The invention concerns a method for obtaining an ophthalmic lens comprising a surface utility microstructure, in in particular antiglare. The method for obtaining an ophthalmic lens comprising a surface utility microstructure consists in a step for transferring the microstructure into the lens surface from a mould whereof the internal surface bears the microstructure and has a sight correcting geometric design, the microstructure being initially determined by an interferential process. The invention is useful for making ophthalmic lenses.

The present invention relates generally to a process for obtaining an ophthalmic lens comprising a surface utility microstructure and more particularly an antiglare microstructure.
Nowadays the most currently used means to impart antiglare properties to ophthalmic lenses, in particular in organic glass, is to coat on the lens a layer or a system of antiglare layers formed with mineral materials. The use of such antiglare layer in mineral materials has drawbacks in that it may modify the mechanical properties of the lens being obtained, and may modify more particularly the anti-abrasive properties of the hard anti-abrasive layers also coated on the ophthalmic lens.
Reaching optical properties from surface microstructures is a known art in optics. Thus, U.S. Pat. No. 5,630,902 discloses the transfer of a microstructure made with diffractive optical elements into a photopolymerizable material layer coated on a plastics substrate through die stamping, for example with the help of a quartz die supporting the desired microstructure.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,013,465 describes a process for producing a surface having a reduced reflection for electromagnetic radiation, having steps consisting in coating on a substrate surface a layer of a photosensitive material, exposing said material to a regular electromagnetic radiation pattern to which it is sensible and developing the sensible material so that the topography of the developed material surface corresponds to the light patterns so as to obtain a surface having a reduced reflection of the visible radiation.
GB-A-2,027,441 describes a process for producing an article comprising a monolithic plastics shaped layer or body consisting in some cross-linked polymers and comprising one or more surfaces bearing a microstructure replica, comprising the steps of filling a master mould bearing the microstructure with an oligomeric, cross-linkable, flowable fluidic composition being addition polymerizable with a radiation and having xe2x80x9chardxe2x80x9d and xe2x80x9csoftxe2x80x9d segments, and of exposing the cast composition to an actinic radiation so as to form the item. Said document discloses that the term microstructure encompasses discontinuities, such as projections and indentations, in the surface, the profile of which varies from a median or central line passing through the microstructure so that the sum of the surfaces being circumscribed by the surface profile above the line equals the sum of the surfaces below the line, said line being essentially parallel to the normal surface (bearing the microstructure) of the item. The height of such deviations varies from xc2x10.05 xcexcm to xc2x1750 xcexcm over a characteristic length representative of the surface, for example 1 to 30 cm. The medium profile or central line may be plane, concave, convex, aspherical or a combination of such shapes.
The items wherein such deviations are of a lower order, i.e. from xc2x10.005 xcexcm to 0.1 xcexcm or preferably xc2x10.05 xcexcm and such deviations are infrequent or appear minimally, i.e. the surface is free from any significant discontinuity, are those for which the microstructure-bearing surface is a xe2x80x9cflatxe2x80x9d or xe2x80x9cperfectly smoothxe2x80x9d surface. Such items are useful for example as precision optical elements or elements with a precision optical interface, including ophthalmic lenses. The items for which such deviations are of a lower order but appear frequently are those for example bearing utility discontinuities, like in the case of items having an antiglare microstructure. Items for which deviations are of a high order, i.e. from xc2x10.1 xcexcm to xc2x1750 xcexcm, to which a microstructure can be affected, comprising a set of utility discontinuities, that are identical or different, spaced apart or contiguous, randomly or orderly, are items such as back-reflective sheets, linear Fresnel lenses and video discs. Moreover, said document mentions that it can be necessary or desired to choose particular oligomeric compositions the hardening shrinkage of which is weak so as to avoid parasitic discontinuity occurrence interfering with the utility discontinuities.
The present invention has thus as an object a process for obtaining an ophthalmic lens, i.e. an item having a sight-correcting geometry, comprising a surface utility microstructure, i.e. having optical properties, in particular antiglare properties, the utility microstructure geometry being initially determined by an interferential process.
The present invention has also as an object said thus obtained lenses comprising a sight-correcting geometry surface provided with a utility microstructure, in particular having antiglare properties, the geometry of which is initially determined through an interferential process.
An object of the present invention is thus to provide a process for obtaining an ophthalmic lens, i.e. an item having a sight-correcting geometry comprising a surface utility microstructure, i.e. optical properties, in particular antiglare properties, the utility microstructure geometry being initially determined by an interferential process.
Another object of the present invention is also the so-obtained lenses comprising a sight-correcting geometry surface provided with a utility microstructure, in particular antiglare properties, the geometry of which is initially determined by an interferential process.
Such a utility microstructure may be realised in a surface of the lens itself or in a surface functional layer of the ophthalmic lens.
According to the invention, the process for obtaining an ophthalmic lens comprising a surface utility microstructure the geometry has been initially determined through an interferential process, comprises a step for transferring the microstructure from a mould an internal surface of which supports the microstructure and has a sight-correcting geometry.
Preferably, the sight-correcting geometry surface is a progressive geometry surface. Generally, the bend of the mould progressive geometry surface has a bending radius being measured at any point of the correcting surface comprised between 40 mm and 100 mm.
According to the present invention all conventional moulding types may be used to manufacture ophthalmic lenses such as direct moulding, for example through an integral mould or a composite mould, with added elements or with insert, or overmoulding, and the so-called xe2x80x9ctransferxe2x80x9d mouldings, for example by die-stamping, or with the well-known method in ophthalmic optics with xe2x80x9cIn-Mold Coatingxe2x80x9d transfer.
In a first embodiment of the invention, the mould being used is an integral mould, i.e. the utility microstructure is formed directly in an internal mould surface having the required sight-correcting geometry. The mould may be made with plastics, mineral glass or metal, particularly nickel.
In a second embodiment of the invention, the mould is a composite mould comprising an insert having a surface in which the utility microstructure is formed, said insert suiting to the mould surface having the sight-correcting geometry, so that the insert surface comprising the utility microstructure should also have the required sight-correcting geometry. The insert may be initially shaped so as to have the required sight-correcting geometry and be secured to the corresponding mould surface, for example with an adhesive. The insert may also have initially a plane shape and be then distorted to suit to the mould sight-correcting geometry surface. In this last case, the insert may also be secured to the mould sight-correcting geometry surface with an adhesive. When the microstructure-bearing insert is a plastic element adapted to be applied on a surface of a mould, said element must have a minimum elasticity is in the plane to be able to be correctly applied. Such convenient elements are polyurethane elements having for example a Young modulus measured at 30xc2x0 C. of 1.2 Gigapascals. Generally, said convenient elements have a lower Young modulus than 2.5 Gigapascals.
Finally, the insert may be made with a layer of such a material as a plastics directly formed on a surface of a substrate.
In a third embodiment of the invention, the mould is a composite mould comprising a plane insert provided with the utility microstructure on one of surfaces thereof, said plane insert being distorted in the mould to suit to the mould sight-correcting geometry surface by applying a pressure or a vacuum in the mould.
According to the process for obtaining ophthalmic lenses according to the invention, there may use all optical materials or compositions, being settable with heat or an actinic radiation, in particular a UV radiation, which can be cast or injected into the mould, and which lead to ophthalmic lenses with the required optical transparency and necessary mechanical properties. Such optical materials or compositions comprise not only the materials and compositions used to manufacture the ophthalmic lens itself, but also the materials and compositions allowing for the deposit of particular functional layers onto an ophthalmic lens, such as the materials adapted to form an anti-abrasive layer on an ophthalmic lens.
Preferably, the optical material or composition is a thermoplastic material or a liquid composition of monomers being settable with heat or an actinic radiation. The liquid monomer compositions are particularly recommended in the process according to the invention.
The monomers useful in the optical monomer compositions for use in the process according to the invention include alkyl (meth)acrylates, in particular C1-C4 alkyl (meth)acrylates such as methyl (meth)acrylate and ethyl (meth)acrylate, allyl derivates such as allyl carbonates of linear or branched, aliphatic or aromatic polyols, and thio(meth)acrylic derivates.
Particularly recommended monomers in the process according to the invention are the allyl carbonates of polyols including ethylene glycol bis allyl carbonate, diethylene glycol bis 2-methyl carbonate, diethylene glycol bis(allyl carbonate), ethylene glycol bis(2-chloro allyl carbonate), triethylene glycol bis(allyl carbonate), 1,3-propane diol bis(allyl carbonate), propylene glycol bis(2-ethyl allyl carbonate), 1,3-butane diol bis(allyl carbonate), 1,4-butane diol bis(2-bromo allyl carbonate), dipropylene glycol bis(allyl carbonate), trimethylene glycol bis(2-ethyl allyl carbonate), pentamethylene glycol bis(allyl carbonate), isopropylene bisphenol-A bis(allyl carbonate). A particularly recommended monomer is the diethylene glycol bis(allyl carbonate).
Another class of monomers convenient for compositions useful in the process of the invention comprises aromatic polyethoxylated (meth)acrylates such as the polyethoxylated bisphenol-A dimethacrylates, in particular those described in French patent application FR-A-2 699 541.
Thio(meth)acrylic monomers may also be used, in particular those described in French patent application FR-A-2 734 827.
Compositions based on polythiols and polyisocyanates in monomeric form may also be used, leading to polythiourethanes such as described for example in patent U.S. Pat. No. 4,689,387.
Finally, compositions may be used including one or more di- or polythiol monomers with one or more monomers bearing reactive unsaturated groups with thiol functions, such as vinyl, (meth)acrylic or thio(meth)acrylic groups.
Of course the monomer compositions may comprise mixtures of the above-mentioned monomers.
It is to be noticed that the higher the refraction index of the layer comprising the microstructure, the higher the antiglare effect. Consequently, the index of the microstructured layer is preferably is equal to or higher than 1.55, more preferably equal to 1.6 or more. Naturally, such microstructured layer may be formed with the organic glass or with a surface layer such as an anti-abrasion coating applied onto a surface of a substrate in organic glass.
Thermoplastic materials useful for the process according to the invention include thermoplastic prepolymers and polymers such as thermoplastic polycarbonates.
According to another aspect of the process of the invention, the utility microstructure is not formed in the ophthalmic lens itself, but in a functional coating applied on such lens, for example an anti-abrasion coating. In this case, in the process according to the invention, any monomer compositions may be used if they are convenient to form on an ophthalmic lens a layer having a particular property, such as an anti-abrasion coating for example.
Such abrasion-resistant settable compositions include the compositions based on a silane hydrolyzate, in particular on an epoxysilane hydrolyzate as described in French patent application 93 026 49, and the compositions based on acrylic derivates.
Naturally, the materials and compositions useful in the process according to the present invention may include any additive conventionally used for producing ophthalmic lenses, in particular thermal and/or photochemical polymerisation initiators and catalysts.
As indicated, the utility microstructure geometry is initially determined with an interferential process, i.e. the utility microstructure is either formed directly on the mould surface with an interferential process or obtained by transfer from a matrix a surface of which comprises a utility microstructure obtained with an interferential process.
More precisely, the interferential process consists in making a pattern of interference fringes by superimposing two coherent light waves, for example two laser beams, and irradiating a photosensitive material layer coated onto a substrate through such pattern of interference fringes.
Then, by developing conventionally the photosensitive material layer, a periodic microstructure is obtained.
Two irradiation steps for the photosensitive layer can be provided by rotating the substrate, preferably by 90xc2x0 after the first irradiation step, and then the photosensitive material layer is developed conventionally.
A periodic microstructure is then obtained in the plane. Thus, an isotropic structure may be obtained the antiglare properties are independent from the sight angle.
Naturally, patterns of interference fringes having different or identical pitches (i) and amplitudes (2A). Also said irradiation steps may be repeated various times so as to obtain after development a final microstructure formed with multiple superimposed microstructures.
Generally, the wavelength of the coherent light beams, for example laser beams, is comprised between 170 and 510 nm and the pitch of the pattern of interference fringes (and consequently of the periodic microstructure being obtained) is comprised between 100 and 300 nm. The amplitude 2A is comprised generally between 100 and 300 nm.
Preferably plane light waves are used and so a sinusoidal microstructure is obtained.
The periodic microstructure may be generally defined in an orthogonal reference system (x, y, z) with the following equation (1):                     z        =                              f                                      (                              x                ,                y                            )                                =                                                    ∑                                  n                  =                  1                                k                                                          xe2x80x83                                                          [                                                                            A                      n                                                                                sin                                                                    (                                                  2                                                    π                                                                                xe2x80x83                                                                              n                                                                                x                            i                                                                          )                                                                              +                                                            B                      n                                                                                cos                                                                    (                                                  2                                                    π                                                                                xe2x80x83                                                                              n                                                                                x                            i                                                                          )                                                                                ]                                      +                                          ∑                                  m                  =                  1                                k                                                          xe2x80x83                                                          [                                                                            C                      m                                                                                sin                                                                    (                                                  2                                                    π                                                                                xe2x80x83                                                                              m                                                                                y                            i                                                                          )                                                                              +                                                            D                      m                                                                                cos                                                                    (                                                  2                                                    π                                                                                xe2x80x83                                                                              m                                                                                y                            i                                                                          )                                                                                ]                                                                        (        1        )
where An, Bn are Fourier coefficients in the microstructure in the direction x,
Cm, Dm are Fourier coefficients in the microstructure in the direction y, and
i is the pitch (period) of the microstructure.
Preferably, Bn=Dm=O, An=Cm=A (sinusoidal structure) and the pattern of interference fringes and, consequently, the microstructure may be represented by the equation (2):                     z        =                              f                                      (                              x                ,                y                            )                                =                      A                                      [                                                sin                                                        (                                          2                                            π                                                                    xe2x80x83                                                                                x                        i                                                              )                                                  +                                  sin                                                        (                                          2                                            π                                                                    xe2x80x83                                                                                y                        i                                                              )                                                              ]                                                          (        2        )
where i is the period and A the half-amplitude.
In FIG. 1, a system of 90xc2x0-crossed sinusoidal interference fringes is shown.
What has been defined above concerns the case where the pattern of interference fringes is supported by a plane surface.
In the case of a bent surface, the microstructure is slightly distorted with respect to the interference pattern, but does not comprise any abrupt discontinuity.
In particular, the microstructure pitch i may substantially vary depending upon the situation on the correcting surface.
Such distortion can be eliminated by creating a pattern of interference fringes being itself modified to take into consideration the bending of the surface which is to bear the microstructure.
So as to avoid that the cavities in the utility microstructure, in particular the antiglare ones, hold impurities and fats, the microstructure cavities may be filled with a material having a lower refraction index than the microstructure. The index difference for both materials is preferably higher than or equal to 0.1.
An hydrophobic material will preferably be selected as an anti-impurity material.
A convenient anti-impurity material satisfies to the formula:
where R is an alkyl radical, for example in C1-C6,
and n and nxe2x80x2 are integers which can vary independently from 0 to 6.

Method for obtaining an ophthalmic lens comprising a surface utility microstructure and resulting ophthalmic lenses

Essilor International Compagnie Generale d""Optique


A jet propelled watercraft includes a watercraft body, an engine in the watercraft body, a jet pump configured to generate a jet thrust by a driving force of the engine, an intake pipe configured to supply air to the engine, an air intake box, and a filter. The air intake box includes a connecting port connected to the intake pipe and an inlet configured to take in ambient air. The filter is disposed in a space in an internal space of the air intake box. The filter divides the space into a lower region and an upper region. The lower region is connected to the inlet and the upper region is located higher than the lower region and connected to the connecting port. The filter is configured to clean air taken into the internal space from the inlet and directed to the connecting port.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a jet propelled watercraft.
2. Description of the Related Art
A small vessel disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2002-114192 is provided with an internal combustion engine and an intake device configured to supply air to the internal combustion engine in the body. The intake device includes an intake pipe extending upward from a cylinder of the internal combustion engine, an intake chamber covering an upper end of the intake pipe, and an air filter provided continuously from the intake chamber. The air filter includes a filter case having an internal space communicating with an interior of the intake chamber in a horizontal direction and an element unit accommodated in an interior of the filter case for cleaning air.
The element unit includes an element having an annular shape in a plan view and an upper plate and lower plate that sandwich the element from the top and bottom. A first end portion of an air induction pipe opens in a space surrounded by the upper plate, the lower plate, and the element having a tubular shape, and a second end portion of the air induction pipe opens under the filter case.
Air is cleaned by flowing in the space surrounded by the upper plate, the lower plate, and the element via the air induction pipe and passing through the element. The air having passed through the element moves from the interior of the filter case to the interior of the intake chamber, and is supplied to the cylinder from the intake pipe in the intake chamber.
When the intake chamber and filter case described in Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2002-114192 are configured as a single air intake box, an internal space of the air intake box is divided into an upstream space surrounded by the element which is disposed between the upper plate and lower plate and oriented in the vertical direction, and a downstream space where air having passed through the element exists. Thus, when water flows into the upstream space, the water is likely to run down under the element to reach the downstream space, and it is possible for the water to enter into the cylinder.


A magnetic holder is provided which includes a magnet and a flexible and resilient body coupled to the magnet. The body includes a slit therein defining first and second opposed lips normally resiliently biased to a closed condition. The body is responsive to compressive forces applied to predetermined locations thereon for moving the lips to an open condition spaced apart a greater distance than in the closed condition to form an opening in the body.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to devices for holding memos or notes, and specifically to magnetic memo holders.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In the past, magnetic holders for holding memos, and the like, usually consisted of a clip component coupled to a magnet. Since these clips are multi-piece, they require assembly. Additionally, in use, the clip pieces often would separate from one another, become damaged, and be incapable of being reassembled together, thereby rendering the holder useless.


Systems and methods for performing encoding and/or decoding can include an input data path that receives multiple input data values having an order (significance) with respect to one another. Each input data value can be applied to multiple compute paths (106-1 to 106-N), each of which can precompute multiple output values based on a different predetermined disparity value. Multiplexers (114-1 to 114-N) can output one precomputed output value according to a disparity value corresponding to a previous input data value in the order.

In many data communication applications the transmission of data values involves the encoding of data values at a transmission end, and the decoding of such encoded data values and a receive end. The "weight" of a transmitted data value (i.e., the number of ones versus the number of zeros) can affect the reliability of the data signal and/or provide a way of detecting transmission errors. In particular, in the event the number of ones exceeds the number of zeros, a system will develop a running disparity that is "positive". Conversely, if the number of zeros surpasses the number of ones, a system will develop a running disparity that is "negative". Either case can adversely affect transmission quality.
Consequently, for many type of transmission media it is desirable to seek a running disparity as close to zero as is possible.
Because data values are commonly processed in bytes, a very common type of encoding/decoding scheme is 8-bit/10-bit (8B/10B). That is, an eight bit byte is encoded into a ten bit value for transmission. Received 10-bit encoded values are decoded back into bytes.
Currently, 8B/10B encoding/decoding is a widely used scheme for error detection in conventional data communications and processing systems. For example, an unexpected running disparity value can indicate the presence of an error. However, such encoding/decoding can have additional advantages as well. In particular, in addition to improving transmission characteristics as noted above, such encoding decoding can enable clock recovery in certain applications, and can allow for easy delineation between control and data values (symbols).
To better understand various aspects of the present invention, a conventional 8B/10B computation model is shown in FIG. 6. FIG. 6 shows an encoder 600 that can receive input data values at an input 602, and provides output data values at an output 604. Any computation to generate an output value from an input value is dependent upon a previous running disparity value provided at a running disparity output 606. In the particular example of FIG. 6, a running disparity value is passed on for a next computation operation by flip-flop 608, which couples such a value to disparity input 610.
One very particular example of a conventional encoder/decoder, such as that shown as 600 in FIG. 6 is shown in FIG. 7. An encoder 700 can include compute blocks 702-0 to 702-3, inverters 704-0 and 704-1, and multiplexers (MUXs) 706-0 and 706-1. Compute blocks 702-0 and 702-1 can receive an input data value (or portions thereof) to generate non-inverted and inverted input values for MUXs (706-0 and 706-1). In addition, compute blocks 702-0 and 702-1 can generate disparity control values for compute block 702-3. According to disparity control values, compute block 702-3 can output inverted or non-inverted values at MUXs (706-0 and 706-1) to thereby generate an output value.
It is understood that the conventional block of FIG. 7 can be implemented to provide encoding functions, or alternatively, decoding functions.
In a conventional multiple data path arrangement, such as one that provides 8B/10B encoding/decoding, a running disparity value can be sequentially passed from the computation of one input value to the next. One example of such an arrangement is shown in FIG. 8.
FIG. 8 is a block schematic diagram showing a system that includes N+1 data paths, each of which computes an output value DOUT_0 to DOUT_N from a corresponding input value DIN_0 to DIN_N. A system 800 can include compute logic (CL) blocks 802-0 to 802-N. In the above arrangement, a running disparity from a first input value DIN_0 is computed by CL block 802-0 and provided at running disparity output 804-0. Such a running disparity value is the provided as an input to CL block 802-1, corresponding to the next input value (DIN_1). The computation of the resulting output value DOUT_1 by CL block 802-1 is dependent upon such a disparity value. As understood from the figure, a running disparity value from CL block 802-1 is provided as an input to CL block 802-2, and so on. Finally, a running disparity value for a last CL block 802-N is fed back to first CL block 802-0, by way of flip-flop 806.
In this way, the computation for one input value is dependent upon a running disparity generated in the computation for a previous input value. That is, each CL block must hold off a performing a computation until a previous running disparity value has been calculated.
While the above conventional multiple path encoding system can provide a large number of encoded values in parallel, such a system can have some disadvantages. One disadvantage can be that if Td is a compute delay (i.e., an encoding or decoding delay of a compute block), a total delay in computing all encoded values can be Td*(N+1), where N+1 is the number of input values in the data path.
In light of the above, it would be desirable to arrive at some way of providing multiple data path encoding that does not suffer from the delay of conventional systems, like that described above.

Multiple byte data path encoding/decoding device and method


The invention relates to a method for threshold value relates control of at least one service in a data or telecommunication system, comprising the following steps: a) defining at least one threshold value for a prepaid credit for the payment of said service; b) defining at least one action, especially control of the scope of said service, in the framework of said service, said action being able to be triggered at said threshold value; c) signalling if the threshold value(s) is/are exceeded or not respected; and d) triggering the action in response to the signal.

Services paid for in advance, particularly services in a data or telecommunication system, are also known as prepaid services, an electronic credit being built up with a service provider e.g. by means of cashless transfer or cash purchase of a telephone card (prepaid card) by the user. The service provider's services booked in this manner can then be selected cashlessly by the user from any touch-tone telephone, from a telephone booth, in a hotel etc. via a toll-free service number and used e.g. by entering a user ID. Services of this kind can also be used from a mobile telephone, correspondingly attractive tariff plans being possible for the service operators through pre-payment of the service charges. Generally tariff models tailored to the user's requirements are provided, e.g. for the preferred use of international or national connections, local or long-distance calls, etc.
The scope of the services offered extends not only to voice communication using fixed or mobile telephones, but also to text-based communication services such as e-mail or SMS (Short Message Service). In addition, services such as voice mail (answering machine function), Internet access (WAP phone, Internet computer) or reduced-rate services such as travel information, telephone information etc. can be provided. The advantages of using a service package of this kind have so far resulted in an increasing number of users. However, the disadvantage of the present system is that, if credit runs out while a service is being used, the line is cut off which means that it is no longer possible for the user to top off his credit in good time. This is all the more unacceptable for the user in that cut-off may occur while an important service is being used, e.g. an important international call, and can have serious consequences.

Differentiated threshold value behavior in prepaid services


Hydroxy acid compound of substituted phenyl ester, preparation method and medical use thereof are provided. The title compound is shown in formula (I), Y═C1-4 straight carbon chain. The compound can release 2,6-diisopropylphenol rapidly under the action of enzymes in vivo, which has sedative, hypnotic and/or anesthetic effect. By protecting the hydroxyl group of 2, 6-diisopropylphenol in compound of formula (I), the first-pass metabolic activity of 2, 6-diisopropylphenol is reduced, so that the synthetic compound can be used for sedation, hypnosis, and/or anesthesia.

Propofol (chemical name: 2,6-diisopropylphenol) is a sedative-hypnotic agent that has been widely used in clinical practice for induction and maintenance of general anesthesia and for intensive care. Propofol has the characteristics of rapid onset and fast metabolic inactivation, and so it has increasingly been used widely in the world since its first clinical report in 1977. As the water solubility of propofol is only 146 mg/L, its clinical formulation is an oil-in-water (O/W) emulsion, in which propofol accounts for 1%; soybean oil, 10%; glycerol, 2.25%; and purified egg yolk lecithin, 1.2%. In the U.S.A, for example, 0.005% disodium edetate is also included as a bacteria growth inhibitor. This formula is a milk-white liquid with a pH value of 7.0, which is slightly viscous, easily injectable, stable at room temperature, and insensitive to light, and is packed in ampoules, under nitrogen gas. However, this preparation still has many disadvantages. For example, as an emulsion form for injection, various stabilizers and solubilizers contained can inevitably cause allergic reactions. Soybean oil and lecithin contained can breed bacteria easily; therefore, it must be prepared under the strict aseptic condition, and it is hard to store when unsealed. Meanwhile, a big oil droplet contained may cause embolism or even serious cardiac adverse effects. Besides, this kind of formulation cannot overcome the disadvantage of 2,6-diisopropylphenol being easily oxidized and deteriorated. All of these disadvantages have limited the use of 2,6-diisopropylphenol to some extent.
Some chemical methods have been reported to overcome those disadvantages of 2,6-diisopropylphenol, which inevitably involved the preparation of some water-soluble prodrugs by modification of the hydroxyl group of 2,6-diisopropylphenol,such as propofol phosphates disclosed in WO200213810. But some of those compounds could not rapidly release 2,6-diisopropylphenol in vivo and could not achieve a rapid induction of anesthesia. For another example, the prodrugs disclosed in WO2003059255 could release formaldehyde molecules after hydrolysis, which could cause some adverse effects. For one more example, the propofol succinic acid monoester sodium salt disclosed in WO200213810 is a derivative of 2,6-diisopropylphenol with high water-solubility, but it is unstable in aqueous solution, which also limits the development and application of water-soluble prodrugs of 2,6-diisopropylphenol.

Hydroxy acid ester compound of substituted phenol, preparation method and medical use thereof


This invention is method of recovering gas from a gas-bearing subterranean formation in which gas is produced from an upper portion of the formation and a waste gas is injected into a lower portion of the formation to dispose of the waste gas. The waste gas is injected within a 3000 foot (914 m) radial distance from the production of the gas. The injection and production can be carried out using one well or a plurality of wells.

Natural gas is an important fuel gas and it is used extensively as a basic raw material in the petrochemical and other chemical process industries. The composition of natural gas varies widely from field to field. Many natural gas reservoirs contain relatively low percentages of hydrocarbons (less than 40%, for example) and high percentages of acid gases, principally carbon dioxide, but also hydrogen sulfide, carbonyl sulfide, carbon disulfide and various mercaptans. The acid gases are detrimental to hydrocarbon handling and usage, and therefore acid gases are typically removed from the produced hydrocarbons by processes that are well known. The natural gas may also contain inert gases such as nitrogen, which are also removed by methods that are well known. The separated acid gas and inert gas often has insufficient value to justify further treatment or purification for any further commercial usage. "Waste gas" is a term that will used in this patent to describe a gas containing acidic components such as hydrogen sulfide or carbon dioxide, and may or may not contain inert gases. The waste gas typically has little or no commercial value.
Proposals have been made to re-inject the separated waste gas into disposal strata through an injection well directly into a depleted or spent zone of the hydrocarbon-bearing formation from which the gas was produced (see for example U.S. Pat. No. 5,267,614) or re-injected into a separate subterranean strata (see for example U.S. Pat. No. 6,149,344 and World Intellectual Property Organization publication number WO 00/58603). However, the prior art does not address how to simultaneously produce a gas while re-injecting a waste gas into the same formation.
There is a need for an improved method of more efficiently and effectively producing natural gas and at the same time disposing of waste gases into the same formation.


A fanning route generation technique is provided for multi-path networks having a shared communications fabric. The technique includes selecting a source node—destination node (S-D) group having common starting and ending sets of links from the network of interconnected nodes. Within this group, selecting the shortest routes between the S-D nodes of the group so that: selected routes substantially uniformly fan out from the source node to a center of the network and fan in from the center of the network to the destination node, thereby achieving local balance; and global balance of routes passing through links that are at a same level of the network is achieved.

Parallel computer systems have proven to be an expedient solution for achieving greatly increased processing speeds heretofore beyond the capabilities of conventional computational architectures. With the advent of massively parallel processing machines such as the IBM RS/6000 SP1 and the IBM RS/6000 SP2, volumes of data may be efficiently managed and complex computations may be rapidly performed. (IBM and RS/6000 are registered trademarks of International Business Machines Corporation, Old Orchard Road, Armonk, N.Y., the assignee of the present application.)
A typical massively parallel processing system may include a relatively large number, often in the hundreds or even thousands of separate, though relatively simple, microprocessor-based nodes which are interconnected via a communications fabric comprising a high speed packet switch network. Messages in the form of packets are routed over the network between the nodes enabling communication therebetween. As one example, a node may comprise a microprocessor and associated support circuitry such as random access memory (RAM), read only memory (ROM), and input/output (I/O) circuitry which may further include a communications subsystem having an interface for enabling the node to communicate through the network.
Among the wide variety of available forms of packet networks currently available, perhaps the most traditional architecture implements a multi-stage interconnected arrangement of relatively small cross point switches, with each switch typically being an N-port bi-directional router where N is usually either 4 or 8, with each of the N ports internally interconnected via a cross point matrix. For purposes herein, the switch may be considered an 8 port router switch. In such a network, each switch in one stage, beginning at one side (so-called input side) of the network is interconnected through a unique path (typically a byte-wide physical connection) to a switch in the next succeeding stage, and so forth until the last stage is reached at an opposite side (so called output side) of the network. The bi-directional router switch included in this network is generally available as a single integrated circuit (i.e., a "switch chip") which is operationally non-blocking, and accordingly a popular design choice. Such a switch chip is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,546,391 entitled "A Central Shared Queue Based Time Multiplexed Packet Switch With Deadlock Avoidance" by P. Hochschild et al., issued on Aug. 31, 1996.
A switching network typically comprises a number of these switch chips organized into two interconnected stages, for example; a four switch chip input stage followed by a four switch chip output stage, all of the eight switch chips being included on a single switch board. With such an arrangement, messages passing between any two ports on different switch chips in the input stage would first be routed through the switch chip in the input stage that contains the source or input port, to any of the four switches comprising the output stage and subsequently, through the switch chip in the output stage the message would be routed back (i.e., the message packet would reverse its direction) to the switch chip in the input stage including the destination (output) port for the message. Alternatively, in larger systems comprising a plurality of such switch boards, messages may be routed from a processing node, through a switch chip in the input stage of the switch board to a switch chip in the output stage of the switch board and from the output stage switch chip to another interconnected switch board (and thereon to a switch chip in the input stage). Within an exemplary switch board, switch chips that are directly linked to nodes are termed node switch chips (NSCs) and those which are connected directly to other switch boards are termed link switch chips (LSCs).
Switch boards of the type described above may simply interconnect a plurality of nodes, or alternatively, in larger systems, a plurality of interconnected switch boards may have their input stages connected to nodes and their output stages connected to other switch boards, these are termed node switch boards (NSBs). Even more complex switching networks may comprise intermediate stage switch boards which are interposed between and interconnect a plurality of NSBs. These intermediate switch boards (ISBs) serve as a conduit for routing message packets between nodes coupled to switches in a first and a second NSB.
Switching networks are described further in U.S. Pat. Nos.: 6,021,442; 5,884,090; 5,812,549; 5,453,978; and 5,355,364, each of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
One consideration in the operation of any switching network is that routes used to move messages should be selected such that a desired bandwidth is available for communication. One cause of loss of bandwidth is unbalanced distribution of routes between source-destination pairs and contention therebetween. While it is not possible to avoid contention for all traffic patterns, reduction of contention should be a goal. This goal can be partially achieved through generation of a globally balanced set of routes. The complexity of route generation depends on the type and size of the network as well as the number of routes used between any source-destination pair. Various techniques have been used for generating routes in a multi-path network. While some techniques generate routes dynamically, others generate static routes based on the connectivity of the network. Dynamic methods are often self-adjusting to variations in traffic patterns and tend to achieve as even a flow of traffic as possible. Static methods, on the other hand, are pre-computed and do not change during the normal operation of the network.
While pre-computing routing appears to be simpler, the burden of generating an acceptable set of routes that will be optimal for a variety of traffic patterns lies heavily on the algorithm that is used. Typically, global balancing of routes is addressed by these algorithms, while the issue of local balancing is overlooked, for example, because of the complexity involved.
Thus, a need remains in the art for a route generation technique that generates routes that are balanced both globally and locally in switching networks which support multiple paths between source-destination pairs.

Fanning route generation technique for multi-path networks


A light source module including a light guide plate, at least one light emitting device, a light-controlling pattern element, and an absorbing pattern element is provided. The light guide plate has a light emitting surface, a first surface opposite the light emitting surface, and at least one opening. The opening passes through the first surface and extends from the first surface toward the light emitting surface. The at least one light emitting device is disposed in the opening and arranged along an arranging direction. The light-controlling pattern element is disposed on the light emitting surface and covers the opening and the light emitting device. The opening faces towards the absorbing pattern element. The absorbing pattern element is disposed besides one of the at least one light emitting device and extends toward a side wall of the opening. Moreover, another two light source modules are also provided.

Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a light source module, and more particularly, the invention relates to a light source module including a light-controlling pattern element.
Description of Related Art
A conventional light source module includes a light guide plate having a plurality of recesses, a plurality of light emitting diode light bars disposed in the recesses, at least one reflecting element and at least one optical film. The light emitting diode light bars are located between the reflecting element and the light guide plate. The light guide plate is located between the optical film and the light emitting diode light bars. In the conventional light source module, although most light emitted by the light emitting diode light bars enters the light guide plate from side walls of the recesses via a direction perpendicular to a light emitting surface of the light guide plate, a portion of the light exits the light emitting surface of the light guide plate from the top of the light emitting diode light bars and causes a problem of the conventional light source module being overly bright at the top of the light emitting diode light bars. In addition, the conventional light source module may be divided into a plurality of regions by the plurality of recesses, and a problem of uneven light mixing is prone to occur at an interception point of each region and the adjacent region, thus resulting in a poor uniformity.
Japanese Patent No. 2010177085 discloses a backlight unit including a light guide body, and a light emitting surface of the light guide body is disposed with a light diffusive member. Japanese Patent No. 2009230163 discloses a backlight unit, and a spacing between a light guide plate and a diffusive member thereof is less than 15 mm. Japanese Patent No. 2010090029 discloses a backlight unit, and a light emitting surface of a light guide plate and a surface opposite to the light emitting surface are disposed with diffusion points. Taiwanese Patent No. I354812 discloses a backlight module including a light source, a light guide plate, and a reflection sheet. Taiwanese Patent No. I358004 discloses a backlight module including a light guide plate and at least one light source optically coupled with the light guide plate. Taiwanese Patent No. M366080 discloses a backlight module including an optical film, and this optical film has a diffusion layer and a reflection layer. US Patent No. 20110141764 discloses a backlight module including a reflection cavity. Chinese Patent No. 01122554 discloses a light guide plate, wherein a groove is disposed at a middle section thereof Taiwanese Patent No. M368093 discloses a sidelight type backlight module including a plurality of light guide plates, a plurality of light sources, a plurality of shielding plates, a diffusion film, a brightness enhancement film, and a reflection plate. US Patent No. 20110242794 discloses a light emitting device having a plurality of light guide plates.


Disclosed is a unique configuration of a rocker arm per se wherein high stress areas thereof are strengthened and a trunion shaft is rotatively mounted on its push rod end and has a threaded push rod end insertion bore, a unique push rod construction per se wherein the upper end thereof is threaded, the combination of this rocker arm and the push rod wherein the upper end of the push rod is threaded into the insertion bore whereby the sudden, rapid, repeated and severe impact forces of the push rod end against the rocker arm are spread throughout the threaded connection and the rocker arm and are thus greatly diminished for each point of force contact between the push rod and the rocker arm, and further the stated combination mounted on an internal combustion engine.

1. Field
This invention is in the field of internal combustion engines, particularly automotive engines having rocker arms and push rods and more particularly concerns that structural portion of a rocker arm which contacts the upper end of a push rod, and further concerns the push rod construction, per se and the combination of an internal combustion engine employing the present rocker arm and push rod.
2. Prior Art
Heretofore, the receiving socket for the upper end of a push rod of a typical internal combustion engine rocker arm has been a concave surface in which the rounded upper end of the push rod nests and which end can actually rotate about its longitudinal axis within the socket since the lower end of the push rod also nests in the concave top of a push rod (or valve) lifter. In these structures there is no actual mechanical linkage connection of either end of the push rod to any other part of the valve opening and closing mechanism. As a result, and as a consequence of the rapid, repeated impact force on the push rod receiving socket on the rocker arm, particularly at rpm's such as 9,000 or more, this socket is typically destroyed before its time as well as incurring premature breakage of the adjacent portions of the rocker arm.
Also inherent in prior rocker arm constructions, particularly wherein solid (non-hydraulic) lifters are employed is the loose contact of the push rod with the rocker arm especially in a cold engine. This looseness can cause the valves to open a lesser degree than optimum designed operating conditions require.


An STN liquid crystal display, wherein a twist angle of liquid crystal molecules of the liquid crystal layer is 155° to 210°, and a first angle between a polarizing axis direction of the first polarizer and an alignment direction of liquid crystal molecules of the liquid crystal layer in contact with the first transparent substrate and a second angle between a polarizing axis direction of the second polarizer and an alignment direction of liquid crystal molecules of the liquid crystal layer in contact with the second transparent substrate are each larger than 0° and smaller than 90°, and a sum of the first and second angles is 90°±7°. The STN liquid crystal display is provided having a high contrast ratio and good characteristics of viewing angle.

A) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a liquid crystal display, and more particularly to a liquid crystal display capable of providing a high contrast ratio using a monochromatic light source.
B) Description of the Related Art
A super-twisted nematic (STN)—liquid crystal display (LCD) has been used as a liquid crystal display unit of a high duty ratio. One type of STN-LCD is a blue color mode display device. A so-called blue color display, in which blue color is presented when a voltage is not applied and white color is presented when a voltage is applied, can be made by disposing a polarizing axis of an analyzer at 30 degrees in a counter-clockwise direction relative to long axes of liquid crystal molecules on an optical output side and by disposing a polarizing axis of a polarizer at 30 degrees in a clockwise direction relative to long axes of liquid crystal molecules on an optical input side, for the polarizing plates disposed above and under the liquid crystal cell.
JP-A-2004-62021 proposes to improve light shielding performance in a cut-off state by making liquid crystal composition of STN-LCD of the blue color mode contain dichromatic pigment. As another means for improving light shielding performance, there is a method of using a compensation plate.
STN-LCD of the blue color mode generally uses a white color back light. If a monochromatic light source such as a light emitting diode (LED) is used, it is possible to provide a mode in which a back light color becomes a display color in a normally black state, by lowering a minimum value of transmission factor in the absence of applied voltage at a wavelength of emission peak of the back light and making the back light transmit at its wavelength of peak emission in the presence of applied voltage.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Monochromatic liquid crystal display with high contrast ratio


Adaptive enabling and disabling is described for valley switching in a power factor correction boost converter. In one example, a boost converter control system includes an amplitude detector to receive an amplitude signal from a boost converter that is related to ringing of the boost converter output. The amplitude detector determines the ringing amplitude. A valley switching controller compares the ringing amplitude to a first high amplitude threshold when valley switching is enabled and generates a valley switching disable signal if the ringing amplitude is below the first high amplitude threshold. A cycle controller coupled to the boost converter generates a drive signal to control switching of the boost converter and coupled to the valley switching controller receives the valley switching disable signal to generate the drive signal without valley switching in response to the valley switching disable signal.

Electric power conversion is widely used in varied applications including adjustable-speed electric motor drives, switch-mode power supplies, uninterrupted power supplies (UPSs), and battery energy storage. In high-power applications, two or more boost converters are often combined as multiple stages to improve the performance and reduce the size of converter. For high-current applications and voltage step-up, the currents through the solid-state switches are just fractions of the input current. The switches are used to time the power phase of the converter. Power Factor Correction (PFC) converters are used for improved power quality and improved efficiency. Passive PFC may be performed using tuned LC filters, but these may have a limited frequency and power range. Active PFC uses actively controlled solid-state switches in association with passive elements. The switches allow the PFC converter to operate in different modes. A PFC boost converter boosts the input voltage for a higher output voltage.
One of the different modes is discontinuous conduction mode (DCM) in which a PFC converter controller enables the switch after the end of a power cycle. At the end of the power cycle, the voltage on the drain rings due to harmonics in the PFC converter circuit. In DCM, the controller measures a signal that correlates to the drain voltage of the switch and enables the switch at a low point or minimum in the drain voltage ringing. This minimizes switching losses in the converter and improves overall efficiency. This control of the time of switching is referred to as valley switching and zero voltage drain (ZVD) switching. When the controller cannot determine a suitable valley, then a timer is used to limit the maximum time between power cycles.

Adaptive enable and disable for valley switching in a power factor correction boost converter


An apparatus for setting up an electronic device has a memory for storing parameter setting image data for establishing one or more parameters with respect to a controlled device, the parameter setting image including parameter changing switch image data and setting state display image data, a display unit for displaying a parameter setting image based on the parameter setting image data read from the memory, an input unit for entering input information indicating changes in display states of a parameter changing switch image data and a setting state display image which are displayed by the display unit and a parameter to be established, and a controller for changing the display states of the parameter changing switch image data an the setting state display image which are displayed by the display unit and the parameter to be established, based on the input information entered by the input unit, and transmitting changed parameter data or a change in the parameter to the controlled device.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method of and an apparatus for setting up an electronic device such as a video camera (including a video tape recorder integrally combined with a video camera) for home use or a video camera for use in broadcasting stations.
2. Description of the Related Art
Video cameras have many parameters including white, black, gamma, knee, detail and other parameters to be established. It has been customary for the user of a video camera to establish those parameters by adjusting volumes or variable resistors in the video camera or pressing an incremental or decremental button on the video camera to increment or decrement parameter settings.
However, the conventional practice to establish many parameters of an electronic device such as a video camera is not an efficient process. Furthermore, when there are stringent standards imposed on video images outputted from video cameras for use in broadcasting stations, the user is required to actually shoot a reference image with the video camera and judge the reference image thus shot in order to confirm whether the parameters that have been established satisfy those standards which have been intended or imposed.
There has been a demand for a process of establishing parameters for an electronic device such as a video camera more efficiently, reliably, and accurately than before.

Method of and apparatus for setting up electronic device


An apparatus and a method for providing a messenger service in an electronic device are provided. In the method, the messenger service with at least one counterpart electronic device is provided. First application setting information is determined during the messenger service. The first application setting information is transmitted to the at least one counterpart electronic device through the messenger service.

1. Field of the Invention
The present disclosure relates to an electronic device. More particularly, the present invention relates to an apparatus and a method for providing a messenger service in an electronic device.
2. Description of the Related Art
With easiness in portability, portable electronic devices have become a necessity for modern people. Furthermore, with development of a communication technology, a portable electronic device evolves into a multimedia device, providing not only a voice communication service, but also various multimedia services using a data communication service.
As described above, since a portable electronic device provides a multimedia service with development of a communication technology, the portable electronic device may provide not only a voice communication and a message transmission/reception function, but also a messenger service for exchanging a message and contents between users.
As a data service of a communication business expands and distribution of a smart phone increases, use of a messenger service using a portable electronic device increases. Accordingly, a user of a portable electronic device may require various services using a messenger service.
However, a messenger service using a portable electronic device may provide a simple service sharing character information and contents information between users. Accordingly, an alternative for providing various additional services for user convenience via the messenger service using an electronic device may be required.

Method for providing messenger service and electronic device thereof


Provided is an indicator display device displaying information by using an indicator, and more particularly, provided is an indicator display device having a simplified configuration and including a small module. The indicator display device includes a stepping motor; an indicator which is connected to the stepping motor and rotates by a driving force provided by the stepping motor; and an indicator position detector which detects a relative position of the indicator with regard to the stepping motor.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an indicator display device displaying information by using an indicator, and more particularly, to an indicator display device having a simplified configuration and a small module size.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventional indicator display devices which display information by using an indicator, are broadly employed in various measuring instruments such as analog watches, clocks, thermometers, barometers, and speedometers. In general, in a conventional indicator display device a magnetic force generated from a coil in response to receiving an electric signal, drives a gear so as to activate an indicator that is connected to the gear, thereby displaying an appropriate numerical value.
Many attempts have been recently made to adopt such an indicator display device in various portable electronic devices such as digital cameras, in order to improve their external appearance or their visual effect. However, conventional indicator display devices are formed of various components such as a plurality of coils disposed around a module, a plurality of gears driven by the coils, and a battery. As such, due to a large number of components, complicated operation thereof, and a quite large module size, it is becoming more difficult to adopt conventional indicator display devices in electronic devices which are getting progressively slimmer and smaller.


A portable refractometer is provided that includes a lens barrel having a lens barrel axis. A prism is secured to one end of the lens barrel, the prism having an entry face that provides a boundary surface between the prism and a substance to be measured. A tube shaped optical chassis is inside the lens barrel, and is rotatably supported about a predetermined rotational axis perpendicular to the lens barrel axis. An objective lens is arranged in the optical chassis, and is positioned in relation to the optical chassis. An optical scale is arranged inside the optical chassis, at the focal point of the objective lens. A mover moves the objective lens relatively in relation to the optical scale in response to changes in temperature by turning the optical chassis about the rotational axis.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a portable refractometer for measuring the refractive index of a liquid.
2. Description of Related Art
Portable refractometers for measuring the index of refraction of a liquid are known in conventional technology. A portable refractometer measures the index of refraction of a liquid from a critical angle at the boundary surface or interface between the liquid and a prism the index of refraction of which is already known. Because the index of refraction of a liquid changes according to the content of soluble material, generally, a portable refractometer is used as a density measuring meter (densitometer) or sugar concentration measuring meter for measuring the density or sugar concentration of a liquid by converting refractive index difference into density or sugar concentration.
FIG. 1 shows the conventional portable refractometer 100 disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2003-344283. As light enters a prism 104 from the side of a liquid to be measured 102, the boundary line of brightness-darkness contrast arises in the direction in which light refracted at a critical angle at a boundary surface 106 is output. The index of refraction (or the density or sugar concentration) is obtained as an image of this boundary line which is formed by an objective lens 108 on an optical scale 110 showing the index of refraction (or density or sugar concentration).
As the index of refraction changes in response to environmental temperature, temperature compensation is necessary in order to enable the density or sugar concentration of a liquid to be measured accurately. In the case of the portable refractometer 100 shown in FIG. 1, temperature compensation is performed by, for example, using water as a liquid to be measured 102 and adjusting the position of the vertical direction of the objective lens 108 using an adjustment screw 112 such that the boundary line of brightness-darkness contrast falls on the scale showing 0% of density or sugar concentration.
On the other hand, a variety of portable refractometers that perform the temperature compensation automatically have been developed. FIG. 2 shows a conventional portable refractometer 200 that has an automatic temperature compensation function. The portable refractometer 200 is configured to perform temperature compensation of a measured value by using a planar bimetal 214 and moving an optical scale 210 vertically (in this figure) in response to temperature changes. For this configuration a relatively long planar bimetal 214 extends within a lens barrel 216. A problem arises as when a user holds the refractometer 200 for a long period the planar bimetal 214 undergoes shape transformation in response to the heat of the hand of the user, thereby inhibiting temperature compensation from being performed accurately. Further, a large number of components are required in order to secure the respective ends of the planar bimetal 214 to the optical scale 210 and the lens barrel 216, making assembly difficult as these components and the planar bimetal 214 must be secured in position inside the lens barrel 216. Moreover, as substantial space is required inside the lens barrel 216 this configuration cannot be applied for a small model, portable refractometer.
There are other portable refractometers which moves the objective lens in response to changes in temperature. In comparison to the configuration shown in FIG. 2, this kind of portable refractometer is not affected by the temperature of the hand of the holder. In the same way as the portable refractometer shown in FIG. 2 however, a cantilever arrangement is used in which a long thin planar member that changes in shape in response to changes in temperature supports the objective lens, thus the degree of change of the objective lens in response to changes in temperature is unstable and temperature compensation cannot be performed accurately. Further, in the same manner as the portable refractometer shown in FIG. 2, a large number of components are used for this arrangement making assembly complicated and mitigating against miniaturization.


A packaging carton is disclosed, suitable for packaging an electronic product, such as a peripheral product, a mobile phone, or a spare part. The packing carton is formed by folding a paper material and is one piece, and is fabricated by linking two clip slots. Furthermore, the packaging carton comprises two hollow buffer structures beside two sides of a storage chamber and two upper holding pieces adjacent to both sides of the storage chamber to protect an object packaged in the packaging carton.

Inside most of the daily-used packaging cartons, protective packaging structures exist to support and protect the objects disposed in the packaging cartons, thereby avoiding damage resulted from external impact. Inside the commonly-used packaging cartons, the frequently-used materials forming the protective packaging structures are, for example, plastic, paper, and metal. Of these, paper is quite popularly selected for manufacturing the packaging structures because it is easily processed, has a low technical threshold, is cheap, and is easily printed on.
In addition, based on the principle of environmental protection, the packaging structures of paper can be produced from reprocessed paper pulp and be recycled. Moreover, unlike other materials, paper materials do not need to bear the cost of recycling. Therefore, the utilization of paper materials can reduce the impact to ecological environment and have the advantage of low cost.
For highly precise and fairly fragile electrical components, since they are quite easily damaged during transportation by external interference, such as water, dust, impact and so on, the requirements for the packaging structure are stricter. To reduce the damage to objects during transportation, capabilities, such as waterproof, dust-proof, and shockproof, are built into the protective packaging structure. Currently, a popular method is to insert lots of paper or plastic lining materials, foamed plastic fillers, or foamed cushioning pads into a packaging carton, so as to prevent damage caused by shaking and collision with walls of the packaging carton during transportation to protect the objects therein. Materials of plastic lining materials, foamed plastic fillers and foamed cushioning pads generally are expanded polyethylene (EPE) or polyvinyl chloride (PVC).
Nevertheless, with the promoting of the environmental protection awakening, the use of plastic lining materials, foamed plastic fillers or foamed cushioning pads impacts the environment ecology and cannot fit the environmental protection policy of each country.
The fabrication technique of paper packaging structures is by directly hot-pressing paper pulp into a mold. Another method is to cut cardboard into various planks by first sampling and drawing parallel lines according to the size of the required object; and then folding and pasting the planks according to the required style to fabricate the inner spacer required.
However, the producing method of packaging structures by directly hot-pressing paper pulp into a mold requires development and fabrication of the mold, so that the cost is increased. In addition, the packaging structure made by folding and pasting paper sheets has the drawbacks of poor impact-resistibility, and takes more time to produce.


An automotive seat assembly comprising a multitude of trim pieces sewn together along their respective edge portions. A continuous first stitching material passes through and between a number of apertures along a trim piece to form a first seam. A continuous second stitching material passes through and between a number of apertures along another trim piece to form a second seam. The first stitching material loops around the second stitching material between the trim pieces to secure the two trim pieces together. A plurality of interwoven first strands form a first cover material and a plurality of interwoven second strands form a second cover material. The first stitching material loops around the interwoven first strands to pull the first cover material against the first seam and cover the apertures in the trim piece. The second stitching material loops around the interwoven second strands to pull the second cover material against the second seam and cover the apertures in the other trim piece. Hence, any apertures or cavities along either seam created by the sewing process are covered.

The manufacturing of an automotive seat assembly may incorporate any number of different processes. For example, foam cushions for seat bottoms and seat backs may be glued or steam heated to a respective trim cover material. The trim covers may be pre-sewn and may or may not include trim strips, as are well known in the art. Foam cushions for side bolsters may also be glued or steam heated to a trim cover material. Further, pre-sewn side bolsters and/or pre-sewn headrests may be injected with a liquid foam. Foam injection processes are well known in the art and include a number of different manufacturing techniques.
A typical foam injection technique first includes pre-sewing the intended seating component, i.e., a headrest. The pre-sewn trim cover material must be protected against the injected liquid foam. Typically, a thin foam sheet with a plastic liner is adhered to the inside surface of the trim cover. The foam sheet provides for extra cushion and the plastic liner protects the foam sheet from the injected liquid foam. The plastic liner prevents any absorption of the liquid foam by the foam sheet. The pre-sewn trim cover typically forms a type of envelope with an opening therein. The envelope is then placed within a cast wherein the interior of the cast incorporates the desired shape of the seating component. The liquid foam is injected within the trim cover envelope and allowed to cure and harden to form the final padded product. A major difficulty in this foam injection process is ensuring that no liquid foam leaks through the seams in the pre-sewn trim cover envelope. If leakage does occur, the product is aesthetically displeasing and unmarketable.
The current method of sealing the seams is to sew additional strips of foam over the seams. The additional foam strips are known in the art as scam seal tape. Seam seal tape attempts to stop leakage by absorbing a portion of the injected liquid foam. The absorption occurs because the foam strips do not have any plastic liner adhered thereto. This method of sealing seams in a pre-sewn trim cover envelope, however, has a number of deficiencies. First, the foam strips are relatively expensive and difficult to use. The flexibility of the foam strips can cause a number of problems during the sewing process. For example, the foam strips can be difficult to guide and align with the seams. Further, if the foam strips are stretched excessively or torn then leakage through the seams may occur. Additionally, the foam strips harden from the absorption of the liquid foam, which creates a hard undesirable seam.

Method and apparatus for sewing a plurality of trim pieces together


A method and apparatus for expanding a backplane interconnecting bus provides an architecture in which the width of a data bus can be expanded without new byte select control lines on the backplane bus. In the present invention, data lines and corresponding parity lines are added to the backplane bus, and control signal lines connect devices capable of utilizing the expanded bus capabilities. The control signal lines do not affect the operation of devices which are designed according to the narrower bus width, and therefore, these devices can be installed in the expanded bus backplane along with devices designed to utilize the expanded width data bus.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a backplane bus for interconnecting one or more microprocessors, memory modules, and input/output (I/O) peripheral boards. Specifically, the invention relates to a method and apparatus to expand the width of the data bus portion of the backplane bus without the use of additional byte select lines. According to the present invention, devices designed for previous unexpanded systems are still suitable for use in the expanded system.
2. Description of the Related Art
The processing requirements of computer systems for personal and business needs continuously become more demanding. For instance, more complex application programs for use with local area networks are continuously being developed. Moreover, many multi-user systems provide access to more than one operating environment, such as UNIX and DOS, on the same system.
In general, the computers servicing these needs are single processor systems conforming to conventional architectures using a standard input/output I/O bus such as the Extended Industry Standard Architecture (EISA). New and more powerful systems constantly emerge. However, upgrading an old system generally requires investing in substantial hardware modifications or buying a new system.
One solution to the constantly changing power of microprocessors controlling a system is the CUPID architecture designed by AST Research Inc. In the CUPID architecture, the microprocessor based central processing unit. (CPU) and the memory unit are not permanently attached to the backplane bus, but are removable circuit boards running at their own speed, asynchronous with the backplane bus operations. Thus, when more power from the microprocessor is desired, a faster CPU can replace the existing CPU.
However, as processing power demands increase, application software and operating systems would benefit from an architecture similar to the CUPID architecture, but which has multiprocessor capabilities to provide parallel processing and high interactivity and batch performance.
Some multiprocessor bus configurations have been proposed such as the Micro-Channel architecture by IBM. However, expanding the width of the interconnecting bus, once the bus size is initially selected, generally requires adding additional byte select lines on the bus to control I/O operations. This results in modifications to the interconnecting bus. The modifications to the backplane are not difficult. However, if the bus has new control lines, the circuit boards designed for the narrower bus may not function properly on the wider bus. Accordingly, to use an expanded bus often requires redesigning of the circuit boards used in connection with the bus. This again leads to substantial expense for one who wishes to upgrade a system.

Method and apparatus for expanding a backplane interconnecting bus in a multiprocessor computer system without additional byte select signals


A vehicle lighting source adapter includes a holder, terminals, and cables connected to the terminals. The holder has a pair of insertion blocks at both sides and an insertion plate at a front end. The insertion plate includes an upper surface and a lower surface. Each of the upper and lower surfaces is disposed with a pair of connection channels. Each connection channel includes a first and a second fillisters. A retainer is disposed to each of the first and second fillisters. Each terminal is inserted into and partially exposed from the first fillister and has its snap portion restricted by the retainer.

(a) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a vehicle lighting source adapter, and more particularly, to a holder provided with insertion blocks at both sides and an insertion plate at its front end, and the insertion plate is disposed with connection channels to receive insertion of terminals.
(b) Description of the Prior Art
Among those vehicle lighting fixtures generally available in the market, LED (light-emitting diode) becomes the most popular today. However, the LED is not compatible with the conventional lamp holder and the vehicle lamp contacts must be revised.
An adapter of the prior art has a flat and straight metal terminal fixed to a holder while the holder is inserted into the lamp holder with the terminal from the lamp holder abutted to that from the holder in a fashion of local plane. Therefore, minute spacing does exist between the terminals due to the process allowances respectively of the adapter holder and the vehicle lamp holder. Consequently, there is the imprecise abutting between both terminals, leading further to a broken circuit due to poor contact.


A catheter directionally conducts a pulsating body fluid and has a line segment defining an inner volume. A pump chamber section is arranged proximally as an extension of the line segment and defines a pump chamber having a frame therein accommodating a balloon. A first opening connects the inner volume to an external volume and a second opening is arranged proximally from the first opening to connect the inner volume to the external volume. A check valve is assigned to the second opening and the check valve includes a valve foil having an aperture formed therein offset from the second opening. A third opening communicates with the pump chamber. The frame is of a shape memory material which provides rigidity for a pulsatile operation of the balloon. During operation, the pulsating body fluid is conveyed in the inner volume directionally between the first and second opening by operating the balloon.

In the context of the invention, the expression "fluid-tight" means an impermeability to atoms or molecules of the fluid in question, under the maximum conditions prevailing in this fluid in the living human body. If the catheter is, for example, configured for conveying blood, then "fluid-tight" means an impermeability at least up to a maximum human blood pressure.
A catheter of the type named above, having multiple check valves, is known in the prior art, for example from U.S. Pat. Nos. 8,932,246 and 8,409,128. The catheter is preferably used in cases of limited cardiac output to support the heart and the blood circulation. The catheter can also be used in cases of more advanced aortic regurgitation. The catheter serves the purpose of transporting the conveyed fluid from a first location to another location without significantly increasing the pressure of the fluid at the first location beyond a state determined by physiology by implementing the principle of a submersible pump and by combining it with the principle of a diaphragm pump due to the use of a balloon catheter. The direction of conveyance (flow direction) depends in this case on the orientation of the check valves. It thus enables, compared to the known intra-aortic balloon pump counterpulsation, a directional transport of the body fluid with less stress on the patient.
Such catheters can be called pump catheters for short. However, it is possible to use a separate drive, especially in the form of an adjustable displacement device, for example a balloon catheter of an intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP). The catheter is, in its basic form, simply a non-driven line catheter. The pump catheter can be implemented by pushing the displacement device following the placement of the catheter line, through the third opening into the internal space of the sleeve.
Therefore, it is possible and practical to implement the line catheter without a drive.
The complexity involved, and the negative impacts on the patient, in a minimally invasive insertion of a catheter into the body, for example via inguinal vessels, essentially depend on the size—and particularly the largest outer diameter—of the catheter.
A catheter of the type mentioned is known in the prior art from, by way of example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 8,932,246 and 8,409,128. It is preferably used in cases of limited cardiac output to support the heart and the blood circulation. In particular, it can also be used in cases of higher-grade aortic insufficiency. It is used to transport the conveyed body fluid from a first location to another location, without increasing the pressure of the fluid at the first location significantly above the physiologically specified state, by utilizing the principle of a submersible pump, and preferably by the use of a balloon catheter combined with the principle of a diaphragm pump, wherein the term 'submerged pump' is used to mean a pump which is immersed in the fluid being conveyed, and the term 'diaphragm pump' is used to mean a pump with a drive which is separated by a membrane from the fluid being conveyed. Thus it allows, compared to the known method of intra-aortic balloon counterpulsation, a directional transport of the body fluid, as well as less stress on the patient.
Such catheters can be referred to as pump catheters as well. It is possible to use a separate drive in such a pump catheter. The catheter is then, in its basic form, merely a drive-less line catheter. The pump catheter can then be created, for example, by inserting an adjustable displacement device—for example, a balloon catheter of an intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP)—into the internal volume of the catheter after the line catheter has been placed. As such, it is reasonably possible to furnish the catheter without a drive as well.
The complexity, and the stress on the patient, of a minimally invasive insertion of a catheter into the body—for example via groin vessels—substantially depends on the size, particularly the largest outer diameter, of the catheter. Therefore, from the perspective of the patient and the attending physician, it is best for the outer diameter of the catheter to be as small as possible. On the other hand, in order to ensure the required pump power—that is, the volume of fluid to be transported per unit of time—along with the lowest possible loads on the fluid being transported, the largest possible inner diameter—at least in the section of the catheter through which the fluid must be transported—is advantageous.

Catheter for the directional conveyance of a fluid, particularly a body fluid


In order to quickly and accurately determine if a given system is malfunctioning or not, a selected parameter is sampled and an average value developed. As the number of sequential samples increases and the average becomes more reliable, the standard against which it is judged is also varied so as to render the test for normal operation more severe.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a diagnostic arrangement which enables a sensor malfunction or the like to be detected, and more specifically to such a type of system which enables the standard against which the instant performance is judged, to be varied in accordance with the number of times a given parameter is sampled.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In order to meet recent stringent emission control regulations it is becoming necessary to equip vehicles with diagnostic arrangements which enable the malfunction of sensors or systems associated with the control/operation of an exhaust gas recirculating system generally abbreviated as an EGR, air-fuel ratio control systems and the like, to be detected and a warning suitably issued/generated.
JP-A-62-51746 discloses an arrangement which has been proposed in order to monitor the operation of an EGR system and to diagnose improper operation thereof. In this arrangement, a valve which controls the flow of exhaust gas from the exhaust conduit to the induction system, is momentarily closed and the induction pressure which is detected during this period, is compared with the pressure detected while the valve is open. This data is used to develop a pressure differential value .DELTA.P. That is to say .DELTA.P=(Pon-Poff) where Pon and Poff represent the pressures which are detected while the valve is open and closed, respectively.
While this pressure differential exhibits a predetermined relationship with a predetermined standard value, the operation of the valve is deemed to be normal.
However, with this type of arrangement the parameter on which the decision is based (in this case the pressure differential value) is apt to vary to a degree that erroneous diagnosis is apt to occur.
That is to say, FIGS. 1 to 3 show the situations wherein the number of time the pressure differential is sampled once, twice and a number of times greater than 1. As will be appreciated from FIG. 2, when only one sampling is taken, the abnormal (malfunction) and normal operation pressure differential distributions overlap to degree that it is possible that, even though the arrangement is working normally, still the pressure differential which is produced under certain engine operating conditions can be taken as being indicative of a malfunction and vice versa.
As a result of the above, when a predetermined standard pressure differential value is used as the .DELTA.PNG, due to the above distribution overlap, it is possible that even if the system is operating normally, still a malfunction indication can be undesirably produced. While reduced, this possibility remains even when two samples are taken (see FIG. 2).
To overcome this problem and to increase the accuracy of the diagnostic system, it has been thought to record a number of pressure differential values and derive an average .DELTA.Pav which can then be compared with a predetermined standard value .DELTA.PNG. In the event that the deviation exhibits a normal distribution, the standard deviation .sigma.A exhibits the following relationship with the number of samples n which are used to develop the average. ##EQU1##
As the value of n increases the average .DELTA.Pav is such that the normal and abnormal operation distributions separate in the manner depicted in FIG. 3 wherein the possibility of error with respect to .DELTA.PNG becomes essentially non-existent.
However, with this type of arrangement it is very difficult to achieve the required number of sequential pressure differential samples. That is to say, during vehicle operation the time for which the engine operational characteristics remain in a region suitable for sampling and system diagnosis is possible, is relatively short. Accordingly, if n is set to a suitably high value, the possibility that the required number of samples which are needed to develop a fully reliable .DELTA.Pav value, will not be taken during any given run of the diagnostic routine exists and, leads to the drawback that it may be some time before a complete diagnosis can be successfully carried out and the existence of a malfunction actually determined.

Diagnostic arrangement for use with automotive engine systems


A USB circuit device prevents reverse current while complying with USB specifications. A USB circuit device includes a connector unit to which a USB device is connected; a power supplying unit supplying power with the USB device through the connector unit; a switching unit flowing current induced into the connector unit from the USB device, into a ground selectively; and a controller controlling the switching unit to flow the current induced into the connector unit, into the ground if a level of the power provided with the USB device by the power supplying unit is less than a predetermined value. Accordingly, there is provided a USB circuit device for preventing reverse current from an external device and capable of protecting the circuit from over current with satisfaction to a USB specification.

1. Field of the Invention
Aspects of the present invention relate to a USB circuit device, and more particularly, to a USB circuit device that prevents reverse current and that is in compliance with USB specifications.
2. Description of the Related Art
A universal serial bus (USB) interface is a general-purpose tool that connects a personal computer (PC) with an external device. The USB interface has an additional power signal that provides power to the external device if the device does not have its own power source. However, when an external device that has its own power source is connected to the PC, if the power of the external device is not shut off when the power of the PC is shut off, a reverse current may be induced from the external device to the PC. The reverse current influences the operation of the PC and causes problems.

USB circuit device for preventing reverse current from external device


Embodiments of the invention include systems, methods, and computer-program products that provide for a unique directional wayfinding system. In one embodiment of the invention, products are received from the user, such as a shopping list or wish list. The system determines the location of the user, determines the location of the product in the business, determines a route from the user to the product, and provides instructions to the user along the route. In an embodiment, the system identifies and/or confirms the product when the user reaches the product. In at least one embodiment, the systems, methods, and computer-program products provide functionality for the visually-impaired to assist in everyday shopping for products in businesses.

Currently, customers may have a difficult time finding products in stores. Often, stores move the products around, which make locating specific products difficult. Also, stores are not standardized with respect to the location of products, so knowing the location of the product in one store does not mean that the customer will be able to find the product in another store. Customers may become frustrated with the inability to locate products in a store and leave without purchasing anything.
To further complicate the issue of finding products in stores, stores often run out of stock of certain products so even if a customer knows where the product should be located, it may not be there when the customer arrives. The lack of current information on product location results in wasted trips, frustrated customers, and lost sales when customers go to another store for their shopping.
Additionally, visually-impaired customers may have difficulty navigating through a store to locate products. Stores may have unusual layouts, products are difficult to locate and identify, and even if the customer knows where the product is supposed to be located, the product may not be in stock when the customer gets to the location. Visually-impaired individuals desire the freedom to shop in stores independently but find it difficult without guidance to products.
Financial institutions look to serve customers by making their lives easier. One way financial institutions can do this is by assisting customers in locating products within stores. Financial institutions also desire to serve business customers, for example, by providing tailored marketing strategies so that businesses are effectively using marketing resources and customers are receiving useful information in a convenient manner.