There is described a process for the purification of an impure preparation containing fentanyl by means of a reverse phase preparative chromatography process. A chromatographic column is loaded with a stationary phase, typically a silica particle having an organic ligand bound thereto. With a loading ratio of from about 50 to about 150 the impure preparation is acidified and passed through the column. The column is eluted with typically an aqueous solution of acetonitrile and the purified fentanyl is obtained in a specified cut.

Fentanyl is the common name for N-Phenyl-N-[1-(2phenylethyl)-4-piperidinyl]propanamide, a well-known powerful analgesic in the narcotic range and a known tranquilizer in veterinary practice. It is typically provided commercially in the form of the citrate salt also known as N-(phenethyl-4-piperdyl)propionanilide citrate.
An early process for the manufacture of fentanyl is found in U.S. Pat. No. 3,164,600 to Janssen. Following this early disclosure, precipitation and re-crystallization typically purified the product. Multiple precipitations were typically required to provide adequate purity for pharmaceutical use. In addition to yield loss in such processes, this practice greatly increases the complexity and cost of the product. Furthermore, precipitation processes can be lengthy requiring extended filtration time due to the particle size that is eventually produced.
One example of an attempt to improve the precipitation and crystallization process for pharmaceuticals such as fentanyl is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,596,206 to Lee. In this method a device for generating pharmaceutical agent particles using focused acoustic energy is disclosed. A solution of the pharmaceutical is provided in a suitable solvent into which is introduced a miscible "antisolvent" that upon admixture with the solution droplet causes the pharmaceutical agent in the droplet to precipitate. The focused acoustic energy causes a small droplet of the solution to be injected into antisolvent whereupon the pharmaceutical precipitates providing a small crystalline product. A device for accomplishing this method is also disclosed. Such method and device, while providing an improvement to the precipitation method still involves solvents, antisolvents and specialized equipment, all of which maintains the above noted disadvantages of the precipitation method for separating and purifying the pharmaceutical.
Other means to achieve separation or purification of pharmaceuticals includes adsorption processes such as the use of carbon. Another is the use of adsorption through ion exchange. Although this was done with alkaloids such as codeine and morphine, it has the limitation of requiring a low feed concentration. This is due to the need for the use of high pH flushes that can cause precipitation. Any precipitation can potentially compromise the entire purification process. Another disadvantage to this process is that significant salt is required so that another step of either dialysis or reverse osmosis is required for ion-removal.
Yet another way to achieve adsorption is through polar interaction or normal phase adsorption. Although this method is successful, it requires the extensive use of organic solvents. Moreover, although the alkaloids can be separated from each other, more evaporation is required.
Any use of analytical chromatography on narcotics such as fentanyl would guide an individual of ordinary skill in the art away from using preparative chromatography for an industrial scale process. Unlike preparative chromatography, analytical chromatography generally requires complete separation of each peak. Unlike preparative chromatography, complete separation of each peak is measured by ultraviolet (UV) absorbency. This is achieved by loading an infinitely small mass of the feed onto the column, and using a small particle size diameter (often less than 5 micrometers (196.85 microinches) in the stationary phase. The small particle size generates much higher pressures than those found in preparative chromatography. These higher pressures mandate the use of very large, strong and expensive chromatography equipment, which would negate the commercial viability for this analytical process. The equipment would also be very large in consideration that an infinitely small mass of feed is loaded in each run. In preparative chromatography, the objective is to recover the desired feed component with the required purity. The desired component can be recovered with impurities, so long as the impurities are within specification limits. The particle size of the stationary phase is small enough to achieve the separation, but is often greater than 10 microns (393.70 microinches). This limits the pressure drop generated. Also, in preparative chromatography, the maximum amount of feed is loaded with the constraint of attaining the desired product quality. This allows the product to leave the column with a maximum concentration, which then minimizes the size of the downstream equipment, especially any evaporating or concentrating units.
Various patents refer to preparative chromatography for the purpose of purifying or separating various non-ionic chemicals. Early patents in this field are U.S. Pat. No. 4,396,598 to Lin (X-ray contrast agents) and U.S. Pat. No. 5,204,005 to Doran, et al. In the '005 patent the process involves packing a chromatographic column with a chromatographic packing material, passing through the column a solution containing a water-soluble, nonionic contrast media compound and nonionic compounds as impurities at a loading ratio between approximately 10 to 1 to 1.5 to 1 weight packing material/total weight nonionic compounds. The column is then eluted to produce an eluate containing the nonionic contrast media compound.
Numerous publications followed the above '005 patent indicating various chromatographic systems, including flash, HPLC and preparative chromatography for separating various agents but not indicating conditions, clearly not teaching any industrial process. Such publications include Published Appln. US 2003/0087306, employing various chromatographic processes for separation of multimeric agents that modulate receptors, U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,395,752 and 6,127,385 indicating isomerization of L-threo-methylphenidate, U.S. Pat. No. 4,909,941 isolating recombinant deoxyribonucleic proteins, U.S. Pat. No. 6,261,537 relating to recovery of diagnostic/therapeutic agents having microbubbles coupled to one or more vectors, U.S. Pat. No. 6,331,289 relating to targeted diagnostic/therapeutic agents having more than one different vector and Published Appln. U.S. 2002/010227 relating to diagnostic therapeutic agents.
A reference to preparative, reverse phase chromatography including a loading ratio is U.S. Pat. No. 4,317,903 disclosing the purification of lincomycin hydrochloride indicating a loading weight ratio of 18 to 1, of bonded phase silica gel to starting material. A combination of chromatographic separation followed by nanofiltration with final discoloration by ion exchange resins is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,811,581. The material being separated in the '581 patent is described as non-ionic, water-soluble, tri- and hexa-iodinated opacifying agents useful as contrast agents in X-ray imaging. The chromatographic process is operated with a weight ratio of stationary phase to raw product loaded in the range of 20:1 to lower than 0.5:1.
As can be seen by the above review of the prior art, numerous organic materials have been separated or purified by means of the chromatographic process. However, in most instances the conditions under which the chromatographic separation was carried out was not indicated. Also, the materials separated by means of the chromatographic processes are greatly dissimilar to the present objects of this invention, i.e. the industrial scale separation and purification of fentanyl. While there are numerous references to analytical chromatographic applications for fentanyl, there is no suggestion that an industrial process could be employed under any conditions.
The current process for the purification of fentanyl utilizes two crystallizations of the hydrochloride salt and one alkaloid precipitation to attain the desired purity. While the purity requirements are attained, the recovery is low as about half of the fentanyl is lost to the mother liquor streams generated due to the solubility of the hydrochloride salt. Recycling the fentanyl in these streams is difficult due to the elevated level of impurities. There is a need for a more efficient and direct method to isolate highly pure fentanyl.
The present invention is directed to overcoming one or more of the problems set forth above. These deficiencies and shortcomings include, but are not limited to, alkaloid yield loss, tedious manual solid handling operations such as the loading and unloading of centrifuges or filters, reliance on protective equipment by the operator, extensive processing steps and potential multiple precipitation in order to achieve the requisite purity requirements.

Industrial method for separation and purification of fentanyl by reverse phase preparative chromatography


A method of making a reaction turbine blade for enhancing the level of dissolved gas in water passing through a turbine. The method includes the steps of machining a blank to have an overall blade profile and control points, and fixedly securing a perimeter of a plate to a region of the blank. The plate has a region spaced from the blank to form a gas channel leading from an inner edge of the blank to an outer edge of the blank. The partially formed blade comprising the blade profile and attached plate is then formed into the shape of a hydrofoil having a curved pressure surface and a curved gas channel. A shallow groove may be formed on one of the suction surface and the pressure surface leading from the inner edge toward the outer edge, with the plate secured to the blank overlying the shallow groove. Alternatively, the plate may have a concave surface facing the blank and spaced from the blank, with a perimeter of the plate secured to the blank to form a gas channel leading from the inner edge toward the outer edge.

A significant environmental problem for many hydroelectric facilities is the water quality of turbine discharges. The primary water quality problem is often low dissolved oxygen (DO) levels which occur seasonally. During the summer months, thermal stratification of the reservoir produces a surface layer of less dense, warm water with relatively high dissolved oxygen and a lower, relatively cold oxygen-depleted layer resulting from the decay of organic material on the reservoir bottom. Hydraulic turbines draw their discharges from the lower level which can create water quality problems downstream of the facility.
Relicensing and rehabilitation of a hydroelectric facility offer an opportunity to address environmental and industrial development concerns over dissolved oxygen levels and other water quality regulations which affect hydropower releases. Rehabilitating an existing hydroelectric facility may include replacement of the runner. Replacing an existing runner with a new runner having integral passages, and providing air through existing structures or new structures of the installation to the integral passages, enhances dissolved oxygen levels in the water without material losses in efficiency or substantial increases in cost of rehabilitation.
Various attempts have been made to enhance the level of dissolved oxygen in water downstream of hydroelectric installations. For example, U.S Pat. No. 4,789,051 to Fisher, Jr. discloses an apparatus comprising a manifold which contains a bounded air channel extending the length of the runner blade trailing edge. A plurality of holes are formed along the manifold extending between the channel and the turbine interior, the channel being in fluid communication with a source of oxygen. For the manifold to remain securely fastened over extended periods of operation, the trailing edge of the runner blade must be relatively thick, which may result in efficiency losses. Additionally, many installations have existing structures which make it impractical and thereby costly to provide air directly to the trailing edge of the runner blade.
Runner blade construction consists of either a solid casting or a fabrication. Most Francis runner blades built in the 70's and 80's were solid cast with extra material added in critical areas for final finishing. These castings were, and often still are, hand ground to templates and fixtures to meet the desired shapes. As machine tools have improved and the runner blade designs have become more computerized, critical areas and features of more complex geometries, such as integral passages, can nowadays be machined into the cast blades. However, this more modern machining approach has done little to improve the manufacturing cycle time, due to the long lead time associated with cast components, nor has it materially reduced manufacturing costs. Although fabricated blades offer improved cycle time and cost advantages, it has proven difficult in practice to fabricate blades having complex geometric features such as integral gas channels, particularly in the thinner portions of the blade.
The foregoing therefore indicates that prior art methods of feeding air directly to the trailing edge of the runner blade have not proved fully satisfactory in practice. Additionally, there is a need for a method of forming a runner blade having a gas channel of relatively complex geometry which offers improved cycle time and is less expensive than the prior art methods.


A computer-implemented method, comprising: obtaining motion indicators for a plurality of samples of a video stream; obtaining an anomaly state for each of a plurality of time windows of the video stream, each of the time windows spanning a subset of the samples, by (i) obtaining estimated statistical parameters for the given time window based on measured statistical parameters characterizing the motion indicators for the samples in at least one time window of the video stream that precedes the given time window and (ii) determining the anomaly state for the given time window based on the plurality of motion indicators obtained for the samples in the given time window and the estimated statistical parameters; and processing the video stream based on the anomaly state for various ones of the time windows.

A video stream often contains some image data of greater importance and other image data of lesser importance to its viewer. This is especially true in the case of security cameras, which contain image data of lesser interest to the viewer for the vast majority of their "on" time. Reviewing live or recorded footage from one or multiple cameras can therefore be a tedious process, which may result in errors if the viewer loses concentration. A system that could assist the viewer in effectively gaining access to more relevant video footage would be welcomed by the industry.

Methods and systems for detection of anomalous motion in a video stream and for creating a video summary


A laser ablation process is applied to a semiconductor substrate causing the semiconductor material surface and subsurface to be superheated to the point where material is ablated from the material substrate. Optional subsequent laser pulse(s) liquefy the particles, preferably while suspended in air, and the material surface tension causes the liquefied droplet of semiconductor material to form a sphere. The droplet preferably solidifies in air before reaching the substrate of its origin or another substrate for collection.

1. Field
This present disclosure relates to forming microspheres, particularly silicon microspheres, through laser, particularly pulsed laser and/or focused laser, irradiation and ablation of a material surface.
2. Background
Lasers have for many years been used to scribe and anneal a variety of materials, including semiconductor materials such as silicon wafers. Randomly sized and shaped ablated material has heretofore been a waste by-product of such activities.
As technologies push the limits of scaling to smaller dimensions, there is a need to engineer materials on the microscale in order to provide unique functionality and capabilities. One field in which this has been demonstrated is photonic devices, in which the need for low-cost products has stimulated a significant amount of research in silicon photonics. Silicon is transparent in the standard ITU optical communication bands, which is a factor in selecting silicon for passive and active optoelectronic devices.
The silicon microsphere shows promise as a building block for silicon microphotonics, a complementary technology to the already well established CMOS microelectronics technology for the realization of future microelectro-photonic integration. Numerous potential applications can be realized by using microspheres, including microlasers, channel dropping filters, optical switching, ultrafine sensing, displacement measurement, rotation detection, high-resolution spectroscopy, and Raman lasers.
Microsphere production is currently utilized in several techniques which are used routinely in the powder metallurgy industry. Unfortunately, many of these techniques are not applicable to silicon sphere production because of contamination and other materials-related problems. Such techniques usually require contact of the molten metal with crucibles, nozzles, or other system parts, and so each such metal object presents a new set of materials contamination and compatibility problems. The materials problems are particularly challenging when the desired product is something approximating the purity of semiconductor grade silicon, which does not tolerate significant impurities for most applications. Further, the current technology is limited because the techniques of forcing molten silicon through a nozzle typically produces spheres having diameters between 250 μm and 500 μm.
There is therefore a need for an apparatus and methods to form microspheres in an easily manufactured, high volume process. Further, there is a need to dispose of scrap wafers generated in the semiconductor fabrication process.
Generally, the techniques described herein are intended to meet the general need for forming microspheres of any ablatable material. The examples provided herein focus on the specific example of semiconductor materials, and more particularly silicon; however, these are given as non-limiting examples.

Formation of microspheres through laser irradiation of a surface

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


Molecule for attaching a radioactive parent nuclide to a support, comprising at least one functional group for attaching the radioactive parent nuclide; and a molecular moiety suitable for establishing a nonpolar bond to the support.

The invention relates to a molecule for functionalizing the surface of an inert support and to the use in the preparation of a radionuclide of high purity in a generator. The invention relates in particular to a molecule for attaching a radioactive parent nuclide, in particular germanium-68, to a support.
Radionuclides, in particular positron emitters, are used in positron emission tomography (PET). In the PET examination of a patient, the distribution of a weakly radioactive, positron emitter-labelled substance such as, for example, a biomolecule is visualized in an organism via the radioactive disintegration of the positron emitter, using a detector.
Since biomolecules participate in the normal metabolism of the organism, accumulating in the process inter alia in tumour cells, PET can be utilized for identifying tumour cells.
One example of a radionuclide preferred for PET is gallium-68, which can be obtained using a germanium-68/gallium-68 radionuclide generator system (1, 2). With a half-life of 67.63 minute's, the isotope gallium-68 disintegrates with emission of a positron. By virtue of its physical and chemical properties, gallium-68 is highly suitable for nuclear medical examinations. Owing to its short half-life, it is particularly suitable for radiolabelling biomolecules.
Gallium-68 can be generated by radioactive disintegration from the parent nuclide germanium-68 which disintegrates with a half-life of 270.8 days.
In the generator, the germanium-68 is attached to an insoluble matrix of an inert support, where, by continuous disintegration of the germanium, gallium-68 is constantly formed and may be extracted from the generator by elution with a solvent.
The radionuclides used for labelling the radio-pharmaceutics have to meet high quality standards. In particular, the radionuclides generated have to have a high degree of purity and must be free from metallic impurities since these may, owing to competing reactions, have an adverse effect on the labelling of the radiopharmaceutics, and may reduce the technically achievable yield (3-5).
As support for the stationary phase, known germanium-68/gallium-68 generator systems use inorganic ion exchange substances, such as, for example, TiO2, SnO2, Al(OH)3. However, in a disadvantageous manner, the gallium-68 extracted therewith contains metallic impurities, such that the original eluate has to be purified prior to use in a radiopharmaceutic (4, 5).
As an alternative to inorganic ion exchange substances, generators use, as supports, organic polymers to which, with the aid of functional groups, individual molecules having a high affinity for germanium are attached. Such molecules may, for example, be pyrogallol or catechol which, via phenolic hydroxyl groups, form stable complexes with germanium (FIG. 1A) (6).
In a known germanium-68/gallium-68 generator, the support used is a resin prepared from pyrogallol and formaldehyde (4-7). During the preparation of the germanium-specific resin, pyrogallol is immobilized on the support by copolymerization with formaldehyde.
However, the applicability of these materials and generator systems is limited.
Thus, with the germanium-68/gallium-68 generators mentioned above based on organic polymer, gallium-68 can be obtained only in concentrated acid solutions (3-6M). This requires reprocessing of the eluate prior to use as radiopharmaceutic.
In addition, the process for synthesizing the pyrogallol/formaldehyde resin is technically very demanding and expensive. In addition, the main component of the formaldehyde matrix is toxic, such that the preparation of an injectable radiopharmaceutic requires additional purification steps.

Molecule for functionalizing a support, attachment of a radionuclide to the support and radionuclide generator for preparing the radionuclide, and preparation process


The invention relates to hardenable ceramic bone substitute compositions having improved setting, powders for such compositions and methods for their manufacture and use in medical treatment. More specifically the invention relates to hardenable bone substitute powder and hardenable bone substitute paste with improved setting properties, comprising calcium sulfate and heat-treated hydroxyapatite (passivated HA), which bone substitute is suitable for treatment of disorders of supportive tissue such as bone loss, bone fracture, bone trauma and osteomyelitis.

Bone is the second most common tissue to be transplanted after blood. The most reliable method to repair bone defects is to use autogenous bone, i.e. bone taken from another site in the body. However, problems may occur at the second surgical site from where the graft is taken. To avoid this extra trauma, allografts can be used, i.e. bone graft between individuals of the same species. Allografts have a lower osteogenic capacity than autografts and the rate of new bone formation might be lower. They also have a higher resorption rate, a larger immunogenic response and less revascularisation of the recipient. Allografts must also be controlled for viruses since they can transfer, for example, HIV and hepatitis. The use of allografts is now the most common method for bone transplantation and repairing of bone defects. To solve the problems of supply, unpredictable strength and risk of infection, synthetic bone substitutes have become a realistic alternative. Thus, the demand for and use of synthetic bone substitutes is increasing rapidly.
Ceramic based synthetic bones substitutes can be divided into two main types. One type is based on calcium phosphate as the setting component and these are referred to as calcium phosphate cements. Another type is based on calcium sulfate as the setting component. The most important advantage with calcium sulfate is its excellent biocompatibility. The drawbacks with pure calcium sulfate bone substitutes are the rapid resorption and low strength, which make them less useful in larger or non-contained defects and when the fracture healing exceeds 4-6 weeks.
Bone Support AB has developed hardenable and injectable calcium sulfate based bone substitutes with the powder phase comprising approximately 40 wt % sintered hydroxyapatite (HA) (Ca10(PO4)6(OH)2) and approximately 60 wt % calcium sulfate hemihydrate, CSH, (CaSO4.½ H2O). Of the two components, only CSH will set during the setting process. The HA powder will remain un-dissolved. The liquid phase of the injectable paste consists of an aqueous solution that for some of the products contain iohexol molecules to enhance the radiopacity of the material (WO2003/053488). If only the calcium sulfate was present in the bone substitute, there would be a complete material resorption within approximately 4-6 weeks. However, since there is also HA in the sample, this will slow down the calcium sulfate resorption. In addition, the HA in the sample will remain at the site of implantation for a longer time due to its high crystallinity and low solubility.
The setting time of the hardened bone substitute from the paste is an important parameter for determining their applicability as bone substitutes. Gillmore needles (ASTM C266) are often used to measure the initial setting time (IST) and the final setting time (FST) of cements. In a clinical situation the IST and FST can be interpreted such that the cement should be implanted before IST is reached and the wound is ready to be closed after the FST. IST times around 5-25 min typically allows sufficient time for the cement to be injected or molded, and FST times around 10-40 minutes are usually acceptable for clinical use. It is preferred to have IST times around 5-15 minutes, such as less than 10 minutes. Different products have different specifications since they will be used for different applications. Other ways of determining the applicability of a hardenable bone substitute are known in the art.
For a variety of applications, it is desirable to be able to mix different additives with bone substitutes, where calcium sulfate is a setting component. Bone substitutes comprising an additive such as for example an antibiotic would be desirable to have in order to be able to treat or prevent different disorders, e.g. osteomyelitis (bone infections). However, it has been found that the addition of some bioactive agents, such as antibiotics, retard the setting of the bone substitute in such a manner that the setting time exceeds clinically acceptable values. It has also been found that not only additives, but also basic components of the bone substitute, such as HA, may have a negative effect on the setting properties. It has surprisingly turned out, that the rate of the CSH hydration necessary for setting of the calcium sulfate in a HA containing calcium sulfate based bone substitute is highly dependent on the properties of the HA.


A removable spacing stabilizer for a jaw meter bus assembly having two pairs of generally parallel flat, elongated busses, each bus having a cantilevered second leg. The removable spacing stabilizer includes a generally planar member made from a generally rigid, non-conductive material. The planar member has a positioning slot for each of the bus cantilevered second legs. Whereby the planar member may be coupled to said jaw meter bus assembly with each bus cantilevered leg disposed in a positioning slot and whereby the bus cantilevered legs are held in a selected orientation.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to electric power distribution systems and, more specifically, to a spacing stabilizer structured to stabilize and position the meter jaw buses so that a meter assembly may engage the meter jaw buses.
2. Background Information
Meters are used to measure the quantity of electric power delivered to a location, such as a building, from a common feeder system. Typically, the meter is disposed in a meter compartment within an enclosure. Elongated buses, that is line and load buses, extend along the rear of the enclosure. There are, typically, two 110 volt line buses which are connected to one or more utility lines. The corresponding load buses are coupled to the building's electrical system.
The meter compartment has a plurality of flat, elongated, L-shaped buses collectively identified as the "meter jaw buses." The L-shaped buses are disposed in aligned, opposing pairs. One L-shaped bus in each pair of buses is connected to a line bus or a load bus. Each L-shaped bus has two legs. A first leg extends generally parallel, and adjacent to, the back of the enclosure and is coupled to a base assembly as well as either the line or load bus. Each L-shaped bus second leg extends generally perpendicular to the first end and toward the front of the enclosure. That is, each bus second leg is cantilevered and extends toward the front of the enclosure. The meter jaw buses are mounted on a base unit, which is made from a non-conductive material, coupled to the back of the enclosure. At the tip of each meter jaw bus is a jaw assembly structured to engage a meter bus disposed within a meter assembly bus tabs.
A meter assembly includes a housing in which the metering devices are enclosed. The housing includes a plurality of bus tabs. Each bus tab is structured to engage the jaw assembly on each meter jaw bus. The bus tabs are aligned in a structured pattern. The bus tabs may have chamfered edges to assist in guiding the bus tabs into the jaw assembly. A disadvantage to this system is that the meter jaw buses do not always align with the fixed bus tabs on the meters, thereby preventing the meter from being installed. This problem may arise for several reasons. First, the enclosure is typically a thin metal housing that may flex, or "oil can," when pressure is applied. Pressure is typically applied when a meter being installed contacts one cantilevered end prior to other cantilevered ends. The flexing of the enclosure allowed the cantilevered ends to move out of alignment. Second, the L-shaped buses may shift on the base unit, or, the base unit may shift relative to the enclosure. Such a shift may occur over time or may result from something forcefully contacting the meter jaw bus assembly, for example, a misaligned meter. Third, the buses are, typically, made from a malleable metal and may bend when pressure is applied or become bent.
There is, therefore, a need for a spacing stabilizer structured to hold the L-shaped bus second ends in the proper alignment.
Because the spacing stabilizer does not have to remain on the meter jaw buses after the meter is installed, there is a further need for the spacing stabilizer to be easily removable.


An optical module comprises: a surface-type optical element having at least one of a light emitting face and a light receiving face on the back of a mounting face; an optical waveguide for transmitting light in the direction of a normal line of the mounting face; and a mounting portion having an element positioning portion for positioning the surface-type optical element and an optical waveguide positioning portion for positioning the optical waveguide, the mounting portion being mounted with the surface-type optical element and the optical waveguide.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an optical transmission device and optical module including a surface-type optical element and optical waveguide.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventionally, an optical transmission device using a surface-type optical element in which a light emitting portion and a light receiving portion are formed on the back of a mounting face, such as a surface emitting laser (VCSEL) and photodiode, has been well known as a low cost optical transmission device (see, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (JP-A) No. 2004-226941, JP-A No. 2004-212774, JP-A No. 2003-329892, JP-A No. 11-271548, JP-A No. 05-093825, JP-A No. 10-227951, JP-A No. 11-119006, JP-A No. 08-330661, JP-A No. 05-224044, and JP-A No. 11-330624). Then, employment of the optical waveguide for optical coupling between an external optical transmission medium such as an optical fiber and the surface-type optical element has been considered for reduction of the size and cost and giving high functionality of the optical transmission device.
As for the mounting direction of the optical waveguide, it is possible to consider mounting the optical waveguide in parallel to the mounting face of the surface-type optical element and mounting it in a vertical direction thereto, and usually, a 45-degree plane 220 is formed in an optical waveguide 218 as shown in FIG. 26 from viewpoints of ease in holding and positioning and a surface-type optical element 222 is mounted such that a light emitting face 222L thereof is in parallel to the optical waveguide 218 (see JP-A No. 2004-226941).
However, this method requires processing of forming such 45-degree plane in the optical waveguide, whereby leading to increase in manufacturing cost and such a problem that a highly reliable package (for example, metal can package) which emit light vertically to the mounting face cannot be used.
As a method for mounting the optical waveguide vertically with respect to the mounting face of the optical element, a method of providing the optical waveguide with a concave portion and then positioning optically with this as a criterion has been proposed (see for example, JP-A No. 2004-212774).
However, this method has not only a weak point that the optical waveguide cost and mounting cost both increase but also a drawback that plural surface-type optical elements cannot be positioned to match with a single optical waveguide easily.

Optical transmission device and optical module


A high velocity air and stationary disturber cleaner for cleaning surfaces by drawing air under flexible film seals. A vacuum enclosed in a housing provides the suction force to draw the air under the seal, tangent to the surface to be cleaned, thus removing adhered particles. Disturbers are placed on the surface of the seals in contact with the surface to be cleaned to loosen particles to be removed. The brush density, the fiber length and a plastic film incorporated into the brush design are all ways to limit the amount of air flow through the bulk of the brushes for better cleaning efficiency.

This invention relates generally to electrophotographic printing, and more particularly, concerns cleaning imaging (i.e. photoreceptive, photoconductive, etc.) and bias transfer roll (BTR) surfaces using air velocity.
High velocity air streams have been used to clean photoreceptors in the past. Although several attempts have been made to clean photoreceptors and bias transfer rolls (BTRs), none of these attempts appear to be known to have been used in copiers. These devices, photoreceptors and BTRs, have used air knives to create a high velocity air stream to clean their surfaces. Such devices can consist of a plate, closely spaced to the surface to be cleaned, with narrow slots cut into it. A vacuum is applied behind the plate to cause air to flow through the slots and create a high velocity airstream across the surface being cleaned. The high velocity air flow disturbs the surface boundary layer allowing removal of particles adhered to the surface. The problems with this approach are in the manufacture of the device and the power required to create the vacuum. The tolerances for the cleaner and the surface to be cleaned must be held closely. The orifice slot width must be uniform along its length to maintain uniform air velocities and therefore cleaning. The spacing between the plate and surface to be cleaned must also be uniform for the same reasons. This requires the plate and cleaning surface to be straight, flat and well aligned. If the surface to be cleaned is a roll, the runout of the roll and the parallelism of the roll axis to the slot axis is also important. Because of the close spacing of the cleaning plate to the surface to be cleaned and the narrow orifice slot, the resistance of the system to air flow is very high. As a result of this high resistance to air flow, a considerable air flow is required to generate the required cleaning air velocities needed for the narrow orifice slot to clean the surface. The requirements of high pressure and air flow result in a high power usage for the system and the possibility of a noise problem.
The following disclosures may be relevant to various aspects of the present invention and may be briefly summarized as follows:
U.S. Pat. No. 3,766,593 to Becker et al. discloses an apparatus for cleaning residual particulate material. The apparatus comprises stationary brushes and a brush housing. The stationary brushes are for cleaning residual toner from the surface of a photoconductor. The brush housing is designed so that air flow is at a maximum. A vacuum means is included in the brush housing.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,932,910 to Shimoda discloses a cleaning apparatus for an electrophotographic copying device comprising: (1) a cleaning brush; (2) a casing for the brush wherein the brush is positioned adjacent a first opening so as to contact a work surface; and (3) a means for suction of particles. The cleaning brush is provided for cleaning off particles from a photosensitive surface. A plate which surrounds part of the cleaning brush is provided for introducing air into the casing.

High velocity air and stationary disturber cleaner


Embodiments of the disclosure generally relate to interference measurement. A device determines an interference measurement pattern indicating distribution of resource elements allocated for interference measurement. Then, the device determines, based on the interference measurement pattern, an interference type for measuring interference on the resource elements.

With the development of communication technologies, multiple types of services or traffic have been proposed, for example, enhanced mobile broadband (eMBB) generally requiring high data rate, massive machine type communication (mMTC) typically requiring long battery lifetime, and ultra-reliable and low latency communication (URLLC). Meanwhile, multi-antenna schemes, such as beam management, reference signal transmission, and so on, are studied for new radio access.
Conventionally, in a Multi-User Multiple-Input Multiple-Output (MU-MIMO) system, a network device (for example, an eNB) uses multiple antenna ports to transmit signals, for example, reference signals such as Demodulation Reference Signal (DMRS), Channel State Information-Reference Signal (CSI-RS), and so on. A terminal device, such as user equipment (UE) in the system may receive downlink reference signals on an allocated resource region, including for example, one or more resource elements (REs). The allocated resource region is generally fixed. That is, once the resource region is allocated for transmitting the downlink reference signals, the network device uses this resource region to perform the transmission of the downlink reference signals to terminal devices.
However, if the resource region for transmitting the reference signals is configurable, it is possible to have a plurality of resource patterns indicating, for example, distribution of resource elements in the resource region. As such, the network device could use different resource patterns to transmit the downlink reference signals to the terminal devices. If the terminal devices are unaware of the corresponding resource pattern, it is difficult for the terminal devices to measure interference, let alone perform interference cancellation. As a result, interference in the system is increased, and transmission performance is reduced.

Method and device for interference measurement


A 3D image interpolation device performs frame interpolation on 3D video. The 3D image interpolation device includes: a range image interpolation unit that generates at least one interpolation range image to be interpolated between a first range image indicating a depth of a first image included in the 3D video and a second range image indicating a depth of a second image included in the 3D video; an image interpolation unit that generates at least one interpolation image to be interpolated between the first image and the second image; and an interpolation parallax image generation unit generates, based on interpolation image, at least one pair of interpolation parallax images having parallax according to a depth indicated by the interpolation range image.

In recent years, digital still cameras and digital camcorders using a solid-state imaging device (hereinafter, referred to also simply as an "imaging device") such as a Charge Coupled Device (CCD) image sensor and a Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor (CMOS) image sensor have achieved remarkably higher functions and higher performance. In particular, with the advance of the semiconductor manufacturing technologies, pixel structures in such solid-state imaging devices have been further miniaturized.
As a result, higher integration of pixels and driving circuits in the solid-state imaging devices have been considered. Therefore, in a few years, the number of pixels in an imaging device has immensely been increased from about million pixels to ten million pixels or more. Furthermore, quality of images captured by imaging has also dramatically been improved.
In the meanwhile, flat-screen display apparatuses such as Liquid Crystal Displays (LCDs) and plasma displays can save space and display high-definition and high-contrast images. Such movement of improving image quality is expanding from two-dimensional (2D) images to 3D images. Recently, 3D display apparatuses, which can display high-quality 3D images by using polarization eyeglasses or eyeglasses with high-speed shutter, have been developed.
3D imaging apparatuses for generating high-quality 3D images or high-quality 3D video to be displayed by 3D display apparatuses have also been developed. For a simple method of generating 3D images and displaying them by a 3D display apparatus, it is considered that an image or video is captured by an imaging apparatus having two optical systems (two sets of a lens and an imaging device) located at two different positions. Images captured by the respective optical systems are provided as a left-eye image and a right-eye image to a 3D display apparatus. The 3D display apparatus displays the captured left-eye image and right-eye image by switching them at a high speed, so that a user wearing eyeglasses can perceive the images as a 3D image.
There is another method for generating a left-eye image and a right-eye image, by calculating depth information of a scene by an imaging system including a plurality of cameras, and using the depth information and texture information for the left-eye/right-eye image generation. There is still another method for generating a left-eye image and a right-eye image, by which depth information is calculated from a plurality of images captured by a single camera by varying geometric or optical conditions of a scene (such as a way of light exposure) or conditions of an optical system in an imaging apparatus (such as a diaphragm size).
One example of the above-described method using a plurality of cameras is a multi-baseline stereo method disclosed in Non-Patent Literature 1 by which a depth of each pixel is calculated by simultaneously using images captured by a plurality of cameras. It is known that this multi-baseline stereo method can estimate a scene depth with a higher accuracy than that of a general twin-lens stereo.
The following describes one example of the multi-baseline stereo method in the case where a left-eye image and a right-eye image (parallax images) are generated by using two cameras (a twin-lens stereo). A twin-lens stereo captures two images of a subject from different viewpoints by using two cameras, and extracts feature points from the respective captured images to determine a correspondence relationship between the feature points to find corresponding points. A distance between the found corresponding points is called a parallax. For example, regarding two images captured by the two cameras, if coordinates (x, y) of the corresponding feature points are (5, 10) and (10, 10), respectively, a parallax is 5. Here, assuming that the in cameras are arranged in parallel to each other, and "d" represents a parallax, "f" represents a focal distance between the two cameras, and "B" represents a distance (baseline) between the cameras, a distance from the cameras to the subject is calculated by following Equation 1.
                    [                  Math          .                                                    1                ]                                                            Z        =                              -            Bf                    d                                    (                  Equation                                                              1                )
If the distance between the two cameras is far, a feature point observed by one of the cameras may not be observed by the other camera. Even in such a case, the multi-baseline stereo method can use three or more cameras to reduce ambiguity in the corresponding point search, thereby reducing errors in parallax estimation.
If a depth is determined, it is possible to generate a left-eye image and a right-eye image by using the depth information and a scene texture as disclosed in Non-Patent Literature 2, for example. According to the method disclosed in Non-Patent Literature 2, based on the estimated depth and the scene texture obtained by the imaging apparatus, it is possible to generate images which are vertically captured from vertical camera positions (a vertical left-eye camera position and a vertical right-eye camera position) as new viewpoints. Thereby, it is possible to generate images having viewpoints different from those in actual capturing.
The images having the new viewpoints can be generated by following Equations 2. Here, the respective symbols are the same as those in Equation 1. "xc" represents x-coordinates of a camera for which a depth is calculated, and "xl" and "xr" represent x-coordinates of respective cameras at the newly-generated viewpoints. "xl" is x-coordinates of a (virtual) left-eye camera, and "xr" is x-coordinates of a (virtual) right-eye camera. "tx" represents a distance (baseline) between the virtual cameras.
                    [                  Math          .                                                    2                ]                                                                      xl          =                      xc            +                          txf                              2                                                                                Z                                                                                xr          =                      xc            -                          txf                              2                                                                                Z                                                                        (                  Equations                                                              2                )
As described above, if a depth is calculated by using a plurality of cameras, it is possible to generate a left-eye image and a right-eye image.
On the other hand, one example of the method in which conditions regarding a scene are varied to calculate a depth is the photometric stereo method disclosed in Non-Patent Literature 3. When a plurality of images generated by capturing a subject by varying positions of illumination are inputted, a 3D position of the subject is determined based on a 3D relationship between pixel values of the subject and the illumination positions. Furthermore, an example of the method of varying optical conditions of an imaging apparatus is the depth-from-defocus method disclosed in Non-Patent Literature 4. By this method, a distance (depth) from a camera to a subject can be calculated by using (a) a change amount in blur in each pixel in a plurality of images captured by varying a focal distance of the camera, (b) a focal distance of the camera, and (c) a diaphragm size (opening size) of the camera. As described above, various methods for determining scene depth information have been researched. In particular, the depth-from-defocus method has advantages of reducing a size and a weight of an imaging apparatus and not requiring other apparatuses such as an illumination apparatus.

Device apparatus and method for 3D image interpolation based on a degree of similarity between a motion vector and a range motion vector


The present invention provides a dry cleaning process for the in-home dry cleaning of laundry articles, comprising one or more cleaning steps followed by one or more rinse steps whereby at least one rinse step comprises contacting the laundry article with a rinse composition, said rinse composition comprising a low grade non-flammable non-chlorine containing organic dry cleaning solvent and said low grade solvent comprising at least 0.1 ppm and less than 50 000 ppm of squalene.

Many alternative solvents have been proposed to replace perchloroethylene. Liquid carbon dioxide is one example, but the high-pressure equipment needed for this inorganic solvent makes it unpractical and prohibitively expensive. A novel and more promising class of dry cleaning solvents are the so-called non-flammable, non-chlorine containing organic solvents. Examples may include hydrofluoroethers such as nonafluoromethoxybutane and nonafluoroethoxybutane or hydrofluorocarbons as decafluoropentane. Hydrofluoroethers are relatively low in toxicity, are claimed to have zero ozone depletion potential, have relatively short atmospheric lifetimes, and can have very low global warming potentials relative to chloro fluorocarbons and many chloro fluorocarbon substitutes. Furthermore, HFEs are listed as non-volatile organic compounds by the EPA, and as such are not considered as smog precursors.
Some dry cleaning processes have been proposed for application in residential homes. However, commercialisation thereof has been hampered by the prohibitive costs of the amount of clean solvent that is needed. Some proposals have been made to purify the used solvent, e.g. WO-A-01/94679, to decrease the amount of clean solvent that is needed. But purification is cumbersome and requires complicated machinery. It is costly, time and energy consuming because all residues need to be removed before the solvent can be safely used for cleaning laundry. In addition, solid waste is generated which requires adequate disposal to protect the environment.
Therefore, there is a need for an improved dry cleaning process that solves one or more of the aforementioned problems.
Surprisingly, we have now found an improved dry cleaning process for the in-home dry cleaning of laundry articles that overcomes one or more of the above mentioned drawbacks provided that a low grade non-flammable non-chlorine containing organic dry cleaning solvent comprising squalene is used. Low grade is meant to describe a solvent comprising at least 0.1 ppm, preferably at least 1 ppm, more preferably at least 10 ppm and most preferably at least 50 ppm, and less than 50 000 ppm, preferably less than 25 000 ppm, more preferably less than 10 000 ppm of squalene. A squalene level in the low grade dry cleaning solvent of less than 5000 ppm is most preferred.
While low grade dry cleaning solvent comprises squalene, surprisingly it is still effective in cleaning textile articles without causing colour changes over time. Low grade dry cleaning solvent is easier and more cost effective to produce because less pure material is needed and fewer purification steps are needed. Low grade dry cleaning solvent can also be produced from used dry cleaning solvent without the time, energy and solid waste production associated with prior art purification processes.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


A sensing system is disclosed for detecting a full condition within a waste developer system, the sensing system including: a developer waste bottle for receiving and holding waste developer material including toner and carrier deposited therein from the developer system, the developer waste bottle having a translucent, removable viewing window for optical viewing the level of developer material therein, the viewing window comprises a sensing portion in fluid communication with the developer waste bottle, the sensing portion adapted to have developer material flow therein when the magnetic material in the toner waste bottle reaches the predetermined level. A sensor assembly is mounted exterior to the developer waste bottle and in optical communication with the viewing window, the sensor being responsive to the level magnetic material in the developer waste bottle when the magnetic material in the toner waste bottle reaches the predetermined level The sensing portion defines a cavity therein, the cavity being partly enclosed by a protective baffle for preventing airborne toner from depositing in the cavity. The reusable waste bottle is black in color while the removable window is translucent, permitting the use of an optical sensor for determining when the waste has reached the level of the window. Because the bottle is black, it can be easily refurbished by simply removing the window and either cleaning the window or installing a new one.

This invention relates to electrophotographic copiers and duplicators and, more particularly to a reusable developer waste bottle and an indicating system for warning a machine operator of impending over filling of the waste bottle.
In the process of electrostatographic printing, an electrostatic charge pattern or latent image corresponding to an original document to be reproduced is recorded on an insulating medium. A viewable record is produced by developing the latent image with particles of granulated material to form a powder image thereof. Thereafter, the visible powder image is fused to the insulating medium, or transferred to a suitable support material and fused thereto. Development of the latent image is achieved by bringing a developer mix into contact therewith. Typical developer mixes generally comprise dyed or colored thermoplastic particles of granulated material known in the art as toner particles, which are mixed with carrier granules, such as ferromagnetic granules. When appropriate, toner particles are mixed with carrier granules and the toner particles are charged triboelectrically to the correct polarity. As the developer mix is brought into contact with the electrostatic latent image, the toner particles adhere thereto. However, as toner particles are depleted from the developer mix, additional toner particles (simply "toner" hereafter) must be supplied. In this way, the concentration of toner in the developer mix is maintained substantially constant.
In developer subsystems that employ so-called trickle development, a small amount of fresh carrier is included with the supply of toner which is dispensed by a dispensing apparatus into the developer subsystem. Generally, this system employs an overflow system in the housing of the developer subsystem which maintains the sump at a constant volume. Since new toner and carrier is constantly added to the developer subsystem, some excess or waste developer flows out through the overflow system via a hose or tube into a waste bottle.
In machines where the removal and replacement of waste bottles is a task performed by a Customer/User, it is highly desirable to have an accurate method for indicating when the waste bottle is full so that our Customers/Users are not dissatisfied by replacing a waste bottle which is not fully used.
Typically, the waste bottles tend to be made from polypropylene or polyethylene. A natural color is generally chosen because the bottle is used in conjunction with an optical sensor which indicates when the bottle is at its full capacity. These optical sensors consist of an emitter and a detector which detect when the bottle is full by looking through a view window on the bottle or through the bottle directly. A problem with such systems is that toner contamination on the view window can trigger false readings; when the inside of the bottle becomes dusty, the sensor misinterprets this condition as a full bottle.
An alternative methods that has been used in this type of application involves counting the number of copies since the bottle was last installed. This approach is not only indirect, but also inaccurate due to a wide variation in the amount of waste developer generated per copy. The inaccuracy correspondingly causes frequent bottle replacements and higher service costs. On the other hand, it has also been found that, in sensing systems where the sensor is placed within the developer material, reliability and the life expectancy of the sensor is at risk.
Therefore, there exists a need for a reliable system for providing an accurate warning to a machine operator of impending over filling of a developer waste bottle in combination with a reusable developer waste bottle which can be easily and cheaply refurbished for reuse.

Translucent removable viewing window for optical viewing the level of developer material in a waste developer bottle


A catcher, in combination with a firearm having an ejection port, for receiving and retaining expended magnetically attracted shell casings through the ejection port as the firearm is discharged. The catcher includes a hollow housing having a plurality of rigid walls, and retainers. One of the walls has an opening in communication with the ejection port when the catcher is mounted to the firearm for receiving the shell casings. At least one of the other walls includes a plurality of deflectors and each of the deflectors has a front face that is slanted away from the opening such that the deflectors are capable of deflecting the shell casings away from the opening and a rear face that is perpendicular to the planar surface of the housing or slanted away from the opening. At least one of the deflectors, alone or in combination with one or more other of the deflectors and a respective wall, provide a void and an aperture configured as an acoustic tuner structure tuned to provide reduction of noise emitted at the ejection port. The retainers are disposed at the rear face of the deflectors and are capable of retaining the shell casings when the catcher is in any position. The retainers comprise a permanent magnetic material.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to an acoustically tuned spent cartridge casing catcher for a firearm.
2. Background Art
Cartridge casing catchers are mounted adjacent the ejection port of a firearm to catch the spent cartridge casings as the casings are ejected after a round is fired. The spent cartridge casings are generally collected for reloading and to prevent casings from being underfoot which can cause a shooter or observer unstable shooting or movement. The spent cartridge casings may also be collected by a cartridge casing catcher (and container) to reduce the evidence left at the shooting site and to reduce the noise generated during the shooting by eliminating the noise generated when the casings impact the surface (i.e., floor, roof, etc.) where the shooter (i.e., firearm user) is positioned. An example of a conventional spent shell container is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,166,333 to Kratzer (Kratzer '333).
Conventional spent cartridge casing catchers such as shown in the Kratzer '333 patent can have a deficiency in that spent cartridges are ejected with a significant force and tend to bounce inside the collection chamber and in some instances, the spent cartridge can bounce back into the firearm ejection port causing the firearm to jam. Such a jam is highly undesirable when the firearm user is involved in a critical mission situation. In any event, clearing jammed firearms is typically a time consuming, annoying, and potentially hazardous task.
Conventional spent cartridge casing catchers such as shown in the Kratzer '333 patent also have a deficiency in that such spent cartridge casing catchers are only effective when the firearm is operated in a normal (typical) design position (i.e., with the weapon trigger grip in a substantially vertical position, and the weapon ejection port in a substantially horizontal position). That is, such conventional approaches only catch and hold spent cartridge casings when gravitational forces cause the spent cartridge casings to drop or move to a location in the catcher that is generally away from the firearm ejection port. As such, when the user operates the firearm in an orientation that is not the orientation for which the spent cartridge casing catcher was designed (typically a normal firearm operation position), the spent cartridge casings are typically not properly captured and held and can readily cause the firearm to jam in many orientations of the firearm.
However, the firearm user can not always fire the weapon from a position from which the conventional spent cartridge casing catcher was designed to operate, and firearm jams can result. For example, when the shooter desires to obtain a clear shot at a target, to avoid detection, operate the firearm at an oblique angle to provide clearance for a gas mask, operate the firearm "out of position," fire the weapon "around the clock" (i.e., through a full circle of rotation, including when the weapon is upside down, for instance when firing during a rolling maneuver), etc.
Conventional spent cartridge casing catchers such as shown in the Kratzer '333 patent may have additional deficiencies in that the spent cartridges tend to rattle in the catcher collection chamber and thus cause additional undesirable noise.
The muzzle report of blow back operated and closed breech firearms may be reduced by the installation of a so-called "silencer" (more properly called a suppressor) on the muzzle, integral with the barrel of the firearm, or both on the muzzle and integral with the barrel. Examples of some conventional firearms suppressors are shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,033,356 to Richardson, U.S. Pat. No. 1,018,720 to Maxim, and U.S. Pat. No. 1,229,675 to Thompson. However, significant noise and flash (i.e., blast) are generated and expelled at the breech of the firearm, especially for open-bolt (or blowback) firearms, and from a closed breech weapon, especially from a so-called gas impingement operating firearm such as AR15 and M16 assault rifles to an extent which can be unacceptable for clandestine operations.
For example, well suppressed weapons such as the Heckler & Koch Model HK MP5SD, while having very low muzzle report, still produce noise and flash from the ejection port which presents a blast that may be significant and unacceptable in some situations. Suppressed gas impingement operating firearms such as suppressed AR15 and M16 assault rifles still produce noise and flash from the ejection port also. Open bolt weapons such as the Ingram MAC-10 and Uzi Submachine Gun, even when equipped with a muzzle mounted noise suppressor, still can produce noise (as well as flash) from the breech that is at a level such that the user advisably wears ear protection to reduce the likelihood of hearing loss. Conventional casing catchers such as shown in the Kratzer '333 patent and especially bag type spent cartridge catchers may provide some flash reduction but provide very little reduction of the noise emitted at the firearm port.
Further, the firearm operating mechanism (e.g., bolt actuation), especially in the case of semi-automatic and full-automatic firearms, generates noise that can compromise the location of the firearm user. Such firearm mechanism generated noise is typically not attenuated to any significant level by conventional spent cartridge casing catchers such as shown in the Kratzer '333 patent. Such firearm operating mechanism noise is typically not reduced by conventional muzzle mounted firearms suppressors.
Thus, there exists a need and an opportunity for an improved spent cartridge casing catcher. Such an improved spent cartridge casing catcher may overcome deficiencies of conventional approaches.

Acoustically tuned cartridge casing catcher

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


A spherical image capture device may include two lenses, which may be protected by lens covers. During capture of visual content, usage of the lens covers may be checked to determine whether one or both of the lenses are covered by lens covers. Based on one or both of the lenses being covered by lens covers, an alarm may be generated to notify the user about the lens covers.

It may be desirable to protect a camera lens with a lens cover. However, a user may forget that the lens cover is on when image/video capture is started. For example, a spherical camera may include two lens that guide light to two image sensors. An image/video feed from only one of the lens-image sensor pair may be presented on a display as a preview of the image/video being captured, and the user may not be able to see from the preview whether the lens cover is on the other lens. As another example, a user may not be looking at a camera and may start image/video capture operation remotely (e.g., using a remote, using a voice command). The user may not be able to see whether the lens cover is on a lens of the camera.

Lens cover detection during spherical visual content capture


A new and distinctive Alstroemeria cultivar particularly distinguished by its profuse and recurrent production of very large flowers, having six petals arranged in two concentric circles of three petals per flower. The outer petal being white and slightly tinted with a shade of red-purple with a marigold orange base, each of these outer petals having a few chrysanthemum crimson stripes. The inner petals are also white and are red-purple and lemon yellow with a lemon yellow base, each of these inner petals having a few Chrysanthemum crimson stripes.

This Alstroemeria cultivar originated as a spontaneous mutant of the hybrid parent Staverpi produced in my nursery at Aalsmeer, The Netherlands, plant, hereinafter identified, was discovered as an attractive off-type of various Alstroemeria varieties maintained at my nursery for breeding purposes. This particular sport was discovered as an attractive off-type because of its distinctive flower coloration and shape of the petal and its recurrent and profuse growth habit. The new Alstroemeria cultivar most closely resembles Staverpi. Staverpi is characterized by the venetian pink coloration of the outer tier of flower petals and the general buttercup yellow coloration of the inner petals which are particularly characterized by short brown pencil stripes which appear in longitudinal rows extending from end to end of these petals. The outer petals of the claimed cultivar are white with a slight tint of red-purple with a marigold orange base. Each of the outer petals has a few chrysanthemum crimson stripes. The inner petals are also white with a slight tint of red-purple and lemon yellow with a lemon yellow base. Like the outer petals, each of the inner petals has a few chrysanthemum stripes. Staverpi has six stamens, one opposite each petal. The anthers of Staverpi are green-yellow in color. The filaments, styles and stigmas of Staverpi are all salmon pink in color. The claimed cultivar also has six stamens, which are clustered around the style. The anthers of the claimed cultivar are grey-green in color. In addition, the color of the filaments, styles and stigmas of Starhap are all orange. This selected sport was propagated by me at Aalsmeer, The Netherlands, by dividing root stock with very satisfactory results and thereafter this selected plant was propagated through several successive generations in the same manner which demonstrated conclusively that the novel characteristics of the originally selected sport would be maintained from generation to generation and its homogeneity would be firmly established.


A scribe line structure is disclosed. The scribe line structure includes a semiconductor substrate having a die region, a die seal ring region, disposed outside the die region, a scribe line region disposed outside the die seal ring region and a dicing path formed on the scribe line region. Preferably, the center line of the dicing path is shifted away from the center line of the scribe line region along a first direction.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a scribe line structure, and more particularly, to a scribe line structure capable of preventing dicing cracks from spreading to adjacent die regions.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The manufacturing flow of the integrated circuit can be mainly distinguish into three stages as follows: (1) the manufacturing of the substrate, (2) the fabrication of the integrated circuit on the substrate, and (3) the cutting, electric testing, sorting, and packaging of the integrated circuit. When fabricating the integrated circuit on the substrate, the whole substrate is divided uniformly into many repetitive dies, and the adjacent dies are separated by scribe line. The cutting step of the integrated circuit utilizes a cutter to cut the substrate into individual dies along the scribe lines.
In recent years, the high integration semiconductor process, with an inter-metal dielectric layer collocated by the dual damascene technology and the use of low dielectric materials, is the most popular metal interconnect technology to date. Due to the low resistance of copper, and the low dielectric material, the RC delay between the metal wires is greatly reduced. However, for achieving low dielectric property, many of low dielectric materials have loose, and weak mechanical strength structures, and are fragile. Therefore a chip crack often occurs from lateral cutting stress while performing wafer dicing. The chip crack damages the die seal ring region of the wafer that protects the die region and induces metal layer delamination. This causes high early failure rate in products, thereby reducing yield in subsequent electric test processes.

Scribe line structure and method for dicing a wafer


A one-time-use flash camera comprising a camera housing that contains a cartridge chamber holding a film cartridge and a film roll chamber holding an unexposed film roll on which a predetermined maximum number of exposures can be made, and a flash device, is characterized in that the flash device has a total number of flash lamps that is equal to the predetermined maximum number of exposures that can be made on the unexposed film roll, and is connected non-removably to the camera housing in order that the flash device must be broken off the camera housing to separate the flash device from the camera housing, whereby once each one of the flash lamps is used there will not be any exposures that can be made and the one-time-use flash camera must be discarded.

Film and cameras that are all in one, commonly referred to as single-use or one-time-use cameras, have become well known. Typically, the one-time-use camera is a simple point-and-shoot type comprising a plastic main body part which supports a film cartridge in a cartridge receiving chamber, an unexposed film roll on a film spool in a film supply or film roll chamber, a fixed-focus taking lens, a film metering mechanism with a rotatably supported metering sprocket, a manually rotatable film advance thumbwheel rotatably engaged with a film spool inside the film cartridge, a single-blade shutter, a manually depressible shutter release button, a frame counter for indicating the number of available exposures remaining on the filmstrip, a direct see-through viewfinder, and in some models an electronic flash. A pair of plastic front and rear cover parts house the main body part between them to complete the camera unit. The rear cover part connects to the main body part and/or to the front cover part to make the main body part light-tight. A decorative cardboard outer box or label at least partially contains the camera unit and may have respective openings for the taking lens, the shutter release button, the film advance thumbwheel, the viewfinder, the frame counter, and a flash emission window for the electronic flash.
To use the one-time-use camera, after the photographer takes a picture, he or she manually rotates the thumbwheel in a film winding direction to rotate the film spool inside the film cartridge, to wind an exposed section of the filmstrip into the film cartridge. The rewinding movement of the filmstrip the equivalent of slightly more than one frame width rotates the metering sprocket (in engagement with the filmstrip) to decrement the frame counter to its next lower-numbered setting and to pivot a metering lever into engagement with the thumbwheel to prevent further manual rotation of the thumbwheel. Manually depressing the shutter release button to take another picture pivots the metering lever out of engagement with the thumbwheel to permit renewed rotation of the thumbwheel. When the maximum number of exposures available on the filmstrip are exposed, and the filmstrip is completely wound off the film spool in the film supply chamber and wound into the film cartridge, the one-time-use camera is given to a photofinisher who tears the outer box off the camera unit, separates the rear cover part from the main body part, and removes the film cartridge with the exposed filmstrip from the cartridge receiving chamber. Then, he removes the exposed filmstrip from the film cartridge to develop the negatives and make prints for the customer, and he forwards the used camera parts to the manufacturer for recycling, i.e. remanufacture.

One-time use camera with multi-lamp flash


The present invention relates to a plasma display panel, and more particularly, to a cell structure of a plasma display panel. In a plasma display panel in which square cells constitute a delta type barrier rib structure, a red cell and a green cell are alternately formed in a first horizontal cell line of the cells, a blue cell is located at the lower center between the red cell and the green cell in a second horizontal cell line of the cells, the blue cell is alternately formed together with a blank cell, and the first horizontal cell line and the second horizontal cell line are alternately formed in the vertical direction. Accordingly, brightness, efficiency and the contrast ratio are improved and high-speed driving is accomplished.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a plasma display panel, and more particularly, to the cell structure of a plasma display panel.
2. Description of the Background Art
FIG. 1 illustrates a stripe type barrier rib structure of a conventional plasma display panel. FIG. 2 illustrates a well type barrier rib structure of a conventional plasma display panel.
The stripe type structure shown in FIG. 1 has a good discharge characteristic, but has a disadvantage that the phosphor covering area is small. The well type structure shown in FIG. 2 has high brightness since the covering area of phosphors is wide, but has a problem that the discharge characteristic is bad.
FIG. 3 illustrates a delta type barrier rib structure of a conventional plasma display panel.
Referring to FIG. 3, in the delta type barrier rib structure, one cell is surrounded by 6 faces. Thus, the covering area of phosphors is increased and brightness is improved due to increased reflectivity of barrier walls. Each color is connected to a narrow channel whereby discharge or injection of a gas is smooth. Further, as a discharge start voltage in the narrow channel is higher than that of a wide channel, there is an advantage in that crosstalk in the barrier rib direction can be prevented. Moreover, brightness and efficiency can be improved even without additional process because the method for fabricating and operating the barrier ribs is the same as a prior art
FIG. 4 illustrates a square type barrier rib structure of a Conventional plasma display panel.
The barrier rib structure shown in FIG. 4 has the same structure as the barrier rib structure of FIG. 3 except that the cell shape is square. In the square barrier rib structure of FIG. 4, red, green and blue cells form a triangle similar to the delta type barrier rib structure and thus constitute one cell. The square barrier rib structure of FIG. 4 is the same as the delta type barrier rib structure of FIG. 3 in that brightness and efficiency are increased due to increase in the aperture ratio and the phosphor covering area.
However, in the barrier rib structure of FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, the cells are extended sideward lengthily. Therefore, upon implementation of a still image, the still image is not implemented smoothly diagonally. Thus, there is a problem in that the picture quality is degraded.


An exercise device for martial arts conditioning including a belt having rings, a torso harness a hand stirrup for each hand, a knee band for each knee, and an ankle band for each ankle. The harness includes front and back straps and is attached to the belt in the front and the back. A loop is attached on the harness at each shoulder for receiving an elastic cord. At least two more loops are attached to the back strap to receive elastic cords. Specialized channels in the knee band are adapted to receive elastic cords that are attached to the belt and the ankle. A method of use for practicing punching and blocking motions includes passing an elastic cord through the loops on the back harness strap, grasping each end of the cord with either hand, and repeatedly punching and blocking. A method of use for practicing kicking includes attaching elastic bands to the belt, passing them through the specialized channels on the knee band, attaching the cords at the ankle, and repeatedly kicking. The elastic cords provide resistance to the muscles, thereby improving muscle group coordination, strength, and response time. A specialized glove, sit-up wedge, and hand stirrup for use with the invention are disclosed.

Skeletal muscle has an intrinsic monitoring system of sensory receptors in muscle, tendon and joints that form a sensory motor feedback loop system with the central nervous system to control muscle function. Sensory input monitors length, tension, and position to help control the speed, duration and intensity of motor effort through positive and negative feed back loops. It is known in the art of exercise and sport that voluntary muscle contractions and controlled body movements improve upon repetition of a specified motion. Skeletal muscle adapts rapidly to alterations in its loading status. Voluntary muscle contractions can be enhanced by applying resistance to specific muscle groups to load controlled contractions of the targeted skeletal muscles. Resistance training improves muscle strength and tone, coordination, and response time.
It is difficult to load specific muscles used in the martial arts, such as those for punches, blocks, and kicks, because the movements are rapid, used in combination, and are difficult to isolate in weight training. It is desirable to increase the load on these muscles with resistance. It is known in the art to use elastic bands, worn in specific arrangement, to provide resistance to targeted muscle groups. The prior art does not disclose an arrangement effective for martial arts exercises.
The prior art chronicles inventions applying this resistance principle in exercise devices. U.S. Pat. No. 650,656 discloses a harness of shoulder straps and a waist strap. U.S. Pat. No. 843,478 discloses a waist belt with elastic cords running on the right and left sides, between the right and left hands and feet, respectively. Recently issued patents include U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,186,701 and 5,720,042 issued to Wilkinson which describe an aerobic exercise garment. The garment is a body suit with anchors at various locations for attaching elastic cords which provide resistance when stretched by the hand or foot. The body suit covers the entire body and is cumbersome because it constrains body movement. The suit does not have anchors and components to enable a user to target muscles specific to martial arts. In U.S. Pat. No. 5,372,565 Burdenko discloses a buoyant waist belt with rings at various locations for attaching elastic cords. The device is more simple and less cumbersome than Wilkenson's, but it, too, lacks anchors and components to enable a user to target muscles specific to martial arts. In U.S. Pat. No. 5,647,827 Gutkowski discloses another exercise belt with cords running to the hands and ankles. The device does not contemplate anchors and components to enable a user to target muscles specific to martial arts.
Other prior art discloses resistance devices for specific parts of the body. U.S. Pat. No. 5,203,754 issued to Maclean describes a leg harness exercise apparatus in which a single elastic cord forms a loop starting at the ankle, running to the knee, waist, and returning to the ankle. The configuration of the device does not encourage proper alignment for kicks, as the cord is positioned on the outside of the leg only. In U.S. Pat. No. 5,433,688 Davies discloses an exercise waist belt for exercising the arms and upper body. The device has a stretchy band with handgrips that slides through a guide attached at the front of the belt, and does not provide resistance to muscles used in martial arts movements.
The prior art discloses exercise devices using elastic bands to increase resistance, but none is designed to enable a user to target muscles specific to martial arts. The known devices are not suited to martial arts because the placement of the elastic bands, and associated resistance and motion vectors, is not conducive to proper martial arts technique. In particular, none provides resistance or guidance to muscles used for proper punching and blocking technique wherein the elastic cords are guided across the back of the user. Further, none provide resistance or guidance to muscles used for proper kicking wherein the elastic cords are guided along the knee of the user.
Therefore, it is an object of this invention to provide an exercise device with appropriate anchors and components to specifically condition muscles used in the martial arts. In particular, it is an object of this invention to provide an exercise device that provides guidance and resistance to punching and blocking movements of the arms and torso through the use of loops in the back of the harness to guide elastic cables that are passed through loops. It is a further object of this invention to provide an exercise device that provides guidance and resistance to kicking movements through the use of a knee band and properly placed guide loops at the waist and ankle. It is also and object of this invention to provide a method of using the disclosed device to properly train muscles for martial arts punches, blocks, and kicks. The foregoing objects are achieved by this invention as described in detail below and shown in the accompanying drawings.


An acid or base is generated in an aqueous solution by the steps of:                (a) providing a source of first ions adjacent an aqueous liquid in a first acid or base generation zone, separated by a first barrier (e.g., anion exchange membrane) substantially preventing liquid flow and transporting ions only of the same charge as said first ions,        (b) providing a source of second ions of opposite charge adjacent an aqueous liquid in a second acid or base generation zone, separated by a second barrier transporting ions only of the same charge as the second ions, and        (c) transporting ions across the first barrier by applying an electrical potential through said first and second zones to generate an acid-containing aqueous solution in one of said first or second zones and a base-containing aqueous solution in the other one which may be combined to form a salt. Also, electrolytic apparatus for performing the above method.

Ion chromatography and other forms of liquid chromatography are widely used analytical techniques for determination of ionic analytes. Dilute solutions of acids, bases, and salts such as sodium carbonate and sodium bicarbonate are used as eluents in the ion chromatographic separations. Traditionally, these eluents are prepared off-line by dilution with reagent-grade chemicals. Off-line preparation of chromatographic eluents can be tedious and prone to operator errors, and often introduces contaminants. For example, dilute NaOH solutions, widely used as eluents in the ion chromatographic separation of anions, are easily contaminated by carbonate. The preparation of carbonate-free NaOH eluents is difficult because carbonate can be introduced as an impurity from the reagents or by adsorption of carbon dioxide from air. The presence of carbonate in NaOH eluents often compromises the performance of an ion chromatographic method, and can cause an undesirable chromatographic baseline drift during the hydroxide gradient and even irreproducible retention times of target analytes. Therefore, there is a general need for convenient sources of high purity acid, base, or salt for use as eluents in the ion chromatographic separations.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,045,204 describes an impure acid or base is purified in an eluent generator while flowing through a source channel along a permselective ion exchange membrane which separates the source channel from a product channel. The membrane allows selective passage of cations or anions. An electrical potential is applied between the source channel and the product channel so that the anions or cations of the acid or base pass from the former to the latter to generate therein a base or acid with electrolytically generated hydroxide ions or hydronium ions, respectively. This system requires an aqueous stream of acid or base as a starting source or reservoir.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,036,921 and U.S. Pat. No. 6,225,129 describe electrolytic devices that can be used to generate high purity acid and base solutions by using water as the carrier. Using these devices, high purity, contaminant-free acid or base solutions are automatically generated on-line for use as eluents in chromatographic separations. These devices simplify gradient separations that can now be performed using electrical current gradients with minimal delay instead of using a conventional mechanical gradient pump.
Dilute solutions of salts such as sodium carbonate and sodium bicarbonate are often used as eluents in ion chromatographic separations. One object of the present invention is to develop methods and devices for generating such high purity salt solutions using water as a carrier.

Electrolytic eluent generator and method of use


A ground rod driver that uses an industry standard connecting plate to physically attach the driver to Skid Steer type equipment. The driver has a hydraulic, impact driving hammer connected to an alignment beam that enables vertical movement of the hammer. Operation of the driving hammer, as well as up and down motion of the driving hammer is derived from the accessory hydraulic system and connections of the Skid Steer. Simple operating control valves, flow control valve and hydraulic hoses, and an operating station are mounted directly to the driver.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a hammer device for driving ground rods into the earth, and more specifically to a hammer device that can be attached to standard construction machinery.
2. Background of the Prior Art
When erecting high voltage, electric transmission poles, all pole installations require ground rods to be driven at each location where a pole is installed. This part of the construction requires driving as many as ten or more ground rods in succession at each pole location. Such ground rods are typically ⅝″ to ¾″ in diameter and 8′ to 10′ in length. The normal installation method is to drive one rod into the earth adjacent to the new pole location, couple successive rods on top of any previous rod, and continue driving until the total length driven into the ground is 70′ or more. The purpose of driving such ground rods in this manner is to achieve an electrical resistance level as required by design. These ground rods are connected to the new steel poles using copper wire to create a path for any electrical over current condition.
The type of equipment that the present invention is designed to be used with is known as a Skid Steer. Many companies manufacture this type of machine and each company has different variations for what equipment can be attached and how the machine is propelled. Some machines have rubber tires, some have tracks, and some have a combination of both. All Skid Steer type equipment has an industry standard attachment plate on the front of the machine to connect various types of apparatuses or attachments to the actual equipment. Such attachments are many and perform all types of functions. There are buckets for digging earth, chain devices for trenching, backhoe attachments for earth excavating, augers for drilling holes, hammers for breaking concrete or rock, etc. Nevertheless, none of these attachments can be used to drive ground rods.


The cylinder cleaning device according to the present invention is structured by independent components of a cleaning fabric supply element, a cleaning fabric take-up section, a cleaning fabric pressing section, and a brake section. The cleaning fabric supply element is formed by a flat box-form container. A shape-retaining member is provided on or in the vicinity of an inner surface of said container facing to a crease portion and/or a lateral portion of the cleaning fabric folded in multiplicity so as to act on the crease portion and/or the lateral portion of the cleaning fabric for retaining a folded shape of the cleaning fabric. The cleaning fabric supply element, the cleaning fabric take-up section, the brake section can desirably be arranged in a vacant space around the cylinder. Therefore, even in an existing machine the design for device structure is easy to design in a manner adapted for a vacant space without carrying out especial working.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a cylinder cleaning device which cleans away extraneous matter adhered to a surface of a blanket cylinder or a impression cylinder of an offset printing machine, in particular an offset sheet-fed printing machine, or a cylinder, roller, etc. of an apparatus such as a paper converting machine that deals with various kinds of papers or films, and more particularly to a cylinder cleaning device having a structure adapted for a narrow-width installation space.
2. Description of the Related Art
There have been proposed and placed into practical use various types of automatic cleaning devices having a cleaning fabric stretched between a cleaning fabric supply roll and a cleaning fabric take-up roll so as to be depressed by an urging means onto a cylinder or the like of a printing machine, thereby cleaning away dirt from a surface thereof. For example, such description is made in Japanese patent Publication No. S-563708.
One example of an automatic cleaning device of this kind will be explained as to structure with reference to FIG. 10. A cleaning fabric pressing means 2 for an automatic cleaning device 10 is provided oppositely to a blanket cylinder 1 as one of cylinders of a printing machine so as to wipe and clean away dirt such as ink, dust, or the like from a surface of the blanket cylinder 1. The cleaning fabric pressing means 2 is provided with a pressure pad 23 for pressing a cleaning fabric 3 against the surface of the blanket cylinder. The pressure pad 23 is expanded by the supply of air and contracted by discharging the air. The cleaning fabric 3 is urged onto the surface of the blanket cylinder in a state of expansion of the pressure pad. A cleaning fabric supply roll 4 for supplying the cleaning fabric 3 and a take-up shaft of a cleaning fabric take-up roll 5 are arranged at locations on the side of a cylinder 1 of a step 6, which an operator is to get on, and below a safety cover 8. Reference character 13 is a stay as a cross beam that is bridged to a frame 14 of the printing machine.
The cleaning fabric pressing means 2 is structured such that it can be moved as mentioned by an actuator, not illustrated. That is, the cleaning fabric pressing means 2 is detached from the blanket cylinder during usual printing, but during cleaning it approaches the blanket cylinder. The blanket cylinder, during cleaning, is rotated at a moderate speed (at a speed slower than that during usual printing) in a direction of the arrow. The pressure pad is expanded by the supply of air due to beginning of cleaning so that it in the expansion state cause the clean fabric to be pressed against the surface of the blanket cylinder, thereby wiping dirt therefrom. The cleaning fabric is fed continuously or intermittently by the rotation of the cleaning fabric take-up roll due to driving the take-up shaft. After ending the cleaning, the pressure pad is contracted by discharging the air therefrom. In this contraction state, the cleaning fabric is detached from the surface of the blanket cylinder to halt taking-up in the cleaning fabric take-up roll, thereby ending the operation of cleaning.
Recently, there have been developed small-sized, high-performance offset sheet-fed printing machines, which makes possible installation in relatively small space. For multi-color printing in particular, a plurality of printing machines are arranged in tandem. In a printing machine, there is a necessity to secure a space required for operator's operation, involving printing-plate replacement such as attaching plate to a plate cylinder 7 and detaching plate, replacement of a cleaning fabric for an automatic cleaning device 10, and so on. Particularly in the case of a multi-color offset sheet-fed printing machine, the operation space 11 that is provided between press units A and B adjacent to each other, for example, is approximately 50 cm for a space saving type, securing a width as small as a required minimum. Between the operation space 11 and the press unit A safety cover 8 is provided, wherein the spacing between the safety cover 8 and the blanket cylinder 1 is as small as about 4 cm in width. Therefore, it has been impossible to install there a cleaning fabric unit (one-body assembly of the cleaning fabric pressing section, the cleaning fabric supply roll, and cleaning fabric take-up shaft) for an automatic cleaning device.
The offset sheet-fed printing machine in many cases has a structure arranged, as shown in the figure, by a blanket cylinder 1 at a lower location and a plate cylinder 7 at an upper location so that a device for cleaning the blanket cylinder is placed on the side of the operating space.
The cleaning fabric unit of the conventional automatic cleaning device is of a structure that is, for example, wide in a direction of a normal line with respect to the surface of the blanket cylinder 1. That is, the cleaning fabric supply roll 4 and the cleaning fabric take-up roll 5 are arranged at a back location of the pressure pad 23. The cleaning fabric supply roll and the cleaning fabric take-up roll are placed offset in directions of upper and lower or left and right, as viewed in the figure, to avoid interference therebetween. With such structure, there is increase in distance between the pressure pad and the cleaning fabric supply roll or the cleaning fabric take-up roll, so that the cleaning fabric unit is difficult in width to be placed between the safety cover and the blanket cylinder. Besides, there is a necessity of taking into consider the spacing required for moving the cleaning fabric unit between upon cleaning and non-cleaning.
The broadening in spacing, as a countermeasure to this, between the safety cover and the blanket cylinder greater than the width of the cylinder cleaning device is difficult in respect of the relation to the installation space for the entire printing machine. Besides, with an existing machine, there encounters further difficulty in terms of installation space and cost, as stated before. In practice, the installation space is secured by narrowing the width in the lower portion of the step 6 from the safety cover 8, that is, broadening toward the operation space to secure an installation space, so that the cleaning fabric unit is attached by the utilization of the extended space.
The securing part of the space for attaching the cylinder cleaning device toward the side of operation space results in reduction in width of the step 6, which an operator is to get on, by a corresponding amount. Furthermore, it is not preferred that an extension 12 is made left on the side of toes due to the installation space, unfavorably hindering workability.
Furthermore, where installing at a location other than between the safety cover and the blanket cylinder, there encounter restrictions in width of the automatic cleaning device due to relations to various devices and apparatuses.
It is therefore the object of the present invention to provide a cylinder cleaning device which is capable of being installed within a limited space given between a cylinder surface to be cleaned and a member opposite thereto.