The invention concerns a circuit for operating a discharge lamp with a habridge generator (T1, T2) wherein a turn-off transistor (T3) can stop the half-bridge generator The energy source for the base current of the turn-off transistor (T3) is formed by starter capacitor (C3) which starts the half-bridge generator (T1, T2), In addition, the collector-emitter section of the turn-off transistor (T3) is directly between the base of the lower transistor (T2) of the half-bridge generator and earth.

The invention concerns a circuit arrangement for the operation of a discharge lamp.
In the operation and upon ignition of a discharge lamp, high voltages can occur in a defective lamp and towards the end of a lamp's service life, which can lead to destruction of the corresponding electronic ballast if no suitable countermeasures have been provided. Customarily, a cutoff circuit is used to monitor lamp voltage. As soon as lamp voltage has been higher than a particular value for longer than a predetermined time, the cutoff intervenes and the lamp generator, which is generally a half bridge generator, is stopped.
Electronic ballasts with a cutoff circuit from the OSRAM GmbH company (product designation QT EC) are already known. A circuit arrangement corresponding to this state of the art is shown in FIG. 1. In this arrangement, the cutoff device is formed from a bistable flip-flop circuit consisting of two transistors T1 and T2 (thyristor equivalent circuit). The lamp voltage U.sub.L is fed via a voltage divider R4, R3 and a time-lag device R4, Ct to the base of one of the transistors of the bistable flip-flop circuit, which forms the trigger input of this circuit. When the bistable flip-flop circuit trips to its conducting or operation state, a cutoff transistor T3 stops the lamp generator, which is a half bridge generator in the example described, by suppressing the base drive of the lower transistor Tu of the half bridge generator via a diode D1. A starting capacitor Cs, which is located parallel to the switching path of the lower transistor Tu of the half bridge generator via a diode D4, is short-circuited via a diode D2 so that renewed starting attempts by the inverse rectifier are prevented.
This known circuit has two disadvantages in particular. In order that the oscillation of the half bridge generator can be dependably interrupted, the base of transistor Tu of the half bridge circuit must be connected with low impedance to ground. However, since the base voltage of transistor Tu of the half bridge generator can also show negative values, the base of this transistor Tu of the half bridge generator is connected via a diode D1 to the collector of the cutoff transistor T3. In this way, however, dependable disconnection is made more difficult, since the base of the lower transistor Tu is not directly connected to ground upon disconnection, but only via the diode path from D1 via T3.
A further disadvantage of the known circuit arrangement is that an energy source U.sub.v must be made available to provide the base current for the cutoff transistor T3. In known circuit arrangements, an electrolytic capacitor is provided for this purpose, which is loaded either using the trigger signal or via a pump circuit.
Therefore, the purpose of the present invention is to make a circuit arrangement available for the operation of a discharge lamp, in which the aforementioned problems are avoided.

Patent-Treuhand-Gesellschaft fuer elektrische Gluehlampen mbH


A method for increasing the sensitivity of a bio-luminescent assay comprising carrying out the assay in the presence of an organic compound that reduces luminescence that is not dependent on the presence of an analyte by at least about 10 fold, and that reduces, maintains, or increases the luminescence that is dependent on the presence of an analyte.

Reporter molecules are routinely used to monitor molecular events in the fields of biology, biochemistry, immunology, cell biology and molecular biology. For example, reporter molecules are employed in assays where the levels of the reporter molecule are due to transcription from a specific promoter linked to the reporter molecule. These assays can be used to study eukaryotic gene expression, receptor activity, transcription factors, intracellular signaling, mRNA processing, protein folding, and the like. Reporter molecules that are typically used in such assays include radioactive isotopes, fluorescent agents, enzymes, and luminescent agents. See for example, Akhavan-Tafti, et al, in: Bioluminescence and Chemiluminescence. Fundamentals and Applied Aspects. Proceedings of the 8th International Symposium on Bioluminescence and Chemiluminescence. Cambridge, September 1994. Eds. Campbel, Kricka, Stanley. John Wiley and Sons 1994.
Two luminescent enzymes that are particularly useful in assay systems are firefly luciferase and Renilla reniformis luciferase. The substrates for these luciferases and the reaction products they produce are shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. The quantity of light (i.e. the number of photons) produced in the reaction, can be measured and used to calculate the concentration of luminescent enzyme in the reaction.
Firefly luciferase is a 61 kDa monomeric protein that does not require post-translational processing for enzymatic activity. Thus, it functions as a genetic reporter immediately upon translation. Photon emission is achieved through oxidation of beetle luciferin in a reaction that requires ATP, Mg2+ and O2 (FIG. 1).
Renilla luciferase is a 36 kDa monomeric protein that is composed of 3% carbohydrate when purified from its natural source, Renilla reniformis. Like firefly luciferase, post-translational modification of Renilla luciferase is not required for its activity, and it functions as a genetic reporter immediately following translation. The luminescent reaction catalyzed by Renilla luciferase utilizes O2 and coelenterate-luciferin, also called coelenterazine (FIG. 2).
Luminescent reactions can be used to detect very small quantities of a particular analyte, the substance being identified and measured in an analysis. For example, luminescent reactions can be used to detect and quantify proteases, lipases, phosphatases, peroxidases, glycosidases, and various metabolites such as ATP or NADH. Luminescent reactions can also be used to detect and quantify analytes through binding interactions, such as those mediated by antibodies and nucleotide probes. Typically, luminescent reactions can be used to detect less than 1×10−16 moles of analyte in a sample, often less than 1×10−19 moles. In luminescence, commonly detected analytes are the luciferases, especially firefly luciferase and Renilla luciferase. Most often these analytes are used to quantify phenomena associated with their creation through gene expression and protein synthesis. Other luminescent enzymes used as analytes include, but are not limited to, aequorin, Vargula luciferase, and other marine luciferases.
When using luminescence to measure an analyte, it is preferred that little or no light is produced by reactions that are not dependent on the presence of the analyte. This is the case with firefly luciferase. Under typical firefly luciferase assay conditions, luminescence cannot be detected when the firefly luciferase is not present. In contrast to assays employing firefly luciferase, light can generally be detected in Renilla luciferase assay systems when the Renilla luciferase is not present. Luminescence that is not dependent on the catalytic activity of a luminescent enzyme is termed autoluminescence. For example, autoluminescence can be caused by spontaneous oxidation of the luminogenic substrate coelenterazine.
Luminescence that is not dependent on the on the presence of an analyte (e.g. autoluminescence) can limit the usefulness of an analytical assay by reducing the ability to accurately measure the quantity of light resulting from the activity of the analyte. In particular, the sensitivity of luminescent assays containing coelenterazine or its structural analogs is reduced due to autoluminescence. Additionally, the addition of various components to the assay system, such as lipids (especially above the critical micelle concentration or CMC), hydrophobic proteins (especially those with a defined three-dimensional structure), and cells or other biological materials containing hydrophobic microenvironments, can greatly increase autoluminescence.
Assay sensitivity may also be reduced by luminescence from an unrelated luminogenic molecule. The unrelated luminogenic molecule may be present due to contamination of the analytical assay, or due to a separate analytical luminescence assay performed in the same reaction mixture. In either case, the sensitivity of an analytical luminescence assay could be improved by reducing the luminescence that is not dependent on the presence of the analyte.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Method for increasing luminescence assay sensitivity


A vehicle door module includes a lock attached to a constituent support panel of the module, which is shaped to press against the periphery of an opening formed in an interior panel of a door frame. The support panel being identical for a vehicle with two doors and for a vehicle with four doors. The lock assembly includes lugs for fastening the lock to the panel with lugs that differ for the type of vehicle. A first lug of a length suited to a two-door vehicle, and a second lug that is suited to a four-door vehicle. This arrangement makes it possible to use the same standard module for vehicles of different types and therefore to cut down on the corresponding investment needed for producing the module.

The present invention relates to an assembly comprising a vehicle door module equipped with a lock, and means of fastening the lock to a constituent support panel of the module. The latter is shaped to be able to press against the periphery of an opening formed in an interior panel of the vehicle door frame.
These door modules press against the periphery of the opening in the door frame in a sealed manner and are equipped with functional equipment such as the window lifter, lock, etc. The module consists of an equipment support panel made of sheet metal, fitted with a peripheral seal which closes the door opening, this opening being used to feed the equipment that the sheet metal panel supports into the inside of the door. Conventionally, the module support panel is specific to each type of vehicle. The panel thus differs from a two-door vehicle to a four-door vehicle, the support panel being longer in the case of a four-door vehicle. This results in substantial investment for the pressing of the module support sheet, because a module specific to each type of vehicle is needed.
Accordingly, it is desirable to provide a standard module which can be used with equal ease on two-door vehicles and on four-door vehicles.
According to the present invention the door module assembly and a means of fastening a lock assembly includes a support panel which is identical for a two-door vehicle and for a four-door vehicle, and lugs for fastening the lock to the panel which lugs differ for the two types of vehicle, namely a first lug of a length suited to a two-door vehicle and a second lug, which is shorter than the first, suited to a four-door vehicle.
According to the method also envisaged by the invention, use is made of an identical module for the two types of vehicle, and of means of fastening the lock to the module which are specific to each type of vehicle.
Thus, the same module can be used as standard for both types of vehicle, simply by replacing the short lug by a longer lug for fastening the lock when changing from a four-door vehicle to a two-door vehicle.
According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, formed in the module support panel are pressed zones to which window lifter guide rails may be fastened, the longitudinal position for fastening each rail being adjustable in each pressed zone according to whether the window lifter is being fitted to a two-door vehicle or to a four-door vehicle; each pressed zone thus has fastening points which are longitudinally offset for the two types of vehicle.
The same standard module can therefore be used very easily for any one of the two types of vehicle, which means that all that is required is for the fastening points specific to the type of vehicle being assembled to be selected in the pressed zone of the support panel.

Method of assembling a vehicle door module


A face-seal interface for a respiratory mask utilizing an elastomer containing precipitated particles on its surface to provide a more comfortable long-term engagement with the skin of a wearer. A particle filled bladder forming the face-seal interface keeps a set shape and improves user comfort.

Sleep apnea is a condition that occurs when a person regularly stops breathing for ten seconds or longer during sleep. It is a form of sleep-disordered breathing. The severity of sleep apnea can be classified according to the number of times per hour a person stops breathing (apnea) or has slowed breathing (hyperpnoea). Apnea episodes can happen from five to fifty times an hour.
During an apnea episode, a person's blood oxygen level may drop. Over time, low blood oxygen levels can lead to serious health problems and early death. People who have sleep apnea may be at increased risk for developing high blood pressure (hypertension), high blood pressure in the lungs (pulmonary hypertension), depression, mental impairment, irregular heart rhythms, heart disease, and stroke. They also may have a higher-than-average rate of automobile and work-related accidents.
Sleep apnea usually is caused by a blockage (obstruction) in the nose or mouth. A blockage may be caused by defects in the nose or enlarged tissues in the nose, mouth or throat. About 2-4% of people suffer from sleep apnea and affects all age groups. People who have sleep apnea often (but not always) snore loudly and tend to be sleepy throughout the day. Common symptoms include: tossing and turning during sleep and feeling as through they are suffocating; complaining that they are tired all fo the time; awakening with morning headaches and feeling irritable and not rested; failing asleep at inappropriate times, such as while eating, driving or talking; and having problems doing their jobs. The bed partner of a person with sleep apnea may notice periods when the person stops breathing while sleeping.
A sleep study (polysomnography) is the only way to positively diagnose sleep apnea. For some people who have sleep apnea, losing weight, developing good sleeping habits and avoiding alcohol and sleep medications may cure the condition. However, other people may need to use a breathing device that provides continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP). The CPAP device prevents the airway from closing during sleep. A CPAP device is the most common treatment for sleep apnea. If enlarged tissues are causing the blockage, surgery may be needed.
BIPAP
Bilevel therapy works by delivering two different levels of positive air pressure: a higher level of pressure during inhalation and a lower level of pressure during exhalation. There are a number of conditions for which a physician might prescribe Bipap therapy. Bipap devices provide therapy for people with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) if they have found CPAP therapy too difficult. Bilevel devices can also provide noninvasive position pressure ventilation (NPPV) for people with respiratory disorders of other forms of sleep-disordered breath (SDB).
The breathing device includes a compressor that delivers air, oxygen or a mixture thereof at a controlled rate to a mask that seals tightly against the patient airway. There are both nasal masks and full face masks available. CPAP manufacturers includes Devilbiss, Fisher & Paykel, Puritan-Bennett, Resmed, Respironics, Med Ind American, Inc. and Viasys. An important feature of the CPAP mask is comfort and sealing characteristics. The patient has to wear the mask at night during his sleep. During sleep the compressor delivers controlled gas pressure to the mask. Because of the pressure of the gas between the face and the mask, a relatively large force is required to keep the mask in place. This retaining force is exerted by the mask "head gear," this is a structure of straps that holds the mask in place. The head gear pushes the mask tightly against the patient's face. Accordingly issues arise relating to comfort and skin adhesion and damage.
Some CPAP masks already commercially available have a seal made of soft elastomers, some have a double structure of an elastomer plus an additional thin film over the elastomer in order to minimize skin breakdown. The surface characteristics of the seal are important. The seal should not grab the skin at all. It should not exert tangential stresses on the skin. The patient is likely to move in his sleep and, therefore, the mask is likely to impinge on the bedding and be subject to lateral stresses. Such stress, if transmitted to the skin, will likely cause skin damage.


A high-resolution high-speed image reader to digitize information printed on personal identification cards or other substantially rigid documents. The system is engineered to provide means for reading ID card printed information. The system may be mounted in a bay of a personal computer, may be implemented in a counter top configuration, may be integrated for mounting into an automatic teller machine, or may be configured for a battery operated portable configurations or for a vehicle-transported configuration.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention pertains to the field of personal identification systems.
2. Description of the Related Art
Many personal identification techniques have been invented to avoid fraud. The most promising identification technique is based on smart cards, wherein a complete microprocessor is integrated in a module that fits in the thickness of a standard plastic credit card. The operations performed by the microprocessor and the exchange of information with a host computer via a reader are entirely secured using robust encryption techniques. There is also a need to store significant amounts of personal information such as for, example, medical history. Again, smart cards are ideally suited for this type of data storage.
Smart cards are well established in Europe and are starting to appear in other parts of the world. However, despite their obvious benefits, smart cards have not been adopted for identical applications in all countries. The principal obstacle to wide adoption of smart cards is the complexity, fragility and cost of the hardware devices. The smart module as well as the reader can be too easily damaged if minimal caution is not taken.
A very promising technique that is based on printing very fine symbols directly on the surface of the card together with text identification data, photograph, finger print, signature, and logos is a robust and inexpensive solution to the personal identification problem. For example, Symbol Technology has created the PDF code and Xerox has created the DataGlyph code. The PDF code is a two-dimensional code that is used for the identification of factory items, and is read using handheld laser beam scanning technique. The DataGlyph code, a two-dimensional code, patented by Xerox, (U.S. Pat. No. 5,245,165), is used to provide additional information on office forms that are scanned using a conventional general-purpose document reader.
The DataGlyph code is composed of symbols almost invisible to the naked eye and the general patterns typically appear as uniform gray shading that can be inserted for filling gaps between large letters, logos or photographs. Printed at 300 dpi, these patterns store about 400 bytes per square inch. The DataGlyph code is, therefore, ideally suited to be printed on personal identification plastic cards using 300 dpi thermal transfer printers, or higher resolution printing techniques, for storing encrypted data such as medical information, fingerprints, photographs, signatures, and any other biometrics digitized data.
Once the printed information is digitized using a document-imaging scanner, a pattern recognition algorithm identifies the symbols and translates them back into their binary form. Robust redundancy algorithms such as the Cross-Interleaved Reed-Solomon code used in spacecraft transmissions and CD-ROM readers allow a high percentage of symbol errors to occur before the encoded original message is unrecoverable. Typically, error rates up to 30% can still result in successful decoding. Each user determines the amount of error correction to be used, depending on the expected damage or abuse that may be sustained by the card in that application.
This tolerance to a high rate of errors make this personal identification technique extremely robust even in harsh environments. The plastic cards are not affected by dust, humidity, corrosion, temperature or sweat. Tampering is rapidly identified. Typically, printed cards cost 1/10th the cost of smart cards.
Other symbol-based technologies that make use of laser beam techniques to print and read the information are less robust and considerably more expensive.
The devices in the prior art that can digitize information printed on personal identification cards are general-purpose document scanners that are not suited for heavy-duty usage and fast reading of ID cards.


A cushioned shoe sole includes an outer sole layer for contacting the ground surface, a midsole layer disposed above the outer sole layer and being formed of a resilient elastomeric material, and a bladder composite which includes a first bladder inflated with a first fluid medium and having a perimeter area and a second bladder element formed around the first bladder element perimeter area and encasing the first bladder element. The first and second bladder elements are positioned within the midsole layer. In a method for forming a cushioning device in accordance with the present invention a first bladder is formed from an elastomeric material to include an interior cavity defined within a perimeter of the bladder. The first bladder is inflated under pressure, sealed, and a second bladder is then formed from an elastomeric material around the first inflated bladder.

Basketball, tennis, running, and aerobics are but a few of the many popular athletic activities which produce a substantial impact on the foot when the foot strikes the ground. To cushion the strike force on the foot, as well as the leg and connecting tendons, the sole of shoes designed for such activities typically include several layers, including a resilient, shock absorbent layer such as a midsole and a ground contacting outer sole or outsole which provides both durability and traction.
The typical midsole uses one or more materials or components which affect the force of impact in two important ways, i.e., through shock absorption and energy absorption. Shock absorption involves the attenuation of harmful impact forces to thereby provide enhanced foot protection. Energy absorption is the dissemination of both impact and useful propulsive forces. Thus, a midsole with high energy absorbing characteristics generally has a relatively low resiliency and, conversely, a midsole with low energy absorbing characteristics generally has a relatively high resiliency. The optimum midsole should be designed with an impact response that takes into consideration both adequate shock absorption and sufficient resiliency.
One type of sole structure in which attempts have been made to design appropriate impact response is soles, or inserts for soles, that contain a bladder element of either a liquid or gaseous fluid. These bladder elements are either encapsulated in place during the foam midsole formation or dropped into a shallow, straight walled cavity of a foam midsole and cemented in place, usually with a separate piece of foam cemented on top. Gas filled bladder elements are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,183,156 and 4,219,945 to Marion F. Rudy, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference. A bladder or barrier member is formed of an elastomer material having a multiplicity of preferably intercommunicating, chambers which are inflated to a relatively high pressure by a gas having a low diffusion rate through the bladder. The gas is supplemented by ambient air diffusing through the bladder to thereby increase the pressure therein and obtain a pressure that remains at or above its initial value over a period of years. (U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,340,626, 4,936,029 and 5,042,176 to Marion F. Rudy describe various improvements in such bladders and are also hereby incorporated by reference.) The bladder insert is incorporated into the shoe, in the '156 patent, by placement within a cavity below the upper, e.g., on top of a midsole layer and within sides of the upper or within the midsole. In the '945 patent, the bladder insert is encapsulated within a yieldable foam material, which functions as a bridging moderator filling in the irregularities of the bladder with foam pillars, providing a substantially smooth and contoured surface for supporting the foot and forming an easily handled structure for attachment to an upper. However, maintaining quality and density consistency in the pillars of foam is a difficult manufacturing task. In addition, the presence of the moderating foam detracts from the shock absorbing function of the gas inflated bladder, as well as the cushioning perception provided by the bladder. Thus, when the inflated bladder is encapsulated in a foam midsole, the favorable cushioning response characteristics of the inflated bladder are reduced by the presence of the encapsulating foam, including the pillars that fill in the irregularities of the bladder.

Cushioning device for a footwear sole and method for making the same


A method for controlling resource pool depletion includes, at a first time, determining a first remainder of a depletion interval; on the basis of the first remainder, determining a first depletion rate for urging the pool to reach a selected state at the end of the depletion interval; on the basis of the first depletion rate, partially depleting the pool; and at a second time following the first time, determining a second remainder of the depletion interval; receiving state information indicative of a difference between a state of the pool at the first time and a state of the resource pool at the second time; on the basis of the second remainder and the state information, determining a second depletion rate for urging the pool to reach a selected state at the end of the depletion interval; and on the basis of the second depletion rate, partially depleting the pool.

A control system manipulates certain variables, referred to as "control variables," associated with a controlled system. It does so in an attempt to cause the controlled system to achieve a particular goal, often referred to as a "set point." A feedback control system receives information indicative of an error between the actual performance of the controlled system and the set point. It then uses this information to manipulate the control variable in an effort to reduce this error.
A common example of a control system of this type is an automotive cruise control. In such a control system, the controlled system is the automobile, the set point is the desired speed, and the control variable is the output of the throttle. In such a case, the control system measures an error signal indicative of a difference between an actual speed and the desired speed, and controls the throttle on the basis of that signal.
Other examples of control systems seek to cause a controlled system to achieve a particular state at a particular time. For example, in the transportation industry, it is desirable for trains or airplanes to reach their destination neither too early, nor too late, but on time. In principle, one could simply measure the desired distance and operate the vehicle according to some pre-determined velocity profile. However, in practice, there will be random disturbances along the route, such as traffic, or poor travel conditions. Such disturbances can be compensated for by slowing down or speeding up in response to changing conditions. Preferably, such corrections would be carried out as unobtrusively as possible.
In other cases, a vehicle may have only limited fuel available to reach a destination. In such cases, it may desirable to control fuel consumption in such a way that when the vehicle arrives at the destination at the designated time with a designated amount of residual fuel. A control system for controlling the vehicle in such an application would adaptively control fuel consumption in response to stochastic inputs. For example, different patterns of driving will result in stochastically varying fuel consumption that may need to be taken into account in deciding how to consume the remaining fuel supply.

Controlled depletion of a stochastically varying resource pool


Preamble length of burst communication signals dynamically changed to compensate in changes to linear distortion of a communication channel. Pre-equalization coefficients are provided to network element which pre-equalize communications with the CMTS. Long preamble lengths are used for a select few communications while short preamble lengths are used for the rest of the communication signals. When change in distortion characteristics is detected, a station maintenance is performed on the affected network element and new pre-equalization coefficients are determined and provided to the network element. Alternatively, all communications may be provided with long preamble lengths and communications may continue while the CMTS determines new pre-equalization coefficients.

There are generally two types of equalization that exist in the return path of a communication signal in accordance with the data over cable system (DOCSIS) specification: 1) Pre-Equalization and 2) Post-Equalization. Post-equalization generally refers to a process that happens only in a cable modem termination system (CMTS). During post-equalization, the CMTS begins with an initial equalizer (for example, all 0's except for the main equalizer tap which begins with a 1). The CMTS then adapts/modifies the equalizer coefficients (via a feedback process) to compensate for any linear distortion that the signal has encountered. Linear distortion of the signal might result from the network element (e.g. modem) transmitter, cable plant, or CMTS receiver. The CMTS resets the equalizer to its initial values prior to the start of each new burst regardless of which network element the burst is coming from. As a result, a substantial number of incoming symbols at the beginning of each burst are often received before the post-equalizer is adequately converged, e.g., 100 symbols may be required for adequate convergence for most cable plants. The number of symbols required for convergence depends upon several factors, such as the "whiteness" of the symbols that the equalizer is trained on and the degree of linear distortion impacting the signal.
The DOCSIS protocol deals with the large number of symbols required for convergence by allowing the operator to configure the preamble length and preamble sequence such that the post-equalizer can obtain convergence during a preamble. A longer preamble length allows the CMTS post-equalizer to better converge prior to actually receiving the data payload portion of the upstream burst. Since, the CMTS resets its post-equalizer to its initial value prior to each data burst, the operator must send longer preambles for ALL data types, e.g., Initial Maintenance (IM), Station Maintenance (SM), Short Data (SD), Long Data (LD), Advanced Short (AS), Advanced Long (AL), and Unsolicited Grant Service (UGS). The longer preambles introduce higher overhead associated with the data packets and can have dramatic impacts on very short data packets, such as Voice over Internet protocol (VOIP). Moreover, for post-equalization every burst must be lengthened with a longer preamble to allow the equalizer to converge prior to receiving the data burst. If the preamble is not lengthened the equalizer may still be training (attempting to converge) during the beginning portion of the data payload, which greatly increases the likelihood of errors during the data transmission.
Pre-equalization relies on the modems or network elements to transmit a corrected communication signal to compensate for distortions. Pre-equalization requires the CMTS to store the equalizer coefficients for a given network element and then send them to the network element. The network element may then pre-distort its transmitted signal in such a way as to compensate for the distortion received by the CMTS. As a result, the CMTS should not see any (or at least minimal) distortion with its post-equalizer when a network element is transmitting with its pre-equalizer values. The CMTS obtains the pre-equalization values by training its equalizer using the network element station maintenance bursts during periodic ranging requests, and then sends the correct equalizer values to the network element in a ranging response message back to the network element. Successful periodic ranging is required to happen at a rate of at least every 30 seconds and generally occurs between 10-20 seconds. Thus, for pre-equalization, the ranging Interval Usage Code (IUC) (3,4) preambles must be long while the data IUC (1, 5, 6, 9, 10, 11) can utilize short preambles, which results in lower overhead.
However with pre-equalization, when distortion changes, such as when connected devices such as televisions, cable set top boxes or cable modems are powered on or off, the system is unable to compensate for this change until the next station maintenance interval which could be as much as 30 seconds later. This means as much as 30 seconds worth of data transmission may be lost, which is a catastrophic event for a VoIP call. Conversely, for post-equalization, both ranging IUC (3, 4) and data IUC (1, 5, 6, 9, 10, 11) preambles are all long to allow the CMTS to retrain for every burst. This better assures that packets will not be lost when distortion changes within the plant but at the expense of greater overhead due to longer preambles for all the data bursts.

Method and apparatus for dynamically changing the preamble length of a burst communication


A Computerized Tomographic (CT) helical scanner system including multiple, separate x-ray sources mounted on the same gantry, each irradiating different two-dimensional detectors at any given time to simultaneously acquire data from multiple slices and combining the data obtained from the multiple slices to provide images either of individual slices or combined slices.

CT systems produce planar images along imaginary cuts through a subject. Each cut is referred to as a slice. Scanners in general comprise an X-ray source which revolves about an imaginary axis through a subject. The X-rays, after passing through the subject, impinge on an opposing array of detectors, which may also be revolving. Data for reconstruction of a single image includes a set of views corresponding to different projection angles, each view comprising radiation intensity data measured by detector elements at a particular projection angle.
A prior art CT study of a subject for obtaining successive planar images includes the following steps:
1. Putting the patient on the bed in a CT system gantry. PA1 2. Scanning the patient. The scan includes the revolution of the X-ray source about the subject and acquisition of radiation intensity data per detector element per angle of revolution of the X-ray source. PA1 3. Reconstructing the image. Optional display, archiving and/or filming. PA1 4. Incrementing the bed to the position of the next slice. PA1 1. P. Slavin, U.S. Pat. No. 3,432,657 (1969). PA1 2. I. Mori, U.S. Pat. No. 4,630,202 (1986). PA1 3. H. Nishimura, U.S. Pat. No. 4,789,929 (1988). PA1 4. W. A. Kalandar, P. Vock and W. Seissler in Advances in CT (Springer-Verlag, Berlin, Heidelberg 1990, pp. 55-64). PA1 5. C. R. Crawford and H. F. King, Med. Phys. 1796), (1990) pp. 967-982 and reference therein. PA1 1. Linear and non-linear interpolation schemes; PA1 2. Variable bed speeds associated with appropriate interpolation schemes; and PA1 3. Reducing the bed speed so that the bed moves less than a whole slice width within a single gantry revolution. PA1 4. Reconstruction using data from only 180.degree. of rotation before the desired position and 180.degree. of rotation after the desired position. PA1 a gantry, PA1 a bed for supporting a scanned subject, PA1 multiple X-ray sources mounted on said gantry, PA1 an X-ray detector array on a side of the subject opposite to each of the X-ray sources, PA1 said detector arrays comprising detector elements for simultaneously detecting X-rays from multiple sources that have traversed one or multiple planar sections of said subject to acquire radiation density data, PA1 rotary drive mechanisms for rotating the X-ray sources about the subject, the detector arrays may be rotating opposite to the X-ray sources (3rd generation CT scanner) or stationary, (4th generation CT scanner), PA1 longitudinal drive mechanisms for causing relative motion in an axial direction between the bed and the gantry while the X-ray sources are revolving about the subject, and PA1 an image processor for reconstructing images from said data where said image processor includes a reformatting arrangement for reformatting the acquired data into single plane data by interpolating between data acquired by detector elements that may be exposed to different X-ray sources and/or to the same X-ray source.
Steps 2-4 are repeated as long as more slices are required. Step 3 may be concurrent with steps 2 and 4, but step 4 must be successive to step 2. Step 4 involves acceleration and de-acceleration of the bed if the bed is stationary during the scan such as when successive planar images are acquired. Step 2 may involve acceleration and de-acceleration of the gantry to the proper rotational speed. Gantry acceleration and de-acceleration may, however, be circumvented by using a continuous rotation scanner such as provided, e.g., by slip-ring technology.
An ubiquitous problem encountered by CT systems is that a complete 360.degree. rotation of the gantry is required to achieve a high quality image. At least 180.degree. of rotation is required to achieve a full set of projections. One solution is a multiple source X-ray tomograph such as described e.g. in U.S. Pat. No. 4,991,190 where high resolution or high speed scans may be achieved.
Other problems occur with the prior art CT scanners used to obtain a series of planar images. For example, the successive nature of the scanning process described hereinabove, prolongs the time during which the subject is imaged. The longer throughput time results in greater patient discomfort. The bed acceleration and de-acceleration add to the discomfort of the patient. Further, the patient is required to adjust his breathing cycle to the scanning rate so as to reduce motion related image artifacts. When the examination period is longer, the breath control is more difficult resulting in more patient motion, both during scans and between scans. Patient motion, voluntary and involuntary, between scans decreases the repeatability that is desired between adjacent slices. In particular, oblique reformatting and 3-D images formed from series of planar images are adversely affected.
To overcome these problems, helical or spiral scanning systems have been investigated and developed. This type of scanning is described in the following references:
Essentially, with helical scanning scanners, the subject is continuously scanned while the gantry makes multiple rotations about the subject and the bed is moved relative to the gantry along the axis of rotation simultaneously with the rotation. Images of successive slices are recontructed from sets of views using well known recontruction algorithms.
In conventional non-helical; i.e., stationary bed CT scans made to image successive slices, the different views making up the different sets correspond to projections within the same plane. On the other hand, in the helical scans the different views making up the different sets correspond to projections in different planes.
Therefore, non-modified conventional reconstruction yields artifacts; i.e., highly distorted images. To prevent such artifacts, the raw data is reformatted before backprojection into single plane data sets by interpolating between data measured at the same gantry angle but at different subject positions, providing data of different planes.
The theoretical slice sensitivity profile is defined as the response of the scanner to a small homogeneous object as a function of the object position along the axial direction. The slice width is defined as a full width at half maximum (FWHM) of the slice sensitivity profile.
In stationary-bed CT scans, the slice width is determined by collimators limiting the beam width or the length of the detector elements in the axial direction. In helical scans, data from different planes through the subject are mixed and the slice sensitivity profile is smeared. Therefore, the FWHM of the profile tends to be larger in a helical scan than in a stationary-bed scan for a given collimator setting. Also, the ratio between the full width at tenth maximum (FWTM) and the FWHM of the sensitivity profile, which as a measure of the quality of the slice width, is severely degraded.
Various schemes to improve the slice sensitivity profile in helican scans are discussed in the references cited hereinabove. These include:
Non of these schemes, however, provides images of the quality obtained in prior art stationary bed CT systems for a given radiation dose applied to the subject. Furthermore, because of the increased time length of exposure required in helical scans, the available X-ray intensity is likely to be less than in stationary bed CT systems, thus further decreasing image quality.
One possible solution to the problems encountered in prior art X-ray computed tomography is a multiple slice tomograph as taught in the above referred to Patent Application. The present invention provides both an alternative solution and an additional solution.


A two-stage turbocharger apparatus includes first and second passages having different cross-sectional areas. The first and second passages are connected to an inlet end of a high-pressure turbine and are configured to supply exhaust gas discharged from an exhaust manifold of an engine to the inlet end of the high-pressure turbine. Third and fourth passages, having different cross-sectional areas, connect an outlet end of the high-pressure turbine to an inlet end of a low-pressure turbine. An EGR valve has one end connected to one of the first and second passages. A bypass line has a first end connected to the other of the first and second passages and a second end connected to one of the third and fourth passages.

A conventional two-stage turbocharger apparatus compresses intake air twice and supplies the compressed intake air to a combustion chamber of an engine, thereby enabling power of the engine to be increased. In addition, it may be possible to minimize an energy loss of exhaust gas by maximizing efficiency of the two-stage turbocharger apparatus through high and low pressure turbochargers connected in series.
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a structure of a typical two-stage turbocharger apparatus of an engine. Referring to FIG. 1, the two-stage turbocharger apparatus includes a high-pressure side turbo device 12 connected to an exhaust manifold 11a and an intake manifold 11b of an engine 11, and a low-pressure side turbo device 13 connected in series thereto.
In addition, a high-pressure turbine TB1 of the high-pressure side turbo device 12 and a low-pressure turbine TB2 of the low-pressure side turbo device 13 rotate using flow energy of exhaust gas discharged from the exhaust manifold 11a of the engine 11. Through such a configuration, air is primarily pressurized by a low-pressure compressor CP2 of the low-pressure side turbo device 13 and the air is secondarily pressurized by a high-pressure compressor CP1 of the high-pressure side turbo device 12, so that the pressurized air is supplied to the intake manifold 11b of the engine through an intercooler 14.
When the engine 11 is driven at high speed, the amount of exhaust gas taken in by the high-pressure side turbo device 12 is insufficient compared to an amount of exhaust gas discharged from the exhaust manifold 11a. For this reason, a waste gate valve WG mounted to the high-pressure turbine TB1 is opened such that exhaust gas is bypassed.
When an Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR) valve 15 is opened, the exhaust gas recirculated by the EGR valve 15 is cooled through an EGR cooler.
In this case, there is however a problem in that performance of the two-stage turbocharger apparatus may not be maximized under some operating conditions such as high EGR rate since pressure decrease occurs at an inlet of the high-pressure turbine TB1 when the EGR valve 15 is opened and the volume of a passage connected to the low-pressure turbine TB2 is increased when the waste gate valve WG is also opened.
In particular, when the EGR valve 15 is widely opened, the efficiency of the high-pressure turbine TB1 may be decreased due to flow separation at the inlet end of the high-pressure turbine TB1. For this reason, the efficiency of the two-stage turbocharger apparatus may be reduced since a boost pressure rising rate is decreased when a vehicle is accelerated.
The matters described as the related art have been provided only for assisting the understanding for the background of the present inventive concept and should not be considered as corresponding to the related art already known to those skilled in the art.


A method of bonding a common cover plate over a plurality of OLED devices formed on a device substrate includes providing an unpatterned or a patterned layer of a pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA) material over a surface of the cover plate; bonding the cover plate over the OLED devices; and singulating individual OLED devices having a bonded cover plate and permitting electrical access to electrical interconnects associated with each OLED device for attaching electrical leads thereto.

Organic light-emitting diode (OLED) devices, also referred to as organic electroluminescent (EL) devices, have numerous well known advantages over other flat-panel display devices currently in the market place. Among these advantages are brightness of light emission, relatively wide viewing angle, reduced electrical power consumption compared to, for example, liquid crystal displays (LCDs) using backlighting, and a wider spectrum of colors of emitted light in full-color OLED displays.
Applications of OLED devices include active matrix image displays, passive matrix image displays, and area lighting devices such as, for example, selective desktop lighting devices. Irrespective of the particular OLED device configuration tailored to these broad fields of applications, all OLEDs function on the same general principles. An organic electroluminescent (EL) medium structure is sandwiched between two electrodes. At least one of the electrodes is light transmissive. These electrodes are commonly referred to as an anode and a cathode in analogy to the terminals of a conventional diode. When an electrical potential is applied between the electrodes so that the anode is connected to the positive terminal of a voltage source and the cathode is connected to the negative terminal, the OLED is said to be forward biased. Positive charge carriers (holes) are injected from the anode into the EL medium structure, and negative charge carriers (electrons) are injected from the cathode. Such charge carrier injection causes current flow from the electrodes through the EL medium structure. Recombination of holes and electrons within a zone of the EL medium structure results in emission of light from this zone that is, appropriately, called the light-emitting zone or interface. The emitted light is directed towards an observer, or towards an object to be illuminated, through the light transmissive electrode. If the light transmissive electrode is between the substrate and the light emissive elements of the OLED device, the device is called a bottom-emitting OLED device. Conversely, if the light transmissive electrode is not between the substrate and the light emissive elements, the device is referred to as a top-emitting OLED device.
The organic EL medium structure can be formed of a stack of sublayers that can include small molecule layers and polymer layers. Such organic layers and sublayers are well known and understood by those skilled in the OLED art.
In top-emitting OLED devices, light is emitted through an upper electrode or top electrode which has to be sufficiently light transmissive, while the lower electrode(s) or bottom electrode(s) can be made of relatively thick and electrically conductive metal compositions which can be optically opaque. Consequently, the lower electrodes (anodes) can be formed over relatively complex drive circuitry in an active matrix OLED image display. Top-emitting OLED displays offer the potential to improve display performance compared with bottom-emitting OLED displays by:                1) increasing the aperture ratio, therefore permitting pixels of the display to operate at a lower current density which results in improved operational stability;        2) permitting more complex drive circuitry to enable improved control of pixel current, leading to enhanced display uniformity and to improved display stability;        3) enabling the use of lower mobility materials, e.g. amorphous silicon, to be considered in forming the thin-film transistor (TFT) drive circuitry; and        4) permitting incorporation of elements which can increase the out-coupling of light generated within the organic EL medium structure to provide increased efficiency of emitted light.
However, bottom-emitting OLED devices continue to find widespread use in displays of data or in the field of advertising.
Unprotected OLED display devices, irrespective of device configuration, are prone to relatively rapid degradation of performance due to adverse effects of moisture and/or oxygen present in the ambient environment. Additionally, unprotected devices can be subject to mechanical damage caused by abrasion. Various efforts have been directed at providing packaged OLED displays in which the packaging approaches offer improved operational lifetime of displays which is, however, still limited so that widespread adoption of OLED display devices is currently restricted.
Included in these efforts at providing packaged OLED devices or displays are cover plates which are adhesively bonded over an upper surface of an OLED device. Adhesive bonding of a cover plate has been provided in prior art packaging approaches by either forming a perimeter seal for bonding a cover plate along a device perimeter, or by uniformly bonding a cover plate over an entire device area. Typically, such cover plate bonding has been achieved by dispensing a flowable adhesive material on the cover plate or on the upper surface of the OLED device, bringing the cover plate and the device surface in contact, followed by curing the adhesive material by a thermal curing process or by a radiation curing process.
Representative descriptions of such prior art cover plate bonding approaches are provided in U.S. Patent Application Publications 2002/0187775 A1 by Maruyama et al.; 2002/0193035 A1 by Wei et al.; 2002/0155320 A1 by Park et al.; and commonly assigned commonly assigned U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/759,914 filed Jan. 16, 2004 by Yokajty et al., entitled "Method of Making an OLED Display Device With Enhanced Optical and Mechanical Properties", the disclosure of which is herein incorporated by reference.
Maruyama et al. propose a perimeter seal which is formed between two concave grooves disposed near perimeter areas of an OLED device. The perimeter seal provides a spacing between a device surface and a surface of a second substrate which functions as a cover plate. This spacing can be filled with an inert gas. Maruyama et al. do not suggest or disclose electrical interconnect areas, nor approaches to keep such interconnects free from perimeter seal material.
Wei et al. disclose a package method and apparatus for organic electroluminescent display. A certain amount of an ultraviolet curing resin or thermal curing resin is spread on a lamination plate or a substrate. A trench is formed at an edge of the lamination plate. Upon aligning the lamination plate with the substrate, the space between the lamination plate and the substrate is controlled by adjusting lamination pressure so that excess resin flows into the trench at the edge of the lamination plate, and the dimensions of the package can be controlled. The resin is cured by ultraviolet radiation or by a thermal process. Thus, Wei et al. provide uniform bonding between the substrate and the lamination plate which functions as a cover plate. Wei et al. do not suggest or disclose electrical interconnect areas nor approaches to keep such interconnects free from resins.
Park et al. disclose a package method and apparatus for organic electroluminescent display. A trench is disposed on at least one of the cover plate or device substrate to prevent perimeter sealing material from contacting the display area of the OLED device. During pressing of the cover plate to the substrate, excess perimeter sealing material resin flows into the trench, and the sealing material is prevented from contacting the display area. Park et al. do not suggest or disclose electrical interconnect areas nor approaches to keep such interconnects free from perimeter sealing material.
While the perimeter seals of Maruyama et al. and of Park et al. can provide improved moisture protection, the lack of a structural buffer layer between the OLED device surface and a lower surface of the cover plate can cause mechanical and optical problems. Mechanical problems include excessive stress to the perimeter seal caused by thermal expansion and contraction under normal device operating conditions leading to leakage of the perimeter seal. Expansion of the gas in the space between the OLED device surface and the lower surface of the cover plate can lead to breakage of the device substrate or cover plate when subjected to lowered environmental pressure, especially for larger-sized displays. Optical problems include undesirable reflective or refractive optical effects at both surfaces of a transparent cover plate which is used in a top-emitting OLED display device.
Serbicki et al. recognized the importance of keeping at least outermost portions of electrical interconnect areas of OLED devices free from a flowable adhesive material. Various configurations of flow-preventing patterns are disclosed which are oriented with respect to a plurality of OLED devices on a device substrate so that flowable adhesive material is prevented from spreading into and beyond these patterns while permitted to spread uniformly over at least the display areas of the OLED devices. Upon curing of the adhesive material, a uniform structural buffer layer serves to uniformly bond a cover plate over an encapsulated surface of a pixelated OLED device while keeping the electrical interconnect areas free from adhesive material.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,268,695, assigned to Battelle Memorial Institute, describes an environmental barrier for an OLED in which a glass cover plate is not used. In this invention, the foundation is coated with three layers: a first polymer layer; a ceramic layer; and a second polymer layer. These layers are substantially transparent to the light emitted by the OLED. This invention creates an environmental barrier for an OLED display, but does not provide mechanical protection for the OLED display, especially from pressure points such as those created when a user touches the surface of the display with his or her finger.
Other effective barrier layers against moisture penetration and/or oxygen penetration into a top-emitting OLED device include a transparent encapsulation layer which can be formed by know thin-film deposition methods such as, for example, thermal vapor deposition, sputter deposition, or atomic layer deposition. Materials particularly suitable as encapsulation layer material include aluminum oxide (Al2Ox), silicon nitride (SiN), silicon-oxinitride (SiOxN1-x), and tantalum oxide (TaOx).
Due to the structure of the thin-film encapsulation layer, they do not provide adequate mechanical protection. For a top-emitting OLED device, a transparent cover plate is required to ensure mechanical protection. However, conventional perimeter sealing of the cover plate to the OLED display substrate results in the aforementioned mechanical and optical problems.
In manufacturing OLED display devices, a plurality of devices are typically manufactured on a device substrate, and are subsequently singulated or cut and separated from the device substrate. Each OLED display device includes a pixelated display area and an electrical interconnect area which is used to connect the singulated OLED display device to external electrical power and control electronics.
Irrespective of the configuration of environmental protection elements, such as an encapsulation layer and a perimeter-sealed cover plate, an encapsulation layer and a uniformly bonded cover plate, or just a perimeter-sealed cover plate, it is important to keep at least the outermost portions of the electrical interconnect area(s) free of encapsulation layer material and of sealing material or adhesive material to ensure reliable electrical connections to the interconnect area or areas.
Flowable adhesive materials are used in the above referenced U.S. Patent Applications to provide bonding between an OLED device and a cover plate either in the form of a perimeter seal or in the form of a uniform bond. The flowable adhesive material has to be dispensed in a measured amount, and curing of the spread adhesive material is required to provide effective bonding.
Dispensing of a flowable adhesive material, or of substantially viscous adhesive materials, requires a dispensing apparatus and may require a precision platform which can be translated along an x-direction and a y-direction if the adhesive is to be dispensed in a pattern. Since the organic EL medium structure of OLED devices is subject to degradation upon exposure to ultraviolet curing radiation or upon exposure to curing temperatures called for in thermally cured adhesives, attention has to be paid to curing conditions so as to avoid degrading the EL medium structure.
Therefore, it would be an advantage to provide a "dry" process of uniformly bonding a commonly shared cover plate over a plurality of encapsulated OLED devices formed on a device substrate. Preferably, curing of a bonding adhesive layer should not be required.
McCormick et al. in U.S. Patent Application Publication 2003/0143423 A1 disclose an organic electronic device which is encapsulated at least in part by an adsorbent-loaded transfer adhesive. The adsorbent may be a desiccant and/or a getterer. The adsorbent-loaded transfer adhesive may form a gasket around the device periphery, or may cover the entire device and its periphery. An encapsulation lid covers the device and the lid is adhered to a device substrate by the adhesive. The transfer adhesive is selected to be permeable to one or both of air and water vapor so that the adsorbent material loaded into the adhesive can getter oxygen and/or adsorb water vapor. All but one of the transfer adhesive materials described by McCormick et al. require either UV-curing, thermal curing, or heating the device during application of a hot-melt adhesive material. A conventional pressure-sensitive adhesive material obviates the need for UV-curing, or for subjecting an OLED device to a thermal process at a temperature and for a duration which can result in degrading one or all of the thin layers comprising the organic EL medium structure.

Method of fabricating a cover plate bonded over an encapsulated OLEDs


The present invention provides a surveying instrument (20), comprising a surveying instrument main unit (21) which projects a measuring light to an object to be measured and measures a position based on a reflection light from the object to be measured and an operation device (67) which is removably attached on the surveying instrument main unit, wherein the surveying instrument main unit comprises a distance measuring unit (54) and (55) for emitting the measuring light and for measuring a distance, an image pickup unit (51) and (53) for acquiring an image, a reflection mirror (45) rotatably mounted and used for directing the measuring light toward the object to be measured, for directing the reflected light from the object to be measured toward a light receiving unit, and for directing the image in a projecting direction toward the image pickup unit, a detecting means (31) for detecting a rotating position of the reflection mirror, and a control unit (74) for controlling at least the distance measuring unit, the image pickup unit and the rotating position of the reflection mirror, and wherein the operation device comprises a display unit for displaying the image acquired by the image pickup unit.

As a device for automatically measuring a position of a measurement target, an automatic surveying instrument has been known in the past, which comprises an automated total station comprising a distance measuring unit.
Referring to FIG. 7, description will be given below on a conventional type automatic surveying instrument.
A base unit 2 is disposed on a leveling unit 1. A frame unit 4 is mounted on the base unit 2 via a horizontal rotation shaft 3 so that it can be rotated in a horizontal direction. A body tube 6 is mounted on the frame unit 4 via a vertical rotation shaft 5 so that it can be rotated in a vertical direction.
A horizontal rotation gear 7 is mounted on the horizontal rotation shaft 3, and a horizontal rotating motor 8 is mounted on the base unit 2. A horizontal rotating driving gear 9 is engaged on an output shaft of the horizontal rotating motor 8, and the horizontal rotating driving gear 9 is engaged with the horizontal rotating gear 7. A horizontal angle detecting encoder 11 is provided between the horizontal rotation shaft 3 and the base unit 2.
The frame unit 4 is rotated in a horizontal direction by the horizontal rotating motor 8 via the horizontal rotating driving gear 9 and the horizontal rotating gear 7. A rotation angle is detected by the horizontal angle detecting encoder 11.
A vertical rotating gear 12 is engaged on the vertical rotation shaft 5. A vertical rotating motor 13 is mounted on the frame unit 4. A vertical rotating driving gear 14 is mounted on an output shaft of the vertical rotating motor 13, and the vertical rotating driving gear 14 is engaged with the vertical rotating gear 12. A vertical angle detecting encoder 15 is provided between the vertical rotation shaft 5 and the frame unit 4.
The body tube 6 is rotated in a vertical direction by the vertical rotating motor 13, and an angle in a vertical direction is detected by the vertical angle detecting encoder 15.
In the body tube 6, there are provided a collimating telescope 16, a distance measuring unit (not shown), and a tracking means for tracking a prism reflector (an object to be measured) installed on a measurement target. In the frame unit 4, there are provided a tilt sensor (not shown) for detecting tilt, the horizontal rotating motor 8, the vertical rotating motor 13, a control unit (not shown) for driving and controlling the distance measuring unit (not shown), an operation unit for operating the surveying instrument, a display unit (not shown) for displaying operating conditions, measurement results, etc., and a battery (not shown) for supplying electric power to the control unit, the horizontal rotating motor 8, and the vertical rotating motor 13.
In the conventional type surveying instrument as described above, as a construction for acquiring an image data in a collimating direction, an image sensor (not shown) is mounted on an ocular element of a collimating telescope 16 of the body tube 6 so that an image obtained through the collimating telescope 16 is outputted as an electric signal by the image sensor.
While monitoring a signal from the horizontal angle detecting encoder 11, the control unit drives the horizontal rotating motor 8 and rotates the frame unit 4 in a horizontal direction. While monitoring a signal from the vertical angle detecting encoder 15, it drives the vertical rotating motor 13 and rotates the body tube in a vertical direction. The collimating telescope 16 is collimated in a predetermined direction. A distance to the object to be measured is measured, or a data of an image around the measurement taget is acquired.
In recent years, there have been growing demands on the needs for the image data in association with the distance measuring data. For instance, the distance measuring data is displayed together with the image of the measuring point in order that the measuring point can be visually identified. Further, not only the image of the measuring point but also the image around the measuring point is often required. In addition, there are also demands on the needs for the distance measuring data using the image data as positional data by making the acquisition of the image data as the primary purpose.
The conventional type automatic surveying instrument basically performs measurement by accurately collimating the measurement target. The image data obtained by the conventional type automatic surveying instrument is acquired through the collimating telescope 16. It is the image within a very limited range including the measurement target, and it is a secondary data relating to the measuring point.
Further, the conventional type automatic surveying instrument performs surveying operation by collimating the measuring point one by one, and it is difficult to acquire the data by quickly changing the measuring point. When the measuring point is changed, it is impossible to continuously acquire the image during the process of change.
The continuous image data is often required when a bird's eye view image is to be prepared. In such case, the automatic surveying instrument must be installed at a position higher than the ground surface. In the conventional type, the data necessary for operating the automatic surveying instrument such as measuring condition, data acquiring condition, etc. must be directly inputted to the surveying instrument. The surveying operator must go up each time to a point where the automatic surveying instrument is installed, and it has been inconvenience.
Under the above circumstances, it is an object of the present invention to provide a surveying instrument, by which it is possible to acquire continuous image data in wider range and which has high maneuverability and good working efficiency.


A system for dispensing or and/or creating a mixture of water and a personal care liquid (PC), such, as soap, shampoo, antibacterial liquids, disinfectant liquids, liquid dishwashing detergents, or other sanitization fluids. The system, in one embodiment, is used in conjunction with a faucet that is mounted adjacent a washbasin to dispense the mixture. In an embodiment, a mixing unit is included in the system that comprises a venturi and a pressure compensating control device. In another embodiment, a pinch valve is utilized to control the introduction of the PCL into the water flow. In yet another embodiment, at least one water pressure actuatable valve is utilized to control the introduction of the PCL into the water flow.

Currently, personal cleaning liquids, such as liquid soap, shampoo, antibacterial liquids, disinfectant liquids, liquid dishwashing detergents and other sanitization fluids, are typically applied in full strength and thereafter diluted and rinsed with water. One drawback of the current practice is that personal care liquids are often stored at random locations, and are difficult to find. Another drawback is that the use of personal care liquids during a regiment, such as washing hands, varies greatly among individuals. Another drawback is that people may merely rinse their hands with water and not use the personal care liquids as should be during as prescribed washing regiment. This can be especially troublesome in certain industries such as, food preparation and food serving, child care, medical care, and other service-based industries. Another drawback is that in systems that utilize dispensers for personal care liquids that are located adjacent the washbasin, the personal care liquid tends to become caked within the washbasin and on the surrounding surfaces, whether it be by leakage from the dispenser and/or as a result of the user's interaction with the dispenser and/or the washbasin.
In an attempt to facilitate hand washing and eliminate the above-mentioned dispenser that dispense undiluted personal care liquids directly to the user, several systems have been developed that dispense a mixture of water and a personal care liquids (such as liquid soap) have been proposed. Examples of such systems are disclosed in: (1) U.S. Pat. No. 7,073,215, issued Jul. 11, 2006 to Berke et al.; (2) U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2009/0000024, published Jan. 1, 2009 to Louis et al.:, (3) U.S. Pat. No. 5,906,319, issued May 25, 1999 to Crowl et al.; (4) U.S. Pat. No. 6,125,482, issued Oct. 3, 2000 to Foster; (5) U.S. Pat. No. 4,248,266, issued Feb. 3, 1981 to Queen; and (6) U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2006/0101575, issued May 18, 2006 to Louis.
While the above-referenced systems, methods and apparatus are an improvement over standard operation in which water is dispensed from a faucet and the personal care liquid is dispensed separately, each of these systems, methods and apparatus suffer from a number of drawbacks. Such drawbacks include complexity of the fluid circuits and associated components, excessive requirements of electrical power, and/or inability to create a reliable and consistent proportion of personal care liquid to water in the mixture. Moreover, many, if not all, of these systems fail to properly compensate for upstream pressure variances, thereby resulting in said complexity and or unpredictable results.
The present invention seeks to solve these and other deficiencies and provide an improved system, apparatus and method for creating and/or dispensing a mixture of water and a personal care liquid, such as soap, shampoo, antibacterial liquids, disinfectant liquids, liquid dishwashing detergents, or other sanitization

System, apparatus and method for creating and/or dispensing a mixture of water and a personal care liquid


To provide a silicon nitride based sintered material having high strength and high hardness and superior in reliability, silicon nitride sintered material has a composition mainly composed of silicon nitride or Si--Al--O--N, and further comprises 0.5 to 3 wt % of a Mg component, calculated as MgO, and 3 to 10 wt % of a Yb component, calculated as Yb.sub.2 O.sub.3. As a secondary crystal phase, the material contains one or more of Yb.sub.2 Si.sub.3 N.sub.4 O.sub.3, Yb.sub.2 Si.sub.3 N.sub.2 O.sub.5 and Yb.sub.4 Si.sub.2 N.sub.2 O.sub.7. Silicon nitride or Si--Al--O--N comprises 20-50 vol % of needle-like crystals of the entire material.

There has been known that there is a sintered material mainly composed of silicon nitride and containing rare earth elements, oxides of aluminum or magnesium or a compound oxides thereof as sintering aid, which material is superior in mechanical strength as a structural material.
Heretofore, as this type of the silicon nitride sintered material, there have been known a product obtained on mixing 1 to 7 wt % of powders of a sintering aid of Yb.sub.2 O.sub.3 /MgAl.sub.2 O.sub.4 =5/2 to 2/2 to 99 to 93 wt % of powders of silicon nitride and sintering the resulting mixture (JP-Patent Kokai Publication JP-A-3-164472), a product containing 3 to 6 wt % of Yb.sub.2 O.sub.3 and 0.01 to 0.03 wt % of MgAl.sub.2 O.sub.4 to powders of silicon nitride and composed of granular crystals and columnar crystals with a mean short diameter of 0.2 to 0.6 .mu.m (JP Patent Kokai Publication JP-A-4-202060) and a product containing dispersed grains of TiO.sub.2 in addition to columnar crystals of Si.sub.3 N.sub.4 and a grain boundary phase formed by sintering aids such as Y.sub.2 O.sub.3, MgO and/or Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 etc., with the short diameter and the long diameter of the columnar crystal being not more than 0.3 .mu.m and not more than 5 .mu.m, respectively (JP Patent Kokai Publication JP-A-6-305837).
However, according to eager investigation of the inventors of the present invention, there is found a following problem in the art. Namely, above conventional techniques are concerned only with improving the mechanical strength, without being concerned with hardness. In addition, no reference is made to applicability of the material as a wear resistant member (slide member) or a jig for which both strength and hardness are required. Tracing experiments, conducted by the present inventors, have revealed that the material is not sufficient in hardness for application to a rolling roll, squeeze roll, bearing ball, drawing die or punching dies.

Silicon nitride based sintered material and method for producing same


In a method for controlling interface level between a liquid inventory and an overlying steam chamber in a subterranean petroleum-bearing formation, an inflow relationship is developed to predict the vertical position in a gravity field of the interface between the two fluids (liquid and steam) with a density contrast relative to a horizontal producer well. The inflow relationship is applied to producer well completions by designing the completion to raise or lower sand face pressures according to mobility variations over the horizontal length of the well. This pressure distribution will affect liquid levels according to the inflow relationship. The completion can include tubing-conveyed or liner-conveyed flow control devices to create flow network that provides a customized sand face pressure distribution. Axial flow relationships between adjacent locations along the producer well may be modeled in order to develop an axial flow network to facilitate estimation of liquid levels at selected locations.

Gravity drainage processes are used for extracting highly viscous oil ("heavy oil") from subterranean formations or bitumen from oil sand formations. For purposes of this patent specification, the general term "oil" will be used with reference to liquid petroleum substances recovered from subterranean formations, and is to be understood as including conventional crude oil, heavy oil, or bitumen, as the context may allow or require.
For heavy oil or bitumen to drain from a subterranean formation by gravity, its viscosity must first be reduced. The Steam-Assisted Gravity Drainage (SAGD) process uses steam to increase the temperature of the oil and thus reduce its viscosity. Other known gravity drainage processes use solvents or heat from in-situ combustion to reduce oil viscosity.
SAGD uses pairs of horizontal wells arranged such that one of the horizontal wells, called the producer, is located vertically below a second well, called an injector. The vertical distance between the injector and producer wells is typically 5 meters (5 m). The horizontal section of a SAGD well is typically 700 m to 1500 m long. For SAGD projects in the Athabasca oil sands in Alberta, Canada, the depth of the horizontal section is typically between 100 m and 500 m from the surface. Bitumen recovery from the oil sands is accomplished by injecting steam into the injector wellbore. Steam is injected from the injector wellbore into the hydrocarbon-bearing formation, typically through slots or other types of orifices in the injector wellbore liner. The steam permeates the formation within a region of the formation adjacent to the injector well; this steam-permeated region is referred to as a steam chamber. As steam is continuously injected into the formation, it migrates to the edges of the steam chamber and condenses at the interface between the steam chamber and the adjacent region of the bitumen-bearing formation. As the steam condenses, it transfers energy to the bitumen, increasing its temperature and thus decreasing its viscosity, ultimately to the stage where the bitumen becomes flowable, whereupon the mobile bitumen and condensed water flow down the edges of the steam chamber, accumulating as a "liquid inventory" in a lower region of the steam chamber and flowing into the producer wellbore. The fluid mixture of flowable bitumen and water that enters the producer well is then produced to the surface.
A significant challenge encountered by operators of SAGD well pairs is controlling the inflow distribution of oil and water over the horizontal length of the producer well, or the outflow distribution of steam, solvents, or combustion gases from the horizontal injector well. In many cases, inflow distributions or steam outflow distributions are biased towards one part of the well—for example, the region near the heel of the well (i.e., where the horizontal producer well transitions to a vertical well to the surface) or the region near the toe of the well. This results in less favourable well economics due to ineffective use of injection fluid (i.e., steam), poor bitumen recovery rates, and low recovery factors (i.e., when parts of the reservoir are not produced). The inflow/outflow biasing is influenced by the reservoir geology, which is largely outside the control of the well operator.
Another important factor influencing inflow and outflow distributions is the sand face pressure distribution along the length of the injector or producer well resulting from wellbore hydraulics. In this context, "sand face" refers to the point where flow emerges from the sand pack. In oil sands, the sand packs around the liner and flow emerges from the point where the sand is retained by the liner and flows into the gaps of the sand screen. The well operator has some control over this factor by means of the well completion design. For a typical injector well injecting steam into the formation through a slotted liner, wellbore steam pressures are highest near the heel and decrease towards the toe due to fluid friction pressure losses in the axial direction of the wellbore. Where wellbore pressures are higher at the heel, greater outflows of steam, solvent, or other injected gas are present. To equalize or create preferential outflow distributions, Dall'Acqua et al. have proposed (in International Application No. PCT/CA2008/000135) an injector completion with a tubing string run inside a liner, whereby the tubing string has ports located along its length that are sized and positioned to create a uniform or preferential sand face pressure distribution over the length of the injector well. The pressure distribution could be customized to achieve preferential outflow distributions into reservoirs with varying mobility (due to varying formation permeability, for example).
The experience of SAGD well operators in Alberta has shown that the performance of gravity drainage wells is affected by both injector and producer completion designs. In some cases, the producer completion has been shown to have a more significant effect on well performance. A method of controlling inflow distributions over the length of a long horizontal producer well is needed. Producer well design requires consideration of additional complexities that are not factors for injector well design. The fluid interface level relative to the producer needs to be managed carefully to both maximize production rates and to protect the producer well from breakthrough of injection gases. Breakthrough of steam into the producer will damage the well and/or related facilities, and breakthrough of other injection gases (e.g., light hydrocarbons such as propane and butane) reduces the efficiency of their function to mobilize bitumen.
The fluid interface (i.e., the interface between the liquid inventory and the overlying steam chamber) is characterized by a density contrast between the injection fluid (typically steam) and the produced oil and water. For purposes of this patent specification, the fluid interface level will be alternatively referred to as the "liquid level". It is preferred to let the liquid level sit a short distance above the producer well to act as a seal preventing steam from entering the producer well. If steam is allowed to enter the producer, the steam is not being used for heating bitumen and the process becomes less efficient. Steam entering the producer well can also carry sand particles at high speeds and cause erosion of the steel liners and tubing strings in the wellbore.
To evaluate the economics of an oil recovery project, an estimate of the recovery rate is required. For conventional oil wells, an inflow performance relationship (IPR) is used to predict the oil recovery rate for the reservoir pressure and bottom hole pressure conditions expected. In this sense, conventional oil production is driven by pressure not gravity. Therefore, IPRs as used for conventional oil wells cannot be applied to gravity drainage projects, so a gravity drainage inflow performance relationship (GIPR) is needed to estimate the economics of the process.
"Thermal Recovery of Oil and Bitumen" (R. Butler, 1997, 3rd edition, printed by GravDrain Inc., ISBN 0-9682563-0-9) presents formulas for predicting SAGD recovery rates for a given liquid head, or difference in height between the top of the steam chamber and the producer well. The calculation is based on a two-dimensional cross-section of the well and reservoir. Two other factors will affect SAGD production rates that are not covered in these calculations. Firstly, Butler's calculation assumes that the liquid level contacts the top of the producer well. In actuality, it is typical for liquid levels to sit above the producer wellbore forming a liquid "trap" that the producer wellbore is submersed in. As bitumen and water flow through the liquid trap to the producer well, pressure loss will occur. Many SAGD operators have observed significant pressure losses in this region, with resultant reduction in actual production rates relative to predicted rates. While exact causes for these pressure losses are not fully known, they are sometime attributed to two-phase flow (relative permeability) effects, plugging of slotted liners, fines migration, or other causes.
Another important consideration for predicting SAGD production rates is that wellbore pressures and temperatures vary along the length of a long horizontal well. This will cause liquid levels, and thus the depth of the liquid trap, to also vary along the length of the well, which in turn will affect the total production rate from the well. Near-wellbore reservoir heterogeneities (i.e., permeability variations close to the wellbore) will also contribute to inflow variations along the length of the well.

Method for controlling fluid interface level in gravity drainage oil recovery processes with crossflow


A brake assembly for a stroller includes left and right braking mechanisms, a connecting member, and left and right operating members interconnected to each other through the connecting member so as to move in opposite directions when operated. Each of the left and right braking mechanisms includes a first engaging member, and a second engaging member movable between engaging and disengaging positions and defining a first cam face. Each of the left and right operating members defines a second cam face which is in sliding contact with a respective first cam face so as to drive the second engaging member to move to the engaging position in an axial direction when the left operating member is operated, and so as to drive the second engaging member to move to the disengaging position when the right operating member is operated.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a brake assembly for a stroller, more particularly to a brake assembly including left and right brake operating members, one of which is operable to actuate left and right braking mechanisms to engage respectively left and right wheels of the stroller, and the other of which is operable to actuate the left and right braking mechanisms to disengage the left and right wheels of the stroller.
2. Description of the Related Art
U.K. Patent Application GB2351131B discloses a conventional brake assembly for a stroller. The brake assembly includes two braking mechanisms for braking respectively left and right wheels of the stroller, and two operating elements connected respectively to the braking mechanisms and connected to each other through a cable in such a manner that the braking mechanisms are actuated to engage simultaneously and respectively the left and right wheels when one of the operating elements is pressed downwardly by foot, and that the braking mechanisms are actuated to disengage simultaneously and respectively the left and right wheels when the other of the operating elements is pressed downwardly by foot. Each braking mechanism includes a crown gear that is mounted on a respective one of the left and right wheels and that defines a plurality of angularly disposed engaging grooves, and an engaging pin that is fixed to a respective one of the operating elements and that is required to be moved together with the respective operating element toward the crown gear in a radial direction relative to an axle, which is connected to the left and right wheels, so as to be able to engage a selected one of the engaging grooves.
The aforesaid conventional brake assembly is disadvantageous in that since the engaging pin moves together with the respective operating element in the radial direction relative to the axle, each of the operating elements is required to be formed with an elongated radial slot for passage of the axle therethrough and for permitting radial movement relative to the axle. As a consequence, undesired interference between the axle and the operating elements during operation of the operating elements is likely to occur.
In a pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/982,720 filed by the applicant on Nov. 5, 2004, there is disclosed a stroller brake assembly that includes two braking mechanisms operable through two operating members for braking wheels of the stroller. Each of the braking mechanisms includes a pin that is movable in a radial direction to engage a gear formed on the respective wheel and that is driven by a cam member which is in the form of an oblique slot formed in a sliding piece of the respective operating member.


The invention is directed towards enhanced systems and methods for employing a pulsed photon (or EM energy) source, such as but not limited to a laser, to electrically couple, bond, and/or affix the electrical contacts of a semiconductor device to the electrical contacts of another semiconductor devices. Full or partial rows of LEDs are electrically coupled, bonded, and/or affixed to a backplane of a display device. The LEDs may be μLEDs. The pulsed photon source is employed to irradiate the LEDs with scanning photon pulses. The EM radiation is absorbed by either the surfaces, bulk, substrate, the electrical contacts of the LED, and/or electrical contacts of the backplane to generate thermal energy that induces the bonding between the electrical contacts of the LEDs' electrical contacts and backplane's electrical contacts. The temporal and spatial profiles of the photon pulses, as well as a pulsing frequency and a scanning frequency of the photon source, are selected to control for adverse thermal effects.

The present disclosure relates to the manufacture and assembly of electronic display devices.
Electronic displays are a core component of many computing devices, such as smart phones, tablets, smartwatches, laptops, desktops, televisions (TVs), and head-mounted devices (e.g., virtual reality (VR) devices, augmented reality (AR) devices, and/or mixed-reality (MR) devices). A modern display device may include a two-dimensional (2D) array of millions, or even tens of millions, of pixels. A 2D array of pixels can be arranged in rows and columns of pixels. For example, a 4K TV may include 4096 rows and 2160 columns of pixels (i.e., a 4096×2160 display), for close to nine million pixels.
Each pixel may include one or more light-emitting devices, sub-devices, or components, such as a light-emitting diode (LED). The LED may be an inorganic LED (ILED) or an organic LED (OLED). Each pixel may include multiple LEDs. For example, an RGB pixel may include three separate LEDs: a red (R) LED, a green (G) LED, and a blue (B) LED. Thus, modern displays may include well over ten million individual LEDs. The LEDs may be arranged in rows and columns on one or more backplanes or printed circuit boards (PCBs). When assembling the display, it is typically required to electrically couple, bond, or affix each of the LEDs to the backplane. Conventional methods of bonding millions of LEDs to one or more backplanes may result in adverse thermal effects, which increase the cost and time to assemble the display, as well as decreases the yield in the manufacturing process.

Curing pre-applied and plasma-etched underfill via a laser


There is provided a method and apparatus for collecting vaginal fluid and exfoliated vaginal cells for medical diagnostic purposes. An absorbent media is placed interlabially or intravaginally. Fluid is collected within the absorbent media. The absorbent media is removed, and the fluid is extracted therefrom. For intravaginal collection, the absorbent media may be placed in a housing having fluid receiving apertures therein. Medical diagnostic testing is performed on the extracted fluid.

This invention relates to medical diagnostic testing.
More particularly, it relates to the collection of vaginal fluids and exfoliated vaginal cells for diagnostic purposes.
Currently, the vast majority of clinical diagnostic testing of biological fluids utilize serum and urine. It is believed that the United States Food and Drug Administration has not approved a clinical diagnostic test which utilizes any biological fluid other than whole blood, serum, plasma, saliva or urine. Tears and sweat are other fluids being used for various non-FDA approved diagnostic purposes, although such uses have been very limited. These fluids are very different in composition and their uses in clinical medicine.
The use of gynecological tissue for cancer diagnostic purposes has been limited to the traditional PAP Test Cervical Scraping (PTCS method of collection) and the subsequent histological smears for cervical cancer screening. A chemical or immunochemical analysis of non-menstrual vaginal fluid, menstrual fluid and/or the cellular extracts of menstrual fluid for the purpose of disease detection or patient well-being have not been exploited by the general medical community.
There have been a number of articles written by Dr. Matthew Freund and others which suggest that one may collect a large quantity of cervical and endometrial cells from menstrual fluids rather than through the traditional PTCS method. Dr. Freund found that both ectocervical and other cells collected from the menstrual fluid flow are well preserved for standard laboratory cytological procedures. They are similar in appearance to cells collected by current clinical methods, and give similar reactions to chemicals and stains, and may be analyzed by the same procedures as cervical smears for PAP testing.

Method and apparatus for collecting vaginal fluid and exfoliated vaginal cells for diagnostic purposes


A stimulated phonon emission device of an embodiment is provided with a first electroconductive type of semiconductor substrate of an indirect transition type semiconductor crystal, a second electroconductive type of well region provided in the semiconductor substrate, an element isolation region deeper than the well region, an element region surrounded by the element isolation region, and a field-effect transistor having a plurality of gate electrodes which are formed in the well region in the element region, are parallel to each other, and are arranged at a constant pitch and first electroconductive type of source region and drain region provided in the element regions on the both sides of the gate electrode.

A quantized lattice vibration in a crystal is called a phonon, and various physical phenomena generated in a crystal, including specific heat, can be correctly described by introducing the idea of the phonon. Although the phonon can be understood as a form of thermal vibration energy of a crystal lattice, an elastic wave (acoustical wave) propagating in a crystal is also another form of the phonon with an extremely low vibration frequency.
Conventionally, piezoelectric resonators such as a quartz oscillator and a surface acoustic wave device are widely used as electric parts using an acoustical wave in a crystal. However, integration of those piezoelectric resonators with other semiconductor electron circuitry has been difficult.
Meanwhile, there has been known a method of realizing the phonon oscillator, using an interaction between electrons and the phonons inside a semiconductor crystal. However, in the conventional method, it is difficult to realize such a phonon oscillator with the use of an integrated circuit process.

Stimulated phonon emission device and oscillator, frequency filter, cooling device, light-receiving device, and light-emitting device comprising the stimulated phonon emission device


According to one aspect of the invention, a method for temperature control of a turbine engine compressor includes directing a fluid from a first region proximate a main flow path in a downstream portion of a structure in a compressor to an upstream portion of the structure, wherein the fluid is cooled as the fluid flows through the upstream portion of the structure. The method further includes directing the fluid from the upstream portion of the structure downstream to a second region of the compressor to cool the second region, wherein the fluid is directed through passages in the upstream and downstream portions of the structure thereby substantially conserving an energy of the fluid within the structure and wherein a pressure of the second region is less than a pressure of the first region.

The subject matter disclosed herein relates to turbine engines. More particularly, the subject matter relates to controlling temperatures of rotor components.
In gas turbine engines, a combustor converts chemical energy of a fuel or an air-fuel mixture into thermal energy. The thermal energy is conveyed by a fluid, often air from a compressor, via a transition piece to a turbine where the thermal energy is converted to mechanical energy. These fluids flow downstream to one or more turbines that extract energy therefrom to produce the mechanical energy output as well as power to drive the compressor.
As designs of turbine engines increase pressure ratios to improve performance, components are exposed to increased temperatures. The temperature increase can cause thermal fatigue and wear for certain parts, such as compressor rotor components. The material used to make the components may be changed to a more durable material. However, altering materials used for compressor rotor components can be costly.

Method for controlling temperature of a turbine engine compressor and compressor of a turbine engine


An extraction device utilizing hot air or gas for volatizing at least one substituent of a material is provided. The device has a container for holding material. The device also has a cap that is provided with holes leading from the exterior thereof to a chamber in the cap. The cap is adapted to be seated on the container so that the chamber of the cap communicates with an open end and a chamber of the container. A non-flame type heating unit is disposed in the chamber of the cap for heating gas. Gas is caused to pass through the holes of the cap, into the chamber thereof, through the chamber of the container and out of a discharge opening thereof.

The present invention relates to a hot gas extraction device, in other words an extraction device that utilizes hot gas, such as air, for volatizing at least one substituent of a material.
Herbs, plants and other vegetable matter contains a number of beneficial resins, oils and fragrances, which have a number of varied applications in the medical and industrial fields as well as for home use. To extract these beneficial substituents or active ingredients, primarily in the form of gas or vapor, it is known to incinerate the material. Unfortunately, since various substituents of a material vaporize at different temperatures, incineration is an unsatisfactory procedure. In addition, where the vapors are to be inhaled or are to be used for aroma therapy, incineration produces not only undesirable by-products, but also carcinogens.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an effective and economical extraction device for volatizing at least one substituent of a material, with such device overcoming the draw backs of the heretofore known devices.

Hot gas extraction device for volatizing at least one substituent of a material