A connector assembly adapted for electrically connecting with a mating plug connector includes a socket connector and a PCB. The socket connector has an insulating housing defining a front surface, a rear surface and a lateral surface. The front surface is formed with an inserting recess for receiving the mating plug connector. The lateral surface has a receiving groove communicating with the inserting recess. The rear surface has a receiving slot communicating with the inserting recess. A first terminal has a base plate received in the receiving groove and a first soldering plate exposing outside the insulating housing. A second terminal includes a fixing plate fixed in the receiving slot and a second soldering plate exposing outside the insulating housing. The PCB has two soldering portions. Two conductors are provided for connecting the first soldering plate and the second soldering plate with the soldering portions, respectively.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a connector assembly, and more particularly to a connector assembly having a socket connector and a printed circuit board.
2. The Related Art
In general, a conventional connector assembly includes a printed circuit board (PCB) and a socket connector soldered on the PCB. The socket connector has an insulating housing and a plurality of terminals mounted in the insulating housing. Each of the terminals has a soldering plate extending outside the insulating housing for being soldered on the PCB. Conventionally, the socket connector is positioned on a top of the PCB, and the soldering plates are attached to and soldered on the PCB for forming the electrical connection between the socket connector and the PCB. Nevertheless, with the electronic devices developing toward miniaturization and multifunction, such assembling structure between the PCB and the socket connector is not flexible and even restricts the renewal and advance of the electronic device. So there is a need to provide a connector assembly that overcomes the above-mentioned problem.


A wax composition comprising a high molecular weight aliphatic alcohol, a low molecular weight ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer, at least one odorant, and a wax. The odorant is substantially retained in the wax composition when the wax composition is exposed to temperatures below a melting point of the wax composition. Furthermore, the odorant is emitted from the wax composition when the wax composition is exposed to temperatures at or above the melting point of the wax composition.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to clean-burning fragrance candles with a consistent flame size and burn rate. Furthermore, this invention relates to wax compositions used in the candles, methods of manufacturing the candles, and the manufacture of the wax compositions used in the candles.
2. Description of Related Art
Fragrance-emitting candles are widely available and are typically employed to impart odorant into a space. Generally, the odorant will mask other odors, or simply impart its own, in order to make a space more pleasant.
Early fragranced candles included mixtures of wax, odorant, and optional additives, such as colorant. Such candles were generally manufactured by cooling a molten wax composition, typically containing paraffin, around a candle wick. The solidified wax composition, at a microscopic level, includes wax crystals packed against each other. Components of a wax composition, such as colorant, are typically trapped in the inter-crystal spaces. Fragrance molecules, however, are typically too small to be held in these inter-crystal spaces. Consequently, in early fragrance candles, the fragrance molecules often diffused through the candle while the candle was in solid form. This diffusion eventually brought the fragrance molecules to the surface, leading to weeping, even when the candle was lit. In addition to the loss of fragrance, weeping gave a wet, greasy, feel to the candles.
The problem of weeping was eventually brought under control by the addition of chemicals that reduce the crystal size in the solidified candle wax. The smaller crystals pack tightly enough to trap the odorant inside their inter-crystal spaces.
Typically, microwax or large olefinic materials are mixed with the main wax composition to keep the crystal size, and the inter-crystal spaces, smaller. Generally, microwax is the product remaining after vacuum distillation of crude oil products at high temperatures and reduced pressure to isolate a target product. The target product is usually paraffin wax, the main wax content of candles. Such leftover products forming the microwax may include larger paraffins. Olefinic materials, in the form of alkanes, may be obtained from a variety of sources, such as the petroleum industry, and typical sizes for these alkenes includes those with ten or more carbon atoms.
While the use of microwax and olefinic materials (referred to collectively as "microwax" herein) is beneficial in reducing fragrance loss in candle waxes, there are negative affects imparted to candles employing these compounds, including, for instance, (i) higher processing temperatures, (ii) coking, (iii) carbon deposits, and (iv) inconsistent flame sizes and burn rates.
The processing temperatures are generally higher because microwax has higher melting temperatures than the main wax utilized in candle compositions (typically paraffin wax of smaller sizes than microwax).
Coking and carbon deposits left by candles employing microwax result from incomplete combustion of the microwax used. These materials often do not burn completely because they are very large and tend to only partially oxidize, thereby yielding smoke and coking the candle surface.
The flame size and burn rates among different candles, and even for an individual candle over its life, employing microwax may be inconsistent. There are two main reasons for these inconsistencies. First, the source of the microwax or olefinic product may vary from batch to batch, because the inconsistent composition of crude oil product yields varying microwax or olefinic compositions. This variability may cause otherwise similar candles to burn differently. Second, these materials often do not completely mix with the balance of the candle wax composition, yeilding areas with different concentrations of these compounds. This non-homogeneity causes flame size and burn rate to vary, even with respect to an individual candle over time.
Ethylene vinyl acetates ("EVAs") have been used as a partial substitute for microwax in fragranced candles, to lessen the problems associated with these materials. U.S. Pat. No. 4,110,261 discusses the use of EVAs, in general, in candle wax compositions. This patent is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. EVAs are known to make the crystal size smaller as well as assisting in making such candles release from manufacturing molds easier. EVAs also are known to make candles more opaque. However, because EVAs may cause similar smoking and coking, undesirable characteristics are still present in such candles employing EVAs as a partial substitute for or addative to the microwax. In addition, we have found that, when EVAs are used as a complete substitute for microwax, smoking and residues may become higher than in the case of olefinic or microwax-containing candles.
High molecular weight alcohols ("HMWAs") are known to make candle flames more luminous and white. The use of these alcohols has been partially disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 1,950,814, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. However, HMWAs have not been used a substitute for microwax inasmuch as they alone do not impart the ability to retain fragrance within the wax.
We have found that a combination of such alcohols with EVAs may be used as a substitute for microwax in fragranced candle waxes, and that substitution of the combination results in candles with qualities superior to those of candles using microwax or olefinic materials. For example, such candles typically exhibit less smoke and coking, while producing a more consistent flame size and burn rate, all without the problem of weeping.

Clean-burning fragrance candle with consistent flame size and burn rate


An apparatus to remove from operation a decoupling capacitor connected to a power supply providing power to logic circuitry in an integrated circuit. One technique for doing so is to connect a fuse in series with a decoupling capacitor. The present invention amplifies current transmitting through the fuse in a positive feedback manner to force the fuse to blow sooner than would normally occur. Therefore, when the current through the decoupling capacitor is deemed unacceptable, the fuse current is increased until such a time that the fuse opens.

Decoupling capacitors have become necessary elements on VLSI (Very Large Scale Integration) chip designs with increased power dissipation and operating frequency. They provide the simple function of on-chip energy storage tanks for use when transient power requirements limit the immediate access to the normal power supply. That is, without decoupling capacitors (or, equivalently, a significant number/amount of decoupling capacitors), due to the inherent RLC properties and characteristics of the chip, chip package, board, power supply, etc., the reaction time of the power delivery system may not be fast enough to react to power demand. If, then, the power delivery system cannot react to the demand, a voltage drop occurs, which can have detrimental effects to the chip itself (e.g., circuit slow-down, memory state loss, etc.).
Decoupling capacitors, however, permit high power demands to pull necessary energy from their tanks, reducing or eliminating the voltage drop. The capacitors themselves are then recharged by the power supply at a secondary rate (the topic of time constants associated with the decoupling capacitor is complex and is not pertinent to the disclosure of the present invention).
Many methods have been devised to create the decoupling capacitors in standard VLSI processes. The most common method involves creating standard gate (thin) oxide over either a substrate or an n/p well, and tying the power supply voltages to either side of the thus created parallel plate capacitor. See, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,304,506, 5,394,294, and 5,329,237. This permits the decoupling capacitor to be created in a standard CMOS (complementary metal-oxide semiconductor) process with little or no mask addition or process complication.
However, complications do arise in the manufacture of such structures. Because they are made from gate (thin) oxide, they are subject to oxide shorts, perhaps the largest yield detractor in cutting-edge CMOS processes. And, because they consist of a large area of thin oxide, the probability of an oxide defect is highly increased. As a result, many of the created on-chip decoupling capacitors are defective and create shorts from the power supply to ground, causing increased power consumption, which then further aggravates the need for decoupling capacitors by increasing peak power demands. Note that such shorts may be large enough to cause the capacitor to become completely ineffective (and should be removed from the system) or small enough to create more chip stand-by current but still retaining a significant energy storage advantage. Note that in both cases the chip remains functional: an undesired decoupling capacitor does not affect the chip operation.
As a result, methods have been devised to selectively turn off or remove the decoupling capacitors from the system when such defects occur for both capacitor functionally and chip current purposes. That is, a non-functioning decoupling capacitor is unnecessary. Also, because most failures in such capacitors occur when the plates are resistively coupled and because the plates are necessarily connected to power and ground, such a non-functioning capacitor necessarily causes an unnecessary increase in chip power dissipation.
The most popular method for removing the decoupling capacitor from the system involves the addition of a fuse into the decoupling capacitor circuitry, as shown in FIG. 1. Referring to FIG. 1, as will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, a typical integrated circuit has a number of logic circuits, such as logic circuits 101 and 102, formed on a semiconductor substrate 10 by a sequence of well-known process steps. Each logic circuit 101, 102 is connected to an appropriate voltage source V+ also located on the semiconductor substrate 10. A decoupling capacitor 105, 106 couples the voltage source V+ to a suitable common or "ground" terminal so that any sharp fluctuations in the voltage (i.e., bounce) of the voltage source V+ are shunted through the decoupling capacitor 105, 106 to ground. In this manner, the decoupling capacitor 105, 106 isolates the logic circuit 101, 102 from rapid changes in power supply voltages.
Removal of the decoupling capacitor 105, 106 involves blowing the fuse 103, 104. Note, the physical arrangement of the fuse with respect to the decoupling capacitor can be reversed so that a terminal of the fuse is coupled to ground. In either embodiment, the opening of the circuit by deleting the fuse link 103, 104 prevents current flow from the supply source V+ through the failing ("failing" means defective and leaking current through the parallel plate structure due to dielectric failure) capacitor 105, 106 to ground.
The fuse 103, 104 is traditionally constructed using a long thin metal line. When the capacitor 105, 106 becomes defective, electromigration effects based on the unidirectional flow to ground force the atoms in the metal wire to move (migrate), which over time creates an open. Such effects may take minutes, hours, or even years to "blow" the fuse 103, 104.
This, creates a dilemma in the circuit based on the time involved for the fuse 103, 104 to blow (open). That is, if the resistor coupled between the capacitor plates is large (indicating a smaller, but still important, defect), then the current between the plates and the fuse is small, which means the electromigration-blown fuse will take a long time to open. Thus, small defects, although they degrade or negate the capacitor's effectiveness, will take a long time to demonstrate themselves in the removal of the associated decoupling capacitor 105, 106.
Therefore, there is a need in the art for an improved system for blowing a fuse coupled to a decoupling capacitor.

International Business Machines Corporation


Methods of processing nanocrystals to remove excess free and bound organic material and particularly surfactants used during the synthesis process, and resulting nanocrystal compositions, devices and systems that are physically, electrically and chemically integratable into an end application.

The world of "Nanotechnology" has been simultaneously heralded by some who view its advances as providing the next great technological evolution and derided by others who view it as just the latest buzz-word technology to attract venture capital investment. While their fundamental views on the promise of the technology are at odds, members of both camps will point to a number of common issues that nanotechnology must address if it is ever to fulfill its promises.
Of particular note is that, while both camps tend to acknowledge that nanomaterials often have unique and potentially valuable properties, e.g., structural, electrical, opto-electrical and thermoelectric, the ability of scientists and eventually users or consumers to access these unique and valuable properties can present a substantial hurdle to realizing the full benefits of these materials.
For example, while nanowire based electronic circuits may present potentially wide ranging benefits to the electronics industry, interfacing with these materials to produce such new and improved circuits has not met with great success, with a few notable exceptions: see, e.g., Duan et al., Nature 425:274-278 (2003). In the case of nanowire electronics, the inability to access the advantages of the nanomaterial is largely physical, as the material's dimensions are so small that making actual physical or electrical contact, in a robust repeatable manufacturing process, becomes substantially more difficult.
Relatedly, despite extremely promising theoretical energy conversion efficiencies, previously described nanomaterial based photovoltaic devices have not achieved anything close to the expected efficiencies, largely due to an inability to successfully and completely integrate such materials into photovoltaic cells to access the converted energy. In this case, the inability to access the properties of the material is believed to be, at least in part, a chemical issue, involving both the surface of the nanomaterials through which access is desired, and the ability of the nanomaterials to efficiently function in their particular composite environment.
Whether a function of electrical connectability, or chemical integration of nanomaterials, it will be appreciated that there is a need for processes that produce more readily integrated nanocrystal populations, as well as the nanocrystal populations themselves. The present invention meets these and a variety of other needs.

Methods of processing nanocrystals, and compositions, devices and systems including same


An elevation mechanism for a satellite antenna system allows the antenna to be moved between a deployed position and a stowed position. The elevation mechanism includes a lift bar driven by a motor having one end pivotally connected to the back of the antenna and a pivot connection point pivotally connected to the base of the satellite antenna system. A tilt link bar has a first end pivotally connected to the back of the antenna and a second end pivotally connected to the base. The tilt link bar causes the antenna to pivot as the antenna moves between the stowed position and the deployed position so that in the stowed position the antenna faces downward.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a mobile satellite antenna system mounted on the rooftop of a vehicle that can be quickly deployed and targeted on a satellite or stowed for transport.
2. Prior Art
The mobile satellite antenna market is growing due to the increased demand for high bandwidth communication between a vehicle and a satellite. For example, recreational vehicle users travel with laptop computers and desire high bandwidth access to the Internet. Commercial users such as those who are, for example, found in the oil and gas industry with mobile vehicles traveling from one location to another in the field have the same need.
Some users of mobile satellite antennas require high speed deployment of the satellite antenna such as those who are, for example, found in the law enforcement community with their tactical communications vehicles. Military and homeland security units have the same requirement. In some geographical areas, the mobile satellite antenna is required to move through heavy snow loads in its deployment.
A number of conventional satellite antenna systems are available that fold down onto rooftops of vehicles. Conventionally, either gear boxes are used in such conventional systems to elevate the dish through a rotary drive motion, or a linear actuator attached to the back of the satellite dish is used to raise the dish by pivoting on a cardanic joint. Examples of such commercially available devices are those found in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,337,062, 5,418,542 and 5,528,250. In addition, such conventional satellite antenna systems are available from MotoSat and C-Com Satellite Systems, Inc.
A need exists to move the satellite antenna system from a stowed position to a usable deployed position as quickly as possible and to overcome any lethargic mechanical performance. Conventional drive gear box designs are slower in operation and suffer from an undesirable condition called gear backlash that may adversely affect data transmission and use of the dish. A conventional linear actuator, at the attachment point on the satellite dish, provides a limited range of elevation motion and cannot be used in every region of the world.
A need exists for a stowable/deployable satellite antenna system that does not encounter excessive backlash as found in gear box designs and does not limit range of elevation as found in cardanic joint-based actuators. A further need exists to rapidly deploy the satellite antenna system. A final need exists to deploy the satellite antenna system under heavy loads such as found when heavy snow accumulates on the stowed antenna and the antenna must be deployed through the heavy snow load.

Nomadic storable satellite antenna system


Compounds of Structural Formula (I) ##STR1## are produced by directed biosynthesis. These compounds are squalene synthetase inhibitors and thus useful as cholesterol lowering agents, antifungal agents and cancer treatment agents.

Hypercholesterolemia is known to be one of the prime risk factors for ischemic cardiovascular disease, such as arteriosclerosis. Bile acid sequestrants have been used to treat this condition; they seem to be moderately effective but they must be consumed in large quantities, i.e. several grams at a time, and they are not very palatable.
MEVACOR.RTM. (lovastatin), now commercially available, is one of a group of very active antihypercholesterolemic agents that function by limiting cholesterol biosynthesis by inhibiting the enzyme, HMG-CoA reductase.
Squalene synthetase is the enzyme involved in the first committed step of the de novo cholesterol biosynthetic pathway. This enzyme catalyzes the reductive dimerization of two molecules of farnesyl pyrophosphate to form squalene. The inhibition of this committed step to cholesterol should leave unhindered biosynthetic pathways to ubiquinone, dolichol and isopentenyl t-RNA.
Previous efforts at inhibiting squalene synthetase have employed pyrophosphate or pyrophosphate analog containing compounds such as those described in P. Ortiz de Montellano et al, J. Med Chem. 20, 243 (1977) and E.J. Corey and R. Volante, J. Am. Chem. Soc., 98, 1291 (1976). S. Biller (U.S. Pat. No. 4,871,721) describes isoprenoid (phosphinylmethyl)phosphonates as inhibitors of squalene synthetase.
Recently certain nonphosphorus containing inhibitors of squalene synthetase have been isolated as natural products. These natural product inhibitors are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,053,425; 5,055,487 and 5,026,554.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,053,425 discloses a zaragozic acid compound of structure ##STR2## hereafter referred to as zaragozic acid A. Applicants have now found that providing certain aryl, heteroaryl, aralkyl or heteroaralkyl carboxylic acids to a culture that produces zaragozic acid A leads to the incorporation of an aryl or heteroaryl moiety into the C-1 side chain of zaragozic acid A.

Cholesterol lowering compounds produced by directed biosynthesis


A new and distinct cultivar of Angelonia plant named ‘Balangspri’, characterized by its white-colored flowers, medium green-colored foliage, and moderately vigorous, compact, and prostrate growth habit.

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Angelonia plant botanically known as Angelonia angustifolia and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name 'Balangspri'.
The new cultivar originated in a controlled breeding program in Elburn, Ill. during May 2003. The objective of the breeding program was the development of Angelonia cultivars with unique flower coloration, continuous flowering, and a moderately vigorous, freely branching, and upright to prostrate growth habit.
The new Angelonia cultivar is the result of cross-pollination. The female (seed) parent of the new cultivar is the proprietary Angelonia angustifolia breeding selection designated 147-1,2-6-2-3, not patented, characterized by its white-colored flowers, medium-dark green-colored foliage, and semi-prostrate growth habit. The male (pollen) parent of the new cultivar is the proprietary Angelonia angustifolia breeding selection designated 202-1, not patented, characterized by its dark violet-colored flowers, dark green-colored foliage, and semi-prostrate growth habit. The new cultivar was discovered and selected as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the above stated cross-pollination during March 2004 in a controlled environment at Elburn, Ill.
Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by terminal stem cuttings since March 2004 at Elburn, Ill. and West Chicago, Ill. has demonstrated that the new cultivar reproduces true to type with all of the characteristics, as herein described, firmly fixed and retained through successive generations of such asexual propagation.


A weather resistant road light comprises a top cover and a ballast mounting surface disposed on a top surface of the top cover. The ballast mounting surface defines a ballast compartment lower surface. At least one wire aperture seat is disposed on the ballast mounting surface. A ballast is mounted to the at least one wire aperture seat. Wires from the ballast pass through the wire aperture seat. A ballast compartment cover covers the ballast compartment. The ballast compartment cover fits over the top of the ballast mounting surface disposed on the top cover. At least one securing member secures the ballast to the ballast mounting surface. A bottom tray mates with the top cover, and the bottom tray has a lens opening. A reflector assembly has a socket for receiving a bulb. The reflector assembly is mounted on the bottom tray.

A. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to weather resistant road lighting.
B. Description of the Prior Art
As seen in FIGS. 1-3, the prior art road light has a housing with a lens facing downward. The housing is typically made of a top cover, and a bottom tray. Components are sandwiched between the top cover and bottom tray. A ballast is typically mounted behind the lamp which is typically a high-intensity discharge lamp or LED lamp. The ballast is thus enclosed in the same space as the high-intensity discharge lamp. The high-intensity discharge lamp has a reflector enclosing the lamp between the reflector and the lens. The reflector optionally includes a seal for sealing the lens from the elements.


Method and apparatus for managing versions of a portion of a document on a computing system are described. Multiple versions of an object in the document are maintained on the computing system. A graphical representation of at least two versions of the object is displayed on a display to a user of the computing system. A previous version of the object is selected from the at least two versions of the object through an input device, and the object in the document is restored to the selected previous version. The object is a portion of the document less than the entirety of the document.

Managing multiple versions of a document in a single user or a multiple user environment is a desired feature that provides a coarse level of revision control. A user can retrieve an earlier version of a document in its entirety and restore the current version of the document to the previous version of the document. Structured documents can be stored with tagged objects including timestamps that can prove valuable in searching for previous versions of documents.
Frequently, a user can seek to retrieve only a portion of a document. Partial document restoration can provide an efficient method by which objects can be searched and retrieved to modify or add the previous version of an object to a current version of a document. Particularly, when multiple users modify an individual document, no single previous version can correspond to a version that a user can seek to restore the entire document. Rather only a portion of the document can be modified by the user (while another user can modify a separate portion of the document), and the user can seek to retrieve a version for only one portion of a document rather than the previous version of the document in its entirety. Network (cloud) based storage of documents have increased the ease of access to retrieve, edit and update documents by multiple users. Some applications can also allow simultaneous editing of documents by multiple users, and a method for partial document restoration can improve a user's experience by allowing editing on separate sections of documents without a requirement to "lock out" individual sections among users. Thus, there exists a need for a method to permit version control of documents with a graphical user interface to display and retrieve individual portions of a document that are less than a document in its entirety.


A spinner hub assembly for attachment to a rim of a vehicle tire. The spinner hub assembly includes a rim attachment plate that can be removably attached in a substantially central area of the rim of the vehicle tire. The spinner hub assembly also includes a housing element with a rear housing surface connected to a front housing surface that defines an interior cavity, and the housing element is rotatably attached to the rim attachment plate, such that the housing element rotates independently of the rim of the vehicle tire. The front housing surface of the housing element includes indicia in the form of cut-out portions extending through at least a portion of the front housing surface, such that the interior cavity of the housing element is visible through the cut-out portions.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to aesthetic and mechanical decorations and modifications to vehicles and, in particular, to wheel spinners, spinner hubs and other similar assemblies that are used on or in connection with a tire of a vehicle for decorative and other purposes.
2. Description of Related Art
Vehicle modification and, in particular, car modification, is an ever increasing market that cuts across many age groups and demographics. For example, it is popular among many groups to modify and show his or her car in order to gain acclamation or increase respect among peers. In addition, many sports cars or racing cars are customized by their owners. These customizations include lighting on the runner rails, decorative paint jobs, racing stripes or other applications, decorative spinner nuts and wheel spinners or spinner hubs for placement over vehicle tires.
With respect to a wheel spinner assembly or spinner hub assembly, such assemblies are attached, typically centrally, to a vehicle tire and may spin either with the tire or independently from the tire. Typical wheel spinners include some base or frame that either covers the rim of the tire and rotates therewith or, alternatively, rotates independently of the tire. On this base or frame, decorations, slogans, words, etc., may be placed to either increase the aesthetic value of the car or to advertise or otherwise provide a message to other drivers. To the extent that the base or frame rotates independently of the tire or rim, the prior art also teaches or suggests placing a weight on an outer perimeter of the backside of the base or frame, which is typically a circular element, in order to correctly orient the base in a horizontal or vertical direction. Such assemblies are known in the art and may be found in one or more of the following patents: U.S. Pat. No. 6,554,370 to Fowlkes; U.S. Pat. No. 5,659,989 to Hsiao et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,588,715 to Harlen; U.S. Pat. No. 6,443,529 to Williams; U.S. Pat. No. 6,120,104 to Okamoto et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,957,542 to Boothe et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,490,342 to Rutterman et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,290,094 to Gragg; U.S. Pat. No. 5,016,944 to Schultz; U.S. Pat. No. 5,190,354 to Levy et al.; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,584,537 to Miansian.
While such assemblies are known in the art, there is room for additional improvement in both the mechanical connection between the wheel spinner and the rim of the vehicle, as well as in the aesthetic and decorative natures and qualities of the assembly. As these assemblies are typically added to a vehicle not to improve performance, but to improve "the look" of the vehicle, there remains a need for further unique wheel spinners and spinner hub assemblies that are unique and allow the owner's vehicle to be set apart from the others.


The present invention provides a simple, cost effective and hassle-free method and apparatus for modifying the surface grain structure of the material, thereby providing a material with multi-modal grain structure having high strength and good formability. The present invention uses a single step processing technique known as submerged static friction stir processing for modifying the surface grain structure of the material, thereby generating a multi-modal grain structure. In the present invention since the working material is completely immersed in the coolant, this maintains the working temperature of the system. Further the present invention does not involve long processing steps and do not need any specialized equipments.

Advanced structural assemblies are commonly fabricated from a plurality of structural members secured together to form a built-up structure. The structural members are typically forged, machined from stock material or cast into various configurations from various metals and metal alloys. These structural assemblies during operation are subjected to several static and cyclic loads, as well as a variety of environmental conditions, including temperature variations, acoustic and vibrational interferences, all of which create mechanical and thermal stresses on the material. While these operational stresses generally exist throughout the individual structural members, certain regions of the structural member are subjected to comparatively higher magnitudes of stress. High operational stresses can lead to micro-cracking or fracture of the structural members, which results in eventual failure of the structural assembly. In addition, due to the large number of parts and fasteners utilized in the construction of structural assemblies, maintenance, repair and replacement of structural members is time consuming, labour intensive, and expensive over the life of the assembly.
Generally, strength and ductility of metal alloys are inversely correlated to each other. Advanced applications demand for metals and metal alloys having high strength and good formability. In certain applications, high strength metals are to be formed into complex geometries which is very tedious, time consuming and costly process. Often high strength material tends to form cracks on the surfaces while undergoing tensile strain during bending or forming operations. Such cracks tend to propagate through the bulk material, resulting in premature failure.
In seeking to enhance the strength, toughness and fatigue resistance of structural members and, thus, increase the useful life of structural assemblies, designers have modified the dimensions of the structural members in the regions of high operational stress, for example, by increasing the thickness of the members in these regions. Designers have also experimented with substituting more exotic and, typically, more expensive types of materials for use in the fabrication of the structural members. Structural members are subjected to precipitation hardening whereby the members are solution heat treated and then aged at predetermined temperature schedules to improve the grain structure and the material properties of the members. However, the precipitation hardening process can be time intensive and provides only limited improvement of material properties, and even selective increase in the thickness of a structural member can negatively increase the overall weight of the structural assembly, as well as resulting in increased material cost.
Accordingly, there remains a need for improved structural members and methods of manufacture that will increase the operational life of structural assemblies. The improved structural members must have enhanced strength, toughness and fatigue resistance, especially in those regions subjected to high operational stresses.
It is commonly recognized that the grain structure of structural members has significant influence on the material properties of the structural members. The strength, plasticity and toughness of the material are improved with the decrease of the grain size. Increase in strength by microstructure refinement leads to significant loss in ductility. This is mainly attributed to the limited accommodation of high dislocation density in finer grains.
The grain structure is one of the primary factors that influences the formability, toughness, weldability, corrosion resistance and strength of the structural members. The medium and thick plate alloy material is mainly obtained by rolling, and the grain in the material after rolling is coarse and uneven. Therefore, it is a hot research topic to improve the comprehensive mechanical properties of the material by tailoring the grain structure. An innovative approach to circumvent this is the development of bi-modal structures with finer grains embedded in coarser structures. However, development of multi-modal or bi-modal structures is challenging and involves multiple processing steps with long processing times. This limitation restricts the practical utilization of bi-modal structures.
In seeking to improve the material properties of structural members constructed of metals and metal alloys, it has been proposed to refine the grain size of the structural members through a severe plastic deformation processes. Equal channel angular extrusion is one of the most commonly used severe plastic deformation process. Equal angle extrusion involves forcing a workpiece, using pneumatic or hydraulic pressure, through a die having a 90° bend. In theory, equal angle extrusion refines the existing grain structure of the workpiece such that the resulting material exiting the extrusion die will exhibit a reduction in grain size. However, difficulties associated with large loads on the die and cracking of the workpiece, can adversely affect the properties of the material exiting the die. As a result, equal angle extrusion has not been used in large-scale production.
Thus, there remains a need for an apparatus for refining the grain structure of workpieces to thereby provide structural members having improved material properties, such as formability, weldability, toughness, corrosion resistance, and strength. The apparatus should be capable of operating on workpieces that are formed of a variety of metals and metal alloys and that have a variety of configurations. The apparatus also should be cost effective and should be scalable for use in large-scale production operations.
Friction stir processing (FSP) is a process for modification of pure metals and alloys and/or preparation of composite materials. FSP was basically derived from the process known as Friction stir welding (FSW). FSW was developed in 1991 for non-weldable or difficult to weld materials. Based on principles of FSW, Prof. Mishra from University of Missouri developed friction stir processing in the year 2001. The basic purpose of FSP is microstructural refinement of materials. Friction stir processing (FSP) involves passing a rotating FSP tool/probe through a metallic material to locally create a microstructure providing improved mechanical properties. The FSP operation is typically performed at room temperature but the friction and metal deformation involved raises the local temperature to just below the solidus temperature so that the friction stir processed material is annealed and fully recrystallized. Since the material does not undergo melting during FSP, such as occurs during fusion welding, overaging in the heat affected zone is significantly less. Friction stir processing has been demonstrated for a variety of metals and metal alloys, including aluminum, titanium, bronze, and steel materials. The FSP approach has been used to locally improve the mechanical properties in high-stress areas of cast metal parts but has not previously been applied to enable grain refinement to provide a multimodal grain structure.
Accordingly, the present invention provides a novel and simple method for grain refinement of a metal surface, which can effectively generate bimodal grain structures in metals and metal alloys.
CN106011422 discloses a high-strength steel with bimodal scale ferrite structure and a low cost preparation method thereof. Ordinary low carbon steel is adopted as a raw material plate, cold deformation and two-phase region quenching are carried out to obtain a bimodal scale structure with fine quasipolygonal ferrite grains distributed around coarse polygonal ferrite grains, the fine quasipolygonal ferrite grains plays a role of strengthening phase, and the coarse polygonal ferrite grains guarantee the steel plasticity. The high-strength steel prepared by the preparation method provided by the invention has excellent comprehensive mechanical properties, yield strength, tensile strength, and yield ratio. At the same time, the process is simple and the production cost is low.
CN104558670 provides a novel method for preparing a bimodal structure through supercritical carbon dioxide. The method is characterized in that a plurality of fillers fill polystyrene, polymethyl formamide and other polymers, then the supercritical carbon dioxide is utilized to process, and the one-step method is carried out, so as to simply and effectively prepare a bimodal foaming material; the process is simple, the efficiency is greatly increased, and meanwhile, the applicable scope is wide; a literature report shows that the method for preparing the bimodal foaming material includes a two-step pressure release method and a multi-foamer method. However, the processes of the two methods have some problems such as complex process, high device requirement, and selection of a nucleating agent, and therefore, the preparation of the bimodal foaming material is certainly limited.
CN105385820 provides a grain refinement method of a medium-thickness plate alloy material. According to the method, grain refinement is performed on the medium-thickness plate alloy material through a friction stir processing technology. The method includes the following steps that under the condition that a stirring head rotates at a high speed, a stirring needle is slowly punctured into the medium-thickness plate alloy material till the shaft shoulder of the stirring head makes contact with the surface of the material, then the stirring needle marches forwards in the material, and first-time friction stir processing is completed; the friction stir processing operation is repeated, till grain refinement of the medium-thickness plate alloy material is completed. Finally a superfine, compact and uniform equiaxed fine-grain or ultrafine grain structure is obtained.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,712,916 discloses a process for enhancing the superplasticity of metal by involving friction stirring at least a segment of a single piece of bulk metal to impart superplasticity thereto and thereby yield a single superplastic metal.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,398,883 discloses a method for selectively improving the strength, toughness and fatigue resistance of a structural member. The process includes positioning a friction stir welding probe adjacent the region of the structural member having comparatively high operational stress. A rotating friction stir welding probe can then be inserted through the outer surface of the structural member proximate to the region of high operational stress to locally refine the grain structure of the high-stress region. The rotating friction stir welding probe can be moved through the structural member along a path corresponding to the region of high operational stress. The friction stir welding probe can be withdrawn from the outer surface of the structural member to thereby define a threaded opening at least partially within the region of the structural member having a locally refined grain structure. If desired, the structural member can be precipitation hardened prior to or after the inserting step.
The above patents discloses the friction stirring of the surface to refine the surface grain structure of the metal alloy and does not teach anything about the bimodal or multimodal structure formation. In the above said methods usually, the primary processing step is followed by one or more secondary processing steps such as annealing/cryogenic treatments at different temperatures for long time durations. This increases the complexity as well as the associated cost. Further in the above method, aim to develop refined grain structures which results in trade-off between strength and ductility of the metal alloy. Therefore for above reasons there is need in the art to provide a method for developing multimodal structure on the surface of the metal alloy, which have high strength and good formability. The present invention also provides a simple, cost effective and hassle-free apparatus for obtaining such structure. The present invention provides a single step processing and does not involve long processing steps and do not need any specialized equipments as is the case for existing techniques.

Method for modifying surface grain structure of the material and apparatus thereof


The present invention relates to a method of producing an aqueous dispersion of silanized colloidal silica particles comprising mixing in an aqueous medium a) at least one silane compound containing an epoxy-functionality, b) at least one silane compound having no epoxy-functionality capable of modifying colloidal silica particles; and c) colloidal silica particles in any order to form an aqueous dispersion of silanized colloidal silica particles containing silane compounds originating from a) and b). It also relates to a dispersion obtainable by said method and to the use thereof in coating applications.

Colloidal silica dispersions have previously been used inter alia as coating material to improve adhesive properties and increase wear and water resistance of various materials. However, these compositions, especially highly concentrated colloidal silica compositions, may be liable to gelling or precipitation, which considerably shortens the storage time.
EP 1554221 discloses a method of providing a dispersion of silane-modified silica. However, the stability of such dispersions may not always provide sufficient stability, hardness, and/or water resistance.
It would be desirable to provide an improved silanized silica sol dispersion with regard to the above deficiencies of the prior art. It would also be desirable to provide a highly concentrated colloidal silica dispersion for inter alia coating applications which can be easily stored and transported without any initial precipitation. A further object is to provide a dispersion imparting high water resistance and/or hardness, in particular early hardness, to lacquer formulations. It would also be desirable to provide a convenient and inexpensive method of producing such a dispersion.
A further object is to provide a dispersion suitable for wood lacquers which does not discolour the wood, for example oak. It is a further object of the invention to provide improved water resistance of wood lacquer formulations.


A magnetic altitude adjusting mechanism is described. The magnetic altitude adjusting mechanism includes a slide, a track, and a magnetic repulsive device. The slide including a magnetic piece is bar-shaped. The magnetic piece is configured in the slide. A longitudinal direction of the magnetic piece and a longitudinal direction of the slide are the same. The slide is coupled to the track so as to move along the track and be prevented from rotation thereon. The magnetic repulsive device is disposed on one end of the track to generate a magnetic repulsive force for fixing the slide on the track. The slide stops on a predetermined position with the magnetic repulsive force while an external force is released after the slide is adjusted to the predetermined position by the external force.

1. Field of Invention
The invention relates to an altitude adjusting mechanism and, in particular, to a magnetic altitude adjusting mechanism.
2. Related Art
As shown in FIG. 1, the conventional altitude adjusting device of a thin display device is comprised of a slide 100′, a track 200′, a coil spring 300′ and a base 500′ . The thin display device is installed on a coupling portion 120′ of the slide 100′. The user imposes a force on the thin display device to adjust its altitude. After the external force is removed, the weight of the thin display device and the slide 100′ is equal to the sum of a spring force of the coil spring 300′ and a frictional force between the slide 100′ and a sliding piece 210′ on the track 200′. Therefore, the slide 100′ can stop at any position on the track 200′. The weight of the thin display device is invariant. However, the frictional force between the slide 100′ and the sliding piece 210′ on the track 200′ and the spring force of the coil spring 300′ vary with time, adjusting frequency, temperature, and climate. Once the coil spring 300′ reaches its elastic fatigue, or the friction between the slide 100′ and the sliding piece 210′ changes, it is difficult to achieve a balance in force to maintain the altitude of the thin display device. Moreover, the replacement of the coil spring 300′ is time-consuming and inconvenient.


A positive electrode plate (7) and a negative electrode plate (8) are coiled around with a separator (9) interposed therebetween into a flat shape having a rectangular plan to obtain an intermediate product (17) of an electrode plate group, whose corners are then cut off along straight or curved lines to obtain a substantially octagonal electrode plate group (1a, 1b), so that it is accommodated in a negative electrode case (5) having a circular plan with good space efficiency. The problem of residual water in the coiled electrode plate group (1a, 1b, 1c) of a coin type battery having high load current characteristics is resolved by a vacuum dry treatment, and the problem of dust generated during the welding of leads is resolved by a method whereby dust is not scattered inside the case. Flat batteries with higher reliability are thus obtained.

Flat batteries such as button type batteries and coin type batteries have widely been used as power sources for small or thin devices such as wrist watches and hearing aids or IC cards.
FIG. 16 illustrates a conventional coin type battery, which is a typical flat battery. A positive electrode pellet 32 and a negative electrode pellet 33 of disk-like form are placed opposite each other with a separator 34 interposed between them inside a negative electrode case 35 of circular half shell form having a stepped lateral wall. Liquid electrolyte is injected into this case, a positive electrode case 31 is coupled to the open end of the negative electrode case 35 with a gasket 36 fitted therebetween, and the open end edge of the positive electrode case 31 is crimped or bent inwards so as to tightly seal the inner space formed between the positive and negative electrode cases 31 and 35.
Coin type batteries having such a structure wherein one positive electrode pellet 32 and one negative electrode pellet 33 are arranged opposite each other can have only a small continuous discharge current of several tens of mA because of the small reaction area where the positive and negative electrode plates face to each other, so that they have only been used for devices that require a small load current.
To achieve a large discharge current, it is necessary to increase the facing area between positive and negative electrode plates. Electrode plate groups having a structure that allows the reaction area to be increased such as a layered structure or a coiled structure have widely been used for batteries other than coin type batteries. Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 2000-164259 discloses a flat battery incorporating one such electrode plate group of a layered or coiled structure accommodated in a flat battery case having a small height so as to achieve higher discharge current. This flat battery accommodates the electrode plate group, which is formed into a thin prismatic shape by the coiled or layered structure, in a prismatic positive electrode case.
This electrode plate group of coiled or layered structure can not be adopted to coin type batteries that have a circular plan, because accommodating rectangular electrode plate group in a circular positive electrode case results in insufficient battery capacity because of the low volume efficiency of the battery.
Another problem in constructing a battery using non-aqueous electrolyte such as a lithium ion rechargeable battery in a flat shape is that, if the electrode plate group of the coiled structure contains water, it generates hydrogen gas during the initial charge and discharge. Water may also cause swelling of the electrode plates, which will lead to swelling of the outer case.
The gas generated during the initial period of use may change the thickness of the coiled electrode plate group and cause variations in the pressure distribution in the group. This may lead to buildup of ions in low-pressure portions or cause swelling of the outer case.
The positive and negative electrode plates forming the electrode plate group are electrically connected to respective cases by pressure contact or by welding. For the electrode plate group of a coiled structure, the connection can be achieved with highest reliability by welding. Spot welding, for example, is carried out as shown in FIG. 17: A negative electrode lead 45 is pressed against a negative electrode case 44 by a pair of welding electrodes 40, 41, and welding current is applied thereacross from a welding power source 48. However, sparks thrown and dust scattered during the welding may cause internal short-circuiting or buildup of ions.
An object of the present invention is to provide a flat battery that resolves the above problems found in flat batteries accommodating electrode plate groups of a coiled structure within thin spaces so as to increase discharge capacity, and a manufacturing method of this flat battery.

Flat battery and production method therefor

Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.


A method of mapping channels in wireless communications is discussed. The method determines error rates on potential channels to be used in a frequency hopping communication system. The error rates and then used in mapping data to the channels such that isochronous data is mapped to channels having lower error rates than others of the potential channels.

1. Technical Field
Embodiments of the present invention relate generally to electronic circuits and in particular to circuits for wireless communications.
2. Background
In wireless communication, the technique of frequency hopping is commonly used to 'spread' a signal over a spectrum range and reduce its susceptibility to noise or interference. Frequency hopping is one of two basic modulation techniques used in spread spectrum signal transmission, direct sequencing being the other. Frequency hopping is the repeated switching of frequencies during radio transmission and is often used to minimize the effectiveness of "electronic warfare", or the unauthorized interception or jamming of telecommunications. Frequency hopping also is known as frequency-hopping code division multiple access (FH-CDMA). Conventional wireless technologies including Bluetooth, Wireless USB, WiFi, etc. use the technique of frequency hopping to send signals. A channel in radio communications typically means a specific frequency or band of frequencies used to establish a communications path between two communication stations. In frequency hopping, each frequency to which the stations hop is a channel. A frequency hopping system changes channels generally according to a predetermined sequence known to the transmitter and receiver, for example. Each frequency to which the stations hop is a channel, usually within a defined band of channels.
FCC regulations say that all channels should be used equally, that there should be no low energy channels. However, in most applications not all channels have the same level of quality or reception. Poor channels, defined as those with high error rate frequently drop data and require information to be resent. This may be adequate for data that is not time-sensitive (non-isochronous) such as email or file transfer, etc. However, poor quality channels are generally not suitable for time-sensitive data (isochronous) such as voice, video, music and streaming media.
It would be desirable to have a method for mapping isochronous data to higher quality channels having lower error rates and mapping non-isochronous data to lower quality channels with higher error rates.

Mapping of non-isochronous and isochronous channels


The invention relates to an assembly (1) of bicycle components in mutual rotation, like for example a bottom bracket assembly. The assembly of the present invention comprises a support element (15), a rotary element (5) rotatably coupled with the support element (15) and at least one bearing (20) arranged between the support element (15) and the rotary element (5). The bearing (20) comprises at least one bearing element (30, 40) firmly coupled with one from the support element (15) and the rotary element (5). The bearing element (30, 40) and the element (5, 15) with which it is firmly associated have, at respective mutually coupled interface surfaces (36, 38, 42, 44), a standard reduction potential difference lower than or equal to 0.3 V, in absolute value.

Throughout the present description and in the subsequent claims, the expression "assembly of bicycle components in mutual rotation", is used to indicate any bicycle assembly defined at two bicycle components assembled together so that, during pedalling, they can rotate with respect to one another. Such an assembly therefore comprises at least one support element, at least one rotary element supported in rotation by the support element and at least one member arranged between the support element and the rotary element to allow the relative rotation of one element with respect to the other element. Examples of such an assembly are a bottom bracket assembly, a hub assembly or a steering assembly.
The invention also relates to a bicycle comprising the aforementioned assembly. Preferably, such a bicycle is a racing bicycle.
In the field of bicycles, above all in racing bicycles, the problem of the smoothness capability of those components that, during pedalling, are in mutual rotation has always been researched. This has been done as part of the continuing search to improve the bicycle performance.
Typically, the rotation of one component with respect to another in bottom bracket assemblies, or in hubs or in steering tubes, of bicycles is achieved through the use of rolling bearings.
In the past it has been observed that the initial smoothness capability of bicycle components assembled together and in relative rotation decreased over time, until it substantially reduces after a certain time; this phenomenon was due essentially to the accumulation on the bearings of atmospheric and/or polluting agents.
In order to limit this phenomenon, in racing bicycles nowadays ball bearings are used to which insulating grease is applied; indeed, the grease hinders the formation of corrosion. In order to hold the grease and therefore protect the inside of the bearings from the undesired action of atmospheric and/or polluting agents, special protective screens are used.
Despite the aforementioned provisions, a decrease in the time of smoothness capability of the bicycle components is still observed.
The technical problem at the basis of the present invention is therefore to ensure, in the assemblies of bicycle components in mutual rotation, a high smoothness capability for an extended time period.
The present invention therefore relates, in a first aspect thereof, to an assembly of bicycle components in mutual rotation, comprising a support element, a rotary element rotatably coupled with the support element, at least one bearing arranged between the support element and the rotary element, said at least one bearing comprising a first bearing element firmly coupled with one element from said support element and said rotary element, characterised in that said first bearing element and said one element from said support element and said rotary element have, at respective mutually coupled interface surfaces, a standard reduction potential difference lower than or equal to 0.3 V, in absolute value.
Throughout the present description and in the subsequent claims, the expression "firmly coupled", is used to indicate a coupling without relative motion between the two coupled elements.
Throughout the present description and in the subsequent claims, the expression "bearing" is used to indicate any member intended to be arranged between a first bicycle element and a second bicycle element to allow the relative rotation of one element with respect to the other element. Such a member can have the classic configuration of a rolling bearing, with two rings and a plurality of rolling elements arranged between the two rings, or a similar configuration, in which for example one of the rings is omitted and the race for the rolling elements is defined directly on one of the two bicycle elements in mutual rotation.
Throughout the present description and in the subsequent claims, the expression "standard reduction potential value", is used to indicate the value of the electrode potential referring to the standard hydrogen electrode and measured at the following standard conditions: temperature 298 K, pressure 1 atm, concentration of the participants in the reaction of 1 M.

Assembly of bicycle components in mutual rotation and bicycle comprising such an assembly


In some examples, a semiconductor package comprises a semiconductor die; a conductive member coupled to the semiconductor die; and a wirebonded protrusion coupled to the conductive member. A physical structure of the wirebonded protrusion is determined at least in part by a sequence of movements of a wirebonding capillary used to form the wirebonded protrusion, the wirebonded protrusion including a ball bond and a bond wire, and the bond wire having a proximal end coupled to the ball bond. The bond wire has a distal end. The package also comprises a mold compound covering the semiconductor die, the conductive member, and the wirebonded protrusion. The distal end is in a common vertical plane with the ball bond and is not connected to a structure other than the mold compound.

Semiconductor chips are housed inside packages that protect the chips from deleterious environmental influences, such as heat, moisture, and debris. A packaged chip communicates with electronic devices outside the package via conductive members (e.g., leads) that are exposed to surfaces of the package. Within the package, the chip may be electrically coupled to the conductive members using any suitable technique. One such technique is wire bonding, in which one end of a conductive wire (also called a bond wire) is coupled to a conductive member and the other end of the wire is coupled to the chip. Flip chip configurations are also useful, in which the semiconductor die is flipped upside down so the device side of the semiconductor die faces downward. In such configurations, the device side of the semiconductor die may be coupled to conductive members using solder bumps.

Bondwire protrusions on conductive members


The present invention relates to a polycarbonate resin having, in the molecule, at least a structural unit represented by the following formula (1), wherein the terminal hydroxyl group concentration of the polycarbonate resin is 300 ppm or less:

A polycarbonate resin is excellent in the mechanical strength, electrical properties, transparency, etc. and is widely utilized as an engineering plastic in various fields such as electric/electronic device field and automotive field. Recently, in these application fields, reduction in the thickness, size and weight of a molded/processed product has progressed, and the performance of a molding material is required to be more enhanced. Among these, development of a polycarbonate resin having high flame retardancy even with a small thickness is desired, and several proposals have been made thereon.
For example, a method for making a polycarbonate or copolycarbonate having an excellent surface hardness by using bisphenols different from the conventional bisphenol A (Patent Document 1 or 2), and a method for balancing flowability and hardness by blending a dimethyl bisphenol cyclohexane-type polycarbonate and a bisphenol A-type polycarbonate (Patent Document 3), are known.
On the other hand, in Patent Document 4, a technique of incorporating a branching agent (a monomer having three or more reactive groups; a unit capable of becoming a repeating unit) and thereby partially introducing a branch structure so as to enhance the flame retardancy is known. However, introduction of a branching agent makes it difficult to control the extent of crosslinking produced at the time of polymerization of a polymer, and there is a problem that a gel-like substance is produced and causes a foreign matter.

Polycarbonate resin, polycarbonate resin composition and molded article thereof

Abstract: wherein each of R1 and R2 independently represents a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group having a carbon number of 1 to 20 or a substituted or unsubstituted aryl group, and X represents a single bond, a carbonyl group, a substituted or unsubstituted alkylidene group, a substituted or unsubstituted sulfur atom, or an oxygen atom.


The present invention relates to a compound of Antrodia camphorata used to inhibit HBV, in particular to an extract, 4-hydroxy-2,3-dimethoxy-6-methyl-5(3,7,11-trimethyl-dodeca-2,6,10-trienyl)-cyclohex-2-enone which is isolated from Antrodia camphorata, and its use in inhibiting HBV effectively. The cyclohexenone compound according to the present invention showed cytotoxicity on HBV-secreting human hepatoma cell line HepG2 2.2.15, decreased synthesis of HBV particles, further inhibited synthesis of HbsAg and HbeAg effectively to achieve the goal of HBV inhibition.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an anti-viral compound, in particular to a cyclohexenone compound isolated and purified from Antrodia camphorata extracts and can be applied in inhibition of hepatitis B virus.
2. The Prior Arts
The Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) is a small double-stranded, enveloped virus of the Hepadnviridae family, which causes sustained noncytopathic liver infection. It is the only DNA virus among all human liver viruses. The membrane of hepatitis B virus composed of 25% lipid and 75% glycoprotein. The major component for glycoprotein is hepatitis B surface antigen (HbsAg). Core region of HBV particle contains hepatitis B envelop antigen (HbeAg). HBeAg is a secretory protein which can pass through human placenta from mother to fetus in early stage, and elicits cytotoxic T-cells tolerance to HbeAg due to immature immune systems in babies. The immune system in human can not clear HBV and causes high-level HBV replication. HBeAg is also considered as a tolergen. Therefore, the levels of HBsAg and HBeAg can be used as markers of hepatitis for evaluating the HBV replication and secretion. The World Health Organization indicated that about two billion people show evidence of past or current infection with HBV, which has a high prevalence and incidence rate. Vertical transmission is the main path of HBV infection. The virus can cause acute hepatitis, chronic hepatitis, and liver cirrhosis, even developed to liver cancer. Around 90% of the males above 30 years old in Taiwan were infected with HBV. 15% to 20% of them become life-long carriers, and may die from sequelae including liver cirrhosis and liver cancer. Therefore Taiwan is a hyperendemic area for HBV infection and liver cancer.
The HBV infection is closed related to liver diseases and liver cancer as mentioned above. Anti-viral therapy through interference and inhibition of viral replication, and elimination of chronic infection is the major purpose for the related studies. Treatments with interferon, anti-viral drugs or vaccines show beneficial effects recently. However, chronic carriers of hepatitis B can not be cured completely; this is the main reason for HBV related liver diseases and high mortality. Therefore, development of HBV inhibiting anti-viral drugs is crucial at present.
Antrodia camphorata is also called Chang-Zhi, Niu Chang-Zhi, red camphor mushroom and the like, which is a perennial mushroom belonging to the order Aphyllophorales, the family Polyporaceae. It is an endemic species in Taiwan growing on the inner rotten heart wood wall of Cinnamomum kanehirae Hay. Cinnamoum kanehirai Hay is rarely distributed and being overcut unlawfully, which makes Antrodia camphorata growing inside the tree in the wild became even rare. The price of Antrodia camphorata is very expensive due to the extremely slow growth rate of natural Antrodia camphorata that only grows between Junes to October.
The fruiting bodies of Antrodia camphorata are perennial, sessile, hard and woody, which exhales strong smell of sassafras (camphor aroma). The appearances are various with plate-like, bell-like, hoof-like, or tower-like shapes. They are reddish in color and flat when young, attached to the surface of wood. Then the brims of the front end become little curled tilted and extend to the surroundings. The color turns to be faded red-brown or cream yellow brown, with ostioles all over. This region is of very high medical value.
In traditional Taiwanese medicine, Antrodia camphorata is commonly used as an antidotal, liver protective, anti-cancer drug. Antrodia camphorata, like general edible and medicinal mushrooms, is rich in numerous nutrients including polysaccharides (such as β-glucosan), triterpenoids, superoxide dismutase (SOD), adenosine, proteins (immunoglobulins), vitamins (such as vitamin B, nicotinic acid), trace elements (such as calcium, phosphorus and germanium and so on), nucleic acid, agglutinin, amino acids, steroids, lignins and stabilizers for blood pressure (such as antodia acid) and the like. These physiologically active ingredients are believed to exhibit effects such as: anti-tumor activities, increasing immuno-modulating activities, anti-allergy, anti-bacteria, anti-high blood pressure, decreasing blood sugar, decreasing cholesterol and the like.
Triterpenoids are the most studied component among the numerous compositions of Antrodia camphorata. Triterpenoids are the summary terms for natural compounds, which contain 30 carbon atoms with the pent acyclic or hex acyclic structures. The bitter taste of Antrodia camphorata is from the component of triterpenoids. Three novel ergostane-type triterpenoids (antcin A, antcin B, antcin C) were isolated by Cherng et al. from the fruiting bodies of Antrodia camphorata (Cherng, I. II., and Chiang, II. C. 1995. Three new triterpenoids from Antrodia cinnamomea. J. Nat. Prod. 58:365-371). Three new compounds zhankuic acid A, zhankuic acid B and zhankuic acid were extracted from the fruiting bodies of Antrodia camphorata with ethanol by Chen et al. (Chen, C. H., and Yang, S. W. 1995. New steroid acids from Antrodia cinnamomea,—a fungus parasitic on Cinnamomum micranthum, J. Nat. Prod. 58:1655-1661). In addition, Cherng et al. also found three other new triterpenoids from the fruiting bodies of Antrodia camphorata, which are sesquiterpene lactone and 2 biphenyl derived compounds, 4,7-dimethoxy-5-methy-1,3-benzodioxole and 2,2′,5,5′-teramethoxy-3,4,3′,4′-bi-methylenedioxy-6,6′-dimethylbiphenyl (Chiang, H. C., Wu, D. P., Cherng, I. W., and Ueng, C. H. 1995. A sesquiterpene lactone, phenyl and biphenyl compounds from Antrodia cinnamomea. Phytochemistry, 39:613-616). In 1996, four novel ergostane-type triterpenoids (antcins E and F and methyl antcinates G and H) were isolated by Cherng et al. with the same analytic methods (Cherng, I. H., Wu, D. P., and Chiang, H. C. 1996. Triteroenoids from Antrodia cinnamomea. Phytochemistry. 41:263-267). And two ergostane related steroids, zhankuic acids D and E together with three lanosta related triterpenes, 15 alpha-acetyl-dehydrosulphurenic acid, dehydroburicoic acid, dehydrosulphurenic acid were isolated by Yang et al. (Yang, S. W., Shen, Y. C., and Chen, C. H. 1996. Steroids and triterpenoids of Antrodia cinnamomea—a fungus parasitic on Cinnamomum micranthum. Phytochemistry. 41:1389-1392).
Although Antrodia camphorata extracts were reported to have the abovementioned effects from the previous experiments, and the components were analyzed in succession, further experiments are needed to identify the effective composition to inhibit HBV infection and to treat the HBV-related liver diseases. The natural components of Antrodia camphorata extracts will greatly contributes great beneficial effects in treating HBV-related liver diseases include acute hepatitis, chronic hepatitis, liver cirrhosis, and liver cancer if the real effective composition is found.

Inhibition of Hepatitis B virus by cyclohexenone compounds from


An interchangeable circular knitting needle system with improved reliability and consistency having at least one knitting needle, at least one flexible cable, and a connector assembly to join the needle to the cable. The connector assembly is composed of two members, a plug and a receptacle. The plug may be inserted snugly into the receptacle to ensure a reliable physical connection. An interchangeable circular knitting needle kit is composed of the interchangeable circular knitting needle described above as well as a disconnecting tool for assisting in disconnecting the connector assembly members.

Knitting needle systems consisting of two knitting needles joined by a flexible cable are generally referred to as circular knitting needles. Circular knitting needles provide users with the ability to knit flat or in the round without incorporating seams. While knitting flat pieces, circular knitting needles provide for more even distribution of fabric and improved ergonomics for users. When used for knitting in the round, circular knitting needles remove the need to continually switch from one needle to the next, eliminate the possibility of stitches falling off the back end of needles, and allow for construction of certain garments to be streamlined. Further information regarding circular knitting needles is provided in U.S. Pat. No. 1,286,125.
Circular knitting needles with interchangeable cables and/or needles are well known in the art. For example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,680,947, 4,494,387, and 3,384,220 describe circular knitting needles in which the cables are joined to the needles by threaded connectors.
One disadvantage of many interchangeable circular knitting needle systems is that connectors for components of such systems often may become partially or fully disconnected during the knitting process through the movement of the knitting needles and resulting vibrations. As a result of such a disconnection, stitches may become snagged on the connector or stitches may fall off the needles.
In light of these problems, there exists an opportunity for an improved circular knitting needle system with a connector that will consistently and reliably maintain a connection between a knitting needle and an associated flexible cable. The present invention overcomes the shortcomings of the traditional interchangeable circular knitting needle systems described above.


A real-time parking activity measurement system comprising multiple, self-powered, mesh networked wireless vehicle sensors, a collection device, and a host computer. The wireless mesh network architecture allows the wireless vehicle sensors to be more reliable and to be more energy efficient by at least an order of magnitude compare to traditional wireless point-to-point and star-topology architectures. This architecture also enables the expansion of the measurement area without any additional infrastructure besides the necessary addition of wireless vehicle sensors.

Parking enforcement operations account for a significant portion of public revenue in towns and cities. This revenue is generated both directly, from ticketing and fee collection at curbside or in garages and lots, and indirectly, from higher turnover rates resulting in increased sales taxes. Yet cities estimate that only 1% to 5% of violations are ticketed using existing enforcement tools and methods. Current enforcement methods are patrol-based, and involve either on-site checking of parked cars against payment information, indicated by a variety of payment systems, including single and multi-space meters and pay-and-display kiosks, or chalking-and-checking parked cars at unmetered curbside. These current methods are inefficient, because they provide no means to identify violations or measure usage remotely, and hence have no data to optimize parking control officer routes. Further, the lack of accurate real-time and historical information on curbside usage patterns prevents cities and private parking managers from measuring parking demand and formulating suitable parking policies.
From a user perspective, existing systems for payment are inconvenient. Few drivers carry the amount of change necessary to pay current rates at coin-operated systems, and credit and debit card systems, more common for multi-space parking management solutions such as pay-and-display, lack the ability to charge users for precise parking usage, usually forcing users to overpay for their stay. In addition, existing enforcement methods result in uneven ticketing and disproportionate penalties because parking managers do not have the resources to patrol all areas equally, and parking control officers cannot distinguish between vehicles parked a few minutes or several hours beyond allowed limits.
Hence, there are many benefits for having an automated parking usage measurement system that monitors parking activity remotely. Such a system would provide data for efficient and fair enforcement of parking, and facilitate convenient payment options for all end users of the system.
Prior to this invention, people have attempted vehicle sensing solutions that incorporate sensors as extensions of a traditional parking meter or multi-space meters. These sensors are usually directly wired into parking meters, and the resulting occupancy data is immediately consumed by individual meters instead of communicated back to a central location. As a result, parking space managers are unable to effectively use the occupancy data generated for policy and enforcement optimizations. In addition, while these wired sensing solutions are technologically simple and are made of rather inexpensive parts, the labor cost of installing these sensors is prohibitively expensive due to the cost of wiring, making them rather unpopular even in the most comprehensive parking management systems. One natural and obvious improvement to address this problem is to make all the sensors wireless. A slightly more efficient implementation would involve wireless sensors and a nearby base station to collect the sensor data, such that the power requirement at the sensors is reduced. Nevertheless, these wireless sensors are still too bulky for convenient installation, and their lifetime and reliability are insufficient for most applications.

Wireless mesh network parking measurement system


This invention is a method for calibrating a two beam rotationally scanned light beam interruption coordinate data input device. In particular, four reference objects which can be sensed by the effectively rotating directional sensor are disposed at measured equal interval distances along an essentially straight line. The four reference objects are positioned relative to the effectively rotating directional sensor so that each of the objects can be essentially individually sensed in turn in the course of effective rotation of the sensor. The effective angular velocity and effective center of rotation of the sensor is then determined from the known distance between adjacent reference objects and the measured time intervals between detection of adjacent pairs of reference objects by the effectively rotating directional sensor. The effective angular velocity is first determined and then the effective center of rotation of the sensor is determined from the angular velocity, distance between reference objects, and measured time intervals.

Detecting the interruption of a scanning beam of light by an object can be used to provide information about the location of the object. Specifically, the orientation of the light beam at the time of an interruption event gives the orientation of the object measured from an origin defined by an effective source of the light beam. If two scanning light beams from effective sources whose positions are known are interrupted by an object, the position of the object can be determined by triangulation from the respective orientations of the two beams at the times of the respective interruption events, provided that the position of the object is not colinear with a straight line extending through the effective sources of the two beams.
A coordinate-data input device employing two rotational scanned light beams for determining digital data which encodes the coordinates of the position of an object in a work area swept by the scanned beams is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,642,422 to Garwin and Levine. In the coordinate-data input device of the patent, each of the two scanning light beams was produced by a rotating beam-scan mirror reflecting a fixed light. The axis of rotation of the two beam-scan mirror constituted an effective source position of the scanning light beam. The two rotating mirrors were positioned near adjacent corners of the generally rectangular work area. A straight line extending between the axes of rotation of the two beam-scan mirrors defined a measurement base line of the device. When an object such as a stylus or human finger was positioned in the work area, the scanning light beams from the rotating beam-scan mirrors intersected the object, which caused light-variation events which were detected by the device. The time of a light-variation event could be used to determine an apparent angle of rotation a beam-scan mirror which defined an intersection angle between the measurement base line and the light beam intersecting with the object. Such rotation angles from the two beam-scan mirrors together with the distance between the axes of rotation of the two beam-scan mirrors could be used in a trigonometric calculation to provide coordinate values for the location of the object in the work area.
A calibration procedure was used in the coordinate-data input device of the '422 patent to correct for certain systematic errors--referred to as angle "index errors"--corresponding to non zero angles between the light beam and the measurement base line at a scan-start time which a control system of the device took as the time the light beam coincided with the base line. The calibration procedure involved positioning three calibration-targets at known relative positions in the work area of the device. According to the '422 patent, the three calibration targets could be positioned in a colinear arrangement, but need not be. A method for detecting and correcting an angle index error associated with either scanning light beam was disclosed in the patent which involved using the event times at which each scanning light beam intersects the three calibration targets, the time interval for the beam to complete one full revolution, and the relative positions of the three calibration targets.
Although the calibration procedure of the '422 is effective to determine and correct angle index errors in rotationally scanned beam-interruption coordinate data-input devices which arise from many sources, the procedure assumes that the rotational velocity of each rotating beam-scan mirror is constant over a full revolution of the mirror, which may not always be the case in certain coordinate-data input devices. Variations in the rotational velocity of a beam-scan mirror which are periodic over each revolution can be one source of angle index errors in a rotationally scanned beam-interruptions coordinate-data input device. Such periodic variations in rotational velocity can also render the calibration procedure of the '422 patent not fully effective to determine and correct such errors.

Calibration of a rotationally scanning position-tracking device


A multilevel coded modulation scheme trellis encodes a portion of the input data and the resulting encoded stream is used to identify a particular one of a predetermined number of subsets of symbols of a predetermined signal constellation. The remaining input data is coded using a Reed-Solomon (RV) code whose output is used to select for transmission a particular symbol from the identified subset. In applications in which phase hits or other channel phenomena may cause the received signal points to be phase-rotated versions of the signal points that were transmitted, differential encoding is included in the overall coded modulation scheme. In different embodiments, the differential encoding/decoding and RV encoding/decoding are in different orders. In one such embodiment, overlapped multilevel codes are used to preserve the advantages afforded by taking a multilevel coding approach.

The present invention relates to multilevel coded modulation useful, for example, in voiceband data transmission (e.g., modem) applications.
As used herein, the term "multilevel coded modulation" refers to arrangements in which input data is divided into two or more streams which are individually encoded using respective redundancy codes. The coded outputs are then used jointly to select channel symbols from a predetermined signal constellation for transmission over a communication channel, such as a voiceband telephone channel. The principal advantage of adopting a multilevel coded modulation approach is that it provides the system designer with increased flexibility in designing a coding scheme which provides desired levels of error-rate performance, or "coding gain," while meeting various constraints on code complexity and decoding delay. Illustrative articles describing multilevel codes are: A. Ushirokawa et al, "Multilevel Codes for High-Speed Voiceband Data Modem," Proc. of IEEE Globecom 1989, pp. 1971-5; J. Wu et al, "Multi-Level Multidimensional Trellis Codes," International Symposium of Information Theory, Abstracts of Papers, sponsored by IEEE Information Theory Society, 1990, p. 110; and Pottie et al, "Multilevel Codes Based on Partitioning," IEEE Transactions on Information Theory, Vol. 35, No. 1, January, 1989.


A portable lock for doors, intended for use at hospitals, nursing homes, or other institutions, whose rooms do not have a lock when they are occupied by patients or other occupants. The lock has a unitary plate upon which is mounted a clamping mechanism for attachment to the door and a locking mechanism. The lock can be manually attached and removed from the door without the use of tools and is independent of the doorknob or handle assembly and the associated keeper. In one embodiment, a key is used to unlock the door, and in another embodiment, a padlock or combination lock, and/or a tamper proof seal can be used to lock the door.

This invention generally relates to locks for doors and, more specifically, to a portable self-contained lock for doors.
Portable locks for doors are known. U.S. Pat. No. 4,399,672 (Moorhouse) discloses a removable auxiliary door lock which uses three different members, a door locking plate, a plate holding member, and a locking member which is pivotable.
U.S. Pat. No. 463,361 (Frazier) discloses a removable lock for doors which uses two plates with the inner plate thumb-screwed to the door and the outer plate secured to the inner plate using a lock.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,326,394 (Stein) discloses a removable lock for doors having three sections with padlocks either to lock the door from the inside or from the outside.
However, none of the existing portable locks for doors comprise a simple configuration using a unitary plate, which is completely self-contained, does not require the installation of any parts to the door or door frame, is completely independent of the existing door handle mechanism and keeper and can be rapidly attached and detached from the door without the use of any tools.
There is a particular need for an inexpensive portable locking device which can be rapidly and easily attached and detached from doors for places like hospitals, nursing homes, institutions and the like, wherein there can be no lock on the door with a patient occupying the room, to assure access at all times by nurses, aides, orderlies or doctors. On the other hand, when the room is unoccupied, there is a need to secure the room to protect its contents from misuse, damage, or theft.


A lookup circuit for translating received addresses into destination addresses. The lookup circuit comprises M pipelined memory circuits for storing a trie table for translating a first received address into a first destination address. The M memory circuits are pipelined such that a first portion of the first received address accesses an address table in a first memory circuit. An output of the first memory circuit comprises a first address pointer that indexes a start of an address table in a second memory circuit. The first address pointer and a second portion of the first received address access a particular entry in the address table in the second memory circuit. An output of the second memory circuit comprises a second address pointer that indexes a start of an address table in the third memory circuit, and so forth.

There has been explosive growth in Internet traffic due to the increased number of Internet users, various service demands from those users, the implementation of new services, such as voice-over-IP (VoIP) or streaming applications, and the development of mobile Internet. Conventional routers, which act as relaying nodes connected to sub-networks or other routers, have accomplished their roles well, in situations in which the time required to process packets, determine their destinations, and forward the packets to the destinations is usually smaller than the transmission time on network paths. More recently, however, the packet transmission capabilities of high-bandwidth network paths and the increases in Internet traffic have combined to outpace the processing capacities of conventional routers. Increasingly, routers are the cause of major bottlenecks in the Internet.
The limitations of conventional routers have been at least partially overcome by the introduction of massively parallel, distributed architecture routers. The use of optical connections has also greatly increased throughput. However, even massively parallel, distributed architecture routers have problems caused in part by the use of routing tables (or forwarding tables) that perform address translation lookups, among other things. Line speeds are increasing faster than processing speeds that perform routing table lookups. Since route lookups require the longest prefix match, this is a non-trivial problem. Internet Protocol Version 6 (IPv6) has aggravated this problem, because IPv6 uses 128-bit addresses, compared to the 32-bit addresses used in IPv4. Adding Type of Service (TOS) and Layer 4 addressing fields into the lookup value makes the problem still worse.
Routing tables with a million entries are not uncommon. Some lookup schemes (e.g., hashing, digital trees) are able to reduce the search time, but the large number of routing table entries leads to memory problems. It is prohibitively expensive and technically difficult to incorporate enough high-speed memory to support fairly flat search tables. As the number of memory chips increases, maintaining high performance becomes difficult due to layout considerations. As a result, memory access times are too slow to permit very deep search tables.
Some proposals use ternary content addressable memory (TCAM) devices to increase lookup speeds, but these devices are impractical due to expense and power consumption. Placing enough TCAMs on a circuit card to handle forwarding table lookups up to 144 bits wide, with up to a million entries, is prohibitive in both respects. Hashing and state-of-the-art search techniques are not adequate to keep routing tables within a reasonable size for cost and performance considerations and to keep the number of lookup stages low enough that memory access times enable lookups to keep up with line speeds. Thus, there is no practical method for doing IPv6 lookups at line speed for high-speed interfaces.
Therefore, there is a need in the art for an improved high-speed router. In particular, there is a need for an improved routing (forwarding) lookup mechanism that can perform lookups at line speed for a high-speed interface.

Apparatus and method for performing high-speed lookups in a routing table


A monitoring system for remotely querying an individual includes a central computer system and at least one remote apparatus. The central computer system includes a server and a workstation networked to the server for entering a set of queries to be answered by the individual. The server includes a script generator for generating a script program to be executed by the apparatus. The script program includes display commands to display the queries, input commands to receive responses to the queries, and a transmit command to transmit the responses from the apparatus to the central computer system. The server also includes a database for storing the script program and the responses to the queries. The apparatus includes a modem for receiving the script program from the server and for transmitting the responses to the server. The apparatus also includes a display for displaying the queries and input buttons for entering the responses to the queries. A processor is connected to the modem, the display, and the input buttons. The processor executes the script program to display the queries, receive the responses, and transmit the responses to the central computer system.

In recent years, an increasing number of healthcare providers have initiated outpatient or home healthcare programs for their patients. The potential benefits of these home healthcare programs are particularly great for chronically ill patients who must treat their diseases on a daily basis.
However, the success of these programs is currently limited by the ability of healthcare providers to monitor the patients remotely to avert medical problems before they become complicated and costly. Unfortunately, no convenient and cost effective monitoring system exists for the patients who have the greatest need for monitoring, the poor and the elderly.
Prior attempts to solve the problem of remotely monitoring patients have included the use of personal computers and modems to establish communication between patients and healthcare providers. However, computers are too expensive to give away and the patients who already own computers are only a small fraction of the total population. Further, patients who own computers are typically young, well educated, and have good healthcare coverage. Thus, these patients do not have the greatest unmet medical needs. The patients who have the greatest unmet medical needs are the poor and elderly who do not own computers or who are unfamiliar with their use.
Similar attempts to establish communication between patients and healthcare providers have included the use of the internet and internet terminals. Although internet terminals are somewhat less costly than personal computers, they are still not sufficiently inexpensive to give away to patients. Moreover, monthly on-line access charges are prohibitive for poor patients.
Prior attempts to solve the problem of remotely monitoring patients have also included the use of interactive telephone or video response systems. Such interactive systems are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,390,238 issued to Kirk et al. on Feb. 14, 1995, 5,434,611 issued to Tamura on Jul. 18, 1995, and 5,441,047 issued to David et al. on Aug. 15, 1995. A disadvantage of these systems is that they either require a patient to call in to a central facility to be monitored or require the central facility to call the patient according to a rigid monitoring schedule.
If the patients are required to call the central facility, only the compliant patients will actually call regularly to be monitored. However, it is the non-compliant patients who have the greatest need for monitoring to avert medical problems before they become complicated and costly. If the central facility calls each patient according to a monitoring schedule, it is intrusive to the patient's life and resistance to the monitoring grows over time. Further, it is difficult to identify each patient uniquely using these conventional interactive response systems. Additionally, these systems are generally incapable of transmitting medical data collected in monitoring devices, such as blood glucose meters or peak flow meters.
It is also known to use monitoring devices with modems to monitor patients remotely. Unfortunately, these monitoring devices do not allow flexible and dynamic querying of patients for other information, such as quality of life measures or psycho-social variables of illness.

Monitoring system for remotely querying individuals