The present invention provides methods and apparatus for the separation of volatile components from a feed material.

A variety of approaches are known in the art for separating volatile and semi-volatile organic compounds, as well as for separating mercury from soil and similar solids. For example, various methods and apparatus for thermally separating volatile components are known. At least one objective of these methods has been the removal of contaminants such that resulting solids could be managed without regard to the former contamination. This objective has been accomplished using both low temperature, fixed processing vessels, and also using high temperature rotating processing vessels.
However, known approaches have limitations that become increasingly significant when the volume of material requiring treatment is too small to justify large costly treatment systems. Simply making the equipment smaller, to reduce initial cost, yields the equally limiting feature of low processing rate or capacity. Furthermore, certain desirable separation processes can occur only at higher temperatures. Thus, the low treatment temperatures imposed by certain separation vessels that are heated using heat transfer oils prevent achievement of the separation. Additionally, it is often prohibitively expensive to rapidly achieve low contaminant levels at the lower temperatures provided by these vessels heated by heat transfer oils.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,253,597 and 5,453,562 (Swanstrom et al.) describe a batch process that operates under strong vacuum with heat from a conventional hot oil heating system. This approach imposes an upper temperature limitation of 600 degrees Fahrenheit (° F.) for the treated solids. This limitation results in the inability to treat compounds that must be heated to significantly higher temperatures to undergo a chemical reaction prior to separation, such as thermal reduction of mercury salts to elemental mercury, depolymerization of organic plastics, or thermolysis of cellulose. Also, low temperature gradients result from this temperature limitation during portions of the treatment that require significantly longer treatment times and reduce both the capacity and economic viability of the process. For example, treatment times using a process described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,253,597 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,453,562 extend for several days due to low mass transfer rates when residual contaminant levels approach the part per million level, resulting in high operating cost and inefficient operations. This limitation is attributable to the restricted operating temperature imposed by the hot oil heating system.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,628,969 (Aulbaugh et al.) and 5,514,286 (Crosby) teach approaches that use a rotatable vessel with a fixed internal filter. These apparatus are mechanically complex and cannot be operated in a semi-continuous mode because of the complexities of introducing materials to and removing them from the rotating vessel (e.g., while maintaining the seal to achieve high vacuum).
U.S. Pat. No. 5,490,907 (Weinwurm et al.) discloses a method for treating sludges in which valuable liquids are recovered from the sludges. This method requires the addition of a reagent powder to the thermal processor to form a high surface area semi-solid. The heating vessel is restricted, however, to a maximum temperature of 350° C., thus imposing the same limitations as the processes of U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,253,597 and 5,453,562.
Other separation processes are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,864,942 (Fochtman et al.) and 4,402,274 (Meenan et al.), which involve the heating of organically contaminated solids in a continuous thermal unit with condensation and recovery of the contaminants. These processes are operated strictly on a continuous basis and require elaborate material feed and removal systems. Also, these processes allow a significant quantity of solids to migrate into the gas treatment system. Substantial equipment is thus needed to remove and manage these solids. This result is imposed by the nature of a typical continuous separation process. Additionally, the apparatus used in these continuous separation processes cannot be sealed, thus cannot operate at high vacuum.

Method separating volatile components from feed material


Disclosed and described is a novel dose titration procedure for administering the opioid antagonist, nalmefene, to a patient diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Nalmefene is used primarily in the management of alcohol dependence. It has also been investigated for the treatment of other addictions such as pathological gambling.
Nalmefene is an opiate derivative similar in both structure and activity to the opioid antagonist naltrexone. Advantages of nalmefene relative to naltrexone include longer half-life, greater oral bioavailability and no observed dose-dependent liver toxicity. As with other drugs of this type, nalmefene can precipitate acute withdrawal symptoms in patients who are dependent on opioid drugs, or more rarely when used post-operatively to counteract the effects of strong opioids used in surgery.
Intravenous doses of nalmefene have been shown effective at counteracting the respiratory depression produced by opiate overdose. Doses greater than 1.5 mg do not appear to give any greater benefit in this application.
Between the years 1988-1990, in an open-label pilot study, nalmefene was administered to 18 combat veterans diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD.) The published pilot study reported the administration of low doses of the drug starting with the lowest dose of one milligram twice a day with gradual increments of the dose up to a maximum of 200 milligrams twice a day.
The hypothesis of the study was that nalmefene (an opiate antagonist with activity at the kappa opiate receptor) would reverse the subjective experience of emotional numbness observed in patients diagnosed with PTSD. Patients suffering with emotional numbness may also demonstrate a persistent inability to experience positive emotions (e.g. inability to experience happiness, satisfaction, or loving feelings), a markedly diminished interest or participation in significant activities, and possibly also with feelings of detachment or estrangement from others
Other related subjective experiences that may be reported by patients who feel emotionally numb can include feeling emotionally dead, shutdown, hollow and/or empty no feelings. These subjective experiences are associated with degrees of lack of care and concern for the welfare of self and others.
Based on the study results, nalmefene was observed to significantly reduce, and in some cases remit, the symptom of emotional numbness, and to facilitate the veterans' abilities to experience a range of normal human responses including feelings of empathy, love, care and concern for others. Unexpectedly, the drug was also found to significantly improve all core symptoms of PTSD including nightmares, intrusive thoughts, flashbacks; the inability to engage in topics dealing with combat experiences without the onset of symptoms of emotional distress or behavioral avoidance; dissociative amnesia; mistrust of others; and states of hyper arousal and reactivity associated with the traumatic events (Diagnostic Statistical Manual-5, American Psychiatric Association, pub, 2013). The results of the pilot study were published in the Israel Journal of Psychiatry, volume 30, issue 4, Nov. 1993.
An improved, higher dosing titration schedule can unexpectedly provide a greater benefit to patients suffering from PTSD

Method for treating post-traumatic stress disorder


The high voltage integrated circuit comprises a P substrate. An N well barrier is disposed in the substrate. Separated P diffusion regions forming P wells are disposed in the substrate for serving as the isolation structures. The low voltage control circuit is located outside the N well barrier. A floating circuit is located inside the N well barrier. In order to develop a high voltage junction barrier in between the floating circuit and the substrate, the maximum space of devices of the floating circuit is restricted.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an integrated circuit, and more particularly to a high voltage integrated circuit.
2. Description of the Prior Art
A variety of power supplies and motor drivers utilize the bridge circuits to control a power source to the load. The bridge circuit normally has a high-side transistor connected to the power source and a low-side transistor connected to ground. A common node between the high-side transistor and low-side transistor is coupled to the load. As transistors are controlled to alternately conduct, the voltage of the common node swings between the voltage of the power source and the ground. Therefore the control of high-side transistor requires a charge pump circuit and/or a floating driver in order to fully turn on the high-side transistor. In recent development, many floating circuits are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,344,959 (Milazzo), U.S. Pat. No. 6,781,422 (Yang) and U.S. Pat. No. 6,836,173 (Yang).
FIG. 1 shows a high-side transistor drive circuit, in which a circuit 10 is the floating driver. A capacitor 40 provides a supply voltage to the floating driver 10. A voltage VD charges the capacitor 40 through a diode 45 once the low-side transistor 30 is switched on. The ground reference of the capacitor 40 is pulled to the level of the voltage source VIN when the high-side transistor 20 is turned on. This happens, because turning on the high-side transistor 20 shifts the bridge circuit into a low impedance state.

Integrated circuit with high voltage junction structure


A fluorescent marking composition containing particles of an organic material which has a glass transition temperature of at least 30.degree. C. and an average particle size of at least 30 nm, and emitting fluorescence in a visible light range, or absorbing infrared light having a wavelength of at least 700 nm and emitting a light in an infrared wavelength range, which composition is excellent in dispersion stability, light resistance, and heat and light resistance, and provides a mark which does not bleed.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a fluorescent marking composition and a fluorescent mark formed by said composition. More particularly, the present invention relates to a fluorescent marking composition which is excellent in dispersion stability, light resistance, heat resistance and water resistance, and a mark formed by said composition which does not bleed and has excellent light resistance, heat resistance and water resistance.
2. Description of the Related Art
In these years, information such as a company name or a trade name of a good is indicated by a bar code, and a bar code pattern is optically read to utilize such information for totaling sales amounts or analyzing distribution of goods.
Usually, the bar code is printed on a material by an ink jet printer and the like, and suitable for classifying and identifying the goods in a store or shop which deals with various kinds of goods.
Recently, many goods carry such bar codes. In addition, the bar code system is applied to controlling files, and the like. For example, the bar code system is applied in a mailing system in which mails are sorted by code controlling.
However, hitherto, the bar code is formed by printing black bars on a white substrate. Since this black-white bar code utilizes a difference of reflectance between the black bars and the white substrate for reading it, it has a drawback that it is hardly read when an area of a material on which the bar code is formed is stained. In addition, to read the black-white bar code, a reflected light should be in a visible wavelength region. Then, the black-white bar code may deteriorate appearance of the material carrying the bar code. For example, a bar code will damage a picture on a book cover, or a white surface of a post card.
As an improvement of a black-white bar code, a fluorescent mark, which is excited by ultraviolet ray and emits visible light, is used, or an infrared fluorescent bar code, which is excited by infrared ray and emits infrared ray, is used (Japanese Patent KOHYO Publication No. 500590/1994).
But, since the fluorescent mark which is excited by the UV ray and emits the visible light uses the visible light for reading the bar code, it still deteriorates the appearance of the material carrying the bar code. In addition, the bar code comprising such fluorescent composition is hardly read when an area of a material on which the bar code is formed is stained as in the case of the black-white bar code.
Since the infrared fluorescent bar code which is excited by infrared ray and emits infrared ray does not have the emission of the visible light, the presence of the bar code does not deteriorate the appearance of the material carrying the bar code, and the information of the bar code can be detected without significant influence by the stain on the bar code. The infrared fluorescent material comprises an infrared fluorescent dye which absorbs and emits light in an infrared wavelength range. When such dye is formulated as a marking composition and printed by an ink jet printer and the like on a substrate material having high absorbance of a liquid such as a marking ink, for example, Japanese paper, bleeding of the liquid composition, which is called as "feathering" occurs, whereby a read rate of the bar code is decreased, so that an apparatus which functions according to the information from the bar code tends to maloperate. In addition, a density of the information stored in the bar code is increasing, and a gap between adjacent bars is being decreased. Then, the feathering seems to be a fatal drawback of the bar code for increasing the information density of the bar code.
Since the conventional infrared fluorescent marking composition has a property to dye a substrate material which is an inherent property of the dye, the bar code printed by such composition is hardly read when the substrate material is one absorbing IR light, such as a black material. Further, since an organic dye contained in such marking composition has, in general, poor light and water resistance, it will be difficult to read the bar code due to fading of the bar code.
As the infrared fluorescent material, inorganic compounds comprising neodymium, yttrium, etc. may be used (cf. U.S. Pat. No. 4,202,491, Japanese Patent KOKAI Publication No. 9607/1978 and Japanese Patent Publication No. 22326/1979). However, since the inorganic fluorescent material has a long rise time to emit infrared light and long afterglow, an output from one mark overlaps an output from an adjacent mark when the marks are read at a high read rate, so that each mark cannot be identified.

Fluorescent marking composition and fluorescent mark formed by said composition


An image forming apparatus includes an image bearer; a charger to charge a surface of the image bear; a developing device to develop a toner image on the surface of the image bearer; an image bearer cleaner to remove residual toner remaining on the surface of the image bearer after a transfer process; and a controller to cause the image forming apparatus to perform, before a start of printing operation, a corona products removal mode. In the image forming apparatus further including a temperature and humidity sensor to measure temperature and humidity of an ambient environment of the image bearer, the controller to cause the image forming apparatus to perform, before a start of an image forming operation, a corona products removal mode based on an absolute humidity obtained by the temperature and humidity detected by the temperature and humidity sensor.

Technical Field
The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus, and more particularly, to removal of corona products in the image forming apparatus.
Related Art
Image forming processes performed in an image forming apparatus employing the electrophotographic method include, for example, (1) charging a surface of the photoconductor by a charging member such as a charger or a charging roller; (2) forming a predetermined electrostatic latent image on the surface of the photoconductor with an LD or LED, and discharging the surface of the photoconductor; (3) developing the latent image on the discharged portion on the photoconductor with toner by a developing device to render the latent image visible; (4) transfer the written toner image on a transfer member such as an intermediate transfer belt or a sheet of paper; and (5) fixing the toner image onto the sheet of paper by a fixing device.
In the above transfer process (4), residual toner remaining on the photoconductor not transferred from the photoconductor to the transfer member is collected and removed by a cleaner, so that the residual toner does not adversely affect subsequent image processes.

Image forming apparatus performing a corona products removal mode


The sheet metal pry hooks are pry hooks having a hook end oriented in a manner to allow gripping and bending of an automotive sheet metal panel(s) in almost any situation encountered in the repair of such panel(s). As presently contemplated, the pry hooks will be made available either individually or as a kit of three pry hooks having different configurations of the hook, including at least one hook having the hook member offset from the longitudinal axis of the shank of the tool. The kit allows a user to have at hand a complete array of hooks needed for bending and orienting sheet metal panels in almost any repair situation.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to hand tools. More specifically, the present invention is drawn to sheet metal pry hooks used to align and orient automobile sheet metal panels.
2. Description of the Related Art
In the automotive body repair art, overbending and distorting the relatively thin, sheet metal body parts often necessitates the use of plastic fillers and the like to repair the damaged sheet metal. The use of such fillers often lessens the value of the automobile. The art would certainly welcome a set of tools that could efficiently bend and align the edges of relatively thin panels of sheet metal to prevent over-bending and distortion and eliminate the use of plastic fillers and the like. Thus, a kit of sheet metal pry hook tools solving the aforementioned problems is desired.


Aqueous solutions of hydratable polymers are prepared by hydrating a hydratable polymer in water without agitation sufficient to shear the molecular structure of the polymer thereby maintaining intact the polymer's molecular structure thereby providing a structurally uniform composition. The resulting solutions are sticky and tacky and are useful in controlling insects and for other uses. The resulting solutions can be dried to form powders. The resulting products readily degrade, are non-toxic, and non-ionic, and hence environmentally benign.

The present invention is directed to a method of treating hydratable polymers, compositions obtained therefrom having properties and uses not possible or recognized previously, and methods of using them. In the past, aqueous compositions of hydratable polymers have been prepared by methods using significant agitation which shears the polymers' repeating molecular structure resulting in products which are irregular and not of uniform structural compositions. While the materials obtained from such processes are useful products in a number of fields, there are certain areas where such nonuniform and irregular structural compositions have not been useful.
The present invention provides a method of treating hydratable polymers and the resulting compositions in which their structural repeating molecules are intact rather than sheared which results in hydrated polymer compositions having properties not recognized previously and effective for uses for which sheared structural polymer compositions are not useful.

Method for treating hydratable polymers, compositions obtained therefrom, and methods of using same


A very long instruction word processor with sequence control. During each cycle the processor generates control signals to functional units based on the values in fields of an instruction. Each instruction may include an iteration count specifying the number of cycles for which the control signals should be generated based on that instruction. The instruction set further includes flow control instructions allowing for repetitive execution of a single instruction, repetitive execution of a block of instructions or branching within a program. Such a processor is illustrated in connection with a disk controller for a hard drive of a computer. The flexible sequencing allows a hard-drive controller to be readily reprogrammed for use in connection with different types of media or to be dynamically reprogrammed upon detection of a disk read error to increase the ability of the disk controller to recover data from a disk.

1. Field of Invention
This invention relates generally to very long instruction word processors and more specifically to flow control of instructions executed in a very long instruction word processor.
2. Discussion of Related Art
Processors are well known and widely used in many applications. A processor with a scalar architecture fetches an instruction and data for the instruction each time the instruction is executed. In executing a loop that requires an instruction be executed multiple times, a processor with a scalar architecture will fetch the instruction multiple times.
Some processors employ vector architectures. A vector architecture allows the processor to fetch an instruction once and then execute it multiple times with different data. In applications with relatively large loops, the total time required to execute a program can be reduced because each instruction needs to be fetched only once per loop. Vector architectures have been generally limited to high end processors used in supercomputers and other computation intensive applications because they require significant space on a semiconductor die on which the processor may be implemented.
Some scalar processors have been adapted to execute multiple operations for one fetch of an instruction. However, these processors have required that instructions specifying multiple operations be encoded in one instruction word. Such architectures proved difficult in practice to use. The instruction set for the processor needed to be expanded to accommodate many new instructions encoding multiple operations. In addition, making a complier that could identify patterns of instructions in a program that could be mapped to an instruction encoding multiple operations proved difficult.
Very Long Instruction Word (VLIW) processors are also known. In a VLIW processor, each instruction contains multiple fields. Each field contains a value that specifies control signals to be applied to a functional unit within the processor.
Disk drives have not previously included processors. Disk drives are used in many computer systems to store large amounts of information. FIG. 1 shows a disk drive 100 such as may be used in a conventional desktop computer. Disk drive 100 includes a disk platter 110. Disk platter 110 is the physical storage medium for disk drive 100.
Disk controller 105 controls the reading and writing of information on disk platter 110. Disk controller 105 also provides an interface to the computer or other system in which disk drive 100 is installed. Here, the portion of disk drive 100 that reads information from the disk is shown. A similar portion may be used to write information on the disk, but is not shown for simplicity.
Information is stored on the disk by altering a physical property of disk platter 110. For example, disk platter 110 may contain a coating that can be altered to produce a magnetic field. A bit of information is stored by altering a very small area of the coating to produce the magnetic field. A magnetic field sensed adjacent that area may indicate that a logical one has been stored in that area. Alternatively, the absence of a magnetic field adjacent that area may indicate a logical zero is stored.
Head 112 is positioned near the surface of disk platter 110. It contains a sensor that senses the magnetic field adjacent small areas of disk platter 110. The output of head 112 indicates what information has been stored in a specific area on the disk. In operation, disk platter 110 rotates so that head 112 passes over multiple areas and outputs a signal representing the sensed magnetic field over a series of areas on disk platter 110. Head 112 is controlled to move back and forth across the surface of the disk. In this way, any area of disk platter 110 may be brought under head 112. Motion of disk platter 110 and head 112 is synchronized so that the output of head 112 will represent, at a known time, values stored in a region of disk platters 110. Often, a disk drive is controlled to read multiple values at one time. The values read at one time are sometimes called a "sector."
Though information stored in disk drive 100 will generally be stored in digital form, head 112 outputs an analog signal. Disk controller 105 receives the output from head 112 and processes the analog signal to indicate the specific bits of information read from disk drive 100.
Disk controller 105 is here shown to contain a processing circuit 114 that includes a series of processing blocks 1141, 1142 . . . 114N to process the output of head 112. Each of the processing blocks performs a function that is one step in the conversion of the analog signal sensed by head 112 to a stream of digital bits that represents information read from the disk. For example, one of the processing blocks 1141, 1142 . . . 114N may perform a timing recovery function. Others may add a gain or offset or perform other operations to reliably read information from the disk platter 110.
In a conventional disk controller, each of the processing blocks is controlled by a state machine. Here, each processing block 1141 . . . 114N includes a corresponding state machine 1241, 1242 . . . 124N. Each of the state machines includes counters or registers that store values identifying a state. Each state machine 1241, 1242 . . . 124N includes logic circuitry that changes the current state of the state machine based on inputs or other factors. The logic circuitry also defines the outputs produced by the state machine in each state. The outputs of each state machine may control a processing block or another state machine. State machines may be designed to provide the desired level of control over each of the processing blocks 1141, 1142 . . . 114N.
In normal operation, the output of processing block 114N passes through a switching circuit 130 and is connected to a digital signal processing core (DSP) 120. When the chain of processing blocks 1141, 1142 . . . 114N provides sufficient processing to convert the analog signal from head 112 into a stream of digital values, DSP 120 serves simply as an interface to the computer system in which disk drive 100 is installed.
When the chain of processing blocks 1141, 1142 . . . 114N cannot reliably convert the analog signal read by head 112 into a stream of digital values, DSP 120 may control offline processing. DSP 120 is configured to receive values from each of the processing blocks 1141, 1142 . . . 114N. DSP 120 may be programmed to attempt to recover a stream of digital values based on the outputs of each of the processing blocks. Alternatively, DSP 120 may control switch 130 to connect further processing blocks, such as processing block 116, to the chain of processing blocks in processing circuit 114.
Processing block 116 is controlled by a state machine 126 in the same way that processing blocks 1141, 1142 . . . 114N are controlled by corresponding state machines 1241, 1242 . . . 124N. With processing block 116 connected through switch 130 to processing circuit 114, the signal read from disk platter 110 may be reapplied to processing circuit 114 for a second pass computation of digital values. Processing block 116 contains circuitry that is designed to augment the processing performed on the signal and therefore increase the chance that information can be reliably read from disk drive 100.
It would be desirable to provide an improved disk drive controller in particular and an improved processor in general.

Efficient and flexible sequencing of data processing units extending VLIW architecture


Provided herein are polyester toner resins that may reduce or eliminate the use of Bis A, a common polyester toner resin material that may pose environmental and/or toxicity risks. In addition, the polyester toner resins according to some embodiments of the present invention may have desirable toner resin properties, such as hot offset resistance.

In typical dry-type electrophotographic processes, latent electrostatic images formed on a photoconductor are developed by means of a triboelectrically charged toner. Specifically, when an image is formed by a photographic copying machine, a surface of a roller composed of a photoconductive and photosensitive material is charged. An electrostatic latent image is formed by exposure to the light reflected from the surface of an original to be copied. The latent image is developed by a toner, with the formed visible image being transferred to a paper or the like. The transferred image is fixed on the paper by compression under heating, and thus a copy print is obtained.
A typical toner includes several components including a toner resin, a colorant and an electrostatic carrier material. The toner resin is of particular importance in that it seines to bind the other two components. Typically, toner resins are formed from various materials, such as bisphenol epoxy resins, silicone-based resins, styrene butadiene resins, and the like.
One of the problems associated with the fixing of toner is the undesirable transfer of toner to the fusing roller during the fixing process. This undesirable transfer is sometimes referred to as "off setting" and involves the transfer of toner from the substrate to the fusing roller. The transfer of toner to the fusing roller contaminates the fusing roller, which results in the unwanted transfer of toner from the fusing roller onto subsequent substrates passing by the fusing roller. This transfer tends to produce ghost images or unwanted toner marks on subsequent substrates.
The use of crosslinked polyester to prevent offset is generally known. A crosslinked polyester is typically obtained by reacting an esterified bisphenol A (Bis A) with dicarboxylic acid to produce a linear polyester, and then reacting the produced linear polyester with trivalent or higher carboxylic acid, such as trimellitic acid anhydride.
However, due to the relatively high cost of Bis A and the environmental and toxicity concerns associated with Bis A, it would be desirable to develop toner resins that do not include Bis A, or include reduced amounts of Bis A. However, currently available Bis A-free toner resins, e.g., those described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,015,724 to Kawabe, may have undesirable properties, such as brittleness and relatively poor heat resistance. Therefore, it would be desirable to develop toner resins that reduce or eliminate the use of Bis A, yet still have desirable toner resin properties.


An encryption management system of an enterprise is provided. The system includes an encryption/decryption component operable for enterprise messages to be secured by receiving and encrypting the messages received from enterprise applications. The encryption/decryption component further decrypts messages received from enterprise partners that are encrypted. The system includes an identity management component to manage access to the encryption management system, and a key management component to manage keys used by the encryption/decryption component. The system includes a notification component that initiates sending messages regarding events occurring in the encryption management system through communication with an enterprise messaging system. The system also includes a logging/auditing component to log events occurring in the encryption management system.

The increasing number of computer systems that are interconnected with other computer systems in computer networks and the increasing complexity of such networks have made the task of protecting computer systems from vulnerabilities increasingly difficult and costly. Data security-related issues that an enterprise might face include authentication and authorization of users, encryption of files and messages, digital rights management, filtering of unwanted content, and compliance with regulations and other standards. The encryption of files and messages, in particular, is seen as an effective means of protecting sensitive data.


A method and system for detecting operator alertness of an operator of a vehicle or machine comprises an image processor and an analyzer. The image processor determines whether at least one eye of an operator is visible and determines whether the operator is generally facing forward with respect to the vehicle. The analyzer applies at least one of position analysis and motion analysis to a three dimensional representation of an operator to determine alertness of the operator if at least one eye of operator is not visible or If the operator is generally facing forward.

Monocular machine vision may offer limited capability in detecting operator alertness. The position or movement of an operator may be detected by analyzing a monocular image. However, monocular vision data may be deficient in providing reliable determination of the position or movement of an operator, which may require depth perception to ascertain the three dimensional characteristics of the position or movement of an operator. Operator alertness systems that rely on observation of the eyes of an operator encounter technical difficulties where the operator does not constantly face in a uniform direction (e.g., forward) or where the operator wears eyeglasses. Thus, there is need for a method and system for detecting operator alertness using stereo vision.

Method and system for detecting operator alertness


The invention relates to a photoprotective personal care composition that provides enhanced stability of the UV-A sunscreen present therein. The present inventors have found that it is possible to enhance stability of the UV-A sunscreen of the dibenzoylmethane group by including certain compounds of the chalcone group.

Solar radiation includes ultraviolet (UV) radiation, wavelength of which is between 200 nm and 400 nm. Exposure of skin to UV-A (320 to 400 nm) and UV-B (290 to 320 nm) causes various problems like reddening of the skin, localized irritation, sunburn, melanoma and formation of wrinkles. UV radiation is also known to cause damage to hair. Therefore, it is desirable to protect the skin and other keratinous substrates of the human body from the harmful effects of both UV-A and UV-B radiation.
Cosmetic compositions comprising sunscreen agents are used to protect the skin against UV radiation. The most commonly used UV-A sunscreen is of the dibenzoylmethane class. They are often used along with UV-B sunscreens to get wide spectrum sunscreen protection. It has been reported that stability of dibenzoylmethane compounds in sunscreen compositions is low when applied to the skin and exposed to solar radiation. The stability is poorer when an oil-soluble UV-B organic sunscreen especially from the class of cinnamic acid, is included.
Synthetic sunscreen stabilizers have been reported to solve this problem, e.g. as disclosed in EP 0514491 (L'Oreal, 1991) and more recently in US2009/039322 (Hallstar).
While the above references are directed to improving stability of sunscreen containing compositions, it is desirable to use stabilizers that are available in nature or extractable from natural sources like plants that the consumers consider to be milder and therefore is expected to have less irritation and allergenic potential when applied on the skin. Stabilisers which are available in nature or extractable from natural sources is also expected to be widely available and therefore can be provided to the consumers at low cost. Topical compositions comprising extracts from plant material are known for various purposes.
The present inventors have found that it is possible to enhance stability of the UV-A sunscreen of the dibenzoylmethane group by including certain compounds of the chalcone group.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,952,391 (Beiersdorf, 1999) discloses use of flavone derivatives and flavanone derivatives, in particular flavonoids for stabilizing cosmetic or dermatologically acceptable substances, the chemical formula of which includes the structural moiety of dibenzoylmethane, against the decomposition caused by UV radiation.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,867,964 (L'Oreal, 1989) discloses a cosmetic composition containing 2-hydroxylated chalcone derivatives and its use for protecting the skin and the hair against luminous radiations, new 2-hydroxylated chalcone derivatives and a process for their preparation.
These publications have not disclosed use of actives claimed in the present invention or natural extracts comprising the actives for stabilizing UV-A sunscreens.
It is thus an object of the present invention to obviate the drawbacks of the prior art and provide a highly photostable sunscreen composition while ensuring prolonged efficacy of the UV-A organic sunscreen used therein.
Another object of the present invention is to achieve the above object while additionally keeping costs low.

Photoprotective personal care composition


A method of controlling a display apparatus includes: when the display apparatus is in a privacy display mode, obtaining, by an image processor, a plurality of frames of display images according to a frame of original image, transmitting, by the image processor, the plurality of frames of images to a display controller; controlling, by the display controller, the display panel to display the plurality of frames of display images in sequence within a display time of the frame of original image, and controlling, by the display controller, the grating panel to form light-transmitting regions and non-light-transmitting regions that are alternately arranged when the display panel displays each frame of display image, so as to limit an exit angle of light exiting from the display side of the display apparatus, the exit angle being within a range of a privacy viewing angle.

With the continuous development of display technologies, people's demand for display mode is more and more diversified, and users' protection consciousness of personal privacy is more and more strong. In some special application scenarios, e.g., in an office environment, people need screens of display apparatuses to be visible only to themselves and to be invisible to others, which is a privacy display mode. In some cases, the screens of the display apparatuses need to be viewed together with others, which is a shared display mode.

Display apparatus and method of controlling the same


The invention provides a displacement electroless gold plating solution that is low in toxicity, can be used at a pH near to neutrality, and affords good solder adhesion and film adhesion. The displacement electroless gold plating solution contains a non-cyanide water-soluble gold compound and a hydrogensulfite compound. Preferably, the plating solution further contains a thiosulfuric acid compound or an aminocarboxylic acid compound. Sodium hydrogensulfite, potassium hydrogensulfite, ammonium hydrogensulfite or the like can be used as the hydrogensulfite compound.

Displacement electroless gold plating solutions have been used to form an intermediate layer in an effort to improve the solder adhesion of circuits, terminals, and so forth in printed wiring boards, and to improve the adhesion of reductive gold plating and the like. Most of the gold plating solutions used for this purpose contain a toxic cyanide compound as a gold compound, but concerns for the environment and the workplace require non-cyanide gold plating solutions that do not contain toxic substances.
Patent applications that have been filed for non-cyanide displacement electroless gold plating solutions include those that make use of gold sulfite compounds (see, for example, Patent Documents 1 and 2), those that make use of gold sulfites or chloroaurates (see, for example, Patent Document 3), and those that make use of gold sulfite, gold chloride, gold thiosulfate, or gold mercaptocarboxylates (see, for example, Patent Document 4). Although the electroless gold plating solutions discussed in these publications are cyanide-free, i.e. low in toxicity, and can be used close to neutral conditions, their inferior solder adhesion and film adhesion remain a problem. "Film adhesion" refers to adhesion between a displacement electroless gold plating film and a substrate and, when a displacement electroless gold plating film is used as an intermediate layer, refers to the adhesion to the layers above and below the film.    Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent No. 3,030,113    Patent Document 2: Japanese Patent Publication No. 2003-13249A    Patent Document 3: Japanese Patent Publication No. 8-291389A    Patent Document 4: Japanese Patent Publication No. 10-317157A


This invention relates to a process for rinsing a substrate which has been provided with a desired resist pattern and subjected to an etching treatment, and optionally, subsequent ashing treatment, said process including the steps of: (I) treating said resist pattern with a remover solution which contains, as a principal ingredient, a salt of hydrofluoric acid and a metallic-ion-free base; (II) rinsing said substrate with a rinse solution for lithography which contains ethylene glycol and/or propylene glycol, and a water-soluble organic solvent other than said glycol; and (III) washing said substrate with water.

The present invention relates to a process for treating a lithographic substrate, and more particularly, to a process for treating a lithographic substrate for a semiconductor device such as IC or LSI, a liquid-crystal panel device, or the like wherein a resist film is removed and then rinsed.
Further, it relates to the treatment of a substrate using such a rinse solution for lithography.
Conventionally, the process for manufacturing a semiconductor device such as an IC or LSI, or a liquid-crystal panel device includes the following steps of:
forming a conductive metallic film of aluminum, copper, aluminum alloy or the like, an insulating film of SiO.sub.2 or the like, etc. on a substrate;
uniformly applying a photoresist onto such films;
exposing the photoresist, or scanning the photoresist with electron rays, and then developing the resultant to form a resist pattern;
selectively etching the above-described conductive metallic film, insulating film, etc. using the obtained pattern as a mask, thus forming a fine circuit or the like; and then, removing the waste resist film with a remover solution.
In case where no ashing process is applied as described above, the waste resist film can be removed with a remover solution. Alternatively, in case where a dry etching and subsequently an ashing process are carried out, a degenerated resist film (by-product of dry etching adhered to the resist) is removed with a remover solution.
Examples of solutions for removing such a resist film include:
organic sulfonic-acid-based remover solutions in each of which the principal ingredient is an alkylbenzenesulfonic acid;
organic amine-based remover solutions wherein the principal ingredient is an organic amine such as monoethanolamine; and
hydrofluoric-acid-based remover solutions wherein the principal ingredient is hydrofluoric acid.
Organic sulfonic-acid-based remover solutions are difficult to handle and cause environmental problems since they are generally used in combination with another highly toxic organic solvent such as a phenolic compound, chlorobenzene, or the like. In addition, they readily corrode conductive metallic films and the like on the substrate.
Meanwhile, organic amine-based remover solutions are less toxic than organic sulfonic-acid-based remover solutions, and do not require a complicated procedure for waste disposal. And they exhibit excellent anticorrosion effects. Such remover solutions are, however, not sufficient at removing resist film which was treated by a process such as dry etching, ashing, or ion-implantation, and has degenerated to the extent that it exhibits inorganic properties. Moreover, since the removal treatment temperature when using such a remover solution is as high as 60 to 130.degree. C., combustible organic compounds in the remover solution may become volatile and because the danger of ignition, a great investment is necessary for facilities to prevent various disasters.
As for hydrofluoric-acid-based remover solutions whose principal ingredient is hydrofluoric acid, although they are superior at removing film degenerated to the extent that it exhibits inorganic properties, handling them is difficult since they are hazardous for humans and therefore difficult to handle. Further, since the compositions containing such a remover solution become acidic, peripheral apparatuses such as a chemical-solution-feeding apparatus communicated with a bath for removal treatment and a container for storage of the remover solution are readily corroded by the remover solution. In addition, complicated exhaust-gas treatment and waste-solution disposal are required.
As a remover solution for solving the above-described problems, the present inventors previously offered a remover solution in which the principal ingredient is a salt of a hydrofluoric acid and a metallic-ion-free base (hereinafter referred to as hydrofluorate remover solution) as described in a copending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/747,898. By using the hydrofluorate remover solution, the removal treatment can be performed at a low temperature and in a short period of time, thin metallic films on the substrate and peripheral apparatuses can be prevented from being corroded, and the exhaust-gas treatment and waste-solution disposal can be simplified. The hydrofluorate remover solution, however, corrodes thin metallic films such as those of Ti, Al, Al--Si, and Al--Si--Cu when the time for washing treatment with pure water after the removal treatment exceeds approximately 10 minutes. Further, if the washing treatment is performed using an organic solvent such as methanol, ethanol, isopropyl alcohol, or acetone, which have been conventionally used as a rinsing solution, instead of pure water, salts of hydrofluoric acid may be deposited on the substrate. Moreover, if the washing treatment is performed using ethylene glycol instead of pure water, the fine portions cannot be sufficiently washed because of its high viscosity, and it is difficult to completely wash off the remover solution.

Process for treating a lithographic substrate and a rinse solution for the treatment


A control panel for a portable electric generator. The control panel includes three distinct zones having logically organized switches and outlets. The first zone includes those switches used most frequently. The second zone includes a plurality of 120 VAC electrical outlets and at least one 120/240 VAC outlet. The 120 VAC outlets are separated from the 120/240 VAC outlet by a horizontally arranged, rocker style voltage selector switch for selecting either 120/240 VAC or 120 VAC operation. A third zone includes an auto throttle control for controlling an engine of the generator. The placement and organization of the switches and electrical outlets within clearly defined zones reduces the possibility of the operator unintentionally selecting the wrong outlet for use or unintentionally selecting the wrong switch.

Portable electric generators are used in a wide variety of applications. Such applications include use at construction sites for powering various electric power tools such as drills, saws, lights, electric heaters, etc., as well as in residential applications for providing a back-up source of electric power in the event of a power outage. Such portable electric generators typically have a control panel with a plurality of electrical outlets and switches for selecting certain outlets thereof for use. For example, generators which provide either 120 VAC or 240 VAC use a switch by which the user selects either 120 VAC or 240 VAC operation. Circuit breakers are also often included at various locations on the control panel.
Typically the above-described outlets, breakers and switches are not logically organized on the generator control panel. This can lead to considerable confusion on the part of the user in the event the user is in a hurry to plug a power cord into one of the outlets of the generator or if lighting conditions are not acceptable, leading to difficulty in the operator seeing the switches, outlets or breakers that the user needs to access.
Accordingly, it would be highly beneficial to provide a control panel for a portable electric generator that logically groups the various switches, outlets and circuit breakers used to control operation of the generator into different areas or "zones". More specifically, it would be highly advantageous to provide a plurality of distinct zones on the control panel wherein the various outlets, breakers and switches of the generator are grouped within each zone in a fashion that significantly eases the use of the generator and reduces the possibility of operator error in selecting outlets, switches or breakers.

Ergonomic control panel for a portable electric generator


This application provides a beam information obtaining method and an apparatus, relates to the field of communications technologies, and resolves a problem that resources of positioning reference signals are wasted because the positioning reference signals need to be omnidirectionally sent because of an unknown direction, of a terminal, caused by use of a beam, when the terminal is positioned in, e.g., a 5G system. The method in this application resolves the problem and saves overheads of sending a reference signal. The method includes: The terminal receives a beam information request sent by a location management device, where the beam information request is used to request the terminal to provide measurement information of a downlink beam. The terminal obtains beam information, where the beam information includes information about a reference signal that is sent by at least one network device and that is measured by the terminal.

With continuous development of communications technologies, communication between a terminal and a network node has become a common type of communication between devices. It becomes increasingly important for a network node to position a terminal or for a terminal to request a positioning service to implement a specific application. In new radio (NR) in fifth generation mobile communications (5G), beam-based wireless communication is used to improve efficiency of communication on a frequency spectrum with a higher frequency. In other approaches, positioning includes a plurality of positioning methods. For example, an observed time difference of arrival (OTDOA) method is a cellular network-based positioning technology. User equipment (UE) receives a positioning reference signal (PRS) sent by each transmission point (TP), and calculates a time difference of arrival of PRSs sent by different transmission points. A location of the UE may be obtained by using a known geographical location of each PRS transmission point.
In the OTDOA, different transmission points sending PRSs are positioning base stations. In LTE, because a system operates at a low frequency, a PRS is omnidirectionally sent. A TP omnidirectionally sends a PRS on all PRS sending occasions.
Compared with that in LTE, a system operates on a higher spectrum in NR. To resist fading, a signal of an NR base station is transmitted based on beamforming, and a cell is covered by using a plurality of beams. A width and a quantity of required beams vary with an operating frequency. Therefore, in NR, a PRS also needs to be sent in a form of a beam.
PRS sending by using a beam has relatively great impact on a positioning system, and consequently how to improve PRS sending efficiency is a problem that needs to be studied in a 5G positioning system.

Positioning beam information obtaining method and apparatus


The present invention provides a novel molecule that catalyzes a hydrolysis reaction and is different from enzyme proteins. The catalytic peptide according to the present invention is a catalytic peptide that catalyzes a hydrolysis reaction, including at least one peptide selected from the group consisting of the following peptides (A1) to (A4):    (A1) a peptide consisting of Box A and at least one of an upstream region and a downstream region therefrom in a Tob/BTG protein;    (A2) a peptide consisting of a partial region of the peptide (A1);    (A3) a peptide that consists of an amino acid sequence obtained by deletion, substitution, addition, and/or insertion of one or more amino acids in an amino acid sequence of the peptide (A1) or (A2) and has hydrolysis activity; and    (A4) a peptide consisting of an amino acid sequence with a sequence identity of at least 85% to the amino acid sequence of the peptide (A1) or (A2) and having hydrolysis activity.

In a biochemical approach to degrade a protein, an enzyme protein that catalyzes a hydrolysis reaction is used generally. However, it is known that the stability of an enzyme protein is affected easily by, for example, conditions such as humidity, temperature, and acidity, so that the enzyme protein is denatured easily. On this account, there is a demand for a novel molecule that catalyzes a reaction in a similar manner to an enzyme protein.

Peptide exhibiting hydrolytic activity and use thereof

OKINAWA INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY SCHOOL CORPORATION


A waste toner transfer apparatus in an electrophotographic printer to transfer waste toner removed by a cleaning unit and transferred to a waste toner storage container. The waste toner transfer apparatus includes a duct connecting the cleaning unit and the waste toner storage container, a conveying coil having a spiral shape which is installed in the duct and rotates, and an insertion member inserted in the conveying coil.

This application claims benefit under 35 U.S.C. § 119(a) of Korean Patent Application No. 2003-44840 and Korean Patent Application No. 2003-45387, respectively filed on Jul. 3, 2003 and Jul. 4, 2003 in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the entire disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference.
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an electrophotographic printer. More particularly, the present invention relates to a waste toner transfer apparatus to transfer waste toner generated during a printing process to a waste toner storage container and an electrophotographic printer adopting the same.
2. Description of the Related Art
In an image forming process of an electrophotographic printer, when an exposure unit scans light corresponding to image information onto a photoreceptor that is charged to a predetermined electric potential, an electrostatic latent image is formed on the photoreceptor. A developing unit supplies toner to the electrostatic latent image to form a toner image. Generally, four developing unites containing toners for cyan, magenta, yellow, and black colors are needed for a color electrostatic latent printer. The toner image is transferred directly onto a recording medium, or via an intermediate medium, from the photoreceptor. While the recording medium passes through a fusing unit, the toner image is fused onto the recording medium by heat and pressure. As a result of the above processes, a mono or color image is printed on the recording medium.
While a wet type electrophotographic printer uses a wet developer formed by dispersing toner powder in a liquid carrier, a dry type electrophotographic printer uses toner powder as a developer. Waste toner remaining on the photoreceptor or the intermediate transfer medium during the image forming process is removed therefrom. The removed waste toner is transferred to a waste toner storage container. The electrophotographic printer typically includes a waste toner transfer apparatus for transferring waste toner to the waste toner storage container.
FIG. 1 is a view illustrating a conventional waste toner transfer apparatus. Referring to FIG. 1, a cleaning apparatus 1 removes waste toner from the photoreceptor or intermediate transfer medium. The waste toner removed by the cleaning apparatus 1 is transferred by a waste toner transfer apparatus 2 to a waste toner storage container (not shown). The waste toner enters a duct 4 through an inlet portion 3. A shaft 5 rotated by a drive motor 6 is installed in the duct 4 and a conveying coil 7 is coupled to an end portion of the shaft 5. The duct 4 and the waste toner storage container are connected by a pipe 8. The conveying coil 7 is installed to extend through the inside of the pipe 8. The waste toner entering the duct 4 through the inlet portion 3 is transferred by the conveying coil 7 to the waste toner storage container along the pipe 8.
FIG. 2 is a more detailed view of section "A" of the conveying coil shown in FIG. 1. The waste toner transferred along the conveying coil 7 falls in the inner space of the conveying coil 7 as indicated by arrows shown in FIG. 2. Thus, the inner space of the conveying coil 7 must be filled in order for the conveying coil 7 to transfer the waste toner to the waste toner storage container. That is, when the inside of the pipe 8 is filled with the waste toner, the waste toner is transferred to the waste toner storage container as the conveying coil 7 rotates. In this state, the density of the waste toner inside the pipe 8 gradually increases. In particular, when the waste toner is left in a high temperature and high humidity environment for a long time, the waste toner becomes solidified. Then, even when the conveying coil 7 rotates, the waste toner is not transferred and the conveying coil 7 may be destroyed or the drive motor 6 rotating the conveying coil 7 can become stalled due to an overload. Also, since the waster toner is not transferred, the waste toner is accumulated in the cleaning unit 1.

Waste toner transfer apparatus and electrophotographic printer adopting the same


In order to provide a gradient magnetic field application method and apparatus for preventing artifacts due to a magnetic field outside a field of view (FOV), and a magnetic resonance imaging apparatus employing such a gradient magnetic field application apparatus, in performing a plurality of RF excitations of spins of atomic nuclei within a subject to be imaged in the presence of a gradient magnetic field and producing an image based on magnetic resonance signals generated by the spins, at least the polarity of the gradient magnetic field in a first RF excitation (G90) and the polarity of the gradient magnetic field in the next RF excitation (G180) are made opposite to each other.

The present invention relates to a gradient magnetic field application method and apparatus and a magnetic resonance imaging apparatus, and more particularly to a method and apparatus for applying a gradient magnetic field in exciting spins of atomic nuclei, and a magnetic resonance imaging apparatus employing such a gradient magnetic field application apparatus.
In magnetic resonance imaging, magnetic field gradients are generated in a space to be imaged to allow the three-dimensional position of voxels to be identified by frequency of magnetic resonance signals generated by spins of atomic nuclei, such as protons. The generation of the magnetic field gradients involves generating a static magnetic field a having a uniform magnetic field strength B0 in a field of view (FOV), as exemplarily shown as a profile of the magnetic field strength in FIG. 1, applying a symmetric gradient magnetic field b having a direction on one side and a direction on the other side opposite to each other with respect to the center O of the FOV, and obtaining a composite magnetic field c with a gradient by composing the magnetic fields a and b. To generate the static magnetic field a, a superconductive electromagnet, a normal conductive electromagnet, a permanent magnet or the like is employed. To generate the gradient magnetic field b, a gradient coil is employed having an appropriate loop shape.
When such a gradient magnetic field is generated, a peripheral region d is formed outside the FOV in the left portion of the drawing, i.e., on the side on which the static magnetic field a and the gradient magnetic field b have the same direction, where the composite magnetic field c has the, same strength as the magnetic field within the FOV, because both the strengths of the static magnetic field a generated by the magnet, and the gradient magnetic field b generated by the gradient coil decrease on both sides of the FOV. Accordingly, the magnetic resonance signals generated in the peripheral region d have a frequency common to the magnetic resonance signals generated in the FOV, resulting in artifacts in the obtained image due to wraparound from the outside of FOV.
Magnetic resonance imaging employing spin echoes attempts to reduce such artifacts by making the strength of a gradient magnetic field G90 applied in 90xc2x0 excitation and the strength of a gradient magnetic field G180 applied in 180xc2x0 excitation different, as exemplarily shown in FIG. 2. Then, the peripheral region d90 by the gradient magnetic field G90 and the peripheral region d180 by the gradient magnetic field G180 become different from each other, and those spin echoes which induce artifacts are generated in a reduced region dat where these peripheral regions overlap.
However, although the region in which the artifact-inducing spin echoes are generated is reduced by the above technique, it does not completely disappear. Therefore, the effect of reducing artifacts is still insufficient.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a gradient magnetic field application method and apparatus for preventing artifacts due to a magnetic field outside a field of view (FOV), and a magnetic resonance imaging apparatus employing such a gradient magnetic field application apparatus.
In accordance with a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a gradient magnetic field application method for applying a gradient magnetic field in performing a plurality of RF excitations of spins of atomic nuclei, the method comprising the steps of making at least the polarity of the gradient magnetic field in a first RF excitation and the polarity of the gradient magnetic field in the next RF excitation opposite to each other.
In accordance with a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a gradient magnetic field application apparatus for applying a gradient magnetic field in performing a plurality of RF excitations of spins of atomic nuclei, the apparatus making at least the polarity of the gradient magnetic field in a first RF excitation and the polarity of the gradient magnetic field in the next RF excitation opposite to each other.
In accordance with a third aspect of the invention, there is provided a magnetic resonance imaging apparatus for performing a plurality of RF excitations of spins of atomic nuclei within a subject to be imaged in the presence of a gradient magnetic field, and producing an image based on magnetic resonance signals generated by the spins, the apparatus comprising gradient magnetic field application means for making at least the polarity of the gradient magnetic field in a first RF excitation and the polarity of the gradient magnetic field in the next RF excitation opposite to each other.
In accordance with a fourth aspect of the invention, there is provided a magnetic resonance imaging method for performing a plurality of RF excitations of spins of atomic nuclei within a subject to be imaged in the presence of a gradient magnetic field, and producing an image based on magnetic resonance signals generated by the spins, the method comprising the steps of making at least the polarity of the gradient magnetic field in a first RF excitation and the polarity of the gradient magnetic field in the next RF excitation opposite to each other.
According to the present invention, a region in which spin echoes are generated outside the FOV is removed by making at least the polarity of a gradient magnetic field in a first RF excitation and the polarity of the gradient magnetic field in the next RF excitation opposite to each other.
Thus, the present invention can provide a gradient magnetic field application method and apparatus for preventing artifacts due to a magnetic field outside a field of view, and a magnetic resonance imaging apparatus employing such a gradient magnetic field application apparatus.
Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description of the preferred embodiments of the invention as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

Method and apparatus for preventing artifacts due to magnetic field outside of field of view


Aspects of the invention include methods and systems for electronically signing a plurality of documents, such as an insurance application, a loan application, a set of mortgage papers, a bank application, or the like. A customer, or multiple customers, electronically submits the signature once and the customer's one signature is applied to all of the areas where the customer signature is required. The electronic signature may include initials and/or a graphical representation of the customer's handwritten signature. Aspects of the invention include an apparatus comprising a display, a memory, and a processor coupled to the memory and programmed with computer-executable instructions that, when executed, perform a method for electronically signing a plurality of documents.

Currently, when a customer is filling out an insurance application or signing a set of mortgage papers, the customer will have to sign his or her name many different times on many different forms in order to complete the application or mortgage process. Also, with technological advances the application process is becoming more of an online process, as opposed to a paper process. However, the signature process is still primarily completed on paper, which is known as a wet signature. Electronic signatures are known in the art and are currently being used with credit card purchases and other one-time signature methods.
The current online application process is normally completed by the insurance agent with the help of the customer. Once the online application is completed, the agent then generates the required forms along with a fax cover sheet with a barcode. The generated online application is generally in PDF or other electronic paper format. The agent then prints off the PDF version of the application for the customer to wet sign. The agent obtains all the required wet signatures from the customer. This process can require a number of wet signatures by a single customer as well as multiple signatures from multiple customers. The customer may also need to wet initial many different areas in order to meet the application requirements.
Once the agent has the wet signatures, the agent indicates through the system that the wet signatures are in hand and acknowledges the legal agreement online. The agent will then initiate the submission action to start the data collection feed. Following the submission of the application online, the agent then faxes the fully wet signed application forms with the fax data cover sheet. The cover sheet is normally required to be faxed along with the online application forms in order to provide a tracking mechanism for the company and agent.
This same current process as described above can be very similar for other processes which require multiple forms and multiple signatures for completion, such as a mortgage application, bank application, loan application, or other more complicated financial transactions.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

One-to-many electronic signature process


A coaxial connector system comprises a coaxial plug connector and socket connector. The coaxial connectors have a center conductor defining a center axis of the connector and an outer conductor coaxial to the center conductor. The plug connector's outer conductor has a cylindrical shape with slits forming a plurality of spring loaded contact elements, while the socket connector's outer conductor is a cylindrical shape forming a contact surface. Furthermore, the connectors have a mechanical contact surface at a right angle to their center axis and distant from the spring loaded contact elements and the contact surface. Cylindrically precision centering means are provided at the connectors, which fit into each other and precisely align the center axis of the connectors resulting in reduced passive intermodulation. This design allows for further reducing contact gaps between the outer and inner conductors to further improve return loss at high frequencies.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a coaxial plug-and-socket connector for radio frequencies (RF), comprising a socket part and a plug part and further comprising a precision centering means of the socket part and the plug part.
2. Description of Relevant Art
RF connectors as disclosed in the U.S. Pat. No. 4,929,188, having a frontal contact of the outer conductors, require a significant minimum pressure between the plug part and the socket part to obtain a low intermodulation connection. This necessitates a comparatively massive connector housing and high locking forces.
The US Patent Application Publication 2011/0130048 A1 discloses a RF connector without a frontal contact of the outer conductors. Instead, an axial mechanical stop outside the outer conductor signal path is provided. This allows for lower locking forces. The drawback is that the outer conductor current path varies with mechanical tolerances and the relative position between the plug part and the socket part. Accordingly, the return loss of the connector is degraded at higher frequencies.
This is further improved by U.S. Pat. No. 7,294,023 B2. A circular contact element is inserted into the socket housing providing a plurality of contact points. This allows for a high-quality broadband connection. The disadvantages of this design are its complexity and the associated costs.
The German utility model DE 1813161 U discloses a radio frequency plug connector, where the outer conductor contacts at its front end the socket connector. This allows for compensation of mechanical deviations. The contact springs make an outer conductor contact, even if the plug connector is located off axis relative to the socket connector. This is no precision centering.
The US patent application publication US 2008/0254668 A1 discloses a further connector, where the axial distance between plug and socket connector is defined by the outer conductor of the plug connector, contacting a surface at a reference plane within the socket connector. Furthermore, centering is not provided, as the plug connector has spring elements at the outer conductor to compensate for centering deviations.
The European patent application publication EP 0 080 845 discloses a further coaxial connector, where the axial relationship between the plug connector and the socket connector can vary due to the elasticity of a spring inserted there between.
In the international patent publication WO 2010/113536 A1, a coaxial connector for printed circuit boards is disclosed. This connector does not have an axial stop. Instead, they are notches at the outer conductor of the plug connector, which fit into grooves of the socket connector. This does not result in a well-defined axial positioning. Instead, the connector is designed in such a way to tolerate displacement in an axial direction. Furthermore, there is no centering means. Instead, the outer conductor is flexible and may compensate for variations.

Coaxial, plug and socket connectors with precision centering means


The present invention provides an oven appliance with a bracket for attaching a component such as a fan motor to the oven appliance. One or more features are provided for minimizing the transfer of heat from the oven appliance, through the bracket, to the component. In certain embodiments, a bracket having a plurality of bracket attachment elements, a plurality of motor attachment elements, and a plurality of slots is configured to define a nonlinear path for the transfer of heat from the oven appliance to the fan motor.

Oven appliances generally include a cabinet with a cooking chamber positioned in the cabinet. Certain oven appliances may also include features for forcing movement of heated air within the cooking chamber. Such oven appliances are generally referred to as convection ovens. The forced air movement can improve e.g., the uniformity and rate of cooking of the food.
In typical convection ovens, heated air within the cooking chamber can be circulated with a fan when in the convection mode. The fan motor is supported by an exterior wall of the cooking chamber, and the fan, connected to the fan motor by a shaft, is located at the cooking chamber. Because the fan motor is supported by an exterior wall of the cooking chamber, the fan motor can be exposed to temperatures, e.g., during the convection mode or the self-cleaning mode, that may damage the fan motor. Similarly, other components supported by the oven appliance may be exposed to detrimental temperatures.
Accordingly, an oven appliance with features for minimizing heat transfer from the oven appliance to heat sensitive components would be useful. In particular, a bracket for an oven appliance that can support a component such as e.g., fan along an oven wall while minimizing heat transfer to the component would be beneficial.

Mounting bracket with thermal maze to reduce heat transfer rate


Transgenic non-human mammals and methods of preparing such mammals are disclosed. Homologous recombination is employed to inactivate genes, particularly genes coding for neuronal intermediate filaments. These animals, whose phenotype is characterized by reduced or eliminated levels of a neuronal intermediate filament, are useful as models for studying aging, injury to the nervous system, and pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases. They are also useful for the screening of potential therapeutic agents.

Neurons are important cells in the nervous system, being involved in receiving, organizing, and transmitting information. Each neuron contains a cell body, an axon (a thin, tube-like process that arises from the cell body and travels some distance before terminating), and dendrites (neuronal processes of the cell body that are shorter and thicker than axons). The cytoskeleton of the neuron provides mechanical strength to the axons and dendrites and a track for transport of materials between the cell body and the nerve terminal. The cytoskeleton is a system of interconnected macromolecular filaments. Three polymeric structures form the basis of this cytoskeleton: actin filaments (microfilaments), microtubules, and intermediate filaments.
Intermediate filaments (IFs) are 10 nm filaments that are found in most eukaryotic cells. There are six classes of IFs recognized according to sequence homology and gene structure: type I and II IFs include the acidic, neutral, and basic keratins; type III IFs include vimentin, desmin, the glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), peripherin, and plasticin; type IV IFs include neurofilament proteins and .alpha.-internexin; type V IFs include the nuclear lamins; and type VI IFs include nestin expressed in neuroepithelial cells.
Neuronal intermediate filaments (NIFs) include peripherin, .alpha.-internexin and neurofilaments. The NIF proteins are encoded by a large multigene family displaying cell and tissue-specific expression patterns throughout development. For example, during embryonic development in neurons, .alpha.-internexin and peripherin are expressed at high levels, which decline as the levels of neurofilament proteins increase in the postnatal period during maturation of nerve cells.
The NIF proteins are made up of an assembly of protein subunits. The current model of NIF assembly involves 1) the bonding of two subunits to form a dimer; 2) the aggregation of two antiparallel dimers to form a tetramer, called a protofilament; 3) the joining of about eight protofilaments end on end; and 4) the association of these joined protofilaments to other joined protofilaments by staggered overlaps to form a 10 nm filament. Moreover, the cytoplasmic NIF proteins share a homologous central region of similar size (approximately 310 amino acids) flanked by amino- and carboxy-terminal domains varying greatly in sequence and in length. The central region of NIF proteins forms an extended .alpha.-helical rod domain that plays a critical role in protein assembly into 10 nm filaments.
Of all the NIF proteins that participate in the formation of the neuronal cytoskeleton, the neurofilament triplet proteins are the most abundant. These neurofilament proteins (NFs) are expressed exclusively in neurons. NFs are found predominantly in axons, where they run longitudinally and parallel to each other. NFs are formed by the copolymerization of three NF protein subunits: light (61 kDa)(NF-L), medium (90 kDa)(NF-M), and heavy (110 kDa)(NF-H). NF-L subunits form the core of the NF and are essential for NF assembly. NF-M and NF-H subunits form side-arm projections in the NF structure, cross-linking NFs and other neuronal structures into a three-dimensional IF matrix. The NF-M and NF-H projections appear to modulate the spacing between NFs, regulating the caliber of axons.
The three different NF subunits are encoded by three different genes, each of which is under separate developmental control. Significant expression of NF-L and NF-M is first seen in the embryonic brain, while in most neurons, NF-H expression is delayed relative to the other subunits and occurs in the post-natal period.
Neurofilaments and Neurodegenerative Diseases:
Neurofilaments have been linked to a number of neurodegenerative diseases. Large motor neurons are particularly vulnerable to NF abnormalities because of their high NF content and their long axons. Abnormal depositions of NFs is a phenomenon observed in many neurodegenerative diseases (Table 1).
TABLE 1 ______________________________________ Human Diseases with Abnormal NF Accumulations Disease Abnormalities Prevalence ______________________________________ ALS NF depositions in motor neurons 70% of cases Decline of 60% in NF-L mRNA Parkinson's disease Lewy bodies in substantia nigra 100% of cases and locus coreuleus Declines of 30% NF-L mRNA and 70% NF-H mRNA Alzheimer's disease Cortical Lewy bodies 20% of cases Decline of 70% in NF-L mRNA Lewy body Dementia Cortical Lewy bodies Guam-Parkinsonism NF depositions in motor neurons 100% of cases Giant Axonal NF accumulations in peripheral Neuropathy axons Peripheral NF accumulations in peripheral Neuropathies axons that can be induced by various toxic agents, such as IDPN, hexanedione, acrylamide ______________________________________
As an example, there is evidence that deregulation of neurofilament expression may play a central role in motor neuron diseases such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). ALS is an adult-onset neurological disorder resulting from the degeneration of motor neurons in the brain and spinal cord. This leads to denervation atrophy of skeletal muscles and, ultimately, to paralysis and death.
A characteristic pathological finding in ALS patients is the presence of abnormal neurofilament accumulation in the axons of spinal motor neurons. Evidence suggests that NF accumulation may cause axonal degeneration by impeding transport of components required for axonal maintenance. Aberrant neuronal swellings that are highly reminiscent of those found in ALS have recently been reported in transgenic mice overexpressing either the NF-L or NF-H gene.
As additional evidence for NF involvement in ALS, a recent report has revealed that there is a 60% decrease in levels of NF-L mRNA in the motor neurons of patients with ALS (Bergeron et al., (1994) Brain Res. 659:272-276). As well, mutant NF-H alleles have been found in some ALS patients (Figlewicz et al. (1994) Hum. Molec. Genet. 3:1757-1761).
NFs are also implicated in Parkinson's disease. The pathological hallmark of idiopathic Parkinson's disease is the presence of Lewy bodies (LBs), cytoplasmic inclusions made up of altered NF proteins. These LBs are located in neurons of the substantia nigra. A subset of demented elderly patients also exhibit LB-like inclusions in their cortical neurons. The mechanisms involved in the abnormal aggregation of NF proteins to form LBs are still unknown. It has been found that levels of NF-L and NF-H mRNAs in substantia nigra neurons are reduced in Parkinsonian patients as compared to age-matched controls. There is also reduced NF synthesis in LB-containing neurons.
In patients with Alzheimer'disease, cortical LBs are present in approximately 20% of cases. It has also been discovered that there is a 70% decrease in NF-L mRNA expression in these patients. (Crapper McLachlan et al., (1988) Molec. Brain Res. 3:255-262)
The mechanisms underlying the abnormal aggregation of NF proteins in disease are still unknown. It is very interesting, however, that decreased levels of NF mRNAs are associated with degenerative neurons in ALS, Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, and other neurodegenerative diseases. Whether down-regulating NF gene expression can directly contribute to formation of NF depositions or to other pathological changes in specific populations of neurons remains to be determined.
Neurofilaments and Aging:
Aging is a factor that may contribute to axonal atrophy. There is a normal decline (50-60%) in NF mRNA expression with aging. (Parhad et al., (1995) J. Neurosci. Res. 41:355-366) The resulting decrease in NFs may be linked to axonal atrophy and a reduced capacity for compensatory axonal outgrowth during aging. Methods of enhancing neuronal regeneration could attenuate the aging process.
Neurofilaments and Injury:
Following injury in mammals, peripheral nervous system (PNS) axons have the capacity to regenerate, whereas central nervous system (CNS) neurons have limited axonal outgrowth. It is widely believed that NFs are not required for axonal regeneration following injury. This notion is based on the observation that neurofilament mRNAs decrease two to threefold following axotomy. Although NFs are present in the CNS, their numbers, which are much lower than in the PNS, may not be sufficient to sustain axonal outgrowth.
Animal Models:
A number of animal models for neurodegenerative diseases have been created. Transgenic mice have been generated that overexpress NF genes. In one instance, transgenic mice carrying multiple copies of the human NF-H gene were created (F. Cote, J. -F. Collard, and J. -P. Julien, (1993) Cell 73:35--46; J. -F. Collard, F. Cote, and J. -P. Julien, (1995) Nature 375:61-64). These mice progressively develop physiological and pathological features reminiscent of ALS. They are characterized by the presence of abnormal NF accumulations in the perikarya and proximal axons of spinal motor neurons. With age, motor dysfunction progresses by the atrophy and subsequent degeneration of axons distal to the NF swellings. As well, there is a dramatic reduction in rates of axonal transport of all NF proteins and other proteins, including tubulin and actin.
Other transgenic mice have been created that overproduce normal and mutant NF-L proteins (Xu et al. (1993) Cell 73:23-33; Lee et al. (1994) Neuron 13:975:988). These mice develop motor neuron degeneration accompanied by the accumulation of neurofilaments in spinal motor neurons.
A transgenic mouse has been created that expresses a fusion protein in which the carboxyl terminus of NF-H was replaced by beta-galactodisase (J. Eyer and A. Peterson, (1994) Neuron 12:389-405). The resulting axons develop small calibers.
A transgenic mouse has been engineered that expresses a mutant form of the human copper-zinc superoxide dismutase (SOD)(Gurney et al., (1994) Science 264:1772-1775). This mutation is responsible for 2% of ALS cases. The mechanism by which SOD mutants induce selective vulnerability to degeneration of motor neurons in familial ALS is unknown; however, NF accumulation and abnormalities in degenerating motor neurons have been reported.
Transgenic mouse models that overexpress wild-type or mutant NF genes have provided evidence that NF accumulations can play a causal role in motor neuron disease. It seems paradoxical, however, that levels of NF mRNAs are not increased; rather, they are reduced in patients with neurodegenerative diseases, including ALS, Parkinson's disease, and Alzheimer's disease. This suggests that NF depositions in neurodegenerative diseases might be induced by perturbations in the stoichiometry of assembled NF subunits; accordingly, there is a need for an animal model having disrupted NF genes.
A number of animal models having decreased amounts of neurofilaments have been reported. A mutant strain of quail has been discovered that is lacking NF-L subunits and is deficient in NFs (Yamasaki et al (1992) Lab. Invest. 66:734-743; Yamasaki et al. (1991) Acta Neuropathol. 82:427-434). As well, a canine model of motor neuron disease has been shown to have NF accumulations in motor neurons and a low ratio of NF-L to NF-H mRNAs (Murna and Cork, (1993) Lab Invest. 69:436-442).
Homologous recombination may be employed for inactivation or alteration of genes in a site-directed manner. A number of papers describe the use of homologous recombination in mammalian cells, including human cells. Illustrative of these papers are Kucherlpati et al. (1984) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 81:3153-3157; Kucherlapati et al. (1985) Mol. Cell. Bio. 5:714-720; Smithies et al. (1985) Nature 317:230-234; Wake et al. (1985) Mol. Cell. Bio. 8:2080-2089; Ayares et al. (1985) Genetics 111:375-388; Ayares et al. (1986) Mol. Cell. Bio. 7:1656-1662; Song et al. (1987) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 84:6820-6824; Thomas et al. (1986) Cell 44:419-428; Thomas and Capecchi (1987) Cell 51:503-512; Nandi et al. (1988) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 85:3845-3849; and Mansour et al. (1988) Nature 336:348-352. Various aspects of using homologous recombination to create specific genetic mutations in embryonic stem cells and to transfer these mutations to the germline have been described (Evans and Kaufman (1981) Nature 294:154-146; Doctschman et al., (1987) Nature 330:576-578; Thomas and Capecchi (1987) Cell 51:503-512; Thompson et al. (1989) Cell 56:316-321. The combination of a mutant polyoma enhancer and a thymidine kinase promoter to drive the neomycin gene has been shown to be active in both embryonic stem cells and EC cells by Thomas and Capecchi, supra, 1987; Nicholas and berg (1983) in Teratocarcinoma Stem Cell, eds. Siver, martin and Strikland (Cold Spring Harbor Lab., Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y. (pp. 469-497); and Linney and Donerly, Cell 35:693-699, 1983.
There are, however, no animal models in which the different NF subunits are completely absent. The present invention is directed towards overcoming this void. The role of each NF subunit in the assembly and function of NFs is poorly understood. A significant need remains for an animal model to determine the specific role of each NF subunit in neuronal structure and function, to test the possibility that perturbations in the stoichiometry of NF subunits might induce abnormal NF depositions, and to further investigate the mechanisms underlying NF-induced pathology.
This background information is provided for the purpose of making known information believed by the applicant to be of possible relevance to the present invention. No admission is necessarily intended, nor should be construed, that any of the preceding information constitutes prior art against the present invention. Publications referred to throughout the specification are hereby incorporated by reference in their entireties in this application.

Homologous recombination for animal model exhibiting reduced levels or elimination of a neuronal intermediate filament protein


An automatic tension adjuster for a fan belt which automatically adjusts the tension of a fan belt even at the time of sudden decrease in speed of an associated engine so as to prevent slip, so-called "creak" or the like from occurring between the fan belt and a crank pulley. For this purpose, there is provided an adjusting means (30) for automatically adjusting an amount by which a lever (5) swings in a direction opposite to that in which it has pushed a tension pulley (4) against the fan belt (8) when the rotational speed of the crank pulley (1) suddenly lowers. This adjusting means includes the lever (5), a yoke (10), an adjusting bolt (13), a lock nut (14) and a fixing bracket (20).

A conventional device for automatically adjusting the tension of a fan belt (an automatic tensioner) will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5. In the drawings, numeral 101 indicates a crank pulley, which is firmly attached to the tip end of the crankshaft of an engine (not shown). Numeral 102 indicates a fan pulley, which is rotatably attached to the tip end of an shaft firmly attached to a bracket of an engine front cover (not shown), and to an end surface of which a fan 103 is attached. Numeral 104 indicates a tension pulley, which is rotatably attached to the tip end of a lever 105 fitted onto a shaft section 106 firmly attached to the bracket of the engine front cover (not shown) and adapted to make a swing motion. Further, a coil spring 107 is wound around the shaft section 106 of the lever 105, and, by the reaction force of this coil spring, the tension pulley 104 is pushed against a belt 108, thereby imparting tension to the belt 108.
The operation of this device will now be described. During normal operation of the engine, the belt 108 is driven by the crank pulley 101, and, due to the resistance of the fan 103, a belt portion 108a receives a tensile force and tightens, whereas a belt portion 108b slackens. However, the tension pulley 104 moves in the direction of the arrow F due to the action of the coil spring 107 attached to the shaft section 106, and pushes the belt portion 108b to impart tension thereto, so that no slackening occurs. If the engine suddenly accelerates, the acceleration time is long, so that the tension pulley 104 follows the belt portion 108b to impart tension thereto, thus preventing slackening.
At the time of sudden deceleration of the engine, the deceleration time is short, so that the tension pulley 104 cannot follow the belt portion 108b. Further, while the crank pulley 101 on the driving side rapidly decelerates, the fan pulley 102 on the driven side cannot decelerate rapidly due to the inertia of the fan 103, with the result that the fan pulley 102 is turned to the driving side and the crank pulley 101 to the driven side. As a result, the belt portion 108a becomes the slack side, and the belt portion 108b the tight side. Due to the tight belt portion 108b, the tension pulley 104 moves in the reverse direction R, thereby causing the belt portion 108a to further slacken. As a result, the crank pulley 101 and the belt 108 become liable to slip and cause so-called "creak."
The present invention has been made with a view to solving the above problem. It is accordingly an object of the present invention to provide an automatic tension adjuster for a fan belt which adjusts the tension of a fan belt even at the time of sudden decrease in speed of the engine so as to prevent slip, so-called "creak" or the like from occurring between the fan belt and a crank pulley.


A device for controlling at least one valve, the device comprising a body having a non-deformable cavity communicating exclusively with the outside via at least four rectilinear cylinders that are closed respectively by an opening piston (P1) actuated by an opening cam (C1), a closing piston (P2) actuated by a closing cam (C2), a shuttle piston (Pa) serving to load or unload the device, and a piston (Ps) that is mechanically connected to the valve. By adjusting the angular phase shift between the opening and closing cams (C1, C2), the control device of the invention makes it possible in operation to adjust the lift of the valve, the angular duration of the opening of the valve, and if necessary, to deactivate the valve completely throughout the duration of a cycle.

The term "timing" is used in conventional manner to designate all of the opening and closing sequences of the valves of the engine.
It is known both that the performance of a reciprocating engine is highly dependent on the angular positions of the crank shaft at which the valves open and close during the cycle of the engine, and also that the optimum timing diagram changes with changing operating conditions, in particular with changing speed and changing load. Timing has an influence on the actual compression and expansion ratios (Miller cycles), on the quantity of exhaust gas that is optionally recycled, on the energy available from the exhaust gas, on the delivery ratio, on mechanical friction, etc. It is therefore desirable, while the engine is in operation, to be able to modify independently the angular positions of the crank shafts at which the intake and exhaust valves open and close.
In addition, the lift of intake valves strongly influences the turbulence in the combustion chamber, and it may be advantageous to adjust the power of a controlled ignition engine by throttling the admission stream via the intake valve seats rather than by means of a butterfly valve arranged upstream from an admission manifold.
Finally, it may be advantageous to deactivate certain cylinders of an engine by keeping their intake valves and/or their exhaust valves closed during certain stages of operation of the engine.
When the valves are actuated by cam shafts, said valves are pressed by return springs via alternating or sliding mechanisms against rotary cams of profiles that determine the motions in reciprocating translation of said valves. In order to avoid impacts, contact must never be lost between the elements in the drive train that connects together the cams and the valves, and also the valves must land on their seats at a speed that is practically zero.
Most variable devices that have been used in the past generate movement of a valve by using the profile of a single cam that is deformed mechanically or hydraulically.
The complexity of prior art devices for mechanically varying the duration and the lift of valve events (such as the "Valvetronic" device that constitutes the subject matter in particular of patent EP 1 039 103 in the name of BMW) requires very accurate machining, thereby making such devices relatively expensive.
Electrohydraulic devices (such as the "Uniair" device described in particular in patents EP 0 803 642 and EP 1 344 900 in the name of C.R.F.) present the drawback of losing all or some of the energy accumulated in the return springs and of depending largely on the viscosity of the lubricating oil.
Other devices generate valve movement from the profiles of two cams that can be phase-shifted relative to each other, the cams generally being carried by two coaxial shafts, one of which serves to open the valve and the other to close it.
Patent application WO 02/48510 in the name of the Applicant teaches hydraulically mixing the profiles of two phase-shiftable cams in order to modulate the duration of opening, with the drawback of presenting a minimum threshold for valve lift that makes it impossible to reduce the permeability of the orifice controlled by the valve in progressive manner down to total closure thereof.
The present invention relies on the same principle and seeks to provide the same functions as the best prior art devices, by implementing a single rotary phase shifter between two synchronous cam shafts.
The main object of the present invention is thus to be able to act, while in operation, to adjust the angular duration of the opening of at least one valve and also the lift of the valve all the way down to total closure, without losing the energy accumulated in the return means of the device as a result of a hydraulic fluid being throttled.

Device for the variable control of at least one valve, for example for a reciprocating engine