This invention relates to a sorbtion paper which comprises a fibrous base paper material which is resiliently flexible and which is further characterized by being substantially free from loose, dusty sorbtion particles and by being substantially free of lumps and holes. Activated sorbition particles are disbursed in the fibrous paper base material, the sorbtion particles being substantially uniformly dispersed throughout all dimensions of the base material and the activated sorbtion material being present in an amount of up to about 85% based on the weight of the base paper material. The activated sorbtion particles are characterized by a size of less than about 1,000 microns and an activation rating of less than about 250%. This invention further relates to sorbtion devices for use in combination with internal combustion engines and liquid body waste devices incorporating the above-recited sorbtion paper.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to sorbtion paper and sorbtion means for absorbing fumes and odors normally associated with internal combustion engines or body waste devices such as sanitary napkins and disposable diapers.
2. Prior Art
a. Sorbtion Paper
The use of filter papers to filter both air and liquid components of various energy producing devices are well-known and represent a well-developed art. At the outset, it should be noted that the invention herein is not directed to a filter paper as is described in the prior art but rather this invention relates to a sorbtion paper. One essential distinction which must be noted is that in filter paper it is required that the material to be filtered actually physically pass through the filter paper primarily for the purpose of physically separating solid particles from a gaseous stream. In contrast, in the use of sorbtion paper such complete penetration of the paper substrate is not necessary and mere contact with the paper surface as in a laminar or turbulent flow pattern is all that is required to permit diffusion of gaseous components that a filter would allow to pass.
Furthermore, filter paper and the characteristics required thereof permits a paper density of only approximately 1.0 grams of paper per cubic inch while the apertured structure of the sorbtion paper and device of this invention permit a paper density of up to about 5.0 grams of paper per cubic inch of space. Even more beneficial, the sorbtion paper of this invention as a result of its characteristic better particulate retention permits approximately 30 percent greater activated particle loading than a correspondingly sized section of filter paper resulting in approximately six times the activated particle content per unit volume.
In the manufacture of filter papers of a conventional nature porosity of the final product is extremely important. Porosity of the final filter paper product is directly related to the required flow-through characteristics of the paper which are functionally necessary in filter paper. Previous attempts to incorporate activated material such as charcoal into the fibrous structure of the paper have suffered from this necessary porous nature of the filter paper product. In particular, it is necessary to use a binder material such as starch in the manufacture of filter paper to bind the charcoal particles to the fibrous structure of the base paper material. The result of the use of starch or similar binder materials in attempting to hold the charcoal or other particles in place is that the filter paper has a substantial amount of free, loose activated particulate material. This material is more free to rub off on or even contaminate the material being filtered than is the sorbtion paper of this invention. This is unacceptable in most filtration applications and therefore the use of activated material in filter paper has not previously been commercially successful where porosity of the filter paper is necessary to permit flow through of the stream being filtered.
Distinct from this, in the sorbtion paper of applicants' invention a latex type binder material and preferably an anionic polymeric emulsion is used to maintain the position of the activated particulate material. Thus even though the sorbtion paper of applicants' contains up to about 30 percent more activated material than is found in filter paper the final sorbtion paper product is substantially free from loose, dusty activated particulate material. The use of a starch or starch-like binder material results in an air filter paper which is substantially less flexible than the sorbtion paper product disclosed herein.
Furthermore, filter papers, especially those intended for gas phase applications such as automotive air filters, require high flow rates with minimum pressure drop. In order to permit such flow-through characteristics the fibers should be long and relatively stiff with minimum fibrillation or hydration, which are essentially means for increasing surface area. This permits large, uncluttered pores for easy air passage but also minimizes contact area between fibers thus leading to low paper strength. When binder materials such as starch are used to offset the low strength they must be non-film-forming to avoid blocking the filter pores.
In contrast to filter paper the sorbtion paper of this invention can be made with maximized sorption capabilities by using well fibrillated, or hydrated, fibers to provide good particle retention and good particle distribution. This is, of course, optional and fibers such as that used to make filter paper can be used to make sorbtion paper although the binders available for use in sorbtion paper can in some measure compensate for the general paper weakness. The use of film-forming binders as are described hereinbelow not only gives strength to the sorbtion paper itself but also provides a good matrix to prevent sorbtion particles from breaking loose and permits higher levels of sorbtion particle loading.
Further to the porosity characteristics of filter paper it can be shown that the internal bonding of sorbtion paper is substantially greater than the internal bonding characteristics of filter paper. As a result of this, devices, which are described hereinafter, cannot be made with filter paper and have the same necessary structural integrity that is found with sorbtion paper.
In its broadest scope this embodiment of the applicants' invention relates to a sorbtion paper and device which has been "loaded" with activated sorbtion particles to permit sorbtion and regeneration of the activated particles without the necessity for changing the paper or device. Other patents known to applicants and teaching the production of a loaded sheet and specifically a charcoal loaded sheet include U.S. Pat. No. 3,149,023 and its British equivalents, British Pat. No. 961,636; U.S. Pat. No. 3,253,978, and U.S. Pat. No. 3,594,993. While all of these carbon filled sheet patents relate generally to filtration type charcoal loaded paper the distinctions therefrom are numerous and have been pointed out hereinabove. Specifically, the carbon paper of the prior art is generally specific to filtration means and is not correspondingly related to sorbtion means. In this regard it should be once again emphasized that the sorbtion paper of applicants' invention does not require penetration and flow through characteristics which are required for the functioning of known filtration elements.
b. Sorbtion Paper For Use in Combination with Internal Combustion Engines
Hence the substantial body of prior art which relates to filter papers is not equally applicable to sorbtion papers as among other things the mechanism for cleansing the particular gas or liquid is substantially different. In this regard, one embodiment of the present invention relates generally to a sorbtion medium and is directed, more particularly, to a novel sorbtion paper having improved and unique properties for use as a gas sorbtion medium such as in combination with air filters for the air intake system of internal combustion engines.
While the sorbtion paper of the present invention is not limited to use in air filtration systems for internal combustion engines, this use will be particularly described herein because it emphasizes the problems encountered in providing a suitable air sorbtion medium for use in conjunction with air filtration systems and further emphasizes the unique characteristics of the paper and paper devices of this embodiment of the present invention.
In this preferred embodiment the invention relates to a sorbtion device to control hydrocarbon evaporation losses from automobiles. More particularly, the sorbtion device controls hydrocarbon evaporative loss from the carburetor and/or fuel systems of automobiles, trucks and other motorized vehicles.
It has long been established that automobiles constitute a significant source of atmospheric pollution and contamination, leading to the smog problem in many cities. While the bulk of polluting emissions come from the automobile exhaust in the form of unburned hydrocarbons and nitrogen oxides, unburned hydrocarbons also pass into the atmosphere from the carburetor and fuel systems by evaporation. While the amount may not seem to be great enough in one automobile to cause the owner to think he is suffering from this waste, the compounding of the polluting effect by millions of automobiles has resulted in major problems. In its preferred embodiment the present invention is intended to solve this problem by keeping the unburned hydrocarbons escaping the automobile carburation and fuel systems within acceptable limits.
While this has been recognized as a major problem, earlier attempts to solve this problem have generally resulted in overly sophisticated devices and ones which have in some instances proven to be not commercially practical. See for example U.S. Pat. No. 3,191,587. The most common solution to this well-known problem has been the use of air filters in combination with carburation systems in automobiles. This is exemplified by the following patents, U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,505,795; 3,513,643; and 3,747,303. Other patents known to applicants which have shown other somewhat more elaborate devices, all of which depend ultimately on filter paper would include U.S. Pat. No. 3,628,517; 3,646,731, and 3,730,158.
While other patents such as U.S. Pat. No. 3,747,303 mention the use of certain activated particles such as carbon for use with filtration means the sorbtion paper and device of applicants are thought to be novel and to show unique characteristics for performing desired sorbtion functions when used in conjunction with filtration means as for example in an internal combustion engine.
c. Body Waste Devices
A second preferred embodiment of this invention relates to the use of the activated sorbtion paper of this invention in combination with body waste devices such as sanitary napkins, disposable diapers and the like. In this particular embodiment of the invention it is not necessary that the activated sorbtion paper be configured as an apertured structure as the paper itself provides the most convenient insert for such body waste devices. However, any desired configuration which is acceptable to the overall product design of the body waste device is possible.
It is well known that some menstruating females emit odorous menstrual fluids. Emitted fluids can also rapidly form odorous products on further proteolytic reaction. It is established that some of the most perceptible odors are due to chemically basic amine type compounds, which are volatile. The characteristic amine type odors are embarrassing to menstruating females.
The urine impregnated diapers of infants are well known for having and developing an ammonical odor on storage or on extended periods of use such as overnight. The widespread use of single use, disposable baby diapers is restricted by the persistant ammonical odor of the discarded, used diapers, prior to their final disposal outside the baby's household. In addition, the ammonical urine products can induce a common rash on the baby's torso, due to the alkaline pH of the urine in persistent contact with the baby's skin.
The improved body waste device of this invention alleviates the odor problems outlined above by providing a sorbtion paper insert which absorbs and/or adsorbs many of the undesirable odors characteristic of body waste devices such as sanitary napkins and diapers. Body waste devices of this type are uniformly characterized by being disposable and hence sorbtion paper such as will be described hereinafter which does not chemically react with, modify or deactivate the undesirable fumes can be advantageously used.
Previous attempts to deal with these problems in body waste devices have generally involved an attempt to chemically modify the material used to make the body waste device so as to neutralize the odors present. See for example U.S. Pat. No. 3,340,875 and U.S. Pat. No. 3,794,934. Other approaches to this problem have involved the use of physical barriers and the like to attempt to confine the odors. These previous attempts to deodorize body waste products have been largely commercially unsuccessful for both technical and commercial reasons. Other known prior art which is of interest to this embodiment of this invention includes: U.S. Pat. No. 1,773,956; U.S. Pat. No. 2,960,089; U.S. Pat. No. 3,036,573; U.S. Pat. No. 3,340,875; U.S. Pat. No. 3,430,629; U.S. Pat. No. 3,779,246; and U.S. Pat. No. 3,794,034.
Therefore, it is an object of this invention to provide a sorbtion paper which will adsorb and adsorb vapors and fumes on contact.
It is a further object of this invention to provide a sorbtion paper device which is configured so as to provide maximum flow-through characteristics through channels which permit maximum absorption and adsorption of noxious fumes such as hydrocarbons produced by an automobile's internal combustion engine.
A still further object of this invention is to provide a particular sorbtion device for use in combination with filtration means in an internal combustion engine.
An additional object of this invention is to provide a sorbtion paper inert for use in combination with body waste devices such as sanitary napkins and disposable diapers. These and other object of this invention become apparent from the following description of the preferred embodiments.

Activated sorbtion paper and products produced thereby


The main object of the present invention is to provide an active material that has a favorable cycle property. The present invention achieves the object by providing an active material to be used for a fluoride ion battery comprising a crystal phase having a layered perovskite structure, and represented by An+1BnO3n+1−αFx (A is composed of at least one of an alkaline earth metal element and a rare earth element; B is composed of at least one of Mn, Co, Ti, Cr, Fe, Cu, Zn, V, Ni, Zr, Nb, Mo, Ru, Pd, W, Re, Bi, and Sb; “n” is 1 or 2; “α” satisfies 0≤α≤2; and “x” satisfies 0≤x≤2.2).

As high-voltage and high-energy density batteries, for example, Li ion batteries are known. The Li ion battery is a cation-based battery utilizing a Li ion as a carrier. Meanwhile, as anion-based batteries, fluoride ion batteries utilizing a fluoride ion as a carrier are known.
For example, Patent Literature 1 discloses a liquid electrolyte for a fluoride ion battery wherein an aromatic material having an aromatic cation and anion is used as a solvent. Also, a metal active material such as Cu is exemplified as an active material. The object of this technique is to provide a liquid electrolyte for a fluoride ion battery that is capable of largely increasing capacity of a battery.
Incidentally, although the technique does not relate to a fluoride ion battery, Patent Literature 2 discloses a cathode active material having a fluoride based perovskite structure represented by MF3 (N is any of Mn, Co, and Ni), and an alkali metal ion battery utilizing the cathode active material. The object of this technique is to provide a cathode active material that has larger discharge potential and energy density (Wh/kg) than those of FeF3. Similarly, although the technique does not relate to a fluoride ion battery, Non-Patent Literature 1 discloses La1.2Sr1.8Mn2O7 as a compound having Ruddlesden-Popper structure.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Active material and fluoride ion battery


A wearable device according to one embodiment of the present specification detects the shape and grip strength of the hand on the basis of the tendons of a wearer's wrist, and can change a display position of an image on the basis of the rotating direction of the wearable device. In addition, the wearable device can sense context information of the wearer by using the tendons of the wrist, thereby providing an improved information providing method.

FIG. 1 illustrates that a wearer of a wearable device holds a box.
A wearable device 100 capable of being worn on a wrist can be named in various ways, for example, a smart watch, a wrist band, etc. With the advent of a thin and flexible display, various wearable devices 100 have been developed.
Referring to FIG. 1, the wearer of the wearable device 100 holds the box. The wearable device 100 worn on the wrist generally displays an image on the back of the wearer's hand. Thus, to check a display of the wearable device 100, the wearer needs to rotate the wrist such that the back of the hand faces the wearer's face. However, when the wearer holds a heavy load as shown in FIG. 1, the wearer cannot rotate the wrist. In other words, as shown in the left drawing of FIG. 1, the wearer has difficulty in checking the display of the wearable device 100 while holding the box.
Therefore, a method of enabling the wearer to easily check information (e.g., the current time) displayed on the wearable device 100 even when a movement of the wearer is restricted is required.

Wearable device and control method therefor


A fastener driving tool includes a magnetized driver or a driver with an embedded permanent magnet that is of a tapered configuration. The tool also includes a fastener feeding mechanism that wedges or ejects a fastener from a fastener strip whereupon the fastener is attracted during free-flight to the driver by the magnet. The tool further includes a stop lever that prevents feeding of fasteners if the driver is in a position other than the full return position.

A. Field of the Invention
The device of the present invention relates to a new and improved tool for driving fasteners into a workpiece.
B. Description of the Prior Art
In driving fasteners into a workpiece such as wall board, plywood or similar material, a pneumatic or electrical tool is preferred. Such a tool may be of the basic KN type manufactured and sold by the Duo-Fast Corporation of Franklin Park, Ill.
Prior art tools typically include a housing defining a drive cylinder within which is reciprocally mounted a driver and employed to drive fasteners into the workpiece. The tools also include a feed mechanism for feeding fasteners to a location within the tool so that the driver may then drive the fastener.
Typically, fasteners are supplied in strips or coils and are secured by tabs or other means and the feed mechanism includes structure for detaching the fastener from the strip and placing it at the driving station of the tool. Prior art tools normally include a holding mechanism for maintaining the detached fastener in the driving position and the holding mechanism must be of a specific configuration to hold the fastener until it is engaged by the driver while at the same time avoiding contact with the driver that would result in destruction of the mechanism.
During operation of the typical prior art tool, a jam sometimes occurs and the driver remains in its down position after driving the fastener. In this jammed condition, it is preferred that another fastener not be fed into the drive track by the feeding mechanism for if feeding occurs, this will further jam the tool.


A double balanced FET mixer that has a high third order intercept point and an intermediate frequency response that goes to direct current levels. The mixer includes a local oscillator terminal, a RF terminal and an intermediate frequency terminal. The mixer has a pair of field effect transistors. Each field effect transistor has a gate, a drain and a source electrode. The source electrodes of the first and second transistors are connected together. A first balun transformer is connected between the local oscillator terminal and the gates. A second balun transformer is connected between the drains and the RF terminal and the intermediate frequency terminal.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to mixers in general and more particularly to a double balanced mixer that minimizes inter-modulation products, has a high third order intercept point (IP3) and that has an intermediate frequency (IF) response down to direct current (DC) levels.
2. Description of the Prior Art
A mixer circuit converts an RF signal to an intermediate frequency (IF) signal which is the difference of the RF signal and a local oscillator (LO) signal. The IF frequency is obtained by multiplying the RF signal with the local oscillator (LO) signal. The difference or IF frequency is a result of the non-linearity of the mixer. Along with the IF frequency, the mixer typically generates intermodulation products due to the non-linearity response. Third order intermodulation products are close in frequency to the fundamental IF frequencies and therefore are difficult to remove by filtering. Third-order intermodulation distortion is a measure of the third-order products generated by a second input signal arriving at the input of a mixer along with the desired signal.
One technique to measure the suppression capability of a mixer is the "third-order intercept" approach. The third-order intercept point is a theoretical point on the RF input versus IF output curve where the desired output signal and third-order products become equal in amplitude as RF input is raised. The high end of the dynamic range of the mixer is defined as the maximum received signal power at which the mixer is designed to be used and is designated the 1 dB compression point or the input signal power level at which the power level of a third order product equals the power level of a fundamental IF signal is called the third order intercept point (IP3). A mixer with a higher IP3 value will have better performance. A mixer is usually specified in terms of input IP3. Output third order intercept point is the difference between input IP3 and conversion loss. Higher conversion losses result in lower output IP3.
Conversion loss is a measure of the efficiency of the mixer in providing frequency translation between the input RF signal and the output IF signal. Conversion loss of a mixer is equal to the ratio of the IF output to the RF input level.
Mixers are typically designed with one of three topologies: single ended, balanced, and double balanced. The double balanced mixers are capable of isolating both the RF signal and the local oscillator LO voltages from the output and thus allow overlap of the RF and IF frequency bandwidths. Several prior art mixer circuits are well known. One mixer design uses a schottky diode quad or ring circuit that uses four diodes with all of the diodes pointed in the same direction. Another mixer circuit is called a star circuit, which uses two diodes pointing toward the central node and two diodes pointing away from the central node. Schottky diode mixers approaching 30 dBm are difficult to tune and are expensive. Diode mixers also require large LO signal levels to obtain a high IP3 which is not practical in many systems.
Another type of mixer uses field effect transistors (FET) as the mixing element instead of a schottky diode. Mixers fabricated using FET's can achieve a higher value of IP3. Unfortunately, mixers using FET's have several other disadvantages such as higher conversion losses and a higher noise figure (conversion losses at 1 dB).
Today's communication receivers operate under multiple frequency carrier environments. Some of these multiple frequency carriers are wanted and some are unwanted. When these frequency carriers are present in a receiver or transmitter simultaneously, they generate inter-modulation products that are unwanted. The level of the inter-modulation products is dictated by the linearity of the mixer in the receiver. The degree of non-linearity of the mixer is measured by IP3. High IP3 mixers are desired for receivers and transmitters operating in multiple carrier environments to minimize third order inter-modulation products.
Mixers with an IF response down to DC levels are particularly useful in low IF mixers, phase detectors and in-phase quadrature (IQ) modulators. IQ modulation is an efficient way to transfer information. IF response down to DC levels is extremely important for mixers used in IQ modulators.
While FET mixers have been used, a current unmet need exists for an improved double balanced FET mixer that has a high third order intercept point and IF response down to DC levels. Another current unmet need is for an improved FET mixer for IQ modulator applications that has an IF response down to DC levels and that can be manufactured at low cost.

Double balanced FET mixer with high IP3 and IF response down to DC levels


An ultraviolet treatment chamber for treating exhaust streams, particularly those containing organic particulates, utilizes ultraviolet light energy very efficiently. This is done by setting up a circulating flow in a treatment plenum so that all of the effluent experiences a substantially uniform residence time without the need for baffles or other flow controllers that would block the ultraviolet light.

Exhaust hoods are used to remove air contaminants close to the source of generation located in a conditioned space. For example, one type of exhaust hoods, kitchen range hoods, creates suction zones directly above ranges, fryers, or other sources of air contamination. The exhaust stream from such applications often contain large quantities of particulates, particularly hydrocarbons such as oil droplets. Organic substances in the form of vapours or particles can also be formed by many production processes within various industries. For example, they can be generated by preparation and use of lacquer and paint, cereal and feedstuff, metal and plastic, tar and asphalt, tanneries, incinerating plants, bio-gas plants, agriculture, and many food preparation processes.
Because of concerns about the environment and worker health, there is a great need for economically attractive mechanisms for removing organic substances from air streams. Air purification is frequently performed by filtering the contaminated air in, for example, grease filters and carbon filters. Mechanical filters, however, are expensive in terms of maintenance manpower and pressure drop (which leads to high operating costs. Furthermore, filters cannot guarantee fulfillment of high hygienic requirements.
One technology that has been used for degrading organic particulates in effluent streams is the addition of ozone to the effluent stream. This can be accomplished by irradiating with ultraviolet light or using a corona discharge. A negative side effect of using corona discharge is the creation of NOx.
One example of an application of ultraviolet light to the purification of an effluent stream is described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,179,969 to Larson. In the embodiment described, contaminated air flows into a chamber which and diluted with ambient air to cool it and add oxygen to the air stream. The effluent stream is then irradiated with ultraviolet light and then ejected to the ambient. The system may include a filter for removing larger particles before introduction of the effluent stream into the dilution section. Cooling of the stream causes condensation of water and certain organic vapors. The oxygen injected in the dilution process is used in the creation of ozone when the air is irradiated with the ultraviolet light. Certain organic substances are oxidized by the ozone in a so-called cold combustion and are thereby transformed into carbon dioxide, but many organic molecules can not be oxidized in this way. The ultraviolet light, however, also splits many of the organic molecules, making them more susceptible to oxidation by ozone. The specification teaches that the oxidation process is not instantaneous and, therefore, the effluent stream must be exposed to the ultraviolet source for a substantial period of time before being ejected into the atmosphere.
Another device that relies on ultraviolet radiation is shown in Japanese Application No. 08019379, published Jul. 22, 1997. The document describes a range hood with a self-cleaning function. A light coating of catalyst is formed on filters irradiated by a bank of ultraviolet lamps located in front of an exhaust aperture. Effluent streams past the catalyst and lamps and is oxidized by contact with the degraded and exposure to the light and ozone created by the light. Many patents have issued that describe similar systems employing photocatalysts.
One of the problems inherent in any system in which ozone, or any other agent, is relied upon for the treatment of an effluent stream, is insuring a uniform dwell-time or residence-time of every part of the effluent stream. Short circuiting by some of the effluent stream is a problem, since the flow moving from a narrow high velocity stream to a large-diameter slow moving stream must give up energy by generating energetic subflows. These can randomly crisscross a chamber causing some of the flow to short-circuit the chamber. A large number of baffles can be used to spread the flow, but to do so, requires a high pressure drop and the baffle elements interfere with the transmission of ultraviolet light to all parts of the treatment volume.

Fume treatment method and apparatus using ultraviolet light to degrade contaminants


A meltblowing die assembly featuring a preassembled die tip assembly permitting the rapid exchange thereof. The preassembled die tip assembly includes a die tip having a triangular nosepiece, a member mounted on the die tip assembly for conforming the die tip to the die body, and a pair of air plates mounted on the die tip and in combination with the nosepiece define converging air slots.

This invention relates generally to meltblowing and in particular to meltblowing dies. In a specific aspect, the invention relates to a die assembly featuring a novel die tip assembly.
Meltblowing is a process in which high velocity hot air (normally referred to as "primary air") is used to blow molten fibers extruded from a die onto a collector to form a web or onto a substrate to form a coating or composite. The process employs a die provided with (a) a plurality of orifices formed in a tip of a triangular shaped die tip and (b) flanking air passages. As extruded strands of the polymer melt emerge from the orifices, the converging high velocity hot air from the air passages stretches and draws them down by drag forces forming microsized filaments.
The filaments are drawn down to their final diameter of 0.5 to 20 microns (avg.) in the case of polyolefin polymers such as polypropylene and to 10 to 200 microns in the case of polymers used in adhesives and spray coating. The strands extruded from the die may be continuous or discontinuous fibers. For the purpose of the present description, the term "filament" refers to both the continuous and discontinuous strands.
The meltblowing process grew out of laboratory research by the Naval Research Laboratory which was published in Naval Research Laboratory Report 4364, "Manufacture of Superfine Organic Fibers", Apr. 15, 1954. Exxon Chemical developed a variety of commercial meltblowing dies, processes, and end-use products as evidenced by U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,650,866; 3,704,198; 3,755,527; 3,825,379; 3,849,241; 3,947,537; and 3,978,185 to name but a few. Other die designs were developed by Beloit and Kimberly Clark. Representative meltblowing patents of these two companies include U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,942,723, 4,100,324, and 4,526,733. Recent meltblowing die improvements are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,818,463 and 4,889,476.
A key component in the meltblowing die assembly is the die tip which is a machined steel member having a triangular nosepiece through which the orifices are formed. In the die assembly, air passages are formed on opposite sides of the converging triangular nose piece, meeting at the apex where the polymer melt emerges from the orifices. Most of the melt blowing prior art dies employ a long die tip (typically from 10 to 120 inches and longer) having evenly-spaced, side-by-side orifices. In order to provide the desired air drag forces by the primary air on the filaments, the included angle of the nosepiece (which determines the direction of the air flow has been about 60.degree. so that the primary air has a major velocity component parallel to filament spinning.
Also, the meltblowing die assemblies are operated continuously. Interrupting polymer flow presents two problems: (a) polymer continues to dribble out of the polymer orifices, and (b) the air tends to aspirate polymer from the die tips causing undesired afterflow. At the present, when a meltblowing die is shut down, it continues to flow out polymer until the residual polymer in the distribution manifold, the screen pack section and the die tip has emptied itself due to gravitational and aspirational forces. This can be as much as 5 lbs. of melt for conventional dies.
Another feature common to most, if not all, meltblowing dies is the air heating system. Energy used to heat the air is one of the most expensive operational items of meltblowing systems. Generally, the air is compressed and flowed through a furnace and conducted through large insulated conduits to air distribution manifolds on the die assembly. The use of a single furnace for the system not only presents problems in design (because large space must be provided to house the furnace and large conduits) but it also is energy inefficient (because of thermal loss between the furnace and the die assembly). Even small improvements in thermal efficiency can produce large savings in energy costs.
Summarizing the state of prior meltblowing dies, there is a need (a) to provide intermittent polymer discharge from the dies, and (b) to improve the air heater facilities.


Gas-pressure-based testing, in some embodiments, features a self-leak-testing module (120) that includes an internal sensor and is configured for measuring, using the sensor, gas leakage (179, 180) from a set of walls that defines respective gas passageways that both exist within the module and are incident to the gas pressure measured. One or more walls of the set may extend outside the module. The module can be configured for deciding, based on a result of the measuring, whether a magnitude of the leakage exceeds a predetermined threshold. A source for applying the pressure may be internal (138) or external (104, 132, 135). Gas pressure based pattern recognition can be used to identify, optionally during treatment and in real time, one or more leak sites responsible for the leakage. The module is implementable as a ventilation monitoring module that measures differential flow of a breathing circuit, the testing serving to prevent cross-contamination of patients.

The measurement of proximal flow in the breathing circuit of a ventilating system in the critical care environment can often be challenging, particularly given the high humidity and secretions present and the length of mechanical ventilation that can last from days to weeks. Timing the start and end of the inspiratory and expiratory phases, for example, depends upon the observed flow speed in the breathing circuit between the patient's lungs and the ventilator gas flow generator.
Due to their robustness, differential pressure based flow sensors are often used in clinical environments. Differential pressure flow sensors incorporate some type of restriction (point orifice, variable flap, vena constriction, annular obstruction, target or linear flow restrictor) that generates a pressure difference across the sensor. Flexible tubing, attached to either side of the flow obstruction, transmits the differential pressure signal from the restriction located on the breathing circuit to a sensitive pressure sensor located inside a monitor, or monitoring module, at the bedside.
To maintain performance and function in this environment over time, differential pressure based respiratory measurement systems, implementable for example in the monitoring module, generally include zeroing and purging functions. Periodic zeroing, performed by exposing the two sides of the differential pressure sensors to the same pressure for a short period of time, is required. This is because pressure sensors drift due to both intrinsic and extrinsic factors including changes in temperature. High humidity in the breathing circuit often leads to condensation of moisture in the pressure transmission tubing eventually resulting in a damped and distorted pressure signal (e.g., reduced accuracy) if not cleared. Therefore, pressure transmission tubes are periodically purged with a source of gas (either air or inspiratory gas) to reduce the adverse effects of condensate on pressure and flow measurements.
The complexity associated with the valves and interconnections required for zeroing and purging functions has resulted in conventional respiratory measurement systems with "bulky", multi-piece designs, which are difficult to assemble due to many individual pneumatic connections.
Additionally, the number of connections between different components results in a greater potential for leaks at these interfaces.


Disclosed is a device for separating liquids from gases comprising a preseparator that separates an untreated gas region from a preseparator gas region, a main separator comprising a coalescing element for increasing the size of liquid droplets and a post-separator.

The invention relates to a device for separating liquid droplets from gases, particularly an air deoiling element. Separators for liquid droplets from gases are used, for instance, to separate water and/or oil from air. Separators of this type are used particularly for deoiling the air in compressors.
A gas stream that comes into contact with liquids may pick up droplets of liquid. Liquid droplets may be entrained mechanically, e.g., as the gas flows through the liquid or is guided over a liquid. In rotary screw compressors, for example, air comes into contact with oil. The oil is used to aid sealing and to cool and lubricate the compressor. Liquid droplets can also be created in a gas stream through condensation. For example, condensation causes liquid droplets to form in a stream of steam. When compressed air is produced, temperatures can reach approximately 200° C. Because of these temperatures, a portion of the oil that is supplied to a rotary screw compressor, for example, evaporates. On subsequent cooling, the oil vapor condenses to droplets and mist. The oil droplets of a rotary screw compressor have a diameter on the order of magnitude of approximately 0.01 μm to 100 μm.
Droplet separators serve to separate liquid droplets from gases. Droplet separators are capable of separating a liquid phase from a gas phase. Droplet separators can be used to clean exhaust streams. With droplet separators, entrained liquid droplets can be separated from process gas streams. This separation can reduce corrosion or erosion of plant parts or caking or deposits on plant parts. Droplet separators are used, for example, to deoil compressed air.
Droplet separators can be configured as inertial separators. In inertial separators, the inertia of the droplets is used to separate the droplets on walls. Inertial separators are suitable particularly for larger droplets, typically having a diameter greater than approximately 20 μm. A simple form of a droplet separator is a baffle plate. In a baffle plate, a gas stream laden with liquid droplets is directed against a plate such that the gas stream changes its direction. Because of their inertia, the droplets contained in the gas stream maintain their direction, strike the plate and are discharged from there. Another type of inertial separation uses centrifugal forces. In centrifugal separators, the gas stream is guided along a curved path. The centrifugal forces cause the droplets to be guided onto an outer path with as large a radius of curvature as possible. Thus, the droplets are concentrated in this outer region. The droplets can then be separated on a wall, for example, along the outer region of the gas stream and can be discharged from that wall. As an alternative, gas with a low concentration of droplets can be removed only from the inner region of the gas stream. Various types of cyclones, for example, can be used as centrifugal separators.
Droplet separators can take the form of drainage elements. In a drainage element, a gas stream laden with liquid droplets is directed through a net-like and/or porous drainage structure. For example, a wire mesh or a nonwoven fabric, e.g., formed of a synthetic material or glass fibers may be used as the drainage structure. Droplets pass through the drainage structure more slowly than the gas stream. Due to gravity, the droplets move to the geodetically lower area of the drainage structure, where they collect and from where they can be discharged.
Inertial separation becomes more efficient the larger the droplets entrained in the gas stream are. To increase the size of the droplets, coalescing elements are used. In these coalescing elements, the gas stream is directed through a net-like and/or porous coalescing structure. This coalescing structure can be formed, for example, of a wire mesh or a nonwoven fabric of e.g., a synthetic material or glass fibers. The gas stream follows the flow lines. The droplets cannot follow the flow lines and adhere to the peripheral areas of the coalescing structure. A liquid film forms on the coalescing structure. Small droplets aggregate to larger droplets, i.e., they coalesce. The larger droplets leave the coalescing structure. Coalescing elements may also exhibit a drainage effect. In this case, the droplets form the liquid film on the coalescing structure, move to the geodetically lower area and can be discharged from there. Thus, a combined coalescing and drainage element may be formed. The larger and therefore heavier droplets exiting from the coalescing structure fall in the gas stream and can therefore also be removed from the gas stream.
Persons skilled in the art know various combinations of drainage and coalescing elements as well as inertial separators for separating liquids from gases, depending on the fields of application. The system described below is known for deoiling compressed air from compressors. In a pressure vessel, a cylindrical flow baffle is inserted at the upper end. The cylinder formed by the flow baffle is open at the bottom toward the interior of the pressure vessel. The compressed air flows in tangentially between the flow baffle and the pressure vessel wall, causing a preliminary separation of oil on the wall of the pressure vessel. The separated oil is returned to the compressor. The compressed air flows from below into the air deoiling element, which is located within the cylinder formed by the flow baffle. The air deoiling element comprises one or more coalescing and/or drainage stages, e.g., a coalescing structure of borosilicate glass fibers and a drainage structure of a nonwoven polyester fabric. The nonwoven fabric formed of borosilicate glass fibers and the nonwoven polyester fabric are each mounted onto a metal support member. Flow moves through the air deoiling element from the outside toward the inside. Small liquid droplets aggregate to larger droplets in the coalescing structure and in part already sink in the coalescing structure. Larger droplets exiting the coalescing structure sink further within the drainage structure and collect on the bottom of the air deoiling element. The oil on the bottom of the air deoiling element is returned to the compressor through a drainage line. The deoiled compressed air is transported from the pressure vessel into an accumulator.
A drawback in the described air deoiling system, which is used, for example, in rotary screw compressors, is that the pressure vessel must have a larger inside diameter than the air deoiling element so that the air can circulate around the air deoiling element. Thus, the pressure vessel must be manufactured in a larger size, which is more costly.
A further drawback is that air deoiling must be taken into account in the design of the pressure vessel. The inlet for the compressed air from the compressor must, for example, be tangential to obtain pre-separation. In addition, the pressure vessel in which the air deoiling element is installed is usually provided with a cylindrical baffle plate.
Conventional air deoiling elements have a one-piece construction. In case of replacement, the entire air deoiling element is replaced and a solid, heavy composite of metal, glass fiber and plastic as well as oil residues must be disposed of.
Because of the solid construction of the air deoiling element, a completely new air deoiling element must be designed, for example, when more coalescing surface is required to reduce the pressure loss across the coalescing stage. Different applications require completely different air deoiling elements to be produced.

Multi-stage apparatus for separating liquid droplets from gases


A system and method improves a camera calibration. The method includes receiving a camera image, a planar template pattern, a 3D geometry of a surface on which the planar template pattern is embedded, and a set of parameter values. The method includes rendering the planar template pattern into a camera perspective based on the parameter values to generate a warped template image. The method includes generating an error image including at least one non-zero difference between the camera image and the warped template image. The method includes adjusting the parameter values to reduce an error between the camera image and the warped template image.

Camera calibration has been done on the basis of point-based targets like checkerboards, but such targets are not practical for outdoor-based cameras, such as those used in outdoor sporting environments. Standard camera calibration algorithms employ a two-stage approach that first identifies point correspondences between geometric features in an image and in the world (e.g., a checkerboard's junction points from its camera's image projection and from the real world positions), and then finds the perspective transformation parameters which minimize the distance between the transformed world points and their corresponding image locations. Checkerboards are perhaps the most popular target because of their ease of use and manufacture, but in large outdoor scenes, checkerboards are impractical, as the necessary size may be on the order of meters. Furthermore, detecting a sufficient number of landmark point features continuously from all camera field-of-views may be challenging given the highly dynamic steering of a broadcast camera (especially when covering a sporting event where camera panning and zooming may be rapid and extreme). What is needed is a camera calibration technique that relies on non-point landmarks in a scene, also known as an image-based alignment. Contrary to a feature-based alignment method, for example, an image-based alignment method aligns non-point landmarks in a reference image with counterpart non-point landmarks in the scene image by warping one image onto the other and estimating the warping function parameters that minimizes the difference between the reference image and the scene image. In general, image-based alignment does not require the step of extracting feature points in the reference and scene images and finding corresponding pairs (as in the feature-based alignment) and allows for accurate matching of the two images. On the other hand image-based alignment requires the two images to be already coarsely aligned via an initialization process, often based on feature-based alignment.
Calibration of a broadcast camera covering a dynamic event such as a football game, may be complicated by the fact that field surface is not planar. A method that takes into account a non-planar surface is needed to calibrate the camera automatically and dynamically as the camera pans and zooms rapidly during the capturing of a live event. Furthermore, an efficient method is needed for the calibration of a spatially coupled set of cameras (e.g., a stereoscopic camera) capturing a live event at a scene including a non-planar surface.

Method and system for determining camera parameters from a long range gradient based on alignment differences in non-point image landmarks


An amusement ride has a plurality of cars, a unit for guiding the cars in a substantially vertical direction so that the cars are liftable and lowerable, a passenger seat provided in each of the cars, and a unit for cooperating the passenger seat with a respective one of the cars so that the seat is freely moving in a non-motorized way relative to the car whereby a user sitting in the seat obtains a plurality of inclined positions relative to a respective one of the cars.

The invention relates to amusement devices, in particular, to free-fall towers.
A known amusement ride comprises vertical guide elements for at least one car with passenger seats, a hoisting and a braking devices (see U.S. Pat. No. 5,628,690 of 13.05.97). The afore said ride is a tower which creates a free fall effect and does not allow to diversify the sensations experienced by the riders. Moreover, the human body, the spine in particular, is subjected to substantial G-loads caused by the stationary vertical passenger positioning.
The engineering object of the invention is to create an amusement ride with a free-fall effect, which features various entertainment effects and enhances the safety of passengers.
The said engineering object is achieved by the following: in the amusement ride containing vertical guide elements for at least one car with passenger seats, a hoisting and a braking devices, at least part of the passenger seats on at least one car are mobile fastened, and the vertical guide elements are made rectil near and/or curvilinear in the projection onto at least one vertical plane.
The said mobile fastening of the passenger seats can be made hinged in the shape of a hinge-lever mechanism or using guides linked to the car. Passenger seats may also be pivoted on an axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the guide elements.
In addition the ride may comprise at least two cars, on at least one of which passenger seats are mobile fastened, some or all of them being additionally connected to the car frame by a return device.
Such a design provides at least three types of seats fastening on one or several cars: rigid fastening, mobile fastening, and mobile fastening with a return device.
The vertical guide elements can be produced as interlinked towers, each supporting at least one car with one type of seats fastening, which also provides diversity of entertainment effects.
The guides can be made curvilinear or/and rectilinear (vertical), including a hinged guide connection with the car, the return device containing elastic elements fastened on the car and respectively connected with the indicated guides and passenger seat.
The hinge-lever mechanism can be produced as a lever, and the return device can be created by the elastic elements fastened on the lever and respectively connected with the car and passenger seat; or the hinge-lever mechanism may be created by two levers, one of which is connected directly to the passenger seat and the otherxe2x80x94through the intermediate hinged link, the return device being connected to the said second lever.
At present all free-fall rides feature strictly vertical towers with rectilinear guide elements (see U.S. Pat. No. 5,628,690 of 13.05.97), which restricts their functional capabilities, i.e., they fail to provide a variety of thrills.
A further engineering objective of the invention is to create a tower-type free-fall ride which makes it possible to provide a variety of thrills.
That objective is attained by combining the above plurality of passenger seats fastening versions and making the guide elements curvilinear in the projection onto at least one vertical plane.
The indicated combination of the structural ride elements execution actually provides an unlimited number of amusement effects.


A semiconductor structure includes a semiconductor substrate, n-type source and drain stressors, and a gate stack. The semiconductor substrate has source and drain recesses therein. The n-type source and drain stressors are respectively present in the source and drain recesses. At least one of the n-type source and drain stressors has a hydrogen terminated surface. A gate stack is present on the semiconductor substrate and between the n-type source and drain stressors.

The present disclosure relates generally to semiconductor devices, and more specifically to integrated circuits (ICs) and fabrication methods thereof.
The semiconductor integrated circuit (IC) industry has experienced rapid growth. Technological advances in IC materials and design have produced generations of ICs where each generation has smaller and more complex circuits than the previous generation. To enhance the performance of ICs, strained silicon has been used to enhance carrier mobility and improve device performance. Strained silicon is a layer of silicon in which the silicon atoms are stretched beyond their normal interatomic distance. Moving these silicon atoms farther apart reduces the atomic forces that interfere with the movement of electrons through the transistors and thus better mobility, resulting in better chip performance and lower energy consumption.

Semiconductor structure and manufacturing method thereof

TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.


Polyurea systems comprising: (a) an amino-functional aspartic ester of the general formula (I)

Adhesions are among the most frequent complications after interventions in the abdominal and pelvic region. Adhesions are fibrous bands which generally form within the first seven days after an operation, in the course of the healing process. They cause tissues and organs which are normally separated from one another to grow together, which can give rise to a multiplicity of complications such as, for example, chronic pain, infertility or a life-treating intestinal occlusion. Products able to reduce the formation of adhesions have been developed in recent years to avoid such complications. Success has so far been limited, however.
Methods of preventing adhesions are peritoneal cavity lavage; the use of pharmacologically active agents such as anti-inflammatories or fibrinolytics; and also the application of mechanical barriers to separate the tissue. Adhesion barriers consist of an inert or absorbable material which is applied to the organs in question. Research has been done on a multiplicity of materials such as polysaccharides (U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,886,787, 5,356,883), hyaluronic acid U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,141,973, 5,246,698), alginates (U.S. Pat. No. 5,266,326), chitin (U.S. 5,093,319), chitosan (U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,532,134, 5,679,658), xanthan (U.S. Pat. No. 4,994,277), dextran (U.S. Pat No. 5,605,938), cellulose and derivatives thereof (Journal of spinal disorders & techniques (2006), 19(4), 270-5), human serum albumin (U.S. Pat. No. 5,583,114), collagen (US 2005175659), glucosamine (U.S. Pat. No. 5,462,976), polyoxyalkylene copolymers (U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,911,926, 5,366,735, 5,135,751, 5,681,576), polyester (U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,612,052, 6,136,333), etc. A large proportion of these materials have not been commercialized for lack of efficacy, lack of bioabsorbability or because of interactions with the wound-healing process.
Commercially available products in membrane form such as INTERCEED™ (Johnson & Johnson), SEPRAFILM™ (Genzyme Corp.) and REPEL-CV™ (Life Medical Corp.), are absorbed within 28 days. However, since the barriers are laid onto the organ in question, there is a risk of slippage.
Barriers which like the hyaluronic acid derivative SEPRACOAT™ (GenzymeCorp.) and LUBRICOAT™ (Lifecore Biomedical Inc.) are applied as a liquid are often too quickly degraded by the body, limiting their barrier effect. In addition, there is a risk of migration and hence of no protective effect at all.
Hydrogels are water-containing polymers whose chains are linked covalently to form a three-dimensional network. In water, they swell rapidly and with a substantial increase in volume. Owing to their high water content, they are being investigated for use as adhesion barriers. As well as the hydrogels based on natural polysaccharides (alginates, hyaluronic acid) it is in particular hydrophilic polyethylene glycol-based systems (US 2005266086, DE-A 69929278, U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,025,990, 6,514,534, US 2003/0077242), such as the commercially available SPRAYGEL™ (Confluent Surgical), which have been the subject of intensive research. Disadvantages found include the occasionally excessive rate of degradation and the acidity of the degradation products of lactic acid-based polyesters. As well as the polyethylene glycol-based hydrogel formation, there are frequent mentions (WO 0009087, US 20030077242, US 20050271727) of the redox-initiated free-radical polymerization. Redox initiators used include ascorbic acid and peroxides. As well as possible tissue irritation, one of the problems which arises is the aqueous consistency of the two reactants which is responsible for the absence of bonding to the organ in question.
Isocyanate-capped polymers such as polyester- and polyether-urethanes are described in US 2004/0068078 and WO 2004/021983 for uses including as postoperative adhesion barriers. Isocyanates used are preferably TDI (toluylene diisocyanate) and IPDI (isophorone diisocyanate), the prepolymers containing 0.05 to 1 mEq of low molecular weight polyisocyanaes such as monomeric TDI to promote adherence to the tissue being treated. In the presence of significant biological fluid, or in adherence to certain types of tissue, greater amounts thereof should preferably be present. Adherence develops inter alia through reaction of the isocyanate with the tissue. However, monomeric isocyanates, as well as tissue irritation, are known to lead to a sensitization and hence to allergic reactions. The reaction rate of the prepolymer on the tissue is substantially slowed when aliphatic isocyanates such as HDI are used, and therefore such a system is not practicable for clinical use.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,129,300 describes the production of absorbable 2-component systems consisting of a polyethylene oxide having two or more amine substituents and a biodegradable diisocyanate or an isocyanate-capped polyethylene oxide with an absorbable diamine.
WO 2006/010278 describes the production and use of polyurethane prepolymers and polyurethane acrylates based on aliphatic isocyanates such as HDI. Chain extenders (curatives) used are low molecular weight diols, diamines, triols, triamines or oligomers and also physiologically active compounds. Organic zinc, tin, magnesium and iron compounds are used as a catalyst. The invention is useable inter alia as an adhesion barrier but also for various implants. However, the use of a catalyst generally leads to a substantial acceleration in the rate of curing of the polymer and hence to an increased evolution of heat. Usefulness for internal organs is limited as a result.
EP-A 1719530 describes the use of isocyanate-capped polyester macromers based on aliphatic dicarboxylic acids and dihydroxy components such as polyalkylene oxides or polyethylene glycols. Aromatic, aliphatic and alicyclic isocyanates are described as possible isocyanates. Prepolymers formed from aromatics-based isocyanates such as TDI (as recited in the examples) have a reported crosslinking time on tissue of 1-10 min. However, the use of aromatics-based isocyanates in the body where, like the adhesion barriers, the product is fully degraded must be considered problematical because of the cleavage products which form. Systems based on aliphatic isocyanates are known from experience to have insufficient reactivity and hence too slow a cure time for practicable use in vivo. In addition, the viscosities of the compounds recited in EP-A 1719530 are too high at an average of 60 000 mPas for application, and therefore a solvent has to be used.
WO 2007/067624 describes a bioabsorbable 2-component system consisting of an isocyanate prepolymer based on glycolide, lactide, ε-caprolactone, p-dioxanone, trimethyl carbonate and polyalkylene oxide (for example polyethylene glycols). The second component used is a polyamine. On application of the two components to tissue a gel is formed that is useful as an adhesive or as an adhesion barrier. However, the prepolymers have an extremely high viscosity and therefore are difficult to apply without added solvent. Possible solvents mentioned include water, alcohols and ketones. Hydroxyl-containing solvents, however, present the problem of rapid reaction with the prepolymer, so that there is a risk of gelling. Processing time, moreover, can become extremely rapid and thereby make processing problematical. The use of solvents in vivo must generally in most cases be considered problematical on account of possible cytotoxicity and also interaction with the tissue.
That aspartic esters are suitable in principle for crosslinking prepolymers is known in the prior art in the context of surface coatings and described in DE-A 10246708 or EP-A 1081171.
European patent application No. 07021764.1, unpublished at the priority date of the present invention, already describes wound adhesives based on a combination of hydrophilic polyisocyanate prepolymers and aspartates as hardeners. The prepolymers are based on polyether polyols and therefore are not biodegradable within 6 to 12 months. In addition, the systems described are strong adhesives and therefore unsuitable for use as an adhesion barrier.

Polyurea systems, processes for preparing the same and use thereof for postoperative adhesion barriers

Abstract: wherein X represents an n-valent organic radical derived from a corresponding n-functional primary amine X(NH2)n, R1 and R2 each independently represent an organic radical having no Zerevitinov active hydrogens and n represents an integer of at least 2; and (b) an isocyanate functional prepolymer having a residual monomer content of less than 1% by weight, the prepolymer prepared by reacting: (b1) an aliphatic isocyante; and (b2) a polyol component having a number average molecular weight of ≧400 g/mol and an average OH functionality of 2 to 6, wherein the polyol component comprises one or more constituents selected from the group consisting of polyester polyols, polyester-polyether polyols and mixtures thereof; processes for making the same; postoperative adhesions barriers prepared therewith and dispensing systems for such polyurea systems.


A vehicle headlamp housing is naturally ventilated by a temperature difference between air inside and air outside the lamp housing, to prevent the temperature of a lighting control circuit from increasing and to reduce thermal loads applied to circuit elements. The lamp housing includes a first opening lower than, and a second opening higher than the lighting control circuit. The first opening permits air access to a space, where the lighting control circuit is contained. The second opening also permits air access to the space. The lamp housing may be constructed so that space is naturally ventilated by the first and second openings. Additionally, a labyrinth arrangement or a filter arrangement can be used to govern the flow of air into the vehicle headlamp while excluding debris.

This application is based upon, and claims the benefit of priority of prior Japanese patent Application 2001-161094, filed on May 29, 2001, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a vehicle headlamp using a discharge lamp and a controlled air flow through the headlamp to cool the discharge lamp and associated controls.
2. Description of Related Art
Generally, a discharge lamp has been used as a vehicle headlamp. The discharge lamp is an arc-discharge type electrical lamp. In the arc-discharge type lamp, xenon gas, or other appropriate gas, is enclosed in a discharge lamp bulb (arc tube), and light is emitted from the discharge lamp bulb using charge generated between a pair of electrodes therein. The light emitted from the discharge lamp bulb is white light similar to sun light. A quantity of light from the discharge lamp can be equal to or more than twice as much as that from a conventional halogen lamp while also using about 30% of the electrical power commonly used by a halogen lamp. Accordingly, when the discharge lamp is used as a vehicle headlamp, visibility forward of the lights is improved. That is, passengers will be able to see further in front of the vehicle compared to the use of halogen lights, with all other parameters being equal.
Generally, when the discharge lamp is turned on, a high voltage of several kilovolts (kV) to tens of kV is applied to the discharge lamp, thereby instantly beginning discharge therein, and lighting the light. Thereafter, electric power of about 35 watts (W) is applied thereto, thereby maintaining the lit condition. Therefore, a dedicated lighting-control circuit is required to light the discharge lamp. A lighting control circuit is mainly constructed of a converter, an inverter and an igniter. The converter increases direct-current (DC) voltage from a battery, and the inverter converts DC voltage to an alternating-current (AC) voltage. The igniter generates high voltage on the order of tens of kV.
In a vehicle, the lighting control circuit is generally mounted outside the lamp housing of a headlamp. In this case, wires, usually high voltage wires, and connectors, used for applying a high voltage to the discharge lamp, are required, thereby not reducing a size of the headlamp and its peripheral circuit. Further, many labor hours for attaching and wiring the high voltage wires and the connectors are required. Additionally, vehicle space for the wires and the connectors are required. Furthermore, high voltage wires require shielding for reducing adverse effects of electrical noises (electrical interference) from the wires, thereby increasing production costs of the headlamp and its peripheral circuit.
Therefore, it can be considered that the lighting control circuit should be mounted directly on the discharge lamp bulb in the lamp housing. For example, it is conceived that the discharge lamp bulb is connected directly to a connector contained in the lighting control circuit while the lighting control circuit is fixed to a rear surface of a reflector. According to this arrangement, no high voltage wires are required between the discharge lamp bulb and the lighting control circuit while the size of a vehicle headlamp can be reduced, thereby eliminating radio wave noises and power losses due to the high voltage wires.
While the discharge lamp bulb is lit, its temperature will increase and become high. Generally, ventilation holes are provided in the lamp housing to eliminate any pressure difference between the interior and the exterior of the lamp housing. However, each ventilation hole is set to a minimum area to prevent water and foreign matter from entering the lamp housing, so that almost no air stream or current is generated in the lamp housing. Therefore, while the discharge lamp bulb is lit, the air temperature in the lamp housing becomes high. That is, the temperature of the lighting control circuit becomes high by receiving heat from the discharge lamp bulb through thermal conduction, thermal radiation, and convection while the air temperature around the lighting control circuit becomes high. Thus, it is feared that excessive thermal loads are applied to circuit elements contained in the lighting control circuit. Although circuit elements and a circuit board, each having a high thermal resistance may be used as a remedy, production costs of the lighting control circuit and a size thereof increase with such requirements.
The present invention has been made in view of the above problems. Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a vehicle headlamp to prevent the lighting control circuit temperature from increasing. That is, the lighting control circuit will be cooled by directing outside air into the lamp housing using the temperature difference of air between an interior and an exterior of the lamp housing. That is, mainly by using convection currents generated as a result of the temperature difference. Furthermore, it is an object to maintain cooling while preventing water droplets and debris from entering the lamp housing.
In embodiments of the present invention, the following technological means are adopted to attain the above object. In a vehicle headlamp according to the present invention, a lamp housing includes a first opening lower than a lighting control circuit and a second opening higher than the lighting control circuit. Further, the first and second openings are opened toward an internal space where the lighting control circuit is contained. The space is naturally ventilated using the first and second openings. Therefore, the lighting control circuit can be cooled using a natural stream of air, that is, natural convection currents of air generated by the air temperature difference between an interior and an exterior of the lamp housing while a discharge lamp bulb is lit. Accordingly, the lighting control circuit temperature can be prevented from increasing, and thermal loads applied to the circuit elements can be reduced. Furthermore, the addition of a ventilation unit such as an electric fan is not required, thereby preventing production costs from increasing.
Additionally, an inhibition member, for preventing water droplets and dust (debris) from entering the space, is provided for either or both of the first and second openings. The inhibition member may be a filter for trapping water droplets and dust. Alternatively, the inhibition member may be a labyrinth communicating with any one or both of the first and second openings. Therefore, water droplets and dust can be prevented from entering the lamp housing without increasing the number of components and production costs.
Further areas of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description provided hereinafter. It should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating the preferred embodiment of the invention, are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention.


A method of cold in-place recycling of asphalt to remediate distressed roads. Asphalt particles obtained by milling the existing asphalt are limited by screening to a maximum size of about one inch length. Asphalt particle size may be established by limiting tooth spacing of the road milling equipment milling head to about 5/16 inch or 8 millimeter spacing intervals. A predetermined proportion of portland cement, water, and asphalt emulsion are added to generated asphalt particles. Portland cement may be deposited onto the existing asphalt prior to milling. The resulting combination is mixed to generate a recycled mix, which may then be discharged onto the road being remediated and further processed, such as by screeding, compacting, and sealing.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to rehabilitation of asphalt paved roads and highways, and more particularly to a cold, in-place asphalt recycling method of rehabilitating roads and highways.
2. Background of the Invention
Cold in-place recycling of structurally sound but unacceptably cracked asphalt pavements has been used for several decades. This method remediates cracks, which would otherwise promote pavement failure, and delays formation of new cracks in recycled pavement and previously applied hot mix overlays, thereby extending life expectancy of the rehabilitated pavement.
In conventional practice using cold, in-place asphalt recycling, one lane of a distressed pavement is milled on the order of three to five inches deep. A small amount of asphalt emulsion or foamed asphalt is mixed with milled pavement particles or reclaimed asphalt pavement, which will herein be referred to as RAP for brevity. The road surface is then paved with the treated RAP and is subsequently compacted. This operation is carried out directly on pavement being remediated, with no application of heat to reclaimed asphalt.
Milling, treatment of RAP, and paving may be performed by known milling equipment 2, as seen in FIG. 3. Milling is performed with rows of teeth 4 mounted on a milling head 6 which is part of the milling equipment 2, as seen in FIG. 4. Conventional spacing of adjacent rows of teeth 4 is on the order of about six tenths or two thirds of an inch, or about fifteen millimeters. This spacing interval is indicated by the arrow 8.
Although immediate use by traffic may be permitted upon completion of the process, it is preferred to allow curing of the newly remediated pavement to deter rutting and other defects from developing. Municipal authorities usually require a hot mix asphalt overlay to be applied after a curing interval to seal the recycled mix, to improve strength and to oppose intrusion of water into the remediated roadway.
The conventional treatment summarized above has the drawback of requiring the hot mix asphalt overlay. A further undesirable characteristic is that due to layer thickness of the uncompacted asphalt mix, typically on the order of four to seven inches, and due to sizes of reclaimed asphalt particles, which in the prior art are typically one and one half inches, subsequent compaction is difficult even when using relatively heavy rolling equipment. Inadequate compaction leaves pores in the asphalt, which are subject to permeation by water, and air, which will accelerate eventual failure of the pavement. Although the hot mix asphalt overlay provides a seal, which addresses the deficiency of porosity, this seal comes at significant economic cost, potentially more than doubling the cost of remediation. There is also the matter of additional inconvenience to the motoring public as this second construction process causes additional delays and typically causes localized congestion. The project may also require additional paving to make the remediated roadway compatible with intersecting side streets, driveways, and drainage structures due to paving height discrepancies.

Pavement rehabilitation using cold in-place asphalt pavement recycling


There are disclosed dye-providing compounds comprising color coupler dyes substituted on the phenylene diamine portion with one or two cyclic 1,3-sulfur-nitrogen groups. The dye-providing compounds are capable of releasing the coupler dye upon cleavage in the presence of silver ions or a soluble silver complex. The dye-providing compounds are useful as image-forming materials in color thermographic, photothermographic and other photographic processes.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to image-forming materials, specifically to dye-providing compounds which, in the presence of silver ions and/or a soluble silver complex, undergo a cleavage reaction to liberate a diffusible coupler dye.
2. Description of the Related Art
U.S. Pat. No. 3,719,489 discloses silver ion assisted cleavage reactions useful in photographic systems. As disclosed therein, photographically inert compounds are capable of undergoing cleavage in the presence of silver ions made available imagewise during processing of a silver halide emulsion to liberate a reagent, such as, a photographically active reagent or a dye in an imagewise distribution corresponding to that of said silver ions. In one embodiment disclosed therein, color images are produced by using as the photographically inert compounds, color-providing compounds which are substantially non-diffusible in the photographic processing composition but capable of undergoing cleavage in the presence of the imagewise distribution of silver ions and/or soluble silver complex made available in the undeveloped and partially developed areas of a silver halide emulsion as a function of development to liberate a more mobile and diffusible color-providing moiety in an imagewise distribution corresponding to the imagewise distribution of said ions and/or said complex. The subsequent formation of a color image is the result of the differential in diffusibility between the parent compound and liberated color-providing moiety whereby the imagewise distribution of the more diffusible color-providing moiety released in the undeveloped and partially developed areas is free to transfer.
Color-providing compounds useful in the above process form the subject matter of U.S. Pat. No. 4,098,783, a continuation in part of said U.S. Pat. No. 3,719,489. The color-providing compounds disclosed therein may comprise one or more dye radicals and one or more 1,3-sulfur-nitrogen moieties. For example, they may comprise one complete dye or dye intermediate and one cyclic 1,3-sulfur-nitrogen moiety. Alternatively, the color-providing compounds may comprise two or more cyclic moieties for each dye radical or dye intermediate and vice versa. Particularly useful dye-providing compounds disclosed therein comprise a dye containing from 1 to 4 and preferably 1 or 2 cyclic 1,3-sulfur-nitrogen groups and may be represented by the formula EQU D-[(L).sub.m-1 -Y].sub.n (A)
wherein D represents a dye radical, i.e., the radical of an organic dye possessing at least one carbon atom, L is a divalent organic linking group containing at least one carbon atom, m is a positive integer 1 or 2, n is a positive integer from 1 to 4, and Y is a cyclic 1,3-sulfur-nitrogen group. Indophenol, indoaniline, and azomethine dyes are broadly disclosed therein as useful dye radicals, although no specific examples are given.
European Patent No. 0 073 245 describes certain polymers, among others, which comprise recurring units containing cyclic 1,3-sulfur-nitrogen groups of the type disclosed in the aforementioned U.S. Pat. No. 4,098,783. These polymeric cyclic 1,3-sulfur-nitrogen compounds are capable of undergoing cleavage in the presence of an imagewise distribution of silver ions or a silver complex to release a photographically useful group, e.g., an image dye-providing material, corresponding to said imagewise distribution.
Japanese Kokai 59-180548 having a Laid-Open date of Oct. 13, 1984 discloses a heat-developable silver halide photosensitive imaging system wherein the dye-providing material contains a heterocyclic ring containing a nitrogen atom and a sulfur or selenium atom which heterocyclic ring is subject to cleavage in the presence of silver ions to release a diffusible dye. An example of a suitable dye-providing material is a thiazolidine dye such as disclosed in the aforementioned U.S. Pat. No. 4,098,783. The process involves imagewise exposing the photosensitive system to light and subsequently or simultaneously heating the photosensitive system under a substantially water-free condition, in the presence of a base or base precursor, whereby an oxidation-reduction reaction between the exposed photosensitive silver halide and a reducing agent occurs. In the exposed areas a negative silver image is formed. In the unexposed areas, the silver ion, present in inverse proportion to the silver image, causes the heterocyclic ring of the dye-providing material to be cleaved releasing a diffusible dye. The diffusible dye is then transferred to an image-receiving layer whereby a positive dye image is formed.
Useful dye radicals to be used in the dye-providing materials for photographic and particularly for photothermographic applications, are coupler dyes, i.e., dyes formed by the oxidative coupling of a phenylene diamine with a color coupler, e.g., azomethine, indoaniline, indamine, and indophenol dyes, as disclosed in the copending U.S. patent application, Ser. No. 07/923,843 of M. Arnost et al filed Jul. 31, 1992. Coupler dyes are well-known dyes having desirable hues for color reproduction. However, modification of these known coupler dyes to incorporate cyclic 1,3-sulfur-nitrogen moieties can undesirably influence their color characteristics by shifting the absorption of the starting coupler dye.
It has now been found that by substituting the developer portion of known coupler dyes in a particular manner with aldehyde or ketone functionalities, those functionalities being necessary to prepare the cyclic 1,3-sulfur-nitrogen dye-providing compounds, the chromophores of the resulting aldehyde and ketone coupler dyes are virtually unchanged. In addition, the aldehyde and ketone substituted coupler dyes and the dye-providing compounds produced therefrom are readily synthesized.


An apparatus for de-molding sanitary ware castings from porous molds, and in particular, from synthetic resin molds, comprising a carriage capable of traveling on rails parallel to the plane of the opening of a mold. The carriage moves to and from a position between separated mold parts of the mold and a position outside of the mold. The carriage includes an upper frame structure capable of displacement in a direction at right angles to the rails, on which is mounted at least one form capable of matching, at least in part, the outward shape of the piece to be molded. The mold is connected to the upper structure by an intermediate means of variable geometry so as to allow a range of motion. A pneumatic means is included to retain the form in contact with the cast piece.

The present invention relates generally to the process of manufacturing sanitary ware by slip casting sanitary ware in porous molds and, in particular, to the process of de-molding or removing the cast articles from the molds.
Slip casting is the molding process which is typically used when complicated shapes are desired. Mold pans, usually comprising two in number, are paired together to create a cavity into which slip is poured. Dewatering of the slip occurs through the molds which absorb a portion of the water. The casting is then allowed to harden. At the end of the casting operation, the mold parts are separated and the casting remains in contact with one of the mold parts.
One of the critical steps in the slip casting process is the removal of the casting from the mold part to which it adheres, and its subsequent placement on a line in preparation for the subsequent steps of drying and firing. Removal of the casting is done by hand with the aid of suitable support structures and is performed with extreme care to avoid irreparable damage to the casting, which is still quite soft, and continued adherence of any surface portions thereof to the mold.
The use of porous resin molds in place of the traditional plaster molds has drastically reduced the time required for casting although the de-molding time still remains comparatively long. Thus, it is apparent that an efficient automated operation for de-molding slip castings is desirable, particularly for use with resin molds, whereby the integrity of the casting is maintained.


A modularized electric door lock includes an operating device mounted to a door, an outer electric device mounted to an outer side of the door for receiving an unlocking signal, and an inner electric device mounted to an inner side of the door and controlling the outer electric device. The inner electric device includes an electric driving device mounted in the operating device for setting the operating device to a locked state or an unlocked state. The outer electric device and the corresponding inner electric device can be selected among various types, such that the door lock of a desired type can be rapidly assembled.

The present invention relates to a modularized electric door lock and, more particularly, to a modularized electric door lock whose type can be optionally changed by selecting one of a plurality of outer electric devices (such as a wireless transmitter, a keypad type input device, a touch screen, a biological feature pickup device, etc.) and by coupling a mechanical structure and an inner electric device for controlling the outer electric device.
There are various types of electric door locks, and some of them utilize radio frequency technology to produce door access cards and a radio frequency transmitter/receiver to communicate with the door access cards for controlling unlocking of the electric door lock. Another type of door lock utilizes a keypad for inputting a pin number for unlocking purposes. A further type of door lock includes a biological feature (such as fingerprints, veins of fingers, iris, etc.) pickup device mounted on an outer side of the door lock for picking up the biological feature to thereby control unlocking of the door lock.
Manufacturers providing various types of electric door locks having different designs must prepare more parts for inventory, leading to an increase in the costs. Furthermore, the manufacturers have to design different assembling procedures for various types of electric door locks, further increasing the costs.


A recording tape cartridge features a case which rotatably and vertically movably accommodates a reel on which recording tape is wound. An aperture for drawing out the recording tape is formed in a peripheral wall of the case. The aperture features a projection portion which projects upward from a lower edge thereof. A leader block for drawing out the recording tape is fixed to an end portion of the recording tape, and can close off the aperture. The cartridge further includes a first urging member, which urges the reel downward, and a second urging member, which urges the leader block downward further than an upper edge of the projection portion. The leader block is unlikely to disengage even when the case is subjected to an impact by dropping or the like, and a recording tape cartridge with little risk of the leader block and recording tape becoming damaged is provided.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a recording tape cartridge which accommodates, in a case, a single reel onto which recording tape such as a magnetic tape or the like is wound, principally for use as a recording/replaying medium for computers and the like.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventionally, a recording tape cartridge (magnetic tape cartridge) at which a magnetic tape, which serves as a recording tape to be used as a data recording/replaying medium for computers or the like, is wound onto a single reel and this reel is accommodated in a case produced of synthetic resin has been well known. At a distal end (a free end) of such a magnetic tape, a leader member, such as a leader pin, a leader tape, a leader block or the like is fixed. A drawing-out mechanism, which is provided at a drive device, draws the leader member out through an opening aperture of the recording tape cartridge and winds the magnetic tape, which is fixed to the leader member, onto a winding reel of the drive device.
A circular opening is formed through a lower face of the recording tape cartridge. A reel gear is provided in an annular form at a lower face center of the reel and exposed through this opening. A drive gear, which is provided at a rotation shaft of the drive device, meshes with the reel gear. With this structure, the reel is driven to rotate. Hence, when the reel of the recording tape cartridge and the winding reel of the drive device are rotated at the same time, data can be recorded to the magnetic tape and/or data that has been recorded to the magnetic tape can be replayed.
At a recording tape cartridge with such a structure, the leader member is a coupling member which is coupled with the drive device side winding reel in a state in which the magnetic tape is pulled tight. However, positions of the opening aperture formed in the case and types of a door which opens and closes the opening aperture and so forth differ for the different types of leader member. For example, in a case with a leader block, the opening aperture is formed at a corner portion at a side in a direction of loading of the recording tape cartridge (the case) into a drive device, and the leader block is anchored so as to close off the opening aperture. That is, the leader block is structured so as to also serve as a door for closing the opening aperture.
This sort of leader block is structured by a stiff body. Therefore, in comparison to a tape-form leader tape, an operation of engagement with the drive device side drawing-out mechanism can be performed more easily, which is advantageous in that abrasion and damage to an engaging portion of the drawing-out mechanism is less likely to occur. Furthermore, when the opening aperture is at the corner portion of the case, this is advantageous in that an angle of drawing-out of the leader block can be freely selected in design of a drive device. For example, design is possible so as to draw out the leader block along a shortest distance to the winding reel, and design is possible so as to complete the operation of drawing-out of the magnetic tape in a short time.
However, if a leader block is anchored at a corner portion of a recording tape cartridge (a case) at times of non-use (when the recording tape cartridge is not loaded at a drive device), there is a problem in that if the corner portion is subjected to an impact, due to dropping or the like, it is likely that the case will be warpingly deformed and that the leader block will fall out from the corner portion.
When the leader block is detached and thrown out from the case due to dropping or the like, a user will consequently be subjected to concern as to whether the functionality of the recording tape cartridge has been affected, and will be subjected to concern as to whether or not the recording tape cartridge will operate in the drive device if repaired by hand. Moreover, in practice, creases may be formed in the magnetic tape when the recording tape cartridge is dropped and the leader block detaches from the case. Furthermore, when the leader block undesiredly detaches, because the leader block itself functions as a door, there is a problem in that dustproofing of the recording tape cartridge is breached.
Accordingly, it has conventionally been thought that impacts due to dropping and the like can be mitigated and effects on the leader block kept to a minimum by, for example, forming the corner portion in a form which is itself easily deformed by warping. However, such structures by themselves have been insufficient as countermeasures for preventing detachment of leader blocks.
Accordingly, as shown in FIG. 8, for example, formation of an aperture 78 in a peripheral wall 74 at a side of a recording tape cartridge 70 (a case 72) in a direction of loading into a drive device, at a position apart from a corner portion 76, and engagement of a leader block 80 with the peripheral wall 74 so as to close up the aperture 78 has been considered (see, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (JP-A) No. 2002-298541). According to such a structure, if an impact is applied to this corner portion 76 by dropping or the like and the case 72 is warpingly deformed, the leader block 80 is unlikely to disengage from the aperture 78, because the aperture 78 is provided at a position which is separated from the corner portion 76.
However, because the leader block 80 illustrated in FIG. 8 engages with the peripheral wall 74 when closing off the aperture 78 so as to be coplanar with the peripheral wall 74 and so as to structure a portion of the peripheral wall 74, it is necessary to form the size of the aperture 78 so as to match the size of the leader block 80. Moreover, at times of non-use, because the leader block 80 is continuously in a state of being exposed to the outside, there is a problem in that the leader block 80 is susceptible to scratching and the like. Because, as mentioned above, the leader block 80 is a coupling member which couples at the drive device side winding reel, it is not preferable for dimensional accuracy of the leader block 80 to be altered by damage or the like.
Furthermore, at times of non-use, the reel is urged downward by a coil spring. Consequently, a height position of the reel may differ (become lower) relative to a height position of the leader block. Thus, the magnetic tape may get into a state which extends from the reel to the leader block at an angle in side view. If this condition arises, different tensions will be applied at upper and lower side end portions (below referred to as "edges") of the magnetic tape. Consequently, problems such as the magnetic tape twisting and the magnetic tape become creased may occur, in addition to which one of these edges may contact and rub against an upper flange of the reel, leading to the occurrence of problems with the magnetic tape being damaged.


The rotor of the rotary electric machine according to the present invention includes: a cylindrical rotor core; magnets that are respectively housed in a plurality of magnet housing apertures that are formed circumferentially so as to pass axially through an outer circumferential side of the rotor core; and a rotor boss that includes: a cylindrical rotor ring that holds the rotor core; an annular mounting portion that is linked to the crankshaft so as to be disposed coaxially at a first axial end inside the rotor ring; and a linking plate that links the rotor ring and the mounting portion, and the linking plate is formed so as to have a curved shape that is convex toward a second axial end of the rotor boss, and has a thickness that reduces continuously from a radially inner side toward a radially outer side.

In conventional hybrid vehicle mechanical power transmitting apparatuses, a motor-generator and a torque converter are connected in series between a crankshaft of an engine and a main shaft of a transmission, and charge a battery and perform energy recovery by regenerative braking by making the motor-generator function as a generator, and start the engine and assist engine power by making the motor-generator function as a motor (see Patent Literature 1, for example).
However, in the conventional hybrid vehicle mechanical power transmitting apparatus that is described in Patent Literature 1, because the engine, the motor-generator, and the torque converter are disposed in series in a straight line, the direct distance from the engine to the torque converter is long. Thus, loads that act on the torque converter that originate from the engine, particularly the loads of bending moments, are increased, and there has been a risk that the torque converter may be damaged.
In consideration of such conditions, conventional hybrid vehicle mechanical power transmitting apparatuses have been proposed in which a torque converter is housed inside a rotor of a motor-generator (see Patent Literature 2, for example). In the conventional hybrid vehicle mechanical power transmitting apparatus that is described in this Patent Literature 2, because the direct distance from the engine to the torque converter can be shortened, loads that act on the torque converter that originate from the engine are reduced, suppressing occurrences of damage to the torque converter.


A radio base station according to an embodiment constitutes a mobile communication network. The radio base station comprises: a controller configured to measure a stay time for which a radio terminal has stayed on a wireless LAN. The stay time is a period from when a first process through which the radio terminal switches a waiting destination or a connection destination from the mobile communication network to the wireless LAN is performed to when a second process through which the radio terminal switches the waiting destination or the connection destination from the wireless LAN to the mobile communication network is performed.

In the art, a switching process (network selection and traffic steering) in which a waiting destination or a connection destination is switched between the wireless LAN and the mobile communication network when at least a part of a coverage area of a wireless LAN and a coverage area of the mobile communication network represented by LTE (Long Term Evolution) overlap each other is proposed. Specifically, the switching process is performed depending on whether first information of a mobile communication network side and second information of a wireless LAN side satisfy a first condition and a second condition, respectively.
Examples of the first information of the mobile communication network side include: a measurement result (RSRPmeas) of the level of a received signal (reference signal received power [RSRP]); and a measurement result (RSRQmeas) of the quality of a received signal (reference signal received quality [RSRQ]). Examples of the second information of the wireless LAN side include: a channel utilization value of the wireless LAN; a backhaul value of the wireless LAN; and a signal strength of a received signal (received signal strength indicator [RSSI]).
A radio base station provided in the mobile communication network informs a radio terminal of determination parameters to determine whether a switching process through which a waiting destination or a connection destination is switched between the mobile communication network and the wireless LAN is performed. There are a dedicated parameter of which the radio terminal dedicatedly informed and a broadcast parameter broadcasted to the radio terminal, as the determine parameters.