New peptides represented by the following general formula

The invention relates to a new peptide having an improved effect of the brain function and an anti-dementia effect, and to an anti-dementia drug.
Anti-dementia drugs are classified into the first, second and third generations according to their action mechanisms and their chronological development ages. In the first generation are included the drugs already marketed such as calcium hopantenate (trade name: Hopate), indeloxazine hydrochloride (trade name: Elen) and idebenone (trade name: Avan), expressing the protection of the brain function and a metabolic acceleration action. In the second generation are included a prolyl endopeptidase (PEP) inhibitor and a choline esterase inhibitor which is marketing. Furthermore, in recent years the application of a biological substance is tried as the third generation anti-dementia drug, and neuropeptides with neuron growth factor (NGF) as the head of the list, argine vasopressin (AVP), thyroid hormone releasing hormone (TRH), vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP), etc., are noticed.
Among these AVP is classified as the third generation anti-dementia drug as described above, though, the history of its research is long, and it has been studied as a peptide hormone having a strong anti-dementia activity since the report of D. Weid in 1984 (see Nature, 308, 276-278, 1984). Additionally, the number of its reports"" publications exceeds 100 annually since 1980s, hereby indicating that it is a notable substance in the field of neurophsiology. Furthermore, the above PEP inhibitors are developed aiming to inhibit the intracerebral metabolism of AVP. From these, it can be estimated that the expectation for the anti-dementia activity of AVP is extremely high.
On one hand, problems in case of applying AVP as an anti-dementia drug are (1) the intrinsic activity of AVP, that is to say, elevation of blood pressure and diuretic action, (2) the instability in body due to the proline cleavage by PEP, and (3) a low blood-brain barrier (BBB) permeability. Owing to these, a number of AVP derivatives have been synthesized to improve these points and to further strengthen the anti-dementia activities. Such a research like this has been undertaken at a drug development level, and a lot of patent applications have been made (for example, JP, A, S54-73133, JP, A, S55-55120, JP, A, S62-234095, JP, A, H2-53797, JP, A, H2-53800, JP, A, H2-273696, JP, A, H2-273694, JP, A, H2-273699, etc.).
By up-to-date reports, as to the above (1)-(3) problems the following solutions are found for (1) and (2).
(1) The side effects on blood pressure and urine volume can be reduced by using AVP as the 4-9 fragment pGlu-Asn-Cys-Pro-Arg-Gly-NH2 (AVP 4-9)(SEQ ID NO:2).
(2) By converting the amino acid proline of AVP 4-9 into D form, the metabolism by PEP can be avoided keeping the anti-dementia activity.
On one hand, as to the increase of a BBB permeability as mentioned in the above (3), it has currently been tried to increase the BBB permeability by increasing lipophilicity. However, in case of increasing a drug lipophilicity, not only the BBB permeability but the transition to all tissues increase, resulting to the decreasing phenomenon of area under the blood concentration (AUC), whereby it results to a big amount of administration and virtually increases the side effect. Therefore, in case of developing AVP as an anti-dementia drug, it is considered most ideal to make a chemical modification for increasing the BBB transition specificity, maintaining a high anti-dementia activity and changing proline of AVP 4-9 to D form to reduce the toxicity.
BBB is known as a site where fundamentally the permeability for substances is extremely slow. Especially, a substance low in the lipophlicity or a substance whose molecular weight exceeds 1000 are said to barely permeate through BBB. Therefore, a kind of peptides or proteins are classified one of substances which are hardly permeable through BBB. However, it is necessary for a nutrient into brain or an exocrine hormone to permeate through BBB, and it is recognized that they actually permeate (Pharmacol. Rev. 46:269-291; 1994). Concerning this, Pardridge (UCLA) and Terasaki, Sugiyama, et al. (Tokyo Univ.) recently found two types of transition pathways and studied a drug delivery method into the central nerve by using these (see Pharmacol. Toxicol., 71:3-10:1992 and J. Control Release, 29:163-169:1994). The first is the receptor mediated endocytosis mechanism (RME) by each kind of hormone receptor. The second is the absorptive mediated endocytosis mechanism (AME) by which a cationic substance is specifically taken in BBB. As to RME the receptor expression of insulin, transferrin, etc. in BBB is apparent. Up to date, as a drug delivery method specific to the central nerve system by utilizing RME, conjugates between a target drug and insulin or anti-transferrin antibody are actively prepared. These conjugates are shown to relatively well permeate through BBB. However, in case of administering the insulin conjugate is expected the appearance of hypoglycemia as a side effect. Further, in case of the conjugate with anti-transferrin antibody there is the problem that it is necessary to make the conjugate with a human type IgG owing to the problem of allergy.
From these, it is considered that utilizing AME is most safe and realistic as a drug delivery method specific to the central nerve system. AME is recently well noticed among researchers of drug delivery system (DDS) and is considered to do the uptake of a cationic substance into the central nerve system by the mechanism which is frequently observed in the cerebrovascular endothelial cells which constitute BBB. Especially, it is said that a substance high in the isoelectric point (PI value) permeates through BBB with a high specificity (see Zoku-Iyakuhin no Kaihatsu (Development of Drugs, second series), Vol. 4, 1991, Hirokawa).
In the above circumstances, the inventors synthesized new AVP type compounds which are estimated to have the PI value around 10, and by investigating the anti-dementia effect for these compounds by a passive avoidance test, found them to have an excellent therapeutic effect. The invention has been made on the basis of these findings.
The invention is to provide new peptides represented by the following general formula
(wherein X is OH or NH2, R is an amino acid residue selected from Arg, His, Lys, Methyl-Arg or Methyl-Tyr, n is an integer of 1-4, and in the case that n is 2-4, R may be identical with or different from each other) and an anti-dementia drug containing one or more of these new peptides as an active ingredient.
In the following, the invention will be explained in detail.
The new peptide compounds (denoted as C-AVP 4-9) represented by the formula (I) according to the invention are peptides consisting of 9-amino acids, wherein the N-terminal of Cys in AVP (H-(R)n-Pro is removed in the above formula (I), X is a hydrogen atom; denoted as AVP 4-9) side chain is substituted with a various combination of basic amino acids such as Arg, His, Lys, Methyl-Arg or Methyl-Tyr, and they show an extremely excellent anti-dementia activity, having a high PI value and BBB permeability compared with AVP 4-9.
The peptide compounds of the invention can be synthesized by a conventional method generally used in a peptide synthesis, though, a method, in which two units cleaved at the Sxe2x80x94S bond of Cysxe2x80x94Cys are each synthesized and then the Sxe2x80x94S bonding is finally made, is convenient and preferable. In the following is illustrated C-AVP 4-9-000 (in the above formula (I), R=Arg-His) explaining its synthesis.
The unit A (Arg-His-Pro-Cys;SEQ ID NO:3) and the unit B (pyro-Glu-Asn-Cys-Pro-Arg-Gly;SEQ ID NO:2) were synthesized according to a conventional method using Beckman 990 peptide synthesis apparatus. Namely, by using Boc-trisulfonylarginine, Boc-benzyloxymethylhistidine and 4-methylbenzylcysteine-Merrifield resin and repeating the following removal step of Boc group and the condensation step was synthesized the unit B; arginyl-histidyl-prolyl-cysteine. Further, in the same way the unit A; pyroglutamyl-asparaginyl-cysteinyl-prolyl-arginyl-glycine by using Boc-xanthylasparagine, Boc-glycine, Boc-proline, Boc-methylbenzylcysteine, pyroglutamine and 4-methylbenzhydryl-Merrifield resin.
(a) Removal Step of Boc Protective Group
To the peptide resin was added 50% trifluoroacetic acid (TFA)/dichloromethane (DCM)in the ratio of 10 ml/g, and after stirring for 5 min., the supernatant was removed. 50% TFA/DMC (5 ml/g resin) was added to the precipitate. After stirring for 25 min. the supernatant was removed, and the precipitate was washed with isopropanol, diisopropyl ethylamine and DCM two times respectively. The coupling was confirmed by Keiser test.
(b) Condensation Step
3 equivalent mol. of Boc-amino acid against the peptide resin were dissolved in 50% TFA/DCM and the solution was added to the deprotected peptide resin. Further, 3 equivalent mol. of diisopropylcarbodiimide and 1 equivalent mol. of diisopropylethylamine were added and stirred for 60-120 min. The peptide resin was washed with isopropanol and DCM two times respectively and confirmed by Keiser test. Then, by repeating the deprotection and the condensation, all the amino acids were coupled to the resin, and the resin was washed with isopropanol and DCM two times respectively and dried under reduced pressure.
(a) Final Deprotection by HF
To the peptide resin 1 g was added HF 30 ml containing 1% anisole and 1% ethanedithiol and the mixture was stirred at 0xc2x0 C. for 75 min. HF was removed under reduced pressure, and the resin was let precipitate by a dry ether cooled, followed by washing with ether two times. The peptide was extracted with 5% acetic acid and freeze-dried overnight to give 300-500 mg of a crude peptide.
(b) Formation of Sxe2x80x94S Bonding
To each equivalent mole of the A chain and the B chain was added water 21, and the mixture was adjusted to pH 6.4 and mixed for 20 hr. By this way the aimed compound (C-AVP 4-9-000) was obtained in about 80% yield.
(c) Purification
YMC Jsphere ODS-M80 column (4.6xc3x97150 mm), eluent A; 0.05% TFA/distilled water and eluent B; acetonitrile were used, and the purification was done by HPLC at the condition that the B liquid was made 20% in 20 min.
About 200 xcexcg of the peptide (C-AVP 4-9-000) obtained by the above synthesis were taken on a silver sample holder and mixed with glycerol 2 xcexcl. The mass spectrum was measured by the SIMS method making Xe+(8 kV) as a first ion.
On the mass spectrum M/Z 1165 (M+H) corresponding to the molecular ion was clearly recognized, and further, each ion of M/Z 266, 363, 408, 466, 478, 512 and 544 due to the A chain and M/Z 215, 231, 259, 326, 609, 624, 656 and 688 due to the B chain were confirmed.
Furthermore, the ion (M/Z 434) in which CO2 was eliminated from the M/Z 478 ion, the ion (M/Z 457) in which pGlu-Asn-NH was cleaved from the M/Z 624 ion, the ion (M/Z 746) in which glycerol was added to the B chain, and the like were found to confirm the chemical structure of C-AVP 4-9-000.
Analytical Conditions
Apparatus; HITACHI M-80B double-focus mass spectrometer
Analytical mode; glycerol SIMS
Primary ion; Xe+(8 kV)
Accelerating voltage; 3 kV
Detector; electron.multiplier (1500 V)
Scan; M/Z 0-2000/8 sec (Descan duration of 1.2 sec)
The peptide compounds synthesized according to the above synthetic method are shown in Table 1. Further, the PI value was analyzed by the isoelectrofocusing method for the peptide 5 xcexcg using a capillary electrophoretic apparatus (Beckman P/ACE 5000) and an isoelectrofocusing kit (eCAP 3-10, Beckman). The detection was carried out by UV 214 nm.
All the peptide derivatives of the invention are extremely low in toxicity, and the appearance of toxicity was also not observed at various doses in the biological activity test concerning the anti-dementia effect.
The peptides of the invention can be administered in a free form or an appropriate salt form. As a dose is appropriate the range of 0.001-10 mg/body weight 1 kg/day on the basis of the free peptide, though, as long as the appearance of toxicity is not observed, more than this range can be administered on the situation.
There is no special restriction for the administration, though, for example, an intravenous, subcutaneous, oral, intrarectal and nasal administrations, etc., can be used.
The preparation method can be carried out in a conventional method according to each administration method. For example, they are injections, powders, tablets, suppositories, nose drops and the like.

Abstract: (wherein X is OH or NH2, R is an amino acid residue selected from Arg, His, Lys, Methyl-Arg or Methyl-Tyr, n is an integer of 1-4, and in the case that n is 2-4, R may be identical with or different from each other) and an anti-dementia drug which contains one or more of these new peptides and has a high blood brain barrier (BBB) permeability and furthermore is low in a side effect.


In one embodiment, an impedance matching network is disclosed that includes a first circuit comprising a first variable component providing a first variable capacitance or inductance, and a second circuit comprising a second variable component providing a second variable capacitance or inductance. Each of the first circuit and the second circuit includes plurality of switching circuits configured to provide the first variable capacitance or inductance and the second variable capacitance or inductance. Each of the plurality of switching circuits includes a diode and a driver circuit configured to switch the diode. The driver circuit includes a first switch, a second switch coupled in series with the first switch, and a filter circuit that is coupled at a first end between the first switch and the second switch, and is operably coupled at a second end to the diode.

Semiconductor wafer fabrication can use plasma processing to manufacture semiconductor devices, such as microprocessors, memory chips, and other integrated circuits and devices. Plasma processing involves energizing a gas mixture by introducing RF energy. This gas mixture is typically contained in a vacuum chamber, also called plasma chamber, and the RF energy is introduced through electrodes or other means in the chamber. In a typical plasma process, the RF generator generates power at an RF frequency and this power is transmitted through RF cables to the plasma chamber.
To provide efficient transfer of power from the generator to the plasma chamber, a matching network is used. The purpose of the matching network is to transform the plasma impedance (usually a low value) to a value suitable for the RF generator. In many cases, particularly in wafer fabrication processes, the RF power is transmitted through 50 Ohm coaxial cables and the system impedance of the RF generators is also 50 Ohm. On the other hand, the impedance of the plasma, driven by the RF power, varies and this impedance must be transformed to non-reactive 50 Ohm (i.e., 50+j0) for maximum power transmission. RF matching networks perform this task of continuously transforming the plasma impedance to 50 Ohm for the RF generator. A typical RF matching network includes variable capacitors and a microprocessor-based control circuit to control the capacitance values of the variable capacitors. The value and size of the variable capacitors are influenced by the power handling capability, the frequency of operation, and the impedance range of the plasma chamber.
The predominant variable capacitor in use in RF matching networks is the Vacuum Variable Capacitor (VVC). Electronically Variable Capacitor (EVC) technology, however, is emerging as an alternative, as EVCs can be switched more quickly. Faster switching enables faster matching, which enables faster manufacturing.
In semiconductor manufacturing, a high-power RF generator must be fast-matched to the plasma chamber to minimize reflected power back into the generator. New nanotechnology requires extremely fast impedance matching conditions to achieve accurate power delivery into the chamber. The load impedance must be matched to the plasma chamber within hundreds of milliseconds or faster, rather than seconds in the old designs. Thus, there is need for driver circuits that provide faster switching to enable faster impedance matching.


A system is disclosed for centralized management of access permissions to specific devices on client terminals using a group policy framework. The system identifies a unique device identifier for a specific device, and allows policy to be set for the specific device based on identifying the specific device by its unique device identifier.

Removable storage devices such as USB Flash Disks (UFD), Secure Digital (SD) disks, and the like are small form factor devices that are easily portable and can have significant storage capacity. While their portability and large storage capacity provide significant advantages to users for transferring data, these same attributes present a significant security challenge for companies, laboratories and other organizations. The small size, large storage capacity and ease of use of such devices could allow unsupervised visitors or unscrupulous employees to smuggle confidential data out of an organization with little chance of detection. Moreover, computer systems are vulnerable to attack by malicious software introduced into the system from removable devices.
In view of these concerns, despite the clear advantages provided by removable storage devices, many organizations are taking steps to prevent their usage. Some organizations forbid all manner of removable storage device usage. Some organizations configure computers, one at a time, to disconnect or otherwise disable the ports within which removable storage devices are received. Other organizations have gone so far as to plug the removable storage device ports with epoxy or the like.
It would be advantageous for IT administrators to be able to control the use of and access by removable storage devices on a network-wide basis. At present, Window® based operating systems employ a group policy framework. Group policy is an infrastructure where one or more desired configurations or policy settings may be set at a single domain controller and then applied to one or more groups of users and/or computers across a network. Group policy employs a collection of settings, referred to as group policy objects ("GPO"), that define what one or more client computers will look like and how it will behave for one or more defined group of users. In addition to allowing disparate privileges to different user groups, group policy also allows software installations, updates and changes to be applied across an entire network of computers via a simple change to an existing GPO. This reduces the administrative burden and costs associated with managing these resources.
Group policy is currently used to manage and control software features available on a given computer or available to a given user. A wide variety of software attributes and functions may be controlled via group policy including security policy, scripts for logon/logoff, start up and shut down, and Internet Explorer settings. Removable storage devices have not conventionally been controlled through group policy. While it is known to be able to inhibit the operation of a class of removable storage devices, such as for example disabling the CD/DVD drives through the I/O manager in the Windows® operating system, no system is known to the inventor for selectively applying access rights to each device on a given client computer.
By the same token, the installation of unique class identifier devices, removable or otherwise, presents similar security risks. A unique class identifier device is a generic term for a device which identifies itself as belonging to a set of devices with specific functionality, where the unique class identifier may not already be known to the operating system. A custom GUID (global unique identifier) is one example of a unique class identifier. When a vendor develops a previously unknown device for use on or with a Windows® operating system computing device, the vendor generates a unique class identifier for that device. The Windows® operating system includes a tool—guidgen.exe—for generating unique class identifiers for new devices. Over time, as the device becomes more common, the unique class identifier may be identified to the Windows® operating system (either as a snap-in to an existing version, or written into a new version). At that time, the GUID device class for that device becomes known, or standard. As one example, Windows Portable Devices ("WPDs"), including portable media players, digital still cameras and mobile phones were assigned a unique class identifier in older versions of the Windows® operating system. However, in Windows Vista™ operating system, WPDs have been identified to the operating system and now WPDs are considered a standard device class.
Once the device class for a device is known, group policy may be set for that device. However, conventionally, there are no mechanisms for setting group policy for unique class identifier devices. Consequently, until a device class GUID is identified to the operating system and becomes known, there is no way to restrict usage of or access to such devices using group policy.

Setting group policy by device ownership


A light emitting device and a display device using the same. The light emitting device includes: a substrate provided with recesses formed in a stripe pattern; first electrodes disposed inside the recesses in a stripe pattern aligned parallel to the recesses; electron emission regions disposed on the first electrodes; second electrodes disposed in a stripe pattern aligned in a direction crossing the first electrodes and closely fixed to the substrate; and an adhesive member for fixing the second electrodes to the substrate. The second electrodes include mesh portions spaced apart from tops of the electron emission regions in crossing of the first electrodes and the second electrodes, supports surrounding the mesh portions and connected with the substrate, and combining grooves formed at edges of the supports facing the substrate. The adhesive members are disposed in the combining grooves of the second electrodes to connect the second electrodes with the substrate.

1. Field
The following description relates generally to a light emitting device and a display device using the same.
2. Description of the Related Art
Among light emitting devices, there are light emitting devices using field emission principles. Among various types of light emitting devices using field emission principles, one light emitting device includes a front substrate provided with a phosphor layer and an anode electrode, and a rear substrate provided with electron emitting regions and driving electrodes. Here, the front substrate and the rear substrate are combined along their edges into one body using a sealing member, and then an inner space is evacuated to form a vacuum chamber together with the sealing member.
The driving electrodes include cathode electrodes and gate electrodes formed spaced apart from the cathode electrodes and extending along a direction crossing (e.g., intersecting) the cathode electrodes. Openings are formed on the gate electrodes at crossing regions of the cathode electrodes and the gate electrodes, and the electron emission regions are disposed on the cathode electrodes and spaced apart from the gate electrodes.
When a set or predetermined driving voltage is applied to one of the cathode electrodes and a corresponding gate electrode of the gate electrodes, a voltage difference between the two electrodes creates an electric field in a corresponding electron emission region such that the electron emission region emits electrons. The emitted electrons are drawn to a higher voltage applied to the anode electrode and collide with and excite the phosphor layer, and this causes the phosphor layer to emit visible light.
In order to effectively minimize divergence of an electron beam emitted from the electron emission region spaced apart from the gate electrode, a structure is used in which a groove is formed in the rear substrate, and the cathode electrode and the electron emission region are disposed inside the groove of the rear substrate.
However, such a structure has a problem in that it is difficult to accurately fix the gate electrode to be at a position where the openings correspond to the electron emission region. Furthermore, if the gate electrode is not stably fixed, noise may occur due to vibration at a driving frequency and luminance may be non-uniform due to variation in height of the openings.
The above information disclosed in this Background section is only for enhancement of understanding of the background of the described technology and therefore it may contain information that does not form the prior art that is already known in this country to a person of ordinary skill in the art.

Light emitting device and display device using the same


A voice coil motor is disclosed which conveys a head of optical or magneto-optical disk drive or magnetic disk drive as a kind of a linear motor. The motor comprises a yoke member composed of a central portion, upper/lower fringes and left/right fringes forming magnetic paths, permanent magnets being adhered on the upper/lower fringes of the yoke member and each having an air gap with respect to the central portion. A moving coil is wound slidably around the central portion of the yoke member, and a shorted turn offsets the magnetic flux due to the current flowing in the moving coil, wherein the shorted turn has a plurality of fins on its conductive sleeve-shaped body and is disposed primarily in the yoke member except the section where the moving coil moves. The motor demonstrates an excellent control function while generating a maximum amount of thrust.

The present invention relates to a voice coil motor which is classified as a kind of a linear motor for conveying a head of an optical (or magneto-optical) disk drive or a magnetic disk drive, etc., and more particularly to a voice coil motor incorporating a shorted turn for causing the motor's control function to become uniform.
An optical head of an optical (or magneto-optical) disk drive or a magnetic head of magnetic disk drive is installed to move in the direction of the disk's diameter to seek information recorded in the disk. To make the head trace a desired track quickly and precisely, a motor having a quick response and constant control function is required.
FIGS.1, 2 and 3 illustrate simple and typical voice coil motors for use in conveying a head. The voice coil motor comprises a yoke member 10 forming magnetic paths, permanent magnets 20 and 20' mounted on the respective upper and lower portions 12 and 12' of the yoke member 10, maintaining air gaps G on both sides of central portion 11 of the yoke member, and a moving coil 30 wound slidably around the central portion 11 of yoke member 10. When current flows through moving coil 30, electromagnetic thrust works in a direction perpendicular to those of the current and the magnetic flux of permanent magnets 20 and 20'. Moving coil 30 moves along central portion 11 of yoke member 10 due to the thrust. The magnetic flux paths by permanent magnets 20 and 20' are shown in FIG.2, and the magnetic flux paths by moving coil 30 are shown in FIG.3. In other words, magnetic flux fm.sub.1 and fm.sub.2 generated from permanent magnet 20 or magnetic flux fm.sub.3 and fm.sub.4 generated from permanent magnet 20' are horizontally separated into left and right fields and flow in opposing directions within yoke member 10. Magnetic flux fc.sub.1 and fc.sub.2 generated by current flowing through moving coil 30 are vertically divided into upper and lower fields and each flux flows in a certain direction according to the direction of its current. Magnetic flux fm.sub.1 to fm.sub.4 of the permanent magnets constantly flow but magnetic flux fc.sub.1 and fc.sub.2 of moving coil 30 have varied strength and direction according to current. Thus, the density of the whole magnetic flux distributed within the yoke member varies by the movement of the moving coil. This brings out the variation of density of air gap's magnetic flux distributed in air gaps G between the central portion 11 of the yoke member 10 and each of the permanent magnets 20 and 20', in effect causing a problem by deteriorating the control function.
FIG.4 illustrates a voice coil motor having a conventional shorted turn to solve the above problem. Referring to FIG.4, the voice coil motor comprises shorted turn 40 made by coating a conductive plate having a certain thickness in central portion 11 of yoke member 10 in order to reduce the influence of the magnetic flux of the moving coil on the magnetic flux of the permanent magnet. That is, when the magnetic flux of moving coil 30 is varied, short circuit current is induced to the shorted turn and the magnetic flux of the moving coil is offset due to a secondary magnetic flux formed by the short circuit current. The technology of the shorted turn is described in detail in IEEE Transactions Mag., Vol. 25, No.4, 1989, pages 3073 to 3075.
Due to the operation of the shorted turn, such voice coil motor of the above-mentioned structure has less variation of the magnetic flux of the permanent magnet distributed in the yoke member and also constant density of air gap's magnetic flux distributed in the air gap between the permanent magnet and the central portion of the yoke member. However, since the shorted turn exists within the air gap, the air gap should be widened as much as the thickness of the shorted turn. This decreases the density of the air gap's magnetic flux. Accordingly, the voice coil motor having a shorted turn in the central portion of the yoke member has a weak thrust. To solve the problem, a permanent magnet of high efficiency must be used or the current of the moving coil must be increased, which, however, is undesirable because of the rise in the product's cost and its limit.


An LED package includes a substrate having a substrate main surface and a substrate back surface, which face opposite sides in a thickness direction, a main surface electrode which is disposed on the substrate main surface and includes a first pad and a first die pad separated from each other, a first LED chip which is mounted on the first die pad and has an electrode pad formed on a first chip main surface facing the same direction as the substrate main surface, and a first wire connecting the first pad and the electrode pad. The first pad has a first base portion and a first pad portion having one end connected to the first base portion. The first pad portion of the first pad extends from the first base portion toward the first die pad obliquely.

For example, in the related art, an LED package with a plurality of LED chips (a so-called multi-chip package) has been disclosed. In the disclosed LED package, the plurality of LED chips is mounted on metal leads. In addition, the LED package includes a resin molded body that accommodates these LED chips and holds the metal leads. The plurality of LED chips emits red light, blue light and green light. Various colors of light are emitted from the LED package having such a plurality of LED chips by adjusting an applied voltage.
Further miniaturization of an LED package is required due to a request for further downsizing of electronic equipment in recent years. However, in the LED package disclosed in the related art, the plurality of LED chips and wires (gold wires) connected to the LED chips are arranged in two directions. In order to miniaturize the LED package in such arrangement, the LED chips have to be miniaturized, so that there is a concern that output (luminance) of the LED package may decrease.


In accordance with various aspects of the disclosure, a system, a method, and computer readable medium having instructions for processing images is disclosed. For example, the method includes selecting, at an image processor, a region of a first image comprising a plurality of pixels. A mean value of pixels in the selected region is computed. From a plurality of sets of pixels in the region, a first subset of pixels in the region containing artifacts therein is selected. A value of each pixel in the first subset is compared with the mean value. The value of each pixel is adjusted based upon the comparing. The first image is reconstructed based upon the adjusted value of each pixel in the first subset, such that a variance of pixel values in the reconstructed image is lower than a variance of pixel values in the first image.

This disclosure relates generally to the field of image processing and more particularly to a system and a method for post-detection artifact reduction and removal from images.
In conventional image processing scenarios comprising hyperspectral imaging (HSI) systems, artifacts such as sensor calibration artifacts create false alarms for target detection. This problem is present in all spectral sensors and is particularly prevalent in long-wave infrared (LWIR) HSI sensors using Mercury-Cadmium-Telluride (MCT) focal plane arrays (FPAs). Data obtained from such HSI sensors have residual gain and offset errors. Such errors manifest as columns or striping artifacts in detection plane images obtained on the FPAs, and form a limiting factor in optimal detection of targets, especially targets that are dim or dispersed. Accordingly, there is a need to improve target detection and reduce or avoid false alarms.

System and method for post-detection artifact reduction and removal from images


The mold includes a first end molding component having an imperforate exterior face and an interior face with alignment pins and a recess for the receipt of fluid material to be molded; a second end molding component having an exterior face with a horizontal bore and an interior face with alignment holes and a recess for the receipt of fluid material to be molded, the second end component being provided with lateral clamping members, the second component being formed of a pair of laterally disposed subcomponents; a plurality of intermediate molding components, each with alignment pins on one face and alignment holes in the opposite face and with a recess therethrough adapted to be positioned between the end components, the number of intermediate components being a function of the desired size of the molded end products; and a pair of filler molding components both with alignment pins on one face and alignment holes in the opposite face and with a recess therethrough adapted to be positioned between the end components, the filler components including a vertical bore and well thereabove.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a variable weight mold and more particularly pertains to stacking mold components together to form units of various sizes to produce cases of various sizing and weights for various purposes.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The use of casting products in molds of various designs, configurations, sizes and alike is known in the prior art. More specifically, casting products in molds of various designs, configurations, sizes and the like heretofore devised and utilized for the purpose of molding products of various sizes to a wide variety of techniques and apparatuses are known to consist basically of familiar, expected, and obvious structural configurations, notwithstanding the myriad of designs encompassed by the crowded prior art which has been developed for the fulfillment of countless objectives and requirements.
By way of example, the prior art discloses in U.S. Pat. No. 4,361,976 to Svoma a fishing line sinker and mold for making same.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,332,537 to Slepcevic discloses an encapsulation mold with removable cavity plates.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,278,231 to McGahee discloses a mold for fabricating fishing lures, etc.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,141,170 to Fosher discloses an artificial fishing lure and process for molding same.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,709,458 to Mattson discloses a mold for casting a weighted treble fishing hook.
In this respect, the variable weight mold according to the present invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art, and in doing so provides an apparatus primarily developed for the purpose of stacking mold components together to form units of various sizes to produce cases of various sizing and weights for various purposes.
Therefore, it can be appreciated that there exists a continuing need for a new and improved variable weight mold which can be used for stacking mold components together to form units of various sizes to produce cases of various sizing and weights for various purposes. In this regard, the present invention substantially fulfills this need.


A semiconductor device includes an electrode arranged on a main surface of a semiconductor body and an insulating structure insulating the electrode from the semiconductor body. The insulating structure includes in a vertical cross-section a gate dielectric portion forming a first horizontal interface at least with a drift region of the device and having a first maximum vertical extension between the first horizontal interface and the electrode, and a field dielectric portion forming with the drift region second, third and fourth horizontal interfaces. The second through fourth horizontal interfaces are arranged below the main surface. The third horizontal interface is arranged between the second and fourth horizontal interfaces. A second maximum vertical extension is larger than the first maximum vertical extension and a third maximum vertical extension is larger than the second maximum vertical extension. The electrode only partially overlaps the third horizontal interface.

Semiconductor transistors, in particular field-effect controlled switching devices such as a Metal Oxide Semiconductor Field Effect Transistor (MOSFET) and an Insulated Gate Bipolar Transistor (IGBT) have been used for various applications including but not limited to use as switches in power supplies and power converters, electric cars, air-conditioners, and even stereo systems. Particularly with regard to power devices capable of switching large currents and/or operating at higher voltages, low on-state resistance Ron and high breakdown voltages are often desired.
To increase the breakdown voltage of lateral field-effect transistors, for example of an LDMOS (Lateral Diffused Metal Oxide Semiconductor device) manufactured using a double diffusion process and with drain, drift and source regions extending to a main surface, a field electrode may be arranged on a field oxide extending along the drift region next to the main surface. The field oxide may be formed using a LOCOS process (LOCal Oxidation of Silicon). The breakdown voltage of the semiconductor devices with such a field redistributing structure is mainly determined by the dielectric properties and the vertical thickness of the field oxide.
However, thicker field oxides may increase the on-state resistance Ron. In particular when semiconductor structures of different rated breakdown voltages are to be integrated in a single integrated semiconductor device, for example a power transistor and a measuring circuitry and or a logic circuitry formed in CMOS-technology (complementary MOS) or BiCMOS-technology (combing bipolar junction transistors and CMOS transistors) such as BCD-technology (Bipolar-CMOS-DMOS), the on-state resistance Ron of the semiconductor transistors with lower rated blocking voltage may significantly be increased when corresponding field oxides are formed in a common LOCOS-process.
Accordingly, there is a need to improve field redistributing structures of lateral semiconductor devices and manufacturing methods therefor.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Semiconductor device with an insulating structure for insulating an electrode from a semiconductor body


A traverse device in which rotary members each having yarn guide blades are arranged to be overlaid and rotated in the direction opposite to each other, and a traverse guide member is provided along the motion locus of the yarn guide blades, wherein the number of the yarn guide blades of the rotary members is differentiated, and the rotary speed is differentiated by a reciprocal number of the ratio of the number. The traverse of yarn and speeds of forward path and backward path are differentiated, and the number of windings between the forward path and the backward path is changed.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a traverse device in which a yarn is reciprocated (hereinafter referred to as traverse) in a case where a yarn is formed into a winding package, and particularly to a traverse device in which two rotary members having two or more yarn guide blades are arranged to be overlaid and rotated in the direction opposite to each other, and a traverse guide surface is provided along the motion locus of said yarn guide blades.
2. Prior Art
A conventional traverse device uses a groove cam mechanism, and the traverse of yarn is effected by the reciprocating motion of the traverse guide in engagement with the groove cam mechanism. Therefore, there occurs extremely great shocks generated at a turn point of the traverse guide and noises generated therefrom to limit smooth high-speed rotation. As means for solving drawbacks encountered in such a groove cam mechanism as noted above, there is known a traverse device which uses yarn guide blades which rotated in the direction opposite to each other to traverse the yarn.
The traverse device using the yarn guide blades which rotate in the direction opposite to each other will be described hereinbelow with reference to FIGS. 4 to 6. In FIGS. 4 and 5, a spun yarn Y is alternately traversed by yarn guide blades 3, 3', 4, 4' provided on rotary members 1 and 2 and wound on a winding package 7 rotated by a touch roller 6 while being guided on a traverse guide surface d of a traverse guide member 5. The rotary members 1 and 2 have one and the same rotating center and are provided on rotary shafts 8 and 9, respectively so that they are rotated in the direction opposite to each other. A bevel gear 10 is provided on the other end of the rotary shaft 8, and a bevel gear 11 is provided on the other end of the other rotary shaft 9. These bevel gears 10 and 11 are meshed with a bevel gear 12 driven by an electric motor 13 so that rotating motion opposite to each other are applied to the rotary members 1 and 2. Around the rotary members 1 and 2 which have one and the same rotating center and rotate in the direction opposite to each other, yarn guide blades 3, 3' and yarn guide blades 4, 4' are secured to the rotary member 1 and the rotary member 2, respectively, at intervals of 180.degree. by means of screws or the like.
The device will be described in more detail with reference to FIG. 6. The distance from the rotating center of the respective extreme ends of the yarn guide blades 3, 3' and 4, 4' is the same radius, and a circular locus indicated at chain line C is depicted by the rotation thereof. The yarn Y is carried by the sides of the yarn guide blades and performs left and right traverse motions while being exchanged with yarn guide blades which rotate in the direction opposite to each other at turn points a and b along the curve of a traverse guide surface d of the traverse guide member 5. In order to secure positive and smooth turning of a yarn at the turn points a and b, the following structure is employed. More specifically, mounting positions of the yarn guide blades 3 and 3' and 4 and 4' with respect to the rotary members 1 and 2 are spaced through 180.degree., and an angle of aOb is 90.degree. in order that the upper and lower guide blades are overlaid at the turn points a and b of the traverse motion. In order to positively carry out the delivery of yarn, projecting guides are provided on the upper and lower surfaces in the proximity of a position at which the yarn guide blades are overlaid at the turn points a and b. Further, in order to positively carry out the delivery of yarn, the rotating center of the rotary members 1 and 2 is sometimes slightly deviated.
In the traverse device shown in FIGS. 4 and 6, the speed of forward path of the traverse is the same as that of backward path (the number of winding is constant). Accordingly, as shown in FIG. 3b, an intersection g between a forward path e and a backward path f forms a straight line in an axial direction of the winding package. Therefore, there arises a problem in that when the wound package is unwound, it tends to be caught at the intersection g, resulting in a poor releasability, and there likely occurs a buldge phenomenon in which opposite ends of the wound package becomes buldged.


Herein is disclosed a blend of a neat oxygen scavenging polymer and a second polymer. The blend can be prepared by extrusion of a neat formulation of the oxygen scavenging polymer and the second polymer. Also disclosed are methods for preparing the neat formulation of the oxygen scavenging polymer, and packaging articles prepared from the blend. In addition, compositions comprising a branched oxygen scavenging polymer and a second polymer are disclosed, as well as packaging articles prepared from such compositions.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to the field of oxygen scavenging polymers. More particularly, it concerns blends of oxygen scavenging polymers with other polymers, and especially such blends wherein the oxygen scavenging polymer is branched.
2. Description of Related Art
It is well known that limiting the exposure of oxygen-sensitive products to oxygen maintains and enhances the quality and shelf-life of the product. For instance, by limiting the oxygen exposure of oxygen sensitive food products in a packaging system, the quality of the food product is maintained, and food spoilage is avoided. In addition such packaging also keeps the product in inventory longer, thereby reducing costs incurred from waste and restocking.
A growing technique for limiting oxygen exposure involves incorporating an oxygen scavenger into the packaging structure. The oxygen scavenger is typically a polymer capable of reacting irreversibly with oxygen that also provides adequate structural properties alone or as a blend in an oxygen scavenging layer of a packaging article. Many early approaches involved the use of polymers comprising linear alkenyl moieties, either in the polymer backbone or in groups pendant on the backbone, as oxygen scavengers. However, these approaches often suffered from off-taste and malodor concerns raised by the migration of fragments of the linear alkenyl moieties (generated by the scavenging reaction) into a packaged food or beverage.
A milestone in the development of oxygen scavenging polymers was reached by Ching et al., International Patent Publ. No. WO99/48963, which discloses the use of polymers comprising an ethylenic backbone and cycloalkenyl pendant groups, especially polymers comprising cycloalkenyl methyl acrylate or cycloalkenyl methyl methacrylate units, as oxygen scavenging polymers. The cycloalkenyl pendant groups do not generate fragments upon undergoing the scavenging reaction, and thus impart minimal off-taste and malodor to a packaged food or beverage.
It is often desirable to prepare a neat formulation of an oxygen scavenging polymer. However, the polymers comprising cycloalkenyl methyl (meth)acrylate disclosed by Ching et al. are typically formed by transesterification of acrylates or methacrylates by alcohols comprising the cycloalkenyl methyl moiety in a reactive extrusion process. Although an effective technique, producing an oxygen scavenging polymer via transesterification in a reactive extrusion is often complicated and expensive.
Production of polymers comprising cycloalkenyl methyl (meth)acrylate units by the free-radical-based direct polymerization of cycloalkenyl methyl (meth)acrylate monomers has not been shown. We found that free-radical-based bulk polymerization or solution polymerization of such monomers would lead to excessive crosslinking involving the double bonds of the cycloalkenyl groups. The result would be a polymer mass that would be difficult to process further in the formation of an oxygen scavenging packaging article from the polymer. Also, excessive consumption of the double bonds of the cycloalkenyl groups would lower the oxygen scavenging capacity of the polymer to undesirably low levels. However, it would be desirable to prepare oxygen scavenging polymers that are not excessively crosslinked, as such polymers may have desirable physical properties in certain applications.
Oxygen scavenging polymers made from ethylene-methyl acrylate copolymer via transesterification have a limited amount of oxidizable cyclohexenyl pendant groups due to the typical low conversion of the methyl acrylate monomer unit in the starting polymer to cyclohexenyl methyl acrylate, and therefore may be difficult to blend or dilute with other commercial polymers. Therefore, it is often desirable to prepare blends of oxygen scavenging polymers in order to reduce cost and improve various properties. For example, it is desirable to blend the polymers comprising cycloalkenyl methyl (meth)acrylate disclosed by Ching et al., with other polymers, such as structural polymers or oxygen barrier polymers.
In one embodiment, the present invention relates to a composition, comprising (i) a branched oxygen scavenging polymer and (ii) a second polymer. Preferably, the oxygen scavenging polymer comprises a cycloalkenyl pendant group, and the second polymer is selected from co(ethylene/methyl acrylate) (EMAC), co(ethylene/vinyl acetate) (EVA), polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), polystyrene (PS), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyamides, or co(ethylene/vinyl alcohol) (EVOH).
In another embodiment, the present invention relates to methods of preparing a neat oxygen scavenging polymer. The methods comprise (i) providing an emulsion comprising the oxygen scavenging polymer, water, and a surfactant; (ii) separating the oxygen scavenging polymer from the water, the surfactant, and other compounds that may be present, to yield a separated oxygen scavenging polymer; and (iv) drying the separated oxygen scavenging polymer, to produce the neat oxygen scavenging polymer. The separating step can involve freeze precipitation, solvent precipitation with an organic solvent, acid precipitation with an aqueous dilute strong acid solution, or spray drying. If desired, the oxygen scavenging polymer may be branched.
In a further embodiment, the present invention relates to a method of preparing a composition comprising an oxygen scavenging polymer and a second polymer. Preferably, the oxygen scavenging polymer comprises a cycloalkenyl pendant group, and the second polymer is selected from co(ethylene/methyl acrylate) (EMAC), co(ethylene/vinyl acetate) (EVA), polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), polystyrene (PS), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyamides, or co(ethylene/vinyl alcohol) (EVOH). The method comprises (a) providing (i) the oxygen scavenging polymer in neat form and (ii) the second polymer; and (b) blending the oxygen scavenging polymer in neat form and the second polymer, to form the composition. If desired, the oxygen scavenging polymer may be branched.
In one embodiment, the present invention relates to an oxygen scavenging packaging article, comprising an oxygen scavenging layer comprising a branched oxygen scavenging polymer and a second polymer. Preferably, the oxygen scavenging polymer comprises a cycloalkenyl pendant group, and the second polymer is selected from co(ethylene/methyl acrylate) (EMAC), co(ethylene/vinyl acetate) (EVA), polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), polystyrene (PS), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyamides, or co(ethylene/vinyl alcohol) (EVOH).
The present invention provides neat formulations of oxygen scavenging polymers. It also provides branched oxygen scavenging polymers that are not excessively crosslinked. In addition, it provides blends of oxygen scavenging polymers with other polymers, such as structural polymers or oxygen barrier polymers, which blends are conveniently prepared.

Oxygen scavenging polymer blends and emulsion-based methods for preparing same


A communication system including an antenna array with feed network coupled to communication electronics. In one example, a communication subsystem comprises a plurality of antennas each adapted to receive an information signal and a plurality of orthomode transducers coupled to corresponding ones of the plurality of antennas, each OMT is adapted to provide at a first component signal having a first polarization and a second component signal having a second polarization. The communication subsystem also comprises a feed network that receives the first component signal and the second component signal from each orthomode transducer and provides a first summed component signal at a first feed port and a second summed component signal at a second feed port, and a phase correction device coupled to the first and second feed ports and adapted to phase match the first summed component signal with the second summed component signal.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to wireless communication systems, in particular, to an antenna and communications subsystem that may be used on passenger vehicles.
2. Discussion of Related Art
Many communication systems involve reception of an information signal from a satellite. Conventional systems have used many types of antennas to receive the signal from the satellite, such as Rotman lenses, Luneberg lenses, dish antennas or phased arrays. However, each of these systems may suffer from limited field of view or low efficiency that limit their ability to receive satellite signals. In particular, these conventional systems may lack the performance required to receive satellite signals where either the signal strength is low or noise is high, for example, signals from low elevation satellites.
One measure of performance of a communication or antenna subsystem may be its gain versus noise temperature, or G/T. Conventional systems tend to have a G/T of approximately 9 or 10, which may often be insufficient to receive low elevation satellite signals or other weak/noisy signals. In addition, many conventional systems do not include any or sufficient polarization correction and therefore cross-polarized signal noise may interfere with the desired signal, preventing the system from properly receiving the desired signal.
There is therefore a need for an improved communication system, including an improved antenna system, that is able to receive weak signals or communication signals in adverse environments.

Communication system with broadband antenna


In a display apparatus, a processor performs an information storing process of storing the displayed information to be correlated with the locus of the handwriting recognized by the recognition process in the memory, when it is determined by the handwriting position determining process that the locus of the handwriting position is superposed on the information which is displayed on the display unit, and an information output process of reading and outputting the information, which is stored in the memory to be correlated with the handwritten locus recognized by the recognition process by the information storing process, when it is determined by the handwriting position determining process that the locus of the handwriting position is not superposed on the information which is displayed on the display unit.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a display apparatus which has a function of recognizing handwritten characters, and a computer-readable medium.
2. Description of the Related Art
With the spread of electronic apparatuses equipped with a touch panel, a technique of recognizing handwritten characters is making progress day by day. In addition, various types of characters can be recognized by a function of recognizing handwritten characters. Recently, a technique especially for recognition of handwritten numerical expressions has been developed (for example, see Jpn. Pat. Appln. KOKAI Publication No. 2009-080615).
In the meantime, operation of these electronic apparatuses has become complicated, making them difficult to understand due to the increase in functions of such apparatuses. For example, there is a function of substituting a character string for a character, and calling the character string substituted for the character (substitution and calling function). However, to execute such a function, a plurality of key operations are required for calling the function, thus usability is not good.
In addition, for example, word processors have a function (character converting function) of registering a frequently-used noun or a word of a spelling including a number of characters, which is substituted by a character desired by the user, and calling and displaying the registered word by inputting the substitute character. However, to register a word (character string) to be registered in association with a desired character by the character converting function, it is necessary to perform troublesome operations such as an operation of setting the registering function, operation of inputting the word to be registered, operation of inputting the substitute character, and operation of finishing the registering function; the usability of which is also not good.

Display apparatus and computer-readable medium


Improved processes for activating a catalyst system used for the reduction of nitrogen oxides are provided. In one embodiment, the catalyst system is activated by passing an activation gas stream having an amount of each of oxygen, water vapor, nitrogen oxides, and hydrogen over the catalyst system and increasing a temperature of the catalyst system to a temperature of at least 180° C. at a heating rate of from 1-20°/min. Use of activation processes described herein leads to a catalyst system with superior NOx reduction capabilities.

Coal-based integrated gasification combined cycle plant (IGCC) technology enables production of electricity with a gas turbine utilizing a fuel that is rich in hydrogen and has a very limited amount of CO2. Combustion of the hydrogen-containing fuel requires an oxidizing source such as air, which contains nitrogen (N2). As a result, a by-product in exhaust gas stemming from hydrogen-containing fuel combustion is a significant amount of NOx. The NOx in the exhaust gas may be reduced by using selective catalytic reduction (SCR) systems along with low NOx combustors in the gas turbine. Since fuel produced and used at an IGCC plant contains hydrogen (H2), the fuel may also provide hydrogen as a reducing agent in the SCR process by introducing a small amount of H2 from the fuel supply into the SCR system. The use of hydrogen as a NOx reducing agent enables the elimination of typical reducing agents, for example, ammonia (NH3) and urea (N2H6CO) in the SCR system, and thus prevents discharge of ammonia slip into the ambient air, which is an inherent problem with current ammonia-based SCR technology.
Recently, a strong attempt to improve H2-SCR efficiency with respect to NOx removal and N2 selectivity under oxidizing conditions was made in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/122,116, the entirety of which is hereby incorporated by reference. As described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/122,116, a palladium (Pd) catalyst showed a substantial increase in NOx reduction efficiency over a platinum (Pt) catalyst that was disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,105,137, for example, under gas turbine exhaust conditions. In U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/472,633, the entirety of which is also incorporated by reference herein, the Pd-based catalyst system was further modified by incorporating a pre-sulfated zirconium binder. While not wishing to be bound by any particular theory, the inventors believed that the pre-sulfated zirconia binder protects the palladium catalyst from degradation by binding sulfur to the defects in the crystalline zirconia structure, thereby minimizing further sulfur poisoning during contact with an exhaust gas containing SO2.

Process of activation of a palladium catalyst system


A computer system (e.g., an on-board vehicle computer system) creates or updates a mapping of transmission gears and respective driveline ratios during operation of the vehicle. The system obtains a current engine speed and vehicle speed and calculates a current driveline ratio for the vehicle based on the current engine speed and vehicle speed. If the driveline is engaged, the system updates the mapping based at least in part on the current driveline ratio. Performing the update may include adding a new transmission gear or updating an existing transmission gear in the mapping, or removing a duplicate transmission gear from the mapping. Applications include cruise control, predictive cruise control, predictive shifting, and selecting a gear for a specific purpose (e.g., for descending a hill).

Modern vehicles are increasingly available in a variety of configurations. This flexibility offers a wide range of potential benefits. For example, transmissions, axle ratios and other features can be selected to optimize the truck for a desired measure of performance, such as top-end speed, power, or fuel economy. However, the availability of many transmission ratios and axle ratios at manufacturing time, as well as the possibility of subsequent changes to the transmission or axle ratio, makes keeping track of the total driveline ratios associated with various transmission gears quite difficult. Without the ability to reliably calibrate mappings between transmission gears and corresponding driveline ratios, any truck features that require such mappings can become inaccurate or even unusable.

Real-time tracking and filtering of estimated driveline ratios


A device for sealing a tracheostoma in a patient includes a seal member for insertion through the tracheostoma to a trachea. The seal member includes a disc having a predetermined line of weakness. In a first configuration, the seal member forms a seal by being pulled against the tracheostoma. In a second configuration, the seal member is removed from the trachea through the tracheostoma by breaking along the line of weakness.

A tracheostomy tube is a short curved tube inserted through a surgical hole in a patient's neck and held in place with a tracheostomy tie around the patient's neck. The purpose of a tracheostomy tube is to provide the patient with an airway or to provide the patient with an access that facilitates the suction of secretions from the airway.
Patients have tracheostomy tubes placed for numerous reasons. Once the reason that necessitated the placement of a tracheostomy tube has been resolved, the tracheostomy tube is normally removed. This procedure is known as decannulation. After the patient is decannulated, there remains a hole in the patient's neck which is known as a stoma. Once the patient is decannulated the stoma will usually close on its own in the majority of the patients. This normally occurs in two to three weeks. Surgical closure of the stoma is required for the patients whose stomas do not close on their own.
Currently, when a patient is decannulated, an occlusive or simply a gauze bandage type of arrangement is placed on the patient for days following decannulation. Once the patient leaves the hospital and in some cases even within the hospital such as from an Intensive Care Unit to a Regular Care Unit, the usual method of covering the stoma is to use the bandage. The patient is then instructed to cover the stoma with a finger when the patient needs to speak or cough.
This method of covering the stoma with the bandage, and using a finger to occlude the stoma in order to talk, suffers from a number of disadvantages. First, if the patient is a child, or a developmentally or physically disabled adult, he or she may not be able to occlude the stoma with a finger as needed. Second, in all patients, if the stoma is not covered in a somewhat airtight fashion, air passing in and out of the stoma when the patient attempts to talk, causes difficulty with or even makes it impossible for the patient to have the ability to speak. Third, when the patient coughs without covering the stoma, air is forced out of the stoma, and even normal breathing can cause air to pass in and out of the stoma if only covered by the bandage. This air movement through the stoma reduces the chance of the stoma closing on its own without surgery. Fourth, touching the stoma with the patient's fingers to talk or cough greatly increases the chances for infection of the patient's stoma and airway, and may lead to contamination and spreading of infection. Fifthly, in existing products, the pressure over the stoma is not constant and air leaks out during speaking and coughing, the patient thus loses their ability to cough effectively. There is also a risk of Atelectasis (the collapse or closure of alveoli), which can be a consequence of lack of post-expiratory pressure and may affect part or all of a lung resulting in hypoventilation with reduced or absent gas exchange. Atelectasis often correlates with the accumulation of mucus and it may lead to pneumonia in some cases.
Patients in intensive care units (ICU) suffering from critical illness or undergoing major surgery are provided with a tracheostomy tube (TT) if they are expected to require mechanical ventilation for more than about 7 days. A TT makes it easier to wean the patient off mechanical ventilation for a number of reasons. For example, the caregivers can minimize the sedation given to the patient as a TT does not provoke gag reflexes (versus an oral tube). Minimizing the administration of sedatives promotes circulation in the patient. Also, the patient can be active in his own care and mobilization, and awake patients can be participate in pulmonary physiotherapy.
When a TT is removed, the patient is robbed of an ability to provide a vital protection in his airway. The patient is no longer able to create an overpressure in their lungs and chest, which is necessary to clear their airways effectively from secretions/mucus. This is because of air leaking from the stoma. When the patient is weaned from mechanical ventilation they will be equipped with a speaking valve or cap on the tracheostomy tube that will enable them to create a positive pressure (Autopeep) in their chest. The Autopeep (peep is positive end expiratory pressure) is the natural counter-pressure that is created continuously by closing the vocal cords. It is typically a pressure of 5 cm H2O, and during a cough can even be >400 cm H2O in the chest.
This is important for a number of reasons, including:                the ability to create a voice with successful phonation,        to cough effectively and eliminate secretions,        make deep sighs to open lower parts of the lungs,        prevent atelectasis,        prevent infections—bronchitis and pneumonia, and        maintain sufficient ventilation for oxygen uptake and elimination of carbon dioxide.
The positive pressure is created by a breath/inspiration followed by closing the vocal cords and a relaxed or forced expiration against the closed vocal cords.
With a capped TT the physician or caregiver can also check if the patient's upper airway is free and if they are doing the respiratory work sufficiently well without mechanical help.
When a TT is removed from a patient, they are placed back to a vulnerable situation because there will be an open artificial airway through the stoma, and the patient loses their Autopeep. The typical patient has been ill for weeks, their respiratory muscles are weakened/atrophic, and malnutrition and muscle atrophia are well known results from a long hospital stay.
Although the decannulated patient can breathe/expirate against their closed vocal cords, the maneuver will lack efficiency in the airways due to the opening (stoma) in the front of their neck (the vocal cords are above the tracheostoma).
This situation can be simulated by trying to cough against open vocal cords to feel the inefficiency of such a cough. The strength of the cough will be substantially reduced. The patient's condition may be complicated by weakened respiratory muscles (chest and diaphragm), which may be weakened as a result of mechanical ventilation. During controlled mechanical ventilation the patient's respiratory muscles are moved passively by the pressure from the ventilator/respirator. Any muscle will atrophy by inactivity and the degeneration of muscle tissue may be accelerated by sub-optimal nutrition during a hospital stay. Moreover, the patient will struggle with increased amounts of secretions in their airway due to the newly removed foreign body (TT) and irritated mucous membrane in the trachea wall after numerous suction procedures with catheters, and some patients will even suffer from pneumonia.
When a TT is removed (it is typically a decision by an anesthetist) the stoma/hole will be covered with a bandage. Some caregivers prefer to use an airtight occlusive dressing, which results in a continuous changing of bandages as it will loosen during coughs, talking or pulmonary physiotherapy due to increased pressure from the airway. Secretions from the airway (often infected) will contaminate the front side of the patient's neck. The patient will touch it in an attempt to tidy themselves up, and the majority of the patient group will not have the energy to go and wash their hands afterwards. Typically, the nurse will help the patient with cleaning if they are in the patient room. The nurse will normally try different types of occlusive dressings, and the frequent use and changing of these dressing can lead to excoriation.
Another drawback in relation using an occluding bandage is that secretions will collect and stagnate within the stoma channel, which impedes healing, worsen infection or risk of infection, and a constant flow of air through the stoma disturbs the tissue closing and healing.
Other caregivers acknowledge the above-mentioned challenge and prefer an absorbing non-airtight bandage such as cotton-gauze held in place with skin-gentle tape. This gives the advantage of having absorbing material in a bandage that may be held in place on the patient a bit longer than the airtight dressing as it allows for the passage of air. A disadvantage is that the patient loses their peep unless the bandage is held towards the neck manually. The situation is complicated by the fact that it is not possible to tighten a bandage around the neck as a stoma is located at the very lowest part of the neck.
Some hospitals practice a step-down unit for patients with tracheostomies, which has special skilled nurses and generally a higher staffing compared to normal wards. A general ward has a lower nurse to patient ratio and cannot offer the patient with a tracheostoma optimal help. Studies show that the discharge of a patient with a tracheostomy tube in situ to a ward is associated with increased mortality. The patient is dependent on their assigned nurse, their vigilance and time. The observation and care of a decannulated patient is a challenge as variations in measureable parameters may occur delayed for hours, days, or even weeks. A struggle may be hidden by an increase in inspiration time, respiration frequency, the use of secondary respiratory muscles. Medical notes may report that the patient seem more dyspnea or more labored in his breathing. It is a fact that complications are given more attention when the variation is numerically measureable.
Severe signs of insufficient breathing such as secretion stagnation and need of suction (via nose or mouth, which can be a painful and very unpleasant procedure for the patient), temperature increase, pneumonia, reduced oxygen uptake/reduced oxygen supply to organs, and accumulation of carbon dioxide are all challenges that the newly decannulated patients are facing. The respiratory insufficiency in some cases leads to an unplanned return to the intensive care unit. General deterioration is difficult to separate from the previous clinical picture.
There exists a need for improved treatment of a tracheostoma in a patient.


An apparatus for discharging water in exhaust fluid is disclosed. The apparatus includes a body having an inlet disposed on an exhaust path for exhausting exhaust fluid exhausted from a fuel cell stack to the outside and through which the exhaust fluid is introduced, an outlet communicating with the outside, an interior space allowing the inlet and the outlet to communicate each other, and a discharge passage communicating with the outside to discharge water in the interior space. The apparatus further includes a first resistance unit disposed on a flow path along which the exhaust fluid flows in the interior space and having first fine holes through which at least a portion of the exhaust fluid passes, and a second resistance unit disposed on a discharge path along which the water in the interior space is discharged through the discharge passage and having second fine holes through which the water passes.

In general, a fuel cell vehicle produces water through a hydrogen reaction in a fuel cell stack.
Exhaust fluid (hydrogen, air, and vapor) discharged from the fuel cell stack flows through an exhaust line.
The exhaust fluid is not problematic during driving of the vehicle, but is discarded to a parking lot in a startup-off state of the vehicle.
In particular, if a compressor is operated and residual water in the stack is discharged when the startup of the vehicle is off at a low temperature, for example, in the winter season, water of a high pressure is ejected through the exhaust line and the bottom of the parking lot is contaminated (water is collected), doing harm to a peripheral area of the vehicle.
Accordingly, a need exists for an apparatus for discharging water while the vehicle travels on a road by using a discharge back pressure.

Apparatus for discharging water in exhaust fluid and silencer for fuel cell vehicle


A hydraulic drive system for driving component parts such as harvesting units of a cotton harvester head assembly. The hydraulic drive system includes a source of actuating fluid and fluid pressure actuators for driving the harvesting units independently of each other. Suitable conduit structure connects each fluid pressure actuator to the source of actuating fluid. The conduit structure is preferably flexible to facilitate transverse positioning of the harvesting units on the head assembly. A control valve assembly is connected to the conduit structure and is operably interposed between the source of actuating fluid and the fluid pressure actuators for selectively interrupting and effectuating the supply of actuating fluid from the source of actuating fluid and each of the fluid pressure actuators thereby influencing operation of the harvesting units.

Cotton harvesters typically include a harvesting head assembly for harvesting crop materials as the harvester is driven across a field. The harvesting head assembly is supported by and transversely extends across the harvester. A typical head assembly mounts a plurality of harvesting units and a rotatable auger mechanism for collecting materials harvested by the harvesting units.
Each harvesting unit includes a fore-and-aft housing assembly which encloses a rotatable harvesting mechanism. The harvesting mechanism of the harvesting unit can take different forms. In cotton stripper type harvesters, the housing assembly of each harvesting unit defines a plant passage with rotatably driven brushes arranged on opposite sides thereof for stripping the crop materials from the plants as the harvester is driven across the field.
A typical auger mechanism includes a transversely elongated auger mounted for rotation on the head assembly and extending rearwardly of and beneath the harvesting units. A conventional auger has left and right hand spiral sections. Thus, when the auger is rotatably driven it moves the materials received from the harvesting units toward a discharge area of the head assembly.
The head assembly further includes a drive mechanism for driving the harvesting units and the auger mechanism. The drive mechanism for the harvesting units typically includes a telescoping shaft assembly extending rearwardly from each harvesting unit. A forward end of the shaft assembly is connected to the harvesting mechanism of a harvesting unit. The rear or aft end of the shaft assembly is connected to and driven by a drive pulley carried on a frame of the head assembly. Each shaft assembly includes telescoping shaft sections as well as front and rear universal joints for accommodating movement of the harvesting units. A separate drive arrangement is provided for driving the rotatable auger mechanism.
Each harvesting unit is supported on the head assembly through an attaching mechanism toward a rear end of the unit. The attaching mechanism is designed to allow for transverse movement of the respective harvesting unit to adjust for different row spacings between the units thereby facilitating harvesting of materials from plants arranged in numerous combinations of row spacings. The harvesting units may likewise be transversely moved for inspection and servicing of the rotatable harvesting mechanism of each harvesting unit.
The size and weight of the harvesting units makes it difficult and cumbersome to adjust their transverse position on the head assembly. Positioning and adjusting of the harvesting units is further complicated by the weight and presence of the telescoping drive shaft assembly extending therefrom. Moreover, the mechanism for transferring power between adjacent drive shaft assemblies requires different parts each time an adjustment in the transverse positioning of the harvesting units is effected. The excess time and added inventory costs involved with modification of conventional harvester drive systems is apparent. The complex mechanical interconnection inherent with the drive arrangement vertically extending to the auger mechanism further complicates the drive system for the cotton harvester.

Hydraulic drive system for a cotton harvester


Solar panel theft protection system operable both during daytime and nighttime. Power is feed into a solar array system sufficient to operate local management units. The units monitor solar panels; in the event that a panel is disconnected, an alarm is set off.

The protocol of the local management unit (LMU) in a photovoltaic energy system is very important. In particular, the protocol must be able to recover from all kinds of errors. It must be self-adjusting, for example, in the case of errors and other problems, and it must maintain certain safety aspects at all times, such as maximum voltage and other desired parameters.
As communications between local controllers and the master controller in a photovoltaic energy system are important to maintain optimal MPPT (maximum power point tracker), it is important to ensure that these communications, as well as the components of the system, are secure.
Most theft-protection systems for solar panels require power. However, at night, the solar panels are dark, and therefore they generate no power. Hence, in many cases, theft protection systems may not work.

Enhanced system and method for theft prevention in a solar power array during nonoperative periods


A turntable with an abrasive cloth mounted thereon and a top ring positioned above the turntable are independently rotatably provided. The top ring holds a workpiece to be polished and presses the workpiece against the abrasive cloth. The turntable and the top ring are rotated to polish the surface of the workpiece to a flat mirror finish on the abrasive cloth. A rotatable brush pressed against the abrasive cloth is rotated about an axis substantially perpendicularly to the plane of the abrasive cloth, and oscillated substantially radially between radially inner and outer positions over the abrasive cloth. A cleaning solution is sprayed from a nozzle onto the abrasive cloth. The turntable has a bank along an outer circumferential edge thereof for preventing a protective solution, which is supplied to the abrasive cloth to keep the abrasive cloth wet and prevent it, from flowing off the turntable when the turntable is stationary.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a polishing apparatus in general and more particularly to a polishing apparatus for polishing a workpiece such as a semiconductor wafer to a flat mirror finish with an abrasive cloth.
2. Description of the Related Art
Recent rapid progress in semiconductor device integration demands smaller and smaller wiring patterns or interconnections and also narrower spaces between interconnections which connect active areas. One of the processes available for forming such interconnection is photolithography. Though the photolithographic process can form interconnections that are at most 0.5 .mu.m wide, it requires that surfaces on which pattern images are to be focused on by a stepper be as flat as possible because the depth of focus of the optical system is relatively small.
It is therefore necessary to make the surfaces of semiconductor wafers flat for photolithography. One customary way of flattening the surface of semiconductor wafers is to polish with a polishing apparatus.
Such a polishing apparatus has a turntable and a top ring that rotate at respective individual speeds. An abrasive cloth is attached to the upper surface of the turntable. A workpiece such as a semiconductor wafer to be polished is placed on the abrasive cloth and clamped between the top ring and the turntable. During the operation, the top ring exerts a constant pressure to the turntable, and a slurry-like abrasive material is sprayed from a nozzle over the abrasive cloth. The abrasive material enters the gap between the abrasive cloth and the workpiece. The surface of the workpiece held against the abrasive cloth is therefore polished while the top ring and the turntable are rotating.
As the polishing process progresses, the abrasive cloth is clogged with abrasive grains contained in the abrasive material. At certain intervals, therefore, the abrasive cloth should be dressed to make itself ready for reuse by removing the clogging abrasive grains. For this purpose, the polishing apparatus is usually equipped with a dressing device.
FIGS. 7(a) and 7(b) of the accompanying drawings show a conventional dressing device for dressing an abrasive cloth. As shown in FIGS. 7(a) and 7(b), the dressing device has a brush 32 attached to an arm 31. To dress an abrasive cloth 34 mounted on an upper surface 33a of a turntable 33; the turntable 33 is rotated about its own axis, and the lower end of the brush 32 is held against the abrasive cloth 34. At the same time, a cleaning solution W such as pure water is ejected from a nozzle 35 onto the abrasive cloth 34.
The conventional dressing device is however disadvantageous in that it fails to clean the entire surface of the abrasive cloth 34 uniformly and cannot fully remove the abrasive grains which have embedded in the abrasive cloth This is because, as shown in FIG. 9(a), the abrasive cloth 34 is swept only in one direction depending on the rotational direction of the turntable 33, and hence the abrasive grains are removed from the abrasive cloth 34 only in one direction. Consequently, even though the abrasive cloth 34 is dressed by the dressing device, the abrasive cloth 34 has a relatively short service life, and must frequently be replaced.
Japanese laid-open utility model publication No. 63-97454 discloses another conventional dressing device. As shown in FIGS. 8(a) and 8(b) of the accompanying drawings, the conventional dressing device has a radial brush 42 mounted on a rotatable shaft 41. To dress an abrasive cloth 34 attached to an upper surface 33a of a turntable 33, the turntable 33 is rotated about its own axis, and the brush 42 is rotated by the shaft 41 about the axis of the shaft 41. While the brush 42 is being held in contact with the abrasive cloth 34, a cleaning solution W such as pure water is ejected from a nozzle 35 onto the abrasive cloth 34.
The dressing device shown in FIGS. 8(a) and 8(b) has a similar problem in that it fails to achieve uniform cleaning of the entire surface of the abrasive cloth 34 and full removal of the abrasive grains which have stuck to the abrasive cloth 34. This is also because, as shown in FIG. 9(b), the abrasive cloth 34 is napped only in one direction depending on rotational directions of the turntable 33 and the brushes 42, and hence the abrasive grains are removed from the abrasive cloth 34 only in one direction.
Furthermore, as shown in FIGS. 7(a), 7(b) and 8(a), 8(b), when the turntable 33 is stopped at the end of a polishing process, the abrasive cloth 34 quickly dries because the solution in the slurry-like abrasive material that has seeped in the abrasive cloth 34 evaporates, Repeated drying cycles make the abrasive cloth 34 relatively short in service life.


A circuit and methods for remote auxiliary power unit startup are presented. A first node is coupled to a ground by action of a momentary switch to initiate an activation, and the first node is coupled to the ground by action of a latching relay in response to the activation. An auxiliary power unit is coupled to a hot battery by action of a bi-polar relay in response to the activation.

Auxiliary power units (APU)s are devices on vehicles such as aircraft that provide an auxiliary source of electrical power in addition to or in absence of ground power (e.g., when an aircraft is at a gate or parked) or main engine generators (e.g., during taxi or in flight). Generally, APUs are found on commercial aircraft, and larger land and water vehicles such as tanks, trucks, and ships. An aircraft APU for running aircraft electrical systems may generally produce a 28V DC current or a 400 Hz AC current at a voltage of 115V.

DC power architecture for remote APU start


Metal alloy injection molding techniques are described. In one or more implementations, these techniques may also include adjustment of injection pressure, configuration of runners, and/or use of vacuum pressure, and so on to encourage flow of the metal alloy through a mold. Techniques are also described that utilize protrusions to counteract thermal expansion and subsequent contraction of the metal alloy upon cooling. Further, techniques are described in which a radius of edges of a feature is configured to encourage flow and reduce voids. A variety of other techniques are also described herein.

Injection molding is a manufacturing process that is conventionally utilized to form articles from plastic. This may include use of thermoplastic and thermosetting plastic materials to form an article, such as a toy, car parts, and so on.
Techniques were subsequently developed to use injection molding for materials other than plastic, such as metal alloys. However, characteristics of the metal alloys could limit use of conventional injection molding techniques to small articles such as watch parts due to complications caused by these characteristics, such as to flow, thermal expansion, and so on.

Metal alloy injection molding protrusions


The present disclosure relates to the field of display technologies, and discloses a light guide plate, a backlight module and a display device, for improving light exit uniformity of the light guide plate and reducing occurrence of phenomenons such as brightness non-uniformity and intersecting light beams of the display device. A plurality of first light-diffusing units is disposed on a light incident surface of the light guide plate. At least one light-diffusing structure is disposed in a set region within the light guide plate in a direction facing away from the light incident surface. In the light guide plate, by disposing a plurality of first light-diffusing units and at least one light-diffusing structure on the light incident surface, light emitted from a light source can be better diffused after passing through the light guide plate and become more uniform before entering the display panel.

At present, backlight modules of liquid crystal display devices are mainly divided into a direct-down type and an edge-in type. An edge-in type of backlight module generally adopts a light guide plate. In this case, the light guide plate enables a linear light emitted from a backlight source to be converted into an area light. Therefore, the light guide plate is now a key part in a display device adopting an edge-in type of backlight module.
In recent years, with rapid development of the display field, "super-thinness", "highlighting", and "narrow frame" have become essential requirements of the high-end display market. But this will also cause some optical problems. For example, in order to improve brightness of the display, microstructure processing is performed on the light guide plate of the backlight source to increase the optical energy utilization. However, this can easily give rise to problems such as "intersecting light beams", for instance, intersecting light beams caused by condensation of a V-groove structure on a light exit surface of the light guide plate. Besides, due to a reduced size of the frame and inadequacy number of LED lamps, light emitted from an LED light source will enter an image region before it is sufficiently mixed. This has gone beyond the adjustable brightness range of nodes, which leads to brightness nonuniformity in front of the lamps in the image display region.

Light guide plate, backlight module and display device

BOE OPTICAL SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.


Disclosed herein is a system for simultaneously removing dust and volatile toxic organic compounds. The system comprises a dust collecting unit disposed between an inlet duct and an outlet duct for removing dust, an organic compound removing unit disposed between the inlet duct and the outlet duct for removing volatile toxic organic compounds, and an inlet blower disposed between the dust collecting unit and the organic compound removing unit. The dust collecting unit is made up of a bag filter, which comprises a housing formed in the shape of a box and connected to the inlet duct, a plurality of filtering members, such as cloth or felt, arranged in the housing, and dust collecting layers defined between the housing and the filtering members. The organic compound removing unit comprises an absorbing apparatus for absorbing the volatile toxic organic compounds, and regenerating heaters attached on the outer circumference of the absorbing apparatus.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a system for simultaneously removing dust and volatile toxic organic compounds, and more particularly to a system for simultaneously removing dust and volatile toxic organic compounds, which is capable of efficiently removing dust and volatile toxic organic compounds produced in various industrial applications.
2. Description of the Related Art
As well known to those skilled in the art, the working environment is very poor in various industrial applications where dust and volatile toxic organic compounds are simultaneously produced, such as the casting industry, the coal-related industry, the grinding industry, the ship painting industry, the metal sheet rust removing industry, the surface treating industry for process industry related products, the metal mineral refining industry, incinerating plants, cement factories, etc. The result is that dust and volatile toxic organic compounds are not efficiently removed in the aforementioned industrial applications.
Workers usually wear masks to work in their workshops. However, it is actually impossible to simultaneously prevent the dust and the volatile toxic organic compounds from entering their bodies via their mouths merely using the masks, which are nothing but fibrous filters.
Consequently, the abovementioned industrial applications are generally regarded as the principal offences of air pollution, and therefore they are not free from various administrative interventions of public or private environment-related institutions, and are placed under legal restrictions according to the environmental protection laws, which are serious obstacles to business.
Furthermore, the workers injure their health or suffer from serious diseases because of the dust and the volatile toxic organic compounds, which have bad influences on the health of the workers. As a result, workers wish to keep out of the aforementioned industrial applications.

System for simultaneously removing dust and volatile toxic organic compounds


In an arrangement for supporting an exhaust system on a motor vehicle, a mounting element is connected to a motor vehicle part, a support element is pivotally connected to the mounting element, and an intermediate retaining means, which is connected to the exhaust system, is pivotally supported by the support element, the pivot axes of the support element and the mounting element and of the intermediate retaining means are parallel and disposed in spaced relationship and so oriented that the support element is pivotable in the longitudinal direction of the exhaust system so as to permit expansion of the exhaust system.

The invention relates to an arrangement for supporting an exhaust system on a motor vehicle by way of a support element.
Such a support arrangement is disclosed, for example, in DE 44 40 188 A1. An object of this arrangement is to accommodate the substantial thermal expansion of the exhaust system.
However, the known arrangement is a relatively complicated construction, so that it is very difficult to install. Furthermore, the arrangement described in the above document can not be removed without being damaged so that the support elements have to be replaced each time the exhaust system is exchanged.
A further arrangement for mounting an exhaust system to a motor vehicle is known from U.S. Pat. No. 2,609,837. In this case, a retaining means is fastened to the exhaust system by way of a sleeve and can be pivoted in relation to a further retaining means.
However, this arrangement is designed for use in motorbikes and cannot be used in motor vehicles for the purpose of accommodating the thermal expansion of an exhaust system.
With regard to the general prior art relating to arrangements for mounting an exhaust system to a motor vehicle, reference is further made to DE 44 17 651 C1 and DE 42 07 583 A1.
The object of the present invention is to provide an arrangement for elastically mounting an exhaust system to a motor vehicle, whereby the thermal expansion of the exhaust system can be accommodated, and which ensures good lateral guidance of the exhaust system and by which the exhaust system can be mounted to the motor vehicle in a stress-free manner.

Arrangement for supporting an exhaust system on a motor vehicle