Methods for detecting a malaria parasite are described that include: releasing the malaria parasite by allowing an erythrocyte in a specimen to undergo hemolysis; staining the released malaria parasite with a fluorescent dye to prepare a measurement sample; detecting optical information from the measurement sample; and distinguishing the malaria parasite based on the optical information obtained. Apparatuses and reagent kits are also described.

Malaria is a parasitic infection disease which is prevalent in tropical and subtropical zones. Based on statistics from the World Health Organization (WHO), 40% or more of the worldwide population lives in malaria-prevalent regions, 3 to 5 hundred million people per year are infected, and 1.5 to 3 million cases are assumed to result in death.
Malaria is mediated by a mosquito called Anopheles. When an Anopheles mosquito bites human skin, a parasite is injected into human blood together with the saliva of the Anopheles mosquito. The parasite travels into a hepatocyte, where it proliferates, and then is released again into the blood. At this time, the morphology of the parasite is referred to as a merozoite, which invades an erythrocyte soon after being released into the blood and then grows while changing its morphology. This change in the morphology is referred to as a life cycle, each stage of which is referred to as a ring form, tropozoite or schizonte. A parasite which has grown up to the stage of the schizonte destroys an erythrocyte, and then is released as a merozoite again into the blood. The released merozoite invades an erythrocyte, and repeats the life cycle again, thereby proliferating repeatedly. The malaria parasite proliferates by repeating this cycle, while destroying erythrocytes in the blood continuously. The merozoite is differentiated partly into a morphology referred to as a gametocyte without infecting the erythrocyte. The gametocyte serves as a further source of infection via the bloodsucking of an Anopheles mosquito.
The measurement method typically employed in diagnosing malaria is a method in which a blood smear preparation is stained, for example by a Giemsa staining method or a nucleic acid-staining fluorescent dye method, and then examined visually by microscopic observation using an optical microscope or a fluorescent microscope.
However, this method requires a complicated and time-consuming process involving smear preparation, fixation and staining. In addition, it requires a well-trained operator for ensuring correct detection and identification since detection and identification of the malaria parasite are performed visually. Moreover, it requires a long observation period and the observation of a large number of erythrocytes in order to ensure highly sensitive detection since a specimen to be tested from a malaria patient may have a low % infection. Accordingly, the results of the measurement may frequently be inaccurate. Moreover, it is difficult to handle a large number of specimens due to the time-consuming pretreatment and measurement stages.
Recently, methods that do not involve microscopic examination were developed, for example DNA probe method, indirect fluorescent antibody method, and indirect erythrocyte aggregation method. However, all of these methods also have disadvantages, such as complicated operation, time-consuming measurement periods, costly procedures, and the like.
In an effort to overcome these disadvantages, a method for measuring malaria parasite using flow cytometry has been developed. In this method, malaria parasite is stained with a nucleic acid-staining dye and then measured by a flow cytometer. This method mostly involves automatic measurement and involves extremely low error as compared to microscopic examination. It is also rapid and convenient since measurement times are on the order of tens of seconds to several minutes and a large number of specimens may be handled at once (for example, see J. M. Whaum et al., Cytometry, 1983, 4, 117; J. W. Jacobberger, Cytometty, 1984, 5, 589; J. D. Hare, J. Histochem. Cytochem., 1986, 34, (2) 215; and A. E. Bianco et al., Experi. Parasitol., 1986, 62, 275).
Nevertheless, the position corresponding to the appearance of malaria-infected erythrocyte may sometimes overlap with reticulocyte on the scattergram, thereby complicating the measurement of malaria-infected erythrocyte, which leads to measurement error as well as to a reduction in measurement sensitivity.
In order to solve this problem, a method was proposed in which erythrocyte is allowed to undergo hemolysis using hemolytic agent containing formaldehyde and ethylene glycol to release the malaria parasite which is then stained and measured by a flow cytometer (for example, see: P. H. Vienen et al., Cytometry, 1993, 14, 276). Alternatively, an erythrocyte is separated exclusively by centrifugation and then allowed to undergo hemolysis chemically or ultrasonically prior to counting (see: GB-A 2270752).
However, even with these methods, there are disadvantages such as complicated operation procedures (e.g., centrifugation and the like) as well as the long times required to perform the operations.
In another proposed method, erythrocyte is allowed to undergo hemolysis using a surfactant, and a blood sample containing a fluorescent-stained malaria parasite is measured using a flow cytometer to obtain forward scattering light intensity and lateral fluorescent light intensity from which a scattergram is produced and used for distinguishing and detecting various blood cells, debris (e.g., pieces of hemolytically broken erythrocyte), and malaria parasite (see: A. Saito-Ito et al., Parasitol. Int., 2001, 50(4), 249; and Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 11-75892). By this method, cultured malaria can be detected at a higher sensitivity on the basis of each stage of the life cycle.

Methods for detecting malaria parasites and reagent kits therefor


A system, in certain embodiments, includes a manifold including an air tube disposed about a water tube. The system also includes multiple nozzles coupled to the manifold, where each nozzle is coupled to the air tube and the water tube.

The invention relates generally to a pneumatic atomization nozzle for web moistening.
Magazines, books and other publications are frequently produced on heatset web offset printing presses. Offset printing involves transferring images to a web (e.g., roll of paper) via rotating drums. These drums have an inked impression of images which are transferred to the web as it travels across the rotating drums. In heatset printing, ink may be dried by blowing hot air over the web after the images have been imprinted. However, the hot air may reduce web moisture content, resulting in broken fibers, page growth and/or a wrinkled publication.
To prevent this detrimental wrinkling, some printing presses employ a web remoistening system. For example, a web remoistening system may be used to spray the web with water after the drying process to remoisten the web. Current web remoistening systems utilize hydraulic atomization to achieve the desired web moisture content. In hydraulic atomization, a liquid is forced through a small orifice at high pressure to create droplets. Systems that employ hydraulic atomization are expensive because they must be constructed to withstand high liquid pressure. In addition, they require expensive high pressure pumps, liquid manifolds and solenoid valves. Furthermore, because the orifice is small, it tends to get clogged by impurities in the water. Therefore, hydraulic atomization systems typically spray de-ionized water, increasing operational costs. Moreover, hydraulic atomization systems are not well suited for web moistening at low flow rates because they tend to produce smaller droplets, thereby causing poor remoistening efficiency.

Thermally isolated liquid supply for web moistening


A method of assembling a reticle module comprising a first element and a second element is provided. The method includes the following steps. First, a collimated beam of light shines on a first reticle of the first member and a second reticle of the second member to project an image of the first reticle and an image of the second reticle onto a screen. Thereafter, the projected image of the first reticle of the first element and the projected image of the second reticle of the second element are adjusted to align with each other. Then, the relative position between first and the second element is fixed. The method speeds up the process of assembling a reticle module and ensures both constituent reticles aligned in the same viewing direction.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method of assembling an alignment module. More particularly, the present invention relates to a method of assembling a reticle module.
2. Description of the Related Art
A conventional finder module uses a single reticle to align with a target. However, the alignment accuracy of a single reticle finder is quite limited to achieve a higher level of alignment. For example, the finder of a rifle is normally disposed on a plane surface perpendicular to the gun barrel. In other words, the axis of the reticle module is in parallel to the gun barrel. Since the finder and the target may not lie on mutually parallel planes, there is no guarantee that the shooter can hit the target. Moreover, the amount of errors involved may not be perceptible to the human eye.
To increase the accuracy of aiming, a finder having two reticles has been developed. When the plane surface of the finder rests and the plane surface of the target form an angle, the user can easily spot this through the finder because the reticles inside the finder will not overlap. Hence, any spatial misalignment between the target and the finder can be easily recognized through the human eye.
When a finder with dual reticle elements aligns with a target, the reticles must overlap each other completely. Therefore, in the process of assembling this type of finder, the degree of alignment between the two reticles is very important.


A silicon film is deposited using low pressure chemical vapor deposition (LPCVD) to fill in openings formed in a substrate such as an insulating film. An aluminum film and a metal film are then formed on the silicon film. A thermal process is then carried out. This thermal process causes the deposited aluminum to replace the silicon in the openings because the silicon migrates to the metal and forms a metal silicide film. The aluminum which replaces the silicon in the openings has few or no voids. The metal silicide film any remaining portion of the aluminum film are then removed using CMP, for example.

1. Technical Field
The present invention generally relates to a method of forming electrical connections for a semiconductor device and, more particularly, to a method of forming electrical connections for a highly integrated semiconductor device.
2. Description of Related Art
Various processes are used in the fabrication of semiconductor devices in order to form the electrical connections between the device elements and the wirings for connecting the device to external devices. For example, multilevel metallization processes have been found to be useful for simplifying the fabrication of large scale integrated (LSI) devices. Such processes may be carried out to simultaneously form a wiring layer and a contact. One such multilevel metallization process is a so-called "dual damascene" process. A dual damascene process will be generally described with reference to FIGS. 1(a)-1(g). FIG. 1(a) shows a plurality of first level conductive structures 10 which are formed on an insulating film 7 which is formed on a silicon substrate 5. Conductive structures 10 may, for example, be formed of aluminum (Al), tungsten (W), tungsten silicide (WSi.sub.x), molybdenum silicide (MoSi.sub.x), titanium silicide (TiSi.sub.x), and the like. These conductive structures may, for example, be wirings, gate electrodes, bit lines, or lower level metallizations in a multi-metallization arrangement. As shown in FIG. 1(a), an insulating film 35 of silicon dioxide, for example, is formed on semiconductor substrate 5 and conductive structures 10. A first patterned resist film 40 is then formed as shown in FIG. 1(b) and a contact hole 45 which exposes one of the conductive structures 10 is formed by using an etching process such as reactive ion etching (RIE), for example, for etching insulating film 35 as shown in FIG. 1(c). A second patterned resist film 50 is then formed as shown in FIG. 1(d) and a wiring trench 55 is subsequently formed by an etching process such as RIE, for example, for etching insulating film 35 as shown in FIG. 1(e). Next, an aluminum film 60 is formed by sputtering as shown in FIG. 1(f). Aluminum film 60 is then polished by chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) as shown in FIG. 1(g). CMP is a combination of mechanical and chemical abrasion, and may be performed with an acidic or basic slurry. Material is removed from the wafer due to both the mechanical buffing and the action of the acid or base.
The damascene metallization process described above forms highly reliable wirings and contacts and provides good planarity of interlevel dielectric layers. As the integration density of semiconductor devices increases, the thickness of wirings generally decreases more slowly than the width of the wirings. Also, the thickness of contacts generally either does not change or decreases more slowly than the widths of the contacts as the integration density increases. As a result, the aspect ratio (i.e., depth/width) of wiring trenches and of contact or through holes formed in insulating films increases and high aspect ratio filling processes are required. In conventional metallization processes for forming wirings and contacts for semiconductor devices such as the process described above, an aluminum film is deposited using a sputtering method to fill the wiring trench/contact hole. The excess aluminum is then removed using CMP, for example. Aluminum is widely used for interconnects and wiring layers in semiconductor devices because of its low resistivity and ease of fabrication. However, the step coverage of an aluminum sputtering process is ineffective for filling without voids wiring trenches and/or contact holes having a high aspect ratios. Even using the long throw sputtering method for aluminum described in J. Vac. Sci. Tech., B13(4), July/August 1995 (pp. 1906-1909) or the reflow sputtering method for aluminum, only wiring trenches and/or contact holes with aspect ratios less than about 2 generally can be filled without voids. The presence of voids in aluminum wirings and contacts degrades the reliability of the wirings and contacts and adversely affects the performance of the semiconductor device.

Method of forming electrical connections for a semiconductor device


As the output of laser oscillators become higher, it becomes necessary to develop a longer linear shape beam for a process of laser annealing of a semiconductor film. However, if the length of the linear shape beam is from 300 to 1000 mm, or greater, then the optical path length of an optical system for forming the linear shape beam becomes very long, thereby increasing its footprint size. The present invention shortens the optical path length. In order to make the optical path length of the optical system as short as possible, and to increase only the length of the linear shape beam, curvature may be given to the semiconductor film in the longitudinal direction of the linear shape beam. For example, if the size of the linear shape beam is taken as 1 m×0.4 mm, then it is necessary for the optical path length of the optical system to be on the order of 10 m. If, however, the semiconductor film is given curvature with a radius of curvature of 40,000 mm, then the optical path length of the optical system can be halved to approximately 5 m, and a linear shape beam having an extremely uniform energy distribution can be obtained.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a stage for specifying a shape of an irradiation surface onto which a laser beam is irradiated. Further, the present invention relates to a laser irradiation apparatus in which energy distribution of a laser beam is made uniform over a certain specific region. The present invention also relates to a method of making an energy distribution uniform, and to an optical system to realize the uniformity. Furthermore, the present invention relates to a method of making the energy distribution of a laser beam uniform over a certain specified region, and to a method of annealing a semiconductor film using the laser beam (the method is hereafter referred to as "laser annealing"). The present invention also relates to a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device, the semiconductor device having circuits structured by thin film transistors (hereafter referred to as "TFTs"), which includes a laser annealing process. For example, electro-optical devices, typically liquid crystal display devices, and an electronic equipment in which such an electro-optical device is mounted as a part, are all included in the category of the semiconductor devices. Namely, the term "semiconductor device" as used throughout the specification indicates general devices capable of functioning by utilizing semiconductor device characteristics, and electro-optical devices, semiconductor circuits, and electronics all fall under the category of semiconductor devices.
2. Description of the Related Art
Techniques for performing crystallization, or for increasing crystallinity, by performing laser annealing of amorphous semiconductor films or crystalline semiconductor films (semiconductor films that are not single crystal, but have crystallinity such as poly-crystallinity or micro-crystallinity), in other words non-single crystal semiconductor films formed on an insulating substrate such as glass have been undergoing widespread research recently. Films such as silicon films are often used as the semiconductor films.
Glass substrate are low cost, and can be easily made into large surface area substrates, compared with conventional quartz substrates, which are often used. This is because the above research is actively performed. Lasers can impart a high energy to only a non-single crystal semiconductor film, without causing much change in the temperature of a substrate, and therefore lasers are suitable for annealing semiconductor films formed on the glass substrates having low melting point temperature (the distortion temperature of generally available glass substrate is on the order of 600° C.).
Crystalline semiconductor films formed by laser annealing have high mobility. The manufacture of TFTs on a single glass substrate, used for driving pixels and used in driver circuits, by using the crystalline semiconductor films is therefore flourishing, along with the manufacture of active matrix liquid crystal electro-optical devices. The crystalline semiconductor films are made from many crystal grains, and therefore they are also referred to as polycrystalline semiconductor films.
In laser annealing, a method in which a laser beam of a pulse oscillation type excimer laser or the like having high output is formed by an optical system so as to have a square shape spot of several cm/square, or a linear shape with a length equal to or greater than 10 cm, on an irradiation surface, and then scanning of the laser beam is performed (the irradiation position of the laser beam is made to move relative to the irradiation surface) is preferably used because it has good productivity and is industrially superior.
In particular, if a linear shape laser beam (hereafter referred to as a linear shape beam) is used, then the laser beam can be irradiated over the entire irradiation surface by scanning only in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the linear shape beam. This differs from a case of using a spot shape laser bean, with which it is necessary to scan forward and backward, left and right, and therefore high productivity can be obtained. Scanning in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction is performed because that scanning direction has the best efficiency. Due to their high efficiency, linear shape beams formed by appropriate optical systems are being used mainly in laser annealing processes. Note that, within this specification, the direction of the long side of the linear shape beam is referred to as a longitudinal direction, while the short side is referred to as a transverse direction.
An example of an optical system for forming the shape of a laser beam into a linear shape on an irradiation surface is illustrated. The optical system shown in FIG. 2 is an extremely general one. The optical system not only converts the shape of the laser beam into a linear shape on the irradiation surface, but at the same time it makes the energy distribution of the laser beam uniform. In general, optical systems for making the beam energy distribution more uniform are referred to as beam homogenizers. The optical system shown in FIG. 2 is one of beam homogenizers.
Synthetic quartz may be used in all cases, for example, as the base material of the optical light system, provided that an excimer laser to be an ultraviolet light is used as a light source. This is true because a high transmissivity can be obtained. Further, there may be employed a coating material capable of obtaining a transmissivity of 99% or more with respect to the wavelength of the excimer laser used as a coating.
The side view of FIG. 2 is explained first. A plane containing the light axis and parallel to the page of the side view is taken as a meridional plane, and a plane containing the light axis and perpendicular to the meridional plane is taken as a sagittal plane. The direction of the light axis changes here for cases in which it is necessary to bend the light path by using mirrors or the like due to the layout of the optical system, and it is assumed that the meridional plane and the sagittal plane also change at this time. A laser beam output from a laser oscillator 1201 is divided in a direction perpendicular to the sagittal plane by cylindrical lens arrays 1202a and 1202b. With this structure, there are four cylindrical lenses contained in the cylindrical lens array 1201, and therefore four divisions are made. It is assumed that the number of cylindrical lenses contained in the cylindrical lens array 1202b is also four. The divided laser beams are made to mutually overlap in a certain plane by a cylindrical lens 1204. It is not always necessary to use the two cylindrical lens arrays 1202a and 1202b; one cylindrical lens array may also be used. The advantages of using two cylindrical lens arrays are that the size of the linear shape beam can be changed, and that the width of the linear shape beam in the transverse direction can be made shorter.
The once again divided laser beams are bent at a right angle by a mirror 1207, and then made to once again overlap on an irradiation surface 1209 by using a doublet cylindrical lens 1208. The doublet cylindrical lens designates a lens structured by two cylindrical lenses. Uniformity of the energy distribution is thus formed in the transverse direction of the linear shape beam, and the width in the transverse direction of the linear shape beam is determined. The mirror 1207 is used in order to make the irradiation surface into a level surface, and is not always necessary.
The upper view of FIG. 2 is explained next. The laser beam emitted from the laser oscillator 1201 is divided in a direction perpendicular to the meridional plane by the cylindrical lens array 1203. There are seven lenses contained in the cylindrical lens array 1203 with this structure, and therefore the laser beam is divided into seven divisions. Two cylindrical lens arrays 1203 may also be used in order to change the length of the linear shape beam in the longitudinal direction. The laser beams are then made to overlap into one beam on the irradiation surface 1209 by a cylindrical lens 1205. Shown from the mirror 1207 forward by dashed lines are the correct light paths, and the positions of the lens and the irradiation surface, for a case in which the mirror 1207 is not disposed. Uniformity of the energy distribution in the longitudinal direction of the linear shape beam is thus formed, and the length of the linear shape beam in the longitudinal direction is determined.
The length L of the linear shape beam is determined by the following elements: a width d of the cylindrical lenses contained in the cylindrical lens array 1203; a focal length f1 of the cylindrical lenses; and a focal length f2 of the cylindrical lens 1205. This is explained while following FIG. 3. A cylindrical lens 1301 is structured by cylindrical lenses having a width d. A laser beam made incident to the cylindrical lens array 1301 is condensed into a plurality of positions by the location of the focal length f1. The laser beam then becomes incident to a cylindrical lens 1302 while expanding. The cylindrical lens 1302 is a convex lens, and therefore two parallel light fluxes within the figure are each concentrated at positions located at a distance f2 behind the cylindrical lens 1302. The distance f2 is the focal length of the cylindrical lens 1302. The laser beams that are each incident to the cylindrical lens array 1301 are thus converted to a linear shape beam having a length L. A simple calculation shows that:L=d·f2/f1  (1)[Eq. 1]As explained above, the cylindrical lens array 1202a, the cylindrical lens array 1202b, and the cylindrical lens array 1203 function as lenses that divide the laser beam. The obtained uniformity of the laser beams is determined by the number of divisions. With the aforementioned structure, there are four divisions by seven divisions, and therefore a total of 28 divisions are formed.
By irradiating the linear shape beam thus formed in accordance with the above structure so as to be overlapped while gradually shifting the beam in the transverse direction, laser annealing can be performed with respect to the entire surface of a non-single crystal silicon film, for example, and the crystallization can be achieved and the crystallinity of the film can be increased.
The shape of laser beams emitted from excimer lasers is generally rectangular, falling with an aspect ratio range of approximately one to five. The laser beam strength shows a Gaussian distribution in which it becomes stronger toward the center. The size of the laser beam can be converted, for example, into a uniform energy distribution 300 mm×0.4 mm linear shape beam by the optical system shown in FIG. 2.
According to an experiment performed by the applicants of the present invention, the overlap pitch is most suitably set to approximately 1/10th of the width of the linear shape beam in the transverse direction when irradiating a linear shape beam of pulse oscillation with respect to a semiconductor film. Namely, if the width in the transverse direction of the linear shape beam is 0.4 mm, then laser annealing may be performed while shifting the semiconductor film in the transverse direction of the linear shape beam by 0.04 mm during the time from one pulse of light is emitted until the next pulse of light is emitted. The uniformity of laser annealing of the semiconductor film is thus increased. The method discussed thus far is an extremely general method used in order to perform laser annealing of a semiconductor film by using a linear shape beam.
The increasingly high output of laser oscillators has been remarkable recently, and laser oscillators capable of having a linear shape beam length exceeding 300 mm have become available. However, the substrate size used in production plants has also changed, and 600 mm×720 mm substrates, and 1000×1200 mm substrate are now planned, for example. A length on the order of 300 mm for the linear shape beam is becoming insufficient. If a case of annealing a semiconductor film formed on a 600 mm×720 mm substrate, for example, using a 300 mm long linear shape beam is considered, the longitudinal direction of the linear shape beam and the short side (the side having a length of 600 mm) of the substrate may be disposed in parallel. Half of the substrate surface can be laser annealed by scanning relatively the substrate with respect to the linear shape beam over a distance of 720 mm with in the direction of the long side of the substrate. Provided that the remaining half surface then undergoes laser annealing by the similar method, the entire surface of the substrate can be laser annealed.
There is exerted a bad influence on the throughput and on the footprint if laser annealing is performed by this type of method, namely scanning of the substrate (or the linear shape beam) must be performed two or more times, and the substrate (or the linear shape beam) must be moved forward and backward, and left and right. Furthermore, if laser annealing is performed on one half of the substrate at the time using the linear shape beam, then one half of the semiconductor film is laser annealed uniformly. However, uniformity is lost in the vicinity of the boundary between the one and the other half of the semiconductor film, and it is difficult to form semiconductor elements in this portion. Looking at these problem points, it becomes clear that it is preferable to make the length of the linear shape beam in the longitudinal direction at least on the same order as the length of the short side of the substrate.
However, there is a tendency for the path length of the optical system to become longer in order to form a long linear shape beam. For example, an optical path length on the order of 5000 mm is necessary to make a 300 mm long linear shape beam, further the optical path length will exceed 10,000 mm in order to make a 1000 mm long linear shape beam.

Laser irradiation stage, laser irradiation optical system, laser irradiation apparatus, laser irradiation method, and method of manufacturing a semiconductor device

Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.


‘R10-105-Q54’ is a new Ruellia plant distinguished by having excellent landscape performance, red-violet flowers, no fruiting from selfing, low fruiting (and abortion of fruits prior to maturity) when pollinated with fertile Ruellia pollen, and no viable seed production, as disclosed.

The present invention relates to a new and distinct variety of Ruellia, botanically known as Ruellia simplex, and hereinafter referred to by the name 'R10-105-Q54'.
'R10-105-Q54' is an individual obtained from open-pollination of 'R10-105' grown in Citra, Fla. (North Central Florida, 29.4° N, 82.2° W, AHS heat zone 8b) in September 2012. 'R10-105' is a pink tetraploid hybrid obtained in Gainesville, Fla., which resulted from a cross between 'RU25-1'בChi Chi' made in September 2010. 'RU25-1' is a pink tetraploid plant, obtained as a vegetative propagule of 'RU3-25'. 'RU3-25' is a diploid-tetraploid chimeric plant obtained by treating the apical meristem of a seedling of pink R. simplex 'Chi Chi' with three applications, every 12 hours, of a 50 μM oryzalin solution in December 2008.
'R10-105-Q54' was first asexually reproduced in Gainesville, Fla. and has been reproduced asexually for 1 year through vegetative cuttings. The reproduced plants have been shown to retain their distinctive characteristics through successive asexual propagations.
'R10-105-Q54' has not been made publicly available more than one year prior to the filing date of this application.


Organosilicon fine particles with polysiloxane network structure made of siloxane units of specified kinds at specified ratios and having a circular ring shape as a whole and average outer and inner diameters within specified ranges such that their difference is also within a specified range can provide antireflection and antiblocking characteristics to synthetic polymer films and sheets when applied to their surface or caused to be contained, respectively, and adherence and slip characteristics to a skin care cosmetic material when caused to be contained.

This invention relates to organosilicon fine particles having a new shape and a method of producing such organosilicon fine particles, as well as polymer modifiers and cosmetic materials comprising such organosilicon fine particles.
Organosilicon fine particles comprising polysiloxane network structures are widely being used as polymer modifiers, cosmetic materials, coating materials, diagnostic agent carriers and paint materials. This invention relates to such organosilicon fine particles having a circular ring shape as a whole.
Examples of such organosilicon fine particles which have conventionally been known include (1) those that are solid and spherical with smooth surface (such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,652,618 and 4,892,726 and Japanese Patent Publications Tokkai 61-159467, 61-194009, 63-15849, 63-8461, 63-77940, 63-312324, 1-144423, 2-209927, 4-337390, 6-279589 and 6-49209); (2) those that have many indentations on the surface and are solid and spherical as a whole (such as disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication Tokkai 2000-191788); (3) those that are sectionally horseshoe-shaped (such as disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication Tokkai 2000-191789); (4) those that are hollow and semi-spherically shaped (such as disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication Tokkai 2003-128788); and (5) those in the shape of a rugby ball (such as disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication Tokkai 2003-171465). These prior art organosilicon fine particles are noted as polymer modifiers and cosmetic materials because of their lubricity, non-stickiness, oil-absorbing property, dispersibility, heat-resistance, resistance against solvents and water repellency.
These prior art organosilicon fine particles have problems, however, when used as a polymer modifier or a cosmetic material because they are not sufficiently effective for the purpose. When such prior art organosilicon fine particles are used as an antireflection agent for an antireflection film of a liquid crystal display, for example, there is the problem that the product turns out to be inferior in antireflection property and clarity of transmitted image. If they are used as an antiblocking agent for a polymer film, as another example, there is the problem that the product turns out to be inferior in adherence resistance and anti-slip. If they are used as a cosmetic material for a skin care, furthermore, there is the problem that they are inferior in stickiness and slip.

Organosilicon fine particles and method of producing same


A control system for an internal combustion engine, which is capable of properly determining timing for restarting the engine in a stopped state when idle stop control of the engine is executed during a heating operation of an air conditioner, thereby making it possible to ensure marketability and fuel economy performance in a well-balanced manner. The control system executes the idle stop control of the engine during the heating operation of the air conditioner. The control system includes an ECU. The ECU sets a lower limit blowout temperature, calculates an estimated blowout temperature, and controls the engine such that the engine is restarted when the estimated blowout temperature has become not higher than the lower limit blowout temperature.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a control system for an internal combustion engine installed on a vehicle, and more particularly to a control system for an internal combustion engine, for executing idle stop control for restarting the engine after temporarily stopping the engine during stoppage of the vehicle.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventionally, the present applicant has already proposed a control system disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 4475437 as a control system for an internal combustion engine. This engine is installed on a hybrid vehicle as a motive power source. The vehicle is equipped with a motor generator as a motive power source, an air conditioner, and so forth. Further, the control system executes operation control of the air conditioner, idle stop control of the engine, and so forth, and is equipped with various sensors, such as a humidity sensor, and various switches, such as an air conditioner switch.
In this control system, the idle stop control is executed such that while the air conditioner is performing a cooling operation during stoppage of the vehicle, the engine is stopped when predetermined stop conditions are satisfied, and the engine is restarted when a time period elapsed after the stoppage of the engine has reached an engine stoppage time Ts. This engine stoppage time Ts is calculated by a method shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 in Japanese Patent. Publication No. 4475437. More specifically, a temperature rise coefficient Kt is calculated according to the amount of air blown out from the air conditioner and a state of settings of the air conditioner switch for inside air circulation or outside air introduction, and an allowable upper limit temperature Eu of an evaporator is calculated by searching a map according to a target blowout temperature.
Then, a compartment temperature rise-permitting time Tu is calculated as the reciprocal of a value obtained by multiplying a difference between the allowable upper limit temperature Eu and a temperature Es of the evaporator during stoppage of the engine by the temperature rise coefficient Kt. Then, a fogging occurrence estimated time Tf is calculated based on a humidity or the like within a vehicle compartment during stoppage of the engine. When Tf<Tu holds, the engine stoppage time Ts is set to the compartment temperature rise-permitting time Tu, whereas when Tf≧Tu holds, the engine stoppage time Ts is set to the fogging occurrence estimated time Tf.
In the case of the control system disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 4475437, a control method is employed in which the idle stop control is executed during the cooling operation of the air conditioner, and hence there is a problem that the control method cannot be applied to idle stop control during a heating operation of the air conditioner. For example, although in the control system disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 4475437, the engine stoppage time Ts is calculated using e.g. the temperature of the evaporator, the evaporator is used during the cooling and dehumidifying operations of the air conditioner, but during the heating operation of the air conditioner, the evaporator is held at rest. without being used. Therefore, during the heating operation of the air conditioner, when the engine stoppage time Ts is calculated using the temperature of the evaporator as a parameter as in the control system disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 4475437, there is a fear that the calculated engine stoppage time Ts becomes improper. For example, when a too long time period is obtained as a result of the calculation, the temperature of the vehicle compartment is lowered to an unpleasant temperature before the restart of the engine after stoppage thereof. On the other hand, when a too short time period is obtained as a result of the calculation, the time period before the restart of the engine after stoppage thereof is made shorter than required, which degrades fuel economy.

Control system for internal combustion engine


A retractable awning having a roller, a flexible canopy having one end secured to the roller and rollable onto the roller, and a motor operable to rotate the roller to roll the flexible canopy onto or off the roller. The motor includes a protective housing, with a manual motor override on the motor within the housing. An aperture in the housing proximate the override is aligned with and permits access to the override through the aperture.

This invention relates to retractable awnings and, particularly, to a motor-driven awning having an override for manually driving the motor should it fail.
Retractable awnings are used to create a shaded space. While the invention is described in relation to an awning having particular utility in relation to a recreational vehicle, it can also be used in connection with a stationary awning on a structure, such as awning extensible over a patio.
In such awnings, a flexible, typically fabric canopy is secured at one end to a wall and has an opposite end secured to a roller. The roller is supported at its ends by opposite support arms which are displaceable between an extended position for the awning, where the awning is deployed, and a retracted position, where the awning is rolled onto the roller for storage.
Typically the awning is driven by an electric motor. Should the motor fail for any reason, whether a mechanical failure or loss of electrical power to drive the motor, without some means of mechanically operating the roller, it can become problematic, particularly if the awning is in the extended position.
Awnings are usually extended in a fairly horizontal manner so as to provide maximum shading beneath the awning canopy when it is extended. A biasing means, such as a fluid strut, maintains that orientation.


The present disclosure provides a brace system including an upper portion and a lower portion. The brace system may also include a first pulley rotatably coupling the upper portion to a first intermediate link positioned between the upper portion and the lower portion. The brace system may also include a second pulley rotatably coupling the first intermediate link to a second intermediate link positioned between the upper portion and the lower portion. The brace system may also include a third pulley rotatably coupling the second intermediate link to the lower portion. Further, the brace system may include at least one tension-bearing element substantially encircling each of the first pulley, the second pulley, and the third pulley.

Unless otherwise indicated herein, the materials described in this section are not prior art to the claims in this application and are not admitted to be prior art by inclusion in this section.
Many existing braces, such as knee braces, are designed with rehabilitation in mind. Typically, natural knee joint motion is inhibited or constrained in some way.
There is a different need, however, for new knee and other joint braces which can be used for other purposes. In one example, a person wearing a heavy backpack might benefit from a knee brace which not only provides stability but also reduces the load on the muscles of the knee, particularly the quadriceps. Indeed, when the knee bends, it would be beneficial to lower the load carried by the knee by applying an external extension torque. Energy stored during the bending action can be used to straighten the knee as well. When the leg swings forward for the next step, it would be advantageous if the knee brace applied appropriate flexion torque to help lift the foot, or that the brace operated freely, applying minimal torque to the leg.
Existing braces using one degree of freedom (DOF) hinges may be sensitive to alignment of the brace to the knee joint. This can be a problem for assistive (torque-producing) braces. Mismatch between the instantaneous center of rotation of the hinge and of the knee causes uncomfortable or dangerous loads on the knee as well as making the brace migrate down the leg. The mismatch may occur because the one DOF hinges are only an approximation of the motion of the knee and because of deflection of the flesh where the brace attaches to the leg.
Other existing braces may require rigid structure spanning between the medial and lateral hinges. This enforces a fixed width and makes the brace wider than might be necessary since it accommodates the width of the knee at the desired maximum flexion position. To avoid a sloppy fit and interference of the braces of the left and right legs, these braces typically require custom fitting to each user. Still other example braces may not allow twisting of the foreleg and can restrict a normal DOF of the leg. Such braces can be awkward to use and increase the likelihood of chafing and migration of the brace. Therefore, an improved brace system may be desirable.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


An optical measuring device for measuring a surface contour of an object, includes a tripod on which a camera platform is mounted, wherein on the camera platform at least two photo cameras are arranged for imaging the object comprising marking elements, and the at least two photo cameras are arranged on the camera platform in such a manner that imaging the object can be carried out from two different perspectives, wherein between the camera platform and the tripod a displacement device for the linear displacement of the camera platform in three directions that are independent of each other is arranged.

From US 2007 018 327 a method for measuring a surface of a component is known, which method uses the photogrammetry method and the laser-tracking method for measuring the surface. In the method disclosed in the aforesaid, a camera is moved along a path, wherein a multitude of images of the surface of a component are recorded from different angles of view. Furthermore, at each point in time of recording an image the position of the camera is recorded.
In this method in a first step a first set of measurement data is generated by measuring the surface with two cameras, wherein photogrammetry is used. In a second step a second set of measurement data is generated by measuring the surface with a laser tracker. In a third step the data for the camera positions is determined with the use of the laser tracker. Finally, the first set of measurement data and the second set of measurement data are superimposed together with the data relating to the camera position.
In addition to the method for measuring the surface of a component, the printed publication discloses a system for measuring the surface of a component. This system comprises a slide that moves along a path. On the slide, cameras are arranged so as to be fixed in position, which cameras on various positions along the path take images of the surface of the component. In addition, a projector and reflective targets are mounted on the slide, wherein the projector generates an illumination pattern on the surface of the component. The reflective targets are also mounted on the surface of the component, which surface is to be measured, and are used by the statically held laser tracker for measuring the position of the surface of the component, and for measuring the position of the slide at the point in time the respective image is taken.
The generally-known state of the art shows that optical measuring methods based on image processing are used for measuring displacements and deformations. In these methods the object to be measured comprises suitable markings, and an optical structure for taking images with cameras that are positioned so as to be fixed relative to each other. The accuracy of the measuring results depends on this optical design, the nature of the object markings and the illumination conditions. At present there is no calibration method that takes into account these factors of influence.
In the hitherto-used calibration methods a measuring arrangement is produced in a calibration laboratory. Subsequently, calibration objects are measured. This method is associated with disadvantages in that, on the one hand, the setup in the laboratory takes place under ideal conditions so that the calibration setup usually has more favorable characteristics than a real measuring arrangement, and, on the other hand, most of the time the calibration objects do not cover the entire possible measuring volume.

Optical measuring device with a slider and optical measurement method


The present invention provides compounds of formula (I):

The present invention relates to novel compounds, pharmaceutical formulations comprising these compounds, and the use of these compounds in therapy. More particularly, the present invention relates to compounds for the prophylaxis and treatment of herpes viral infections.
Of the DNA viruses, those of the herpes group are the sources of the most common viral illnesses in man. The group includes herpes simplex virus types 1 and 2 (HSV-1 and HSV-2), varicella zoster virus (VZV), cytomegalovirus (CMV), Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), human herpes virus type 6 (HHV-6), human herpes virus type 7 (HHV-7) and human herpes virus type 8 (HHV-8). HSV-1 and HSV-2 are some of the most common infectious agents of man. Most of these viruses are able to persist in the host's neural cells; once infected, individuals are at risk of recurrent clinical manifestations of infection which can be both physically and psychologically distressing.
Herpes simplex viruses (HSV-1 and -2) are the causative agents of herpes labialis and genital herpes. HSV infection is often characterised by extensive and debilitating lesions of the skin, mouth and/or genitals. Primary infections may be subclinical although tend to be more severe than infections in individuals previously exposed to the virus. Ocular infection by HSV can lead to keratitis or cataracts thereby endangering the host's sight. Infection in the new-born, in immunocompromised patients or penetration of the infection into the central nervous system can prove fatal. In the U.S. alone, 40 million individuals are infected with HSV-2, a number that is expected to increase to 60 million by 2007. Over 80% of individuals infected with HSV-2 are unaware they carry and spread the virus, and of those diagnosed less than 200% received oral therapies. The net result is that less than 50% of the infected population are treated. Likewise of the 530 million individuals worldwide who carry the HSV-1 virus, 81% of the symptomatic population remain untreated. No cure exists for HSV infection, and once infected, individuals carry the virus for life in a dormant state. Reactivation of the virus from latency occurs periodically and may be triggered by stress, environmental factors, and/or suppression of the host immune system. Currently, the use of nucleoside analogs such as valaciclovir (VALTREX®) and aciclovir (ZOVIRAX®) is the standard of care for managing genital herpes virus outbreaks.
Varicella Zoster Virus (VZV) (also known as herpes zoster virus) is a herpes virus which causes chickenpox and shingles. Chickenpox is the primary disease produced in a host without immunity, and in young children is usually a mild illness characterised by a vesicular rash and fever. Shingles or zoster is the recurrent form of the disease which occurs in adults who were previously infected with VZV. The clinical manifestations of shingles are characterised by neuralgia and a vesicular skin rash that is unilateral and dermatomal in distribution. Spread of inflammation may lead to paralysis or convulsions. Coma can occur if the meninges become affected. VZV is of serious concern in patients receiving immunosuppressive drugs for transplant purposes or for treatment of malignant neoplasia and is a serious complication of AIDS patients due to their impaired immune system.
In common with other herpes viruses, infection with CMV leads to a lifelong association of virus and host. Congenital infection following infection of the mother during pregnancy may give rise to clinical effects such as death or gross disease (microcephaly, hepatosplenomegaly, jaundice, mental retardation), retinitis leading to blindness or, in less severe forms, failure to thrive, and susceptibility to chest and ear infections. CMV infection in patients who are immunocompromised for example as a result of malignancy, treatment with immunosuppressive drugs following transplantation or infection with Human Immunodeficiency Virus, may give rise to retinitis, pneumonitis, gastrointestinal disorders and neurological diseases. CMV infection is also associated with cardiovascular diseases and conditions including restenosis and atherosclerosis.
The main disease caused by EBV is acute or chronic infectious mononucleosis (glandular fever). Examples of other EBV or EBV associated diseases include lymphoproliferative disease which frequently occurs in persons with congenital or acquired cellular immune deficiency, X-linked lymphoproliferative disease which occurs namely in young boys, EBV-associated B-cell tumours, Hodgkin's disease, nasopharyngeal carcinoma, Burkitt lymphoma, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, thymomas and oral hairy leukoplakia. EBV infections have also been found in association with a variety of epithelial-cell-derived tumours of the upper and lower respiratory tracts including the lung. EBV infection has also been associated with other diseases and conditions including chronic fatigue syndrome, multiple sclerosis and Alzheimer's disease.
HHV-6 has been shown to be a causative agent of infantum subitum in children and of kidney rejection and interstitial pneumonia in kidney and bone marrow transplant patients, respectively, and may be associated with other diseases such as multiple sclerosis. There is also evidence of repression of stem cell counts in bone marrow transplant patients. HHV-7 is of undetermined disease aetiology.
Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is a viral pathogen of world-wide major importance. The virus is aetiologically associated with primary hepatocellular carcinoma and is thought to cause 80% of the world's liver cancer. Clinical effects of infection with HBV range from headache, fever, malaise, nausea, vomiting, anorexia and abdominal pains. Replication of the virus is usually controlled by the immune response, with a course of recovery lasting weeks or months in humans, but infection may be more severe leading to persistent chronic liver disease outlined above.
PCT Publication No. WO 91/00092 to SmithKline Beecham Corp. refers to imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine compounds of formula (I)
wherein:W1 is —(CR4R5)—(CR6R7)—, —CR5═CR7—, —N═CR7—, —S(O)m— or —O—; one of R1 and R0 is 4-pyridyl or C1-4alkyl-4-pyridyl, provided that when R1 is C1-4alkyl-4-pyridyl the alkyl substituent is located at the 2-position of the pyridine ring, and the other of R1 and R0 is                (a) phenyl or monosubstituted phenyl wherein said substituent is C1-3alkylthio, C1-3alkylsulfinyl, C2-51-alkenyl-1-thio, C2-51-alkenyl-1-sulfinyl, C3-52-alkenyl-1-thio, C3-52-alkenyl-1-sulfinyl, 1-acyloxy-1-alkylthio, C1-2alkoxy, halo, C1-4alkyl or Z wherein Z is —S—S—Z1 and Z1 is phenyl or C1-9alkyl; or        (b) disubstituted phenyl wherein said substituents are independently C1-3alkylthio, C1-2alkoxy, halo or C1-4alkyl; or        (c) disubstituted phenyl wherein one of said substituents is C1-3alkylsulfinyl, C2-51-alkenyl-1-thio, C2-51-alkenyl-1-sulfinyl, C3-52-alkenyl-1-thio, C3-52alkenyl-1-sulfinyl, or 1-acyloxy-1-alkylthio and the other is C1-2alkoxy, halo or C1-4alkyl; or        (d) disubstituted phenyl wherein the substituents are the same and are C1-3alkylsulfinyl, C2-51-alkenyl-1-thio, C2-51-alkenyl-1-sulfinyl, C3-52-alkenyl-1-thio, C3-52alkenyl-1-sulfinyl, or 1-acyloxy-1-alkylthio or wherein the substituents together form a methylene dioxy group; or        (e) monosubstituted phenyl wherein said substituent is
                t is 0 or 1; W1, R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6, R7, R8 and R9 are as defined herein;        provided that:        1) when W1 is —(CR4R5)—(CR6R7)— then                    n is 0 or 1;            and R2, R3, R4, R5, R6, R7, R8 and R9 are independently —H or C1-2alkyl; and            when R1 or R0 is 4-pyridyl, the other of R1 and R0 is other than mono-C1-2alkoxy-substituted phenyl or mono-halo-substiuted phenyl; or            when n is O, R4 and R5 together are oxo; R4 and R5 are both fluoro, or one of R4 and R5 is H and the other is OH;                        2) when W1 is —CR5═CR7— or —N═CR7— then                    n is 1;            R3, R5, R7 and R9 are independently —H or C1-2alkyl; and            R2 and R8 together represent a double bond in the B ring such that the B ring is an aromatic pyridine or pyrimidine ring;                        3) when W1 is —S(O)m— then                    m is 0, 1 or 2;            n is 1 or 2;            R3 and R9 are independently —H or C1-2alkyl;            R2 and R8 are independently —H or C1-2alkyl or R2 and R8 together represent a double bond in the B ring such that the B ring is an aromatic thiazole ring;            further provided that:            (a) when R2 and R8 are independently —H or C1-2alkyl and R1 or R0 is 4-pyridyl, then the other of R1 and R0 is other than mono-C1-2alkoxy-substituted phenyl or mono-halo-substituted phenyl; and            (b) when R2 and R8 together represent a double bond in the B ring such that the B ring is an aromatic thiazole ring, the m is 0 and n is 1; and                        4) when W1 is —O— then                    n is 1;            R3 and R9 are independently —H or C1-2alkyl; and            R2 and R8 together represent a double bond in the B ring such that the            B ring is an aromatic oxazole ring;or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereoffor use in the inhibition of interleukin-1 and tumor necrosis factor production by monocytes and/or macrophages.
PCT Publication No. WO 01/14375 to AstraZeneca AB relates to imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine and pyrazolo[2,3-a]pyridine derivatives of formula (I)
wherein Ring A is a imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine or pyrazolo[2,3-a]pyrid-3-yl; R2 is as defined therein, m is 0–5; wherein the values of R2 may be the same or different; R1 is as defined therein; n is 0 to 2, wherein the values of R1 may be the same or different; Ring B is phenyl or phenyl fused to a C5-7cycloalkyl ring; R3 is as defined therein; p is 0–4; wherein the values of R3 may be the same or different; R4 is as defined therein; q is 0–2; wherein the values of R4 may be the same or different; and whrein p+q≦5; or a pharmaceutically aceptable salt or an in vivo hydrolysable ester thereof. The use of the compounds of formula (I) in the inhibition of cell cycle kinases CDK2, CDK4 and CDK6 are also described.
PCT Publication No. Wo 96/34866 to Fujisawa Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd. relates to imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine and imidazo[1,2-a]pyridezine derivatives of formula (I)
wherein X is vinylene or a group of formula (a):                —NHCO—, —NHSO2—, —OCO—, OCH2—, —NHCOCO—, —NHCOCH═CH—,        —NHCOCH2—, —NHCONH or —N(R5)—CO—,Y is heterocyclic group which may have one or more suitable substituent(s), or aryl which may have one or more suitable substituent(s), Q is CH or N, and I is an integer of 0 or 1, which are the inhibitors of bone resorption and bone metabolism, to processes for preparation theroef, to a pharmaceutical compositon comprising the same and to a method for the treatment of disease caused by abnormal bone metabolism in human being or an animal.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,498,774 and European Patent No. 0 404 190 to Mitsudera et al., relates to condensed heterocyclic compounds of the general formula (I):
wherein Q is a condensed heterocyclic group having a nitrogen atom in the bridgehead which is unsubstituted or substituted, X is a hydrogen atom or a group attached through C, O, S or N, and Y is an electron attractive group; or its salt which is useful as an agricultural chemical.

Imidazo-pyridine derivatives for use in the treatment of herpes viral infection

Abstract: wherein all variables are as defined herein, pharmaceutical compositions containing the same, processes for preparing the same and their use as pharmaceutical agents.


A conveying device for a labeling machine is provided with a conveying belt frame (40), plurality of top seat fixtures (50) and a feeding device (60). A conveying belt (41) is mounted on the conveying belt frame (40). The top seat fixtures (50) are mounted at intervals on the conveying belt (41). A protrusion column (51) is protruded from the top surface of each top seat fixtures (50), so that a space can be formed between the bottom of containers and the top seat fixtures when the containers are mounted on the top seat fixtures. The shrinkable film labels can be set around the lower bottom of the containers after being cut by the labeling machine so that the labels can be shrunk to coat the bottom surface of the containers after being heated. The feeding device (60) cooperates with the conveying belt (41) and the top seat fixtures (50) so that the containers to be processed are conveyed by the feeding device (60) to the conveying belt (41) on the conveying belt frame.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a labeling machine, and in particular to a conveying device for a labeling machine.
2. Description of the Prior Arts
Containers in our daily life such as pudding cups, beverage bottles, cosmetic containers, etc. often have a thin shrinkable film label set around their surfaces for marking or decoration. A thin shrinkable film label is placed on the surface of the container and then heated by a labeling machine so that the thin shrinkable film label can be shrunk to coat the container.
However, a conventional labeling machine is unable to coat the thin shrink film label to the bottom surface of the container because a conveying belt is utilized to convey the containers in the working process of the labeling machine. Referring to FIG. 8, since a container 20 is placed on a conveying belt 70 with a bottom surface of the container 20 contacting the conveying belt 70 when the container 20 is conveyed to a labeling machine by the conveying belt 70, a shrinkable film label 30 cannot reach the bottom of the container 20 such that the shrinkable film label 30 is unable to coat the bottom of the container 20. Therefore, the conventional labeling machine needs to be further improved.

SHANGHAI DASE-SING PACKAGING TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.


An expandable baton has a twist release for retraction. Each inner section of the baton can lock in its extended position, relative to the preceding section, after axial extension. That section can be released for axial retraction by rotating that section about the longitudinal axis relative to the preceding section.

For a number of years, expandable batons frequently have been provided to law enforcement officers and to civilian and military security personnel for use as intermediate force weapons. For example, expandable batons manufactured by Armament Systems and Procedures (ASP—the assignee of this application) are very well known among the applicable users and purchasers. The following are some of the patents that relate to existing batons and are incorporated herein by reference: U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,110,375; 5,149,092; 5,161,800; 5,348,297; 5,356,139; 5,386,322; 5,407,197; 5,509,653; 5,595,386; 5,645,276; 5,647,591; 5,657,986; 5,667,441; 5,797,797; 5,868,621; 5,919,093; 5,961,387; and 6,623,361.
In prior art batons, retraction of the inner sections of the baton that are locked in an extended position is typically accomplished by striking the tip of the baton against a hard surface in order to apply a sufficient axial force along the longitudinal axis of the baton. This usually requires the user to bend over, and sometimes requires one or more repeated attempts to accomplish the retraction. Both for ease of use and for minimizing the possibility of damage or wear of the baton, the twist release of the present invention is advantageous for retraction of the inner sections from the extended position in some circumstances and for some users.

Expandable/baton with twist release for retraction


A microplate forms a multiplicity of sample wells for holding samples to be assayed by light emissions or light transmission. The plate comprises an upper plate forming the side walls of the sample wells, the side walls being opaque so that light cannot be transmitted between adjacent wells through the side walls, and a lower plate forming the bottom walls of the sample wells, the bottom walls being transparent to allow the transmission of light therethrough. Bands of opaque material are provided within the lower plate and surrounding each well to block the transmission of light between adjacent wells through the lower plate.

When microplates are used to hold samples to be assayed by techniques which are dependent on light emissions from the sample, it is important to avoid light transmission between adjacent samples, i.e., "crosstalk." Such crosstalk is extremely undesirable because it means that the photons detected in any particular sample well might not have originated from the particular sample in that well, and the purpose of the assaying technique is to obtain a unique measurement for each individual sample that is representative of only that sample.
In certain applications, it is desirable to have a transparent wall in the bottom of the sample well. For example, when coincidence measurement is used, it is desirable to have a first photodetector at the top of the well, which is normally open, and a second photodetector at the bottom of the well, which is normally closed. Of course, photons can be detected at the bottom of the well only if the wall of the well is transparent. Even when light measurements are not made at the bottom of the well, if is often desirable to have a transparent well wall to allow microscopic viewing of adherent cells within the well.

Microplate farming wells with transparent bottom walls for assays using light measurements


An adjustable headband device for a helmet has a base, a headband, a driven wheel, a resilient element, a cover plate and an adjusting knob. The headband is mounted on the base and has two toothed racks. The driven wheel has a gear engaging the toothed racks, multiple engaging tabs and multiple ratchet pawls. The cover plate is mounted on the base and has multiple ratchet teeth selectively engaging the ratchet pawls. The adjusting knob of the adjustable headband device rotates to control increase and decrease of an inner diameter defined by the looped headband without being depressed.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a headband device, and more particularly to an adjustable headband device for a helmet that allows a user to easily adjust a headband for fitting the user's head circumference.
2. Description of Related Art
Helmets are widely used in fields of construction, motorcycling and extreme sports and is worn on a user's head for cushioning external impact on the user's head, thus to provide additional protection to the user's head.
A conventional helmet has a housing, a cushion element and a chin strap. The housing is hard and hollow. The cushion element is mounted in the housing. The chin strap is attached on opposite sides of an opening of the housing and may be tightened on a user's chin to secure the helmet on the user's head. The hard housing and the cushion element cooperate to cushion external impact. However, a size of the helmet cannot be adjusted such that the helmet may be loosely worn on and even fall off from a user' head when the size of the helmet is larger than that of the user's head. Therefore, helmet manufacturers usually produce helmets of different sizes for different users and each user needs to try different sizes of the standardized helmet, which is inconvenient and inefficient for both the manufacturers and users.
A helmet with an adjustable headband has been developed and has the adjustable headband mounted on an inner surface of the helmet. The adjustable headband has two toothed racks formed on two ends of the headband and engaging a gear located therebetween. An adjusting knob is connected to and rotates the gear to drive the toothed racks toward or away from each other, which changes an inner diameter defined by the headband looped into a circle.
To prevent a user from unintentionally increasing the inner diameter of the looped headband due to unexpected vibration or external force, a ratchet wheel and a ratchet pawl are mounted in the adjusting knob to limit the adjusting knob to only rotate in a single rotational direction that allows reducing the inner diameter of the looped headband. To increase the inner diameter of the looped headband, the adjusting knob is pushed to disengage the ratchet wheel from the ratchet pawl, and then the adjusting knob can be rotated reversely to enlarge the inner diameter of the looped headband. After the adjusting knob is released, a biasing spring pushes the adjusting knob back to its original position to re-engage the ratchet wheel with the ratchet pawl.
However, in order to enlarge the inner diameter of the looped headband of the aforementioned helmet with the adjustable headband, the user needs to simultaneously push and rotate the adjusting knob, which is inconvenient.
To overcome the shortcomings, the present invention provides an adjustable headband device for a helmet to mitigate or obviate the aforementioned problems.


An IPT track arrangement including a power supply and conductor electrically connected to the power supply, the conductor includes a plurality of loops located substantially adjacent one another, wherein the polarity in adjacent portions of the loops is the same, and wherein the power supply includes a one or more inverters which share the track load.

IPT uses a varying magnetic field to couple power across an air gap, to a load, without physical contact. The air gap is present between a primary conductor such as an elongate loop of conductive material (generally referred to in this document as a track), and one or more pick-up devices that have a secondary coil which receive power from the magnetic field associated with the track. System performance is not affected by wet or dirty environments and there are no safety risks under such conditions since the components are completely isolated. IPT is reliable and maintenance free unlike conventional plug or brush and bar contact based methods such as those used on trams and electric buses. IPT is presently used in numerous industrial applications such as materials handling and IC fabrication. The systems vary in capacity from 1 W-200 kW and can be used to both power and recharge robots, Automatic Guided Vehicles (AGV), electronic devices, recreational people movers, buses and Electric Vehicles (EVs). IPT systems may be divided into two distinct types: distributed systems that consist of one or more movable loads that may be placed anywhere on a track, and lumped systems that only allow power transfer at a defined location.
Distributed systems are particularly suited to Roadway Powered EV (RPEV) applications, however practical large scale RPEV systems have so far been infeasible. This is due to the large horizontal tolerance (˜700 mm) and ground clearance (150-200 mm) required by unguided EVs. The track topology presented in this document offers a significant improvement over previous designs by allowing increased horizontal tolerance with minimal increase to the system cost. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that this document predominantly refers to applications of the invention in the context of AGVs, but the invention is applicable to many other IPT system applications. For example, if ferromagnetic materials (such as ferrite) are associated with the track arrangements disclosed herein, then the invention may have applicability to IPT systems for EVs and RPEVs.
EVs help reduce dependence on fossil fuels, emission of greenhouse gasses and emission of pollutants. Consequently, uptake of EVs has been increasing since the 1990's however market penetration has been low because EVs are not as cost effective as conventional vehicles. The present EV market is dominated by hybrid vehicles that derive their energy from a combustion engine, however, plug-in EVs (PHEV) have recently been introduced enabling energy from the grid to mitigate gasoline consumption. In order for EVs to gain widespread adoption, major improvements are required in battery life and cost, and grid connection. The latter allows opportunistic charging after each trip rather than a long charge at the end of the day. As a result battery wear is significantly reduced by minimising the depth of discharge and the EV has a lower cost since a smaller battery is required. The preferred solution that makes EVs more cost effective than gasoline vehicles is to power and recharge the EV via the road. It should be noted that the infrastructure for such a dynamic charging system could be relatively small because travel on interstate highways makes up 1% of roadway miles but carries 22% of all vehicle miles travelled. An EV that has 50% of its driven miles connected to a dynamic charging system would be as cost effective as a conventional vehicle and does not incur additional gasoline costs.
An IPT system comprises three main components that are shown for a single phase system in FIG. 1, which is based on an example of use in a roadway. The power supply produces a sinusoidal current (usually in the 10-40 kHz frequency range) that drives a current (I1) in an inductive primary conductive path, or track. Although not shown in FIG. 1, the track comprises (but is not limited to) part of an LCL network with the track inductance L1 comprising the final "L" of the network. The parallel compensation capacitor C1 allows the track current, I1, to resonate, increasing the magnetic field strength in the vicinity of the track. This minimises the VA rating of the power supply for a given load. The track and Pick Up (PU) act as a loosely coupled transformer, enabling power transfer over relatively large air gaps. The IPT PU inductance, L2, is tuned for resonance with C2. This compensates for the relatively large PU leakage inductance. The voltage across C2 is rectified and a switched mode controller enables the resonant tank to operate at a defined quality factor, Q, to boost power transfer and provide a usable DC output. The power output of an IPT system (Pout) is quantified by the open circuit voltage (Voc) and short circuit current (Isc) of the PU as well as the quality factor as shown in (1).
                              P          out                =                                            P              su                        *            Q                    =                                                    V                oc                            *                              I                sc                            *              Q                        =                                          ω                                                                                M                                                                                I                  1                                *                                                      M                                                                                I                      1                                                                            L                    2                                                  *                Q                            =                              ω                                                                                I                  1                  2                                                                                M                    2                                                        L                    2                                                                  Q                                                                        (        1        )            Psu is the uncompensated power, ω is the angular frequency of the track current I2, M is the mutual inductance between the track and PU. As shown in (1), the output power is dependent on the power supply (ωI12), magnetic coupling (M2/L2) and PU controller (Q).
Increasing the power output and separation between the track and PU is highly desirable but efficiency is limited by the operational frequency (switching loss) and current rating (copper loss) of the system. Allowing a system to operate at a high Q boosts power transfer but in practical applications it is normally designed to operate between 4 and 6 due to component VA ratings and tolerances. Due to these limits, the greatest increase in system performance can be achieved by good magnetic design.
In order to improve horizontal tolerance, a three phase track topology as shown in FIG. 2 (a) has been previously proposed. The vehicle drives along the length of the track, Tx, which is referred to as the x-axis. The system uses an inductor-capacitor-inductor (LCL) impedance converting network that converts the voltage sourced inverter into a current source suitable for driving the inductive track. The leakage inductance of the isolating transformer is used as the first inductor and the track forms the last inductor, so that only real power passes through the transformer. Large reactive currents (I1 in FIG. 1) circulate in the track and capacitor only. Three individual isolating transformers connected in a delta-delta configuration were used for each phase, however the output terminals of the transformers were connected directly to the start and return of each track loop resulting in a six wire track. This track topology is termed "bipolar" in this document because the PU is exposed to both forward and returning currents to the supply. The overlapping nature of the track phases results in currents that differ by 60° in each adjacent wire and in a similar manner to windings in a cage induction motor, this creates a travelling field across the width (Ty) of the track. This moving field results in a wide and even power profile with a simple single coil PU.
However, a consequence of having overlapping tracks is the presence of mutual inductance between phases, so that energy from one track phase couples into adjacent phases, similar to the power coupling between each track conductor and the PU. This cross coupling causes different legs in the inverter to source large currents and the DC bus voltage surges as energy is fed into the inverter. Two approaches were shown to solve the mutual inductance problem. Firstly the area of overlap between track loops can be changed to reduce the mutual inductance—however this results in a non-uniform track spacing that affects the smoothness of the power profile across the width of the track. Secondly, a flux cancelling approach can be used where transformer coupling is introduced at the start of the track to create coupling between phases that is out of phase with the coupling between the tracks along the length due to geometry. This is implemented by appropriately looping the track through toroidal cores at the start. The first technique minimises the effect of interphase mutual inductance but resulted in either poorer performance in the coupled PU, while the second has good performance but added expense due to the extra magnetic components required.
There is therefore a need to provide a track with an enhanced lateral range with an improved (e.g. smoother) power profile.

Double conductor single phase inductive power transfer tracks


In a method for automatically address information and network environment information in networks mutually connectable to each other under a predetermined protocol network environment, step (a) is to manage, in a setting device connected to one of the networks, address information and network environment information used for each device connected on of the networks to operate under the predetermined protocol network environment. Step (b) sends, from a setting-needed device moved from one of the networks to another network or newly joined to one of the networks, a request message for requesting address information and network environment information to the setting device. Step (c) makes, in the setting device, a correspondence between a device name of the setting-needed device and a network address of the setting-needed device and sending back a reply message to the setting-needed device from the setting device, the reply message in order to send the address information containing the device name and the network address of the setting-needed device and the network environment information. Step (b) stores, in the setting-needed device, the address information and the network environment information sent from the setting device, so that the setting-needed device can operate under the predetermined network environment.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to information networks, and more particularly to a method for automatically setting address information and network environment information necessary for a device to operate under predetermined network environment such as TCP/IP (Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol) when such a device is newly joined or moved from a position to another position. Further, the present invention is concerned with a system using the above method.
Recently, personal computers of the laptop type or notebook type, UNIX computers and network devices such as relays have been down-sized and reduced in weight. As the number of such portable devices increases, it is increasingly required to connect portable devices to a network at a destination and easily utilize the devices. Hereinafter, the term "network at a destination" means a network which has a network number or a sub-network number different from that of a network to which the devices were originally connected. Hereinafter, such a network is also referred to as a sub-net.
In order to enable the portable device at the destination, it is necessary to reset address information and network environment information concerning the sub-net at the destination to the above portable device. When a large number of portable devices are newly joined in a network, it is necessary to set the following information to each of the portable devices. The information to be set in each of the portable device includes an IP address and a host name (device name), which is some information contained in the address information. The portable devices have different values of the IP address and different values of the host name. Further, the above information includes other information items contained in the address information, the other information items including an IP address of a default gateway, sub-net mask information and so on. The values of the other information items contained in the address information depend on the network management method, and may be the same as each other with respect to all the portable devices. Furthermore, the above information to be set in each of the newly joined portable device includes network environment information including the domain name of a naming device (name server), a community name of an SNMP (Simple Network Management Protocol) and so on. The values of the network environment information depend on the network management method and may be the same as each other with respect to all the portable devices.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In the prior art, in order to move a portable device from a sub-net to another sub-net and enable the user to the portable device connected to the sub-net at the destination, it is required that the user asks a network management person about the address information and the network environment information and sets the received information to the portable device for himself or herself. Further, in order for the portable device at the destination to take place a communication with another device (for example, a business device which stores general databases and files), it is necessary to change the correspondence between the IP address and host name of the portable device moved to the destination, the above correspondence being stored in the above business device. If the correspondence between the IP address and the host name are shared in the network, it is necessary to change the correspondence between the IP address and host name of the portable device moved to the destination, the above correspondence being managed by a name server.
When a large number of devices are newly introduced into the network, it is necessary for a system engineer to set the address information and the network environment information to these devices.
It can be seen from the above that conventionally, it is necessary for the use or the system engineer to correctly set many items of address information and network environment information.
Hence, the conventional method has a disadvantage in that it takes a long time to complete the setting operation by the user or the system engineer in order to enable the portable devices on the PCP/IP network and a disadvantage in that a malfunction may occur due to errors in the manual setting. If the address information is mistakenly set, the network may be confused. The devices on the TCP/IP network cannot operate only by acquiring the IP address if any manual setting is not performed. Regarding the host name, it is necessary to made the host name specifically assigned to the network correspond to the IP address and set the other address information items and the environment information to the devices.

System for automatically connecting portable device to network using network environment information including domain name of naming device and community name of network management protocol


Methods of establishing an IP link between first and second applications running at respective first and second nodes are provided. The first and second applications are arranged to initiate link establishment over a transport layer by issuing a call to their respective operating system socket Application Programming Interfaces. The methods include at said first node, intercepting a socket call generated by said first application and redirecting the socket call to a SIP-based application resident at said first node; and initiating an IP session with said second node using the SIP protocol.

Internet applications such as network-based games and collaboration tools often need to exchange traffic between endpoints in an end-to-end fashion. For some of these applications, one endpoint behaves as the server (i.e. source) while the other behaves as the client (i.e. destination). In other applications, all endpoints behave as both client and server. Typically, connections are established between endpoints using the Transport Control Protocol (TCP) or the User Datagram Protocol (UDP) or sometimes a combination of both.
Some applications work well as long as the endpoints behaving as servers have public IP addresses. However, some applications require clients to have a public IP address as well, for example to allow servers to send notifications to clients. Given that endpoints in the current Internet are often behind Network Address Translators (NATs), applications that require one or more participants to have public IP addresses typically do not work. It is unacceptable that an application will work with some users having public IP addresses but will not work for other users not having public IP addresses as this will likely result in confusion and frustration.

IP link establishment across a data network


A recognizing and judging apparatus has a network organized in a multilayered hierarchical manner and a plurality of branched tree structures corresponding to the number of inputted data. The branched tree structures are organized by a plurality of recognition units, each of which includes a signal input section and a quantizer for performing a quantization according to a signal inputted from the signal input section. Each of the recognition units further includes a path input section having at least one path input terminal, a path output section having at least one path output terminal, and a path selecting section operatively coupled with both the path input section and the path output section for performing a selection of paths according to an output of the quantizer.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a recognizing and judging apparatus capable of recognizing and judging an object according to various characteristic data thereof.
2. Description of the Prior Art
FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a conventional recognizing and judging apparatus, which comprises a template comparator 1 having a signal input terminal 2 and a signal output terminal 3, a plurality of templates 4-7 indicative of input signal patterns prepared in advance, and a learning device 8 having a teacher signal input terminal 9.
A series of signals representative of an object to be recognized are inputted from the signal input terminal 2 to the template comparator 1. The template comparator 1 compares a pattern of the inputted signals with each of the templates 4-7 and outputs the number of a template having the smallest deviation as the result of recognition from the signal output terminal 3. If the output result is incorrect, the number of a template to which the inputted signals should belong is inputted from the teacher signal input terminal 9 to the learning device 8, thereby modifying an appropriate template to improve the recognition percentage.
In the conventional recognizing and judging apparatus as described above, the inputted signals representative of an object to be recognized are merely compared with the templates and operations are performed to obtain deviations therebetween. Accordingly, if inputted data vary, there arises a problem in that the recognition percentage would be lowered. Furthermore, because it is necessary to compare the inputted signals with all the templates, it takes very long time to perform comparisons. In addition, because it is necessary to prepare the same number of templates as the kinds of patterns to be classified and recognized, a memory having a large capacity for storing all the templates is required. In addition, the learning performed upon modifying an appropriate template requires a lot of time.

Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.


The apparatus is a farm machine that inverts crop windrows using only the raking tines of a conventional rotary rake machine. The tines engage and move an existing windrow, and invert the windrow as the crop is being disengaged from the tines. The inverting machine accomplishes the inverting by imparting motion to the discharging crop that has a vector of motion that is in the same direction as the movement of the inverter machine. This causes the crop to move faster than the machine itself and inverts the windrow by pushing the disengaging crop over the crop that was previously discharged.

This invention deals generally with farm machinery and more specifically with a rotary raking machine modified into a windrow inverting machine.
Prior art farm machines include distinct raking machines and windrow inverter machines. Raking machines pick up scattered crop and deposit it into a windrow, a long continuous pile of crop, and, at a later time, an inverter machine is used to turn the windrow over so that the previous bottom portion of the windrow will dry.
The typical rotary rake machine is pulled behind a tractor and includes an assembly of extending arms formed into a pinwheel-like configuration which revolves in a horizontal plane. Each arm holds a group of wire tines that extend to the ground during part of the revolution of the arm assembly. In order to form the windrow, the tines are oriented vertically down with their ends at the ground to perform the raking operation. Then the tines are lifted up to stop the raking action and permit the formation of the windrow.
The typical rake machine divides the two positions of the tines into approximate halves of the circle of revolution of the arms. The tines are down and dropping or lifting as they pass the front of the machine, at the portion of the circle nearest to the tractor, and are then up as they pass the part of the circle most remote from the tractor. This motion rakes the crop from one side of the crop rake, toward the tractor, and then pushes it to one side of the path, forming the windrow.
Prior art inverters are completely different from rotary rake machines in that they essentially continuously pick up the windrow, reorient it, and lay it back down on the ground. U.S. Pat. No. 4,730,447 by Fisher uses tines in a belt arrangement to lift crop up a ramp onto a disc shaped platform with a circumferential wall. A pinwheel type assembly then drives vertically oriented tines that move the crop around the platform until it is moving in the same direction of travel as the tractor where it is pushed over a downward curved edge and onto the ground.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,251,431 by Shoop uses a cylindrical type rake rotating on a horizontal axis to invert the crop while throwing it onto a tilted rotating disc from where it is propelled to the ground while the crop is oriented approximately at a right angle to the direction of movement of the tractor.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,354,429 by Kuhlmann discloses an inverter that uses a sloped conveyor belt to lift the windrow onto a curved conveyor and a discharge conveyor to convey the crop from the opposite side of the curved conveyor to a location where it is dropped to the ground while the crop is moving in the same direction as the tractor.
The Fisher and Kuhlmann machines accomplish the inverting by discharging the crop while the crop itself is moving so as to produce a greater speed differential between the crop and the ground than between the inverting machine and the ground. This makes the speed of the crop relative to the ground greater than that of the platform from which it is dropped and causes the inverting of the crop.
However, the prior art windrow inverters have a significant problem. They all require a complex machine completely different from the crop rake or at least an additional apparatus used with a crop rake machine to accomplish the inverting. This adds a significant investment to any farm machine manufacturing operation.
It would be very beneficial to construct an inverting machine that was based upon a rotary rake machine, because the cost of manufacture would be significantly reduced.


A film valve designed to replace a semi cylindrical, solid rotary valve, which rolls the film against or away from the perimeter seal of an HVAC outlet opening without relative rubbing. Spring biased take up rollers journaled on V shaped, resilient wire support legs keep a film sheet biased against interleaved, arcuate support fingers to hold the film in the necessary curved shape. The curved film sheet rolls up or winds out from the rollers as the legs are pushed toward one another, or allowed to swing away from one another. The film rolls down onto or up and off of the foam seal surrounding the outlet opening without relative rubbing.

Automotive ventilation systems, often called HVAC systems (heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems) typically include a large, hollow housing located just behind the instrument panel of the vehicle interior. The housing includes the two heat exchangers, the cold evaporator core and hot heater core, as well as the various valves and doors that route intake air through or around the two to create outlet air of a desired temperature. Outlet openings in the housing and instrument panel direct the air up at the windshield, forwardly at the occupant, or downwardly at an occupants' feet. These openings are covered or uncovered by a suitable valve, as selected by the vehicle occupant. Typically, the outlet openings, in descending order of height, are called defrost, air conditioning, and heat, although air of any temperature may be directed through any of them.
Different valves have been used to selectively cover and uncover the outlet openings, depending on the shape and orientation of the openings. In designs where the perimeters of the outlet openings are disposed in flat planes, it is relatively easy to use a so called film valve. In a film valve a belt or sheet of flexible film is stretched over rollers into one or more straight runs, which reside just behind the perimeter edges of the outlet opening or openings. As the film belt rolls around the rollers, back and forth, windows and solid portions in the belt alternately register with the outlet openings, covering and uncovering them. One drawback is the conflict between tightness of the seal and relative rubbing. If the surface of the belt is held flush against the interior surface of the perimeter edges of the outlet opening (usually against a foam seal that surrounds the opening), there is a frictional rubbing that retards the motion of the belt. If it is not held flush against the foam seal, there is not a complete blockage of air. Another known outlet valve is a rotary valve. With a rotary valve, the various outlet openings have perimeter edges disposed in semi cylindrical arcs and a semi cylindrical solid door swings up and down inside the housing to cover and uncover the openings. Seal rubbing is also a problem with a rotary valve. Another drawback with a solid rotary valve is that it must be designed with overtravel, that is, it must swing completely past the opening perimeter in order to completely uncover it, which detracts from compactness.
Designs have been proposed in which a film belt is used to cover and uncover outlet openings which are curved, rather than flat. This requires additional structure since the natural orientation for a belt run is flat, the shape that it naturally takes on when stretched over a pair of rollers. As shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,105,730, the belt must be stretched over a rigid, concave curved supporting frame keep it in the necessary curved shape. This worsens the rubbing friction problem, since the film belt is now sandwiched between both the outlet opening's perimeter edge seal and the added supporting frame. An even earlier design, proposed for a domestic room air conditioner, appears to eliminate or reduce the rubbing by running a continuous, solid loop of film back and forth along a curved, rigid, but concave supporting frame. The frame is located behind a pair of side by side outlet openings, and the center of the belt loop is pinned to the frame, half way between the openings. Two rollers are spring biased apart inside the loop so as to keep it taught. The rollers roll back and forth to shift each half of the loop back and forth cover or uncover one or the other of the side by side openings. This design, while it largely eliminates rubbing, would not be adaptable to the automotive HVAC environment. The supporting frame that gives the belt run its shape must be concave or, at best, flat, and could not be convexly curved. In addition, the potential motion of the film belt back and forth is limited by the fact that it has to be pinned in the center to the frame. The rigid supporting frame needed in either design is, of course, an additional part that increases expense and takes up space within the housing.

Automotive ventilation housing with self supporting film valve having a convex semi-cylindrical shape