen in the nanomatrix thereof, it functions as an artificial chaperone, prevents aggregation and degeneration of the antigen, and helps refolding after the release of the antigen. This nanogel has the property of efficiently adhering to the surface of a negatively charged mucosa. The nanogel continuously releases antigens and delivers the antigens to antigen-presenting cells, so as to induce immune response (Non Patent Literature 2, Non Patent Literature 3, and Patent Literature 2). Furthermore, in the case of mice, although a cCHP nanogel that carries [111In]-labeled BoHc/A (the heavy chain C-terminal nontoxic region of botulinum toxin type A) or pneumococcal surface antigen PspA is transnasally administered to the mice, it is not accumulated in the central nerve system such as olfactory bulb or brain (Non Patent Literature 2), and the safety thereof has been confirmed (Non Patent Literature 4).
A nanogel vaccine suitable for transnasal administration (i.e., a nanogel nasal vaccine) is extremely favorable in terms of both safety and induction of humoral immunity.
However, it has not been confirmed so far that such a nanogel nasal vaccine induces cell-mediated immunity.

Intranasal vaccine that induces cellular immunity


Various embodiments of molds and methods are disclosed herein for fabricating a radio frequency (RF) coil. The disclosed mold includes a cylindrical inner core having a first helically shaped groove formed within an outer surface of the cylindrical inner core, and a two-piece compression sleeve having a second helically shaped groove formed within an inner surface of the two-piece compression sleeve. When portions of the two-piece compression sleeve are attached together, the two-piece compression sleeve surrounds the cylindrical inner core and provide a compressive force to a conductor arranged within the first and second helically shaped grooves to fabricate the RF coil. In some embodiments, a three-dimensional (3D) printing process may be used to fabricate each piece of the mold separately.

The present disclosure relates to radio frequency (RF) coils for use in a plasma processing apparatus. In particular, it provides various embodiments of molds and methods of forming an RF coil.
Plasma processing apparatuses are used extensively in the fabrication of semiconductor devices and other electronic devices. In such apparatuses, a plasma is used to perform a process, such as etching, deposition, oxidation, sputtering, etc. so as to achieve a good reaction of a processing gas at a relatively low temperature. Conventional plasma processing apparatuses used for such purposes include, but are not limited to, capacitively coupled plasma (CCP) and inductively coupled plasma (ICP) apparatuses.
Generally, plasmas are generated in a vacuum chamber and the means for generating the plasma are either located outside the chamber, or within a protective wall, to reduce the disturbance to the plasma potential when RF power is applied. In an inductively coupled plasma (ICP) apparatus, for example, a coil-shaped RF antenna may be positioned outside of a dielectric window formed within a wall of a processing chamber, which serves as a vacuum chamber for the generated plasma. A target substrate (for example, a semiconductor wafer or a glass substrate) is provided at a central region within the processing chamber.
To perform a plasma process, a processing gas is supplied into a processing space formed between the dielectric window and the substrate. A high frequency alternating current (AC) current is supplied to the coil-shaped RF antenna to induce an RF magnetic field, which is transmitted to the processing space within the chamber via the dielectric window. As the RF magnetic field changes with time, an inductive electric field is generated in an azimuth direction within the processing space to create an intense plasma.
In some cases, characteristics of the coil-shaped RF antenna (e.g., number of turns, pitch, bend radius, coil diameter, coil length, coil concentricity, etc.) may be altered to affect plasma density and repeatability. For example, varying the geometry of the coil will impact the plasma characteristics, based on varying features such as pitch, diameter, length, etc. (e.g., an increase in the pitch of the coil will change the plasma generation region, the plasma density, and the plasma uniformity).
RF coil designs are typically sent to an outside vendor for fabrication via a manufacturing process, which includes a combination of hand bending and winding machinery. Unfortunately, fabricating an RF coil by hand (with or without the aid of winding machinery) is not very accurate, and often fails to achieve the tight tolerances demanded by the plasma process. The manufacturing process also tends to create uneven surfaces and warped geometries (e.g., deformed coil shapes), which may influence the near field behavior of the fabricated RF coil.
In some cases, several iterations may be needed to perfect the RF coil design. For example, the tight bend radius, coil concentricity and coil diameter are especially difficult to predict and may need to be adjusted throughout the design process. Even small deviations from concentricity, for example, can lead to non-uniformity, poor ignition behavior or anomalous discharge in the plasma process. However, many outside vendors have long lead times (e.g., about 4-6 weeks), which may significantly increase design time, especially when multiple iterations are needed to perfect the RF coil design.
A need exists for an improved method of fabricating RF coils that is accurate, reproducible and more time/cost effective than conventional manufacturing processes.

Mold for forming a radio frequency (RF) coil for a plasma processing apparatus