A contamination resistant probe attachment device attaches over an opening in a top cover of a disc drive to couple a testing probe to the interior of the disc drive. The attachment device has a base for surrounding and attaching around the opening in the top cover in the disc drive and a centrally located aperture for communicating with an upwardly extending flexible tube. The flexible tube having a first and second end, the first end attaching to the base and a second end defining an engagement opening throughwhich a disc drive testing probe is inserted. Seals formed by the contamination resistant probe attachment device, the top cover and the testing probe form a resistant barrier between the interior environment of the disc drive and exterior environment of the disc drive, allowing for probe mediated testing to occur outside the confines of either a clean hood, dedicated clean room or any environment where the disc drive external environment is more contaminated than the internal environment of the disc drive.

This application relates generally to magnetic disc drives and more particularly to a device designed to facilitate probe mediated testing on a disc drive in a typical laboratory environment, i.e., non-clean room environment.
Disc drives are data storage devices that store digital data in magnetic form on a storage medium on a rotating information storage disc. Modern disc drives include one or more rigid discs that are coated with a magnetizable medium and are mounted on the hub of a spindle motor for rotation at a constant high speed. Information is stored on the discs in a plurality of concentric circular tracks typically by an array of heads mounted to a radial actuator for movement of the heads relative to the discs. Each of the concentric tracks is generally divided into a plurality of separately addressable data sectors. The read/write head is used to transfer data between a desired track an external environment. During a write operation, data is written onto a disc track and during a read operation the head senses the data previously written on the disc track and transfers the information to the external environment.
In order to produce a high quality disc drive device, as well as to design alternative disc drives and disc drive components, disc drive manufacturers perform a number of specified tests on the disc drive and its components. These tests often require that an airtight seal on the disc drive be breached and access to the interior of the disc drive be accorded to any number of analytical testing probe(s), for instance, insertion of a capacitance probe, laser doppler velocimetry (LDV) probe, photonic sensor, etc. Breach of the disc drive seal allows air from the disc drive""s external environment to enter the disc drive""s internal environment. As such, the testing must often, if not always, be performed in an environment relatively free of contamination, because contamination that gets into an operating disc drive can lead to damage to the read/write heads and to the data recorded on the information storage disc. Damage to these structures ultimately leads to xe2x80x9chead crashes,xe2x80x9d i.e., a collision of a head with the magnetizable medium of the information storage disc, which in some cases may occur in as few as fifteen to twenty minutes of operation in a contaminated environment. Therefore, disc drive testing must often be performed under relatively contamination free conditions.
Currently, disc drive related testing is performed in either a class 100 environment or under a clean hood where particulate matter and other forms of contamination are filtered from the testing environment. However, it is often inconvenient, expensive and space limiting to perform all disc drive related tests under these clean hood/dedicated clean room conditions, especially in the cases where bulky or highly complex equipment must be employed to perform the testing procedure on the drive. Rather, it would be convenient, cost effective and possibly increase productivity to be able to perform a number of probe mediated tests on a disc drive in the absence of the constraints of working under a hood or in a dedicated clean room.
Accordingly, there is a need in the relevant art to overcome the obstacles prevalent in disc drive testing, in particular there is a need in the relevant art for a device and method that allows for disc drive testing to be performed in an ambient, contaminate containing, laboratory environment, where the testing environment is not dedicated to disc drive testing. Against this backdrop the present invention has been developed.
The present invention is a contamination resistant probe attachment device for use with probe mediated testing procedures on a disc drive, where the testing is performed through an opening in the top cover of the disc drive in a contamination containing environment.
One exemplary embodiment of the present invention is a contamination resistant probe attachment device for coupling a testing probe to the interior of the disc drive. The contamination resistant probe attachment device protects the disc drive from contamination from outside the disc drive during a probe-mediated test. The contamination resistant probe attachment device includes a base, having an attachment portion for attachment of the contamination resistant probe attachment device around an opening in the top cover of the disc drive, and a platform portion extending inwardly from the attachment portion, the platform portion having a centrally located stub tube. A first end of a flexible tube is attached around the stub tube and a second end of the flexible tube has an aperture for receiving the probe used in the probe-mediated test on the disc drive.
Another embodiment of the present invention is a method for performing a probe-mediated test on a disc drive in a contaminated environment. The method includes the steps of attaching a contamination resistant probe attachment device around an opening in the disc drive in an essentially contamination free environment, inserting a probe into the contamination resistant probe attachment device for testing on the disc drive and performing the probe mediated test on the disc drive in a contaminated environment.

Contamination resistant probe attachment device


A scanning optical device is provided with a light source, a polygon mirror, and a beam detector which detects the beam reaching a predetermined position in the main scanning direction. The beam detector has at least one elongated light receiving surface. The beam detector is supported by an adjustable holder. The adjustable holder is rotatable that the longitudinal direction of the light receiving surface can be varied with respect to the main scanning direction.

This invention relates to a scanning optical device used in an image forming apparatus such as a laser printer or the like.
Generally, a scanning optical device includes a light source which emits a beam and a rotatable polygon mirror which reflects the beam so that the beam scans across a surface of a photo-conductive drum. An f.theta.-lens is provided between the polygon mirror and the photo-conductive drum, which converges the beam on the surface of the photo-conductive drum. Hereinafter, the direction in which the beam moves according to the rotation of the polygon mirror is referred to as a main scanning direction. The direction perpendicular to the main scanning direction on a mirror surface of the polygon mirror is referred to as an auxiliary scanning direction.
A `scanning range` is set within the actual moving range of the beam caused by the rotation of the polygon mirror. When the beam reaches one end (a starting position) of the scanning range, the scanning optical device starts modulation of the beam, so as to form latent image on the surface of the photo-conductive drum. The modulation of the beam is continued until the beam reaches the other end (an end position) of the scanning range.
In order to detect the beam reaching a proximate position to the starting position of the scanning range, an SOS (start-of-scan) sensor is provided in the scanning optical device. The SOS sensor is so constructed as to receive the beam via an intermediate mirror disposed in the proximity of the f.theta.-lens.
Since there is a possibility that the rotation axis of the polygon mirror is inclined due to a manufacturing error, the SOS sensor must have a length in the auxiliary n scanning direction. Thus, the SOS sensor uses a PIN photo diode array (as a beam detector)that has a plurality of elongated light receiving surfaces arranged in the main scanning direction. Each light receiving surface of the PIN photo diode array extends in the auxiliary scanning direction.
Further, in order to compensate the deviation of the rotation of the photo-conductive drum, a recently developed optical scanning device has a dynamic prism that is moved so that the beam shifts in the auxiliary scanning direction. It is preferred to dispose the dynamic prism between the light source and the f.theta.-lens, because the amount of the necessary movement of the dynamic lens can be decreased as the dynamic prism is close to the light source. In such a case, when the dynamic prism is moved, the beam directing toward the SOS sensor is also shifted of the beam in the auxiliary direction.
In such a scanning optical device, if the light receiving surface of the SOS sensor is inclined with respect to the main scanning direction, the following problem may arise. FIG. 1 shows the light receiving surface PD and a scanning line, that is, the movement of the beam passing through the light receiving surface PD. The scanning line before the dynamic prism is moved (that is, when the dynamic prism is positioned at its original position) is indicated by an arrow `a`. The timing when the beam moves across the light receiving surface PD is indicated by Ta. When the dynamic prism is moved, the scanning line shifts in the auxiliary scanning direction as indicated by arrows `b` and `c`. If the scanning line shifts as indicated by the arrow `b`, the timing when the beam move across the light receiving surface PD is changes to time Tb that is ahead of time Ta. Conversely, if the scanning line shifts as indicated by the arrow `c`, the timing when the beam move across the light receiving surface PD is changes to time Tc that behind time Ta. Accordingly, the timing of the beam detection by the SOS sensor is influenced by the movement of the dynamic prism. Conseqently, the detected timing when the light modulating is to be started is influenced by the movement of the dynamic prism.

Scanning optical device having a rotatable adjustable holder


A fishing lure release apparatus is a quick release system that allows rapid interchanging of fishing lures on a fishing. An closed wire loop eyelet opposite a posterior open end clasp are opposed along a linearly elongated wire form. The posterior open end clasp forms an attachable hook element that is impinged by a spring urged closure. The hook element is inserted into a inner tubular cavity of the closure causing an impingement of the hook opening for securely holding and maintaining a mechanical coupling to anything attached thereto, while at the same time providing easy removal by sliding the closure upward along the body of the wire form.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to fishing lures, and more particularly to hook attaching/releasing elements within fishing lure kits and assemblies.
2. Description of the Related Art
In America, fishing has grown beyond that of a hobby or leisure activity and has become a competitive professional sport. Competitions with large purses are held all over America. There is a lot of pressure on the competitors, the fishermen, to catch ever-increasing amounts of fish. As a result, fishing lures are expected to perform at a higher level as well.
As a result, the technology used by anglers to catch fish has become increasingly complex in nature. Fishermen no longer rely on the traditional hook and worm approach to attract their targets. Instead, a broad range of products have hit the market, designed to aid the fisherman to catch more fish quickly. One of the most common and popular fishing accessories is the fishing lure, as evidenced by the multitude of different types and styles available on the market. However, such a selection is a drawback when it comes to the amount of time that must be spent changing lures on and off of a fishing line all day. No matter how good the lure, it will not catch any fish out of the water.
Accordingly, there is a need for a means by which fishing lures can be rapidly changed on and off of a fishing line while fishing.
A search of the prior art did not disclose any patents that read directly on the claims of the instant invention; however, the following references were considered related:
U.S. Pat. No. 6,941,695, issued in the name of Minegar, discloses a fishing lure assembly that incorporates multiple retractable hooks. A series of latches and positioners cause movement of the hooks upon application of pressure.
U.S. Pat. Ser. No. Des. 405,866, issued in the name of Laney, discloses an ornamental design for a diving fishing weight. While a design patent protects only the ornamental appearance of an article, and not its structure or utilitarian features, this references discloses environmental structures that insinuate the use of modular elements.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,082,039, issued in the name of McGuiness, discloses a fishing lure with articulatable hook connections. In this reference, the hook connector, noted as element 24, is formed of a flexible, braided filament.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,920,688, issued in the name of Devereaux et al., discloses a swivel jig fishing lure. As particularly indicated in FIG. 3 of this reference, a neck portion mounted between the hook and line spans approximately % of the distance along the length of the plastic worm. The only particular purpose stated within the patent is to provide "trouble free service life".
U.S. Pat. No. 5,630,289, issued in the name of Dotson, discloses a fishing lure kit in which a flexible main body (element 22) is used.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,899,015, issued in the name of Link, discloses a fishing jig with recessed, and attachable/removable skirt.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,090,151, issued in the name of Salminen, discloses a fishing lure with releasable hook. However, in this device the hook and body are designed to separate when striking, occurs.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,076,911, issued in the mane of Thorne, discloses a soft body covered swimming jig fishing lure. In particular, FIGS. 4 and 5 show anticipated attachment with a spinner.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,947,574, issued in the name of Tapley, discloses a spring loaded fishing hook assembly.
Consequently, there is always an need for new and innovative fishing lures and attachments.


The light-emitting element head includes: a first signal supply unit supplying a first signal for sequentially specifying a plurality of light-emitting elements one by one as a control target for control in common to light-emitting element chips; a second signal supply unit supplying second signals for giving an instruction to emit or not to emit light to one of the elements specified as the control target to a set of light-emitting element chips so that each of the signals is supplied in common to plural light-emitting element chips belonging to each of N groups into which the set of chips are divided; and an enable signal supply unit that supplies enable signals for allowing the set of chips to receive the second signals which are different from one another so that the enable signals are supplied respectively to the chips belonging to each of the N groups.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to a light-emitting element head in which plural light-emitting element chips are arrayed, image forming apparatus including a light-emitting element head in which plural light-emitting element chips are arrayed, and a signal supply method.
2. Related Art
In an electrophotographic image forming apparatus such as a printer, a copy machine or a facsimile machine, an image is formed on a recording paper sheet as follows. Firstly, an electrostatic latent image is formed on a charged photoconductor by causing an optical recording unit to emit light on the basis of image information. Then, the electrostatic latent image is made visible by being developed with toner. Lastly, the toner image is transferred on and fixed to the recording paper sheet. As such an optical recording unit, in addition to an optical-scanning recording unit that performs exposure by laser scanning in a first scan direction using a laser beam, an optical recording unit using the following light-emitting element head has been employed in recent years. This light-emitting element head includes a large number of light-emitting element chips arrayed in a first scan direction, and each light-emitting element chip includes a light-emitting element array formed of light-emitting elements such as light emitting diodes (LEDs) arrayed in a line.
Such a light-emitting element head including a large number of light-emitting element chips arrayed thereon requires as many lighting signals as correspond to the number of light-emitting element chips. Accordingly, in the light-emitting element head, the number of lighting signal bus lines increases as the number of light-emitting element chips increases. In addition, the number of current buffer circuits each having a large current drive capability also increases with increase in the number of light-emitting element chips since the lighting signals supply a current to the light-emitting elements.
Hence, a light-emitting element head including a large number of light-emitting element chips has the following problems: the size of a drive IC of the light-emitting element head increases as the number of light-emitting element chips increases in the light-emitting element head; and the printed circuit board of the light-emitting element head needs to have a larger width in order to allow a large number of low-resistance lighting signal bus lines to be arranged thereon. The width of the printed circuit board may be reduced by employing a multi-layer printed circuit board, which however causes increase in cost.

Light-emitting element head, image forming apparatus and signal supply method


A method drives an imaging system including: a plurality of pixels; an amplifier having an input node connected to the plurality of pixels via an input capacitor, and an output node connected to the input node via a feedback capacitor; and a reset unit configured to reset the input node to a base potential. The method includes the steps of: causing the input capacitor to hold noise output from one of the plurality of pixels; adding signals output from the two or more pixels in the feedback capacitor; and obtaining a difference between a signal applying a gain to a base signal output from the amplifier according to the reset of the input node of the amplifier and the signal added in the feedback capacitor.

1. Technical Field
The present disclosure relates to an imaging system and a method for driving the imaging system.
2. Description of the Related Art
Addition of signals from a plurality of pixels is known in an application requiring high-speed signal reading such as a moving image. A photoelectric conversion apparatus having an amplifier in each column pixels provided in a matrix and configured to add a signal in a feedback capacitor included in the amplifier has been discussed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2008-78894.
The amplifier discussed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2008-78894 includes a clamp capacitor. The amplifier clamps signals output in response to the reset of the pixel to the clamp capacitor, and then sequentially adds signals output in response to photoelectric conversion. When the above-described clamp operation is performed, an input node of the amplifier is reset to a base potential. The output of the amplifier at this time includes an offset component resulting from the amplifier. Thereafter, a difference between the offset component and the signals after addition is obtained.
According to the operation of the photoelectric conversion apparatus discussed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2008-78894, in a process in which signals output from n (n is an integer of 2 or more) pixels are sequentially added, a level according to the reset of a first pixel is clamped with the clamp capacitor, and the signals from the n pixels are then added. More specifically, the signals from the n pixels are added while only a signal from one pixel is clamped.
For this reason, since the (n−1) offset components remain in the operation discussed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2008-78894, there is a concern that an S/N ratio of the signal output from the photoelectric conversion apparatus may be decreased.

Imaging system and method for driving imaging system


The present invention provides a device for electrically connecting electrical conductors of two adjacent sections of a multi-phase electrical distribution system. The connecting device includes a generally cylindrical body enclosing two ground connectors, two outside insulators and two inside insulators intermediate the outside insulators. Each of the outside and inside insulators includes an equal number of semi-circular shaped electrical connectors which are arranged such that each electrical connector on one of the outside insulators has a corresponding electrical connector on one of the inside insulators thus forming a pocket. Each pocket receives one electrical conductor from each of the two adjacent sections of the electrical distribution system. Electrical conductors of the two adjacent sections of the electrical distribution system sharing a common pocket are electrically connected by the corresponding electrical connectors forming that pocket as the two outside insulators are drawn toward the two inside insulators.

Electrical connections between two adjacent sections of a multi-phase electrical distribution system having round conductors have been made by spring loaded connectors or by a separate bolted connection for each phase of the distribution system that requires additional space for the connection and electrical insulation required to separate the different phases. While spring loaded connections are easily assembled and can be compact in size, there are times when a bolted connection is preferred or required in an area where limited space is available. It is also desirable that a protective housing surrounding the electrical connection be compact and easily converted to a water resistant housing when mated to adjacent sections of a pre-bussed conduit electrical distribution system or electrical metallic tubing.

Bolted electrical connecting device for multiple electrical conductors


Methods of optimizing the use of routing resources in programmable logic devices (PLDs) to minimize test time. A set of routing resources is identified that are not used in most designs, and a device model is provided to the user that prevents the use of these resources. Because the routing resources will never be used, they need not be tested by the PLD manufacturer, significantly reducing the test time. For example, each PLD within a PLD family is typically designed using a different number of similar tiles. Thus, smaller PLDs in the family include an unnecessarily large number of routing resources. These excessive routing resources can be disabled during implementation of a design. In another example, each tile along the edges of an array includes routing resources designed primarily to provide access to tiles that are not present. These redundant routing resources can be disabled during implementation of a design.

Programmable logic devices (PLDs) are a well-known type of digital integrated circuit that can be programmed to perform specified logic functions. One type of PLD, the field programmable gate array (FPGA), typically includes an array of configurable logic elements (CLEs) accessed from off-chip via programmable input/output blocks (IOBs). The CLEs and IOBs are interconnected by a programmable interconnect structure. Some FPGAs also include additional logic blocks with special purposes (e.g., DLLs, RAM, and so forth).
The interconnect structure, CLEs, IOBs, and other logic blocks are typically programmed by loading a stream of configuration data (bitstream) into internal configuration memory cells that define how the CLEs, IOBs, and interconnect structure are configured. The configuration data can be read from memory (e.g., an external PROM) or written into the FPGA by an external device. The collective states of the individual memory cells then determine the function of the FPGA.
The interconnect structure typically includes a large number of routing resources such as interconnect lines (e.g., metal wires) running generally horizontally and vertically between the various logic blocks, and programmable interconnect points (PIPs) that selectively couple the interconnect lines to each other and to input and output pins of the logic blocks. Interconnect lines within the CLE array can span, for example, one CLE, two CLEs, six CLEs, half of the chip, and so forth. By enabling selected PIPs, two signals in two logic blocks can be interconnected via one or more of the interconnect lines.
In order to test a PLD, typically every logic block, every interconnect line, and every PIP must be tested. This exhaustive testing process is required because, being a programmable device, the manufacturer cannot predict which of the literally millions of resources will be used by a customer's design. For some PLDs, the process of testing every resource on the device can be so time-consuming that testing becomes the largest expense in producing the PLD—larger than the cost of fabricating the die. Therefore, it is desirable to reduce PLD testing time as much as possible.
PLD providers typically offer a "family" of PLD products, that is, a set of PLDs that are closely related but include different numbers of similar logic blocks. A rectangular area (i.e., a "tile") is designed and laid out that includes, for example, a CLE and the associated routing resources. The CLE can include, for example, one or more lookup tables and one or more memory elements paired with the lookup tables. The routing resources can include, for example, interconnect lines that connect by abutment with interconnect lines in adjacent tiles. The routing resources also include PIPs that allow signals access to and from the interconnect lines and CLEs.
Typically, a single tile is designed (e.g., including a CLE and the associated routing) and this single tile is used in the CLE arrays of all members of a PLD family. For example, the smallest member of a PLD family can include an 8×8 array of tiles, while the largest member of the same family can include a 128×120 array of the same tiles. Each of these tiles is similar, i.e., has the same number of resources located in about the same positions within the tile, although minor variations can occur in edge tiles, for example, to improve the layout area of the PLD or for other reasons. The number of interconnect resources provided within the tile is typically sized to accommodate the number of signals required by the largest array of tiles.
It is well known that the required number of interconnect resources grows at a rate larger than the number of tiles. Therefore, for example, if N interconnect lines per tile are sufficient to route a typical design in an 8×8 array, many more than N interconnect lines per tile are required to route a typical design in a 128×120 array. Similarly, for example, if M interconnect lines per tile are sufficient to route 90% of user designs in the 128×120 array, probably all user designs will route quickly within the smaller array having M interconnect lines per tile. Large numbers of interconnect lines and PIPs typically go unused in the smaller arrays.
A similar condition applies at the edges of each array, and particularly at the corners, regardless of the size of the array. Because of the uniformity of the tiles, the same number of interconnect lines per tile are available at the outer edges of the array as in the center of the array. However, signals are typically much more congested in the center of the array. Therefore, large numbers of interconnect lines and PIPs typically go unused in the outer tiles, and especially in the edge tiles.
Further, certain types of interconnect lines and PIPs are always unused in edge tiles, such as those used to connect directly to an adjacent tile that is not present because the edge of the array has been reached. Other types of interconnect lines and PIPs are very rarely used at the edges of an array, such as those generally used to route signals long distances in the direction of the edge.
Using similar tiles (and especially using uniform tiles) in the design of PLDs reduces the PLD design time, increases product yield due to the uniformity of the circuit structure, simplifies the implementation software for the PLD, and allows for many consistent timing specifications across the PLD family. However, this uniformity of design also leads to uniformity of testing.
In other words, each tile in the smaller members of the PLD family is typically tested just as exhaustively as tiles in larger members of the same PLD family, and each tile at the edges of the tile array is equally exhaustively tested.
Testing time for PLDs is an important issue not only in larger PLDs, but also in smaller PLDs, which typically include excessive routing resources and in which a larger percentage of the tiles are edge tiles and corner tiles. Therefore, it is desirable to reduce testing time for all PLDs in which arrays of similar tiles are used.

Methods of resource optimization in programmable logic devices to reduce test time


A method can be used to produce a component from a sandwich material in sheet or strip form, which sandwich material comprises at least two metallic surface layers and a plastic layer disposed between the metallic surface layers. The method may involve at least partially heating the sandwich material along an edge region to soften the plastic in the edge region. The plastic may then be substantially completely displaced out of the edge region by exerting a force on at least one of the metallic surface layers. In this way a plastic-free edge region is produced in which the metallic surface layers are in contact in sub-regions or at points. Further, a component comprised of a sandwich material may include at least two metallic surface layers and a plastic layer disposed between the metallic surface layers. The sandwich material may have, at least along one edge, a plastic-free region in which the metallic surface layers are in contact in sub-regions or at points.

The German laid-open specification 10 2011 054 362 has disclosed a method for producing a composite sheet part with a metallic edge region. Said document has been recognized in the preamble as the closest prior art. Furthermore, the document discloses correspondingly produced components, which as large-area parts can be used in automobile construction as outer skin parts, because, in relation to the dimensioning of the components, weight can be saved through the use of sandwich materials in relation to solid materials. Such components with a metallic edge can, on conventional vehicle production lines, be subjected to preferably resistance spot welding without problems in the manner of monolithic materials, because electrical contact between the metallic surface layers is ensured in the edge region.

Method for producing a component from a sandwich material and component produced from a sandwich material


An improved luer lock connector having a pair of tapered engagement surfaces between the hub and one of the two components of the luer connector. The tapered engagement surfaces provide a gradual frictional engagement when tightening the hub to minimize inadvertent reverse rotation and loosening of the hub. The tubular body is also provided with a plurality of axially extending splines for engagement with a plurality of inwardly radially directed ribs on the hub to positively rotationally lock the two components when the hub is in a proximal position. A small circumferential ridge provides tactile feedback to an operator to indicate when the hub is in a positive rotationally interlocked relationship with the tubular body. The hub may be completely removed in a proximal direction from the tubular body and retracted proximally along a supply line to remove it from the connector site.

Medical connectors for intravenous applications often utilize standard luer connectors having a tapered tubular body which fits into a tapered socket or luer adaptor of a second body to provide a frictional seal between two fluid conduits.
In the early embodiments, the luer connector includes a tapered male nose portion adapted to fit within a tapered female receiver, the two pieces being locked together with a threaded hub engagement. The hub was typically rotationally coupled to the male portion so that assembling the luer connector together by twisting the hub resulted in twisting of the male portion, sometimes establishing a reverse torque within one or both of the fluid conduits extending from the connector components. This reverse torque tended to twist the fluid conduits connected to one or both of the connector components which can cause the loss of patency of the IV site, or other complications associated with twisted conduits.
To remedy this situation, the next generation of luer locks incorporated a separate rotatable hub or sleeve having internal ribs for mating with external splines on either the male or female luer connector body. The hub typically slides axially and freely spins over a first one of the luer components and has an internal stop which cooperates with an external stop on the first luer component. When the male and female components are brought together, the hub engages an external projection or thread on the second luer component and, due to the engaging stops, urges the male component into sealing engagement with the female component. Prior hubs assemble onto the male component from the nose or distal end, and are forced over a stop ring or other structure on the tubular male component. Jamming the hub onto the male component in this manner often results in hoop stress fractures of either piece.
The hub on this type of connector may have two axial positions: a distal, freely rotatable position which allows relative hub to first luer component rotation, and a proximal position in which the hub and first luer component are rotationally locked. This rotational coupling is typically provided by internal ribs on the hub engaging projections on the exterior surface of the first luer component when the hub is in the proximal position. See, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 4,607,868 to Harvey et al. The rotational lock is provided to assist in breaking the luer connection between the tapered male and female surfaces. Indeed, some luer connections are left in place for extended periods of time resulting in the male and female surfaces of the luer connection being essentially glued together.
Although the hub in the prior art connectors is tightened to join the male and female components together, the hub has a tendency to rotate in a reverse direction increasing the risk of disengagement of the medication line. To prevent this from happening, nurses sometimes apply tape over a tightened hub to prevent it from rotating relative to the male and female luer connection.
Another problem with the aforementioned hub-type luer connection arises from the internal ribs on the hub and the external projections on the first luer component to provide rotational locking engagement. The operator occasionally has difficulty sliding the hub proximally over the first luer component to engage the projections because the ribs and projections are circumferentially aligned and in some rotational positions interfere with each other. In addition, the outer diameter of the hub is large enough to interfere with the appropriate percutaneous entrance angle for an I.V. needle, particularly in pediatric applications. The use of hub-type luer connectors on these sensitive applications may be inappropriate, and a simple slip luer is commonly used. This necessitates maintaining an inventory of both types of luer connectors.
Thus there is a need for an improved connector in which the risk of inadvertent hub rotation is minimized by a relatively high anti-rotation friction, and the other limitations of the prior art connectors are overcome. There is also a need for a connector in which the hub can be pulled away from the luer to permit slip connections.


A powdered, free-flowing elastomer is prepared by mixing, in a preferred embodiment, a nitrile latex with sodium carboxymethylcellulose until the mixture thickens, adding the latex mixture to a coagulant solution with agitation, also adding polyvinyl chloride coating latex to the coagulant solution, filtering the liquid, drying the filter cake, and recovering the product having an average particle size of less than about 1 millimeter. During coagulation, the cellulose salt is converted to the insoluble aluminum CMC gel.

In a conventional practice, elastomer latex is coagulated to form raw rubber in the form of small crumbs of about 3 to 5 millimeters particle size, which are then filtered, washed to remove soap, and dried. Raw rubber is a tacky material which agglomerates readily into large chunks or bales. Anticaking agents have been admixed in the past with raw crumb rubber to maintain it in particulate form, however, even these agents are not effective in maintaining raw rubber in free-flowing state and they may be detrimental to the inherent properties of rubber.
In commercial practice, raw rubber is usually delivered in large chunks or bales which may be subdivided by cutting into smaller pieces which are subsequently processed in a conventional manner by mixing with other ingredients. Since such mixing is an energy intensive procedure, the use of powdered, friable rubber would substantially reduce energy requirements.
The prior art has dealt with the problem of rendering the raw rubber in a free-flowing powdered form. U.S. Pat. No. 3,813,259 to Neubert, in a preferred embodiment, discloses a process for obtaining dry, non-adhering particles by adding styrene-butadiene latex to a coagulant solution whereby the latex is coagulated to produce raw rubber in the form of crumbs. This process is completed by heating the resulting mixture to an elevated temperature, adding a coating resin latex to the heated mixture in order to deposit a layer of the coating resin on the particles of raw rubber, and recovering an allegedly nonagglomerating particulate product with a particle diameter on the order of one quarter of an inch.
Japanese Pat. Nos. 54(1979)-7448 and 7449 relate to a process for preparing powdered polychloroprene rubber. This is accomplished by admixing methylcellulose, hydroxymethyl cellulose or polymethyl vinyl ether with polychloroprene latex and a sulfate or a carbonate of an alkali metal. This mixture is maintained at room temperature or heated to above 50.degree. C. and added dropwise with stirring to a coagulant solution of an alkaline earth chloride or nitrate maintained at a temperature from about 30.degree. C. to above 50.degree. C. A coating resin latex is added to the coagulant with mixing for about one hour following which, the mixture is filtered, the filter cake is washed with dilute acid and then with water, and dehydrated with a centrifuge to obtain a fluid powdery rubber which is easily pulverizable. The product, for the most part, allegedly consists of particles smaller than 14 mesh or 3 millimeters.

Powdered elastomers and process therefor


To selectively route stand-by packets in input modules to destination output modules via a switching matrix, distributed arbitration functions are executable by successive arbitration cycles. Each cycle comprises: a first phase executable by each input controller to send each output controller requests representative of the quantities of required stand-by packets; a second phase executable by each output controller to determine the quantity of admissible packets depending on the requests; a third phase executable by a central arbitration unit to determine allowed aggregate quantities depending on all the admissible quantities; and a fourth phase executable by each input controller to determine the allowed packet quantities depending on the admissible quantities and of the allowed aggregate quantities.

The invention specifically concerns switching systems capable of processing data organised in packets (packet switching). It also concerns the so-called "multiservice" switching systems, i.e., systems that are capable of performing packet switching while also being capable of processing data organised in different transmission formats (circuit switching), typically data organised in time-division multiplexing (TDM) in compliance with the SDH or SONET protocols or even ODU ("Optical Data Unit").
Here the term "packet" refers to any data set grouping transmit data information according to a pre-established format (called "payload") and auxiliary data contained e.g. in a packet header. The header specifically contains an indication of the destination of the packet and generally a service quality class. The indication may be an explicit destination address or a "label" representative of that destination. The most common packet formats include the IP (Internet Protocol), MPLS or Ethernet packets that have a variable size and the ATM cells that have a fixed size.
It should be noted that a network comprises multiple nodes interconnected by transmission links. A node is frequently connected to various other nodes and then integrates routing functions to selectively route data carried by signals received from upstream links to other downstream links depending on the respective destinations of the data. Certain nodes have access functions allowing to introduce data in the network and/or to extract data from the network.
To perform a routing function a node is equipped with a switching system or more simply with a "switch". A switching system comprises multiple input ports connected by upstream links to transmitters of user stations or to other nodes as well as multiple output ports connected by downstream links to receivers of other user stations or other nodes. In general the switching system is intended to route the data flows received by its various input ports selectively depending on their respective destinations to output ports allocated to these destinations.
Conflict management is an essential role of a switching system, i.e. the permanent control of the data routing to ensure that various received data intended for a same output port are directed to that port at different times.
The performance of a system is evaluated on the basis of its bandwidth, i.e. the total bit rate of binary data it is capable of routing on average without data loss.
FIG. 1 gives a schematic representation of a typical switching system structure. This system comprises a switching matrix 1 driven by a central controller 2, a multiplicity of input modules IM1, IM2, IMi, IMn respectively driven by input controllers IC1, IC2, ICi, ICn and a multiplicity of output modules OM1, OM2, OMj, OMn respectively driven by output controllers OC1, OC2, OCi, OCn. The input modules are respectively connected to upstream links via input ports IP1, IP2, IPi, IPn, and the output modules are respectively connected to downstream links via output ports OP1, OP2, OPj, OPn. The input and output modules are also networked with central controller 2 that combines the system's central control functions.
The data to be switched received by input ports IPi are transmitted to the matrix by input modules IMi, and depending on the commands received from central controller 2, the matrix performs a selective routing of these data to output ports OPj via output modules OMj. Each input module IMi or output module OMj also communicates with controller 2 to the exchange signals and control information required for the good execution of the selective routing.
More specifically, each input module IMi acts as a physical interface with the relevant upstream link and comprises devices for memorizing and processing the received data, these devices are designed to temporarily store the data, e.g. in the case of packets by creating and managing packet queues. If various service quality classes (or more simply "service classes") are provided in the network, multiple queues will be provided and will be allocated to these respective classes.
Typically, each input module is intended to create multiple queues organised in addressee output ports as well as in service classes. Thus, each of these queues contains the stand-by packets intended for a given output port and benefits from a given service class. The queues organised in this way are occasionally called VOQ (or "Virtual Output Queue").
The management of the queues consists in permanently filling these queues with the new data received and in extracting from these queues the data authorized for transfer to the matrix.
Data transfers between input modules IMi and switching matrix 1 on the one hand and the transfers between the matrix and output modules OMj on the other hand normally occur in successive switching cycles of a constant duration, designated as "transfer duration". Preferably, the switch shall furthermore be designed in such a way that each input and output module can respectively send and receive a quantity of packets simultaneously with each switching cycle. An input module shall e.g. be provided to create and send with each cycle a data block comprising a packet set, each fixed size block comprising multiple groups of packets respectively associated with the various output modules, each group comprising packets intended for a same output module associated with that group. The size of a group should preferably be modifiable. It can also be subdivided into subgroups associated respectively with multiple channels and/or multiple service classes. A switch of this type is described in greater detail in European Patent Application EP 1549103, published on 29 Jun. 2005.
For the matrix to be able to switch the data transferred in this way, the central controller must specifically know the respective output ports to which these transferred data must be routed by the matrix. This routing information is obtained from the destinations contained in the packet headers and depending on the routing information loaded beforehand in the routing table. The input modules are responsible for elaborating this routing information and for transmitting it to the central controller in addition to the associated packets transferred to the matrix. The controller then considers the routing information associated with the packets in order to be able to route them accordingly.
These control data are usually designated by the term "overhead" and are added to the "useful" information data to be switched called "payload". This aspect is represented in FIG. 1, where the payload and the overhead are symbolised respectively by white rectangles PL and hatched rectangles OH.
Prior to the actual routing operations mentioned above, an essential function of a packet switching system is the mechanism allowing to select during operation at what moments how much data of which queues are authorized to be transferred. This role is usually fulfilled by so-called "schedulers" or "arbiters" intended to perform the selections according to predefined rules.
To identify the data to be selected, the arbiters execute an arbitration algorithm intended to optimize the data transfer according to the selected criteria. Amongst possible other criteria the following conditions must at least be met:
avoid conflicts, as stated above;
authorise the input modules to transfer per cycle quantities of data compatible with the maximum transfer capacities between each input module and the matrix on the one hand and between the matrix and each output module on the other hand.
Moreover, a good arbitration mechanism must also meet the following additional conditions:
make stand-by packet choices with a degree of "equity", i.e. handle all the packets of a same service class in an equivalent manner in terms of average transfer time measured on an as short as possible time frame, whatever the input ports and/or output ports via which they transit, e.g. by taking into account the arrival sequence of the packets to be switched;
allocate differentiated priorities to the packets to be extracted from the queues depending on their respective service classes;
contribute towards optimizing the use of the switch resources, i.e. maximize its bandwidth.
To implement an arbitration mechanism, a centralised realisation can be considered, i.e. provide a hardware and/or software subassembly, hereafter called "arbitration unit" in central controller 2, capable of executing a selected arbitration algorithm. This arbitration unit communicates with the input and/or output modules to receive from the latter all the information required to execute the algorithm and to give them the resulting arbitration decisions.
To this end the input modules each dialogue with the arbitration unit according to the following general diagram. At successive times each input module sends the arbitration units requests informing it of the filling status of its queues. Depending on the requests received from all the input modules, the arbitration unit determines the queues to be transferred to the matrix according to the retained criteria and subsequently informs all the input modules by means of grant messages. Depending on the grant messages it receives each input module updates its queues by performing the corresponding data transfers to the switching matrix.
This centralised realisation, however, presents the inconvenience of being complex and of requiring many exchanges of information, more specifically when the number of input and output ports becomes high. Indeed, the arbitration unit must have processing resources that are sufficiently fast to periodically consider the availability statuses of all the output modules, the statuses of all the queues of all the input modules, and respond by giving the input modules the grant information related to all the queues.
The problem becomes worse if the output modules are each foreseen to manage multiple output channels sharing the same output port.
For instance, a switching system to be currently installed in the optical backbone networks should typically comply with the following technical specifications:
simultaneously process packet and "TDM" traffic;
manage a number of hundreds of channels per output port;
take into account thousands of queues in each input module.

Packet-switched system for communication network node


The disclosure is directed to a monohydrate crystalline form of 3-(5-(4-(3-fluoropropyl)piperazin-1-yl)benzimidazol-2-yl)-1-azaazulen-2-one, possessing diffraction peaks of about 12.9°, 15.9°, 17.9°, 21.2°, 22.9°, 23.5° and 24.5°. Its preparation method and pharmaceutical composition thereof are also provided.

Studies in modern molecular biology have discovered that a lot of kinases play an important role in the process of cell growth and cell division, and some other studies have proved that the overexpression of kinases involves cell oncogenesis, cancer cell over-proliferation, cell malignancy, and metastasis. As such, developing kinase inhibitors as effective anti-cancer medications has become an important aim in the field of anti-cancer drug research and development. Currently, the drug industry all over the world has invested greatly in order to develop novel kinase inhibitors, and therefore there are several kinase-inhibitor-based anti-cancer drugs on the market, such as Novartis's Gleevec, AastraZeneca's Iressa and Pfizer's Sutent which have been approved to be clinically effective and have high market share. The azaazulene compound, 3-(5-(4-(3-fluoropropyl)piperazin-1-yl)benzimidazol-2-yl)-1-azaazulen-2-one, is a kind of small-molecule kinase inhibitor, which is capable of inhibiting a plurality of kinases. Therefore, it may be used as the anti-cancer drug and diagnostic reagent in the future.
Different crystalline forms of a specific drug might result in variations of solubility, melting point, stability, bioavailability, and the like. Therefore, it is desirable that a novel crystalline form of the azaazulene compound with homogeneity, stability, reproducibility, and processability should be found for further development.

Monohydrate crystalline form of 3-(5-(4-(3-fluoropropyl)-piperazin-1-yl)benzimidazol-2-yl)-1-azaazulen-2-one, preparation, and pharmaceutical composition thereof

Industrial Technology Research Institute


The present invention provides a novel apparatus for measuring the shape of various parts of anatomy, and alternatively capturing and digitizing an image of the part for the purpose of creating prosthetic or orthotic devices. Also provided are methods of measuring anatomical profiles involving physical contact with the body parts, and methods of manufacturing internal or external prosthetic and orthotic articles which mimic natural body parts in texture and motion characteristics, and in some cases, appearance.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to the fields of imaging and biomedical devices. More specifically, the present invention relates to prosthesis profilometry and manufacture.
2. Description of the Related Art
In the United States, between 1990 and 1994, the incidence of developing breast cancer stabilized at approximately 110 cases per 100,000 women. Women who develop breast cancer have a 5-year relative survival rate of 79-87%.
Often, women who have had breast cancer and receive a mastectomy, choose to use a breast prosthesis to hide the loss of one or both breasts, and to give an outward appearance to others and themselves as aesthetically appealling. Today, there are about 1,000,000 women wearing external (i.e., not implanted) breast prostheses, and about 100,000 new fittings are done every year. Many more implants of internal breast prostheses are done every year.
While there are several different models of external breast prostheses, they are imperfect either because of a multitude of reasons, such as having an unattractive shape, a shape different from the remaining breast (if one remains), and because the color does not match that of the patient""s skin. The forms of internal prostheses are typically only poor representations of the shape of a real breast. While recent technological advances have led to the development of hollow external breast prosthesis, there is still a limitation in the ease at which these and other external prostheses are fitted as they require that the patient visit a mold-maker whereupon a negative impression of her breast(s) is made. Not only is this inconvenient and potentially expensive, but by using material such as plaster-of-paris to make the mold, and by having the patient in a prone or other position during the molding process, the shape obtained is not only unique to the shape of the breast while the patient is in that position, but it is slightly altered by the additional weight of the plaster.
The prior art is deficient in the lack of effective apparatus and/or methods for measuring the shape of various parts of anatomy. The present invention fulfills this long-standing need and desire in the art.
The present invention provides a novel apparatus for measuring the shape of various parts of anatomy that is quick, non-contact, and results in digital contour information which can be used to control computer-operated machines to make the mold for a n internal or external prosthesis or an orthotic. These devices may alternatively be used for capturing and digitizing an image of any anatomical part for the purpose of creating prosthetic or orthotic devices which match previously existing parts, for providing bilateral symmetry or for creating a new anatomical part based on aesthetic or practical physical considerations. Other applications include orthotic devices for the foot and facial prostheses for reconstruction following cancer.
Also provided are methods of measuring anatomical profiles involving physical contact with the breast or other body parts, and methods of manufacturing internal or external prosthetic and orthotic articles which mimic natural body parts in texture and motion characteristics, and in some cases, appearance.
Other and further aspects, features, and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description of the presently preferred embodiments of the invention given for the purpose of disclosure.


An image forming apparatus and an ink solidifying method in the image forming apparatus can efficiently perform solidification of an ink on a photosensitive belt developed and transferred to an image transfer process with simple construction. The image forming apparatus has a photosensitive belt, on which a latent image is formed, a developing roller for developing the latent image on the photosensitive belt with an ink prepared by dispersing toner particle in a predetermined solvent, a transfer roller placed in contact with the photosensitive belt and having a heater therewithin, the transfer roller transferring an ink of a developed image on the photosensitive belt on to a paper, a fuser roller placed in contact with the transfer roller and having a heater therewithin, the fuser roller being cooperated with the transfer roller for feeding the paper therebetween, and hot air blowing means located between a developing position where the developing roller is provided and a transfer portion where the transfer roller is provided, for blowing a hot air onto the ink forming the developed image.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to an image forming apparatus and an ink solidifying method for use with an image forming apparatus. More particularly, the invention relates to an image forming apparatus and an ink solidifying method in which a latent image is created on a photosensitive medium, the latent image is developed by application to the photosensitive medium, of an ink comprised of a toner dispersed in a liquid solvent, the solvent is removed to solidify the ink, and the developed image is then transferred to The image recording medium such as paper and fixed to provide a permanent image.
2. Description of Related Art
Conventionally, in one known type of apparatus, a latent image is created by scanning a photoconductive medium such as a belt or drum with a laser beam or the like modulated in accordance with image data. The latent image is developed using a liquid ink of the type described above. The ink is then dried by removing the solvent, and the developed image is transferred to The image receiving medium such as paper. This is often done with an intermediate transfer medium such as a transfer roller using heat and pressure. The transfer medium may be formed of a material selected to have a greater affinity for the dried toner particles than the photoconductive medium, but a lower affinity for the toner particles than the image receiving medium.
One way the solvent is often removed is first to squeeze as much as possible off the surface of the photoconductive medium with a roller, and then to remove the residue using a drying unit constructed with an absorbing roller for absorbing the solvent and a drying roller for evaporating the solvent absorbed by the absorbing roller by heat.
However, the drying unit used in the conventional image forming apparatus is constructed of a large number of parts and is quite costly.
Furthermore, since the absorbing roller is directly contacted with the drying roller, the ink may deposit on the drying roller to degrade performance of the absorbing roller and the drying roller.
In order to solve the foregoing problems, measures, such as providing a cleaning mechanism for the roller, have been considered. However, such measure increase the number of parts and the cost.

Image forming apparatus and ink solidifying method in image forming apparatus


A computer-implemented method for determining position of a mobile device using magnetic beacons including detecting, by a sensor in the mobile device, a magnetic signal having a unique signature associated with a given magnetic beacon; storing location and an associated signature for each of a plurality of magnetic beacons in a data store of the mobile device, where each of the magnetic beacons is assigned a different signature; extracting the unique signature from the magnetic signal; comparing the extracted signature to each of the signatures stored in the data store; identifying a given magnetic beacon from the plurality of magnetic beacons, where signature for the given beacon matches the extracted signature; and retrieving the location for the given magnetic beacon for the data store and correlating location of the mobile device with the location of the given magnetic beacon.

This section provides background information related to the present disclosure which is not necessarily prior art. This section also provides a general summary of the disclosure, and is not a comprehensive disclosure of its full scope or all of its features.
Outdoor navigation using GPS receivers installed in various types of consumer electronics devices, especially smartphones and tablet computers, has become very common. However, indoor navigation can be problematic as GPS signals are blocked by ceilings and building walls and accuracy is on the order of building dimensions.
According to the principles of the present teachings, an array of magnetic beacons is used for localizing a receiver equipped with a magnetic sensor. A mobile device, such as but not limited to a smartphone or a tablet computer, with an internal magnetometer can be employed as a receiver. Exploiting smartphones and tablets for indoor navigation is a great advantage when considering convenience, simplicity, and low cost. In some embodiments, the navigation area is covered by magnetic beacons deployed in known locations. Each beacon generates an AC magnetic field with a unique signature enabling the receiver to distinguish between beacons. The signature may feature a specific single frequency tone, a combination of frequencies, or any other modulated signal. A software application running on the receiver enables self-localization by means of detection and identification of the nearest beacon. A system prototype has been developed and used to test the method of the present teachings in field conditions. Experimental results show successful localization, which paves the way for a full scale development of an effective indoor navigation system. The good results together with simple implementation make the method of the present teachings attractive for a wide range of indoor localization applications, including: pedestrian and robot navigation, in building rescue missions, vision impaired assistance, and location aware services, just to mention a few.
Further areas of applicability will become apparent from the description provided herein. The description and specific examples in this summary are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure.
Corresponding reference numerals indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

Magnetic beacon self-localization using mobile device magnetometers

The Regents of The University of Michigan


A biopsy assembly with an inner stylet having a needle end with a biopsy retrieval recess on the needle end. At the other end of the stylet is a hub for controlling the needle. A hollow outer needle with a main hub at the proximal end carries the inner needle in a sliding relationship. Releasable latch means are provided on the respective hubs to lock them in a fixed but releasable axial position which makes it possible for a physician to enter the spaced hubs in a cocked biopsy gun.

Tissue sampling devices have been used for some time including an outer needle for enclosing and guiding an inner needle which has, adjacent its outer end, a tissue retrieval means. In one type of biopsy device, when the inner needle is projected out of the outer needle, into the tissue to be sampled, the tissue expands into the recess. Projecting the outer needle over the tissue-filled recess shears the tissue so that a sample remains in the recess. Withdrawing the needles allows retrieval of the sample for biopsy testing. Other biopsy devices also use a hollow outer needle and an inner needle.
In some instances, the introduction of the needles is accomplished manually so that the needles are in the vicinity of the area to be examined. There the needles are mounted in what is called a "biopsy gun" which carries the needles and, when cocked and released, drives the needles in proper sequence into the tissue to receive the sample specimens. One example of a biopsy gun is found in a U.S. Pat. No. 4,699,154, to Radiplast AB, issued Oct. 13, 1987. The use of such a gun enables a single physician to accomplish the biopsy.
The present invention is directed to a biopsy needle assembly which can be mounted in a biopsy gun and which has what may be called a "preset" position, that is, a position in which the point of the inner needle is retracted to the extent that it is adjacent the point of the outer needle. The gun has a sequential release in that the inner needle is first driven forcefully into the tissue about 7/8 of an inch to receive the tissue sample. In the second release the outer needle is projected over the inner needle to shear and capture the specimens.
In order that a physician may successfully operate a biopsy gun, he must first of all cock the gun and, secondly, insert the hub ends of the inner and outer needles into the gun. To facilitate this insertion, the present biopsy needle assembly is constructed to have a pre-loading locator called a "pre-set" position. This enables a physician to set the two hubs of the inner and outer needles prior to initiating the procedure. He can then insert the needles in the area and in the proper direction for the test. Once the needles are placed, the physician can then readily install the hubs into the gun. This is especially important when the physician wants to make more than one biopsy sequentially.


A housing blank and an activation member blank for a medicament delivery device are disclosed, with a kit including a housing blank and an activation member blank, and a medicament delivery device assembled from the kit. The housing blank includes a mid portion having a through-opening for receiving a proximal end portion of a medicament container assembly, and first and second legs foldable relative to the proximal end portion. The activation member blank includes a central portion and a first and second arm foldable relative to the proximal end portion.

Disposable medicament delivery devices generally comprise a housing for accommodating a medicament container, and an activation member movably arranged relative to the housing and arranged to expel the drug contained in the medicament container when actuated.
The housing is assembled from several parts, for example two halves which may be snapped together or otherwise assembled. Similarly, the activation member is assembled from several parts. These parts are generally manufactured in a mould, for example by means of injection moulding.

Housing blank and activation member for a medicament delivery device, a kit comprising such blanks, and a medicament delivery device


An exhaust fixture for removing obnoxious odors from a bathroom. The exhaust fixture is adapted to be mounted on the flat upper surface of a conventional toilet bowl, behind the conventional toilet seat, by use of the same bolts and nuts which secures the conventional toilet seat to the toilet bowl. The exhaust fixture includes a hollow chamber having a plurality of spaced holes facing the oval openings of both the toilet bowl and the toilet seat, a pair of hollow pipes in communication with the hollow chamber, each in communication with one of the hollow pipes and a remotely located exhaust fan.

Systems for removing obnoxious odors from bathrooms have been commercially available and in use for many years. Such system typically provide for a vent located in the ceiling or wall, adjacent to the ceiling, of the bathroom with a fan located above the vent for withdrawing air, which includes the obnoxious odors, from the entire bathroom. The disadvantage or drawback with this typical system is that the odor removing equipment is not positioned close to the source of the odor, namely the toilet bowl. Such commercially available systems require that a large volume of air be exhausted from the bathroom to ensure the removal of the obnoxious odors.
The prior art also includes a limited number of United States patents which disclose odor removing equipment positioned closer to the source of the odor. U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,887,949, 4,117,559, 4,168,553 and 4,175,293 are examples of ventilation systems for toilets which include a fixture mounted on the flat upper surface of a toilet bowl on its back side. U.S. Pat. Nos. 1,695,530, 3,916,459, 3,733,619, 4,094,023, 4,125,906 and 4,556,999 are examples of toilet ventilation systems which are partially incorporated into specially constructed toilet seats for removing obnoxious odors from the toilet bowl.
Most of the prior art odor removing devices disclosed in the patents have the major disadvantage or drawback of not being adapted for easy mounting and use with conventional toilets or water closets. Many of the patented prior art systems for removing odor from toilet bowls also have the disadvantage or drawback in that specially designed and constructed toilet seats are required for use with such systems. A still further disadvantage or drawback of most of the patented prior art systems reside in their technical complexity and relatively high cost. Many of the patented prior art systems also have the disadvantage or drawback of relying on filters or deodorizers for assistance in removing obnoxious odors from the bathroom.


A wire insertion hole is formed through a rubber plug along an axis thereof, and the rubber plug has a portion having outer seal lips formed on an outer peripheral surface thereof, and a fixing region to which a metal terminal is clamped. The fixing region includes a clamping region to be clamped by an insulation barrel of the metal terminal, and a withdrawal prevention region. An annular groove is formed in the inner surface of the wire insertion hole at a position corresponding to a boundary portion between the clamping region and the withdrawal prevention region. When the insulation barrel is clamped, the withdrawal prevention region is forcibly flared to be engaged with the metal terminal, thereby preventing the rubber plug from being withdrawn.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a rubber plug used in a connector required to have a waterproof effect, and also to a withdrawal prevention structure for preventing the rubber plug from being easily disengaged from a metal terminal.
2. Conventional Art of the Invention
A conventional rubber plug of this type is shown in FIG. 1. As shown in this Figure, the rubber plug 40 is fitted on a front end portion of a sheath of a wire 41, and is fixedly clamped to the wire by a metal terminal 42, and in this condition the rubber plug is inserted into a cavity in a connector housing. The rubber plug 40 has a cylindrical shape as a whole, and has a wire insertion hole 43 extending therethrough along an axis thereof, and the wire 41 can be passed through this hole 43 in a sealed manner. Two annular seal lips 44 are formed on an outer peripheral surface of the rubber plug 40 at a rear portion thereof, and a clamping region 46 to be clamped by an insulation barrel 45 of the metal terminal 42 is provided at a front end portion of the rubber plug.
The force of clamping between the rubber plug 40 and the metal terminal 42 is provided by a clamping force applied by the insulation barrel 45, and therefore the withdrawal of the rubber plug 40 can be prevented merely by increasing the clamping force. However, if the clamping force is merely increased, end edges of the insulation barrel 45 bite the rubber plug 50 to such an extent that the rubber plug 40 may be damaged if the end edge of the insulation barrel 45 is formed into a sharp edge. In such a case, the sealing property would be adversely affected. Therefore, it is not proper to merely increase the clamping force. Despite this, the above type is not provided with any withdrawal prevention means, and therefore is not satisfactory from the viewpoint of withdrawal prevention.
To deal with this problem, there has been developed a rubber plug 30 shown in FIG. 2. This rubber plug 30 includes a waterproof portion 31 and a clamping portion 32, and has a tubular shape as a whole, the rubber plug 30 having an insertion hole 33 formed therethrough along its axis for passing a wire W therethrough. Two ribs 34 are formed on an outer peripheral surface of the waterproof portion 31, and can be elastically deformed into intimate contact with an inner peripheral surface of a cavity (not shown), thereby preventing water from introducing into the cavity. A metal terminal T shown in FIG. 4 is attached to the clamping portion 32, and the clamping portion 32 is smaller in outer diameter than the waterproof portion 31. A barrel B, formed at a rear end of the metal terminal T, is compressively clamped to the outer periphery of the clamping portion 32. When the barrel B is thus clamped to the clamping portion 32, the metal terminal is disposed at a right side (FIG. 2) of the rubber plug 30, and the wire W, fixedly connected to the rear end portion of the metal terminal, passes through the insertion hole 33, and extends outwardly from the rubber plug 30 left (FIG. 2).
A flange-like withdrawal prevention portion 35 is formed on a distal end (right end in FIG. 2) of the clamping portion 32 remote from the waterproof portion 31 over an entire periphery thereof. This withdrawal prevention portion 35 serves to prevent the barrel B from being disengaged from the clamping portion 32 when inserting the rubber plug 30, together with the metal terminal, into the cavity.
When the rubber plug 30 of the above construction is to be inserted into the cavity, the metal terminal mounted on the right side (FIG. 2) of the rubber plug 30 is directed toward the cavity, and then the rubber plug is inserted, together with the metal terminal, into the cavity. This inserting operation is carried out by first holding the rubber plug 30 by the fingers and by pushing the rear end of the rubber plug. If it is necessary to insert the rubber plug 30 to a deeper position in the cavity even after the rubber plug 30 is fully received in the cavity, the exposed portion of the wire W, extending outwardly from the rubber plug 30 and disposed outwardly of the cavity, is held by the fingers, and is pushed toward the cavity.
At this time, the wire W is advanced, together with the metal terminal, into a deeper position in the cavity whereas the rubber plug 30 can not advance easily because of a frictional resistance between the rubber plug and an inner surface of the cavity. Therefore, there is a fear that the barrel B tends to be displaced relative to the clamping portion 32 toward the front end (right end in FIG. 2) of the rubber plug. The barrel B, if thus displaced toward the front end, abuts the withdrawal prevention portion 35 (see FIG. 3), and therefore is prevented from further displacement, thereby preventing the barrel B from being disengaged from the clamping portion 32. Thereafter, the rubber plug 30 and the metal terminal, held in a condition shown in FIG. 3, are inserted in unison in the cavity.
Furthermore, there has been proposed a rubber plug 50 in Japanese Utility Model Unexamined Publication No. 62-163879 as shown in FIG. 5. In this rubber plug 50, an annular projection 52 is formed on a surface of a wire insertion hole 51 at a front end thereof, so that the inner diameter of the wire insertion hole 51 is made smaller at the projection 52 than the outer diameter of a wire 53 to be inserted into the insertion hole 51. With this arrangement, a front end of the rubber plug 50 is forcibly bulged when the wire 53 is passed therethrough, and this bulged end is engaged with an insulation barrel as shown in FIG. 6. As a result, the rubber plug 50 is prevented from withdrawal.
However, in the structure shown in FIG. 2 in which the withdrawal prevention portion 35 is merely provided in a projected manner, when the frictional resistance between the rubber plug 30 and the inner surface of the cavity becomes so large that a pressing force acting from the barrel B on the withdrawal prevention portion 35 exceeds a limit value, the barrel B elastically deforms and bends the withdrawal prevention portion 35 right (FIG. 3). At the same time, the barrel B gradually squeezes the withdrawal prevention portion 30 to pass past the same. As a result, in some cases, the barrel B has been disengaged from the clamping portion 32, thus losing the function of retaining the barrel B.
Furthermore, the rubber plug structure shown in FIG. 5 has the following problem to be solved. Because of the provision of the annular projection on the surface of the wire insertion hole, the inner diameter of the wire insertion hole is constricted, so that the wire can not be easily passed therethrough. Therefore, the wire insertion operation is rather troublesome, and can not be carried out efficiently.
The rubber plug must also meet the sealing requirement. For example, in the rubber plug 40 shown in FIG. 1, sealing engagement of the rubber plug 40 with the housing is achieved by the seal lips 44, and the plug 31 also have inner lips 47 for sealing contact with the wire. Even in the type of rubber plug having such inner lips 37, if the wire 41 is pulled, a gap develops between the inner surface of the wire insertion hole 43 and the wire 41, thus adversely affecting the sealing property.


The present invention relates to novel piperazine derivatives or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, a process for preparing the same, and in particular, a high binding for Serotonin 1A(5-hydroxytryptamine; 5-HT1A) receptor, a pharmaceutical composition for treatment and/or prevention of depression and anxiety including an effective amount of the piperazine compound, and a method of treating depression, anxiety and other conditions related to 5-HT1A receptor in a mammal.

Depression affects approximately 14 million people in the United States and 340 million people worldwide, making it one of the leading causes of disability [Kessler R C. Et al., JAMA, 2003, 289, 3095-3105]. Depression is also associated with high rates of relapse, recurrence, disability, and death [Hirschfield R M., et al., JAMA, 1997, 277, 333-340; Keller M B., J. Psychopharmacol. 1996, 10(suppl 1); 41-44].
The role of serotonin in the treatment of depressive and anxiety disorders is underscored by the therapeutic action of selective 5-HT reuptake inhibitors acting to enhance the degree of activation of various 5-HT receptor subtypes [Blier P. and Ward M., Biol. Psychiatry, 2003, 53, 193-203]. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) have had significant success in treating depression and related disorders and have become among the most prescribed drugs since 1980s. But, the use of SSRIs leads to the indiscriminate activation of all serotonin receptors and it can be understood as undesirable actions of serotonin in undesirable pathways at undesirable receptor subtypes [Stahl S M., 2008, Essential Psychopharmacology (3rd ed.), 531]. Although there are various treatment options for depressive and anxiety disorders, a need still exists for new drugs with improved tolerability and adequate efficacy.
In contrast to the SSRIs, the 5-HT1A agonist or partial agonist acts directly on postsynaptic serotonin receptors to increase serotonergic neurotransmission. And, the 5-HT1A partial agonists, Buspirone and Gepirone [Robinson D S., et al., J. Clin. Psychopharmacol., 1990, 10(3), 67S-76S; Bielski R J., J. Clin. Psychiatry, 2008, 69(4), 571-577], and 5-HT1A agonist, Flexinoxan [Grof P., International Clin. Psychopharmacology, 1993, 8(3), 167-172], have shown efficacy in clinical trials for the treatment of depression. Moreover, because of their unique pharmacological profile, 5-HT1A agonists possess theoretic advantages in the treatment of major depression relative to other classes of antidepressants. In particular, these drugs are not expected to produce weight gain, sedation, or sexual dysfunctions, which are often encountered with some of the antidepressants introduced in the last 10 years [Blier P. and Ward M., Biol. Psychiatry, 2003, 53, 193-203].
Many reports have disclosed that phenyl piperazine compounds are effectively used for controlling depression and anxiety.
For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,578,596 discloses that the 2-alkoxy-5,6,7,8-tetrahydroquinoxaline derivatives have a strong affinity for serotonin 1A receptor and are useful for preventing and treating serotonergic neuron-related disease.
These compounds are found to be very effective as therapeutical medicines for managing depression and anxiety.
Active research and development efforts have continued to be directed to the application of phenyl piperazine compounds for the treatment of depression and anxiety.

Phenyl piperazine compounds, pharmaceutical composition including the same and use thereof


Methods and systems are provided for verifying the possession of a card, such as a credit card or a debit card, by a card user. Possession of the card can be verified, for example, when a purchase transaction, such as a telephone purchase transaction or an online purchase transaction, is attempted with the card and the purchase transaction is denied due to suspected account take over. Possession of the card can be verified by detecting the present of the card with a mobile device of the user, such as a smart phone. For example, possession of the card can be verified by near field communication (NFC) between the card and the mobile device, wherein the communication is sufficient to adequately determine the presence of the card.

Technical Field
The present disclosure generally relates to electronic commerce and digital wallets. The present disclosure relates more particularly to methods and systems for verifying a card, such as a credit card, debit card, private label card, or gift/pre-paid card using near field communication (NFC).
Related Art
It is not unusual for a card user to experience difficulty using a card, such as a credit card or debit card, for a telephone or an online transaction. The difficulty can be due to suspected account take over (ATO). Account take over occurs when a fraudster obtains information regarding the card, such as the card number, expiration date, and the card security code (CSC). The card security code may also be referred to as a card verification value (CVV or CV2), a card verification code (CVC), or a card code verification (CCV). With this information, the fraudster can attempt to make fraudulent telephone and online purchases.
Account take over is one usecase where the verification of a card is prompted to the customer. Another usecase requiring verification is when card information is added into a digital wallet. The verification of a card via NFC is necessary to prove the existence of the card in the hand of the user and to prove that the card information is not stolen or procured by illegitimate means. Another usecase is where a user's digital wallet account has been locked out.
A suspected account take over can occur when a card processor receives a false positive from a risk model. Various risk models are commonly used by card processors in an attempt to thwart fraudulent credit card use. A suspected account take over can occur when a card processor detects suspicious activity associated with the card. For example, use of the card outside of the geographic area within which the card is typically used, such as out of state, can be considered suspicious activity. As a further example, use of the card to purchase a product that the card user doesn't typically purchase can also be considered suspicious activity.
Regardless of the reason for suspecting an account take over, such suspicion typically results in authorization for further use of the card being withheld. No further purchases can be made with the card until it can be determined that an account take over has not occurred.


Controlling the common mode impedance for a circuit, conductor, or multiple conductor cable by incorporating the circuit or conductor into the primary of a transformer. The secondary of the transformer is coupled to a secondary impedance selected so that the desired impedance is obtained. A capacitive shunt may be added to buffer the intrinsic primary impedance. The intrinsic impedance of a conductive antenna structure is controlled by deploying a portion of the antenna structure as the primary of a transformer and coupling the secondary of the transformer to a selectable secondary impedance.

The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for controlling the common mode impedance for a circuit, conductor or cable without making a direct connection to the circuit, conductor or cable.
Many testing and design applications require establishing and controlling a stable, predictable common mode impedance for a circuit, conductor or cable with multiple conductors. A typical requirement in design applications is to match the impedance of a first circuit or conductor with that of a second circuit or conductor. In testing applications, one may wish to vary the impedance of a second circuit having an impedance ZL when coupled to a first circuit having an impedance Zin without varying the components of the second circuit.
A typical circuit for controlling the impedance or matching the impedance between a first circuit having an internal impedance Zin and a second circuit having a load impedance ZL is shown in FIG. 1. In FIG. 1, a series impedance Zseries and a parallel impedance Zparallel provide the necessary impedance control between the internal impedance Zin and the load impedance ZL. Either or both the series impedance Zseries and the parallel impedance Zparallel may be controllable to provide the desired impedance control. FIGS. 2A to 2H show a plurality of circuit constructions known in the art to provide impedance control between a first circuit and a second circuit by using variable inductors 21 and variable capacitors 23.
These prior art apparatus and methods require that one or more components be directly coupled between the first circuit and the second circuit. Such a coupling generally requires that the conductors between the two circuits be breached by, for example, cutting the conductors and wiring in the components for matching or controlling the impedance. Hence, prior art apparatus and methods for the insertion of impedance control elements requires one or more invasive connections.
Many testing and design applications require establishing and controlling a stable, predictable common mode impedance for a circuit, cable, or multiple conductor cable without making a direct, ohmic, or other invasive connection to the circuit, conductor, or multiple conductor cable. Further, these applications frequently require maintaining the impedance over a wide frequency range.
Therefore, there exists a need in the art for a method and apparatus for providing a stable, predictable, and wide frequency range impedance without making an invasive connection.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a method and apparatus for providing stable and predictable control over the impedance of a circuit, conductor, or multiple conductor cable without requiring a direct, ohmic, or invasive connection. It is a further object of the present invention to provide such impedance control over a wide frequency range. Another object of the present invention is to provide for impedance control over antenna structures.
In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, an embodiment of the present invention provides a method for controlling the input impedance of a circuit having one or more conductors and having an intrinsic impedance, the method comprising the steps of: disposing a portion of a conductor or conductors as a primary of a transformer; coupling a secondary of the transformer to a secondary impedance; coupling another portion of the conductor or conductors to ground with a capacitive impedance; and controlling the secondary impedance to provide the desired input impedance.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, an embodiment of the present invention provides an apparatus for controlling the input impedance of a circuit having one or more conductors and having an intrinsic impedance, the apparatus comprising: a transformer having a primary and a secondary, the primary having one or more primary turns and the secondary having one or more secondary turns, and at least one conductor being disposed as the primary; a secondary impedance coupled to the secondary; and a capacitive element coupling the conductor to ground.
In both the method and apparatus described above, the transformer may have a turns ration between the primary and the secondary of N, such that the desired input impedance Zin is given by Zin=N2Z1, where Z1 is the secondary impedance. The capacitive element may be provided by deploying a portion of the conductor closely proximate to a ground plane or coiling the conductor and the ground plane together. The capacitive element may also be provided by capacitive elements coupled between multiple conductors and a common core transformer, where the common core transformer is coupled to ground.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, an embodiment of the present invention provides a method for controlling the intrinsic impedance of a conductive antenna structure comprising the steps of: disposing a portion of the conductive antenna structure as a primary of a transformer; coupling a secondary of the transformer to a secondary impedance; and controlling the secondary impedance to provide the desired input impedance.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, an embodiment of the present invention provides an apparatus for controlling the intrinsic impedance of a conductive antenna structure, the apparatus comprising: a transformer having a primary and a secondary, a portion of the conductive antenna structure comprising the primary; and a secondary impedance coupled to the secondary of the transformer.
In both the method and apparatus described above, multiple secondary impedances may be coupled to the secondary of the transformer, where each secondary impedance may be separately selected by a switch. Each secondary impedance can then provide different operating characteristics for the antenna structure. The operating characteristics may be such to provide maximum effectiveness for the antenna structure with one selected secondary impedance and minimum effectiveness with another selected secondary impedance.

Apparatus and method for impedance control