A pick and place apparatus includes a plurality of device holing elements in a predetermined arrangement; a power supply mechanism for supplying a power for controlling a horizontal pitch between the plurality of device holding elements; a power transmission mechanism for delivering the power from the power supply mechanism to the plurality of device holding elements as a translational force in a horizontal direction; a first linear motion guide mechanism for guiding horizontal movements of some of the plurality of device holding elements; and a second linear motion guide mechanism disposed below the first linear motion guide mechanism, for guiding horizontal movements of the other device holding elements. The plurality of device holding elements are slidably coupled to the first and the second linear motion guide mechanism alternately.

A test handler is an apparatus for testing semiconductor devices in a certain test environment to inspect the qualities of the semiconductor devices after they are fabricated. Techniques related to the test handler are disclosed in many published documents including Korean Patent Publication No. 2003-0029266 (entitled "Test Handler").
To conduct a test by using the test handler, it is required to transfer semiconductor devices from a customer tray, which is used to accommodate the semiconductor devices after their fabrication, into a test tray, which is used to accommodate the semiconductor devices during the test. After the completion of the test, the semiconductor devices should be transferred back into the customer tray. The present invention pertains to a pick and place apparatus for transferring the semiconductor devices between the customer tray and the test tray. For the purpose, the pick and place apparatus includes a plurality of device holding elements operated to grasp or quit the grasp of the semiconductor devices.
As for the customer tray, since the customer tray is used to load or store the semiconductor devices therein, the customer tray is designed to provide a small interval between the semiconductor devices loaded therein to accommodate as many semiconductor devices as possible on the same area. Meanwhile, since a certain amount of interval needs to be maintained between the semiconductor devices for the test of the semiconductor devices, the test tray is designed to provide a relatively larger interval between the semiconductor devices loaded therein, in comparison with the customer tray.
Accordingly, the pitch between the device holding elements of the pick and place apparatus should be at a minimum level when they pick and grasp the semiconductor devices from the customer tray or quit the grasp of the devices, while the pitch should be at a maximum level when the device holding elements pick and grasp the semiconductor devices from the test tray or quit the grasp of them. For the purpose, the pick and place apparatus needs to have a means for controlling the intervals between the plurality of device holding elements in a preset arrangement. Techniques related thereto are disclosed in Korean Patent Publication No. 10-1998-033607 (entitled "Pick and Place of Semiconductor Device Test Equipment": Reference 1), Korean Patent Publication No. 10-2002-0061194 (entitled "Pick and Place of Semiconductor Device Test Equipment": Reference 2), and so forth.
Reference 1 describes a technique for controlling horizontal pitches between device holding elements by connecting them with a link and supplying power to device holding elements at both ends of the array as translational forces for moving them horizontally in opposite directions. Reference 2 discloses a technique for controlling horizontal pitches between device holding elements by way of supplying a translational force in horizontal direction to all of the device holding elements by using a cam plate, and it also proposes a technique for controlling the pitches by using a cam shaft.
In accordance with Reference 1 or Reference 2, there should be prepared a linear motion guide mechanism for guiding horizontal movements of the device holding elements, as exemplified in Reference 2 (slide members assigned as reference numerals 35 and 36 in Reference 2).
Among various linear motion guide mechanisms, a LM guide, a ball spline, or the like are used for the pick and place apparatus. The LM guide or the ball spline has a guide rail and coupling blocks configured to be slid along the guide rail, wherein the device holding elements are fixed at the coupling blocks via, e.g., bolts or the like. If the sizes of the guide rail and the coupling blocks are set to be large, the device holding elements can be more firmly coupled to the coupling blocks and the stability of the horizontal movements of the device holding elements can be improved, resulting in enhancement of endurance and reliability of the entire pick and place apparatus. However, the size increase of the guide rail and the coupling blocks would also result in the problem of weight increase of the apparatus. If the sizes of the guide rail and the coupling blocks are reduced, on the other hand, the endurance and reliability of the pick and place apparatus would be reduced, though the apparatus can be made lighter.
Meanwhile, in the conventional pick and place apparatus, a first and a second linear motion guide mechanism are vertically arranged in parallel to each other while maintaining a predetermined interval therebetween, and each of the device holding elements is engaged with both of the first and the second linear motion guide mechanism to be guided by them horizontally.
However, the conventional pick and place apparatus, which has the configuration where each of the device holding elements is engaged with both of the linear motion guide mechanisms, has structural limits in its size, operational characteristics and production efficiency. Those limitations will be described hereinafter with reference to FIG. 1 showing an example using LM guides as the linear motion guide mechanisms.
First, in case of fixing a device holding element 11 at an LM block (coupling block) 13a of a LM guide 13 by using bolts 12, the bolts 12 need to be fastened with a great torque to increase the endurance of the pick and place apparatus. However, since the tightening torque for the bolts 12 should be set in proportion of the size of the LM block 13a, there is a limit in increasing the tightening torque of the bolts 12. Specifically, if the LM block 13a has a relative large size, the LM block 13a would not be deformed by a bolt tightening torque even though the bolt tightening force is set to be great, whereas if the size of the LM block 13a is small, the LM block 13a would be readily deformed by the bolt tightening torque, thus being brought into excessively close contact with the LM rail 13b. For the reason, the tightening force for the bolts 12 should be set in proportion to the size of the LM block 13a. Accordingly, to increase the endurance of the pick and place apparatus, it is preferable to use a LM guide 13 of a large size having a large LM block 13a. Further, since the sizes of the LM block 13a and the LM rail 13b are in proportion to the stability of linear movements of the device holding element 11, the LM block 13a and the LM rail 13b are required to have large sizes in the aspect of improving the reliability of the pick and place apparatus as well. That is, if the LM block 13a has a relatively small size or the LM rail 13b has an excessively small vertical width, the linear motion characteristic of the LM guide 13 would be degraded by a moment or a weight applied to the LM block 13a. Therefore, a LM guide 13 of a large size is preferred.
In contrast, to reduce the size of the pick and place apparatus, the LM block 13a is required to be as small as possible. Though the size (especially, the width) of the LM block 13a may not have a great influence on the entire size of the apparatus if only one LM block 13a is used for the LM rail 13b, the width of the LM block 13a would be an important factor for determining the entire size of the pick and place apparatus given that the apparatus has a configuration in which a plurality of device holding elements 11 are horizontally arranged (in general, eight device holding elements are arranged in a row). Therefore, a LM guide 13 of a small size is preferred.
Among the characteristics of the pick and place apparatus as described above, the size and the weight of the apparatus would have a greater impact on the entire performance (reaction time, operational accuracy, etc.) of the test handler than the endurance and the reliability of the apparatus. Thus, a small-size LM guide with a LM block of a small width is usually employed in the field, bearing the low endurance and reliability of the apparatus. Thus, the cycle of maintenance of the pick and place apparatus is very short. Specifically, when using a small-size LM guide with a LM block of a small width, though it is intended to complement the bolt coupling force between the device holding element and the LM block is intended, such a coupling method is incomplete in view of the characteristic of the pick and place apparatus that its operation is repeated for a long period of time. Thus, frequent maintenance works are needed.
Further, if the LM guide 13 is designed to have a size smaller than the required size to reduce the size of the pick and place apparatus, the bolt tightening torque having a direct influence on the operational characteristic of the LM guide 13 should be controlled very precisely in the manufacturing process of the pick and place apparatus, which is very troublesome. If the bolt tightening torque is greater than a tolerance of the LM block 13a, the LM block 13a would suffer deformation and would be brought into excessively close contact with the LM rail 13b, thus hampering the horizontal movements of the device holding elements 11. Thus, when using the LM guide 13 whose size is smaller than the required size, a precise control of the bolt tightening torque is needed, which would result in deterioration in production efficiency and increase of production of inferior goods.
Moreover, in the configuration where each device holding element 13 is engaged with both of the LM guides 13 and 14, the LM guides 13 and 14 should be fabricated in a pair for the reason of existence of mutual limitations between the pair of LM guides 13 and 14. Accordingly, the unit cost of the LM guides 13 and 14 increases, resulting in increase of manufacturing costs of the pick and place apparatus.
In addition, as disclosed in Korean Patent Application No. 2005-17464 that was commonly assigned to the applicant of the present invention prior to the filing date of the present application, in a configuration where each device holding element 11 is engaged with both of the two LM guides 13 and 14 and a power supply mechanism having a power transmission shaft such as a screw guide shaft for guiding the movements of the device holding element 11 while transmitting a moving force thereto, a vertical (Z-axial) tolerance and a parallelism between the upper LM guide 13 and the lower LM guide 14 should be controlled as well as a vertical (Z-axial) tolerance and a parallelism between the upper LM guide 13 and the screw guide shift and a vertical (Z-axial) tolerance and a parallelism between the lower LM guide 14 and the screw guide shift. Actually, however, it is impossible to set the Z-axial tolerances and parallelisms of three different related parts in a general manufacture or assembly technique. Thus, the unit cost of a frame of the pick and place apparatus having the LM guides 13, 14 and the screw guide shaft fixed thereat would be increased, which would result in a great increase of manufacturing costs of the pick and place apparatus.


A method an apparatus for coating prostheses via contact patterning with an applicator. Applicators can include rollers, tampons, and ribbons. Coating materials include a variety of substances including polymers and therapeutic agents.

Prosthetic devices are artificial devices used to replace or strengthen a particular part of the human body. Various prosthetic devices are available, such as joint replacement prosthesis, stent prosthesis and vascular graft prosthesis. When implanting a prosthesis, such as a stent prosthesis described in greater detail herein, it is desirable that the prosthesis closely assimilate the characteristics of the tissue or bone that the prosthesis is designed to repair or replace. To this end, many attempts have been made to improve biocompatible and mechanical properties of prosthetic devices. Also, it can be desirable to topically medicate the area where the prosthetic has been implanted.
Percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) is a procedure for treating heart disease. A catheter assembly having a balloon portion is introduced percutaneously into the cardiovascular system of a patient via the brachial or femoral artery. The catheter assembly is advanced through the coronary vasculature until the balloon portion is positioned across the occlusive lesion. Once in position across the lesion, the balloon is inflated to a predetermined size to radially compress against the atherosclerotic plaque of the lesion to remodel the vessel wall. The balloon is deflated to a smaller profile to allow the catheter to be withdrawn from the patient's vasculature.
A problem associated with the above procedure includes formation of intimal flaps or torn arterial linings which can collapse and occlude the conduit after develop over several months after the procedure, which may require another angioplasty procedure or a surgical by-pass operation. To reduce the partial or total occlusion of the artery by the collapse of arterial lining and to reduce the chance of the development of thrombosis and restenosis, an expandable intraluminal prosthesis, one example of which includes a stent, is implanted in the lumen to maintain the vascular patency.
Percutaneous endovascular prosthetic stents were conceived in the late 1970's as a way to prevent both acute occlusion and late restenosis after catheter intervention, but initial clinical results of coronary stenting in 1987 were plagued by high (>20%) acute and subacute thrombosis and were restricted to use as "bailout" for threatened or acute vessel closure. In recent years, stent outcomes have improved progressively with better placement techniques and in 1995, an estimated 700,000 stents were implanted world-wide.
Stents are scaffoldings, usually cylindrical or tubular in shape, which function to physically hold open and, if desired, to expand the wall of the passageway. Typically stents are capable of being compressed for insertion through small cavities via small catheters, and expanded to a larger diameter once at the desired location.
To treat the damaged vasculature tissue and assist prevention of thrombosis and restenosis, there is a need for administrating therapeutic substances to the treatment site. For example, anticoagulants, antiplatelets and cytostatic agents are commonly used to prevent thrombosis of the coronary lumen, to inhibit development of restenosis, and to reduce post-angioplasty proliferation of the vascular tissue, respectively. To provide an efficacious concentration to the treated site, systemic administration of such medication often produces adverse or toxic side effects for the patient. Local delivery can be a preferred method of treatment in that smaller total levels of medication are administered at a specific site in comparison to larger overall dosages that are applied systemically. Local delivery produces fewer side effects and achieves more effective results.
One commonly applied technique for the local delivery of a drug is through the use of a polymeric carrier coated onto the surface of a stent by applying to a stent body a solution which includes a specified solvent, a specified polymer dissolved in the solvent, and a therapeutic substance dispersed in the blend. The solvent is allowed to evaporate, leaving on the stent surface a coating of the polymer and the therapeutic substance impregnated in the polymer.
Stents sometimes have to be immersed in a coating solution 12 to 15 times or sprayed 20 times to achieve a satisfactory coating. The immersion method of coating a stent, also called dip-coating, entails submerging the entire stent, or an entire section of the stent, in a coating solution. Similarly, spray-coating requires enveloping the entire stent, or an entire section of the stent, in a large cloud of coating material. Disadvantages of dip-coating and spray-coating methods include the inability to control the exact portions of the stent that come in contact with the coating. Another shortcoming of both dip- and spray-coating is the possibility of forming web-like defects by build-up of excess coating material between the stent struts. Web-like defects are most prevalent in stents having tight patterns, for example coronary stents, such that the distance between the struts is very small.
Each of the methods and devices intended for use just prior to implantation, listed above, deposit the coating material onto any and all surfaces that are exposed to the coating. This may result in depositing coating material on surfaces on which the coating is unwanted or undesirable. Further, the coating may crack or break away when the implantable is removed from the implantation apparatus. An example of this would be a stent deployed on a catheter balloon. As the balloon is inflated and the stent is expanded into position, the coating may crack along the interface between the stent and the balloon. These cracks may lead to a breaking away of a portion of the coating from the stent itself. This, in turn, may affect the medicinal effectiveness of the coating, and negatively affect the entire medical procedure.
Another disadvantage of both dip-coating and spray-coating stems from a low-viscosity requirement for the polymer solution in which the stent is dipped or with which the stent is sprayed. A low viscosity coating solution typically require using a low molecular weight carrier or by using a very low concentration of carrier in the coating solution. Thus, both dip-coating and spray-coating methods have imposed limitations in type and concentration of applied carriers.
Accordingly, it is desirable to provide an improved method of applying a coating to a prosthesis. Specifically, it is desirable to provide a method of applying a polymeric coating to a prosthesis which enables control over the portion of the prosthesis which are coated, reduces the incidence of web-like defects due to excess build-up of polymeric material, broadens the field of both the types and the concentrations of carriers which may be used to coat a prosthesis, and allows a prosthesis to be coated with a polymer and a drug at the same time.
The significance of delivering drug-loaded prostheses may offer savings benefit in time and cost. Studies have been conducted to show the importance of delivering the correct drug dose density on coronary stents to prevent restenosis by application of paclitaxel or rapamycin. Kandazari, David E. et al., "Highlights from American Heart Association Annual Scientific Sessions 2001: November 11 to 14," 2001 American Heart Journal 143(2), 217-228, 2002; Hiatt, Bonnie L. et al., "Drug-eluting Stents for Prevention of Restenosis: In Quest for the Holy Grail," Catheterization and Cardiovascular Interventions 55:409-417, 2002; Kalinowski, M. et al., "Paclitaxel Inhibits Proliferation of Cell Lines Responsible For Metal Stent Obstruction: Possible Topical Application In Malignant Bile Duct Obstructions," Investigational Radiology 37(7):399-404, 2002. Other studies have shown how accuracy of dose relate to cytotoxicity of coating drugs. Liebmann, J.E. et al., "Cytotoxic Studies of Paclitaxel (Taxol) In Human Tumor Cell Lines," Br. J. Cancer, 68(6):1104-9, 1993; Adler, L.M. et al., "Analysis of Exposure Times And Dose Escalation of Paclitaxel In Ovarian Cancer Cell Lines," Cancer, 74(7):1891-8, 1994; Regar, E. et al., "Stent Development and Local Drug Delivery," Br. Med. Bulletin, 59:227-48, 2001.
Accordingly, the desired features of the invention comprise an apparatus and method for coating a prosthesis which avoid the disadvantages of dip-coating and spray coating methods. In addition, coating the prosthesis can be achieved with such control such that the prosthesis can be coated in the operating room prior to insertion of the prosthesis into the patient, thus avoiding coating portions of the prosthesis or prosthesis handling apparatus, such as a catheter, where such a coating is not desirable.
This is achieved by using contact printing techniques which take advantage of known methods of lithography using self-assembled monolayers. Coating desired portions of the prosthesis can be achieved by stamping the prosthesis with a coating that can form a self-assembled monolayer. The surface of the applicator is coated or saturated with the coating and the applicator is placed in contact with the surface of the prosthesis to be coated to transfer the coating from the applicator to the prosthesis surface.
To form a pattern on a arcuate or curved prosthesis surface, including but not limited to a cylindrical surface, the prosthesis can be rolled over a planar applicator or the prosthesis can be rolled over a curved


A method for cleaning the glass surface of solar panels which employs the use of highly efficient sequestering agents and allows to replace deionized water with municipal or fresh water of up to a very high water hardness, without having a loss in the long term power output of the solar panels.

A solar panel is a set of solar photovoltaic modules electrically connected and mounted on a supporting structure. It is a well known fact that without proper cleaning the surface of solar panels, the solar cells can lose up to 30% of their power production potential in a period of 3 to 24 months, depending on the local conditions.
Currently, deionized water is used, with or without a detergent, to clean solar panels, so that they can maintain their power output efficiency. Deionized water is used because hard water can leave behind mineral deposits, which can build up irreversibly on the solar panel surface.
A main cost factor in cleaning large areas of solar panels is the transportation and delivery of deionized water to the solar site. Sometimes, deionized water is produced at the solar site; however, in this case expenses still build up through the costs of filters, ion-exchange resin, and related equipment. Furthermore, the process of deionizing water can be very wasteful, since up to 50% of the water can be lost in the process and a waste stream of water with high concentrations of salts and minerals is produced.
There is a need for improved and more economical methods in cleaning solar panels.

Method of cleaning solar panels with a composition comprising an organic phosphoric acid or an organic phosphonic acid or salts thereof as sequestrant


For a method for bending and tempering glass which has an opening, the glass is bent in the horizontal position using a bending frame (9) and is tempered on the bending frame (9). The bending frame in respect of its contour and of its geometric shape corresponds to the desired shape of the bent glass. During the bending operation and during the tempering operation the glass is supported, in the region around the edge of the opening, by an additional internal bending frame (12).

In the usual methods for bending and tempering glass, as used, for example, in manufacturing curved motor vehicle glass, the glass to be bent is heated up to the bending temperature in the horizontal position inside a continuous furnace, is bent in a bending station and is heat tempered in a tempering station which follows, by rapid cooling in air. In all the known methods of this type bending frames which correspond in respect of their geometric configuration to the desired shape of the glass to be manufactured are used for the bending and/or for transporting the bent glass and/or for tempering. For example, such bending frames are used in the method known by the name of gravity bending as described in document DE 2 945 776 C2. In the case of this method, the flat glass to be bent is lifted up by a suction head, is deposited on such a bending frame and is conveyed therewith into the tempering station. In the case of the method known as compression bending, such bending frames are used as peripheral bending forms with which the glass is pressed against a convex upper bending form which covers the entire surface. In a conventional embodiment of the compression bending method, the bent glass is passed through a tempering station situated downstream with the aid of this bending frame used as a bending form. In another known embodiment of the compression bending method the glass pressed with such a bending frame is held by suction against the upper bending form and after the bending frame has been removed it is deposited on another frame with which it is then transported to the tempering station. There are also known methods for bending and tempering glass in which such bending frames are used only for transporting bent glass, while the bending force in the bending station is applied using other means, for example a flow of hot air flowing upwards or using press tools which cover the entire surface.
Insofar as such bending frames are used as frames for carrying the glass into the tempering station, they are provided, on their upper side, with projections or with recesses so that the blown air directed against the lower face of the glass can reach the region around the edge of the glass and thus cool this point rapidly enough to obtain the required tempering.
It has become evident that the known methods, in which the glass in its softened bendable state is bent with known bending frames and/or is carried by these, do not always lead to optimum results. In particular, when bending and/or tempering glass with an opening formed inside its face, it may happen that the bent glass exhibits in its bent profile discontinuities which have a disturbing optical effect. The presence of one or more openings inside the glass, which also in some circumstances have larger dimensions, may, however, be desired, for example when transmitters or receivers of signals have to be arranged inside the glass for electromagnetic radiation which is excessively attenuated if it has to pass through the glass. The discontinuities in the bent profile occurring in the case of glass provided with openings may arise both during the bending operation proper and after the bending operation proper, under the effect of gravity on the glass, while the glass is resting in the deformable state on the bending frame.

Method for bending and/or tempering sheet glass and bending frame therefor


Mesomorphic phases of edible surfactants can advantageously be used in preparing sandwich cookie filler creams and compositions for incorporation therewith to provide for example structuring or fat-replacement. Preferably the mesomorphic phases are present as bulk phases. The mesomorphic phases may also be used in frostings. Preferred mesomorphic phases for filler creams, frostings and other finished foodstuffs include 8% or more nonionic surfactant and/or include 7% or more nonionic surfactant and may be processed through a colloid mill after cooling.

According to the general prior art the structuring of foodstuffs can be accomplished in various ways. Two main routes can be distinguished:
(1) the structuring by biopolymers such as proteins and carbohydrates, and PA0 (2) the structuring by "particles" in the widest sense.
In the former case polymeric molecules cross-link to form a tangled, interconnected molecular network in water. In those systems the presence of junction zones or entanglements leads to gel formation and the enclosure of water. Examples of those polymeric substances are starch in puddings, gelatin in desserts and in the water phase of fat spreads, pectin in jams, carrageenin in desserts and in the water phase of fat spreads, and many others.
In the second case entities such as air cells, water droplets, fat droplets, crystals, starch granules or casein micelles are dispersed into the food system. Interaction forces between such particles determine the consistency and the physical stability of the food products. Many food systems fall into this category. In yoghurt aggregated protein particles form a network of protein strands. In mayonnaise an "interconnected" structure of oil droplets is responsible for its consistency. In a shortening fat crystals form an interconnected network structure enclosing oil. In a margarine water droplets are dispersed into a continuous network structure of fat crystals and oil. So, this represents a dispersion of particles in a network of particles. Even more complicated structures are found in butter and ice cream. But in all those cases a build-up of structure from particles of particle networks can be distinguished, which is responsible for the consistency of the finished products.
Heertje et al. WO 92/09209 published Jun. 11, 1992 discloses finished foodstuffs containing mesomorphic phase of edible surfactants as a structuring agent or fat replacer. The formation of mesomorphic phases of edible surfactant molecules and water can give rise to a firm texture and consistency. The use of this property of mesomorphic phases, to give consistency to products, is new to the food business. However, it should be noted that this use may already be known in other areas such as cosmetics and pharmaceuticals.
This new way of product structuring may be described e.g. as a regular, molecular arrangement of surfactant molecules with intervening aqueous regions. For the purpose of the invention the term mesomorphic phase is intended to include all semi-ordered phases of water and edible surfactant materials. Examples of mesomorphic phases are cubic, hexagonal, alpha crystalline gel, beta-crystalline coagel and lamellar phases. Preferred mesomorphic phases for use in accordance with the invention are lyotropic phases; also preferred are lamellar phases. For the purpose of the present invention, the term lamellar phase refers to any system having a pattern of alternating bilayers of edible surfactants and water. Examples of lamellar phases are lamellar droplet phases, lamellar gel phases and lamellar phases containing extended parallel layers of surfactants and water.
In the lamellar phase surfactants, are believed to form a bilayer structure. It is believed that a bulk lamellar phase consists of stacks of bi-layer structures with an intervening aqueous phase. Products according to the present invention preferably comprise bulk regions of the lamellar phase whereas it has been suggested that known products of the prior art might contain boundary layers of this phase at interfaces, such as those found around oil-droplets in water-continuous fatty products.
The bulk lamellar phase may be formed by temperature cycling of a mixture of surfactant and water. In the crystalline state, the surfactant molecules are oriented with adjacent hydrophillic groups and the hydrophobic chains are parallel and densely packed. On contact with water and heating to the so-called `Krafft` temperature it is believed that water penetrates between the adjacent `head` groups to form a `liquid crystal` structure. On cooling below the `Krafft` temperature, the hydrophobic chains pack into a regular lattice, producing a one-dimensionally periodic `sandwich` structure of alternating surfactant and aqueous layers.
As an example of the `gel` structure obtained: for a mixture of water and a distilled monoglyceride made from fully hydrogenated lard, which has been cycled above the Krafft temperature, X-ray diffraction in the low-angle region reveals that the thickness of the monoglyceride layers is of the order of 50-60 Angstrom. As the proportion of water in the mixture in the system is increased the inter-planar spacing increases, as water is taken up between the monoglyceride layers. It will be realised that the fine structure of the mesomorphic phase, especially as regards the inter-planar spacing, will vary when different surfactants are used.
Another preferred mesomorphic phase according to the invention is a beta-crystalline coagel, which is believed to consist of small plate-like crystals having an average thickness of less than 1 fm or even less than 0.1 fm, said platelets being dispersed in an aqueous environment. This is a suspension of beta-crystalline emulsifier in water and is also known as a `hydrate`. These coagels may be formed instead of an alpha crystalline gel phase under certain conditions, such as at acid pH. Both the above mentioned alpha gels and these hydrates are used extensively in the baking industry as crumb softening agents in wheat bread and as cake volume improvers, but it is believed that the structure of the mesomorphic phase is lost during product preparation and consequently that the finished foodstuff (be it bread or cake) does not contain bulk mesomorphic phase. In the context of the invention the coagel phase is considered a semi-ordered phase of water and edible surfactant (mesomorphic phase).
The presence of mesomorphic phases in food products may be detected by any method suitable for the detection of regular arrangements of surfactant materials. Suitable methods include for example NMR, Electron microscopy, Differential scanning calorimetry, light microscopy and X-ray diffraction.
Although reduction of fat while retaining suitable and customary organoleptic properties is a challenge in most foods, sandwich cookie filling creams have presented special difficulties. Fat reduction in sandwich cookie filling creams is complicated and has been only marginally successful. There is a need, therefore, for a sandwich cookie filling cream which posesses a reduced fat content yet enjoys similar organoleptic properties to its traditional full fat counterpart.
Consequently, the present invention relates in the first place to the use of mesomorphic phases of edible surfactants as structuring agent in cookie filling creams. This structuring leads to many useful properties, such as the use as fat replacer, lubricating agent, moisture retention agent and/or flavour release agent in the foodstuff. The invention also involves addition of mesomorphic phase of edible surfactants to other ingredients to replace fats in the filling cream.
With respect to the use as fat replacer it should be noted that the present invention can provide sandwich cookie filling creams which have reduced calorific contents as compared to the 28 to 35 wt. % fat found in normal filler creams. The present invention allows for the possibility of preparing cookie filling creams with fat-like properties, but with the use according to the present invention of 25% or less by weight of triglyceride fat, especially 20% or less by weight triglyceride fat, particularly from 5 to 18% by weight, and especially 5-10 wt. % triglyceride fat. Cookie filling creams which are triglyceride-fat free are also contemplated.
The present filling creams enjoy an improved shelf life and better sensory characteristics. Post hardening of the filling is less likely with the present compositions.
The triglyceride fat used herein is preferably in the form of an emulsified semi-solid or fluid. A suitable fat is a blend of Durkex 100 fluid high stability oil and Code 321. The Code 321 product has an SFI value @50.degree. F. of 34-43, @70.degree. F. of 12-22, @80.degree. F. of 16-19, @92.degree. F. of 3-8 and at 104 a maximum of 2. Durkex 100 and Code 321 oils are available from Van den Bergh Foods Company, Lisle, Ill. The fat blend may include emulsifiers and combinations thereof such as phosphated monoglycerides and lecithin. The phosphated monoglycerides and lecithin function as viscosity reducers. The phosphated monoglycerides can be used at from 1.5-2.5 wt. % and the lecithin can be used at from 0.5-1.2 wt %. Other emulsifiers such as polyglycerol esters, e.g., polyglycerol esters of oleic, ricinoleic and stearic acids, may be used to reduce the viscosity at levels of up to 4%, especially from 0.5 to 4%. Mono- and diglycerides may also be employed.
The triglyceride fat may be derived from any suitable source. Typically the fat will be a partially hydrogenated vegatable oil such as partially hydrogenated soybean or cottonseed ois. Other possible fat sources include palm oil, palm kernal oil, coconut oil, sunflower oil, or corn oil. An example of SFI values for a suitable fat blend would be @50.degree. F. 13-16.5, @70.degree. F. 8.4-9.5, @80.degree. F. 6.1-7.2 and at 104.degree. F. maximum 1.
The present invention permits a reduction in triglyceride fat content without requiring the high levels of glycerine (e.g., 14-18 wt. %) which are typical of prior reduced fat cookie creams. Reduction of glycerine is desirable in that it is a harsh tasting and costly ingredient. Levels of less than 13 wt. %, especially from 1 to 10%, and particularly from 5 to 8%, are contemplated herein. The invention permits addition of added moisture to the product for textural softening without adversely affecting product stability, e.g., shelf life. This allows for major reductions in the glycerine content. Typically, the additional moisture present in the product will be 0.5 to 10 wt. %, especially from 5 to 8 wt. % based on the total formula. Typical moisture levels in reduced fat sandwich cookie fillings are from 1 to 3%.
A particularly advantageous aspect of the invention pertains to a composition including the mesomorphic phase which can be used in the preparation of cookie filler creams. The composition includes a surfactant in the mesomorphic phase, a humectant such as polydextrose and optionally a preservative such as potassium sorbate. While not wishing to be bound by theory, it is believed that the humectant helps to stabilize the mesomorphic phase by binding water which becomes available. Other humectants might be employed, such as sorbitol, mannitol, xylitol, polyhydric alcohols (other than glycerine which is separately dealt with) and corn syrup solids. Generally a humectant which is not sucrose, dextrose, glucose, fructose or lactose is used. Humectants other than glycerine and sugars may be used at from 5-50 wt. % in the composition and from 1% and above in the cookie filling.
Non-fat dry milk, buttermilk solids, whole milk solids or soy protein may be added to contribute bulk to the preparation. Starches such as corn syrup solids and low DE maltodextrins may be used to increase plastic and yield values at high temperatures.
The cookie filler cream of the invention comprises mesomorphic phase of surfactant, glycerine, triglyceride fat, preservative and polydextrose. The filling creams may include polyglycerol esters.
The preferred ranges of for the mesomorphic phase in the filler cream is 1-15 wt. %.
Preferably food products in accordance with the invention contain at least 5% by volume of mesomorphic phase of edible surfactant, more preferred 10-100% by volume, for example 20-80% by volume, whereby the volume of the mesomorphic phase refers to the volume of the combined water/edible surfactant system.
The mesomorphic phase and its method of preparation is known to food scientists. In the "Lipid Handbook" of Gunstone, Harwood and Padley (Chapman and Hall, 1986) such phases are mentioned at page 227. Further detail may be found in "Food emulsions" of S. Friberg (Marcel Decker, 1976 at page 82).
Such mesomorphic phases may advantageously be formed by heating a mixture containing the edible surfactant and water to a temperature above the Krafft temperature, followed by cooling.
It should be noted further that the above mentioned Lipid Handbook mentions at page 227 the use of mesomorphic phases of saturated, distilled monoglycerides as additives for processed potatoes or cake emulsions. However, this application is used for aerating bakery batters and enhanced complexing with amylose in non-finished starch based products. In the former application the aerating effect is ascribed to the better distribution of the monoglycerides in the batter system and in the latter application the monoglycerides form insoluble complexes with amylose, responsible for the crumb softening effect in bread and the texture improving effects on potato products and pasta foods. The emulsifiers are added to the bakery products before baking and to the potato products before final processing and consequently there is no mesomorphic phase in the finished products. This would be unacceptable in those aspects of the present invention wherein presence of the mesomorphic phase in the final product is required.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention the mesomorphic phase is a lamellar gel phase. These phases are particularly preferred, because they can include a sensational amount of water, e.g. 98 or even 99 wt. %, based on the mesomorphic phase of edible surfactant and water.
Another preferred element of the present invention is the presence of bulk regions of mesomorphic phases in cookie filler creams. Most preferred is the presence of bulk regions of mesomorphic lamellar phases. Bulk phases preferably consist of either a more or less continuous mesomorphic phase or of discrete particles of mesomorphic phase, for example having a number average particle size of between 1 fm and 1,000 fm. In this respect it should be noted that it has been suggested that known products of the prior art might contain non-bulk boundary layers of the lamellar phase at o/w interfaces, such as those found around oil droplets in water-continuous fatty products. The bulk regions of mesomorphic phase of edible surfactants may advantageously be used for replacing the aqueous phase and/or oil phase in food products in accordance to the invention.
Cookie filler creams in accordance to the invention contain at least 1% by weight of mesomorphic phase of edible surfactant, more preferred at least 5% and preferably at least 10% by weight, for example 10-80% by weight wherein the weight of the mesomorphic phase refers to the weight of the combined water/edible surfactant system.
The filling creams of the invention can be prepared using conventional equipment such as a Hobart mixer. One preferred order for ingredient addition is first uniformly distributing any formula glycerine throughout the dry ingredients, then adding the mesophasic emulsion and mixing the warm or melted fat blend in thorougly. The filling can be warmed directly or by frictional heat to 95-105.degree. F. Any desired aeration can be accomplished by simultaneous high speed mixing and cooling to approximately 70.degree. F. Depositing of the filling onto base cookies can be accomplished with typical depositor equipment.
Biopolymers (other than those elsewhere mentioned herein) may advantageously be used in the present compositions to produce products which are less grainy and/or have a reduced tendency to lose moisture. The biopolymers may be added directly to the mesomorphic phase or otherwise incorporated directly in the mesomorphic phase. The biopolymer(s) may be present at a level of from, say, 0.05 to 30 wt. %, preferably between 0.1 and 25 wt. %. Suitable biopolymer materials are for example carbohydrates (for example modified starches or gums) and certain proteins. Examples of very suitable biopolymer materials are gelatin, soy protein, xanthan gum, carrageen, pectin, locust bean gum, modified starches (for example Paselli SA2 and N-oil) and microcrystalline cellulose and/or mixtures thereof with milk protein. Modified starch is preferably used at from 5-20%, gums preferably at 0.05 to 5% and gelatin at from 0.5 to 10 wt. %.
Also suitable may be the use of two or more different biopolymer materials. These materials are for example, used in a weight ratio of 1:10 to 10:1. An example of a suitable mixture of biopolymer materials is a combination of xanthan gum and locust bean gum. The use of biopolymers in spreads and dressings comprising mesomorphic phases of surfactants is described in the U.S. patent application of Heertje et al. Ser. No. 07/974,643, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference.
A further aspect of the invention relates to the finding that mesomorphic phases having relatively high levels of nonionic surfactant, e.g., 7wt % or higher, which tend to be quite brittle can be processed to yield a phase having a non-brittle texture by treatment after cooling in a colloid mill or by otherwise subjecting the phase to high shear without simultaneously cooling. Such processing is particularly useful in producing mesomorphic phases for the filler creams and ready-to-spread frosting or icings of the invention, but is also useful in finished foodstuffs generally. Finished foodstuffs including mesomorphic phases are described in the U.S. patent application of Heertje et al. Ser. No. 07/846,311, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein. The invention comprises the process of treating the mesomorphic phases in the colloid mill (or otherwise subjecting the phase to high shear without contemporaneous cooling) after cooling and the finished foodstuffs incorporating such phases.
Another aspect of the present invention is the use of mesomorphic phases having high levels of nonionic surfactants, particularly saturated nonionic surfactants such as saturated monoglycerides. It has been found that mesomorphic phases having levels of nonionic surfactant of greater than 8 wt. % (based on the weight of the mesomorphic phase), e.g., from 8-15, especially 9-12% enjoy firmer texture. Such mesomorphic phases are particularly useful in filler creams and icings such as ready-to-spread frosting but are also useful in finished foodstuffs generally. Finished foodstuffs including mesomorphic phases are described in the U.S. patent application of Heertje et al. Ser. No. 07/846,311, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein.


The invention provides an anti Derf II monoclonal antibody selectively recognizing Derf II and belonging to an IgG or IgM class, the antibody being obtained by immunizing a mammal with Derf II antigen, which is derived from Dermatophagoides farinae.

The present invention relates to monoclonal antibodies specific for Derf II which is a major allergen of house dust mite Dermatophagoides farinae, cell lines for producing the antibodies, immunoassays in which the monoclonal antibodies are used, and purification of Derf II.
House dust is a major allergen of bronchial asthma, allergic rhinitis and the like. It is said that the allergen is caused by mites (Sakamoto, Kagaku to Seibutsu, Vol. 26, No. 2 (1988), Voorhoost, R. et al, J. Allergy, 39, 325 (1967)) and at least 90% of people who are positive in a patch test of house dust are also positive to mites (Hayakawa and Shida, Nippon Rinsho, Vol. 45, No. 8 (1987)). The mites, which are important as a cause of allergens, are Dermatophagoides farinae and Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (T. Miyamoto et al., J. Allergy, 42, 14 (1968)). In Dermatophagoides farinae, there are two major allergens named Derf I (molecular weight 24,000) and Derf II (molecular weight 15,000-16,000). Derf I is contained in mite feces and Derf II is contained in mite bodies (and the dead bodies and their body pieces).
It is generally important to identify the original allergen in medical treatment of allergic disease. It is effective to clinically guide a patient so as to avoid the original allergen (Sakamoto, Kagaku to Seibutsu, Vol. 26, No. 2 (1988), Platts-Mills, T. A. E., J. Allergy, 83, 416-427 (1989)). Then, quantification and determination of the mite allergen in surroundings of the patient are required. Therefore, methods for detecting mite allergens in house dust have been proposed.
In these methods, a color reaction of a protein, which is derived from feces of house dust mites and extracted with alcohol, and an aromatic diazo compound (Japanese Patent Laid-open Publication Nos. 60-135844, 60-171459 and 61-59261) is not conducted by a simple process. Though the presence of a mite allergen is recognizable by the reaction, it is impossible to identify and determine the allergen. In a color reaction of body fluid of a small animal and chemicals (Japanese Patent Laid-open Publication Nos. 62-296828 and 62-296829), though the operation is simple, it is impossible to identify and determine a mite allergen because small animal allergens other than the mite allergen are detected. Further in a detection method wherein anti-serum obtained by immunizing an extract of mite bodies to an animal is used (Japanese Patent Laid-open Publication No. 63-191961), though it is possible to detect and determine living bodies of dust mites, detection and determination of the dead bodies, pieces and feces remain unexplained, and it is impossible to identify and determine the allergen.
In treatment of mite allergy, desensitization therapy is generally conducted by using a mite allergen extract. The therapy needs to determine and purify the allergen to be given (Eda, Nippon Rinsho, Vol. 44, a special number, 1986). In this regard, specificity of monoclonal antibodies which have been prepared from mammals immunized by mite bodies or feces is unknown.

Monoclonal antibodies to mite allergen and the use thereof


The present disclose relates to a wireless charging device for charging a portable electronic device. The wireless charging device includes a charging panel, a transmitting unit and at least one adsorbent unit. The charging panel includes a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface. The first surface supports the portable electronic device. The charging panel defines a through hole through the first surface. The transmitting unit includes a coil for generating electromagnetic signals. The adsorbent unit extends through the through hole of the charging panel and adsorbs the portable electronic device.

1. Technical Field
The disclosure relates to a charging system, and particularly to a wireless charging device.
2. Discussion of Related Art
With the continued improvements in the field of Information Technology (IT) and the increasing prevalence of a wide variety of portable electronic products, a variety of techniques have been developed that supply power for portable electronic products. Technology for supplying power typically used a power line in the past. However, wireless power transmission technology, which is capable of wirelessly supplying power, has recently been developed.
Wireless power transmission technology includes technology for delivering electrical energy in the form of electromagnetic waves, electromagnetic induction, or electromagnetic resonance, for example. Wireless power transmission technology makes it possible to supply power wirelessly anytime and anywhere, without the use of power lines, such as, electric wires. When a portable electronic device is charged by a wireless charging device, the portable electronic device is arranged on a charging panel of the wireless charging device, however, the portable electronic device is easy to fall from the charging panel and may be damaged; therefore, the typical wireless charging device is unreliable for charging the portable electronic device.
Therefore, what is needed is a wireless charging device which can overcome the described limitations.


An apparatus for receiving a plurality of elongate vials, and a process for manufacturing the apparatus is disclosed. Each vial has a longitudinal length and an outer maximum diameter. The apparatus includes a single piece insert having a base wall with a plurality of integrally formed, parallel, elongate ridges extending outwardly therefrom in transversely spaced relationship with respect to one another to define a vial-receiving slot between each pair of adjacent ridges. The elongate ridges are spaced transversely from one another by a distance slightly less than the outer maximum diameter of each vial to be received therein permitting an interference press fit therebetween. The elongate ridges extend along a substantial portion of the longitudinal length of each vial to be received therein. A stop rib can be provided extending transversely adjacent one end of the plurality of ridges. At least one of the insert can be associated with a case. The case can have a back wall, at least one peripheral side wall, and a cover.

Various types of cases have been proposed for storing vials, ampules, or other containers or receptacles of material. For example, see U.S. Pat. No. 491,136; U.S. Pat. No. 505,222; U.S. Pat. No. 1,121,232; U.S. Pat. No. 1,727,235; U.S. Pat. No. 3,363,823; U.S. Pat. No. 5,361,907; U.S. Pat. No. 5,810,163; and U.S. Pat. No. 6,019,225. Each of these devices are relatively complicated in structure and manufacturing requirements. Many of the known devices while suitable for shipping purposes or other temporary packaging, do not provide sufficient protection, or are not made of durable materials sufficient to provide long term safe storage of the enclosed receptacles for extended periods of time. It has been found that cases made with cardboard or other paper based materials, are subject to damage from water, humidity, and other environmental changes which degrade the paper based materials over time.


A medical observation device according to the present invention includes: an imaging unit that capture an image of a subject at a first angle of view; and an image generating unit that generates a display image signal by cutting, at a second angle of view smaller than the first angle of view, the image captured by the imaging unit at the first angle of view, and performing image processing thereon. This medical observation device enables the hand-eye coordination and definition to be maintained even if the field of view is changed.

Demand for stereoscopic observation in medical endoscope systems has been increasing. Various systems have been conventionally known as stereoscopic endoscope systems. For example, disclosed in Patent Literature 1 is a stereoscopic endoscope system including: a rigid endoscope having a primary optical system; a secondary optical system that splits light condensed by the primary optical system; and two imaging elements that respectively captures a left-eye image signal and a right-eye image signal, based on light split by the secondary optical system. Used according to Patent Literature 1 is a pupil splitting method, in which two reflecting mirrors serving as the secondary optical system are arranged at pupil positions of the primary optical system, and a beam of light taken in by the primary optical system is split. In this pupil splitting method, by change in the interval between the two reflecting mirrors, the three-dimensionality in the depth direction is changed. However, in the pupil splitting method, when the parallax is increased, the quantity of light passing through the optical path is decreased, and thus the more the parallax is increased, the more the definition is reduced.
A twin-lens relay system, in which a rigid endoscope has an optical system for the left eye and an optical system for the right eye, has also been known as a system enabling reduction in the definition to be made small even if the parallax is increased. In the twin-lens relay system, since each of light for the left eye and light for the right eye is able to be independently taken in, reduction in the definition upon increase in the parallax is able to be made small.


A finger grip insert has a tubular resilient body with an outer wall having at least one recessed section with a concave shape. The center of the tube is shaped to accommodate a human finger. The deformable insert fits into a bowling ball finger hole, and has two sections. The first section extends from the outer surface of the bowling ball to the bowler's fingertip when the finger is placed into the insert. The outer wall of the first section has one or more recesses formed that extend only partially through the tubular body to permit the insert to deform within the finger hole in the area of the recess, responsive to pressure from the bowler's finger. The second section extends from the bowler's fingertip to the end of the insert, and provides a surface to attach the insert to the bowling ball finger hole.

The sport of bowling is well known, and played by millions. We are concerned here with the bowling ball, which is large and heavy, and of a diameter that makes it virtually impossible to be safely handled with one hand. In order to propel the ball with one hand, holes are drilled into the ball for insertion of the fingers of the bowler's preferred hand. Most often, three such holes, for a thumb and two fingers, are precisely drilled, defining a triangle on the surface of the ball. Using them, the bowler can propel the ball down the alley in a fluid, one-handed motion toward the bowling pins.
The diameters of the drilled holes are chosen to accommodate the individual user. Since each person has differing finger sizes, bowling balls are typically custom fit for optimum efficacy. This presents a less than ideal solution because the owner of the ball will find that his fingers will not always fit the holes as well as he might like, due to changes in finger size from swelling, injury, or weight gain or loss. Moreover, other people will not be able to use that ball as the holes will be the wrong size for their fingers. Finger holes are typically drilled in increments of 1/32 inch, and since human fingers are not formed in 1/32 inch increments, this presents an undesirable compromise.
The situation is most acute for the novice bowler who, typically, does not own a ball, but `borrows` one from the bowling alley. The novice must search through of the many `loaners` available at the establishment to hopefully find one that gives the best fit. Compromise in this situation is unavoidable.
Further, since the bowling ball is by necessity made from a hard material, frequent bowling often results in sore fingers, chafing, or even blisters and calluses. Particularly strong bowlers, known in the vernacular as `crankers`, commonly release the ball with a severe rotation of the wrist and fingers to impart spin to the ball and create a curved path for the ball to impact the pins. This type of ball release requires the user's fingers to withstand a significant amount of side pressure, creating fatigue and discomfort.
Prior art solution have attempted to solve these problems by providing many types of finger hole inserts for bowling balls. Typical of such inserts are those disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,968,033; 4,289,312; 5,176,378; 4,778,178; 2,842,367; 4,773,645; and 4,561,654. One solution is posed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,289,312 which discloses a finger hole insert made from resilient vinyl. During the delivery of the ball, the insert is said to compress under the bowler's finger pressure. However, those skilled in the art will appreciate that elastomers such as vinyls and rubbers do not compress, but merely displace, and inserts of this type have minimal, if any compliance to accommodate varying finger sizes. The variety of ideas found in these patents attest to the need for a solution to the problem. Most bowlers today continue to suffer from poor finger fit, and as a consequence, compromise the optimum situation.
Clearly, the problems illustrated above would find a solution in a bowling ball having holes whose diameters could be easily adjusted, and whose holes could provide compliance. The present invention provides such a solution.

Finger grip insert providing size compliance


A vacuum cleaner with a self-cleaning filter and a sweeper stand that also functions as an electric dustpan when the vacuum is seated within the sweeper stand is provided. The vacuum includes a housing having an air inlet at one end of the housing and a handle at the other end of the housing. An air passageway includes a deflector to direct dirt into a dirt collection tray which is pivotably mounted to the housing. A filter mounted on the motor divider wall and a filter cleaning arch mounted on the dirt collection tray so that the filter cleaning arch strikes the filter to dislodge dirt collected on the filter as the dirt collection tray pivots open. The sweeper stand includes a housing for receiving the hand vacuum, an opening for directing dirt laden air into an air inlet of the hand vacuum. Power switches to actuate the hand vacuum when the hand vacuum is seated in the sweeper stand are provided.

The invention relates generally to vacuum cleaners, and more particularly to a hand vacuum with a self-cleaning filter and a sweeper stand that functions as an electric dustpan when the hand vacuum is seated within the sweeper stand. The hand vacuum can also be converted to a stick vacuum with the attachment of a nozzle at the suction end and a floor handle at the other end.
Vacuum cleaners are well known and a common household appliance. Most hand vacuum cleaners are light-weight units with a suction opening at one end and a hand grip at the other. The nozzle end includes a collection bin. The nozzle is generally separate from the hand grip typically part of a housing enclosing the vacuum motor.
Most vacuum cleaners include filters. Some vacuum cleaners have the facility for jarring and/or vibrating a vacuum filter to dislodge dirt from the filter. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,708,962 to Deguchi et al. discloses a vacuum cleaner including a vibration generator for removing dust from the filter by using the suction force of the vacuum cleaner.
Hand vacuum cleaners that are battery operated or have a power supply cord are well known. Battery operated vacuum systems may have a battery recharging base. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,560,077 to Crotchett discloses a wheeled vacuum housing with a separate ramped recharging base. The vacuum system may also include hand-vacuums, such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,225,814 and 4,573,234. The rechargeable base allows the user to vacuum without worrying if there are electric outlets available around the area to be vacuumed.
Hand vacuums are particularly useful for cleaning household items and hard to reach areas. Various types of hand vacuums are known in the art. Some hand vacuums operate on rechargeable batteries while other hand vacuums have power supply cords. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,225,814 to Gantz discloses a storing and recharging base for a hand-held vacuum unit. To prevent dirt spillage from the nozzle and nozzle fouling rechargeable hand vacuums are held on the recharging unit in a position where the nozzle is pointing upwards as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,573,234 to Kochte. Other hand vacuum cleaners may have a portion of the housing of the vacuum cleaner pivotally connected to the remainder of the housing. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,966,774 to Bone et al. discloses a hand-held vacuum that has a first and second portion that can be pivotally separated where one portion moves below the other portion to provide a chute to guide dirt emptied from the filter.
Electric dustpans have been used to suction dirt swept by a broom are known in the art. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,671,924 to Rood discloses a dustpan with an inlet that includes an apron that extends outwardly from the inlet with an inclined surface to direct swept debris toward the inlet. Similarly, U.S. Pat. No. 6,058,560 to Gab, shows a trash device with a floor dustpan and U.S. Pat. No. 5,205,013 to Lopes shows a decorative storage housing with a floor suction opening.
Notwithstanding the wide variety of hand vacuums and electric dustpans available, there exists the need to provide continued improvements and alternative designs to improve hand vacuums and electric dustpans that are economical to use, simple in design and easy for the user to operate and in this case, provide a combination hand vacuum and electric dustpan system for a vacuum cleaner.


The present invention relates to compounds for the inhibition of pyruvate kinase and ATP production which are capable of inhibiting cancer cells proliferation.

(a) Field of the Invention
The invention relates to novel inhibitors of pyruvate kinase and ATP production specific for the treatment of cancer, pharmaceutical compositions and methods of treatment of cancer thereof.
(b) Description of Prior Art
Most malignant tumors have much higher glucose uptake and glycolysis rates than noncancerous tissues. This is characteristic for many human tumors (including those of brain, liver, lung, colon, stomach and breast). The higher metabolism of glucose is needed by the tumor cells for ATP production, via the glycolysis pathway resulting in pyruvate and ATP:Glucose+2NAD++2ADP+2Pi→2pyruvate+2NADH+2H++2ATP+2H2O
The regulation in the rate of glycolysis is usually achieved by two glycolytic enzymes, one of which is pyruvate kinase (PK). The pyruvate kinase catalyzes the conversion of phosphoenol pyruvate (PEP) to pyruvate with the coupled transfer of the phosphoryl group from PEP to ADP giving ATP:

Several isoforms of pyruvate kinase are known in a tissue-specific manner, such as. L-PK in liver and kidney and M1-PK in brain and muscle. During multi-step carcinogenesis, there is the loss of the tissue-specific isoforms of PK, followed by the expression of the tumor M2-PK (E. Eigenbrodt et al., Crti. Reve. Oncog. 3 (1992) 91-115.). Recently the use of the detection of tumor M2-PK as a marker for cancer monitoring, including renal cell carcinoma, gastrointestinal cancer (J. Schneider, G. Schulze, Anticancer Research, 23 (2003) 5089-5093), breast cancer (S. Yilmaz, S. Ozan, I. H. Ozercan, Arch Med Res 34 (2003) 315-324) and lung cancer (J. Schneider et al., Cancer Letters, 193 (2003) 91-98) has been advocated.
Inhibition of ATP production is a plausible strategy for the treatment of cancer. Recently, the use of 3-bromopyruvic acid (3-BrPA) in a direct intraarterial injection to suppress implanted rabbit liver tumors has been reported (J.-F. H. Geschwind et al., Cancer Research, 62 (2002) 3909-3913; US patent application published under No. US 2003/0087961 on May 8, 2003). The inhibition of ATP production via inhibition of hexokinase using 3-bromopyruvic acid (3-BrPA) has been suggested (Y. H. Ko et al., Cancer Letters, 173 (2001) 83-91), however there is a need for novel inhibitors of ATP production which are more stable and efficacious.
It would be highly desirable to be provided with novel inhibitors of pyruvate kinase and ATP production specific for the treatment of cancer.

Inhibitors of pyruvate kinase as therapeutic agents for cancer


This invention relates to a method of anodising magnesium material which includes anodising the magnesium while it is immersed in an aqueous electrolyte solution having a pH above 7, and in the presence of a phosphate, the electrolyte solution also containing a sequestering agent. The method may further include the provision of a plasma suppressing substance within the electrolyte solution. Furthermore, the electrolyte solution may also preferably include a tertiary amine such a TEA, and the current passed through the electrolyte solution may preferably be a straight DC current.

Magnesium is a very light, yet strong metal and is finding increasing acceptance for metal die castings, particularly where weight savings are desired. In addition, its property of shielding electromagnetic radiation is causing it to be of interest as a replacement for plastics in applications such as computers and mobile telephones. However, it is a reactive metal and corrosion, whether general or by galvanic effects, is a major problem.
A number of methods for applying a protective anodic oxide film on magnesium material have been available. These have sought to imitate the well established processes available for coating aluminium and its alloys, however achieving the same result on magnesium articles has been extremely difficult.
The anodisation of aluminium and its alloys is often conducted in sulphuric acid in which the oxide layer formed is slightly soluble. As the film builds outwards from the metal substrate, its rate of build decreases, so ultimately there is an equilibrium point at which the rate of dissolution is equal to that of further film growth. The dissolution of the film causes the formation of pores through which the ionic migration necessary to the electrochemical oxidation of the metal takes place. Without these pores only very thin films would be possible. After the electrochemical oxidation process is complete, the pores are scaled. Sealing of anodised aluminium can be achieved with hot water or simple inorganic chemical solutions.
Clearly an analogous process involving magnesium would attempt to simulate these features. However, because of the tendency of the forming film to crack and break due to the imposed tensile stresses, there are complications. Also, the use of an acidic solution to anodise magnesium is fraught with serious difficulties as magnesium is rapidly attacked by most common acids. Therefore, anodisation of magnesium should preferably take place in alkaline solutions.
One method of anodising magnesium relies on this property to create a rough, very porous layer which may form a base for paint or other surface coatings to be applied afterwards. Commonly, such an anodic film may be formed in an electrolyte of high pH, containing alkali hydroxides. The process proceeds by means of sparking, which sparking forms a sintered ceramic oxide film as the metal substrate is coated.
However, the forming of a sintered ceramic oxide film, through sparking, is not always desirable as the film is often brittle, uneven, and/or lacks uniformity.
A number of proprietary methods for anodisation of magnesium exist which seek to avoid this problem and hence create a stronger and/or more uniform film.
In PCT/NZ96/00016 (WO 96/28591) (Barton) there is disclosed a viable procedure for anodising magnesium or magnesium alloys. It involves anodising the material in an ammonia containing electrolyte solution. The presence of some phosphate compounds in the solution is also disclosed. Enhancements of such a Barton procedure are disclosed in PCT/NZ98/00040 (WO98/42892) (MacCulloch et al).
For environmental reasons arising from the emanation of ammonia and also taking into account potential problems associated with the disposal of ammonia-containing electrolytes and process washings, a process is desirable beyond those aforesaid where no ammonia or ammonium salts are present in the electrolite. However, the absence of ammonium compounds imposes difficulties in the functioning of the process in the areas of anodic polarisation, repeatability and film quality.
In PCT/NZ01/00215 (WO 02/28838 A2) there is disclosed another viable procedure for anodising magnesium or magnesium alloys which do away with ammonia-containing electrolytes. This method includes anodising the magnesium material while it is immersed in an aqueous electrolyte solution having a pH above 9, and in the presence of a phosphate (or phosphate ions). The solution also preferably includes a buffering agent such as a tetra-borate to maintain the pH of the solution above 9. There are also described pre-treatment steps prior to anodising.
Whilst the methods and apparatus described in PCT/NZ01/00215 result in a viable procedure for anodising magnesium, the solutions contain boron (or a borate) which is not always desirable as it can be environmentally harmful if not disposed of properly after use. Furthermore, some of the pre-treatment steps described are somewhat involved. It would therefore be desirable if there was a viable procedure for anodising magnesium or magnesium alloys which used an electrolyte that preferable did not contain ammonia and/or boron/borate and/or did not require the use of such involved pre-treatment step(s).
Furthermore, many procedures for anodising magnesium necessarily involve the use of a pulsed DC current, which requires the use of specialised and expensive rectifiers. It would also be desirable therefore if there was available a viable procedure which produced the required or desired results using straight or flat waveform DC (referred to herein as "straight DC").
It is therefore an object of the present invention to address the foregoing problems or at least to provide the public with a useful choice.
Further aspects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the ensuing description that is given by way of example only.


The present invention is directed to a thin film transistor (TFT) structure having a channel region formed of a crystallized SiGe and is to provide a thin film transistor having a large carrier mobility. In this case, a channel region (4) is formed of a crystallized SiGe thin film.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a thin film transistor in which a channel region is formed of a crystallized SiGe film and a manufacturing method thereof.
2. Description of the Related Art
A thin film transistor (TFT) made of polycrystalline silicon (Si) can be easily formed on a substrate such as a glass or the like by some suitable means such as the irradiation of laser beams, the heating using an electric heating furnace or the like after an amorphous silicon film was formed by a chemical vapor deposition (CVD) or the like. The thin film transistor made of polycrystalline silicon has a carrier mobility of 50 to 100 (cm.sup.2 /Volt.multidot.Second) which is extremely small and about 1/6 of that of a thin film transistor made of single crystal silicon. Therefore, a high speed circuit whose switching speed is higher than 10 MHz cannot be manufactured by using such polycrystalline silicon thin film transistor.
To remove the aforesaid shortcomings, there are proposed a wide variety of techniques such as to increase a carrier mobility of a thin film transistor by increasing a grain size of active region formed of polycrystalline silicon film, for example.
A technique in which a semiconductor thin film such as a an amorphous silicon hydride (a-Si:H), an amorphous germanium hydride (a-Ge:H) or the like is melted and crystallized by the irradiation of pulse laser beams in a variety of semiconductor integrated circuits receives remarkable attention as a technique that can manufacture thin film transistors having large carrier mobility at low temperature. Various researches have hitherto been made in order to establish a technique in which thin film transistors can be manufactured at low temperature according to the pulse anneal treatment.

Semiconductor device having an improved thin film transistor


A method for determining the quality of the fuel for an internal combustion engine, in particular a direct-injection internal combustion engine in a vehicle, which is characterized by the following be performed: the internal combustion engine is operated in idle mode under predefinable operating conditions, the curve of the injection quantity, necessary for idling, over the engine temperature is determined, and the fuel quality is inferred from the curve of the injection quantity over the engine temperature.

Fuels for vehicles, in particular diesel fuels, exhibit to some extent significant differences in quality depending on the region (for example in the U.S., a significant variance in the cetane number and in the content of polyaromatics is possible). In addition to diesel fuel based on petroleum, they may also contain components of alternative fuels. For example, EU Directive 2003/30/EG prescribes a market share of 5.75% of alternative fuels. For example, bio-diesel based on rapeseed (RME—rape methyl ester), synthetic diesel fuels from biomass (BTL—biomass to liquid) or synthetic diesel fuels made from natural gas (GTL—gas to liquid) are added to diesel fuel based on petroleum. For example, GTL has already been established in the market as a 5% additive to mineral diesel fuel. RME as well as synthetic diesel fuel have different fuel densities and different specific calorific values than mineral diesel fuel. Due to the density and the differences in the specific calorific values, an excess quantity may be necessary for achieving a comparable engine torque and the same rotational speed. For unadapted data calibration, changes in the injection quantity may result in a higher exhaust gas temperature and/or for example in the impinging of the injected jet on the cylinder wall/combustion cavity of the piston, thus causing damage to the components and/or a deterioration in the exhaust gas characteristics. In addition, the proportion of combustion soot as well as the proportion of nitrogen oxide emissions is changed by the fuel additives, and often even improved compared with mineral fuel. These improvements cannot be exploited to the full extent. When using such fuels, the engine calibration is generally not tuned optimally with respect to emissions, fuel consumption, noise, or regarding the handling characteristics of a vehicle equipped with a similar internal combustion engine.
German patent application DE 10 2007 01 928.0 (which is not a prior publication) of the applicant discusses a method and a measuring device for determining the properties of liquids used in vehicles, in particular for determining the quality of fuel for vehicles, where the liquid, i.e., the fuel, is put into a rotational motion within a rotationally symmetric container, and where the characteristics of the liquid, in particular the quality of the fuel, are inferred from the change in the free surface of the liquid, in particular a lowering or rising of the surface of the liquid at the container wall and/or in the area of the axis of symmetry of the container.
German patent application DE 10 2007 01 928.1 (which is also not a prior publication) of the applicant discusses a method for monitoring the properties of the fuel of an internal combustion engine, in particular a self-igniting internal combustion engine, in which the temperature of the fuel is determined at least at one location of a fuel system and the instantaneous rate of decomposition of the fuel is inferred from this temperature.
In the near future, it is to be expected for several reasons that the fuel stability during the operation of the vehicle will be affected more than is the case today. On the one hand, the injection pressures will rise further. This results in an increase in the maximum fuel temperature and thus in a more rapidly declining stability of the fuel. On the other hand, larger proportions of bio-diesel will be added to the diesel fuel in the future. This proportion may be as high as 30%. Increased quantities of bio-diesel fuel reduce the resistance of the fuel against elevated temperatures.

Method for determining the quality of the fuel for an internal combustion engine


A method of transferring metal leaf, such as gold leaf, to a substrate is disclosed. The method includes the steps of creating a transfer graphic design. After the transfer graphic design is created, a pressure sensitive adhesive design in the shape of the transfer graphic design is formed on a transfer sheet having paper backing and a release layer. The transfer sheet may be a dry transfer sheet or a water release decal type transfer sheet. The transfer sheet containing the pressure sensitive adhesive design is then placed on a substrate to which the pressure sensitive adhesive design is transferred by removing the transfer sheet so that the pressure sensitive adhesive design adheres to the substrate. Metal leaf is then applied to the pressure sensitive adhesive design.

Transfer size is used in the process of high quality leafing, such as gold leaf, bronze leaf or other forms of metal leaf, upon a substrate. Gold leaf, for instance, has been traditionally applied to interior and exterior surfaces by first applying a substance known as transfer size. Conventional transfer size is a sticky gluelike substance which can either be purchased or manufactured by the person performing the metal leafing. Transfer size is traditionally available in a slow type and a fast type. The difference between slow and fast size is the period of time necessary for the size to become tacky or to attain a desired stickiness. Fast size become tacky very quickly, but has a short "open" time or time during which it retains its stickiness. Slow size takes longer to become tacky but has a longer "open" time depending on the formulation of the size. Both fast and slow size are, however, applied as a wet substance which may be extremely messy. Transfer size is also available as an aerosol spray and generally tacks quickly. Spray transfer size may, however, run after sprayed upon the desired surface.
Size must be first applied wherever one would want to apply metal leaf. The size may be stenciled or painted on an object of substrate that is to receive the metal leaf. Generally, size is applied in register over an undercolor which gives character to the final leafing. However, the undercolor is often not visible because of the wetness of the size or the formulation of which it is composed. When the size is applied to an object or substrate and reaches the proper tack, the metal leaf is gently lowered on to the tacky size and very carefully smoothed over. A brush or fabric is then moved back and forth over the leaf such that the abrasive action causes the leaf not attached to the size to break away, leaving the areas coated in size to be metal leafed. Producing fine details using this method is, however, extremely difficult, time consuming, and requires a skilled artisan. Additionally, the chemicals and solvents used in the size formulation can be flammable and hazardous if used in a closed area, and in addition, may be harmful to the environment.
Accordingly, there is a need for a transfer size which is dry, clean, safe for both users and the environment, which is easy to prepare and which can be used by an individual with little or no training in the art of metal leafing.

Method of transferring metal leaf to a substrate


The present invention is a method and apparatus for selectively altering the sensitivity of an optical sensor. The sensor has both a light source and a detector which are optically aligned with one another. The detector produces a first output signal level in response to light having an illumination intensity greater than or equal to a threshold intensity, and a second output signal level in response to light having an illumination intensity less than a threshold intensity. The sensor further includes the ability to selectively alter the illumination intensity of the light emitted by the light source to a lower level between the threshold intensity and the normal operating intensity. Hence, operating at the lower intensity enables the sensor to detect translucent sheets or facilitates identification of marginally operable sensors.

Optical or photoresponsive sensors are often used in applications to determine the presence of a copy or document sheet passing through a certain point by providing a suitable signal in response to the sheet. Typically, the optical sensor includes a light source whose light beam is directed at the position at which the sheet is to be sensed. A light sensitive transducer, for example a phototransistor or photodiode, is mounted in an aligned relationship with the light source, to receive either direct or reflected light from the light source.
A recurring problem in reproduction machines is the contamination of optical sensors, particularly those in the paper path, by airborne toner particles, paper fibers, carrier particles, and other contaminants. These contaminants generally cause failure by coating the optical elements, thereby greatly reducing the illumination level detected at the sensor. An additional problem is the potential for misalignment of the sensor which may also result in reduced illumination of the sensor, potentially resulting in false or erratic detection when the sensor is vibrated or otherwise perturbed, even when a copy sheet is not present.
One solution to these problems is to schedule frequent preventative maintenance periods to clean the sensors and to test the level of performance. However, this can be very costly in terms of personnel and increased down time of the machine.
Yet another potential problem for optical sensors is the degradation of the sensors through aging of the light source, producing a corresponding decrease in light output in the sensing region.
Heretofore, sensor degradation problems have been recognized and methods for correcting or allowing for the degraded performance have been proposed, some of which are found in the following disclosures which may be relevant:
U.S. Pat. No. 3,789,215, Patentee: Penny, Issued: Jan. 29, 1974.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,836,248, Patentee: John, Jr., Issued: Sep. 17, 1974.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,046,469, Patentee: Frank et al., Issued: Sep. 6, 1977.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,097,731, Patentee: Krause et al., Issued: Jun. 27, 1978.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,097,732, Patentee: Krause et al., Issued Jun. 27, 1978.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,310,153, Patentee: Kikucki, Issued: Jan. 12, 1982.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,365,151, Patentee: Fasig et al., Issued: Dec. 21, 1982.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,520,270, Patentee: Enter et al., Issued: May 28, 1985.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,577,096, Patentee: Beery et al., Issued: Mar. 18, 1986.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,670,647, Patentee: Hubble, III et al., Issued: Jun. 2, 1987.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,740,686, Patentee: Nusser, Issued: Apr. 26, 1988.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,818,132, Patentee: Brull et al., Issued: Apr. 4, 1989.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,008,532, Patentee: Ono et al., Issued: Apr. 16, 1991.
Document Sensor, Xerox Disclosure Journal, Vol. 7, No. 1, January/February 1982.
Paper Edge Sensor, IBM Technical Disclosure Bulletin, Vol. 23, No. 7A, December 1980.
Optical Sensor Output Amplifier, IBM Technical Disclosure Bulletin, Vol. 24, No. 3, August 1981.
The relevant portions of the foregoing patents and disclosures may be briefly summarized as follows:
U.S. Pat. No. 3,789,215 discloses a photosensitive circuit used for the detection of document sheets passing a counting station. The document detecting circuit further includes means for adjusting the document detecting threshold, relative to a peak output signal, in order to compensate for multiple documents or long term variation in the light source.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,836,248 teaches an optical sensor employing a plurality of sensors, whereby detection is determined using signals generated by a bridge circuit to balance the output of a sensor which always has light impinging on it and a second sensor having light transmitted through a document sensing region. The bridge circuit generates a signal when it becomes unbalanced due to the presence of a document in the document sensing region, thereby enabling the detection of translucent paper stock.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,046,469 describes a photocopy machine having a paper cut-off sensor. The sensor is a reflective-type optical sensor utilizing an infrared light source modulated at a predetermined frequency. False detection of the sheet is avoided by sensing the modulation of the emitted light.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,097,731 4,097,732 teach a sensor for regulating the intensity of the sensor light source to compensate for extraneous factors in the operating environment such as dust accumulation, component aging and misalignment. However, this type of compensation, adjusting the power output of the lamp is often relatively expensive, due to the feedback circuitry required, and generally provides only a limited degree of adjustment.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,310,153 discloses plural optical sensors in an electrostatographic system whereby the sensors are systematically activated, in response to a timing signal, to determine the presence of a sheet in accordance with the anticipated travel of the sheet.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,365,151 describes a sensor for a document processor having a reflective type sensor. The path of the light reflected from a cylindrical surface, versus the light reflected from the paper surface is sufficiently different to cause the reflected light to miss the detector when a paper sheet is present, thus generating a signal sufficient to indicate the presence of the paper.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,520,270 teaches a circuit for self-adjusting the sensitivity of a sensor. Calibration of each sensor is conducted independently by varying the voltage supplied to a comparator. Specifically, by applying the sensor output to one input of the comparator, and a reference voltage, generated as an output of a digital-to-analog converter, to the other input, the sensor open and sensor closed potentials can be determined.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,577,096, assigned to Xerox Corporation, discloses a photodetector employing a resistor-capacitor (RC) network where a feedback loop provides an increase in power whenever the transmissibility of the sensor changes. In addition, an operational amplifier may be set to provide a signal when an excessive amount of power is needed to drive the lamp at a level detectable by the phototransistor.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,670,647, assigned to Xerox Corporation and hereby incorporated by reference for its teachings, describes a dirt insensitive optical paper path sensor. The self-adjusting document sensor compensates for any degradation in the sensor system by feeding the output of the detector into an amplifier having a variable gain. The amplifier gain is controlled by a feedback signal generated as a function of the amount of deviation from a reference signal.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,740,686 teaches an improved sensor circuit suitable for reducing the current required to operate the sensor in a standby condition.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,818,132 describes a reflective-type optical sensor which bridges a paper path to detect the presence of a slip sheet. A non-reflecting brush, opposed to the sensor face, serves the dual purpose of cleaning the sensor face and covering the face to prevent false detection when the sheet is not present.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,008,532 discloses the use of a programmable attenuator in the feedback circuit which conditions the output signal of the photoelectric sensor. Also included in the feedback circuit are a pair of switchable resistors (R.sub.11 and R.sub.12), used to control the feedback circuit, thereby providing two ranges for the attenuator.
The Xerox Corporation and IBM Corp. disclosures describe various circuits used to implement paper and edge sensing with optical sensors.
In accordance with the present invention, there is provided an an optical sensor having an alterable sensitivity. The sensor has a light source for emitting light and a detector, disposed in aligned relationship with the light source, for producing a first output signal level in response to light having an illumination intensity greater than or equal to a threshold intensity, and a second output signal level in response to light having an illumination intensity less than a threshold intensity. The sensor also includes means, associated with the light source, for selectively altering the illumination intensity of the light emitted by the sensor. The illumination intensity is alterable between a first intensity which is greater than the detector threshold intensity and a second intensity which is greater than the detector threshold intensity and less than the first intensity, thereby altering the sensitivity of the sensor as a function of the selected illumination intensity.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a sheet transport apparatus having sheet transport rolls, sheet guides, and an optical sheet sensor. The optical sheet sensor includes a light source and a photodetector, disposed in aligned relationship with the light source, for producing a first signal level indicating detection of light emitted by the light source when the sheet is not present and a second signal level indicating no detection of the emitted light when the sheet is present. The apparatus also includes means, associated with the light source, for regulating the intensity of the light impinging upon the photodetector as a function of a predetermined sheet transmissivity.
In accordance with yet another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an apparatus, disposed within an electrophotographic printing system having a document transporting mechanism associated therewith, to recognize when an optical document sensor within the document transporting mechanism is operating in a degraded condition. The apparatus includes an optical document sensor having a variable intensity light source and a photodetector disposed in aligned relationship with one another, where the intensity of the light varies as a function of an electrical current which powers the light source and where the photodetector is responsive to the light intensity produced by the light source. The apparatus also includes means, responsive to a mode selection signal, for switching the amount of current supplied to the light source between a first current level and a second current level lower in magnitude than the first current level, and control means, connected to the switching means. The control means comprises means for producing the mode selection signal to cause the current switching means to produce the lower current level, and means, connected to the photodetector, for monitoring an output signal produced by the photodetector during the lower current mode to determine if the output signal is less than a predetermined minimum level, and if so, indicating that the document sensor is operating in a degraded condition.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of altering the sensitivity of an optical sheet sensor in order to sense a translucent sheet present within a sheet sensing region. The sensor has a light source disposed in aligned relationship with a photodetector to form the sheet sensing region therebetween. The method comprises the steps of determining that a translucent sheet is to be sensed by the optical sheet sensor, and decreasing, in response to determining the presence of the translucent sheet, the intensity of the light transferred from the light source to the photodetector and thereby increasing the sensitivity of the optical sheet sensor.
In accordance with yet another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of determining when an optical sensor, having a light source and a photodetector disposed in an aligned, light receiving relationship with one another, is operating in a degraded condition. The method includes the steps of: 1) reducing the intensity of the light received by the photodetector to a low illumination intensity below the normal operating intensity yet above the photodetector threshold intensity; 2) testing an output signal produced by the photodetector to determine if the photodetector is responsive to light emitted at the low illumination intensity; and if not, 3) identifying the sensor as operating in a degraded condition.

Optical paper sensor having alterable sensitivity and illumination intensity


A constant velocity joint is provided that includes an outer race having a bore with an inside surface, a cage arranged within the bore of the outer race, an inner race having an outer surface; and a plurality of balls arranged within the cage. A shaft is connected to the inner race. The cage remains in a non-contacting state with said outer race through a zero angle and a high angle position of the shaft.

Constant velocity joints (CV joints) are common components in automotive vehicles. Typically, constant velocity joints are employed where transmission of a constant velocity rotary motion is desired or required. Common types of constant velocity joints are a plunging tripod, a fixed tripod, a plunging ball joint, and a fixed ball joint. These joints can be used in front wheel drive vehicles, or rear wheel drive vehicles and on the propeller shafts found in rear wheel drive, all wheel drive and four wheel drive vehicles. The plunging constant velocity joints allow for axial movement during operation without the use of slip splines, but sometimes initiate forces that result in vibration and noises. Plunging-type CV joints allow angular displacement along with the axial displacement along two axes thereof. The fixed type constant velocity joints generally only allow angular displacement between two axes. The fixed constant velocity joints are better situated for higher operating angles than that of a plunging type constant velocity joint. All of these constant velocity joints are generally grease lubricated for life and sealed by a sealing boot when used on propeller shafts. Thus, the constant velocity joints are sealed in order to retain grease inside the joint while keeping contaminates and foreign matter, such as dirt and water, out of the joint. The sealing protection of the constant velocity joint is necessary because contamination of the inner chambers causes internal damage and destruction of the joint which increases heat and wear on the boot, thus possibly leading to premature boot and grease failures and hence failure of the overall joint. The problem of higher temperatures in high speed fixed constant velocity joints is greatly enhanced at the higher angles. Thus, the increased temperatures and increased stresses on the boot caused by higher angles may result in premature failures in conventional constant velocity joints.
Generally, conventional fixed-type constant velocity joints included a bulky and heavy outer race having a spherical inner surface with a plurality of grooves. The joints also include an inner race, having a spherical outer surface with grooves formed therein. Many conventional fixed type constant velocity joints use six torque transmitting balls, which are arranged between the grooves of the outer and inner races of the constant velocity joint by a cage retainer. The balls allow a predetermined displacement angle to occur through the joint and thereby transmit a constant velocity rotary motion through the shafts of the automotive driveline system.