Perfluorocarbon hydrides, either alone or in combination with other perfluorocarbon compounds, may be introduced into a non-vascular animal space as a contrast agent in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), computed tomography (CT) or conventional x-ray procedures. In the image generated by these systems, the fluorocarbon introduced into the space is contrasted with the remaining body tissues or spaces to distinguish the fluorocarbon-occupied space from other tissues and spaces. Perfluoroctyl hydride vaporizes at body temperature, and its gas phase, which also provides an effective contrast to tissues, is disclosed in imaging areas of comparatively large void volume while using a lower fluorocarbon dose then than required for fluid fluorocarbon. Perfluorocarbon hydrides offer less radiodensity to x-ray imaging and less hydrogen density to MRI imaging, and are disclosed as diluents for perfluorocarbon bromides in applications where concentrated brominated compounds are found to cause imaging artifacts. Perfluorocarbon emulsions comprising a mixture of perfluorocarbon bromide and at least 0.1% perfluorocarbon hydride are disclosed for intravascular use as a contrast agent or for oxygen transport.

The present invention relates to radiological imaging systems, and more particularly to use of a contrast enhancing agent in imaging parts of an animal body according to methods of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), computed tomography (CT), or conventional radiography (X-ray).
Contrast agents are useful adjuncts in radiological imaging procedures because they make it possible to determine the location, size and conformation of organs or other structures of the body in the context of their surrounding tissues.
Cells which make up the tissues of soft non-bony body parts are comprised primarily of water even among parts that differ markedly in shape and structure such as the liver, pancreas and intestine. Radiography procedures of computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging operate on the basis of distinct physical principles, but each detects and maps differences in the composition of a target object; therefore these procedures often fail to provide satisfactory images of contiguous body parts without the aid of a contrast agent. In the diagnosis of disorders of the digestive tract, for example, blockage or abnormalities in the conformation of loops of intestine lying one on the other are difficult to identify unless the section of the gastrointestinal tract is filled with a contrast agent to define volumes and delineate boundaries.
In the conventional radiographic procedure, a beam of x-rays passes through a target object and exposes an underlying photographic film. The developed film then provides a image of the radiodensity pattern of the object. Less radiodense areas produce a greater blackening of the film; more radiodense, bony tissues produce a light image. Effective contrast agents for x-ray may be either less radiodense than body tissues or may be more radiodense. The less radiodense agents comprise air or another gas. For example, a patient may be assisted to swallow air in order to better visualize the upper gastrointestinal tract, or air may be introduced into the ventricles of the brain in procedures to visualize these structures. An example of a more radiodense contrast material is a barium sulfate suspension which is commonly introduced into the bowel prior to radiographic imaging.
Computed tomography (CT) is superior to conventional radiography in its ability to image a succession of thin sections of an object at specific points, lines or planes along the X, Y or Z axis of the target object and to do this with extremely high resolution; but because this procedure is also based on the detection of differences in radiodensity, requirements for contrast agents in computed tomography are identical with those for conventional radiography.
Nuclear magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) systems for body imaging operate on a different physical principle. Literature describing the theoretical and practical use of MRI systems are available from manufacturers such as the General Electric & Co. who market commercial systems. A general reference on the background and theoretical description of the MRI system, the publication entitled "NMR Tomography" by William G. Bradley (1982), is available from Diasonics, Inc., Milpitas, Calif., and is attached hereto as an appendix and incorporated herein for convenience.
In the magnetic resonance imaging systems, advantage is taken of the fact that some atomic nuclei, such as, for example, hydrogen nuclei, have both nuclear spin and nuclear magnetic moment, and therefore can be manipulated by applied magnetic fields. In the customary type of MRI system, a magnetic field is established across a body to align the spin axes of the nuclei of a particular chemical element, usually hydrogen, with the direction of the magnetic field. The aligned, spinning nuclei execute precessional motions around the aligning direction of the magnetic field. For the aligned, spinning nuclei, the frequency at which they precess around the direction of the magnetic field is a function of the particular nucleus which is involved and the magnetic field strength. The selectivity of this precessional frequency with respect to the strength of the applied magnetic field is very sharp and this precessional frequency is considered a resonant frequency.
In a customary MRI system, after alignment or polarization of the selected nuclei, a burst of radio frequency energy at the resonant frequency is radiated at the target body to produce a coherent deflection of the spin alignment of the selected nuclei. When the deflecting radio energy is terminated, the deflected or disturbed spin axes are reoriented or realigned, and in this process radiate a characteristic radio frequency signal which can be detected by an external coil and then discriminated in the MRI system to establish image contrast between different types of tissues in the body. MRI systems have a variety of different excitation and discrimination modes available, such as, for example, free induction decay ("FID"), spin echo, continuous wave, which are known in the art.
Two parameters are used to measure the response of the magnetized sample to a disturbance of its magnetic environment. One is T.sub.1 or "thermal" relaxation time, the time it takes the sample to become magnetized or polarized after being placed in a external magnetic field; the other is T.sub.2, the spin-spin relaxation time, a measure of the time the sample holds a temporary transverse magnetization which is perpendicular to the external magnetic field. Images based on proton density can be modified by these two additional parameters to enhance differences between tissues.
Hydrogen has been usually selected as the basis for MRI scanning because of its abundance in the water content of the body and its prominent magnetic qualities. It is believed that investigations are being conducted to determine if sodium and phosphorous would also be satisfactory as the basis for magnetic resonance imaging.
Contrast agents for MRI must posses a substantially different concentration of the nuclei used as a basis for scanning. In a hydrogen scanning system, an agent substantially lacking hydrogen can be used; in an MRI system which scans for a physiologically minor nucleus, for example, the fluorine nuclei, a substance with a high concentration of that nucleus would provide appropriate contrast.
Contrast agents may be introduced into the body space in various ways depending on the imaging requirement. In the form of liquid suspensions or emulsions they may be placed in the gastrointestinal tract by oral ingestion or by rectum, inserted into bodily spaces like the peritoneal cavity or injected into the vascular system either generally or into the vessels of a specific organ such as the coronary artery.
A suitable contrast agent must be biocompatible, that is non-toxic and chemically stable, not absorbed by the body or reactive with the tissue, and eliminated from the body within a short time. Few satisfactory agents have been developed for MRI. Imaging of the gastrointestinal tract of animals has been enhanced with large doses of mineral oil. (Newhouse, J. R., et al: Abdominal NMR Imaging: Normal Anatomy, Fluid Collections and a New Contrast Agent, presented at 67th Scientific Assembly of RSNA, Chicago, Ill., Nov. 15-20, 1981). Magnesium cations have been used in the study of experimental myocardial infarction, (Rydder G. M.: Clinical NMR Results from Second Nuclear Magnetic Imaging Symposium. Winston-Salem, N.C. 1981 (in press)). Inhaled oxygen can also provide contrast in the heart (Young I. R., et al., Initial Clinical Evaluation of Whole Body NMR Tomograph. J. of Comput. Assist. Tomograph. 6:1-18. February 1982).
lt is known to use perfluorocarbons, including brominated perfluorocarbons, as a contrast enhancement medium in radiological imaging as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,975,512 to Long, the applicant herein. Brominated and other fluorocarbons are known to be safe and biocompatible when used internally in the body. It is also known to use these agents in the context of the MRI procedure to contrast more clearly and more distinctly in MRI-produced images the several body parts which normally have substantially higher water content and which are close or overlaid one on the other.
It is desirable to provide other compounds of this class which can be used even more safely, more efficiently, and more economically. It is therefore an object of the invention to provide contrast agents which are even less readily absorbed by the body and operate in such a manner as to reduce the total amount of material necessary to provide a satisfactory radiological or magnetic resonance image.

Magnetic resonance imaging with perfluorocarbon hydrides


A switching regulator circuit for utilization with power supplies supplying a high DC output current including a plurality of control rectifiers and inductive reactors with sequential gating of the rectifiers at regular intervals for providing overlapped output current pulses from the reactors. An output circuit receives the rippled current comprised of the overlapped output current pulses for reducing the ripple therein. The output circuit includes a choke in series with the output which induces phase shift between the rippled current and the output current. A sensing winding associated with the choke eliminates the phase shift voltage for forming a feedback signal as an input to a control circuit. The control circuit utilizes the feedback signal to control the rate at which the rectifiers are gated sequentially.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to switching regulator power supplies for producing regulated DC power at low voltages and high amperages, and, more particularly, the present invention relates to switching regulator power supplies which are regulated by a control circuit receiving a feedback voltage from the output.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Switching regulator power supplies for producing electric power at regulated DC voltages and high amperages are well known in the art. An example of such a power supply is described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,573,597 issued to Genuit et al on Apr. 6, 1971 and entitled "High Current Switching Regulator with Overlapping Output Current Pulses". Genuit shows and describes a switching regulator circuit which is adapted for operation from an unregulated high voltage DC source. The circuit of Genuit utilizes a plurality of silicon control rectifiers (SCR) and inductive reactors with sequential gating of the rectifiers at regulator intervals for supplying overlapping output current pulses from the reactors to generate high output currents at low voltages with relatively low ripple currents. A standard .pi. filtering network is shown in Genuit which comprises a choke and two filter capacitors. The capacitors are connected at one end to the negative output of the switched apparatus of the switching regulator circuit. The filter capacitors have their other opposite ends connected to the input and output, respectively, of the choke. The choke is connected in series with the positive output of the switched apparatus.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,142,231 issued to Wilson et al on Feb. 27, 1979 and entitled "High Current Low Voltage Liquid Cooled Switching Regulator DC Power Supply", shows and describes a cooling system for a switching regulator circuit. The output of the switching regulator circuit is applied to two plates, one plate being positive, the other opposite plate being negative. The positive and negative plates are liquid cooled to provide the proper operating temperatures for the components.
Both the Wilson and Genuit patents show a control circuit which applies the necessary pulses to the gates of the silicon controlled rectifiers (hereinafter referred to as SCR) to render the SCR conductive. The control circuit as shown in Genuit is connected to the output of the switching regulator circuit for receiving a feedback voltage therefrom. The control circuitry varies the timing of the pulses to the various gates of the SCRs in order to maintain the voltage at the output at the desired level. The prior constructions of switching regulator circuits and more specifically the control units therefor do not utilize a feedback voltage which has the phase shift which is induced in the output by the choke, eliminated therefrom. It has been found to be desirable to eliminate the phase shift induced in the output voltage by the choke from the feedback circuit to the control circuit to provide for greater stability in the output at lower currents.

Switching regulator circuit with phase shift subtraction


The following technical measure is taken to provide a bicycle speed change system or method wherein a speed change operation can be performed substantially without unhanding a handlebar and without erroneously shifting to a lower or higher speed.. Specifically, the bicycle speed change system (1) comprises a front speed shifter (1a), a rear speed shifter (1b), and speed change operation assemblies respectively including cylindrical operation members (4a, 4b) rotatably supported around right and left grip portions (3a, 3b), respectively, of a handlebar (2); each of the shifters being operated by a control cable (T) which is pulled or released by rotating a corresponding one of the cylindrical operation members, wherein each of the cylindrical operation members (4a, 4b) is designed so that rotation thereof in a direction of moving its top surface rearward causes a corresponding one of the shifters (1a, 1b) to shift to a lower speed position.

As shown in FIG. 10, a conventional speed change system for a bicycle provided with a front derailleur a and a rear derailleur b comprises a speed change operation assembly d1 for the front derailleur and another speed change operation assembly d2 for the rear derailleur. Each of the speed change operation assemblies is mounted at a suitable portion of a bicycle such as a handlebar and connected to a corresponding one of the derailleurs a, b by means of a corresponding control cable c1, c2. The derailleurs a, b are activated by operating the respective speed change operation assemblies d1, d2.
Each of the conventional speed change operation assemblies d1 , d2 includes a lever having a base portion rotatably supported on a fixed shaft which is mounted on the bicycle frame or handlebar. The control cable c1 , c2 is wound on the base portion of the lever. When the lever is turned in one direction, the control cable c1, c2 is wound further on a cable winding groove of the lever base portion. On the other hand, when the lever is turned in the opposite direction, the control cable c1, c2 is paid out from the winding groove under the tension applied by a return spring of the derailleur. The axial movement of the control cable is transmitted to the derailleur for actuation.
Such a derailler as shown in FIG. 10 (speed shifter of the external mounting type) is commonly used for laterally pressing a chain relative to a sprocket cluster which includes a plurality of diametrically different sprockets arranged side by side at a predetermined spacing, thereby performing a speed change by shifting the chain into engagement with a desired sprocket.
A rear derailleur, which is provided at the rear wheel, includes a chain guide which rotatably supports a guide pulley and a tension pulley, as disclosed in the Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 63-251388 for example. The chain guide is rotatably supported, via a shift linkage mechanism such as a parallelogram pantograph mechanism, on a link base mounted on the bicycle frame while being urged in a chain tensioning direction. The shift linkage mechanism is deformed by operating a speed change lever assembly connected to the linkage mechanism via a control cable, thereby translating the chain guide, which is carried by a movable member of the shift linkage mechanism, axially of the hub shaft to shift the chain into engagement with a desired sprocket of a multiple freewheel for speed change.
On the other hand, a front derailleur includes a pair of inner and outer guide plates facing each other with the chain interposed therebetween. The pair of guide plates is moved laterally relative to a front gear, which includes a plurality of sprockets arranged side by side, for pressing the chain inward or outward into shifted engagement with a desired sprocket.
The conventional speed change operation assemblies described above are provided at a suitable portion of the handlebar or bicycle frame and may necessitate removing the hand from the handlebar at the time of performing a speed change. During the speed change operation, therefore, it becomes impossible to apply brake quickly, and steering of the bicycle is unavoidably instable since the bicycle must be steered by a single hand.
Meanwhile, a speed changes operation is required usually when the road condition change, for instance, from flat to slope or vice versa. In such a case, the running condition tends to become unstable with greater needs for braking.
In order to solve this problem, Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 58-26693 proposes a so-called rotary-grip type speed change operating assembly which comprises a cylindrical operation member is supported around each grip end portion of a handlebar. The cylindrical operation member is rotationally operated to pull or release a speed change control cable.
The speed change operation assembly described in the above-mentioned publication makes it possible to perform a speed change operation without unhanding the handlebar. The running safety can be greatly improved.
Conventionally, the rear derailleur is designed to move the chain guide laterally inward for bringing the chain into shifted engagement with a lower speed sprocket (larger sprocket) when the control cable is pulled. On the other hand, the front derailleur is designed to move the pair of guide plates laterally outward for bringing the chain into shifted engagement with a higher speed sprocket (larger sprocket) when the control cable is pulled.
Therefore, for simultaneously causing both of the front and rear derailleurs to perform a change to a lower speed, it is necessary to wind the rear derailleur control cable by the relevant speed change operation assembly while paying out the front derailleur control cable from the relevant speed change operation assembly. As a result, it is necessary to turn the respective speed change operation assemblies for the front and rear derailleurs in the opposite directions for simultaneously causing both of the front and rear derailleurs to perform a change to a lower or higher speed.
However, a serious problem arises if such rotary-grip type speed change operation assemblies as disclosed in the above Japanese publication are used in combination with both of the front and rear derailleurs of the bicycle.
Specifically, with the conventional speed change system, the front derailleur is designed to bring the chain into shifted engagement with a higher speed sprocket, namely a larger sprocket, when the control cable is pulled, as described previously. On the other hand, the rear derailleur is designed to bring the chain into shifted engagement with a lower speed sprocket, namely a larger sprocket, when the control cable is pulled. Thus, it is necessary to turn the respective speed change operation assemblies, namely the cylindrical operations members rotatably supported on the handlebar, in the opposite directions for equally causing both of the front and rear derailleurs to perform a change to a lower speed at an abrupt change of the road condition to a steep uphill for instance.
However, it is an extremely unnatural action for the rider to turn the two cylindrical operation members in the opposite directions under the situation where the road condition is changing. Apparently, the rider's both hands gripping the handlebar are subjected to equally directed forces, consequently making it difficult to turn only one of the cylindrical operation members in a direction against the force. As a result, the rider is likely to erroneously turn both of the cylindrical operation members in the same direction, thus failing to perform a quick change to a desired lower speed by causing one derailleur to shift to a higher speed position.
Especially, with mountain bikes designed for off-road riding, a failure in speed change to follow an abrupt change of the road condition can cause a bicycle overturn due to insufficient transmission of a pedalling force to the wheel.

Bicycle speed change system, bicycle speed change method and bicycle speed change operation assembly


A memory cell sensing circuit to sense data from a memory cell includes a reference memory cell coupled to pass a reference current. A sense amplifier has a first input and a second input coupled to a bias circuit of the data memory cell. A first mirror mirrors the reference current to a voltage coupled to the first input of the sense amplifier. A second mirror mirrors the reference current to a voltage coupled to the bias circuit of the data memory cell. A third mirror mirrors the reference current to a voltage coupled to the second input of the sense amplifier through a pass gate.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to sense-amplifier circuits. More particularly, the present invention relates to a fast dynamic mirror sense amplifier with separate comparison, equalization and evaluation paths.
2. The State of the Art
In order to correctly read the data item from a memory cell from a memory matrix, it is known to compare the data item read from the memory matrix cell with the data item read from a reference matrix cell, so as to detect the difference between a programmed cell and an erased cell. For this purpose, memory matrices are usually preset so that a reading of the data item from a memory cell is matched by a reading of an amount of current that flows across a reference matrix cell. The difference between the two readings determines the particular data item read.
A first possible implementation is to use a local reference memory cell for each sense amplifier as illustrated in FIG. 1. Reference memory cell 10 is biased by n-channel MOS transistor 12 in cascode configuration using inverter 14 fed by diode-connected p-channel MOS transistor 16 used as a current source. The current drawn by p-channel MOS transistor 16 is mirrored to p-channel MOS transistor 20, which sources current to matrix memory cell 18 through n-channel MOS transistor 22 in cascode configuration using inverter 24. During an equalization period of timely length, pass gate 26 is enabled and is used to charge the MAT node 28 to the potential of the REF node 30. At the end of the equalization period, pass gate 26 is turned off and the MAT node 28 is allowed to move toward either the power supply potential or ground potential depending on the difference between the reference cell current and the matrix cell current. The sense operation is performed by a comparator 32, having the nodes REF and MAT as its inputs.
The approach of FIG. 1 has the disadvantage of causing disturbs on the REF node, both during the equalization period and the subsequent sense period. At the beginning of the equalization period the MAT node 28 is grounded and, after the pass gate 26 has been enabled, it is directly connected to the REF node 30, whose transient is in this way disturbed. Considering that the gate of the p-channel MOS transistor 20 at REF node 30 is an input of the comparator 32, inevitably, during the evaluation period, the commutation of the output couples a disturb onto it and, consequently, disturbs the reference current.
Moreover having many reference cells is disadvantageous both from the point of view of die area occupation and from the point of view of managing these reference cells during testing operations.
A normal evolution of the system illustrated in FIG. 1 consists of locally repeating the reference cell current for each sense amplifier by using a local current mirror as shown in FIG. 2. The same reference-current-generating structure shown in FIG. 1 is used in the system of FIG. 2, employing reference cell 10, n-channel MOS transistor 12 in cascode with inverter 14 and p-channel MOS transistor current source 16. The current drawn by the reference memory cell 10 is mirrored from p-channel MOS transistor 16 to p-channel MOS mirror transistor 34. Diode-connected n-channel MOS transistor 36 establishes the REF_N voltage.
To eliminate the disturbs during the equalization and the evaluation periods, the circuit of FIG. 2 makes use of additional local current mirrors to generate two reproductions of the REF_P node (EQ_LEV and COMP_LEV) to be used for the equalization and as reference input of the comparator 32. Local current mirror structures 38, 40, and 42 each employ a p-channel MOS transistor (shown as 38-1, 40-1, and 42-1, respectively, in mirror structures 38, 40, and 42) and an n-channel MOS transistor (shown as 38-2, 40-2, and 42-2, respectively, in mirror structures 38, 40, and 42) to generate the signals REF_P, EQ_LEV, and COMP_LEV. P-channel MOS mirror transistor 20 and n-channel MOS transistor 22 cascoded with inverter 24 provide a mirrored current for matrix memory cell 18 as in the circuit of FIG. 1. The EQ_LEV voltage is supplied to the MAT node input to comparator 32 through pass gate 46.
In a system that uses the architectural approach of FIG. 2, the p-channel MOS mirror transistor 38-1 in local current mirror 38 must be set to precisely the reference cell current because, during the evaluation period, the voltage on the node MAT will increase or decrease depending on the difference between the matrix cell current and the current biasing the p-channel MOS mirror transistor 38-1. The EQ_LEV and COMP_LEV signals are obtained in the same way, starting from the reference cell current, using local current mirrors 40 and 42 identical to local current mirror 38 used to generate REF-P signal.
In systems like that shown in FIG. 2, the REF-N node supplies three different subcircuits, multiplied by the number of sense amplifiers, and thus has a very high capacitive load.

Fast dynamic mirror sense amplifier with separate comparison equalization and evaluation paths


An apparatus to identify a replacement of a developing machine comprises a fuse which is disposed at a desired position of the developing machine; a switching part which is disposed at a desired position of a printer body corresponding to the fuse and applies a level of current to the fuse according to a control signal so as to disconnect the fuse; a control unit which outputs a control signal to the switching part so as to check whether the fuse is disconnected when a warming-up operation of a printer is started, and which outputs a control signal to a power controller so as to disconnect the fuse if the fuse is not disconnected and then initializes a printing counter, wherein the developing machine is determined to have been replaced, if the fuse is not disconnected.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to the field of electrophotographic devices, and more particularly to an apparatus and method to recognize when a developing machine is replaced in an electrophotographic apparatus.
2. Description of the Related Art
Generally, in an electrophotographic apparatus such as a copying machine or a laser printer, a photosensitive drum is charged to a high voltage by a high voltage charging roller. Then, an electrostatic latent image is formed on the photosensitive drum by a ray of light from an exposing apparatus such as a laser diode.
At this time, the electrostatic latent image is passed through a developing machine so as to be converted into a visible image formed by toner discharged from the developing machine. The visible image on the photosensitive drum is then transferred to a paper fed by a pickup roller. After the visible image transferred to the paper is thermally fused by heat and pressure of a fixing device, the paper is discharged.
In the laser printer described as above, the developing machine which contains the toner should be replaced after being used for printing a predetermined number of papers. There are two ways for sensing the replacement of the developing machine. One is to provide a separate sensor in the laser printer, to indicate when the developing machine needs to be replaced. However, such a sensor is expensive.
The other way is to continuously count the number of the printed papers after the replacement of the developing machine and to compare the counting number with a printing number corresponding to the life of the developing machine provided by a manufacturer, thereby determining the replacement time of the developing machine. However, in order to identify the replacement time of the developing machine as described above, a counter must be reset. To reset the counter, generally a separate sensor which is expensive should be provided.
In addition to the cost of the sensor itself, the mounting of the separate sensor makes the mechanical construction of the laser printer complicated, and the manufacturing cost is increased.

Apparatus and method to identify replacement of developing machine


Disclosed herein is an anthracene-based organic dye represented by Formula (1):

In the technologies of renewable energy and energy recovery, dye-sensitized photovoltaic cells have a high potential. A photosensitizing dye on a working electrode of a dye-sensitized photovoltaic cell absorbs external optical energy, and electrons contained in the photosensitizing dye are thus excited and effectively injected into a conduction band of a semiconductor of the working electrode and are then conducted from the working electrode to a counter electrode through an external circuit so as to produce a photoelectric current. Therefore, the quality of the photosensitizing dye may affect the photoelectric conversion efficiency of the dye-sensitized photovoltaic cell.
The types of photosensitizing dye commonly used in the dye-sensitized photovoltaic cells include ruthenium complexes, porphyrin derivatives, and organic photosensitizing dyes. The ruthenium complexes have a relatively low molar absorption coefficient in a visible light region, metallic ruthenium is costly and rare, and ruthenium oxides are toxic. Therefore, the application of ruthenium complexes is limited. While porphyrin derivatives have high photoelectric conversion efficiency, the process for the synthesis of porphyrin derivatives is complicated and costly, so that porphyrin derivatives have not yet been commercially used as a photosensitizing dye in the manufacture of dye-sensitized photovoltaic cells.
The organic photosensitizing dyes are relatively simple in terms of chemical structure and synthesis process, and have the advantages of relatively low production cost and no heavy metal pollution as compared to ruthenium complexes and porphyrin derivatives. However, the photoelectric conversion efficiency of organic photosensitizing dyes is generally lower than those of ruthenium complexes and porphyrin derivatives. Therefore, it is an important trend in the field of dye-sensitized photovoltaic cells to develop an organic photosensitizing dye having enhanced photoelectric conversion efficiency.
An article entitled "Cost-Effective Anthryl Dyes for Dye-Sensitized Cells under One Sun and Dim Light" by Chin-Li Wang et al. in The Journal of Physical Chemistry C 2015, 119, 24282-24289 discloses an organic photosensitizing dye represented by Formula A:
wherein
A1 is selected from the group consisting of
and
A2 is selected from the group consisting of

Although the organic photosensitizing dye represented by Formula A may be applied in the dye-sensitized photovoltaic cell, the wavelength range of the light which may be absorbed by the organic photosensitizing dye represented by Formula A is relatively narrow such that the dye-sensitized photovoltaic cell containing the organic photosensitizing dye may not produce a satisfactorily high photoelectric current.
It is thus desirable in the art to develop an organic photosensitizing dye which may absorb visible light over a relatively wide wavelength range.

Abstract: wherein the substituents contained in Formula (1) are as defined herein. The anthracene-based organic dye may be used as a photosensitizer in dye-sensitized solar cells to effectively absorb light having a wavelength range which covers the entire visible light wavelength range and which even expands to a near infrared wavelength range and convert the absorbed light into photoelectric current.


An operator driven, ridable carpet cleaning machine is provided with a pressurized cleaning solution spray applicator located forward of a counter-rotating pair of cylindrical brushes and a pair of articulating vacuum shoes. The pressurized spray enables the delivery of sufficient cleaning solution, with agitation of the soft, carpeted surface enhanced by the counter-rotating brushes. Articulation of the vacuum shoes enables them to remain in close contact with the carpeting, maximizing the removal of the applied cleaning solution.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to cleaning and dusting apparatus and, more particularly, to self-propelled power driven scrubbing machines. More specifically, the present invention relates to a propelled rider scrubber for carpeted surfaces that cleans by applying a cleaning solution, scrubbing the wetted carpet, and extracting dirt and moisture from the treated carpet.
2. Description of the Prior Art
First impressions are important, and for most commercial establishments the floor is the first surface noticed by most visitors and guests. "If your floors shine, your facility shines" is a phrase that particularly applies to the hospitality industry. The "cast" of cleaners at Disneyland and its companion Disney California Adventure must service hundred of areas and buildings, in addition to 400,000 square feet of sidewalks. It is a task that keeps 1,100 employees busy day and night.
Hotels, casinos, exhibition halls, and airports have an even more difficult task. Many are open 24/7/365, with regular traffic in nearly all areas of the facility, from both guests and staff. A visit to almost any Las Vegas casino late at night will find employees polishing floors and tending to carpets. Entrance carpeting is often extracted daily to maintain a bright, like-new appearance. Convention areas have become ever more important revenue sources, and present myriad cleaning problems. In addition to high levels of foot traffic, conventions require exhibit and meeting room set up and teardown. In busy convention centers, banquets run breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
Just as dust and grit are the bane of polished hard floors, their removal from carpeting is essential to good looks and long carpet life. In addition to a daily spot removal regimen, a balanced carpet-cleaning program includes frequent vacuuming to remove surface soils in high traffic areas, and less frequent deep cleaning to remove adhered and accumulated soiling not touched by the other removal techniques.
From a health standpoint, deep soil removal on a regular basis would seem far better than interim spot-removal and surface vacuuming. Additionally, such treatment would maintain the carpeting in a like-new condition for a far longer period of time, as well as decreasing the other problems associated with carpet contaminants. For reasons of both cost and convenience, the general trend is away from the deep cleaning wet system in medium and large facilities.
The main expense in floor care maintenance is the cost of labor, which may amount to over 90% of an operational budget. Presently available deep cleaning/wet systems can treat at most 400–500 square feet per hour over an eight-hour shift. This pace translates into a labor cost that cannot compete with the more superficial interim methods, such as absorbent pad cleaning or dry foam extraction.
The higher speed cleaning processes are also usually low-moisture systems. For areas requiring a rapid "turn," such systems offer the advantage of rapid drying. With some venues having foot traffic 24 hours a day, rapid drying is essential to full facility utilization. A need exists to provide fully utilized facilities with the ability to deeply clean carpeted surfaces at a more rapid rate than is presently provided while also extracting a greater amount of moisture to effect a more rapid drying than has previously been possible when deep cleaning.


The present disclosure relates to a rack assist type power steering apparatus that includes: a ball nut that is rotated by the rotating force transmitted from a motor and has an internal screw groove formed in the inner circumferential surface thereof; and a rack bar that has an external-screw-groove-formed part that has an external screw groove formed in the outer circumferential surface thereof, and is coupled with the ball nut by a ball, wherein the external screw groove has a first curved portion and a second curved portion connected to each other, and is formed such that a contact angle formed by a line that is normal to a tangent line at a point where the ball makes contact with the first curved portion and a line that is normal to a tangent line at a point where the ball makes contact with the second curved portion gradually decreases from the central portion toward opposite end portions of the external-screw-groove-formed part, thereby reducing friction generated when the ball performs a rolling motion in the middle of the external screw groove that is formed in the rack bar and distributing the load acting on the ball in the opposite end portions of the external screw groove that is formed in the rack bar.

1. Field of the invention
The present invention relates to a rack assist type power steering apparatus, and more specifically, to a rack assist type power steering apparatus in which: a central portion of an external-screw-groove-formed part of a rack bar, which slides leftward and rightward according to a driver's steering, can reduce a friction generated between balls and an external screw groove, thereby reducing noise and effectively transmitting the power of a motor to the rack bar; and opposite end portions of the external-screw-groove-formed part of the rack bar can reduce the loads that are applied to the balls by virtue of a vertical load to prevent damage to the balls and improve the durability of the balls, thereby reducing the loads applied to the balls while decreasing the friction with the balls in the external-screw-groove-formed part of the rack bar.
2. Description of the Prior Art
FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a rack assist type power steering apparatus in the related art. FIG. 2 is a schematic sectional view illustrating a part of the rack assist type power steering apparatus in the related art.
As illustrated in the drawings, the rack assist type power steering apparatus in the related art includes: a driving unit 120 that is controlled by an electronic control unit (ECU) to generate power, the electronic control unit (ECU) determining the degree to which a steering wheel 113 is turned through a torque sensor 111 that is mounted on the upper end of a steering column 110; a rack bar 130 that moves tie rods 133, which are connected to wheels 131, according to the degree to which the steering wheel 113 is turned; and a driven unit 140 that receives the rotating force of the driving unit 120, converts the received rotating force into an axial moving force, and transmits the axial moving force to the rack bar 130.
Here, the driving unit 120 includes: an electric motor 121 that is controlled by the electronic control unit (ECU); a driving pulley 123 secured to the shaft of the electric motor 121; and a driving belt 125 wound around the driving pulley 123.
Further, the driven unit 140 includes: a ball nut 141 that is provided within a rack housing, which surrounds the rack bar 130, and supports the rack bar 130; and a driven pulley 143 coupled to the outer circumferential surface of the ball nut 141.
The driving pulley 123 connected to the shaft of the electric motor 121 and the driven pulley 143 coupled to the ball nut 141 are arranged parallel to each other, and the driving belt 125 is coupled to the driving pulley 123 and the driven pulley 143 to transmit the rotating force of the electric motor 121 to the rack bar 130. The rack bar 130 is moved leftward and rightward by the operation of the ball nut 141 to generate an assist force.
An internal helical screw groove 201 that has a Gothic arc shaped cross-section is formed in the inner circumferential surface of the ball nut 141, and an external helical screw groove 203 that has a Gothic arc shaped cross-section is formed in the outer circumferential surface of the rack bar 130. Balls 210 are inserted between the internal screw groove 201 and the external screw groove 203. The balls 210 move by rolling while making contact with the internal screw groove 201 and the external screw groove 203, and circulate through an intermediate passage 205 that is formed by the ball nut 141 and end caps 220 coupled to opposite inner sides of the ball nut 141, respectively.
Meanwhile, a central portion of the external-screw-groove-formed part of the rack bar, which slides leftward and rightward according to a driver's steering, frequently contacts the balls, which increases friction, causes noise, and precludes the power of the motor from being effectively transmitted to the rack bar.
Further, when a driver steers to the maximum, opposite ends of the external-screw-groove-formed part of the rack bar move into the ball nut, and the varying angles of the tie rods increase accordingly so that the loads applied to the opposite ends of the rack bar become larger. Due to this, the loads applied to the balls increase, thereby causing scratches on the balls and deteriorating the durability of the balls.

Rack assist type power steering apparatus


The present invention relates to a method of identifying a candidate therapeutic agent. The method comprises contacting a G-Protein Coupled Receptor (GPCR) with a compound of General Formula (I), or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof

The drug discovery landscape has been transformed by the genomics revolution. Advances in the understanding of biomolecular pathways and the roles they play in disease will lead to vast numbers of targets for therapeutic intervention. GPCRs represent the most important collection of therapeutic targets available.
GPCRs are proteins that tranduce signals across a cell membrane. They consist of a single polypeptide chain that threads back and forth seven times across the phospholipid bilayer that forms the cell membrane. The polypeptide chain has a portion inside the cell which form a G-protein coupling domain, and a receptor portion outside or in the cell wall. A signal molecule interacts with the receptor which sends the signal through the membrane wall and the signal causes the G-protein coupling domain to interact with a G protein.
Over 50% of marketed drugs target GPCRs. Whilst the druggable extent of GPCRs numbers some 450 receptors only some 200 GPCRS have been matched with their ligands. Orphan receptors suitable for drug targeting may therefore number in excess of 200 receptors. These are receptors with less than approximately 45% sequence identity to known GPCRs for which ligands have not been identified.
The targets of current GPCR drugs include, pain and inflammation, cancer, metabolic and gastrointestinal, cardiovascular and central nervous system disorders.
There is a continuing demand for new therapeutics, especially as our understanding of biological processes expands from the genomics revolution. The aforementioned GPCRs are suitable targets for therapeutic intervention due to their roles in such disorders as cancers, obesity and erectile dysfunction.
Considering the rate of generation and nature of the targets currently being deconvoluted by biologists, there is a need for the development of drug candidates, designed in a rational manner to purposely interact with selected targets, such as the GPCRs.
From a drug discovery perspective, carbohydrate pyranose and furanose rings and their derivatives are well suited as templates. Each sugar represents a three-dimensional scaffold to which a variety of substituents can be attached, usually via a scaffold hydroxyl group, although occasionally a scaffold carboxyl or amino group may be present for substitution. By varying the substituents, their relative position on the sugar scaffold, and the type of sugar to which the substituents are coupled, numerous highly diverse structures are obtainable.
An important feature to note with carbohydrates, is that molecular diversity is achieved not only in the type of substituents, but also in the three dimensional presentation. The different stereoisomers of carbohydrates that occur naturally, offer the inherent structural advantage of providing alternative presentation of substituents.
Employing a related methodology, Hirschmann et al (Hirschmann, R., et. al., J. Am. Chem. Soc., 1992, 114, 9217-9218, U.S. Pat. No. 5,552,534, WO 97/28172, WO 95/11686) synthesised several compounds designed as somatostatin analogues and integrin binders. The methodology employed by Hirschmann relied on protracted, linear, non-combinatorial syntheses, employed exclusively non-aminated pyranoses, and did not exploit any epimerisation chemistry to allow greater access to structural diversity. Consequently, these compounds and methods are manifestly distinct from this present invention.
We have developed a system that allows the chemical synthesis of highly structurally and functionally diverse derivatised carbohydrate and tetrahydropyran structures, of both natural and unnatural origin. The diversity accessible is particularly augmented by the juxtaposition of both structural and functional aspects of the molecules.
Using the axioms of this drug discovery methodology, we synthesised several novel classes of chemotypes in an effort to develop drug candidates against GPCR targets.

Classes of compounds that interact with GPCRs

Abstract: determining whether the compound inhibits or effects signal transduction activity of the GPCR, wherein a compound that inhibits or effects the activity of the GPCR is a candidate therapeutic agent.


A plasma display device to generate a stable reset discharge and to reduce background luminance and a method of driving the same. The plasma display device produces images by dividing the frames of displayed images into a plurality of sub-fields, which include a reset period, an address period, and a sustain period. The method includes: supplying a first main reset pulse in the reset period of ith frames (where, i is natural number); and supplying second and third main reset pulses in reset periods of (i+1)th frames, which are alternatively produced with the ith frames. The first main reset pulse having a different voltage than the second and third main reset pulses.

1. Field of the Invention
Aspects of the present invention relate to a plasma display device and a method of driving the same.
2. Description of Related Art
A plasma display device is a display device that uses a plasma display panel (PDP) generally includes a plurality of light emitting cells disposed in a matrix.
The PDP is driven by dividing a frame, for displaying a single image, into several sub-fields. Different gradation weights can be allocated to the subfields. The subfields are selectively operated to set the visual brightness (gradation) for each cell of the PDP. Each sub-field is divided into a reset (initialization) period, an address (write) period, for selecting light emitting cells and non-light emitting cells, and a sustain (display) period, for sustaining a discharge of the light emitting cells to display an image. Further, the gradation of the image is determined, by combining the weight of each of the sub-fields, during which the cells emit light.
The reset periods can be classified as main reset periods and sub-reset periods, depending on the duration and/or intensity of a reset pulse applied during the period. The main reset periods generally have a longer duration and/or higher voltage reset pulse than the sub-reset periods. When one frame includes sub-fields having main reset periods and sub-reset periods, black luminance (background luminance) may be relatively reduced, but the reset discharges may be unstable.
When a frame includes at least two sub-fields having main reset periods, and other sub-fields having sub-reset periods, the reset discharge may be stably generated. However, since the reset discharge occurs twice, the amount of light generated becomes relatively large, and the black luminance level becomes relatively high, interfering with dark room viewing.

Plasma display device and method of driving the same


Isolated non-naturally occurring populations of spermatozoa (15) having high purity and technologies to differentiate spermatozoa (28) based on characteristics such as mass, volume, orientation, or emitted light including methods of analysis and apparatus such as beam shaping optics (30) and detectors (32).

Isolated high purity X-chromosome bearing or Y-chromosome bearing populations of spermatozoa can be utilized to accomplish in vitro or in vivo artificial insemination of or fertilization of ova or oocytes of numerous mammals such as bovids, equids, ovids, goats, swine, dogs, cats, camels, elephants, oxen, buffalo, or the like. See also, U.S. Pat. No. 5,135,759, hereby incorporated by reference.
However, conventional technologies for separating spermatozoa into X-chromosome bearing and Y-chromosome bearing populations can result in spermatozoa populations having low purity. Regardless of the separation method spermatozoa have not been routinely separated into X-chromosome bearing and to Y-chromosome bearing sperm samples having high purity, such as 90%, 95%, or greater than 95%.
A number of techniques, directly or indirectly based on differences in size, mass, or density have been disclosed with respect to separating X-chromosome bearing from Y-chromosome bearing spermatozoa As disclosed by U.S. Pat. No. 4,474,875, a buoyant force is applied to all sperm cells simultaneously and X-chromosome bearing and Y-chromosome bearing spermatozoa may then be isolated at different locations in the separation medium. U.S. Pat. No. 5,514,537 discloses a technique whereby spermatozoa traverse a column packed with two sizes of beads. The larger X-chromosome bearing spermatozoa become isolated in the layer containing the larger beads, while the smaller Y-chromosome bearing spermatozoa become isolated in the layer containing the smaller beads. U.S. Pat. No. 4,605,558 discloses that spermatozoa may be made differentially responsive to a density gradient and U.S. Pat. No. 4,009,260 exploits the differences in migration-rate, or swimming-speed, between the Y-bearing spermatozoa, and the X-chromosome bearing spermatozoa, through a column of retarding medium.
A problem common to each of the above-mentioned technologies may be that they each act on all the spermatozoa in a 'bulk-manner', meaning that all the spermatozoa undergo the same treatment at the same time, and the Y-chromosome bearing sperm cells come out faster, earlier, or at a different position than X-chromosome bearing sperm cells. As such, individual sperm cells may not be assessed and there may be no actual 'measurement' of volume, mass, density, or other sperm cell characteristics. One-by-one assessment of sperm cells can provide advantages in that the actual separation process can be monitored, and objective quantitative data can be generated even during the separation process, and separation parameters altered as desired. Furthermore, these technologies may not be coupled with flow cell sorting devices.
Flow cytometer techniques for the separation of spermatozoa have also been disclosed. Using these techniques spermatozoa may be stained with a fluorochrome and made to flow in a narrow stream or band passing by an excitation or irradiation source such as a laser beam. As stained particles or cells pass through the excitation or irradiation source, the fluorochrome emits fluorescent light. The fluorescent light may be collected by an optical lens assembly, focused on a detector, such as a photomultiplier tube which generates and multiplies an electronic signal, which may then be analyzed by an analyzer. The data can then be displayed as multiple or single parameter chromatograms or histograms. The number of cells and fluorescence per cell may be used as coordinates. See U.S. Pat. No. 5,135,759, hereby incorporated by reference. However, with respect to this type of technology a variety of problems remain unresolved and isolating highly purified populations of X-chromosome bearing or Y-chromosome bearing sperm cells be difficult.
A significant problem with conventional flow cytometer technologies can be the orientation of objects, particles, or cells in the sheath fluid stream. This can be particularly problematic when the object or cell is irregular in shape with respect to more than one axis, such spermatozoa for example. One aspect of this problem may be establishing the initial orientation of the object within the sheath fluid stream. A second aspect of this problem may be maintaining the orientation of the object with respect to the detector (photomultiplier tube or otherwise) during the period that emitted light from the object is measured.
Another significant problem with conventional flow cytometer technologies can be the failure to encapsulate the objects or cells in a droplet of liquid. Especially, when droplets are formed around irregularly shaped objects the droplet may not be of sufficient size to completely surround all the features of the objects or cells. For example, during flow cytometry operation as above-described droplets can be formed at very high speed, even as many as 10,000 to 90,000 droplets per second and in some applications as many as 80,000 droplets per second. When spermatozoa are encapsulated into droplets, especially at these high rates of speed, a portion of the tail or neck may not be encapsulated in the droplet. That portion of the tail or neck not encapsulated in the droplet may then be responsive with the nozzle or may be responsive to the environment surrounding the droplet in a manner that interferes with subsequent droplet formation or with proper deflection of the droplet. As a result some of the spermatozoa may not be analyzed at all reducing the efficiency of the procedure, or may not be resolved sufficiently to be assigned to a population, or may be deflected in errant trajectories, or a combination of all may occur.
Another significant problem with conventional flow cytometer technologies, as well as other technologies, can be a coincidence of measurable events. One aspect of this problem can be that the incident light flux from a first event continues to produce signals after the incident light flux from a second event starts to generate a signal. As such, the two events remain at least partially unresolved from one another. Another aspect of this problem can be that two or more events are simultaneously initiated and the incident light flux comprises the contribution of all the events. As such, the multiplicity of events may not be resolved at all and the objects corresponding to the multiplicity of events can be incorrectly assigned to a population or not assigned to a population at all, or both. Specifically, with respect to flow cytometry, individual particles, objects, cells, or spermatozoa in suspension flow through a beam of light with which they interact providing a measurable response, such as fluorescent emission. In conventional flow cytometry, Hoechst stained spermatozoa traverse a laser beam resulting in a fluorescent light emission. The fluorescent light emission from the excited fluorochrome bound to the DNA can be bright enough to produce an electron flow in conventional photomultiplier tubes for a period of time after the actual emission event has ended. Moreover, in a conventional flow cytometer, the laser beam can produce a pattern having a height of 30 μm while the width can be approximately 80 μm. The nucleus of a bovine spermatozoa which contains fluorochrome bound DNA can be about 9 μm in length making the height of the laser beam some three (3) times greater than the nucleus. This difference can allow for the laser excitation of the bound fluorochrome in more than one spermatozoa within the laser beam pattern at one time. Each of these conventional flow cytometry problems decreases the ability to resolve individual events from one another.
Another significant problem with conventional flow cytometer technologies, and other technologies, can be that irregularly shaped objects, such as spermatozoa, generate differing signals (shape, duration, or amount) depending on their orientation within the excitation/detection path. As such, individuals within a homogenous population can generate a broad spectrum of emission characteristics that may overlap with the emission characteristics of individuals from another homogenous population obviating or reducing the ability to resolve the individuals of the two populations.
Another significant problem with conventional flow cytometer technologies, and other technologies, can be that objects are not uniformly exposed to the excitation source. Conventional beam shaping optics may not provide uniform exposure to laser light when the objects are close to the periphery of the beam.
Another significant problem with conventional flow cytometer technologies can be that objects, such as spermatozoa, can be exposed to the excitation source for unnecessarily long periods of time. Irradiation of cells, such as spermatozoa, with laser light may result in damage to the cells or to the DNA contained within them.
Another significant problem with conventional flow cytometer technologies can be that there may be a disruption of the laminar flow within the nozzle by the injection tube. Disruption of the laminar flow can change the orientation of irregularly shaped objects within the flow and lower the speed of sorting and the purity of the sorted populations of X-chromosome bearing sperm or Y-chromosome bearing spermatozoa.
There may be additional problems with technologies that utilize stain bound to the nuclear DNA of sperm cells. First, because the DNA in the nucleus is highly condensed and flat in shape, stoichiometric staining of the DNA may be difficult or impossible. Second, stained nuclei may have a high index of refraction. Third, stain bound to the DNA to form a DNA-stain complex may reduce fertilization rates or the viability of the subsequent embryos. Fourth, the DNA-stain complex is typically irradiated with ultra-violet light to cause the stain to fluoresce. This irradiation may affect the viability of the spermatozoa. Due to these various problems, it may be preferable to use a method that requires less or no stain, or less or no ultra-violet radiation, or less or none of both.
With respect to generating high purity samples of X-chromosome bearing sperm cell or Y-chromosome bearing sperm cell populations (whether live, fixed, viable, non-viable, intact, tailless, or as nuclei), or generally, with respect to detecting small differences in photo-generated signal between serial events having relatively high incident light flux, or with respect to orienting irregularly shaped objects in a fluid stream, or eliminating coincident events within an optical path, or removing undesirably oriented objects from analysis, the instant invention addresses every one of the above-mentioned problems in a practical fashion.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Method for producing high purity X-chromosome bearing and Y-chromosome bearing populations of spermatozoa


A device (10) for compressing a closure assembly (82) and an O-ring (80) within a control rod drive mechanism for a nuclear reactor in order to seal same. The device (10) applies a predetermined compressive force to the closure assembly (82) and O-ring (80) and has incorporated therein an angularly movable sleeve (18) which engages a lock nut (98) and threadably advances same within the control rod drive mechanism so as to engage the closure assembly (82) and apply the predetermined compressive force to assembly (82) and O-ring (80). After depressurization, lock nut (98) retains closure assembly (82) and O-ring (80) within the control rod drive mechanism by a predetermined residual compressive force.

Control rod drive mechanisms for nuclear reactors typically require O-ring means for sealing the top closure, and these O-rings typically require the application of a predetermined amount of compressive force to seal properly. The conventional approach for applying this predetermined compressive force is by means of six jacking bolts evenly spaced on a bolt circle so as to apply an evenly distributed compressive force to the O-ring. When jacking bolts are used, it is necessary to torque the jacking bolts to a predetermined total torque in predetermined torque increments resulting in a multiplicity of torquing operations. Such torquing operations are very time consuming and the related apparatus, viz., jacking bolts and the abutment device for retaining same, is expensive. In addition, the cleaning and lubrication of the jacking bolts, which is required each time the closure assembly is removed, is a very time consuming operation.
Because of this it has been desirable to develop a device that evenly compresses the subject O-ring with a predetermined compressive force and permits retention of the O-ring in a compressed state after the device has been removed from the control rod drive mechanism.

Control rod drive mechanism closure device


An organic electroluminescent element including a substrate, a pair of electrodes including an anode and a cathode, disposed on the substrate, and at least one organic layer including a light emitting layer, disposed between the electrodes, in which a compound represented by the following formula (I) is contained in any layer of the at least one organic layer. The organic electroluminescent element has high luminous efficiency and a strong effect of improving the durability by driving aging:

Organic electroluminescent elements (which may hereinafter also be referred to as "elements" or "organic EL elements") are light emitting elements which have organic layers between a pair of electrodes, and utilize, for light emitting, energy of the exciton generated as a result of recombination of electrons injected from a cathode and holes injected from an anode in the organic layer. Since the organic electroluminescent elements are capable of high-luminance light emitting at a low voltage, have a high response speed, and are relatively thin and light-weight, it is expected that the element can be employed in a wide range of applications, and the elements have been actively researched and developed. Above all, it is important to develop an organic electroluminescent element having high luminous efficiency and good durability in applications with displays, and the like, and the results of studies on various research and development have been reported.
For example, PTL 1 describes that it is possible to attain a longer service life in the blue region of an element, using a material in which a ring is formed with a single bond and a methylene chain with respect to a fused ring structure such as pyrene as a fluorescent material. This literature exemplifies several compounds in which 2-aryl pyrene is fused with a pyrene skeleton via a methylene chain are exemplified, but only the evaluation of 1-aryl pyrene has been conducted in Examples.
PTL 2 describes that a compound in which 2-aryl pyrene is fused with a pyrene skeleton via a methylene chain or a nitrogen atom linking group can be used as a material for a hole transporting layer, a light emitting layer, or an electron transporting layer of an organic electroluminescent element, or the like, and it is thus possible to achieve higher efficiency and a longer service life.
In addition, PTL 3 describes examples of a compound in which the 1-position and the 2-position of pyrene are fused, and further describes that when the compound is used as alight emitting material, a host compound, or the like of an organic electroluminescent element, the durability during storage and driving is excellent and the characteristics of high efficiency, low voltage, and high luminance are exhibited.

Organic electroluminescent element, material for organic electroluminescent element, and light emitting device, display device and lighting device each using organic electroluminscent element

Abstract: wherein X, A1, A2, A3, A4, and R1 to R8 are as defined herein.


A new and improved thigh and leg alignment apparatus includes a pants assembly which includes a first inner thigh portion adapted to be located above a wearer's knee when the pants assembly is worn. A first leg portion is adapted to be located below a wearer's knee when the pants assembly is worn. Also, the pants assembly includes a second inner thigh portion adapted to be located above a wearer's knee when the pants assembly is worn; and a second leg portion is adapted to be located below a wearer's knee when the pants assembly is worn. The first inner thigh portion is opposed to the second inner thigh portion, and the first leg portion is opposed to the second leg portion. A first inner thigh pocket is connected to the first inner thigh portion of the pants assembly, and a first inner thigh cushion is placed in the first inner thigh pocket. A second inner thigh pocket is connected to the second inner thigh portion of the pants assembly, and a second inner thigh cushion is placed in the second inner thigh pocket. A first inner leg pocket is connected to the first leg portion of the pants assembly, and a first inner leg cushion placed in the first inner leg pocket. A second inner leg pocket is connected to the second leg portion of the pants assembly, and a second inner leg cushion is placed in the second inner leg pocket.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to devices for aiding proper alignment of body parts, and, more particularly, to devices especially adapted for properly aligning a person's legs.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Backaches are a pervasive health problem that affects millions of people at one time or another. The causes of backaches are varied, but one cause that affects many people is a misalignment of the spine. Misalignment of the spine may be exacerbated during a person's sleeping hours when various sleeping positions may contribute to spine misalignment. In this respect, it would be desirable if a device were provided that assists in the alignment of the spine when a person is sleeping.
Doctors, chiropractors, and other medical personnel often recommend that a person sleep with a conventional pillow between their legs to assist in spine alignment. The pillow serves as a thick shim to provide a space between the legs. In addition, to keep the pillow between the legs, the legs must be maintained, in a proper alignment. Although a person may begin a night's sleep with a pillow between one's legs, during the night, as a result of tossing and turning, the pillow is often displaced from its position between the legs. In this respect, it would be desirable if a device were provided which furnishes a thick shim to provide a space between a person's legs without being displaced by a person's tossing; and turning during a night's sleep.
A person's lower appendage includes a thigh, a knee, a leg and a foot. Of greatest importance in assisting in keeping a spine in proper alignment are the thigh and the leg. Of course the knee bends between the thigh and the leg. In this respect, it would be desirable if a device were provided that keeps opposite thighs properly spaced apart, that keeps opposite legs properly spaced apart, and that permits opposite knees to bend.
People vary considerably in their body dimensions. In this respect, it would be desirable if a thigh and leg alignment apparatus were provided that is adaptable to people of different sizes and dimensions.
Many people, when they go to sleep, wear sleepwear, such as pajamas. If a thigh and leg alignment apparatus is employed, it would be desirable if the thigh and leg alignment apparatus could be incorporated into sleepwear. If this were done, then employing the thigh and leg alignment apparatus would not be a strange and foreign task. In this respect, it would be desirable if a thigh and leg alignment apparatus were provided that is incorporated in sleepwear such as pajamas.
When placed between a person's thighs and legs, a conventional pillow provides a soft cushion between the thighs and legs. Pillows vary quite a bit in their composition. Some include feathers; some include artificial foam. Some pillows are inflatable and include air as the cushioning substance. In this respect, it would be desirable if a thigh and leg alignment apparatus can include a variety of cushioning materials.
During a night's sleep, people often get up and get out of bed for a number of reasons and then return to bed. In this respect, it would be desirable if a thigh and leg alignment device were provided which is readily reemployed after a person returns to bed during the night.
During a night's sleep, as a person tosses and turns, a thigh and leg alignment apparatus may be moved out of alignment. Even so, the device should not have sharp edges and be uncomfortable so as to cause the wearer to be awakened from slumber. In this respect, it would be desirable if a thigh and leg alignment device were provided which has a low profile and soft edges so as not to cause a wearer's discomfort if the device is placed out of alignment.
With a thigh and leg alignment apparatus in the form of sleepwear, it is important that the sleepwear be readily launderable. In this respect, the cushions may be readily removed from the sleepwear, and the sleepwear may be laundered without the cushions. Afterwards, the cushions can be placed back in the sleepwear. Optionally, the cushions also may be launderable.
Pajamas may be made from a wide variety of fabrics, and many persons may have preferences of one fabric over another. A person may even have a favorite pair of pajamas that one would not like to give up using in order to employ a thigh and leg alignment apparatus. In this respect, it would be desirable if conventional pajamas could be retrofitted to become a thigh and leg alignment apparatus.
It may be of interest that, throughout the years, a number of innovations have been developed relating to protecting knees from trauma, and the following U.S. patents are representative of some of those innovations: U.S. Pat. No. 3,559,211; 4,876,745; 4,914,753; 5,077,837; and U.S. Pat. Des. Nos. 311,791. None of the devices disclosed in these cited patents are disclosed as being suitable for thigh and leg alignment of opposite thighs and legs as a person sleeps.
Thus, while the foregoing body of prior art indicates it to be well known to use a conventional pillow to align a person's thighs and legs, the prior art described above does not teach or suggest a thigh and leg alignment apparatus which has the following combination of desirable features: (1) assists in the alignment of the spine when a person is sleeping; (2) furnishes a thick shim to provide a space between a person's thighs and legs without being displaced by a person's tossing and turning during a night's sleep; (3) keeps opposite thighs properly spaced apart, keeps opposite legs properly spaced apart, and permits opposite knees to bend; (4) is adaptable to people of different sizes and dimensions; (5) is incorporated in sleepwear such as pajamas; (6) can include a variety of cushioning materials; (7) is readily reemployed after a person gets out of bed and returns to bed during the night; (8) has a low profile and soft edges so as not to cause a wearer's discomfort if the device is placed out of alignment; (9) employs cushions that may be readily removed from the sleepwear so that the sleepwear may be laundered without the cushions; and (10) permits conventional pajamas to be retrofitted to become a thigh and leg alignment apparatus. The foregoing desired characteristics are provided by the unique thigh and leg alignment apparatus of the present invention as will be made apparent from the following description thereof. Other advantages of the present invention over the prior art also will be rendered evident.


A dressing with a pad to be applied to a wound and consisting of a flexible, capillary-active material and stiffening elements. The stiffening elements extend at right angles to the flat side of the pad to be applied to the wound and are arranged to stabilize the volume of the pad such that it can absorb a predeterminable amount of fluid, and to counteract and distribute forces acting on the pad. To form an occlusive dressing, the pad can be enclosed in a cover of vapor-permeable, plastic film having a perforated portion on the flat side of the pad facing the wound.

The present invention relates to a dressing with a pad made of a flexible, capillary-active material, intended to be applied to a wound.
Dressings are used for treating e.g. surgical wounds, open wounds and portions of the skin subjected to pressure. Dressings ready for use are adapted to these applications and fulfil the following functions to a varying degree.

Dressing having pad with compressibility limiting elements


A flux transfer shunt trip actuator has an elongated seat member extending between the legs of a U-shaped magnetically permeable frame member. A plunger is magnetically latched against the seat formed by the seat member in a retracted position by permanent magnets positioned adjacent the seat. The field generated by permanent magnets produces a latching force which exceeds a bias force generated by a helical compression spring extending along the elongated seat member and biasing the plunger toward an actuated position spaced from the seat. A coil surrounding the elongated seat member and the spring, generates an electromagnetic field when energized which bucks the permanent magnet field so that the plunger is driven to the actuated position by the spring. Preload on the spring is adjusted by an adjusting member positioned along a threaded shaft coaxial with the spring and extending from the bight of the U-shaped frame in the opposite direction from the pair of legs of the frame. A pair of opposed cylindrical sections project from the adjusting member through the bight and bear against the spring.

Field of the Invention
This invention relates to actuators for electrically operating switches in electric power circuits, and to electric power switches incorporating such actuators. The actuator is a flux transfer shunt trip actuator in which a coil is pulsed to generate a field which bucks the holding force generated by permanent magnets so that the spring drives the actuator to an actuated position to trip the operating mechanism of the electric power switch. More particularly, it relates to an arrangement for adjusting the response of the flux transfer shunt trip actuator.
Background Information
Electric power switches, such as for example, circuit breakers, transfers switches, network protectors, disconnects, and the like, typically have a stored energy powered operating mechanism that is tripped to rapidly open the power contacts of the switch. It is common to have electrically actuated devices actuating or tripping the operating mechanism. Even in the case of a circuit breaker with a thermal-magnetic trip unit, an electrically actuated device is often also provided to alternatively actuate the operating mechanism from a remote location or for other conditions, such as under voltage, loss of phase, or off frequency. In many cases, an electronic trip circuit is used instead of a thermal-magnetic mechanism for overcurrent protection.
It is becoming wide spread for the electronic circuits now used to actuate these trip devices to generate logic levels signals which have insufficient energy to actuate solenoids previously used for these purposes. A low energy device which has been developed to trip the operating mechanism of an electric power switch in response to logic level signals, is the flux transfer shunt trip actuator. These devices utilize a spring to bias a plunger to an actuated position. Permanent magnets generate sufficient magnetic force to override the actuating force generated by this spring and hold the plunger in an unactuated, typically a retracted, position. The actuating signal is applied to a coil to generate an electromagnetic force which bucks the force generated by the permanent magnets. With the permanent magnet field at least partially cancelled, the spring actuates the plunger. A short duration pulse applied to the coil is sufficient to actuate the plunger and trip the operating mechanism of the switch.
While these flux transfer shunt trip devices are very effective, slight variations in the strength of the magnets, springs, or even plating thicknesses can affect the current required to release the plunger. U.S. Pat. No. 5,886,605 discloses a flux transfer shunt trip actuator which incorporates an arrangement for calibrating the device. In this patented actuator, the spring biasing the plunger to the tripped position is mounted inside the cylindrical plunger. A screw threaded into the free end of the plunger bears against the spring to adjust the spring preload. While this is effective for calibrating the device, it results in changing the effective length of the plunger, and therefore, varies the spacing between the plunger and a trip button on the operating mechanism of the electric power switch.
Accordingly, there is room for improvement in flux transfer shunt trip actuators and electric power switch incorporating them.
In fact, there is a need for a flux transfer shunt trip actuator and an electric power switch incorporating such an actuator, which provides an improved arrangement for calibrating the actuator.
More particularly, there is a need for such an actuator and electric power switch incorporating the actuator, in which the actuator can be calibrated without affecting the spacing between the actuator plunger and the operating mechanism of the electric power switch.
There is a more specific need, for an improved flux transfer shunt trip device and an electric power switch incorporating the actuator, in which the preload on a spring biasing the actuator plunger can be adjusted without affecting the positioning or length of the plunger.

Adjustable flux transfer shunt trip actuator and electric power switch incorporating same


This application proposes a solution that makes access to the Optical Link State (OLS) information more efficient for use by upper level applications. Applications are independent of underlying routing protocols. This solution applies to all Link State based IGP protocols with the extension to optical networks, including OSPF and IS-IS.

Future agile optical networks are, at the request of customers, expected to quickly and automatically provision lightpaths. Successful provisioning depends on two basic functions of network control: routing and signaling. The routing function automatically updates the optical network topology and related resource information so that a node can compute a light path for the request. The signaling function ensures that the nodes along a computed route exchange the information to set up or tear down a lightpath without user intervention.
Most current control network approaches are based on the extension of existing Internet Protocols (IP). The IP routing protocol OSPF (Open Shortest Path First) and IS-IS (Intermediate System to Intermediate System) are extended to exchange optical network routing information and construct the optical routing information database. These extended protocols rely on the instant and periodic exchange of the link state information (LSA {Link State Advertisement} of OSPF, or LSPDU {Link State Protocol Data Unit} of IS-IS) between the directly connected (physically or logically) pairs of nodes, called neighbors. The extension of these routing protocols introduces new optical network related information that should be exchanged using the existing LSA or LSPDU mechanisms. This new information is coded by a number of Type/Length/Value triplets (TLV). For OSPF, these TLVs are exchanged by Opaque LSAs that are designed to exchange application related information. In the IS-IS protocol, the new TLVs are appended to the LSPDUs. In both cases, the information conveyed by the TLVs is not understandable by the protocol. There is no further processing by the protocol, other than checking the integrity of the data exchange, storing it in an internal format, and notifying interested applications that the information was received.
In the context of optical networks, the optical link information, such as end point IDs, link type, bandwidth, encoding type, shared risk group IDs, etc., are exchanged by the routing protocols. This information will be used or updated by different applications. For example, the route computation component needs the topology information and the related optical link properties to find a route to set up a lightpath the meets the constraints of the data. The link management applications, which interact with the routing protocol to add or remove an optical link on the node, can also update the information on an existing optical link, e.g., available resources changes.
There are basically three types of interactions between the applications and the routing engines for Optical Link State (OLS) information processing. The first changes the OLS information, e.g. adds or removes an optical link. In the second interaction the routing engine notifies interested applications that a new OLS is received, an existing OLS is deleted, an existing OLS is updated, etc. In the third interaction other applications use the OLS information for route computation, topology discovery, etc. Changes to the OLS information will cause the OLS information to flood the routing space.
As described above, all of the OLS information is stored in the internal format in a routing engine without further processing. It is possible that applications can access the OLS in the routing engine, but this type of access is unacceptable for the following reasons. First, as the OLS is encoded in TLVs, each time an application searches the information it needs to translate the TLVs into some readable data structure; this wastes time and processing power. Second, access to a specific routing engine requires creating applications with protocol-specific code; this limits the flexibility of the network. Additionally, the topology changes in an optical network are much less than in an IP network, so it would be beneficial to reduce the repetition in processing the TLVs.

Generic optical routing information base support


A light support apparatus is provided for use on a windshield oriented at a windshield slope angle with respect to the horizontal and includes a bracket member which has a top bracket portion and a bottom bracket portion. A horizontal support member is connected to the top bracket portion at a bracket-to-support angle. A vertical support member is connected to the horizontal support member, and a windshield supported foot member is connected to the vertical support member at a foot-to-vertical support angle. The horizontal support member includes a fastener reception channel. Preferably, the bracket-to-support angle is substantially supplementary to the windshield slope angle, and the foot-to-vertical support angle is substantially complementary to the windshield slope angle. A light assembly is connected to the horizontal support member. The light support apparatus of the invention is especially useful on the windshield of a boat.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to supports for lights, and, more a particularly, to supports for lights especially adapted for use on boats.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Vehicles most often are equipped with light assemblies for casting light beams forward of the vehicle. With automobiles, such light assemblies are most commonly headlight assemblies. However, additional light assemblies, such as spotlights, are also often used on automobiles. A number of U.S. patents disclose spotlights that are attached to the tops of automobile windshields, e.g. U.S. Pat. Nos. 1,481,629 and 1,523,924. It is noted that both U.S. Pat. Nos. 1,481,629 and 1,523,924 disclose brackets for mounting a spotlight on the tops of vertically oriented automobile windshields.
Boat windshields, it is pointed out, have an acute windshield slope angle (see FIG. 1 discussed hereinbelow), and the spotlight mounting brackets disclosed U.S. Pat. Nos. 1,481,629 and 1,523,924 are not suitable for such windshields having an acute windshield slope angle. In this respect, it would be desirable is a light support apparatus were provided that is suitable for use on a windshield that has an acute windshield slope angle.
Turning to light assembly support brackets specifically disclosed for use on boats, the following U.S. patents are known: U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,960,601, 3,502,861, and 5,508,895. Each of U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,960,601, 3,502,861, and 5,508,895 discloses a respective light support bracket that is attached to the top of a wall of a boat. As a result, none of U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,960,601, 3,502,861, and 5,508,895 discloses a light support bracket that has features that provide for a light support bracket to be mounted on the top of a boat windshield that has an acute windshield slope angle. In this respect, it would be desirable if a light support bracket were provided for mounting on the top of a boat windshield that has an acute windshield slope angle.
Still other features would be desirable in a boat windshield light and support apparatus. For example, for purposes of simplicity in both use and fabrication, it would be desirable if a boat windshield light support were provided that is formed from a single piece of plastic material.
When a spotlight is used, it is most desirable that the spotlight can swivel around its support in order to direct a light beam in many directions. In this respect, it would be desirable if a boat windshield light support were provided which has a swivel for a light assembly.
To provide a firm grip on a boat windshield, it would be desirable if a boat windshield light support were provided that includes a bracket member which has resilient clamping portions.
Thus, while the foregoing body of prior art indicates it to be well known to use light support brackets for boats, the prior art described above does not teach or suggest a boat windshield light and support apparatus which has the following combination of desirable features: (1) is suitable for use on a windshield that has an acute windshield slope angle; (2) provides for mounting on the top of a boat windshield that has an acute windshield slope angle; (3) is formed from a single piece of plastic material; (4) has a swivel for a light assembly; and (5) includes a bracket member which has resilient clamping portions. The foregoing desired characteristics are provided by the unique boat windshield light and support apparatus of the present invention as will be made apparent from the following description thereof. Other advantages of the present invention over the prior art also will be rendered evident.
To achieve the foregoing and other advantages, the present invention, briefly described, provides a light support apparatus for use on a windshield oriented at a windshield slope angle with respect to the horizontal and includes a bracket member which has a top bracket portion and a bottom bracket portion. A horizontal support member is connected to the top bracket portion at a bracket-to-support angle. A vertical support member is connected to the horizontal support member, and a windshield supported foot member is connected to the vertical support member at a foot-to-vertical support angle. The horizontal support member includes a fastener reception channel.
Preferably, the bracket-to-support angle is substantially supplementary to the windshield slope angle, and the foot-to-vertical support angle is substantially complementary to the windshield slope angle. Preferably, the orientation angle between the horizontal support member and the vertical support member is a right angle. Preferably, the top bracket portion and the bottom bracket portion are resilient jaw members. A light assembly is connected to the horizontal support member.
The light support apparatus of the invention is especially useful on the windshield of a boat.
With one embodiment of the invention, a hypotenuse portion is connected between the windshield supported foot member and the bracket member. The hypotenuse portion is oriented to the horizontal support member at a horizontal support-orientation angle which is substantially equal to the windshield slope angle.
The light assembly can include a light swivel unit connected to the horizontal support member, and a lamp unit is connected to the light swivel unit. The light swivel unit can include a swivel bolt connected to the lamp unit. A bearing member is retained on the swivel bolt and is located between the lamp unit and the horizontal support portion. A lock nut is retained on the swivel bolt distal to the horizontal support member such that the horizontal support member is located between the lock nut and the bearing member.
A bracket-retained cushion can be supported inside the bracket member. The bracket-retained cushion receives an edge of the windshield. A windshield supported foot-to-windshield cushion can be supported by a bottom surface of the windshield supported foot member.
With one embodiment of the invention, the bracket member includes planar outer surfaces and planar inner surfaces, and the bracket-retained cushion is C-shaped, supported by the planar inner surfaces. With another embodiment of the invention, the bracket member includes convex outer surfaces and concave inner surfaces, and the bracket-retained cushion is bulbous in shape, supported by the concave inner surfaces.
The above brief description sets forth rather broadly the more important features of the present invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contributions to the art may be better appreciated. There are, of course, additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will be for the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.
In this respect, before explaining at least four preferred embodiments of the invention in detail, it is understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of the construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood, that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.
As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for designing other structures, methods, and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved boat windshield light and support apparatus which has all of the advantages of the prior art and none of the disadvantages.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a new and improved boat windshield light and support apparatus which may be easily and efficiently manufactured and marketed.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a new and improved boat windshield light and support apparatus which is of durable and reliable construction.
An even further object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved boat windshield light and support apparatus which is susceptible of a low cost of manufacture with regard to both materials and labor, and which accordingly is then susceptible of low prices of sale to the consuming public, thereby making such boat windshield light and support apparatus available to the buying public.
Still yet a further object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved boat windshield light and support apparatus which is suitable for use on a windshield that has an acute windshield slope angle.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved boat windshield light and support apparatus that provides for mounting on the top of a boat windshield that has an acute windshield slope angle.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved boat windshield light and support apparatus which is formed from a single piece of plastic material.
Even another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved boat windshield light and support apparatus that has a swivel for a light assembly.
Still a further object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved boat windshield light and support apparatus which includes a bracket member which has resilient clamping portions.
These together with still other objects of the invention, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be had to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there are illustrated preferred embodiments of the invention.

Boat windshield light and support apparatus


An apparatus for providing an EEPROM programming signal, comprises a charge pump circuit for receiving a programming input signal on a programming input line and for charging up a gate drive voltage signal in response to a rising edge of the programming input signal. A transistor that includes a gate coupled to the gate drive signal couples the programming input line to a programming output line, which is coupled to an EEPROM. A ramp control circuit including (i) a capacitor and (ii) a transistor controlling the flow of current through the capacitor, is coupled to the programming output line for regulating a ramp-up rate of a programming output signal on the programming output line. A ramp-down circuit is coupled to the programming input line and to the programming output line and is responsive thereto for providing a ramp-down of the programming output signal after the programming input signal goes low.

Typically, memory circuits such as EEPROMs are operated at a fixed voltage provided by a regulated voltage supply, i.e., 5 volts. The EEPROM circuits are characteristically programmable in response to a high level programming signal. The programming signals are generally provided at a voltage level higher than the normal operating voltage of the EEPROM, i.e., on the order of 14 volts.