A method and apparatus using a pre-patterned seed layer for providing an aligned coil for an inductive head structure. The method uses an aligned process where the base plate imprint is fabricated on an electrically insulating layer and the reversed image is fabricated and etched into the coil insulation material, e.g., hard bake photoresist to alleviate the problems associated with complete ion removal of the seed layer between high aspect ratio coils. The method would also not be prone to plating non-uniformities (voids), and would not be subject to seed layer undercutting in a wet etch step process.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates in general to magnetic transducers, and more particularly to a method and apparatus for providing an aligned coil for an inductive head structure using a patterned seed layer.
2. Description of Related Art
Magnetic recording is a key and invaluable segment of the information-processing industry. While the basic principles are one hundred years old for early tape devices, and over forty years old for magnetic hard disk drives, an influx of technical innovations continues to extend the storage capacity and performance of magnetic recording products. For hard disk drives, the areal density or density of written data bits on the magnetic medium has increased by a factor of more than two million since the first disk drive was applied to data storage. Since 1991, areal density has grown by the well-known 60% compound growth rate, and this is based on corresponding improvements in heads, media, drive electronics, and mechanics.
Magnetic recording heads have been considered the most significant factor in areal-density growth. The ability of these components to both write and subsequently read magnetically recorded data from the medium at data densities well into the Gbits/in2 range gives hard disk drives the power to remain the dominant storage device for many years to come.
The heart of a computer is an assembly that is referred to as a magnetic disk drive. The disk drive includes a rotating magnetic disk, write and read heads that are suspended by a suspension arm above the rotating disk and an actuator that swings the suspension arm to place the read and write heads over selected circular tracks on the rotating disk. The read and write heads are directly mounted on a slider that has an air bearing surface (ABS). The suspension arm biases the slider into contact with the surface of the disk when the disk is not rotating. However, when the disk rotates, air is compressed by the rotating disk adjacent the ABS causing the slider to ride on an air bearing a slight distance from the surface of the rotating disk. The write and read heads are employed for writing magnetic impressions to and reading magnetic impressions from the rotating disk. The read and write heads are connected to processing circuitry that operates according to a computer program to implement the writing and reading functions.
Prior to 1991, heads were designed with a single inductive sensor performing both reading and writing functions. The decreasing signal amplitude resulting from areal densities exceeding 500 Mbits/in2 promoted the development of magnetoresistive and giant-magnetoresistive read sensors merged with an inductive head, which now performed a write function only. While write track widths can be wider than the corresponding read widths, i.e. "write wide and read narrow", inductive sensors must be redesigned with narrower gaps and pole geometries. At these higher data densities, pole edge effects become more significant. Coil widths and numbers of turns, all attained by advanced photolithographic techniques over large topographies, must be optimized to achieve adequate inductance focused within a very small writing area on the medium. Finally, it is a consequence of increased areal density that the media or internal data rate, i.e. the rate at which information is written and read within a disk drive, is increased.
A write head includes a coil layer embedded in first, second and third insulation layers (insulation stack), the insulation stack being sandwiched between first and second pole piece layers. A write gap layer between the first and second pole piece layers forms a magnetic gap at an air bearing surface (ABS) of the write head. The pole piece layers are connected at a backgap. Current conducted to the coil layer induces a magnetic field across the magnetic gap between the pole pieces. This field fringes across the magnetic gap for the purpose of writing information in tracks on moving media, such as the circular tracks on the aforementioned rotating disk or a linearly moving magnetic tape in a tape drive.
The read head includes first and second shield layers, first and second gap layers, a read sensor and first and second lead layers that are connected to the read sensor for conducting a sense current through the read sensor. The first and second gap layers are located between the first and second shield layers and the read sensor and the first and second lead layers are located between the first and second gap layers. The distance between the first and second shield layers determines the linear read density of the read head. The read sensor has first and second side edges that define a track width of the read head. The product of the linear density and the track density equals the areal density of the read head which is the bit reading capability of the read head per square inch of the magnetic media.
As mentioned above, a significant factor in achieving gigabyte densities in computers has been increasing the track density of the write head. Track density is expressed in the art as tracks per inch (TPI) which is the number of tracks that the write head can write per inch of width of a rotating disk or linearly moving magnetic tape.
The coil inductance per square turn can be reduced by decreasing the coil diameter, requiring a smaller coil pitch. However, current processing of electroplating the coil limits the coil pitch. The primary failure mode is inter-coil turn shorting to each other. The magnetic-circuit part of the inductance is dominated by the flux which fringes between the two poles and is reduced by decreasing the volume of driven magnetic material and also by increasing the separation of the two poles. But an adequate cross-section of the poles must be maintained to prevent saturation. Therefore, the easiest way to speed up a write head is to reduce the yoke length. The use of two or more coil layers facilitates these geometry changes at the expense of process complexity. If magnetic recording is to continue increasing in areal density more rapidly than semiconductor devices, a point will be reached where the lithographic resolution demands for critical dimensions of heads will exceed the capability of the conventional tooling available.
It can be seen that there is a need for a method and apparatus that provides narrower write coils to allow reduced yoke lengths and therefore greater areal densities.

Method and apparatus using a pre-patterned seed layer for providing an aligned coil for an inductive head structure

International Business Machines Corporation


A head lining of an automobile is formed with a notched portion which is surrounded by a forward corresponding portion of the head lining to be brought into contact with a front surface of a pillar, and a backward corresponding portion of the head lining to be brought into contact with a rear surface of the pillar. The head lining is further formed with first slits on the head lining so that the forward corresponding portion and backward corresponding portion are brought into contact with the front surface and rear surface of the pillar in such a manner that the forward corresponding portion and backward corresponding portion are curved downwardly. The forward corresponding portion and backward corresponding portion are formed so as to be extended from a position where they are brought into contact with the front surface and rear surface of the pillar.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a head lining of an automobile.
2. Description of the Related Arts
A head lining is provided to a lower surface of a roof panel of an automobile, and notched portions are formed in a portion corresponding to a pillar of a car body on the end portion of the head lining in a vehicle-width direction. The notched portions are formed so as to avoid interference with the pillar, and a prescribed gap is secured between the pillar, corresponding forward and backward portions of the notched portions, and between the pillar and a corresponding inner portion of the notched portion.
However, in such a conventional technique, since the gap is secured between the notched portion and pillar, a position of the head lining with respect to the pillar is not stabilized. The head lining causes not only displacement in the forward-and-backward direction and vehicle-width direction but also displacement in an up-and-down direction. Namely, since an upper end of the pillar is connected with the roof, its cross sectional form is enlarged, and a front and rear surfaces and inner surface of the pillar are slanted. For this reason, the aforementioned gap can raise the head lining up to a position where the corresponding portions of the notched portions are brought into contact with the slanted front and rear surfaces and inner surface, and thus the up-and-down position is not stabilized.


The present disclosure relates to a cooking apparatus including a heating device, a gas passage to guide gas supplied from the outside to the heating device, a gas valve configured to supply gas to the gas passage, a modulating valve configured to adjust the degree of opening of the gas passage, a boosting passage formed to be branched from a first portion of the gas passage and joined to a second portion of the gas passage positioned in the rear of the first portion along a direction in which gas in the gas passage flows, a boosting valve configured to open and close the boosting passage, a first nozzle disposed between the first portion and the second portion of the gas passage, and a second nozzle disposed between the second portion of the gas passage and the heating device.

In general, a cooking apparatus is a device that cooks by heating food, and is largely classified into a method of generating heat for heating food using electricity and a method of generating heat for heating food using gas.
Such cooking apparatus includes a gas range, an oven, an electric range, and the like.
A gas range needs to shorten the cooking time by applying heat of a relatively high temperature to the beginning of cooking and applying a relatively appropriate amount of heat to the middle and/or end of cooking.
A conventional gas range needs to include a separate structure in order to shorten the cooking time by providing a relatively large amount of heat at the beginning of cooking.
In addition, in a conventional gas range, when the amount of gas supplied during a cooking process changes rapidly, or when a relatively small amount of heat is provided, a fire may goes out as ambient air flows into a heating device to which gas is supplied.

Cooking apparatus and control method thereof


A casting apparatus including a die that contains a molten metal that is poured via an opening section disposed above the die. The casting apparatus also includes a heater disposed above the die, and a gas supplying structure for supplying an inter gas to a surface of the molten metal. The casting apparatus further includes a lid disposed between the surface of the molten metal and the heater, and a lid moving structure for moving the lid to the die relatively so as to control the opening amount of the opening section above the die.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a casting apparatus for manufacturing a metal such as a polycrystalline silicon ingot and casting method therefore.
2. Description of Related Art
It is usual to blow an inert gas so as to surround a die by an inert atmosphere for casting a raw material such as silicon (Si) or a high-melting-point-metal which tends to be oxidized when cast in a die under an ordinary atmosphere condition. In particular, it is common to blow an argon (Ar) gas to a surface of a molten silicon when a polycrystalline silicon ingot which is used for a solar cell and the like is casted.
Thus, by supplying the Ar gas, a silicon oxide (SiO) gas which is generated in the molten metal is removed and a carbon monoxide (CO) gas which is generated when the SiO gas reacts with carbon (C) which is contained in the furnace is prevented from being contained in a molten metal. In particular, it is commonly known that quite an amount of a carbon is contained in the ingot when the CO gas is contained in the molten metal; thus, the product is affected unfavorably.
In a document such as a Japanese Unexamined Patent Application, First Publication No. 2000-158096, it is disclosed that a section for supplying an Ar gas is disposed and a lid is disposed above the die so as to prevent a carbon from being contained in the ingot by restricting a CO gas in the molten metal conventionally.
However, the above conventional casting method has following problems. That is, there is a problem in that a raw raw material which is used in the casting operation is limited when the raw material is poured in the die if a lid is disposed above the die. Also, there is a concern that a molten silicon on the surface of the raw material melted while the raw material is melted is splashed and adheres to the lid; thus, an impurity is contained in the molten silicon. Furthermore, a push-out effect of an Ar gas becomes reduced when Ar gas is reduced so as to avoid a splash of molten metal which occurs when the molten metal is nearly solidified and little molten metal remains in the die. In contrast, there is a concern that the lid moves from a predetermined position because of a pressure of the gas when a greater amount of gas is blown.

Japan Electric Metals Corporation, Limited


A light control element includes a substrate, an optical coupling component formed on the substrate by a photonic crystal structure, and a variable refractive index part provided in a part of the photonic crystal structure so as to divide The optical coupling component into two regions, wherein a traveling direction of a light is changed at an interface of the regions by changing a refractive index at the variable refractive index part such that there is caused a reflection for at least one wavenumber of the light.

The present invention is related to light control elements and light control devices using a photonic crystal structure and applicable to light switches, optical intensity modulators, and the like.
A photonic crystal forms a photonic bandgap, which is a forbidden band of photons, as a result of dielectric periodical structure having a period corresponding to optical wavelength and exhibits singular effects due to its strong dispersion. Thus, photonic crystals are expected as an ultra minute optical integrated circuits or novel functional optical devices. By using these properties, it becomes possible to construct light control elements such as light switches or optical intensity modulators having an extremely minute optical path modification function.
Various structures are proposed for optical path switching devices according to the applications and according to the materials used therefor. For example, Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application 2002-221680 describes optical path switching by moving an optical path changing fluid with respect to an operation fluid having a matched refractive index, such that the optical path changing fluid has a refractive index different from the refractive index of the foregoing operation fluid.
Further, Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application 2002-122798 describes optical path switching achieved by moving a galvanometric mirror inserted between optical waveguides in the state that the mirror is sandwiched by electromagnets.
Further, in the field of optical telecommunication in trunk systems, a system using a reflector called MEMS (Micro Electro-mechanical system) is used.
In these conventional methods, there exists an advantage of achieving large extinction ratio with simple construction, while such a conventional construction has a drawback, associated with its construction of using mechanical movement of an object such as thermal pressure generator or electromagnet, that it is difficult to achieve high-speed switching.
As a high-speed optical switch, a device based on directional coupler formed of lithium niobate or a device of Mach Zehnder type is used generally, wherein such high-speed optical switches are already in commercial production. However, such conventional high-speed optical switches have a drawback in that the device length of several centimeters. Because of the large device length, it is difficult to use such an optical switch for the optical interconnection switch on a circuit board carrying a semiconductor chip thereon.
Meanwhile, there is a proposal of an optical path switch using a photonic crystal. Particularly, there is a proposal of an optical switch that uses the strong dispersion of a photonic crystal called super prism effect (Physical Review B, vol. 58, p. 10096, 1998).
For example, Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application 2002-303836 describes an optical path switch that uses super prism effect.
FIG. 18 shows an example of the construction proposed in the Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application 2002-303863.
Referring to FIG. 18, an optical beam incident to a photonic crystal 202 via an optical waveguide 201 obliquely with respect to an optical axis thereof travels in the direction of an arrow shown in continuous line due to the dispersion of the photonic crystal in the state no current injection is made. Thereby, the incident optical beam exits to an optical waveguide 203 of channel 1 (CH1).
When a current injection is made, on the other hand, the refractive index of the medium constituting the photonic crystal 202 is changed, and resultant change of the refractive angle results in a change of propagating direction in the photonic crystal as represented by the arrow shown in a broken line. Thereby, the incident optical beam is directed to an optical waveguide 204 of channel 2 (CH2). Thus, the optical path switch of FIG. 18 induces a large change of deflection angle in the incident optical beam by the super prism effect for switching the incident optical beam to the exit optical waveguide 204.
Meanwhile, there is a problem in such an optical switch element that uses a photonic crystal in that the super prism effect is extremely sensitive to the incident angle and wavelength of the incident optical beam and that there occurs a large change of deflection angle when there is caused a very small change of wavelength in-the incident optical beam. Further, there is a need of fixing the incident angle of the incident optical beam with respect to the photonic crystal. Further, there exist various problems to be solved such as existence of strong reflection at the edge surface of the photonic crystal.
Further, there is a concept of integrating a photonic crystal with an interferometer of Mach-Zehnder type or directional coupler for achieving optical modulation or optical path switching. However, there has been no known construction capable of achieving such objects. Further, there have been no known devices that are used in practice.

Light control element and light control device


A method of manufacturing an organic light emitting display device includes defining pixels on a substrate, each of the pixels including a first area in which light is emitted in a first direction and a second area in which light is emitted in a second direction opposite the first direction; forming first electrodes respectively disposed in the first area of each of the pixels; forming a sacrificial layer in the first area and the second area of each pixel to cover the first electrodes; forming openings in the sacrificial layer to open a patterning area in the respective second area of each of the pixels; forming a conductive layer on the patterning areas and the sacrificial layer; removing the sacrificial layer; forming an intermediate layer including an organic emitting layer; and forming a third electrode on the intermediate layer.

1. Field
One or more embodiments of the present invention relate to a method of manufacturing an organic light emitting display device.
2. Description of the Related Technology
An organic light emitting display device is a self-emissive display including an organic compound that is electrically excited to emit light. The organic light emitting display device is typically driven via a low voltage, is thin, has a wide view angle, and a high response speed. Thus, the organic light emitting display device has been regarded as a next-generation display that does not have the defects of a liquid crystal display (LCD) device or the like.
In contrast to an LCD device, an organic light emitting display device emits light on two sides. The organic light emitting display device includes pixels, and may be divided into a top emission unit and a bottom emission unit. A reflective anode pattern is formed in the top emission unit, and a transmissive anode pattern is formed in the bottom emission unit.

Method of manufacturing organic light emitting display device


A photoelectric keyboard switch apparatus comprising a first structure to produce and detect laterally directed and longitudinally spaced first light beams at a first level in a simulated keyboard area, which is open; a second structure to produce and detect longitudinally directed, laterally spaced second light beams at or proximate to the first level, in the area, whereby the first and second light beams produce a grid-like pattern having cross-over nodes; a third structure to produce and detect third light beams at a second level or levels, whereby user's finger interruption of a third beam occurs in conjunction with finger interruption of the first and second beam at or near one or more nodes.

The present invention relates to photoelectric keyboard switches for a computer.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,136,156 to Nounen et al. discloses a photoelectric switching device, which comprises a four-sided frame, three pairs of arrays of light-emitting elements, photo-detecting elements, and a control means. Each array of the light-emitting elements is mounted on a side of the frame. Each of the photo-detecting elements is mounted on an opposite side of the frame from which the light-emitting elements are mounted.
Three pairs of the arrays of the light-emitting elements and photo-detecting elements together provide a matrix of regions inside the frame. When the light paths between the light-emitting elements and the photo-detecting elements are blocked by a stylus, such as a finger, sensed, blocked signals are transmitted to a control means, such as a computer, which discriminates the coordinates of the stylus on the switch device, and displays a pattern having several regions allocated for control of optional equipment.
The Nounen device does not provide a convenient flexibility for a thumb to operate the device, together with other fingers. Generally speaking, joint operation of a thumb and other four fingers of a hand is needed for regular typing operations. The device disclosed herein provides improved means for a thumb to work together with the other four fingers of a hand, to do typing.


The present disclosure provides devices and techniques for a reversible mounting bracket. The reversible mounting bracket includes a pole mounting side and a wall mounting side. The pole mounting side and the wall mounting side are joined together at approximately 90°. When used to mount a fixture, such as a light fixture, to a wall, the wall mounting side is mounted to a wall, and the pole mounting side provides support for the fixture. When used to mount a fixture to a pole, the pole mounting side is mounted to a pole, and the wall mounting side provides support for the fixture. Thus, the same reversible mounting bracket can be used to mount a fixture to a pole or to a wall.

Light fixtures are often mounted onto poles, walls, or other structures. In some cases, the same type of light fixture may be mounted to a wall or a poll, depending on the preference or requirements of the customer. For example, a barn light may be mounted to an outside wall of a building or to a light pole. Walls and poles, however, have different surface profiles, with walls generally being flat, and poles generally being round or curved. Such distinct surface profiles typically require different mounting brackets. Specifically, when mounting a light fixture to a wall, a mounting bracket designed for mounting light fixtures to walls is required. Likewise, when mounting a light fixture to a pole, a different mounting bracket designed for mounting light fixtures to poles is required. However, because the light fixture may be mounted to walls in certain applications and to poles in other applications, both wall bracket sets and pole bracket sets compatible with the light fixture are needed, adding to the cost, bulk, and complexity of the lighting system or product line.

Reversible pole or wall mounting bracket


A novel europium-diketone chelate compound which steadily emits red light by ultraviolet irradiation and a fluorescent material using the same are provided. The europium-diketone chelate compound is represented by the following formula (1). The fluorescent material contains the europium-diketone chelate compound.

Today various luminescent materials are used for organic light emitting diodes, energy transducers or display elements. These luminescent materials are also used for means for preventing forgery of securities, means for inspecting contact surfaces and means for detecting trace amounts of substances.
In uses such as means for preventing forgery of securities, the luminescent materials are desired to be visually unnoticeable or colorless, but develop color and become easily visible when lighted in inspection.
Among such luminescent materials, organic materials which emit red light are conventionally known. However, most of such conventional red light emitting organic materials have a colored appearance.
In view of the problem, a method using a compound containing a europium (Eu) complex as a red light emitting organic material is disclosed.
For example, a recording liquid for inkjet using a fluorescent material comprising tetra-4,4,4-trifluoro-1-(2-thienyl)-1,3-butanedionato europium complex containing a tetra-n-butylammonium salt as a counter ion is proposed (see Patent Document 1).
The recording liquid is colorless under visible light, red at a wavelength of 600 to 650 nm under ultraviolet light having a wavelength of 254 to 365 nm, has high luminescence intensity and is excellent in light resistance.
Also, an ultraviolet-induced luminescent paste containing a europium complex using trifluoro-phenylbutanedione as a ligand is proposed (see Patent Document 2).
From its colorless appearance and emission of light by ultraviolet irradiation, the ultraviolet-induced luminescent paste is considered to have excellent visibility for determining the presence or absence of the paste.
Also, synthesis of europium-diketone chelate compounds and physical properties thereof are reported, and the report discloses that these compounds emit strong red light (see Non-Patent Document 1).    Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 8-239609    Patent Document 2: Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2004-115559Non-Patent Document 1: Susumu Sato et al, "Some Properties of Europium β-diketone Chelates I (Synthesis and Fluorescent Properties)", Japanese Journal of Applied Physics, Vol. 7, No. 1, pp. 7-13, January (1968)
However, most of the above-described conventional europium-diketone chelate compounds have high crystallinity. Such highly crystalline salts have poor processability such as coatability, film formability or dispersibility in a polymer substrate, and have problems with luminous properties such as uniformity and deterioration.
Also, while dispersibility in a polymer is required in some uses, the highly crystalline salts form particles and excellent dispersibility in a polymer cannot be achieved, often causing a problem of concentration quenching.
Moreover, the europium-diketone chelate compounds disclosed in Non-Patent Document 1 have an ionic bond, a low vapor pressure and melt or are oxidatively decomposed by heating even under reduced pressure, and therefore have a problem that the compounds cannot be formed into a film by vapor deposition.
The present invention has been made in view of the above problems and an object of the present invention is to provide a novel europium-diketone chelate compound which steadily emits red light by ultraviolet irradiation and a fluorescent material using the same.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a europium-diketone chelate compound having high dispersibility when applied to a glass substrate or mixed with plastics, and a fluorescent material using the same.

Europium-diketone chelate compound and fluorescent material using the same

Abstract: wherein X+ is a heterocyclic cationic polymer, a cationic oligomer or a cationic heteroaromatic compound containing a substituent, R1 is an aromatic compound group or a heterocyclic compound group containing a plurality of double bonds and Z is a hydrogen atom or a substituent of an aliphatic or alicyclic compound.

National University Corporation Kyushu Institute of Technology


The present invention provides a process for the preparation of 1H-benzimidazol-1-methyl-5-N,N-di(2-hydroxyethyl)-2-butanoic acid ethyl ester. The present invention also provides a process for the preparation of bendamustine hydrochloride. The present invention further provides a process for the purification of bendamustine hydrochloride.

Bendamustine hydrochloride, chemically 5-[bis(2-chloroethyl)amino]-1-methyl-1H-benzimidazole-2-butanoic acid hydrochloride and has the structural formula:

Bendamustine Hydrochloride was initially synthesized in 1963 in the German Democratic Republic (GDR) and was available from 1971 to 1992 there under the tradename Cytostasan®. Since that time, it has been marketed in Germany under the tradename Ribomustin®. Bendamustine hydrochloride is currently available in the United States under the tradename Treanda® (Cephalon, Inc., Frazer, Pa.). Bendamustine is an alkylating agent that has been shown to have therapeutic utility in treating diseases such as chronic lymphocytic leukemia, Hodgkin's disease, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, multiple myeloma, and breast cancer.
A process for the preparation of 1H-benzimidazol-1-methyl-5-N,N-di-(2-hydroxyethyl) amino-2-butanoic acid ethyl ester was reported in Journal of pract.chem 20, 178-186, (1963). According to the journal also reported a process for the preparation of bendamustine hydrochloride.
A process for the preparation of 1H-benzimidazol-1-methyl-5-N,N-di-(2-hydroxyethyl) amino-2-butanoic acid ethyl ester was reported in Chinese Journal of new drugs 2007, Vol. 16(23), 1960-63. According to the journal also reported a process for the preparation of bendamustine hydrochloride.
We have found that an improved process for the preparation of 1H-benzimidazol-1-methyl-5-N,N-di-(2-hydroxyethyl) amino-2-butanoic acid ethyl ester.
We have also found that an improved process for the preparation of bendamustine hydrochloride.
4-(7, 8-dihydro-6-(2-chloroethylamino)-3-methyl-1,4-thiazino[3,2-g]benzimidazoyl(2))-butyric acid is a potential impurity in bendamustine hydrochloride. The chemical formula of 4-(7,8-dihydro-6-(2-chloroethylamino)-3-methyl-1,4-thiazino[3,2-g]benzimidazoyl(2))-butyric acid may be represented as:

The present invention is intended to enhance the purity of bendamustine hydrochloride. In particular, the present invention is directed to reduce or remove 4-(7,8-dihydro-6-(2-chloroethylamino)-3-methyl-1,4-thiazino[3,2-g]benzimidazoyl(2))-butyric acid impurity from bendamustine hydrochloride.
We have also found that a novel process for purification of bendamustine hydrochloride.
Thus, one object of the present invention is to provide an improved process for the preparation of 1H-benzimidazol-1-methyl-5-N,N-di-(2-hydroxyethyl) amino-2-butanoic acid ethyl ester.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved process for the preparation of bendamustine hydrochloride.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a novel process for purification of bendamustine hydrochloride.


To use 99mTc as a raw material for a radioactive medicine, a very small amount of 99mTc in the high concentration Mo(99Mo) solution is purified and recovered with high yield without contamination of 99Mo. 99mTc with high purity is recovered by forming a high concentration Mo(99Mo) solution which contains radionuclides 99Mo which is the parent nuclide of 99mTc used for the radioactive medicine and the raw material for its labeled compound, forming a high concentration Mo(99Mo) solution which contains radionuclides 99Mo and 99mTc by generating 99mTc to a radioactive-equilibrium state, getting 99mTc in the high concentration Mo(99Mo) solution adsorbed to activated carbon selectively by feeding the solution to an adsorption column which has activated carbon, and undergoing desorption and purification treatment of 99mTc with a desorbent from the activated carbon to which 99mTc is adsorbed.

The present invention relates to a method of recovering enriched radioactive technetium (99mTc) as a radioactive medicine and a raw material for its labeled-compound raw material, and a system therefor.
Tc (technetium) is the transition metal of the atomic number 43 which is situated on the 7th family, the 5th period. Out of the isotopes, 99mTc radiates only γ-ray with the short half-life (6 hours) which suited a diagnostic imaging and the weak energy (140 keV) which suited an external counting. Moreover, 99mTc can be generated by the generator (the 99Mo-99mTc generator) which utilizes a radiation equilibrium with 99Mo and it is used for the nuclear medicine diagnostic imaging. 99mTc is generally used in the way of obtaining it from 99Mo (with the half-life of 66 hours) which is the parent nuclide of 99mTc with a short half-life. Methods for obtaining 99Mo include the Fission method (the nuclear fission method) in which 99Mo with very high specific radioactivity is first generated by the method of uranium nuclear fission, and then separated. In this case, a method of obtaining 99mTc by a milking operation in which the 99mTc is eluted with a physiological saline using alumina as a 99Mo adsorbent, is used as the actual manufacturing technology. On the other hand, there is another method of generating 99Mo using the (n,γ) reaction of the 98Mo isotope which is contained in 99Mo, instead of using uranium as the raw material for obtaining 99Mo. In comparison with the Fission method, this (n,γ) method enables a specific radioactivity of 99Mo to be lowered to about 1/10,000. Therefore, for the practical application of the (n,γ) method, a small amount of 99Tc must be separated, purified and recovered as the daughter nuclide generated from a small amount of 99Mo which is contained in a large amount of Mo. So far, a sol-gel method, MEK method, or a sublimation method are known as the investigated and practically useful (n,γ) method. The inventors of this application have separately proposed PZC method as the (n,γ) method.
JP 2008-102078 A discloses the method and the equipment, in which radioactive molybdenum 99Mo as the parent nuclide of technetium is generated by the 98Mo(n,γ) reaction in a nuclear reactor.
JP 08-309182 A discloses Mo adsorbent for the 99Mo-99mTc generator. And, it is described that this Mo adsorbent is formed by the zirconium-based inorganic polymer which has a high Mo adsorption ability and a high Tc elution performance. This Mo adsorbent is insoluble in water, adsorbs only Mo (including 99Mo) from a water solution which contains Mo (including 99Mo), and elutes 99mTc generated from the radioisotope of 99Mo. Furthermore, this patent literature discloses that a gel of ZrO99MoO4.xH2O is synthesized by reacting Na2Mo(99Mo)O4 obtained by dissolution of Mo(99MoO3) in the (n, γ) method with ZrOCl2 or ZrO(NO3)2, dried, pulverized and packed into a column, and that 99mTc can be eluted from the packed column by a milking operation.
JP 02-54732 A discloses that technetium is eluted from activated carbon which adsorbs and separates technetium from a solution which contains technetium, such as a high radioactive-effluent, or a spent nuclear fuel solution which is generated by reprocessing of a spent nuclear fuel. Technetium in this case is not directed to 99mTc (technetium-99m) with the short half-life for the nuclear medicine diagnostic imaging, but to 99Tc with a very long half-life (technetium 99: the half-life of 21 ten thousand years), which causes a problem of remaining in the nuclear waste.
{Patent Literature 1} Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2008-102027
{Patent Literature 2} Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Hei No. 08-309182
{Patent Literature 3} Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Hei No. 02-54732

Method of recovering enriched radioactive technetium and system therefor


A vehicle-side connector (10) is connected to a battery mounted in a vehicle. The vehicle-side connector (10) includes a housing (20) configured such that a charging connector (80) is connected thereto. Vehicle-side terminals (40) individually are accommodated in cavities (28) in the housing (20) and are configured to be connected individually to charging terminals (83) in the charging connector (80) when the housing (20) and a charging-side fitting portion (81) in the charging connector (80) are connected. A resistance circuit unit (60) is accommodated in an accommodating portion (33) in the housing (20) and has a relay terminal (63) is arranged on a left side connected to a vehicle-side signal terminal (40B) and a relay terminal (63) is arranged on a right side connected to a vehicle-side ground terminal (40C).

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a vehicle-side connector.
2. Description of the Related Art
A vehicle-side connector to be connected to an end of a wire extending from a battery mounted in a vehicle is known, for example, from Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2012-221612. A charging connector connected to a power supply is connectable to this vehicle-side connector and the battery is charged by properly connecting the vehicle-side connector and the charging connector.
Further, a plurality of wires are drawn out from the vehicle-side connector and a relay circuit including a resistor is provided among these wires. When the vehicle-side connector and the charging connector are connected, the relay circuit is closed and a predetermined voltage value corresponding to the resistor is transmitted to a controller on a vehicle side, whereby a connected state of the vehicle-side connector and the charging connector is detected. Such a technology is described in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2013-5520.
In the case of constructing a relay circuit including an electronic component such as a resistor as described above, the electronic component is soldered and molded between wires such as a ground line and a signal line drawn out from the vehicle-side connector. Thus, man-hours for constructing the relay circuit are increased. Further, since a mounting space for the vehicle-side connector is limited with the enlargement of the battery, space saving of the relay circuit has been desired.
The present invention was completed based on the above situation and an object thereof is to reduce man-hours for constructing a relay circuit and realize space saving of the relay circuit.

Vehicle-side connector with a relay-circuit unit


A system and method can provide nose, such as wind noise, mitigation and/or microphone blending. Some methods may include sampling a sound signal from a plurality of microphones to generate a frame comprising a plurality of time-frequency tiles of the sound signal, each time-frequency tile including respective values of at least one feature from the plurality of microphones, comparing the respective values of the at least one feature to determine whether each time-frequency tile satisfies a similarity threshold, and flagging each time-frequency tile as noise if it fails to satisfy the similarity threshold, grouping the plurality of time-frequency tiles into sets of frequency-adjacent time-frequency tiles, and for each set of frequency-adjacent time-frequency tiles in the frame: counting a number of flagged time-frequency tiles, and attenuating all of the time-frequency tiles in the each set if the number exceeds a noise bin count threshold to thereby reduce noise in the sound signal.

A voice controlled user interface of a communication or other audio device may activate in response to a user speaking a keyword and may accept spoken commands after activation. However, the user may utilize the voice controlled user interface in a variety of different contexts, including contexts with wind noise. There remain challenges associated with distinguishing sounds associated with voice control inputs of a user in the presence of other sounds such as wind noise. The undesired portion of sounds input to the device, such as wind noise, may reduce the intelligibility of the desired portion of sounds input to the device, such as voice control inputs from a user, rendering the voice control input speech difficult or impossible to decipher.
Accordingly, there remains a need for a mechanism to ameliorate the effects of the undesired portion of sound inputs received by a microphone or other audio device (e.g., wind noise) on the intelligibility of a desired portion of such sound inputs (e.g., user speech).

Wind noise mitigation systems and methods


A decontamination system having modular components to efficiently decontaminate enclosures of various dimensions. The decontamination system includes a main unit comprising a controller, a supply of liquid decontaminant, a vaporizer for vaporizing the liquid decontaminant to generate a vaporized decontaminant, and a destroyer for breaking down hydrogen peroxide into water and oxygen. An embodiment of the present invention includes a detachable dryer and a detachable external blower that are in fluid communication with the main unit. An optional external destroyer and an optional external dryer may be controlled by the controller of the main unit to respectively increase the destroying and drying capacity of the decontamination system.

Decontamination methods are used in a broad range of applications, and have used an equally broad range of decontaminating agents. As used herein the term "decontamination" refers to the inactivation of bio-contamination, and includes, but is not limited to, sterilization and disinfection.
One common method for decontaminating an enclosure (e.g., a room) is to blow air through the enclosure in a continuous loop, i.e., from the enclosure, through a vaporized hydrogen peroxide (VHP) unit, and back into the enclosure. A typical VHP unit includes a blower, a catalytic destroyer, a dryer, a vaporizer, a preheater and an injection pump. The blower circulates the air through the continuous loop at a regulated flow rate. The catalytic destroyer breaks down vaporized hydrogen peroxide withdrawn from the enclosure into water and oxygen. The dryer removes water vapor from the air circulating therethrough. The pre-heater heats the air to facilitate the vaporization process. The vaporizer includes a heated surface to vaporize liquid decontaminant that is injected into the vaporizer by the injection pump. The injection pump controls the amount of decontaminant that is vaporized per unit time.
A VHP decontamination cycle is commonly divided into (4) four phases, namely, a dehumidification phase, a conditioning phase, a decontamination phase and an aeration phase. In the dehumidification phase, the relative humidity within the enclosure is reduced by using the dryer. After the dehumidification phase is complete, the conditioning phase commences, wherein vaporized hydrogen peroxide is injected into the enclosure at a relatively high rate to bring the vaporized hydrogen peroxide concentration up to a desired level in a short period of time. After the conditioning phase, the decontamination phase is run where the injection rate may be modified to maintain the hydrogen peroxide vapor in the enclosure at a constant concentration level. In the aeration phase that follows the decontamination phase, the enclosure is aerated by ending injection of the hydrogen peroxide vapor, and removing hydrogen peroxide vapor from the enclosure. The destroyer is used to break down the hydrogen peroxide vapor into water and oxygen. Aeration continues until the concentration of vaporized hydrogen peroxide in the enclosure is below a threshold concentration level (e.g., 1 ppm).
Existing VHP decontamination systems have several drawbacks. In this regard, the components of existing VHP decontamination systems can be heavy, thus making the components difficult to transport to a desired location. Components of existing VHP decontamination systems also may not have adequate capacity or features to properly decontaminate enclosures of various dimensions (e.g., large rooms or emergency vehicle enclosures).
The present invention provides a modular decontamination system that addresses these and other drawbacks of existing decontamination systems.


An overhead console for a vehicle has a support structure (14) with walls (30, 80, 82, 84) and an access door (10) defining a compartment (78) for storing a remote transmitter (86). The transmitter (86) includes an actuator switch (92) that is normally manipulated by a user for operating the transmitter (86) to open a garage door, turn on lights, etc., from inside the vehicle. The console access door (10) is attached to the support structure (14) for movement between closed and open positions. A manually operable actuator (12) is engageable with the transmitter switch (92) for operating the transmitter (86) upon depression of the actuator (12). The actuator (12) is attached to the support structure (14) independent of the door (10) such that movement of the actuator (12) is at least substantially unaffected by movement of the door (10) between the closed and open positions. With this arrangement, the transmitter switch (92) and actuator (12) can be mutually aligned with the door (10) in the open position by positioning the transmitter (86) in the compartment (78) and adjusting the transmitter (86) with respect to the actuator (12).

1. Field of the Invention
This invention generally relates to vehicles having an auxiliary storage compartment associated with the roof of the vehicle. More particularly, the invention relates to an overhead console including a bin for storing a portable transmitter which operates a garage door opener.
2. Description of the Related Art
Electrically operated garage door openers have become quite popular with automobile owners. Typically, a portable battery-powered transmitter is carried in the vehicle for selectively transmitting a radio signal for activating a garage door opening mechanism and/or other actuators. These portable transmitting units are often clipped to the visor, stored in the glove compartment or simply left lying on the seat or dashboard of the vehicle. Since such storage arrangements can be quite inconvenient for the driver, various transmitter storage compartments have been proposed where the transmitter can be activated inside the compartment. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,595,228 to Chu discloses a compartment having a removable X-shaped cone arranged on the inside of the compartment door for engaging the actuator button of the transmitter. U.S. Pat. No. 5,064,974 to Vigneau et al., discloses a compartment door which supports a hinged lever having a pin that engages the transmitter actuator button.


Embodiments include methods, apparatus, and systems for managing snapshots in storage systems. One method includes logically linking a plurality of snapshots to a logical disk in a storage network; and splitting the snapshots from the logical disk to form a snapshot tree that includes the snapshots split from the logical disk.

The ability to duplicate and store the contents of a storage device is an important feature in many storage systems. In some storage systems, data is stored in parallel to safeguard against the failure of a single storage device or medium. Upon a failure of a first storage device or medium, the system retrieves a copy of the data contained in a second storage device or medium. The ability to duplicate and store the contents of the storage device also facilitates the creation of a fixed record of contents at the time of duplication. This feature allows users to recover a prior version of inadvertently edited or erased data.
In storage systems, space and processing costs are associated with copying and storing the contents of a storage device. For example, some storage devices cannot accept input/output (I/O) operations while its contents are being copied. Furthermore, the storage space used to keep the copy cannot be used for other storage needs.
In an effort to become more efficient and mitigate costs, storage systems and storage software products provide ways to make point-in-time copies of disk volumes, sometimes referred to as snapshots. In some storage systems, copies are quickly made without significantly disturbing applications using disk volumes. Further, copies can be made to share storage instead of copying all the disk volume data.
Storage systems that create snapshots, however, have limitations. Only a limited number of snapshots can be created under a single Logical Disk. Further, all snapshots created under the Logical Disk need to have a same RAID type. Further, current storage systems restrict users in creating snapclones or mirror clones if a snapshot already exists. If a user wants to make a mirror clone for a Logical Disk with existing snapshots, all existing snapshots have to be deleted before such operation.

Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.


Power is supplied to excitation windings in order to generate magnetic fields, preferably for activating superconducting coils. An AC transformer is used, and triggering of the coil is performed via a rectifier having little power loss. Preferably, a two-way rectifier using a freewheeling circuit is utilized in the associate device, thus preventing losses when power is supplied and especially when the power is discharged.

The invention relates to a method for supplying energy to and discharging energy from a resistive-inductive load or a pure inductance.
Applications for the excitation windings can be found in medical appliances or else in synchronous machines, for example. By supplying energy to and discharging energy from the excitation winding, the excitation current is raised or lowered and hence the strength of the magnetic field influenced.
Often, such excitation windings are also made from HTS (High Temperature Superconductor) materials which need to be kept at a temperature of <80 K in order to maintain superconductivity. To maintain this low temperature, supply of heat from the outside and generation of heat in the cooled area need to be largely avoided.
The electrical power required for excitation and de-excitation is often very high because the process of excitation and de-excitation needs to take place very quickly in order to achieve a high control quality. To avoid high losses when supplying and discharging electrical power in order to alter the current through the inductive load, it is advantageously possible to use a relatively high voltage and to perform voltage transformation directly before the inductive load is fed.
To feed the excitation winding directly from the outside, the high current levels in the region of up to a few 100 A mean that it is necessary to use lines having an appropriate cross section which are therefore also good conductors of heat. Instead, it is better for the balance of thermal power loss if relatively high voltages are used for the supply of energy from the hot to the cold area and hence the conductor cross section is reduced. The voltage then likewise needs to be transformed by a transformer in the cold area and rectified in order to feed the excitation winding.
Specifically in the case of applications for superconductive excitation windings in which the energy is transferred from the ambient temperature (what is known as the "hot area") to a temperature which allows superconduction (what is known as the "cold area"), this results in reduced losses in the bushings from the hot to the cold area.

Method for supplying and discharging power to and from a resistive-inductive load, and rectifier used therein


A flow dividing device for gardening pipes includes a main body having a plurality of mounting studs, and a plurality of water control switches each mounted on the respective mounting stud. Each of the water control switches includes a control valve, an operation knob, and a pipe connector. Thus, the water flow of each of the water control switches is opened and closed by rotation of the operation knob, thereby facilitating a user operating the water control switches. In addition, when the pipe connector is detached from the operation knob, the pipe connector is rotatable relative to the operation knob so that the pipe connector is freely rotatable with the gardening pipe to facilitate a user rotating the gardening pipe relative to the main body.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a flow dividing device and, more particularly, to a flow dividing device for gardening pipes.
2. Description of the Related Art
A conventional flow dividing device for gardening pipes comprises a main body having a first side provided with a plurality of water outlets and a second side provided with a water source connector connected to a water source to supply water to the water outlets, a plurality of pipe connectors each mounted on a respective one of the water outlets of the main body and each connected to a gardening pipe which is connected to a water output equipment, such as a sprinkler or the like, and a plurality of control valves mounted on a respective one of the water outlets of the main body to open and close the respective water outlet. However, the conventional flow dividing device has a complicated construction, thereby greatly increasing the costs of fabrication. In addition, the control valves and the pipe connectors of the flow dividing device are mounted individually, so that the conventional flow dividing device is not operated easily and conveniently.

Flow dividing device for gardening pipes

Shin Tai Spurf Water of the Garden Tools Co., Ltd.


A method includes applying a voltage bump across a combined memory device comprising a volatile selector switch and a nonvolatile switch, in which the voltage bump changes a state of the volatile selector switch from a high resistance to a low resistance but does not change a state of the nonvolatile switch. A read voltage that is lower than the voltage bump across the combined memory device to read a state of the nonvolatile switch.

Most memories in electronic devices have transistors that connect and disconnect memory elements from the reading/writing circuits. These transistors have very high ON/OFF ratios and prevent leakage currents from passing through devices that are not selected for reading or writing. Since the transistors with the required characteristics can be fabricated only by using a semiconductor with few defects, they are fabricated on single crystalline silicon wafers. This can severely limit the design flexibility and available materials in creating memories. For example, it can be very challenging to design and fabricate high density multilayer memory using single crystalline silicon wafers.
Further, the inclusion of a transistor in the memory array decreases the density of the memory. To increase the integration density of memory devices that include transistors, the transistor needs to become smaller and smaller. However, as the transistor size decreases, it becomes increasingly difficult to satisfy the performance requirements and the fabrication costs increase prohibitively.
Throughout the drawings, identical reference numbers designate similar, but not necessarily identical, elements.

Resistive crosspoint memory array sensing

Hewlett Packard Enterprise Development LP


Herein provided is a method for acoustical switching suitable for use with a microphone enabled electronic device. The method includes capturing a first microphone signal from a first microphone on a device, analyzing the first microphone signal for a contact event versus a non-contact event, and directing the electronic device to switch a processing state responsive to detection of either the contact event or non-contact event. In another configuration, additional microphone can be added for performing coherence analysis between at least two microphone signals mounted on or in the device. At least one parameter settings of the device can be changed in response to at least one detected physical contact on the device. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Most media based electronic devices are operated by way of a user interface. As devices become smaller there is only limited space for the user interaction and the user is generally required to physically interact with the device, for example, by way of a touch screen. This size limitation for user interaction is more evident with smaller devices, such as earpieces and smart wristwatches.
The microphones and speakers on such media devices are primarily used for capturing voice and producing sound output. Silicon analog and digital microphones are increasingly affordable and common in a variety of mobile electronic devices. These microphones are generally configured as speech sensors; for detecting speech for purposes of voice control of a device or for voice communication or recording with the device. Multiple microphones on a device offer advantages for improving the quality of detected speech using active noise reduction systems.
There are certain configurations with microphones that permit for user interaction from processing of sound waves instead of physical interaction with the user interface. U.S. Patent Application 2011/0142269 A1 describes a hearing aid switch that utilizes pressure/sound clues from a filtered input signal to enable actuation initiated by a user by a signature hand movement relative to a wearer's ear. The preferred signature hand movement involves patting on the ear meatus at least one time to generate a compression wave commonly thought of as a soft "clap" or "pop". A digital signal processor analyzes the signal looking for a negative pulse, a positive pulse, and dissipation of the hand generated signal. U.S. Pat. No. 8,358,797 describes a method for changing at least two parameter settings of a device and includes detecting an abnormal change in an external feedback path and an input signal generated by an abnormal pressure wave, and activating a pressure wave detection switch and an abnormal feedback path detection switch for changing the at least one parameter setting in the device.
These methods are however prone to false detections and can degrade the user experience. There remains a need to improve upon the manner by which existing microphones can be leveraged to enhance and make the user interface experience more robust.

Method and system for contact sensing using coherence analysis


A female electrical terminal includes a generally planar base member formed of a first conductive material. The base member includes a connection portion configured to electrically and mechanically contact with a corresponding male electrical terminal. The base member further includes an attachment portion configured to be attached to a wire cable. The female electrical terminal also includes a cover member that is formed of a second conductive material. The cover member longitudinally encircles the connection portion and defines a biasing member depending from the cover member and into a cavity formed by the cover member. The biasing member is configured to bias the male electrical terminal into electrical and frictional contact with the connection portion of the base member of the female electrical terminal. A method of producing such female terminal assemblies wherein the cover members are interconnected by a carrier strip is also provided.

Electrical terminals may be constructed from copper due to its beneficial electrical conductivity properties. However, in higher current applications, the thickness of the copper required for adequate current carrying capability may increase to the point where the copper material is difficult to bend using typical forming operations and specialized tools may need to be employed in order to form the terminals. After forming, terminals are typicality interconnected by a carrier strip to allow large numbers of terminals to be loaded onto spools that can be fed into machines used to attach the terminals to wire cables. The carrier strip is typically formed concurrently with the terminal and from the same material as the terminal. As the thickness of the terminal material increases, the carrier strip may become to rigid to bend onto a spool and the tools needed to separate the carrier strip from the terminal also increase in cost. Therefore, a terminal capable of high current carrying capability that can be handled by a carrier strip and does not require bending operation to form the current carrying portion of the terminal remains desired.
The subject matter discussed in the background section should not be assumed to be prior art merely as a result of its mention in the background section. Similarly, a problem mentioned in the background section or associated with the subject matter of the background section should not be assumed to have been previously recognized in the prior art. The subject matter in the background section merely represents different approaches, which in and of themselves may also be inventions.

Female electrical terminal and method of manufacturing the same


A locking device with a solenoid release actuator includes a housing, a plunger axially slidable within the housing, a biasing member for biasing the plunger in a first direction, one or more locking balls, and the locking balls disposed in an aperture in the housing, the plunger having a portion thereof containing at least one recess for receiving the balls, a member to be locked being held in a first locked position with the plunger in a first locking position and the balls in a radially outward position, the plunger being positioned axially such that the recesses therein are not in alignment with the apertures, and a solenoid coil disposed in the housing around the plunger, for inducing a magnetic force to move the plunger against the biasing member such that the recesses align with the apertures and the balls are movable radially inward into the recesses thereby releasing the locked member. In another embodiment, a bomb, missile or torpedo having a head and tail and fins proximate the tail biased into a retracted position, incorporates such a locking device for maintaining the fins in the retracted position, and for releasing the fins upon solenoid actuation. The locking device may be tested and reset, as desired.

The present invention relates to a locking device. In various environments, especially for flight vehicles and projectiles, it is necessary to quickly and reliably release structural members for deployment yet securely hold such members in a retracted position for storage, transportation, or other pre-deployment requirements.
In certain applications such as smart bombs with movable fins (for guidance), missiles with movable fins, and satellite or space vehicles and equipment with deployable panels (e.g., solar panels), it is desirable to provide a large margin of safety in design. For such situations, the fins or panels are biased towards their deployment position with a large force, often a spring force. This force must be securely and reliably held in place prior to deployment. Premature deployment could easily damage the fins or panels, or cause other problems. Failure to deploy could result in an errant bomb or missile, or a satellite's premature loss of power.
In one proposed smart bomb design, a pin supported by plastic holds a first spring-biased member in place, which through mechanical linkage holds torsion springs in place. Mechanical linkage helps reduce the force to about 200 to 300 pounds needed to hold the spring-biased member in the locked position. When the pin is released, the torsion springs will cause the fins to be unlocked and thus deployed. To obtain a quick release, a predetermined amount of explosive is ignited to break the plastic, thereby, releasing the pin.
Another system to release a locking element or pin as used in airborne vehicles and projectiles includes cutting a bolt, which holds two elements relative to each other, so as to release satellite photovoltaic panels and antenna reflectors. A further system involves weakening a nut, e.g., by cutting a portion of the nut, then exploding the nut at the time of deployment. These systems all involve destruction, and are thus cumbersome and expensive to handle, test and replace.
In U.S. Pat. No. 6,224,013 to Chisolm, a tail fin deployment device uses lock balls to hold a cup member that in turn through linkage holds tail fins in a retracted position. A pin having recesses is spring-biased so that the recesses are in alignment with the apertures holding balls, but the pin is held by a lanyard in a position where its recesses are out of alignment with the balls. The lanyard is tied to the aircraft, so when the bomb is released, the lanyard comes out. Even in this design, the lanyard has to be pulled so as to overcome about 300 pounds of force from a spring. Moreover, this design necessitates hooking the lanyard to the aircraft.
Locking balls and the like have been used in various devices, such as manual positive lock pins, e.g., made by Pivot Point, Inc. of Hustisford, Wis. Pressing down on a button pushes a pin so as to align a recess in the pin with locking balls. When aligned, the balls enter the recess and release a locked member.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,074,140 to Cook secures a drill bit in place with a lock ball chuck. It is stated that a mechanical, solenoid or manual chuck may be used although no actual structure is shown.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,523,731 to Buitekant et al. uses a manual pull pin to release a plunger in turn releasing lock balls. The lock balls hold a flight vehicle to an external storage element. This manual release is disclosed as an alternative to the explosive severing of a bolt that held the flight vehicle and storage element together in a prior design.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,216,909 to Armoogam discloses an electro-mechanical locking mechanism for selective operation of a latch. A solenoid is used to push a pin down which pushes down a bolt locking pin, enabling movement of a piston transverse to the bolt locking pin.
Other patents using various locking mechanisms include U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,985,213 to Braggins, 5,628,216 to Qureshi et al., 4,289,039 to Trunner et al., 5,600,977 to Piron, and 4,565,183 to Smith.

Locking device with solenoid release pin


A personalized interface browser for browsing information of a data bank, which includes browser display means for displaying a browser interface for enabling the user to browse the information of the data bank, a set of browser interface models corresponding to predetermined types of users for defining the appearance and function of the browser interface displayed on the display means, and a personal profile for recording the type of user corresponding to the user who currently uses the personalized interface browser, wherein when the current user starting the browser display means to display the browser interface, a corresponding browser interface model is picked up from the predetermined browser interface models subject to the personal profile of the current user, for adjusting the appearance and function of the browser interface.

The present invention relates to a personalized interface browser and its browsing method, and more particularly to such a personalized interface browser for internet and multimedia application which displays a personalized browser interface to fit the demands of different types of users.
Following the fast development of internet and multimedia application, for example, remote shopping, the requirement for the application of a browser has become more critical. In order to let the user obtain useful information efficiently and rapidly, a browser must be capable of processing versatile and complicated information. Conventional browsers are designed for a particular application or a particular type of consumers, i.e., conventional browsers are designed to fit a particular application. For example, if a browser is to be used to browse a web station, common browsers, for example, MOSAIC, NETSCAPE can be selected. If a browser is to be used to browse a particular data bank or a web station that provides a particular service such as VOD (video on demand) or internet shopping, the aforesaid common browsers and other browsers designed for browsing these data banks or web stations can be used.
Because conventional browsers are application-oriented, they have numerous drawbacks as outlined hereinafter:
1) The conventional browsers cannot automatically adjust the browser interface to fit personal differences. Because a regular browser is designed for a particular type of user or a particular application, the same browser interface is provided for different users. This design may overlook certain types of users, for example, children before school or aged users. In the application of remote shopping, male and female consumers may show differences in commodity selection priority. The conventional browsers cannot process these personal quality differences.
2) The conventional browsers cannot automatically adjust the browser interface subject to the user""s operational habit. Every-browser user has a particular habit in operating a browser. For example, one user may search computer related products or another particular type of products at first when entering a remote shopping web page. Therefore, it is the best to show the user""s favorites in priority. However, conventional browsers can only display the browser interface subject to a pre-set manner. They cannot adjust the appearance and function of the browser interface subject to different users.
3) In a regular web page, advertisements are simultaneously displayed. These advertisements are determined by the web station maintainer, i.e., everyone who enters the web page sees same advertisements. However, the effectiveness of an advertisement may vary with the consuming habit of the users. For example, a cosmetics advertisement may produce little effect to a male, and produce better effect to a female. Letting a web page advertisement be aimed at a suitable group of consumers can greatly improve the effectiveness of the advertisement, and simultaneously increase the using efficiency of the web page. However, because conventional browsers cannot recognize the type and consuming habit of the user, they cannot show different advertisement contents subject to different users.
The present invention has been accomplished under the circumstances in view. It is the main object of the present invention to provide a personalized interface browser and the related browsing method which automatically adjust outputted browser interface subject to the user""s quality and operational habit, enabling the browser interface to fit the user""s actual demand and to provide high quality service.
To achieve these and other objects of the present invention, there is provided a personalized interface browser for browsing information of a data bank, which comprises a browser display means for displaying a browser interface for enabling the user to browse the information of the data bank, a set of browser interface models corresponding to predetermined types of users for defining the appearance and function of the browser interface displayed on the display means, and a personal profile for recording the type of user corresponding to the user who currently uses the personalized interface browser, wherein when the current user starting the browser display means to display the browser interface, a corresponding browser interface model is picked up from the predetermined browser interface models subject to the personal profile of the current user, for adjusting the appearance and function of the browser interface.
The personal profile stores the user""s personal data for use to select at least one corresponding browser interface model from the predetermined browser interface models for adjusting the appearance and function of said browser interface. The personal profile can store the personal operational habit of the user in operating the browser interface for use to select at least one corresponding browser interface model from the predetermined browser interface models for adjusting the appearance and function of said browser interface. The personal profile is stored in a personal profile bank, which is used to store personal profiles corresponding to all users.

Personalized interface browser and its browsing method


A method of reducing or inhibiting inflammation and inducing or promoting anti-pyresis comprises administering to a mammal in need of such treatment, an amount of a glutathione depleting agent effective to reduce or inhibit neutrophil sequestration at the inflammation site. The agent may be administered as a pharmaceutical composition including a carrier. Examples of the agent itself are diethylmaleate (DEM), phorone, buthionine-sulfoximine (BSO), glutathione depleting diethylmaleate (DEM) mimetics, glutathione depleting phorone mimetics and glutathione depleting buthionine sulfoximine (BSO) mimetics.

The neutrophil plays a critical role in the pathogenesis of the Adult Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS), as strategies aimed at preventing neutrophil sequestration in the lung, such as neutrophil depletion or administration of antibody directed against adhesion molecules, attenuate lung injury in experimental models. Further, neutrophil-mediated oxidative damage to the alveolocapillary unit is thought to be necessary for the full expression of the syndrome in the majority of cases. The association between oxidative stress and ARDS is suggested by the presence of increases in expired H.sub.2 O.sub.2 .sup.1 as well as an increase in oxidant levels .sup.2 and a reduction in reduced glutathione (GSH) .sup.3 in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) obtained from patients with ARDS.
Despite this association, there are relatively few studies demonstrating benefit following administration of exogenous antoxidants in animal models of acute lung injury caused by inflammatory stimuli .sup.4,5, and only one study in man demonstrating marginal efficacy in patients at risk for ARDS .sup.6. These data indicate that oxidant-mediated tissue injury per se may not be the only mechanism whereby the inflammatory process leading to ARDS is initiated. For example, proteases .sup.7 and elastases .sup.8 are released by activated neutrophils and contribute to lung injury, suggesting that greater success at attenuating lung injury may be achieved not only through improving antioxidant defenses, but by limiting cell activation. In this regard, there is accumulating evidence that alterations in the cellular redox state play a critical role in cell signaling through modulation of tyrosine phosphorylation .sup.9, regulation of transcription .sup.10, and alterations in messenger RNA stability .sup.11, suggesting that administration of antioxidants or sulfhydryl-reactive agents may have important modulatory effects on cell activation. GSH is the most abundant intracellular thiol and maintains the intracellular redox state through detoxification of oxidized moieties as a result of the activity of glutathione peroxidase, glutathione S-transferase, and a direct oxidant scavenging effect .sup.12. Several recent studies have demonstrated paradoxical beneficial effects associated with GSH depletion, including improved survival following cerebral ischemia-reperfusion .sup.13, abrogation of hepatic injury following systemic endotoxemia .sup.14, and a reduction in lung injury following the administration of either oxidants or thromboxane in an ex vivo, isolated-perfused model of lung injury .sup.15. The mechanism(s) underlying this protection remains unclear.

Anti-inflammatory and anti-pyretic method


A process for cullet beneficiation by precipitation. A mass of cullet is melted to form a body of molten glass having a heavy metal con ration of greater than 100 ppm. A precipitate agent is introduced into the body of molten glass to form a heavy metal-containing precipitate phase and a liquid beneficiated glass phase within the body of molten glass. The precipitate phase may have a density greater than that of the liquid beneficiated glass phase. Thereafter, the liquid beneficiated glass phase is physically separated from the precipitate phase. The separated liquid beneficiated glass phase has a reduced concentration of heavy metals, as compared to the concentration of heavy metals in the body of molten glass.

Post-industrial and post-consumer waste glass that is collected with the purpose of recycling is known as "cullet" Post-industrial waste glass may include waste glass that has been produced during the manufacture of any glass-containing product Post-consumer waste glass generally may include waste glass that has been collected by municipal or commercial recycling efforts, and also may include a combination of clear and/or colored glass bottles, containers, cookware, tableware, glassware, plate glass, solar panels, decorative glass, and the like.
Cullet may include a mixture of one or more types of glass, e.g., a mixture of soda-lime glass, lead crystal glass, and/or borosilicate glass. Soda-lime glass, which includes container glass and flat glass, may have a chemical composition that includes 71-75 wt % SiO2, 12-16 wt % Na2O, and 10-15wt % CaO, including all ranges and subranges therebetween. Lead crystal glass may include 54-65 wt % SiO2, 25-30 wt % PbO, and 13-15 wt % Na2O and/or K2O, and borosilicate glass may include 70-80 wt % SiO2, 7-15 wt % B2O3, 4-8 wt % Na2O and/or K2O, and Al2O3, including all ranges and subranges between those ranges. These types of glasses also may include relatively small amounts of other materials.
During the waste glass collection process, other unwanted materials may be collected along with the glass. For example, metal closures, foil labels, and/or scrap metal may be collected along with the waste glass during the collection process, and their inclusion may result in the cullet having an unacceptable concentration of heavy metals such that the cullet is not suitable for use in the production of certain glass products, e.g., glass containers.
A general object of the present disclosure, in accordance with one aspect of the disclosure, is to provide a process for removing or reducing the concentration of heavy metals in a mass of cullet. Beneficiated glass produced by the presently disclosed process may contain an acceptably low concentration of heavy metals and thus may be incorporated into a downstream glass manufacturing operation and used to make new glass products, e.g., glass containers.
The present disclosure embodies a number of aspects that can be implemented separately from or in combination with each other.
A process for cullet beneficiation in accordance with one aspect of the disclosure includes: (a) melting a mass of cutlet having a heavy metal concentration of greater than 100 ppm to form a body of molten glass; (b) introducing a precipitate agent into the body of molten glass to form a heavy metal-containing precipitate phase and a liquid beneficiated glass phase within the body of molten glass; and then (c) separating the liquid beneficiated glass phase from the precipitate phase. The precipitate phase formed within the body of molten glass has a density greater than that of the beneficiated glass phase. After the liquid beneficiated glass phase is separated from the precipitate phase in step (c), the liquid beneficiated glass phase may have a reduced concentration of heavy metals, as compared to the concentration of heavy metals in the mass of cullet.
In accordance with another aspect of the disclosure, there is provided a process for preparing a mass of cullet for use in a downstream glass manufacturing operation. The process includes (a) melting a mass of cullet in a pre-reactor located upstream of a continuous glass melting furnace to form a body of molten glass in the pre-reactor; (b) introducing an oxide of titanium or sulfur, or a mixture thereof, into the body of molten glass to form a heavy metal-containing precipitate phase and a liquid beneficiated glass phase within the body of molten glass; (c) consolidating the precipitate phase within a bottom portion of the body of molten glass such that the liquid beneficiated glass phase is located above the precipitate phase within the pre-reactor; and then (d) separating the liquid beneficiated glass phase from the precipitate phase by drawing at least a portion of the liquid beneficiated glass phase off a top portion of the body of molten glass. The mass of cullet melted in the pre-reactor has a heavy metal concentration of greater than 100 ppm and includes at least one heavy metal selected from the group consisting of lead (Ph), cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), and mercury (Hg). The precipitate phase formed within the body of molten glass includes at least one compound selected from the group consisting of lead titanate (PbTiO3) and lead sulfate (PbSO4).


A thermal barrier coating (TBC) and method for forming the coating on a component intended for use in a hostile environment. The coating and method are particularly directed to inhibiting sintering, grain coarsening/growth and pore redistribution in the coating during high temperature excursions by providing limited amounts of extremely fine carbide-based and/or nitride-based precipitates preferably formed at defects and pores at and between the grain boundaries of the TBC microstructure. The precipitates pin the TBC grain boundaries and pores during high temperature excursions, with the effect that the TBC microstructure is thermally stabilized. A coating containing the carbides and/or nitrides can be formed using a physical vapor deposition technique in an atmosphere that contains carbon and/or nitride gases or compounds thereof, or by evaporating a source material that contains carbon, carbon-containing compounds, carbides and/or nitrides.

This invention relates to protective coatings for components exposed to high temperatures, such as the hostile thermal environment of a gas turbine engine. More particularly, this invention is directed to a method of stabilizing the microstructure of a thermal barrier coating (TBC) with carbide and/or nitride-based precipitates in order to inhibit degradation of the thermal insulating properties of the TBC during high temperature excursions.
Higher operating temperatures for gas turbine engines are continuously sought in order to increase their efficiency. However, as operating temperatures increase, the high temperature durability of the components within the hot gas path of the engine must correspondingly increase. Significant advances in high temperature capabilities have been achieved through the formulation of nickel and cobalt-base superalloys. Nonetheless, when used to form components of the turbine, combustor and augmentor sections of a gas turbine engine, such alloys alone are often susceptible to damage by oxidation and hot corrosion attack and may not retain adequate mechanical properties. For this reason, these components are often protected by a thermal barrier coating (TBC) system. TBC systems typically include an environmentally-protective bond coat and a thermal-insulating ceramic topcoat, typically referred to as the TBC. Bond coat materials widely used in TBC systems include oxidation-resistant overlay coatings such as MCrAlX (where M is iron, cobalt and/or nickel, and X is yttrium or another rare earth element), and oxidation-resistant diffusion coatings such as diffusion aluminides that contain aluminum intermetallics.
Ceramic materials and particularly binary yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ) are widely used as TBC materials because of their high temperature capability, low thermal conductivity, and relative ease of deposition by plasma spraying, flame spraying and physical vapor deposition (PVD) techniques. TBC""s employed in the highest temperature regions of gas turbine engines are often deposited by electron beam physical vapor deposition (EBPVD), which yields a columnar, strain-tolerant grain structure that is able to expand and contract without causing damaging stresses that lead to spallation. Similar columnar microstructures can be produced using other atomic and molecular vapor processes, such as sputtering (e.g., high and low pressure, standard or collimated plume), ion plasma deposition, and all forms of melting and evaporation deposition processes (e.g., cathodic arc, laser melting, etc.).
In order for a columnar TBC to remain effective throughout the planned life cycle of the component it protects, it is important that the TBC maintains a low thermal conductivity throughout the life of the component. However, the thermal conductivities of TBC materials such as YSZ are known to increase over time when subjected to the operating environment of a gas turbine engine. As a result, TBC""s for gas turbine engine components are often deposited to a greater thickness than would otherwise be necessary. Alternatively, internally cooled components such as blades and nozzles must be designed to have higher cooling flow. Both of these solutions are undesirable for reasons relating to cost, component life and engine efficiency.
In view of the above, it can be appreciated that further improvements in TBC technology are desirable, particularly as TBC""s are employed to thermally insulate components intended for more demanding engine designs.
The present invention generally provides a thermal barrier coating (TBC) and method for forming the coating on a component intended for use in a hostile environment, such as the superalloy turbine, combustor and augmentor components of a gas turbine engine. The coating and method are particularly directed to inhibiting grain growth, sintering and pore coarsening or coalescence in the TBC during high temperature excursions. Improvements obtained by this invention are particularly evident with TBC having a columnar grain structure, such as those deposited by EBPVD and other PVD techniques, though the invention is also applicable to TBC deposited by such methods as plasma spraying.
In TBC""s having a columnar grain structure, heat transfer through the TBC is primarily by conduction through the individual columnar grains. According to the invention, resistance to heat transfer through the TBC is believed to be enhanced by microstructural defects within the grains created by composition-induced defect reactions and process-induced porosity. As used herein, composition-induced defect reactions include vacancies that result from the need in ionic solids to maintain charge neutrality, as is the case in YSZ where substitution of zirconia (ZrO2) with yttria (Y2O3) in the lattice yields a vacancy. These lattice defects cannot be controlled through microstructural manipulation, as the atomic defects are based solely on thermodynamics and are not process-dependent. Therefore, compositional changes (substitutional changes that affect defect reactions) are the only way to affect the concentration of this type of defect. Process-induced porosity includes pore formation that occurs as a component being coated is rotated relative to the deposition source. A primary example is the xe2x80x9csunrise-sunsetxe2x80x9d vapor-surface mechanisms that occur during rotation of a component during deposition of TBC from a vapor cloud, such as by PVD, the result of which is a textured growth of the deposit in which pores are formed between columns, within the columns, and between secondary growth arms contained within the columns. In order for a columnar TBC to maintain a low thermal conductivity throughout the life of the component it protects, process-induced porosity must be preserved to stabilize the associated microstructural defects. However, microstructures of TBC materials such as YSZ have been found to sinter, coarsen and undergo pore redistribution (as used herein, when smaller pores coalesce or coarsen to form larger pores) during high temperature exposures, such as temperatures in excess of 1000xc2x0 C. found within the hot gas path of a gas turbine engine. As a result, increases in thermal conductivity noted for TBC materials on gas turbine engine components can be attributed to sintering, grain coarsening and pore redistribution.
As a solution, this invention inhibits TBC grain growth and pore redistribution with limited amounts of extremely fine carbide-based and/or nitride-based precipitates formed at the defects and pores of the TBC microstructure, as well as on the grain boundaries of the TBC. Preferred carbide and nitride-based precipitates include metal carbides and nitrides, oxycarbides and carbonitrides. The precipitates are for the purpose of pinning the TBC grain boundaries to inhibit sintering, grain coarsening and pore redistribution within the TBC microstructure during high temperature excursions, with the effect that the microstructure, and consequently the thermal conductivity of the TBC, is stabilized. To be effective, the precipitates must be smaller than the pores intended to be stabilized, which are typically on the order of about fifty nanometers up to about one or two micrometers. In addition, the volume fraction of the precipitates is preferably on the order of about three to twenty-five volume percent. The lower volume limit is the minimum amount of precipitates that is believed would have any significant effect, while the upper limit corresponds to the approximate volume attributable to pores within the TBC microstructure, e.g., formed by process-induced porosity.
A suitable method for carbiding/nitriding the TBC microstructure is to deposit the TBC using a physical vapor deposition technique in an atmosphere that contains carbon and/or nitride gases or compounds thereof, depending on whether precipitates of carbides, nitrides or both are desired. In this manner, the TBC and the desired precipitates are simultaneously formed. An additional and optional step is to heat treat the component in the presence of a gas containing carbon and/or nitrogen gases or compounds thereof to form an additional amount of precipitates in the TBC.
By sufficiently stabilizing the TBC microstructure and pinning grain boundaries with carbide and/or nitride precipitates, the component can be subsequently heated to temperatures in excess of 1200xc2x0 C. without causing sintering, grain coarsening and pore redistribution of the microstructure. As a result, components can be designed for thinner TBC and/or, where applicable, lower cooling air flow rates, which reduces processing and material costs and promotes component life and engine efficiency.
Other objects and advantages of this invention will be better appreciated from the following detailed description.

Thermally-stabilized thermal barrier coating and process therefor


An image fixing device of an image forming apparatus includes a pressure roller and a heating roller to rotate as if it is in contact with the pressure roller, with a paper fed therebetween, to fix a developed image to the paper by applying heat generated by a heating member installed inside therein. The heating roller is a heat pipe of a closed tube type. The heat pipe of the closed tube type has a fluid poured inside of a closed space thereof. The heating member is an induction heating body to generate a magnetic field to the heating roller. The heat generated by induction heating is applied to the heating roller including the heat pipe to keep a temperature around the surface thereof at a predetermined uniform level.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image fixing device of an image forming apparatus, and more particularly, to an image fixing device of an image forming apparatus implementing a heating roller to apply heat to an image developed on a printing paper to fix the developed image by using a heat pipe.
2. Description of the Related Art
Generally, a copy machine, a printer, a facsimile, and a combination of these machines or the like all perform a printing function and are generally referred to as image forming apparatuses.
The image forming apparatus forms an electro-static latent image by exposing image data fed from an outside to a photoconductor, develops the formed electro-static latent image using a developing agent, and transfers the developed image onto a printing paper. The image forming apparatus fixes the transformed image to the printing paper by using an image fixing device thereof, and discharges the printed paper.
This kind of image fixing device fixes an image to the printing paper by applying heat and pressure to the paper with an image formed thereon.
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a part of a conventional image forming apparatus employing an image fixing device. Referring to FIG. 1, the conventional image forming apparatus 100 includes an image fixing device 110, an electric power supplier 120 and an engine controller 130. The image fixing device 110 includes a heating roller 112 and a pressure roller 114.
The heating roller 112 has a multiple layer structure of 2 or 3 layers, and applies heat to a printing paper having an image formed thereon (shown in a thick solid line) to fix the image to the paper. The heating roller 112 is equipped with an internally installed induction heating coil 112a. The induction heating coil 112a generates a magnetic field by an AC electric power supplied by the electric power supplier 120.
The magnetic field generated by the induction heating coil 112a generates induced current on the inner surface of the heating roller 112, thereby generating a Joule's Heat. The heating roller 112 is equipped with an externally installed thermistor 112b to detect a temperature of the heating roller 112 heated by the induction heating coil 112a.
The engine controller 130 controls an electric power supply to the heating roller 112 in response to the temperature detected by the thermistor 112b.
The pressure roller 114 rotates as if it is in contact with the heating roller 112 to apply a pressure to the printing paper with the image transferred thereto, thereby fixing the image to the paper. The heating roller 112 and the pressure roller 114 rotate respectively in the arrowed directions as shown in FIG. 1, to discharge the printed paper.
However, the conventional heating roller 112 has a difference in temperature between both ends and a center thereof, and the difference in temperature reduces fusing efficiency. That is, cooling times required to cool the ends and the center of the induction heating coil 112a to a predetermined temperature differ from each other. Also, AC magnetic fields occurring around the ends and the center differ from each other, thereby deteriorating the fusing efficiency of the image.
As a result, the conventional heating roller 112 lacks a uniformity of temperature along the longitudinal direction thereof, while having a uniform temperature in the circumferential direction.

Image fixing device of image forming apparatus