A method for detecting tip positions of probes which is performed prior to the wafer test includes a first step of attaching the transparent film F on the test substrate W having the electrodes P arranged same as those of the wafer; a second step of detecting the electrodes P of the test substrate W by using the first CCD camera 13A; a third step of detecting a surface height of the transparent film F; a fourth step of position-aligning the electrodes P of the test substrate W with the probes 12A. The method further includes a fifth step of forming the probe marks M on the transparent film F by making the probes 12A contact with the transparent film F; and a sixth step of detecting tip positions of the probes 12A based on the electrodes P of the test substrate W and the probe marks M.

When an electrical characteristic test of a test object such as a semiconductor wafer or the like is performed by using a probe card, for example, tip positions of probes of the probe card are detected by a camera for capturing images thereof and, then, the probes are made to contact with electrodes of the test object for the electrical characteristic test. In case the tip positions of the probes are detected by the camera, it takes a long time to focus the camera on the ends of the probes, thereby increasing time required to align the test object with the probe card. Therefore, the tip position of the probes is conventionally carried out for a few representative probes. However, in case of fine electrodes, parts of probes may not be properly aligned with the electrodes. Therefore, if possible, it is desirable to detect the tip positions of all of the probes for the alignment between the probes and the wafer.
Further, since various probe cards are developed by a plurality of probe card makers, there are a need to develop a dedicated algorithm for recognizing three-dimensional images of the probes, which incurs considerable costs. Therefore, if the probes can be transcribed on a two-dimensional film, an algorithm can be easily developed.
Therefore, Japanese Patent Laid-open Application No. 2001-189353 (hereinafter, referred to as Reference 1) discloses therein a method and a device for shortening the time needed for inspecting probes. In a technique disclosed therein, probe marks of probes in a probe card are transcribed on a deformable object before the test is carried out and then, insertion depths of the probes into electrodes are obtained based on the opening width of the probe marks, thereby shortening a time required for position-aligning the probes with the electrodes. Further, as for a device for measuring the size of the probe marks and the insertion depths of the probes, a position sensor using an electrostatic capacitance is proposed in Reference 1. Moreover, referring to Reference 1, X and Y coordinates of the probes are detected by using the position sensor having electrodes arranged in a matrix form.
Furthermore, Japanese Patent Laid-open Application No. 2005-308549 (hereinafter, referred to as Reference 2) discloses therein a film for adjusting positions of probes, the film being made from elastomer composition. Herein, the probes are made to contact with the film for adjusting positions of the probes, thus forming probe marks thereon. After a positional relationship between the probe marks and electrodes of an integrated circuit is checked, the positions of the probes are adjusted based on the positional relationship therebetween, if necessary.
Besides, Japanese Patent Laid-open Application No. H2-224260 (hereinafter, referred to as Reference 3) discloses therein a position alignment method. In this method, directions and preset positions of probes are recognized by using camera to detect probe marks of the probes on a dummy wafer.
In addition, Japanese Patent Laid-open Application No. 2005-079253 (hereinafter, referred to as Reference 4) discloses therein an inspecting method. In this method, thermally expanded probes are made to press-contact with a transcription sheet disposed on a support next to a mounting table, thereby leaving probe marks thereon. After the probe marks on the transcription sheet are detected, the thermally expanded probes are position-aligned with the wafer.
Further, Japanese Patent Laid-open Application No. H4-330750 (hereinafter, referred to as Reference 5) discloses therein a method for inspecting a semiconductor wafer. In this method, testing probes leave probe marks on a plate provided on a mounting table, the plate being formed of a transparent resin member. Next, a driving unit is driven based on image information on the probe marks, so that the testing probes are position-aligned with a semiconductor wafer on the mounting table.
Moreover, Japanese Patent Laid-open Application No. H7-147304 (hereinafter, referred to as Reference 6) discloses therein a method for inspecting probes. In this method, a position of a mounting table in X, Y and θ directions is sensed based on a cross-shaped mark serving as a reference point in X and Y directions, the cross-shaped mark being formed at a center of a small alignment member provided next to the mounting table. A position of the mounting table in Z direction is sensed by a electrostatic capacitance sensor and a conductive thin film formed at a periphery of the cross-shaped mark. During an initial test, a probe mark formed on an electrode pad of an initial chip is detected by a CCD camera. Whether post tests will be performed or not is determined based on the detected probe mark.
In case of the technique of Reference 1, although the tip positions and the insertion depths of the probes can be checked based on the probe marks formed on the deformable object, a positional relationship between the probes and a test object is not checked by the deformable body. Further, although Reference 2 discloses therein that it is possible to check the positional relationship between, by making the probe marks on the film for probe position adjustment, the probe mark and the electrodes of the integrated circuit, but it does not embody any technique for checking the positional relationship between the probe marks and the electrodes.
In case of the techniques of References 3 and 4, the probe marks formed on the dummy wafer or the transcription sheet are detected one after another by the imaging unit while moving the mounting table having thereon the wafer. Thus, as the frequency of movement of the mounting table increases, the error in the moving amount is accumulated. Consequently, as the test time passes, the detection accuracy becomes poorer.
The technique of Reference 5 is same as those of References 3 and 4 in that the positions of the probes are detected based on the probe marks formed on the plate provided on a part of the mounting table. In case of the technique of Reference 6, the probe mark formed on the electrode pad of the initial chip is detected during the initial test and, then, whether post tests will be performed or not is determined based on the detected probe mark. Hence, it is not possible to check in advance the positional relationship between the probes and the electrode pads on the entire surface of the wafer.

Detection method/device of probe's tip location using a transparent film attached to a substate having plurality of electrodes, and a storage medium for implementing the method


An audio conferencing system includes sending a signal of a sound at a sound location to a listening location. The system further includes establishing a relationship between a virtual listening location and a virtual sound location. The system processes the signal to provide a sound at the listening location seeming to have an analogous relationship between the listening location and the sound location as the relationship between the virtual listening location and the virtual sound location.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to conferencing systems, and more particularly to audio conferencing systems.
2. Background of the Invention
Business is becoming ever more global and more distributed, and this has dramatically increased the need for more effective communication tools. Due to the number of limitations with current technology's audio conferencing tools, remote attendees are at a distinct disadvantage compared to those individuals at a primary meeting site.
First, traditional telephone technology provides only a single audio channel. However, it is well known that by using binaural audio (i.e., utilizing both ears), up to a 13 dB increase in effective signal-to-noise may be obtained through human perceptual abilities such as the "cocktail party effect". At a cocktail party, individuals with normal hearing can use both their ears and brain to selectively attend to and participate in multiple simultaneous conversations. In contrast, when multiple speakers are talking over the single audio channel, the result is usually completely unintelligible (unless one speaker is much louder than the others).
Second, conference phones often resort to half-duplex modes to reduce echoes. This can make taking turns in conversations awkward if participants from multiple locations start speaking at about the same time.
Third, audio conferencing devices are typically placed in less than optimal locations, such as on conference tables, where they are subject to noise sources, such as rustling of papers.

Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.


An insect trap and method of use. The insect trap has a roof, side walls, rear wall, front wall, and floor. The front wall has a front wall aperture, and the rear wall has at least one rear wall aperture. A plurality of dividers are disposed within the insect trap, with a divider aperture associated with each divider. The divider apertures alternate between being adjacent the floor and adjacent the roof in successive dividers. The method includes the steps of mounting an insect trap in a structure opening, allowing insect-enticing chemicals to waft from inside the structure opening to outside the structure opening through the insect trap, enticing the insect through a front wall aperture, divider apertures, and into an inner chamber adjacent the rear wall, and entrapping the insect within the inner chamber because the rear wall apertures are too small to admit passage to the insect.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to pest control, and in particular to an insect trap and method of use.
2. Background of the Invention
Insects can be a major problem when uncontrolled. Although numerous species of benevolent insects exist, others can present a health hazard to humans. For example, mosquitoes spread malaria and yellow fever through their blood sucking feeding habits. Flies may carry disease, germs and infection by landing on food subsequently eaten by humans. Thus it would be desirable to reduce or eliminate these, and other harmful, types of insects from inside structures occupied by humans, and from the environs of same.
It is known that insects such as mosquitoes are attracted by carbon dioxide exhaled by humans, by lactic acid and many other chemicals emitted from humans and their living environment, and even by movement by humans. These chemicals are produced by the human body, by the bacteria on the skin, as well as trace materials human bodies have come in touch with. Mosquitoes may respond to several stimuli at once, and each species of mosquito seems to have particular preferences of stimuli and attractants.
Thus, it would be desirable to provide an insect trap and method which would attract and entrap harmful insects. It would be desirable to position such insect trap within a structure opening, so that carbon dioxide exhaled by humans, lactic acid and other chemicals emitted from humans could emanate outwards from, and insects be attracted into, the insect trap.
Existing Designs
A number of patents have issued for insect traps. Numerous among them have used screen material as insect trap walls. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 1,411,189 was issued to Samuelson for a fly-trapping window screen. This design taught nipples through which flies were expected to crawl, even though the nipples provided minimal clearance. The nipples led into fly-trapping chambers, within which flies accumulated. While this design provided means for entrapping flies, the small nipple passage size may have reduced the number of flies actually trapped. In addition, a large number of entrapment chambers were taught, thus rendering removal of the dead flies difficult.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,305,122 was granted Iwao et al. for a mosquito killing apparatus. One embodiment of this apparatus was taught to be mountable in a window. This design relied on a power supply running an electroshock unit, which would electrify those insects unfortunate enough to come into contact with it. While this mosquito killing apparatus may have been effective against mosquitoes or other insects coming into contact with the electroshock unit, it required a power supply, and suffered from the disadvantages of complexity, and its associated cost.
Cheng was granted U.S. Pat. No. 4,662,103 for a dripping evaporation type of insect luring device. This design taught permeating a cork base with insecticide, which had the quality of being attractive to insects. The smell of the insecticide was taught to disperse into the nearby atmosphere, attract insects, and kill them after they partook of the insecticide. This design suffered from a number of disadvantages. First, insecticide was required to be used as a lure for insects. This required that insecticide be purchased, stocked, and periodically be replaced in the apparatus itself—with the associated labor, cost, and inconvenience. If this task were to be neglected, the trap itself would become ineffectual. Second, poisonous insecticide was required for the operation of this device. When poison is used, the danger always exists that unintended animals or humans may come into contact with the poison, and deleterious health consequences ensue.
Thus, it would be desirable to provide an insect trap and method which does not require an external power source, which is simple, and which does not require poison in its use.


A drop tube segment is adapted for use with a liquid reservoir. The drop tube segment includes a conduit with an end portion and a sidewall including a sidewall portion at least partially defining an interior housing area. The drop tube segment further includes a valve assembly comprising a valve member attached to the end portion of the conduit, a float, and a linkage device pivotally connected to the valve member. The valve assembly further includes a driver member at least partially disposed in the interior housing area. An adjustment of the float may rotate the driver member to engage the linkage device to facilitate in adjusting the position of the valve member with respect to the end portion of the conduit. The valve assembly further includes a structure adapted to inhibit, such as prevent, fluid from leaking into the interior housing area.

Our increasingly mobile and mechanized society uses a variety of different fuels (e.g., gasoline, diesel fuel, ethanol, etc.) as energy. Liquid fuels are generally stored in liquid reservoirs such as underground storage tanks, above ground tanks, or any of a variety of different containers. Typically, liquid fuel reservoirs have inlets and outlets through which fuel can be added to and/or removed from the reservoir. These inlets and outlets may typically consist of a riser pipe extending from the reservoir. Internal to the riser pipe is a drop tube assembly that typically includes a drop tube segment including a valve assembly that is adapted to respond once a predetermined level is reached in the liquid reservoir. Such an exemplary valve assembly is shown, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,986,320.
Such drop tube segments have proven to be very effective. To further enhance the beneficial nature of previous drop tube segments, there is a desire to provide a substantially fluid tight seal between the conduit and rotatable pivot bearings of the valve assembly. A fluid tight seal may inhibit, such as prevent, fluid (e.g., vapor) in the ullage area of the reservoir from leaking into the interior housing area of the drop tube segment. It is desirable to inhibit such fluid leakage since the interior of the drop tube segment can act as a chimney, thereby venting the leaked fluid to the surrounding atmosphere and potentially creating an environmental concern.
To address potential concerns of vapor leakage, it is known to provide a sealing arrangement for portions of a conventional drop tube segment 500 as illustrated in FIG. 7. The conventional drop tube segment 500 includes structures similar to those disclosed in the referenced patent such as a conduit with an integral sidewall. In addition, a sidewall portion 554 of the integral sidewall at least partially defines an interior housing area 556 that contains portions of a conventional valve assembly. The conventional valve assembly includes a driver member 540 and a cam member 560 that are each rotatably mounted with respect to the conduit by a shaft 590. A portion of the driver member 540 extends through an aperture 598a defined in the sidewall portion 554. Similarly, a portion of the cam member 560 extends through another aperture 598b also defined in the sidewall portion 554. As described in the referenced patent, the driver member 540 and the cam member 560 are each adapted to rotate in response to pivotal movement of a float with respect to the conduit. As further shown, the shaft 590 includes a first end portion provided with a cotter pin 593a and a second end portion provided with another cotter pin 593b in order to limit a lateral movement of the shaft 590 with respect to the conduit. The shaft 590 further includes an annular groove 591a provided with an O-ring 592a adapted to seal an interface 595a between the outer surface of the shaft 590 and an inner surface of an aperture of the driver member 540 to inhibit, such as prevent, fluid from leaking into the interior housing area 556 by way of the interface 595a. Similarly, the shaft 590 also includes another annular groove 591b provided with another O-ring 592b adapted to seal an interface 595b between the outer surface of the shaft 590 and an inner surface of an aperture of the cam member 560 to inhibit, such as prevent, fluid from leaking into the interior housing area 556 by way of the interface 595b.
The drop tube segment 500 further includes a retainer 596a adapted to be positioned, such as press fit, within the aperture 598a defined in the sidewall portion 554. The retainer 596a and the driver member 540 trap a quad ring sealing member 594a with respect to the conduit. The retainer 596a further provides a sealing surface for the quad ring sealing member 594a to seal an interface 599a between the driver member 540 and the retainer 596a to inhibit, such as prevent, fluid from leaking into the interior housing area 556 by way of the interface 599a. Similarly, the drop tube segment 500 further includes another retainer 596b adapted to be positioned, such as press fit, within the aperture 598b defined in the sidewall portion 554. The retainer 596b and the cam member 560 trap another quad ring sealing member 594b with respect to the conduit. The retainer 596b further provides a sealing surface for the quad ring sealing member 594b to seal an interface 599b between the cam member 560 and the retainer 596b to inhibit, such as prevent, fluid from leaking into the interior housing area 556 by way of the interface 599b. The retainers 596a, 596b are desirable for providing a sealing surface in applications where the conduit includes a relatively thin sidewall portion 554. Providing the sidewall portion 554 with retainers 596a, 596b has proven to be very effective. However, interfaces 597a, 597b between the retainers 596a, 596b and the respective apertures 598a, 598b in the sidewall portion 554 may not be completely fluid tight such that fluid might leak into the interior housing area 556 from an exterior location of the drop tube segment 500 by way of the interfaces 597a, 597b. For example, fluid might leak into the interior housing area 556 from an exterior location by traveling through the interface 597a between the retainer 596a and the aperture 598a. Similarly, fluid might leak into the interior housing area 556 from an exterior location by traveling through the interface 597b between the retainer 596b and the aperture 598b.
Currently, there is a need for drop tube segments that further inhibit, such as prevent, fluid from leaking into an interior area of a drop tube segment by way of one or more apertures formed in a sidewall portion that accommodate one or more pivot bearings of a valve assembly.

Drop tube segments adapted for use with a liquid reservoir


An imaging apparatus includes a printhead carrier for mounting a printhead cartridge. The printhead carrier includes a carrier back wall having an upper portion. A back portion of a printhead cartridge cradle is connected to the carrier back wall. A first proximal end of a latch lever is pivotably attached to a front portion of the printhead cartridge cradle. The latch lever has at least one cam follower, with each cam follower being located near the first distal end of the latch lever. A second proximal end of a carrier lid is pivotably attached to the upper portion of the carrier back wall. Each cam of the carrier lid is formed near a second distal end of the carrier lid, and each cam is positioned for progressive engagement by a corresponding cam follower as the latch lever is moved from an open position toward a latched position.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to an imaging apparatus, and more particularly to those having or using a printhead carrier.
2. Description of the Related Art
In the prior art, an imaging apparatus, such as an ink jet printer, forms an image on a print medium, such as paper, by applying ink to the print medium. Such an ink jet printer includes a reciprocating printhead carrier that transports one or more ink jet printhead cartridges across the print medium along a bi-directional scanning path defining a print zone of the printer. An ink jet printhead cartridge, for example, includes both an ink tank containing ink and an ink jet micro-fluid ejection device, i.e., ink jet printhead, for selectively ejecting the ink. Each ink jet printhead cartridge is mounted to the printhead carrier.
In the printing industry, there is an increasing desire to reduce size. Accordingly, every component is under scrutiny for optimal performance with minimal size. It is typical for printers to have carrier latches that hold their respective printhead cartridges in place on the printhead carrier. However, such carrier latches may involve several moving parts that often complicate the process of latching. Also, such carrier latches are designed such that a lid swings upward to permit the printhead cartridge to be loaded from the top. Further, such prior carrier latches may be oversized, as well as inefficient from a usability perspective, and provide little or no mechanical advantage to the user during latching.

Printhead carrier for an imaging apparatus


Driving apparatuses for surgical instruments are provided. Such apparatuses are capable of reuse without having to be sterilized in an autoclave. This reduces time as well as costs associated with surgical interventions in the areas of orthopaedic surgery and surgery related to trauma, for example.

The orthopaedic appliances used for the surgical manipulation of bones are of the type driven pneumatically, with compressed air or an electric motor. Electrically driven devices are powered both from the mains power supply and by battery.
In addition, surgical devices are generally multi-function in the sense that they can drive various surgical instruments, even though the type dedicated to performance of a single function exist, such as in the case of sawing bones, which entails driving characterised by a rectilinear, alternate movement, therefore not circular.
The intended use of such surgical appliances presumes compliance with extremely strict safety standards. In this context, it is easy to see that the functioning of the driving apparatus of surgical devices—also called "drivers" in the present invention—must not present any interruption during the surgical operation. This means that drivers with a relatively long lifespan must be provided: this is the reason for which such drivers are subject to stringent testing to reduce as far as possible—it not being possible to eliminate them completely—interruptions to functioning during surgery.
In addition, when batteries are used to power electric motor drivers, they must have an appropriate voltage and long life: classically, the lithium type is preferred.
In certain cases the driver of the surgical device must also guarantee the possibility of varying the speed of the instrument, depending on the requirements related to the type of operation.
Overall, these drivers must be as light, manageable and easy to use as possible: from this point of view, one may easily see that the ergonomic nature of the grip of the driver is practically obligatory.
Of course, the question of asepsis also concerns the surgical appliances fitted with instruments intended for general surgery.
Normally, two main solutions are essentially used to ensure asepsis. A first solution consists of making a driver, preferably of the electric motor type, bearing a fully waterproof casing, inside which the electric motor, the power supply battery of such motor and the electric connection cables are enclosed. After each operation, such driver with waterproof casing is subjected, of course jointly with the surgical instrument (or surgical instruments in the case in which various have been used during the operation), to sterilisation in an autoclave, so as to make it suitable for another operation. Such solution has the advantage of permitting repeated use in sterile conditions of the waterproof driver. However, this is very expensive since making the driver waterproof and sterilising it requires, on the one hand, the use of appropriate materials and, on the other, the use of a specific manufacturing procedure, factors which inevitably reflect on the final costs, necessarily high, of such type of driver.
In addition, the lifetime of the device is considerably reduced as a result of the thermal stress imposed on the driver and the components enclosed within the casing and despite the measures adopted for its realisation (these measures regard the quality and appropriate thickness of the plastic material which the casing is preferably made from). In any case, the reduced lifespan of a waterproof driver—and therefore the need to replace it frequently—contributes, together with the waterproofing of its casing and the sterilisation in an autoclave, to making the relative cost of such solution even higher.
A second solution is of the disposable, single-use type and entails using a driver destined for use only once, thereby eliminating the need to subject it to sterilisation in an autoclave. This enables the use of less expensive materials and components even though the once-only use of such driver ends up heavily influencing costs, in that a different driver must be used for every operation.
From the above, the fact that both the extreme solutions used in the prior art, that is to say of a reusable waterproof driver and of a disposable driver, share the disadvantage of high maintenance and/or running costs, clearly emerges.

Driving apparatuses for surgical devices and surgical devices equipped with such apparatuses


Described are peptides and peptide conjugates comprising CN binding motifs (CNBM) which inhibit the CN-NFAT interaction. In some embodiments, the peptides comprise: (i) CNBM; (ii) a hydrophobic, non-peptidic moiety (RH) which interacts with the hydrophobic pocket on a CN protein; (iii) a sequence -AAU1-AAU2-AAU3-AAU4-AAU5-AAU6-, wherein each of AAU2, AAU3, AAU4, AAU5, and AAU6, is, independently, optional, and each of AAU1, AAU2, AAU3, AAU4, AAU5, and AAU6 when present is independently an amino acid as defined herein; or (iv) combinations thereof. In some embodiments, RH is conjugated to the N- or C-terminus of the CNBM. In some embodiments, the sequence -AAU1-AAU2-AAU3-AAU4-AAU5-AAU6- is conjugated to the N- or C terminus of the CNBM. In some embodiments, the peptides comprise: CNBM and RH. In some embodiments. In some embodiments, the peptides comprise: CNBM and AAU1-AAU2-AAU3-AAU4-AAU5-AAU6-. In some embodiments, the peptides of the disclosure CNBM and RH.

Activation of NFAT c3 influences the inflammatory phenotype of lung macrophages that contributes to the development of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). ARDS is a common, acute inflammatory lung disease (˜200,000 cases/year in the US) with high morbidity and mortality rates (˜40% mortality).
Calcineurin (CN) is a calmodulin (CaM)-dependent protein serine/threonine phosphatase that participates in activation of nuclear factor of activated T cells (NFAT) during T-cell signaling. During T cell activation, an increase in the cytoplasmic level of calcium activates CN, which subsequently dephosphorylates multiple phosphoseryl residues on NFATs, thereby activing NFAT. The dephosphorylated (activated) NFATs translocate into the nucleus and up-regulate the expression of interleukin 2 (IL-2), which in turn activates T-helper lymphocytes, induces the production of other cytokines, and stimulates the immune response. It was later found that CN also functions similarly in many other cell types including macrophages, where activation of NFATc3 by CN is required for inflammatory responses.
Thus, there exists a need for therapeutic agents which inhibit the Calcineurin-NFAT interaction. The present disclosure addresses this need.

Peptidyl inhibitors of calcineurin-NFAT interaction


A non-self loading controlled deflection roll for a papermaking machine having a machine direction and a cross-machine direction, the roll including a shaft support member, first and second shell support members, a roll shaft having a longitudinal axis in the cross-machine direction, the shaft having axially spaced first and second ends, a roll shell surrounding the shaft, the shell having axially spaced first and second ends, the shell being rotatable about the shaft, a bearing pad supporting the shell relative to the shaft, the bearing pad being located between the first and second ends of the shell, first and second outboard bearings supporting the shaft relative to the shaft support member adjacent the first and second ends, respectively, first and second spherical bushings supporting the shell relative to the shaft, the first and second spherical bushings being mounted on the shaft axially inwardly of the first and second outboard bearings, respectively, each of the spherical bushings having a first annular bushing member supporting the respective first and second shell support members and a second annular bushing member mounted on the shaft, the first and second annular bushing members having complementary spherical engagement surfaces, and first and second outboard shoe assemblies.

This invention relates to a controlled deflection roll such as is used in the press and calender sections of a papermaking machine. More particularly, this invention relates to a non-self loading controlled deflection roll.
A typical controlled deflection roll includes a roll shaft having a longitudinal axis extending in a cross-machine direction. A roll shell surrounds the shaft. The shell engages another roll to apply a nip pressure. Due to the length of the controlled deflection roll in the cross-machine direction, the shell experiences some sag, or downward deflection, as a result of the weight of the shell and the applied nip load. The controlled deflection roll can be either self-loading or non-self loading. In a self-loading controlled deflection roll, the shell is translationally movable relative to the shaft by a hydraulic bearing pad so the nip will close when the bearing pad piston is pressurized. In a non-self loading controlled deflection roll, the shaft and the shell are radially fixed at their respective ends, and the entire controlled deflection roll is moved to close the nip. Typically, the non-self loading controlled deflection roll uses spherical roller bearings to support the ends of the shell relative to the shaft. The spherical roller bearings accommodate the relative deflection of the shaft and the shell.

Non-self loading controlled deflection roll


A serving tray assembly has a substantially circular plate including, a top and a bottom and two substantially elongated oval openings extending from the top to the bottom. The plate has an outer perimeter having an integrally coupled upwardly extending edge including a top having a lip. A tray is integrally coupled to the plate. A substantially elongated rectangular strap including a top surface and a bottom surface, a first end and a second end. The first end includes a substantially square and hollow clasp, wherein the top surface of the second end includes two substantially elongated strips of hook and loop fastener spaced apart.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to serving trays, and more particularly, to an improved serving tray assembly having an adjustable strap integrally coupled to the bottom of the tray for allowing a waiter to secure their hand to the bottom of the tray, thereby preventing the tray from falling during transport and serving.
2. Description of the Related Art
Waiters are responsible and accountable for many restaurant tasks, but the most important always seems to be the transporting of food and beverages to the patrons of a restaurant or cocktail party. When delivering several drinks, food, or other utensils, it is extremely important to have a stable tray from which to serve. It is all too common, sitting in a restaurant, to hear a tray fall to the ground and the drinks or food thereon crash to the floor. Not only does this create a huge mess to clean-up, but it also is extremely costly when food needs to be re-prepared, and aggravates patrons who have to wait even longer for their food.
Currently, standard serving trays are available on the market, but have yet to increase with the times. While these units may be suitable for the particular purpose employed, or for general use, they would not be as suitable for the purposes of the present invention as disclosed hereafter.


A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device using a metal oxide includes forming a metal oxide layer on a substrate, forming an amorphous semiconductor layer on the metal oxide layer, and forming a polycrystalline semiconductor layer by crystallizing the amorphous semiconductor layer using the metal oxide layer.

1. Field
Some example embodiments relate to semiconductor devices and methods of manufacturing a semiconductor device using a metal oxide.
2. Description of the Related Art
An amorphous silicon layer has higher field effect mobility, can be applied to a high-speed operating circuit, and may be used to fabricate a complementary metal-oxide semiconductor (CMOS) circuit. Thus, the amorphous silicon layer has been widely used to form a semiconductor layer of a semiconductor device, such as a thin film transistor (hereinafter referred to as a 'TFT') or a diode.
Polycrystalline silicon may be formed through direct evaporation or may be formed by crystallizing an amorphous silicon layer into polycrystalline silicon. A method of forming polycrystalline silicon through direct evaporation is the most direct and a relatively easy method. However, when polycrystalline silicon is formed using this method, particles are generally smaller, have many defects and the quality of the polycrystalline silicon is not desirable, thereby deteriorating the performance of a polycrystalline silicon TFT.
Amorphous silicon may be crystallized according to a laser crystallization method, a thermal crystallization method, a complex crystallization method, or the like. In the laser crystallization method, amorphous or polycrystalline silicon is melted and recrystallized using a pulse laser or continuous laser. Thus, polycrystalline silicon having a few defects in particles may be formed. In the thermal crystallization method, a crystallization temperature is generally lowered using metal catalyst or complex energy. In a solid-phase crystallization method of forming low-temperature polycrystalline silicon by thermally treating amorphous silicon at a temperature around 600° C., the crystallization temperature is relatively high to cause a glass substrate to be bent and to change in size. Thus, the solid-phase crystallization method is difficult to apply to a manufacturing process.
Methods using metal catalyst may be divided into metal induced crystallization (MIC) and metal induced lateral crystallization (MILC). When a method of crystallizing polysilicon using a metal catalyst is used, a nickel (Ni) catalyst may remain in a polysilicon layer and a relatively large amount of leakage current may thus be generated during the manufacture of a silicon TFT.

Semiconductor device and manufacturing method of semiconductor device using metal oxide


The object of the invention is a software method of emulation of the EEPROM memory in another non-volatile memory, for example the Flash type memory. This method is applicable in systems, where in order to decrease costs of devices, using a non-volatile EEPROM memory, the existing memory is used, for example the Flash type memory for emulation of the EEPROM memory. The method according to the invention characterized in that after initiating the emulation, two sectors of the non-volatile memory are reserved, serving the function of the current sector and the auxiliary sector and two buffers are created in the operational memory, the first of which stores always the most current image of the emulated EEPROM memory, and the second stores the last patch, moreover the current sector of non-volatile memory is organized in such a way that a part of the sector contains the original image of the emulated memory, and remaining part is successively filled in with the patches, describing changes in the content of the original image of the emulated memory, in turn, at the time, when a new patch cannot be appended to the current sector, the functions of the sectors of non-volatile memory are changed, thanks to which the previously auxiliary sector of non-volatile memory is activated by saving the current image of the emulated memory from RAM memory to newly activated sector as a new original image of the emulated memory, however, after a correct writing, the content of the previously current sector of non-volatile memory is erased.

1. Field of the Invention
The object of the invention is a software method of emulation of the EEPROM memory in another non-volatile memory, for example the Flash type memory. This method is applicable in systems, where in order to decrease costs of devices, using a non-volatile EEPROM memory, the existing memory is used, for example the Flash type memory for emulation of the EEPROM memory.
2. Brief Description of the Background of the Invention Including Prior Art
There is a hardware method of memory emulation in the integrated circuit itself, known from the European patent application number EP0991081. Its disadvantages are: firstly, limiting the emulation memory to one circuit and type of memory, secondly, a low ratio of a size of emulated EEPROM memory to a size of Flash memory used for the same purpose (1:8) and thirdly, a small size of the emulated memory, up to 8 KB.
Another method is known from publication written by Yvon Bahout, "Combined Flash and EEPROM Integrated Circuit," Elektronik Industrie, vol. 28, No. 10, pp. 48, 50-51, October 1997. The method presents a cost-effective hardware only solution of a combined Flash and EEPROM chip. Each memory type block operates independently of the other during data writing. This results in that concurrent operation mode is possible and thus the Flash memory can be read while the EEPROM memory is being written.
Another hardware solution is the circuit, described in American patent document no. U.S. Pat. No. 5,651,128 presenting a memory, which consists of a matrix of cells and circuits, which enable programming of deletion of the emulated memory, the Flash type memory is used in the example of embodiment of the emulation.
In case of the described solutions, the emulation of the EEPROM memory is made with the use of a hardware solution, where the circuit uses the Flash type memory to store data both assigned for saving in the Flash memory as well as in the EEPROM memory.

Software method of emulation of EEPROM memory

Advanced Digital Broadcast Polska SP.Z O.O.


An oscillator circuit includes a field effect transistor and a resonant circuit having a first terminal connected to the field effect transistor. The resonant circuit includes an inductance and a capacitance and has a second terminal for connecting to a radiator. The field effect transistor includes a gate electrode coupled to a source of gate voltage, a source electrode, a drain electrode and a graphene channel disposed between the source electrode and the drain electrode and electrically connected thereto. The graphene channel is disposed relative to the gate electrode for being biased by the gate electrode into a negative differential resistance region of operation. The oscillator circuit is capable of generating a continuous wave THz frequency signal, and is further capable of being enabled and disabled by the bias applied to the gate electrode.

Terahertz radiation represents electromagnetic waves with frequencies in the range of 0.3 to 3 THz (100 μm to 1 mm). This frequency spectrum lies between the microwave and the optical (far Infrared) spectral bands. THz radiation is important and promising for applications such as, but not limited to, high-bandwidth communications, medical, biological and industrial imaging, the non-invasive imaging of concealed items, radar, and space science.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

International Business Machines Corporation


A humidifier is provided, comprising: a pedestal, a water tank, a water storage chamber, an atomizer, a mist discharge passage, and a water flow control device. The humidifier further comprises an enclosure which is open in its upper portion and used for avoiding water leakage. The lowest point at an upper end of the enclosure is higher than the highest water level in the water tank after leakage.

With the improvement of living conditions, people propose higher requirements on the comfort of the living environment. Air humidity is one of important factors that influence the comfort. Especially in the north of China and in any places that require air-conditioning for a long term, the air humidity is relatively low. Therefore, humidifiers are increasingly indispensable to people's lives.
At present, in order to ensure that water in the humidifier will not immerse into the fan, electrical components or even the surrounding environment in case of water leakage from the water tank, the combination of a humidifier housing and a water storage tank is generally used. That is, a cavity formed by the humidifier housing is used as the water storage tank. However, this structure has some obvious disadvantages. The water storage tank cannot be taken out from the humidifier, so that it is disadvantageous for the maintenance and cleaning of the humidifier. Moreover, in this structural design, inevitably, a user needs to move the whole humidifier to complete a water storage action or move a water supply to directly feed water into the humidifier, so that it is inconvenient for operation, and it is likely to cause potential safety hazards particularly for the elderly or children. For example, Chinese Patent Application No. CN106969461A, entitled ULTRASONIC HUMIDIFIER TO WHICH WATER IS SUPPLIED FROM THE TOP, has disclosed an ultrasonic humidifier to which water is supplied from the top, including a pedestal and a housing arranged on the pedestal; the housing is of a hollow cavity structure having a water storage function; a water inlet for feeding water and a mist outlet for discharging mist are formed on the top of the housing; an ultrasonic atomization device capable of communicating with the hollow cavity is provided on the pedestal; and, the height H of the housing is less than or equal to a first preset value.

Foshan Jinxinghui Electrical Appliance Co., LTD.


An optical module for an atomic oscillator using a quantum interference effect includes a first light source unit that emits first resonance light, a gas cell in which an alkali metal atom is sealed, a first light detection unit that detects the intensity of the first resonance light having passed through the gas cell, a determination unit that determines whether or not the first light source unit has failed, a second light source unit that irradiates the gas cell with second resonance light when the determination unit determines that the first light source unit has failed, and a second light detection unit that detects the intensity of the second resonance light having passed through the gas cell, and the optical path length of the first resonance light in the gas cell and the optical path length of the second resonance light in the gas cell are equal to each other.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to an optical module for an atomic oscillator and an atomic oscillator.
2. Related Art
An atomic oscillator using CPT (coherent population trapping), which is a quantum interference effect, has recently been proposed and expected to reduce the size and power consumption of an apparatus. A CPT-based atomic oscillator uses a phenomenon in which when an alkali metal atom is irradiated with coherent light having two wavelengths (frequencies) different from each other, the atom stops absorbing the coherent light (EIT phenomenon: electromagnetically induced transparency).
An atomic oscillator is widely used as a high-precision oscillator, for example, in a communication base station, which has a system including a plurality of backup atomic oscillators because high reliability is required and immediately switches a failed atomic oscillator to an alternate one.
In the system in which a failed atomic oscillator is switched to an alternate one described above, however, even when only part of the members that form an atomic oscillator fails, the whole atomic oscillator needs to be exchanged, resulting in a high exchange cost.
For example, the optical module for an atomic oscillator disclosed in JP-A-2009-231688 includes a gas cell component formed of a gas cell and a heater integrated with each other and a holder that allows the gas cell component to be inserted and removed. The holder therefore allows the gas cell to be exchanged and lowers the exchange cost.
The optical module for an atomic oscillator disclosed in JP-A-2009-231688, however, is problematic because it cannot handle a situation where a light source fails.

Interference filter, optical module, and electronic apparatus


A computer-implemented method for pre-installation detection of malware on mobile devices may include intercepting one or more communications of an application installation agent that installs applications on a mobile computing device. The method may further include identifying, based on the one or more intercepted communications, an application that has been at least partially downloaded by the application installation agent. The method may also include, in response to identifying the application, and before the application is installed on the mobile computing device, scanning the application for malware. The method may additionally include determining, based on the scan, that the application contains malware. The method may finally include performing a security action in response to determining that the application contains malware. Various other methods, systems, and computer-readable media are also disclosed.

Protecting mobile devices from malware is an integral part of mobile device security. As a result, security software developers are continuously seeking ways to improve the speed, efficiency, and efficacy of mobile device anti-malware systems. Many anti-malware systems detect malware by scanning files for known malware signatures. If an anti-malware system detects code within a file that matches a known malware signature, the anti-malware system may then perform a variety of security actions, such as quarantining or deleting the file. At this point, unfortunately, the malware file may have already compromised the security of the mobile device. This may prove especially true when malware is downloaded by app store clients (e.g. GOOGLE PLAY clients or IOS APP STORE clients). For example, traditional anti-malware systems on a smartphone may wait to scan an application until after an app store client has downloaded and installed the application on the smartphone. This window of time between installation and scanning, no matter how small, may be enough for malware to compromise the security of the smartphone.
What is needed, therefore, is a more efficient and effective mechanism for pre-installation detection of malware on mobile devices.

Systems and methods for pre-installation detection of malware on mobile devices


Logic blocks are placed between a power supply terminal and a grounding terminal. Each logic block has a logic circuit in which low-threshold voltage transistors are arranged, and high-threshold voltage transistors, pHVth- and nHVth-Tr's, are placed between each terminal and the logic circuit. At the time of receiving a test signal Sdt to perform testing of wiring arranged outside the logic circuit, and HVth-Tr's, a state control unit controls each HVth-Tr to turn off and an electric current at each terminal is measured, which makes it possible to detect faulty products resulting from the malfunction of HVth-Tr's and the short-circuiting of wires. It is possible to perform failure detection with making a distinction between failure occurring in the logic circuit and failure occurring outside the logic circuit.

The present invention relates to a multi-threshold (MT) CMOS semiconductor circuit system that contains therein semiconductor integrated circuits with MOS transistors having different threshold voltages, to a method for testing semiconductor integrated circuits, and to a method for generating test sequences for testing of semiconductor integrated circuits.
As the dimensions of semiconductor devices are reduced and the level of integration of semiconductor devices is improved, there have been strong demands for low-power semiconductor integrated circuits. The reduction of power supply voltage is an effective way of implementing semiconductor integrated circuits with low power dissipation. The problem is that a reduction in power supply voltage results in slow transistors. A solution to this problem has been proposed. An MT-CMOS semiconductor integrated circuit, as one of semiconductor integrated circuits formed by CMOS semiconductor devices, has been known in the art. In the MT-CMOS semiconductor integrated circuit, two types of MOS transistors are employed, namely low-threshold voltage MOS transistors (low-threshold MOS transistors) and high-threshold voltage MOS transistors (high-threshold MOS transistors).
An MT-CMOS semiconductor integrated circuit is reported in TECHNICAL REPORT OF IEICE, ICD93-107 (1993-10) of THE INSTITUTE OF ELECTRONICS, INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION ENGINEERS, which is described with reference to FIG. 13.
FIG. 13 is a circuit diagram which outlines a part of the MT-CMOS semiconductor integrated circuit. FIG. 13 shows that logic gate 99, in which low-threshold transistors (LVth-Tr's) are placed, is connected between power supply terminal 100 at which the operation voltage (VDD) is provided and grounding terminal 101 at which the grounding potential (VGN) is provided. Connected between power supply terminal 100 and logic gate 99 is a p-channel, high-threshold transistor (pHVth-Tr 91). Further, connected between logic gate 99 and grounding terminal 101 is an n-channel, high-threshold transistor (nHVth-Tr 92). Transistors 93-96, contained in logic gate 99, are low-threshold transistors, therefore having the ability to operate at high speed and perform arithmetic operations at high speed, but on the other hand, a large leakage current will flow therein. This may lead to an increase in power consumption. To cope with this problem, HVth-Tr 91 is placed between logic gate 99 and terminal 100 and HVth-Tr 92 is placed between logic gate 99 and terminal 101.
The operation of the MT-CMOS semiconductor integrated circuit of FIG. 13 is described. The electric potential of node 97 between logic gate 99 and pHVth-Tr 91 is the virtual power supply potential (VDDV), while the electric potential of node 98 between logic gate 99 and nHVth-Tr 92 is the virtual grounding potential (VGNV). Electric charges are applied to node 97 that acts as a virtual power supply terminal and to node 98 that acts as a virtual grounding terminal by having HVth-Tr 91 and HVth-Tr 92 placed in the ON state during the operation period of logic gate 99, whereby logic gate 99 formed of LVth-Tr's 93-96 starts operating at high speed. On the other hand, the supply of voltage from terminal 100 to logic gate 99 is cut off by having HVth-Tr 91 placed in the OFF state during the standby period, and HVth-Tr 92 turns off thereby suppressing the leakage current from logic gate 99 to terminal 101 during the standby period. As a result, leakage from terminal 100 to terminal 101 can be held considerably low.
The above-described MT-CMOS semiconductor integrated circuit, however, suffers some problems. For example, when a transistor failure occurs in the MT-CMOS semiconductor integrated circuit, the following inconvenience may occur. Suppose that both HVth-Tr 91 and HVth-Tr 92 fail, for some trouble, to go into the OFF state. Even in such a case, logic gate 99 operates normally, for both HVth-Tr 91 and HVth-Tr 92 are in the ON state when there is an operation command for logic gate 99. On the other hand, when there is a standby command for logic gate 99, both HVth-Tr 91 and HVth-Tr 92 continue to stay in the ON state. In other words, even when trouble causes both HVth-Tr 91 and HVth-Tr 92 to fail to turn off, all the elements of logic gate 99 operate normally thereby producing no ill-effects on the operation of logic gate 99. However, if HVth-Tr 91 and HVth-Tr 92 fail to turn off during the standby period, this results in an increase in the leakage current that flows, via logic gate 99, from power supply terminal 100 to grounding terminal 101. Such an increase makes no sense to the provision of the HVth-Tr's. Accordingly, it becomes impossible to enjoy the foregoing advantages of the MT-CMOS semiconductor integrated circuit, that is, high-speed operations and low power dissipation.
For the case of commonly-used MT-CMOS semiconductor integrated circuits, it is impossible to detect a failure causing HVth-Tr's 91 and 92 to fail to turn off in response to a standby command, as a result of which an increase in the leak-off current cannot be prevented effectively.
The foregoing problems are caused not only by the malfunction of high-threshold transistors but also by the occurrence of short-circuit between a member (e.g., a connection line between the power supply terminal and the logic gate, and an element), or between a member (e.g., a connection line between the logic gate and the grounding terminal, and an element).

Semiconductor circuit system, method for testing semiconductor integrated circuits, and method for generating a test sequence for testing thereof

Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.


A displacement generator (10) has a housing (12) defining a chamber (14) containing an incompressible liquid (15). A port (22) of the housing (12) is closed by a movable member (24). Within the chamber (14), opposing, convex, flexible walls (16.1, 16.2) form an internal modulating chamber (18), which optionally contains a compressible gas. Opposed ends of the walls (16.1, 16.2) can be displaced toward and away from each other by a motion transducer, e.g. a stack of ceramic piezoelectric members (20), respectively to pressurize and depressurize the chamber (14) and thus to displace the member (24) to and fro to form an output of the displacement generator.

THIS INVENTION relates to a method of generating displacement, to a displacement generator, and to a thermo-acoustic refrigerator.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,481,152 in the name of Buschulte discloses a piezoelectric actuator including a hollow body 1 formed as a round tube 2 of piezoelectric material. At least one end of the tube mounts an elastic membrane 10 via an annular carrier member 8. The hollow body forms an enclosed chamber 13 filled with incompressible fluid 14. Operating the piezoelectric element changes the volume of the chamber and causes commensurate deformation of the elastic membrane. In another embodiment, elastic membranes are provided at both ends. In yet another embodiment, two piezoelectric tubes, one received with clearance within the other, form an annular chamber to provide more versatility in the amount of deformation of the elastic membrane which can be achieved.
In accordance with a first aspect of this invention, there is provided a displacement generator which includes
a housing defining an enclosed chamber, the housing including a port exposed to the chamber;
at least one flexible wall exposed to the chamber;
a fluid contained within the chamber;
a movable member in the port which movable member is exposed to the fluid;
a motion transducer able to generate motion and being operatively connected to said at least one flexible wall selectively to flex said at least one flexible wall.
In use, when the wall is flexed, the volume of the chamber is changed which causes movement of the fluid through the port which causes commensurate movement of the movable member which acts as a displacement output of the displacement generator.
In one species of embodiment, said at least one flexible wall may be an outer wall of the housing, forming part of an outer boundary of the chamber. Preferably, said at least one flexible wall may be a first flexible wall, the outer wall of the housing providing also an opposing second flexible wall opposite to said first flexible wall, said first and second flexible walls providing an opposing wall pair arranged to flex in opposing directions to increase/decrease a spacing therebetween, said opposing wall pair forming an enclosed actuating chamber which is said enclosed chamber. Further, said fluid may be a relatively incompressible actuating fluid, preferably a liquid, the displacement generator including a modulating chamber surrounding said actuating chamber and a relatively compressible modulating fluid, preferably a gas, at a predetermined pressure, within the modulating chamber, the flexible well pair having outer surfaces opposite to inner surfaces which are exposed to the actuating fluid, the outer surfaces being exposed to the modulating fluid. Appropriate selection of the actuating fluid and the modulating fluid in conjunction with the physical configuration of the device will then allow a desired natural frequency of the device to be obtained.
In another species of embodiment, said at least one flexible wall may be an inner wall within the housing, said housing being an outer housing defining the enclosed chamber, said at least one flexible wall forming an internal wall within the enclosed chamber. Preferably, said at least one flexible wall may be a first flexible wall, the displacement generator including also an opposing second flexible wall opposite to said first flexible wall, said first and second flexible walls providing an opposing wall pair arranged to flex in opposing directions to increase/decrease a spacing therebetween, said opposing wall pair forming an enclosed modulating chamber which is an inner chamber within said enclosed chamber, which is an actuating chamber. Further, said fluid in said actuating chamber may be relatively incompressible, e.g. a liquid, the displacement generator including a modulating fluid e.g. a gas, at a predetermined pressure, which is relatively compressible in said modulating chamber.
Said first and second flexible walls of said flexible wall pair may advantageously be curved, said motion transducer being arranged to displace opposed ends of the flexible wall pair relative to each other to change the curvature of the respective walls thus to cause a relatively large change in volume of the actuating chamber in response to a relatively small displacement of said opposing ends. Thus the motion transducer may be connected in between said opposed ends, the motion transducer being selectively extensible/contractible.
The motion transducer may be selected from the group consisting of an electrostriction device, a magnetostriction device, and a piezoelectric device, Preferably the motion transducer may be in the form of a piezoelectrical ceramic stack extending between the opposed ends.
In accordance with a second aspect of this invention, there is provided a method of generating displacement by a displacement generator which includes
a housing defining an enclosed chamber, the housing including a port exposed to the chamber;
at least one flexible wall exposed to the chamber;
a fluid contained within the chamber;
a movable member in the port which movable member is exposed to the fluid,
the method including actuating a motion transducer which is operatively connected to said at least one flexible wall selectively to flex said at least one flexible wall to change the volume of the chamber to move the movable member.
When said at least one flexible wall is an outer wall of the housing and forms part of an outer boundary of the chamber, and when said at least one flexible wall is a first flexible well, the outer wall of the housing providing also an opposing second flexible wall opposite to said first flexible wall, said first and second flexible walls providing an opposing wall pair forming an enclosed actuating chamber which is said enclosed chamber, the method may include selectively flexing, by means of said motion transducer, said opposing wall pair in opposing directions to increase/decrease a spacing between the first and second flexible walls.
When said fluid is a relatively incompressible actuating fluid, and the displacement generator includes a modulating chamber surrounding said actuating chamber and a relatively compressible modulating fluid within the modulating chamber, the flexible wall pair having inner surfaces which are exposed to the actuating fluid and outer surfaces opposite to the inner surfaces, the outer surfaces being exposed to the modulating fluid, the method may include modulating the change in volume of the actuating chamber by resiliently resisting said change in volume by means of the modulating fluid.
When said at least one flexible wall is an inner wall within the housing, said housing being an outer housing wall defining the enclosed chamber, and when said at least one flexible wall is a first flexible wall, the displacement generator including also an opposing second flexible wall opposite to said first flexible wall, said first and second flexible walls providing an opposing wall pair internally within the enclosed chamber, the opposing well pair being arranged to flax in opposing directions to increase/decrease a spacing therebetween, said opposing wall pair forming an enclosed modulating chamber which is an inner chamber within said enclosed chamber, the enclosed chamber being an actuating chamber, said fluid in said actuating chamber being relatively incompressible, the displacement generator including a modulating fluid which is relatively compressible in said modulating chamber, the method may include modulating the change in volume of the actuating chamber by resiliently resisting said change in volume by means of the modulating fluid.
When said first and second flexible walls of said flexible wall pair are curved, the method may include displacing, by means of said motion transducer, opposed ends of the flexible wall pair relative to each other to change the curvature of the respective walls thus to cause a relatively large change in volume of the actuating chamber in response to a relatively small displacement of said opposing ends.
The motion transducer may be connected in between said opposed ends, actuation of the motion transducer being selectively extending or contracting the motion transducer.
In accordance with a third aspect of this invention, there is provided a thermo-acoustic refrigerator including a resonator and a displacement generator drivingly connected to the resonator, the displacement generator being in accordance with the first aspect of this invention.

Generating displacement and theroacoustic refrigerator


A method of providing a panoramic image and an imaging device thereof. The method may include: extracting at least one panoramic section, which is to generate a panoramic image, from moving picture data; displaying at least one thumbnail image respectively corresponding to the at least one panoramic section on a display screen; and if one of the at least one thumbnail image is selected, generating a panoramic section corresponding to the selected thumbnail image as a panoramic image. Therefore, even if a user performs capturing without the aim of acquiring a panoramic image at a capturing time, the user can aquire a panoramic image later by using moving picture data.

1. Field of the Invention
The present general inventive concept generally relates to a method of providing a panoramic image and an imaging device thereof, and more particularly, to a method of providing a panoramic image by using moving picture data, and an imaging device thereof.
2. Description of the Related Art
The recent development of an imaging device and an image processing method enables a user to acquire various types of images by using the imaging device. In particular, the user acquires a panoramic image by using a super-wide-angle lens, which is capable of capturing a wide range, or a panoramic photographing mode.
However, since the super-wide-angle lens is very expensive and does not support a panoramic photographing mode with respect to all types of imaging devices, the user cannot easily acquire a panoramic image.
Also, in order to acquire a panoramic image, the user is to capture images in predetermined conditions (e.g., a direction, an exposure, etc.) with the aim of capturing a panorama from the beginning when capturing an image and then synthesize the captured images to generate a panoramic image.
Accordingly, if the user performs capturing without the aim of capturing a panoramic image at a capturing time, it is difficult for the user to acquire a panoramic image later.

Method of providing panoramic image and imaging device thereof


A serial communication system, which can improve a communication speed even when it takes long time to perform a process in accordance with a command. A serial communication apparatus includes a first and a second microcomputer, each of which has a relationship of a master/a slave. Each of the first and the second microcomputer has a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, a communication control portion, a serial communication block and so on. A serial communication clock (SCLK) is continuously sent from the first microcomputer to the second microcomputer. The serial communication block of each of the microcomputers has a pair of exchangeable shift registers. Each of the communication control portions reads a signal (SRXD) sent from the opposite side microcomputer by 16 clocks, and performs processes based on a process command in the read signal (SRXD) during the next 16 clocks. Furthermore, the communication control portion sends a processed result (STXD) corresponding the process command to the opposite side microcomputer during further next 16 clocks.

This application is based upon Japanese Patent Application No. Hei. 11-48221 filed on Feb. 25, 1999, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to serial communication techniques, and particular to a serial communication technique applicable to an electronic control unit (ECU) of, for example, a vehicle engine, and further particular to a serial communication method and a serial communication apparatus performing a serial communication between external serial communication apparatus.
2. Related Art
Conventional serial communication apparatus is disclosed in JP A 9-282265. This serial communication apparatus is constructed so that data (message) is bidirectionally serial-communicated between two microcomputers having a relationship of a master and a slave therebetween. For example, a master microcomputer controls principal engine performs controls such as an ignition timing control and a fuel injection control; and a slave microcomputer performs the other supplemental controls such as an A/D (analog-digital) conversion of sensed data by some kinds of sensor, which are needed for the engine control, and a load calculation. Here, according to the conventional serial communication apparatus, the message is sent in synchronization with a serial communication clock. The message communicated between the microcomputers includes A/D converted data, data read from a RAM, and request commands for each of the processes.
In the actual data communication, a process completion signal (EOCT signal in FIG. 6 of the above-described JP) temporally rises to a logically high level in synchronization with a first trailing edge of the clock, and messages stored in each of shift registers are exchanged each other. After the exchange of the message is completed, the clock is stopped, and the process completion signal (EOCT) falls to a logically low level in synchronization with the clock""s stop. After that, the slave microcomputer performs predetermined process such as the A/D conversion or reading RAM data in accordance with the request command in the message received from the master microcomputer, and rises the process completion signal (EOCT) at the point when the process is completed. The master microcomputer judges a condition that the data is prepared to be sent due to the rising the process completion signal (EOCT) to the logically high level, and resets the clock so that next message is sent to the slave microcomputer.
According to the above-described JP A 9-282265, the communication is suspended due to the clock""s stop while the slave microcomputer performed the predetermined process in accordance with the request command (during EOCT=L in FIG. 6 in the JP). Particularly, in the case where it takes long time to process in the slave microcomputer such that when the request from the master microcomputer is the A/D conversion, a suspended time will be prolonged. Therefore, a suspended time, during which the communication is suspected (ended), is prolonged compared to a time during which the communication is performed, and it becomes hard to improve a communication speed. Furthermore, in this conventional apparatus, it is essential to provide a slave response communication line (EOCT line), and therefore it is inconvenience when a structure is simplified.
On the contrary, it would be thought a countermeasure in which the next message (command and data) is sent after a predetermined interval without applying the slave response communication line (EOCT line). That is, after the slave microcomputer receives the message in synchronization with the clock, the slave microcomputer performed predetermined process (the A/D conversion or the writing RAM) in accordance with the request command. After that, the slave microcomputer receives the next message every a predetermined period (interval) (e.g., 40 xcexcs) within which processes of the slave microcomputer is definitely completed. In this case, the master microcomputer sends the next message every the predetermined period 40 xcexcs regardless of the fact whether the slave microcomputer has completed its process or not. Here, whether the process in the slave microcomputer is accurately completed or not is judged from an ID (identification) bit in the message sent from the slave microcomputer.
According to the countermeasure, the slave response communication line (EOCT line) can be omitted, however, it still contains a problem that the communication time is further prolonged compared to the conventional apparatus in JP A 9-282265, because it needs to send the next message after waiting the predetermined interval (40 xcexcm) within which processes of the slave microcomputer is definitely completed.
Furthermore, as another countermeasure, it would be thought that the clock is not ended until the sending of all messages is completed, however, the process in the slave microcomputer may be prolonged when the request command from the master microcomputer includes certain command, which needs long time, such as a reading of the RAM data, a writing of the RAM data or the A/D conversion. Hence, it is difficult to actually apply to a commercial model.
On the contrary, another conventional serial communication apparatus is disclosed in Japanese Granted Patent No. 2719734. According to the another conventional apparatus, a clock communication line, a master data communication line, a slave data communication line, a synchronously initialize request control line and a slave response control line are provided between a master apparatus and a slave apparatus. The master apparatus sends a synchronously initialize request in synchronization with a start of sending of a master data or with a start of receiving of a slave data; and slave apparatus sends a slave response both after receiving the master data and before sending the slave data. However, this apparatus also contains problems such that communication is suspended when the command is processed, and that it needs slave response communication line.
This invention has been conceived in view of the background thus far described and its first object is to improve a communication speed even when it takes long time to perform a process in accordance with a command.
Its second object is to provide a serial communication system having a simple structure.
According to the present invention, a serial communication apparatus comprises: a plurality of registers; a switcher for alternately switching the condition of the registers every a predetermined numbers of serial communication clock; and a communication controller. Here, when serial communication is performed by using one register under the communication condition, a communication controller performs a process based on a process command, which is externally inputted and is received by another register last time, in the another register under the non-communication condition, and outputs a process result in accordance with the process command.
According to the above-described structure, the serial communication is performed by using one register, and at the same time, a process in accordance with a process command received last time is performed and a process result is outputted. Furthermore, when the register is switched after the predetermined number of serial communication clock passes, the process result in accordance with the process command is registered in the register, which has used for performing the serial communication; and the process result having registered before switching is outputted.
In this way, by alternately using a plural of registers, the process command just after being received can be temporally escaped, and a process in accordance with the escaped process command can be performed in the register at which the process command escapes. Therefore, when it takes long time to complete the process corresponding to the process command, it does not need to stop the communication every command. Hence the communication speed can be improved. Furthermore, it is not essential to ascertain whether a preparation of the communication has completed or not every communication corresponding predetermined clocks. Therefore, it does not need to provide a slave response communication line (e.g., the EOCT line in JP A 9-282265), so that the structure can be simplified.
According to another aspect of the present invention, a serial communication apparatus comprises: a first register; a second register; and a communication controller. The communication controller transfers the communication data in a first register to a second register when the first register receives communication data corresponding to a predetermined numbers of serial communication clock, registers a process result in accordance with the process command included in the communication data into the second register, transfers the process result in the second register to the first register after the predetermined numbers of serial communication clock passes, and registers communication data received after the predetermined numbers of serial communication clocks passes into the second register.
According to the above-described structure, at the second register, after receiving the communication data corresponding to a predetermined numbers of serial communication clock, a process in accordance with the command data included in the communication data is performed and a process result thereof is registered. After the predetermined numbers of serial communication clock passes, the process result in the second register is transferred to the first register and the next communication data is registered in the second register. The present invention according to another aspect can be achieved the same result as the above-described present invention.

Serial communication apparatus and serial communication system


This invention discloses an eyeglass cleaning apparatus including a handle, and a pair of lens engaging rollers mounted on the handle, each of the rollers comprising a soft material arranged such that the edges thereof engage the surface of a lens sought to be cleaned.

Various types of eyeglass cleaning apparatus is known in the patent literature. This apparatus includes both static and motorized wiping apparatus simultaneously engaging both surfaces of a lens. Detergent receptacles and dispensers are also provided in some embodiments.
The following U.S. Patents are believed to represent the state of the art: U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,464,080; 3,643,279; 4,347,010; 4,389,132; 4,480,352; 4,927,284; 5,222,268 and Des. 315,813.


An imaging apparatus includes a housing having a cavity therein, a linkage arm disposed within the cavity, an input media tray movably latched to the housing, and an input media tray latch coupled to the linkage arm and releasably engaged with the input media tray. Moving the linkage arm places the imaging apparatus in an operational mode, and releases the input media tray latch and unlatches the input media tray from the housing.

Consumers generally have limited amounts of space to devote to computing resources. Business owners also have limited amounts of space to devote to computing equipment. Printers are computing items that occupy desk space. Many features of computing products are considered when making a buy decision. Most consumers and most business concerns seek equipment that is adequate to accomplish a particular task for a given cost. Another aspect of a product that is considered by businesses and consumers is the amount of space the product uses. Generally, consumers and businesses may choose a device with a smaller footprint, given a choice between two otherwise similar devices. The footprint is the amount of floor space or desktop space taken up by the product.
Generally, users complete a number of steps before using an imaging apparatus. For example, an input or output paper tray is deployed and power to the imaging apparatus is enabled. Passing through a number of steps in order to "setup" the imaging apparatus takes time. Consumers may not choose to purchase products that are less efficient, those products that take a large amount of time to set up and a large amount of space.


An apparatus for radiation image recording includes a radiation receiver to which radiation can be applied and which converts the incident radiation to an electrical charge which represents a measure of the incident radiation and which can be read line-by-line via a reading device. It further includes a scattered beam grid, which is associated with the radiation receiver and which includes absorption elements which run in straight lines. The absorption elements are arranged at an angle to the line-by-line reading direction.

Apparatuses such as these are known, for example, as X-ray recording devices. The radiation which is emitted from the X-ray source passes through the examination object and strikes the radiation receiver, which converts the radiation that is incident there to a local electrical charge. This charge represents a measure of the locally incident radiation. This electrical charge can be read line-by-line, that is to say in a defined reading direction, via a reading device. The signals which are detected and produced in the process are then processed to form a radiation image, which can be output on a monitor.
The radiation which is passed through the object can be distinguished by two radiation components. Firstly the primary radiation, which strikes the radiation receiver without being scattered by the object, and secondly the secondary radiation, referred to as scattered radiation, which is scattered in the object and then strikes the radiation receiver with a scattered incidence direction. This scattered radiation is disadvantageous, since it makes the image quality poorer.
It is known for scattered beam grids to be used in order to reduce the scattered radiation, and these grids are connected immediately upstream of the radiation receiver. A scattered beam grid of a normal type comprises a large number of linear absorption elements which are incorporated in a carrier material, as a rule thin lead absorption laminates, which absorb the scattered radiation. Thus, while the primary radiation passes through the scattered beam grid essentially without any impediment, the majority of the secondary radiation is absorbed by the scattered beam grid.
However, one disadvantage is the fact that the regularity of the arrangement of the absorption elements, which all run parallel to one another, and the fact that the stored charge is likewise read in a geometrically standard form, specifically line-by-line, makes it possible for so-called Moiré effects to occur. This is an interference phenomenon which has a disadvantageous effect on the quality of the radiation image that is produced.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,282,264 B1 relates to a digital, two-dimensional X-ray detector which can be moved to different positions in order to allow different X-ray protocols to be carried out. The system for positioning the digital detector comprises a detector which in turn comprises a digital X-ray detector arrangement and a scattered beam grid.
DE 101 47 949 A1 discloses a method for production and fitting of a collimator to a Gamma detector for nuclear medicine.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,602,157 describes a device for production of X-ray records, in which a storage film is used as a radiation receiver for the production of X-ray records.


A method of welding plastic components using an induction weldable plastic material to a wall of a hollow plastic vessel entails providing a metal disk to a first plastic component, providing the first plastic component with a weldable plastic material, inserting the plastic component through a hole in a wall of the hollow plastic vessel, the inserting being from an exterior of the vessel to an interior of the vessel, positioning the first plastic component against or proximate an interior wall of the hollow plastic vessel, orienting an electro-magnet about the exterior of the vessel, orienting an induction coil about the electro-magnet such that the induction coil encircles the electromagnet; energizing the electro-magnet so that the metal disk of the first plastic component is secured against the wall of the vessel, and energizing the induction coil so that the induction weldable plastic material welds to the vessel wall.

Traditionally, metal automobile fuel tanks have components attached to their interior surfaces to provide a variety of functions. For example, fuel pump modules pump liquid fuel from the fuel tank and vapor vent valves vent gaseous fumes from the fuel tank. In such situations, these traditionally metal components are attached to an interior surface of the fuel tank using traditional fasteners such as bolts or screws that pass through holes in the tank wall, and may necessitate holes in the components themselves. While this method of fastening components to a wall of the fuel tank has generally served its purpose, it has not been without its share of limitations.
For instance, using fasteners to attach components to the interior surface of the fuel tank necessitates the use of bolts, screws or other fasteners, which adds to the total number of parts and the overall cost of the fuel tank assembly. Additionally, using traditional fasteners to mount internal fuel tank components results in the drilling of holes in the fuel tank through which the fasteners must pass to secure the component to the tank wall. Furthermore, because the fasteners pass through the fuel tank wall, an additional device such as a seal is normally required around the fastener in some fashion in order to retain the fuel within the fuel tank. Another disadvantage of securing components with traditional fasteners is that mounting components with traditional fasteners means that the connection is not permanent and may be a source of noise, vibration and harshness. Yet another disadvantage is that securing components within a fuel tank using traditional fasteners takes multiple fastening steps thereby increasing the time necessary to fasten such components.
What is needed then is a component fastening method that does not suffer from the above disadvantages. This, in turn will provide a fastening method that does not utilize traditional fasteners, that utilizes a lower number of parts than traditional fastening methods, that does not necessitate the use of additional seals, and that results in a permanent connection.

Method of welding a component inside a hollow vessel


A one-piece wrap-around wrist guard is provided that includes a plurality of flexible plastic supports or stays positioned above and below the wrist. The wrap-around support structure helps absorb and distribute forces from a fall rather than transmitting them to the wrist, arm, elbow and shoulder.

Snowboarders are frequently injured from falls. This invention relates to a wrist support and more particularly to an adjustable wrist guard that may be worn by a snowboarder interchangeably on either the right or left hand that provides flexible, shock-absorbing support to the user's wrist in the unfortunate event of a fall.
Snowboarders suffer an extraordinary number of wrist injuries because they instinctively extend their arms to brace for impact during a fall. Because of the large number of falls that occur for even experienced snowboarders, a high incidence of wrist injuries exists. A beginning snowboarder, for example, can fall between 10 and 30 times per day; a more-experienced snowboarder, between 2 and 10 times per day. The most common injuries are wrist sprains, breaks or bruises. Indeed, wrist injuries are becoming such a common occurrence that it detracts from the enjoyment of the whole snowboarding experience. Some ski resorts now even require the mandatory use of wrist protection for persons learning how to use a snowboard.
Snowboarding is presently the fastest growing alpine winter sport in the United States. With a greater number of national ski areas permitting snowboarders to share the same lift serviced terrain as downhill skiers, the number of active participants has mushroomed, particularly in the under 25 years of age group. Snowboarding is analogous to "surfing on the snow". The snowboarder typically wears either "soft-shell" or "rigid-shell" boots, similar to those used with downhill ski equipment, either of which are rigidly secured to a pair of plate bindings, the forward one disposed axially and the rear one disposed transverse on the upper surface of the snowboard. Unlike downhill ski equipment which utilizes releasable bindings that are actuated upon the skier's leg encountering a given twisting or pulling load during a fall, snowboard bindings do not release unless manually activated by the snowboarder when removal of the board or one foot (when boarding lifts) is desired. Consequently, the snowboard is always anchored to the rider's feet during use and there is no independent leg movement as in skiing. Since both legs are attached to one board, the type of falls typically encountered by a snowboarder are markedly different from those a downhill skier may face. In snowboarding, the rider's feet are locked and, hence, the falls are less of a sliding fall where the feet can separate. Stops tend to be immediate to either the front or back, e.g., heel-side or toe-side edges of the board. In contrast, a skier's feet can separate during a fall which results in more side falls. As a result, snowboarders tend to fall more to their hips, rather than straight forward or backward. It is wrist protection for the type falls experienced by snowboarders that the present invention is directed.
Two approaches to providing wrist protection to snowboarders are shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,313,667 and 5,537,692. The '667 patent utilizes four separate straps that selectively interconnect around a hand. Because separate straps are used, they can be difficult to use. In addition, such systems use rigid, non-shock-absorbing stays or supports. The '662 patent discloses a rigid wrist protection device that is incorporated within the lining of a glove to preserve the ornamental qualities of the glove. It also uses rigid, rather than flexible, supports. Neither the '667 patent nor the '692 patent teach the benefits of having multiple, narrow, flexible wrist-support plates that absorb, rather than transmit, forces or the unique wrap-around strap or the ability to wear the present invention on either the left or right hand.
Embodiments of the present invention may be worn interchangeably either over or under a glove and incorporate multiple symmetric thumb-holes and a wrap-around strap which positions a plurality of flexible support members as snugly as possible to the user's wrist. Further, the wrist guard is easy to put on and take off while, at the same time, offering more support and shock absorption than the prior art wrist protection devices.


A multi-function exercise device for facilitating waistline reducing exercises and for facilitating with arm and upper body strengthening and toning exercises wherein the waistline reducing exercises and the arm and upper body strengthening and toning exercises may be performed simultaneously or alternately. The multi-function exercise device comprises a center bar member, left side bar member and right side bar member wherein the left side bar member is pivotally coupled to the left end of the center bar member and the right side bar member is pivotally coupled to the right end of the center bar member. The pivotally couplings of the left side bar member and the right side bar member, respectively, provide left and right counter reciprocating resistance forces as the muscles of the left and right arms of the exerciser apply a force of pressure to urge the left side bar member and the right side bar member, respectively, forwardly.

Twisting the torso or waistline while standing in an upright position has been known to reduce the waistline. An exerciser has been known to use a bar member such as a pipe or broomstick positioned around the neck with their hands coupled thereto to facilitate the twisting and turning of the torso and waistline. However, the pipe and broom stick are uncomfortable when exercising because of the lack of padding on the pipe and broomstick for padding the neck. Moreover, since the arms while twisting the torso or waistline is maintained extended behind the shoulders or aligned with the shoulders, the force of the arms urges the broomstick or pipe into the neck.
Other exercises for reducing the waistline and abdomen include abdominal sit-ups or crunches. In some instances, the exerciser, while lying down, places their hands behind their head and applies a force of pressure to urge the head and a portion of the torso forward. Exercise devices have been employed to facilitate the abdominal sit-up or crunch.
Several devices have been patented which are aimed at exercising the waistline or abdomen.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,248,287, by Nicoletti, entitled "EXERCISE DEVICE" discloses an exercise device for facilitating trunk rotation exercises comprising a semicircular shaped elongated member with handles at each end. The handles extend toward each other across the front of the user and forces the user's hands to be located close to the upper torso of the body.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,372,566, by Olschansky et al., entitled "PORTABLE EXERCISING SYSTEM" discloses a stabilization mechanism for contact with a resistive force load applying mechanism. The stabilization mechanism is coupled to a force load application mechanism through an adjustable securement mechanism which adjusts the displacement distance between the stabilization mechanism and the force load application mechanism. The portable exercising system is primarily used for sit-up type exercises.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,122,107, by Gardner, entitled "SITUP EXERCISE HEAD-SUPPORT HARNESS" discloses a harness to be worn during sit-up exercises to support the head. The harness provides a handgrip loop from which the exerciser applies a force greater than the weight of the head to pull the head forward during sit-ups.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,863,158, by Tassone, entitled "SIT-UP EXERCISE AID" discloses a sit-up bar employed to add resistance for sit-up exercises. The sit-up bar has a central neck bow having coupled thereto right and left aligned straight sections. The sit-up bar further comprises a pair of handles each of which extends forward from a respective straight section. Weights may be coupled to the sit-up bar.
Another device in the abdomen exercise art is U.S. Pat. No. 5,330,004, by Meuhlenbein, entitled "ABDOMEN EXERCISER AND METHOD OF USING SAME" but does not meet the needs of the present invention.
When strengthening the arms and upper body, exercise devices which provide resistance forces have been employed such as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,372,558, by Perry et al., entitled "EXERCISE DEVICE." The invention, by Perry et al., discloses an exercise apparatus for strengthening the muscles of the upper body and arm including a handle means, a connecting means and a bias means or counterweight system coupled to the handle means.
It can be readily seen that there exists the continuing need for a multi-function exercise device for facilitating waistline reducing exercises and for facilitating with arm and upper body strengthening and toning exercises wherein the waistline reducing exercises and the arm and upper body strengthening and toning exercises may be performed simultaneously or alternately. Moreover, the multi-function exercise device may be used with abdominal exercises.


This invention provides new therapeutic potential of nandrolone or a derivative thereof, against protozoal diseases. More specifically, nandrolone or a derivative thereof exhibits anti-protozoal activity against Leishmania major. Anti-protozoal potential of nandrolone derivatives, such as compounds 1-8, can contribute in the development of effective therapies against protozoal diseases, such as leishmaniasis, trypanosomiasis, malaria, toxoplasmosis, babeosis, amoebic dysentery and lambliasis. Another aspect of the invention is a method of testing derivatives of nandrolone for anti-protozoal activity comprising growing Leishmania in the presence of the test derivative and determining the IC50 value.

Leishmiansis remains one of the major health problems in developing countries. It is a vector born disease affecting 88 countries: 72 of which are developing and 13 are the least developed. A protozoan parasite belongs to genus Leishmania is the major cause of leishmaniasis (Desjeux, P., (2004), Leishmaniasis: current situation and new perspectives, Comparative Immunology, Microbiology & Infectious Diseases, 27, 305-318.)
There are three major forms of leishmaniasis, which include visceral leishmaniasis, mucocutaneous leishmaniasis and cutaneous leishmaniasis. Visceral leishmaniasis (kala azar or black fever) is the most severe form of leishmaniasis and becomes fatal when it remains untreated. In mucocutaneous leishmaniasis, lesions lead to complete or partial destruction of mucous membranes of the mouth and throat cavity, as well as the nose and other surrounding tissues. Cutaneous leishmaniasis is the most common form of leishmaniasis and is transmitted through the bite of the female sand fly (Phlebotomine). The Leishmania parasite multiplies in the gut of the sand fly and becomes infective in 8-20 days. Sand flies act as a vector where it transmits the disease from one affected person to others.
Nandrolone is an anabolic androgenic steroid known as a performance drug. It is also called a 19-noretestosterone, because of its similar structure to testosterone. The only difference is a missing methyl group at C-10. Nandrolone is commercially marketed as its decanoate (deca-durabolin) and phenylpropionate ester (durabolin). The interesting chemistry and diverse biological properties make nandrolone an important class of bioactive compounds.
In an effort to discover new leishmanicidal agents, we synthesized a series of nandrolone derivatives through biotransformation. These derivatives were evaluated for their potential as anti-protozoal agents. The anti-protozoal properties of nandrolone and its derivatives provide an unmet medical need in countries where patients suffer from protozoal infections.

Treatment and inhibition of protozoal diseases with nandrolone and its derivatives