Among other things, an object scanner, such as an x-ray system, is provided, where the object scanner is configured to translate an object undergoing an examination along a non-linear path. For example, in some embodiments, an examination region of the object scanner is spatially offset, relative to an entry port and/or an exit port of the object scanner, such that there is little to no line of sight through the object scanner, from the entry port to the exit port. The non-linearity of the path is configured to reduce the possibility of radiation scatted by an object and/or by portions of the object scanner from escaping the examination region and exiting the object scanner via the entry port and/or the exit port.

The present application relates to radiation shielding in a radiation system, or more particularly to the mitigation of radiation leakage from a radiation system. It finds particular application in the context of baggage screening, where objects are translated or conveyed through a radiation system to detect threat items, such as guns, knives, explosives, etc. However, it may also find applicability in medical fields and/or industrial fields, where radiation systems are configured to examine and/or image objects.
Today, radiation systems (e.g., also referred to as imaging systems) such as computed tomography (CT) systems, projection systems, and/or line-scanner systems, for example, are useful to provide information regarding interior aspects of an object under examination and/or images of such interior aspects. Generally, the object is exposed to radiation comprising photons (e.g., such as x-rays, gamma rays, etc.), and an image(s) is formed based upon the radiation absorbed and/or attenuated by interior aspects of the object, or rather an amount of photons that is able to pass through the object. Typically, highly dense aspects of the object absorb and/or attenuate more radiation than less dense aspects, and thus an aspect having a higher density, such as a bone or metal, for example, may be apparent when surrounded by less dense aspects, such as muscle or clothing.
In some radiation systems, such as systems commonly found at security checkpoints, an energy shield, such as a lead curtain, is placed at an entry port of the radiation system and/or at an exit port of the radiation system. Such a shield is configured to mitigate radiation leakage to an environment external to the radiation system. Typically, such an energy shield is comprised of a plurality of flaps, and the force of an object (e.g., such as a suitcase) being guided into or out of the radiation system (e.g., via a conveyor belt) causes flaps that contact the object to move, permitting the object to enter the radiation system and be exposed to radiation and/or permitting the object to exit port the radiation system.

Mitigation of radiation leakage via entry port and/or exit port of radiation system


The present invention provides a method for obtaining high purity chlorosilanes from chlorosilanes containing boron impurities and phosphorus impurities. On the basis of the finding that solid by-product formation in the purification of chlorosilanes by adding an aromatic aldehyde results from a catalytic reaction by iron ions or rust-like iron, a Lewis base having a masking effect is added to chlorosilanes. Examples of the Lewis base include a divalent sulfur-containing compound and an alkoxysilane. The divalent sulfur-containing compound is preferably a compound represented by the formula: R—S—R′ (wherein R is a hydrocarbon group or a carbonyl group; and the sum of the carbon atoms in R and R′ is 7 or more), and the alkoxysilane is preferably a compound represented by the formula: RxSi(OR′)4-x (wherein R and R′ are each an alkyl group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms).

Generally, high purity is required for polycrystalline silicon used as a raw material for producing a semiconductor and the like. It is therefore required that the chlorosilanes used as a raw material for producing polycrystalline silicon should have very high purity. For example, when boron and phosphorus are contained in chlorosilanes as impurities, even a very small amount of these impurities will significantly affect the electrical properties (resistivity) of polycrystalline silicon. Therefore, it will be practically meaningful to provide a technique of efficiently removing boron impurities and phosphorus impurities contained in chlorosilanes.
Generally, crude chlorosilanes are obtained by a known method from a metallurgical-grade silicon (so-called metal-grade silicon, hereinafter referred to as "metallic silicon") which contains a relatively large amount of impurities, and the crude chlorosilanes thus obtained are further purified to high purity by distillation or the like to obtain chlorosilanes. However, since boron and phosphorus are generally contained in metallic silicon in an amount in the order of several hundred ppb to several hundred ppms in terms of the element, these impurities are removed insufficiently in the process of purifying crude chlorosilanes, and boron and phosphorus may remain as impurities in the chlorosilanes finally obtained. These residual impurities may pose a problem.
In order to obtain crude chlorosilanes, there is well known a method in which metallic silicon is brought into contact with hydrogen chloride in the presence of a catalyst to chlorinate the metallic silicon and the resulting product is distilled (for example, refer to Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2005-67979 (Patent Literature 1)). The crude chlorosilanes refer to a fraction in this distillation and are generally a mixture of one or two or more chlorosilanes selected from dichlorosilane, trichlorosilane, and tetrachlorosilane.
Boron impurities and phosphorus impurities contained in metallic silicon are chlorinated at the same time as the crude chlorosilanes are produced, and are mixed into the crude chlorosilanes as a form of compounds having various structures. Such crude chlorosilanes are purified to obtain chlorosilanes, but it is difficult to separate and remove, in the distillation step, compounds having boiling points which are close to those of the chlorosilanes to be finally obtained. Boron compounds and phosphorus compounds may be thus mixed into (may remain in) the distillation fraction as impurities. If polycrystalline silicon is produced using such chlorosilanes, boron and phosphorus will be incorporated into the polycrystalline silicon, leading to a result that cannot obtain a polycrystalline silicon having desired properties.
The main reason why it is difficult to remove boron and phosphorus as impurities which are contained in crude chlorosilanes by a general distillation method is that these impurities are present in the form of compounds having low boiling points. Specifically, although the boron and phosphorus in crude chlorosilanes can take the form of various hydrides or chlorides, boron and phosphorus are usually present in the form of boron trichloride (BCl3) and phosphorus trichloride (PCl3), respectively, having low boiling points. However, a general distillation method cannot easily remove such volatile compounds from the chlorosilanes to a very low concentration level required for polycrystalline silicon to have desired properties.
Under the circumstances, various methods have been proposed as a method for reducing the content of boron impurities and phosphorus impurities in crude chlorosilanes or chlorosilanes (method for purifying chlorosilanes). For example, National Publication of International Patent Application No. 1983-500895 to D. R. D et al. (Patent Literature 2) has proposed a method comprising: introducing a small amount of oxygen into chlorosilanes at a high temperature condition to allow the chlorosilanes to react with the oxygen to form a complex; allowing the complex to react with boron impurities and phosphorus impurities to produce a new complex; and separating the new complex in the distillation step of the chlorosilanes to obtain chlorosilanes having a low impurity concentration.
Further, U.S. Pat. No. 3,126,248 to F. A. Pohl et al. (Patent Literature 3) has proposed a method comprising: producing an adduct of an organic substance containing an element having a lone electron pair such as benzaldehyde and valerolactone with boron impurities; and then distilling the resulting mixture to remove the impurity.
Furthermore, U.S. Pat. No. 3,252,752 to the same inventors (Patent Literature 4) has reported a method comprising: catching and removing boron impurities with benzaldehyde, propionitrile, or the like immobilized on an adsorbent such as activated carbon and silica gel.
On the other hand, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2009-62213 (Patent Literature 5) has reported that when chlorosilanes containing boron impurities and phosphorus impurities are treated by introducing oxygen in the presence of an aromatic aldehyde, the boron impurities and the phosphorus impurities can be converted into high-boiling compounds at the same time and can be easily removed during the distillation of chlorosilanes, without using a high temperature as in a method disclosed in Patent Literature 2.
The method for removing impurities using an aromatic aldehyde as disclosed in Patent Literature 5 allows the impurities to be converted into high-boiling compounds, the distillation of the impurities from the bottom of a single evaporator or a distillation column to be suppressed, and the impurities to be concentrated and removed at a high concentration, thus allowing reduction in the amount of trichlorosilanes which accompanies the disposal. Therefore, this method also has advantages in cost.
However, as a result of investigation by the present inventors, it has been found that when a large amount of chlorosilanes is treated with an aromatic aldehyde, solids derived from the aldehyde compound may be newly produced in piping or in a strainer, and the solids may interfere with the control of the purification system including a purification apparatus.
Particularly, in a place where a solution containing concentrated aromatic aldehyde stagnates such as piping for discharging a residue from a still, solid production becomes remarkable to block the piping or the strainer, which will require disassembling of the piping to perform solids-removing operation depending on the case. Further, if the concentration of the aldehyde compound in the residue is somewhat reduced by reducing the concentration rate in order to relieve the above-described bad influence of solids, the discarded amount of chlorosilane which is the target compound for purification will be increased. Therefore, the reduction in the concentration rate is not practical.


A quick change lens mount for connecting a lens assembly to a camera board, the camera board having a image recording device, a filter and a filter frame to position the filter over the image recording device. The lens mount includes a base attached to the camera board and a quick connect coupling on the base for removable coupling to said lens assembly. The base, filter and filter frame are all affixed to the camera board by fasteners.

In systems that have a camera board to which a light and image sensor device is mounted, a base that encloses the device and a lens which directs external light from an image to the device, it often is desirable to change lenses in order to improve the image. For lenses with threads it is necessary to screw in and unscrew the lens for each lens change required. Moreover, different lenses often have different thread sizes so that not only is it necessary to screw and unscrew the lenses but a different base must be mounted having threads which mate with the threads of the new lens.
Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide an improved lens mount which permits a more rapid change of lenses.
It is a further object of the invention to provide an adapter which couples a lense having one thread size to a base having a different thread size.


To effect a change to the system, a user process makes a request. An interface receives the request, and attempts to authenticate the user. Assuming the user is authenticated, the interface determines the user's UID. The interface determines a provider process that can make the requested change, and forwards the request to the provider process. The interface also assigns the user's UID to the provider process's eUID. The provider process then attempts to make the change, provided the change can be made given the eUID assignment. The provider process then attempts to run under the new eUID, enabling the system to prohibit it from doing something that is not authorized for that user. This protects the system from inadvertently executing management operations by one provider process that is not expected or intended by the user of another provider process.

One feature present in modern operating systems is a Common Information Model Object Manager (CIMOM). The CIMOM provides for a standardized way for processes to request changes to be made, perhaps to the operating system, perhaps to applications. The CIMOM determines the provider process that should handle the request, and forwards the request to that provider process.
A problem with this design is that sometimes the provider process runs in the same thread as the CIMOM interface. This means that the provider process receives the same user ID (UID) as the CIMOM. Since the CIMOM runs as a root process, the provider process also runs as a root process. But this means that the provider process is capable of making system changes. Since the provider process does not have any information about the process that requested the change, the provider process is capable of making changes to the system on behalf of a user who would ordinarily not have the authority to make such a change.
The invention addresses these problems and others in the art.


A semiconductor memory device includes first and second conductive contact layers (12, 15) and an hydrogenated, silicon-rich, amorphous silicon alloy layer (14), particularly an amorphous silicon nitride or amorphous silicon carbide alloy, extending between the contact layers. A defect band is induced in the amorphous silicon layer which lowers the activation energy level for the transport of carriers through the structure by an amount that is selectable and determined by the defect band. The defect band is created by a programming process, for example, using current stressing or particle bombardment. A memory matrix array device is provided by forming a row and column array of such memory devices from common deposited layers on a common substrate with crossing sets of row and column conductors separated by a layer of the alloy material defining a memory device at each of their cross-over regions. A plurality of overlying arrays of memory devices may be stacked on the support to provide a 3-D memory structure in a simple manner.

The present invention relates to a semiconductor memory device comprising two spaced, electrically conductive contact layers and a layer comprising amorphous silicon material extending between the contact layers, and methods of producing such. The invention relates also to memory matrix array devices using such memory devices.
A semiconductor memory device of the above kind is described in PCT WO 90/13921. This device comprises a thin layer of amorphous silicon material on one side of which is provided a first conducting layer, such as chromium, and on the other side of which a second conducting layer of a selected metal, such as vanadium, is deposited. The amorphous silicon layer may be hydrogenated n type, doped with phosphorous, or hydrogenated p type, doped with boron, having a thickness in the range 20 to 350 nm and is preferably doped to have a conductivity in the bulk state of at least 10.sup.-6 (ohms cm).sup.-1. In order for the device to perform a memory function, its electrical characteristics are altered by a so-called forming process which involves applying a voltage, or series of voltages, across the device which convert its structure to one having analogue memory properties. This forming process has the effect of reducing the device resistance, from around 10.sup.9 ohms prior to this process by, for example, around two orders of magnitude. After this forming, the device can be set and reset to a resistance which is a measure of an applied voltage, the resistance value being retained after removal of the applied voltage thereby providing a programmed device. The device differs in this respect from devices which only retain a given state while maintained by a holding voltage and from known binary memory devices which effectively store just two values in response to two respective ranges of voltages.
An explanation of the change in the structure and behaviour resulting from such a forming process, given in the paper entitled "Metal-semiconductor transition in electroformed chromium/amorphous silicon/vanadium thin-film structures" by J. Hajto et al in Philosophical Magazine B. 1994, Vol. 69, No. 2, pages 237-251, is that the forming process creates a localised filamentary region which is highly conducting. It is suggested in this paper that the filamentary region, which can be less than 0.5 micrometers in diameter, is likely to be caused by the top metal diffusing into the doped amorphous silicon layer during the forming process which produces a region of mixed metal and silicon of some form. Experiments reported in that paper involved Cr/p.sup.+ a-Si:H/V sandwich structures having an active area of 10 micrometers in diameter and with the amorphous silicon layer being 0.01 micrometers in thickness. The structures initially have a low voltage resistance of around 10.sup.9 ohms, due, it is said, to metal-semiconductor Schottky barriers at the contacts, which is lowered to around 10.sup.3 ohms by a forming process that involves applying a sequence of single 300 ns voltage pulses of increasing magnitude to around 14V with the top, vanadium, contact being of positive polarity. Following this forming, the structure exhibits fast analogue memory switching by demonstrating non-volatile resistance states between Ron equal to 10.sup.3 ohms and Roff equal to 10.sup.6 ohms under the influence of a single voltage pulse of 100 ns duration and of magnitudes between 2 and 6v. Similar results are described in the aforementioned PCT WO 90/13921. In one described example using the formed device as a memory element, a positive, WRITE, pulse of 3.4V and 100 ns duration is applied to the chromium contact resulting in an ON state of 2.times.10.sup.3 ohms and an opposite polarity, ERASE, pulse is applied at successively higher voltages through which it was found that at a certain threshold voltage the device resistance gradually increases with each successively higher applied voltage until at around 3.0 V a final resistance state of approximately 4.times.10.sup.5 ohms is achieved. All these states were non-volatile and stable with the device retaining the conductivity state to which it had last been set. Between the upper and lower switching thresholds the device resistance is primarily a function of applied voltage pulse. According to experimental results given in the paper by Hajto et al, the I-V characteristics of the device for different analogue memory states are generally symmetrical and linear. The analogue memory semiconductor devices are suitable for use, for example, as non-volatile, and reprogrammable, memory elements in analogue neural networks.
In PCT WO 90/00817 there is described an electrical switching device which comprises an amorphous silicon compound layer formed by reacting amorphous silicon or an amorphous silicon compound such as amorphous silicon carbide, oxide or nitride, with a passivating agent such as hydrogen, and two conducting electrodes on the amorphous silicon compound layer. The device initially has a relatively high resistance and is similarly subjected to a forming operation by applying a high voltage which is said to cause a disc like area of crystalline elemental silicon to be formed together with the loss of the overlying part of an electrode, thus creating a localised filament through the device. Once formed in this way, the device exhibits a voltage controlled negative resistance whereby it has a low resistance until it is subjected to a high voltage or current whereupon it has a high resistance. The change in resistance effect is explained as being due to ohmic heating in the filamentary region and the thermionic and/or field effect emission of electrons from that region into regions having lower electron mobilities.

Semiconductor memory devices with amorphous silicon alloy


Described are systems and methods that allow a video conference participant to efficiently review semantically meaningful events within the video streams shared by their peers. Because participants are engaged in real-time communication, it is important to provide tools that let them quickly jump back to past events that were shown previously, not requiring them to manipulate a standard video timeline. Our techniques thus find meaningful events in the video stream such as scrolling pages, moving windows, typing text, etc. Using these techniques, a participant can then easily go back to e.g. the last PDF page shown by a peer, while still listening to the live audio.

1. Technical Field
The disclosed embodiments relate in general to systems and methods for video content processing in connection with video conferencing and video broadcast applications and, more specifically, to systems and methods for real-time efficient navigation of multiple video conferencing and video broadcast streams.
2. Description of the Related Art
Modern real-time group video conferencing systems well known to persons of ordinary skill in the art enable two or more users to engage in audio/video conferencing using audio and video streams sent over a computer network. During such conference, a computer screen of each conference participant is typically split into portions each showing a live stream from one of the conference participants with the total number of shown live streams being equal to the total number of conference participants. Conventional systems enable the conference participants to momentarily share their screen with others, for example to show a demo of a product, a web site, a deck of slides, or a document such as a PDF or a text editor file.
As illustrated in FIG. 1, in one exemplary scenario, a conference participant may decide to show her face in a screen 101, share her word document in a screen 102, switch back to showing her face in screen 103, and later show her screen where she types code in an editor in screen 104. Unlike text-based chat systems in which a person can readily scroll the chat window to refer to earlier parts of a transcript, participants in a video conference can only see the live frames. Stream recorders that record live conferencing sessions only let people record the streams for later viewing, but do not offer real-time navigation into the streams. Therefore, unfortunately, using the conventional conferencing technology, conference participants cannot review previous video frames in the live video stream: they can only see what their peers are sharing at the moment. This leads to decreased usability and user experience.
Therefore, the conventional video conferencing systems are deficient due to their lack of video stream navigation functionality. Thus, new and improved systems and methods are needed that would enable users to efficiently jump back into semantically meaningful parts of conference streams shared by their peers.

Systems and methods for real-time efficient navigation of video streams


Emulsions are provided which are useful in imparting water-resistance to gypsum wood fiber products. In one embodiment, the emulsions comprise a wax or a combination of waxes, an alkyl phenol, at least one surfactant, Polynaphthalenesulfonic acid, and an alkali metal hydroxide. In another embodiment, the emulsions comprise a wax or a combination of waxes, an alkyl phenol, at least one surfactant, polynaphthalenesulfonic acid, an alkali metal hydroxide, and a complexed starch.

Certain properties of gypsum (calcium sulfate dihydrate) make it very popular for use in making industrial and building products; especially gypsum board. It is a plentiful and generally inexpensive raw material which, through a process of dehydration and rehydration, can be cast, molded or otherwise formed to useful shapes. The base material from which gypsum board is manufactured is the hemihydrate form of calcium sulfate (gypsum), commonly termed stucco, which is produced by the heat conversion of the dihydrate from which the water phase has been removed.
In the making of gypsum board, the gypsum slurry must flow onto a paper substrate. In a continuous process, the slurry/substrate combination is then sized by passing this combination between rollers. Simultaneous with this sizing step, a paper bathing is positioned over the sized gypsum slurry. Accordingly, the gypsum slurry must possess sufficient fluidity so that a properly sized gypsum board can be made.
It is also important to the manufacture of gypsum board, that the gypsum slurry be capable of being foamed to a limited extent. Foamability refers to this ability to be foamed. When the gypsum slurry and paper substrate are passed through the sizing rollers, a certain amount of the gypsum slurry must back flow and accumulate in the rollers nip so that a steady flow of gypsum is delivered to the sizing rollers.
Because of the continuous nature of a gypsum board manufacturing process wherein the gypsum slurry flows onto a substrate which then passes through sizing rollers, the extent to which the gypsum slurry flows after it is sized is critical to maintaining the finished product dimensions of the gypsum board. The time at which the gypsum slurry ceases its flow is referred to as the pre-set time. The set time of the gypsum slurry is also an important property. The set time refers to the amount of time it takes the gypsum slurry to be dried, under heat, to the finished, solid gypsum board.
Gypsum board absorbs water, which reduces the strength of the wallboard. Prior art products, like ordinary gypsum board, gypsum tile, gypsum block, gypsum casts, and the like have relatively little resistance to water. When ordinary gypsum board, for example, is immersed in water, the board quickly absorbs a considerable amount of water, and loses a great deal of its strength. Actual tests have demonstrated that when a 2 inch by 4 inch cylinder of gypsum board core material was immersed in water at about 70° F., the cylinder showed a water absorption of 36% after immersion for 40 minutes.
The gypsum wood fiber (GWF) product differs from conventional gypsum wallboard products in that the GWF incorporates into the established slurry both gypsum and wood fibers. For example, in addition to lumber, particleboard, fiberboard, waferboard, plywood, recycled pulp and paper, and "hard" board (high density fiberboard) are some of the forms of processed lignocellulosic material products used in the building industry. Such materials have better tensile and flexural strength than gypsum. However, they are also generally higher in cost, have poor fire resistance and are frequently susceptible to swelling or warping when exposed to moisture. Therefore, affordable means to improve upon these use limiting properties of building products made from cellulosic material are desired.
Previous attempts to combine the favorable properties of gypsum and cellulosic fibers, particularly wood fibers, have had very limited success. Attempts to add cellulosic fibers, (or other fibers for that matter), to gypsum plaster and/or plasterboard core have generally produced little or no strength enhancement because of the heretofore inability to achieve any significant bond between the fibers and the gypsum. U.S. Pat. Nos.: 4,328,178; 4,239,716; 4,392,896 and 4,645,548 disclose recent examples where wood fibers or other natural fibers were mixed into a stucco (calcium sulfate hemihydrate) slurry to serve as reinforcers for a rehydrated gypsum board or the like.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,734,163, teaches a process in which raw or uncalcined gypsum is finely ground and wet mixed with 5-10% paper pulp. The mash is partially dewatered, formed into a cake and further dewatered by pressure rolls until the water/solids ratio is less than 0.4. The cake is cut into green boards, which, after being trimmed and cut, are stacked between double steel plates and put into an autoclave. The temperature in the autoclave is raised to about 140° C. to convert the gypsum to calcium sulfate alpha hemihydrate. During the subsequent incremental cooling of the vessel boards, the hemihydrate rehydrates back to dihydrate (gypsum) and gives the boards integrity. The boards are then dried and finished as necessary.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,320,677 to Baig describes a composite material made from gypsum and host particles of a reinforcing material, such as lignocellulose fibers. The composite material is produced by mixing gypsum and host particles of a stronger substance; such as wood fibers, in a dilute aqueous slurry. The slurry is heated in an autoclave, preferably under pressure, to convert the gypsum to calcium sulfate alpha hemihydrate. The hot, converted slurry is discharged through a headbox onto a continuous felting conveyor of the type used in paper making operations, where the slurry is dewatered to remove as much uncombined water as possible before dehydrating the hemihydrate back to gypsum. The resulting material is a homogeneous mass comprising gypsum crystals physically interlocked with the discrete host particles. The resulting mat is then dried in heated convection or forced air drying ovens, and the dried board is cut to the desired dimensions. Baig teaches the addition of crystal modifiers to the slurry, but does not teach the addition of any additive to improve the water resistance of the final product.
These prior art products, like ordinary gypsum wallboard, gypsum tile, gypsum block, gypsum casts, and the like have relatively little resistance to water.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,010,596 to Song teaches adding a wax emulsion containing a combination of a paraffinic hydrocarbon, montan wax, polyvinyl alcohol, water and emulsifiers to a hot slurry containing ground gypsum and wood fiber. Emulsifiers include nonionic and cationic surfactants. While still hot, the slurry is discharged through a headbox onto a continuous felting conveyor, such as the type used in paper making operations, to form a fetter cake and remove as much uncombined water as possible. Song does not teach an emulsion containing the novel combination of waxes, an alkyl phenol, at least one surfactant, polynaphthalenesulfonic acid, and an alkali metal hydroxide.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Gypsum wood fiber articles and methods of making same


The invention claims a process for making an insulin-oligomer conjugate IN-105. IN-105 precursor having formula G-A-V-R-[B-Chain]-R-D-A-D-D-R-[A-Chain] is cloned and expressed in Pichia. The biosynthetic precursor is then conjugated with an activated oligomer. The IN-105 precursor-oligomer conjugate is then treated with protease and purified to afford active insulin-oligomer conjugate of formula insulin-OC—CH2—CH2—(OCH2CH2)3—OCH3.

The β-cells of the pancreatic islets secrete a single chain precursor of insulin, known as pro-insulin which upon proteolysis results in the biologically active polypeptide insulin. The insulin molecule is a highly conserved across species and generally consists of two chains of amino acids linked by disulfide bonds. The natural human insulin molecule (mw 5,807 Daltons), has A-chain of 21 amino acid residues with glycine at the amino terminus; and a B-chain of 30 amino acid residues with phenylalanine at the amino terminus. Insulin may exist as a monomer or may aggregate into a dimer or a hexamer formed from three of the dimers. The monomer has the ability to bind to receptors and is the biologically active form.
Insulin polypeptide is the primary hormone responsible for controlling the transport, utilization and storage of glucose in the body. A defect in the carbohydrate metabolism as a result of insufficient production of insulin or reduced sensitivity of the receptor to insulin leads to the biological disorder diabetes. Diabetes impairs the normal ability to use glucose as a result increases blood sugar levels (hyperglycemia). As glucose accumulates in the blood, excess levels of sugar are excreted in the urine (glycosuria). Other symptoms of diabetes include increased urinary volume and frequency, thirst, itching, hunger, weight loss, and weakness. Diabetes when left untreated leads to ketosis, followed by acidosis with nausea and vomiting. As the toxic products continue to build up, the patient goes into a diabetic coma, which leads to the patient's death. There are two types of diabetes Type I is insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, or IDDM. IDDM was formerly referred to as "juvenile onset diabetes." In IDDM, insulin is not secreted by the pancreas and must be provided from an external source. Type II or adult-onset diabetes can ordinarily be controlled by diet, although in some advanced cases insulin is required.
Traditionally bovine and porcine insulin were used almost exclusively to treat diabetes in humans. With the development of recombinant technology commercial scale manufacture of human insulin was made possible by fermentation. Furthermore, genetically engineered insulin analogs having biological activity comparable to that of natural human insulin were developed to combat the disease. However, treatment of diabetes typically requires regular injections of insulin. Due to the inconvenience of insulin injections, various approaches have been attempted to formulate insulin for administration by non-injectable routes. A list of such publications include: U.S. Pat. No. 4,338,306 (Kitao et al.) reports a pharmaceutical compositions of insulin and fatty acids having 8 to 14 carbon atoms and nontoxic salts thereof for rectal administration of insulin; U.S. Pat. No. 4,579,730 (Kidron et al) reports an enterocoated insulin compositions with a bile acid or alkali metal salt thereof for the oral administration of insulin; U.S. Pat. No. 5,283,236 (Chiou et al.) reports an insulin composition with a permeation-enhancing agent to aid systemic absorption of higher molecular weight polypeptides, as well as peptidase inhibitors for systemic delivery of insulin through the eyes wherein the drug passes into the nasolacrimal duct and becomes absorbed into circulation; U.S. Pat. No. 5,658,878 (Backstrom et al.) reports an insulin and sodium salt of a saturated fatty acid of carbon chain length 10 (i.e., sodium caprate), 12 (sodium laurate), or 14 (sodium myristate) which enhances the absorption of insulin in the lower respiratory tract; U.S. Pat. No. 5,853,748 (New et al.)—reports an enteric-coated composition of insulin, a bile salt or bile acid, and carbonate or bicarbonate ions, used to adjust the pH of the gut to a pH of from 7.5 to 9 for the oral administration of insulin. U.S. Pat. No. 6,200,602 (Watts et al) reports a drug delivery composition of insulin for colonic delivery of insulin with an absorption promoter which includes a mixture of fatty acids having 6 to 16 carbon atoms and its salts or a mixture of mono/diglycerides of medium chain fatty acids along with a dispersing agent, in a coating to prevent the release of the insulin and absorption promoter until the tablet, capsule or pellet reaches the proximal colon.
Several attempts to deliver insulin by oral administration are found in literature. The problems associated with oral administration of insulin to achieve euglycemia in diabetic patients are well documented in pharmaceutical and medical literature. Digestive enzymes in the GI tract rapidly degrade insulin, resulting in biologically breakdown products. In the stomach, for example, orally administered insulin undergoes enzymatic proteolysis and acidic degradation. Survival in the intestine is hindered by excessive proteolysis. In the lumen, insulin is barraged by a variety of enzymes including gastric and pancreatic enzymes, exo- and endopeptidases, and brush border peptidases. Even if insulin survives this enzymatic attack, the biological barriers that must be traversed before insulin can reach its receptors in vivo may limit oral administration of insulin. For example, insulin may possess low membrane permeability, limiting its ability to pass from the lumen into the bloodstream.
Pharmaceutically active polypeptides such as insulin have been conjugated with polydispersed mixtures of polyethylene glycol or polydispersed mixtures of polyethylene glycol containing polymers to provide polydispersed mixtures of drug-oligomer conjugates; U.S. Pat. No. 4,179,337 (Davis et al) reports conjugating polypeptides such as insulin with various polyethylene glycols such as MPEG-1900 and MPEG-5000 supplied by Union Carbide. U.S. Pat. No. 5,567,422 (Greenwald) reports the conjugation of biologically active nucleophiles with polyethylene glycols such as m-PEG-OH (Union Carbide), which has a number average molecular weight of 5,000 Daltons.
Conjugation of polypeptides such as insulin with polyethylene glycol modified glycolipid polymers and polyethylene glycol modified fatty acid polymers are reported in U.S. Pat. No. 5,359,030 (Ekwuribe et al.).
U.S. Pat. No. 6,011,008 (Domb et al.) reports a method for producing a water-soluble polysaccharide conjugate of an oxidation-sensitive substance comprising activating the polysaccharide to a dialdehyde by periodate oxidation; (b) purifying the dialdehyde from interfering anions and by-products; and (c) coupling the substance to the purified dialdehyde by Schiff base formation to form the conjugate. Optionally, the conjugate of step (c) is reduced to an amine conjugate by a reducing substance. Insulin was conjugated to oxidized AG (arabinogalactan) via an amine or imine bond by reacting a solution of pure oxidized AG (arabinogalactan) in borate buffer solution at pH 8.9 with insulin at 4° C. overnight. The clear solution was dialyzed through a cellulose dialysis and the solution was lyophilized to yield 115 mg of a white solid.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,022,524 (Maisano et al.) reported conjugation of Gd-DTPA with porcine insulin in a solution of DTPA and dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) which was prepared by heating and stirring, then cooled at room temperature and added with a solution of 11.73 g NHS (0.102 mol) in 300 ml DMSO, then, drop by drop, with a solution of 19.6 g of N,N′-dicyclohexylcarbodiimide (0.097 mol) in 400 ml DMSO. The mixture is stirred for 16 hours, then filtered and the filtrate is concentrated by evaporation at 50.degree. C. and 5 Pa to a thick oil of an about 160 ml volume.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,309,633 (Ekwuribe et al.)—reports the use of solid insulin for conjugation of insulin with laurate PEG5 in presence of Triethylamine and DMSO at room temperature. The reaction was monitored via HPLC every 30 mins. The conjugate was purified using a preparative HPLC.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,828,297 (Ekwuribe et al.) reports methods for making PEG7-Hexyl-Insulin by using zinc or zinc free human insulin for conjugation with activated oligomer and purification of B29 modified PEG7-Hexyl-Insulin, insulin in dimethylsulfoxide and triethyl amine was reacted with activated oligomer at 22+/−4° C. The crude reaction mixture is dialyzed or difiltered to remove organic solvents and small molecular weight impurities, exchanged against ammonium acetate buffer and lyophilized; which is further subjected to RP-HPLC equilibrated with 0.5% triethylamine/0.5% phosphoric acid buffer (TEAP A). The column was eluted with a gradient flow using TEAP A and TEAP B (80% acetonitrile and 20% TEAP A) solvent system. Fractions containing the conjugate were pooled and the elution buffer and solvent were removed by dialysis or diafiltration against ammonium acetate buffer and lyophilized to produce white powder of PEG7-hexyl-insulin, B29 monoconjugate (purity>97%). Currently, the existing prior art teaches use of pure insulin powder or crystals as the starting material for making conjugated insulin wherein the insulin used is a biologically active form.
The instant invention facilitates the making of insulin-oligomer conjugate from the precursor IP-X of formula Z-[B-Chain]-Q-[A-Chain], where Z is a leader where Z is a leader peptide sequence, B-Chain is B chain of human insulin or its analog, Q is a linker peptide sequence between the A and B chain, A-chain is the A chain of human insulin or its analog.
The precursor IP-X is conjugated with an oligomer at the LysB29 position on the B-chain and the N-terminus amino acid of the leader peptide Z. The IP-X-oligomer conjugate is then subjected to protease treatment followed by purification to get an active insulin-oligomer conjugate.
The starting material is the fermented broth containing the precursor IP-X. The broth containing the IP-X is subjected to a combination of chromatography like ion-exchange, HPLC, RP-HPLC and crystallization to purify the IP-X.
The instant invention is a more simplified and economical in the making of an insulin-oligomer conjugate wherein several steps involved in obtaining pure insulin crystals in biologically active form are circumvented e.g, transpeptidation of the insulin precursor and cleaving the insulin precursor to get the active insulin and several chromatographic purification steps e.g., ion-exchange chromatography, HPLC and RP-HPLC to get the pure insulin crystals.

Process for the preparation of insulin conjugate IN-105


A method of controlling a wobbling washing machine which performs a washing operation, a rinsing operation, and a disentangling operation by wobbling a washing plate. The disentangling operation includes wobbling the washing plate at a speed higher than a wobbling speed of the washing plate for performing the washing or rinsing operation. The method allows a load of laundry to be effectively disentangled by a wobbling action of the washing plate at a motor's rotating speed which is preset to be higher than the motor's rotating speed at the washing or rinsing operation. The method further includes performing the disentangling operation before and after each of a first spin-drying operation and a final spin-drying operation to further minimize tangling of the laundry.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method of controlling a wobbling washing machine, and more particularly, to a method of controlling a wobbling washing machine, the method comprising disentangling an entangled item of laundry.
2. Description of the Related Art
Generally, a washing machine having a wobbling device is used to wash laundry by wobbling a washing plate. The washing plate is interiorly installed at a bottom of a spin-drying tub of the washing machine.
Such a washing machine performs a series of operations, including washing, rinsing, and spin-drying operations based on washing information which is variably preset depending on a volume and kind of the laundry. The washing information includes a rotating speed of a motor which wobbles the washing plate, a washing time, a number of rinses, a wash water level, and a spin-drying time.
As the washing, rinsing, and spin-drying operations proceed on the basis of preset information, laundry is entangled, and wrinkles are formed on the laundry.
In the conventional washing machine, the motor's rotating speed at a disentangling operation to disentangle the laundry is equal to the motor's rotating speed at the washing or rinsing operation. Accordingly, it is difficult to disentangle the laundry.
Furthermore, the disentangling operation is performed only after a final spin-drying operation is completed. In such a case, tangled laundry is not effectively and sufficiently disentangled.

Method of controlling wobbling washing machine


A hand truck having a frame two short and two long sides; a wheel and axel assembly attached to the frame; a lifting assembly extending between the two short sides; said lifting assembly comprising a frame center pole rail having an attached gear rack, a gear box movably attached to the center pole, said gear box including, a toothed that meshes with the gear rack, a worm gear having a drive shaft that meshes with the toothed pinion, wherein rotation of the drive shaft causes the worm gear to drive the pinion along the gear rack; a lift bracket attached to the gear box comprising a receiving plate with at least one slot; and at least one removable lift platform comprising a platform plate with at least one key that is securely receivable into the slot; wherein the gearbox is drivable using a power supply supplied by a user.

Hand trucks are well known devices used for the manual transportation of heavy loads from one location to another location. The most common hand truck has a generally L-shaped body with wheels at the vertex of the L-shaped body and at least one handle located either around a midpoint of the L-shape or near the top of the L-shape. The short leg of the L-shape is the load bearing portion of the hand truck, with the short let typically level with a support surface when the hand truck is upright. An object to be moved is tilted forward, the short leg is inserted underneath such object, the object is then allowed to tilt back and rest on the short leg. Then the hand truck, with supported object, is tilted backward until the center of gravity of the combination is generally balanced over the wheels, making otherwise bulky and heavy objects easier to move.
Improvements to such hand-propelled vehicles have been developed over the years. One improvement relates to providing powered lifting, lowering and transporting features. One example of such a prior art device is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,530,740 issued to Kim on Mar. 11, 2003. Kim teaches a hand truck with an electrically operated lifting platform. While Kim is an improvement over the prior art hand-propelled vehicles, the Kim hand truck does not fully address several problems related to providing a powered hand truck device with powered features; some of which are discussed below. In addition, Kim provides no teachings related to associating an electronic module for providing automatic features to such the system (as described later).
Thus there is a current need for new handtrucks.


A method and to a device are provided for outputting information in a motor vehicle, in which as a function of an event visual and/or acoustic information is output to a driver of the motor vehicle. In order to achieve an improved choice of the suitable timing of the outputting of the information it is provided that the time between registering of the event and outputting of the information is set as a function of the orientation of the driver's head.

Methods and devices of the types mentioned at the outset are known in the prior art. For example, DE 199 51 001 A1 discloses a device for presenting information in a vehicle which serves to present information as a function of the viewing direction of the driver. The device disclosed there comprises a computer, a device for the visual and/or acoustic presentation, a device for the detection of the viewing direction of the driver and various data sources. The device for the detection of the viewing direction of the driver transmit the measured viewing direction of the driver to the computer, so that the computer transmits this viewing direction to the device for the visual and/or acoustic presentation, so that the presentation of information from the various data sources is faded into the field of vision of the driver.
DE 10 2005 0035 35 A1 discloses a method for the outputting of information by the device of visual or acoustic signaling devices, in particular in a vehicle, in which the viewing direction of an information recipient is detected and the information output is controlled as a function of the detected viewing direction. The information is displayed on the visual signaling device only if the information recipient looks at this signaling device. The information is only output with the acoustic signaling devices when the information recipient looks at a region in the vehicle defined for activating the respective information output.
For outputting acoustic or visual information, the known prior art merely takes into account the viewing direction of the driver. This is helpful in order to estimate if the driver is at all able to perceive the information, in particular in the case of visual information. However, the known prior art cannot take into account if the driver is actually able to comprehend the reason for the outputting of the information. This does not only depend on the viewing direction of the driver but also at what the driver's attention happens to be directed at that time. Such information is frequently output in order to inform or warn regarding events that take place outside the vehicle.
In view of the foregoing, at least one object is to improve the methods and devices for outputting information mentioned at the outset to the effect that a more target-oriented output of information is possible, which can better inform the driver than existing methods and devices. In addition, other objects, desirable features and characteristics will become apparent from the subsequent summary and detailed description, and the appended claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and this background.

Methods and devices for outputting information in a motor vehicle


The present invention provides a bird feeder with a height adjustment to allow the bird feeder to be lowered for gaining access thereto. A slide member is attached to the bird seed tray which slides up and down a support for lowering the bird feeder into a lowered position and elevating the bird feeder into an elevated position for dispensing bird seed therefrom. A deflector is provided for directing the bird seed onto the tray for dispensing thereof. A spiral shaped wire is placed upon the feeding portion of the tray in order to prevent the birds from kicking out the bird seed from the tray onto the ground. A protective cover covers the bird feeder to protect the bird seed from the weather.

The present invention relates to bird feeders for dispensing bird seed therefrom. More specifically, the present invention relates to a bird feeder which is hung on a tree or supported on a pole and can be lowered for filling or cleaning.
Generally, bird feeders are used to dispense bird seed to the birds common to a particular region. Generally the bird feeders dispense seeds such as, sun flower seeds or a mixture of different types of bird seed.
These bird feeders generally comprise a container which contains the bird seed and a perch such as a stick or tray, and are hung from a tree or are mounted on a pole in an elevated position at eye level. At eye level it is difficult to refill the container of the bird feeder with bird seed. One must use a ladder in order to fill the bird feeder. It is preferred that the container of the bird feeder be at waist level in order to more easily fill the container. Furthermore, due to the general characteristics of birds, one needs readily access to the bird feeder for cleaning.
The past bird feeders do not completely empty all of the bird seed onto the feeding portion of the bird feeder. The bird feeders leave a ring of stale musty often wet or frozen seed after a season of feeding.
Thus, it is desirable to provide a bird feeder which can be readily accessed to refill the feeder with bird seed and can be adjusted dispense different size and types of bird seeds. Furthermore, it is desired to provide a bird feeder wherein all of the bird seed is dispensed onto the feeding portion of the bird feeder preventing any stale build up of bird seed.


A method and an apparatus for separating heavy impurities from a fiber suspension include a centrifugal pump capable of separating heavy impurities towards the periphery of the interior chamber of the pump. The fiber suspension is caused to rotate in the interior chamber so as to urge the suspension downstream as well as separate the impurities towards the periphery of the chamber where they can be collected.

Paper stock (stock) is a suspension of fiber in water. The consistency of stock is measured in the percentage of fiber therein. Stock treated in the pulp and paper industry frequently contains heavy impurities, such as scraps of metal or particles of sand. Sand and metal are often transported to the mill with raw materials such as wood or waste paper. In addition, metal may also originate from the various processing devices in the mill or may be included in waste paper in the form of staples or paper clips.
The presence of these heavy impurities in these raw materials is very detrimental to the pulp and paper making process and therefore must be removed. In particular, sand and metal cause problems by wearing out the devices utilized in pulp and paper processes. Further, these impurities accumulate and clog these devices so as to render these devices susceptible to failure.
Heavy particles are usually separated from the stock by various vortex separators which have been designed according the various applications. Two exemplary types of separators are discussed below.
A conventional low consistency separator, sometimes referred to as a cleaner, usually operates at a consistency range of less than about 1% and contains a vortex separator similar to a device referenced by numeral 10 in FIG. 1. Stock is introduced at a high speed via a tangential inlet 12 to a cylindrical portion 14 of the separator so that heavy particles accumulate at the wall thereof and move along a spiral path down into a conical portion 16 of the separator. These, particles are then ejected from the bottom of the separator via an outlet 18. The purified lighter stock which is collected around the axis of the separator 10, rises up and is discharged via an outlet 20 in the upper end of separator 10. This type of vortex separator has two disadvantages, namely it requires operation with low consistency stock and thus exhibits high energy consumption. The energy consumption is high due to the low operational consistency of the stock which inherently requires the pumping of large amounts of water through the vortex cleaner and the significant amount of pressure loss within the apparatus.
Another cleaner is generally used for separating scrap and sand from high consistency stock, in the range of 3%-5%. As illustrated in FIG. 2., high consistency cleaner 30 is identical with a conventional vortex cleaner (FIG. 1) except that it includes a rotor 32. The rotor 32 usually rotates at the upper end of a conical portion 34 of cleaner 30, close to an inlet 36 and an accept discharge 38. The rotor 32 has two functions. One of the functions is to move the stock so as to prevent, the fiber network from becoming entangled and thus interfere with the scrap and sand particles from easily moving through the suspension. The second function of the rotor 32 is to subject the stock suspension to a fast circular movement so as to create a centrifugal force which forces the heavy particles to the periphery of the separator. The drawbacks of the cleaner are its large size and high energy consumption when one strives for an adequate separation efficiency. Further, the cleaner, despite its rotor, is not capable of creating pressure. In other words, the cleaner cannot advance the stock. Consequently, the stock to be cleaned must be introduced into the cleaner at such a high pressure that the stock can upon discharge retain enough pressure so as to move to the next processing step under the urging of such pressure.
Swedish Patent 457 614 discloses a turbocyclone apparatus, in which the suspension is fed through a tangential feed inlet. The suspension flows underneath a stationary spirally formed plate, which directs the suspension in a spiral path down along the converging walls of the cyclone. Thereafter the pulp is subjected to axial forces by means of a rotating rotor for increasing the separation efficiency. The lighter particles accumulate in the center of the cyclone and flow upwards along a channel within the hollow shaft of the rotor, while the heavier particles are removed from the bottom portion of the cyclone. The shaft is provided with openings in its upper portion for allowing the lighter particles to flow therethrough and into the tangential outlet of the cyclone.
It is an object of the present invention to overcome or to minimize the problems of the prior art apparatus in separating sand and scrap from stock. The apparatus of the present invention is small and its energy consumption is low.

Method of and apparatus for separating heavy impurities from fiber suspensions in connection with pumping


An apparatus for attachment to an overhead crane for removing the bearing assembly from a vertical centrifugal pump system without removing the motor. The apparatus includes a rigid C-shaped frame which is attached by a pulley to an overhead crane and also includes a pivotal attachment on the opposite end of the frame which is removably connected to the bearing assembly. Intermediate and vertically aligned with the ends of the frame is a horizontal displacement control member which is removably connected to the bearing assembly at a point vertically above the pivotal attachment. Horizontal displacement of the horizontal displacement control member will cause a rotating of the bearing assembly about the pivotal attachment allowing clearance and lateral removal of the bearing assembly from the vertical pump system.

In many industries, a vertical centrifugal pump system is employed. This type a pump system normally includes a centrifugal pump casing at the bottom of the system, an electric motor at the top, and a bearing assembly intermediate to and vertically connecting the motor and the pump. To repair the bearing assembly and/or impeller of the pump, it is necessary to remove the bearing assembly from the pump system. This removal can be accomplished by first removing the electric motor and then removing the bearing assembly. Removing and reinstalling the electric motor, however, significantly lengthens the time necessary to service the bearing assembly because the electric motor must be carefully reinstalled so that the axis of the electric motor is properly aligned with the axis of the pump. This reinstallation is frequently a trial and error technique whereby shims are placed under the flange of the motor mount and the shaft is measured for alignment. A second disadvantage of this method is that removal of the electric motor will typically require the services of an electrician in addition to the pump mechanic, which increases the repair expense and poses a scheduling problem for the servicing of the bearing assembly. A third disadvantage of this method is failure to disconnect the electric motor from power supply presents a potential for injury due to an inadvertent starting of the motor or a shock hazard.
Because of the above considerations, the best method for removal and replacement of the bearing assembly is a method which would allow the bearing assembly to be horizontally or laterally removed from the pump system. To allow this horizontal movement, however, the impeller which is attached to the bottom part of the bearing assembly must clear the top of the pump casing. If there is insufficient clearance between the top end of the bearing assembly shaft and the bottom end of the electric motor shaft to allow the impeller to clear the pump casing, it is necessary to pivot or rotate the bearing assembly. A typical bearing assembly, however, is bulky and has a substantial weight. Therefore, a mechanic must employ mechanical means to accomplish this lifting and rotation of the bearing assembly. However, because of the substantial weight, this lifting and rotation poses a safety issue to the personnel involved. In addition the bearing assembly can be damaged during removal or installation if not handled properly.
In the typical work environment where these vertical pump systems are found, the most available mechanical means for servicing the pump systems include overhead cranes, "cherry pickers", forklifts and tripods with chain hoists. As these devices can only lift in a vertical direction, they lack the ability to lift and pivot or rotate the bearing assembly without removal of the electric motor.

Apparatus for removal of a bearing frame assembly


A wrap spring device includes a first hub and a second hub located axially to the first hub. A wrap spring is located externally and concentrically about the first and second hubs and glycol-based solution surrounds the spring. The spring is engaged and disengaged thereby causing the first and second hubs to engage and disengage each other.

The present invention relates to a wrap spring device, and in particular, a wrap spring device that is immersed in a water-based solution. Wrap spring devices allow variable connection between an input and an output with the control of the wrap spring. For example, the wrap spring can be controlled to alternatively allow it to wrap down onto input and output hubs and to allow it to wrap open off of the input or output hub.
In some designs, an oil or grease-based material is used in or around the wrap spring device to better dissipate heat and provide lubricity. However, some applications needing this additional cooling and lubricity cannot use these oil or grease-based materials. Furthermore, existing devices are not configured to operate properly in water or glycol-based liquids that could provide said cooling and lubricity. For these and other reasons, a need exists for the present invention.

Reell Precision Manufacturing Corporation


A security tag for use with an electronic security system is used for attachment to an article having an inherent capacitance such as meat. The security system includes a transmitter for transmitting into a surveilled area electromagnetic energy having a center frequency within a predetermined detection frequency range and a receiver for detecting within the surveilled area the presence of a security tag resonating at a frequency within the detection frequency range in response to the electromagnetic energy. The tag includes a generally planar dielectric substrate having a first side and a second side. Circuitry on the substrate establishes a resonant circuit having a resonant frequency which is initially a predetermined frequency interval above the center frequency of the detection frequency range. Upon attachment of the security tag to the article, the inherent capacitance of the article interacts with the resonant circuit to shift the resonant frequency of the resonant circuit downwardly, closer to the center frequency of the detection frequency range.

The present invention relates generally to security tags used with electronic security systems for detecting the presence or unauthorized removal of articles and, more particularly, to such security tags which are particularly adapted for use with articles having an inherent capacitance.
The use of electronic security systems for detecting and preventing theft or other unauthorized removal of articles or goods from retail establishments and/or other facilities, such as libraries, has become widespread. In general, such security systems employ a security tag which is associated with or is secured to an article (or its packaging) which is readily accessible to potential customers or facility users and, therefore, may be easily removed. Security tags may take on many different sizes, shapes and forms, depending upon the particular type of security system in use, the type and size of the article, its packaging, etc. In general, such electronic security systems are employed for detecting the presence (or the absence) of a security tag and, thus, a protected article, as the protected article passes through or near a surveilled security area. In most cases, the surveilled area is located at or around an exit or entrance to a retail establishment or other facility.
One such electronic article security system which has gained widespread popularity utilizes a security tag which includes a self-contained, operatively tuned or resonant circuit in the form of a small, generally planar printed circuit which resonates at a predetermined frequency within a predetermined detection frequency range. A transmitter, which is tuned to a frequency within the detection frequency range, is employed for transmitting electromagnetic energy into the surveilled area. A receiver, also tuned to the detection frequency range, is positioned generally proximate to the surveilled area. Typically, the transmitter is located on one side of an exit and the receiver is located on the other side of the exit so that a person must pass between the transmitter and the receiver in order to exit the facility. In this manner, when an article having an attached security tag moves into or otherwise passes through the surveilled area, the tag is exposed to the transmitted energy. Upon receiving the transmitted energy, the resonant circuit of the tag resonates, providing an output signal detectable by the receiver. When the receiver detects such an output signal, indicative of the presence of an article with a security tag within the surveilled area, the receiver activates an alarm to alert appropriate security or other personnel.
Electronic article security systems of the type discussed above have been shown to be very effective in preventing the theft or unauthorized removal of articles, particularly articles which are relatively high in value and relatively small in size, such as jewelry, expensive clothing, video cassettes, etc. While such electronic article security systems have been generally effective, there are certain articles having properties which have made it difficult to effectively use such electronic article security systems. For example, it has been found that certain articles, such as articles containing liquid, or certain organic articles, such as meat or living animals (including humans), possess inherent electrical properties, usually inherent capacitance. When a security tag is attached to such an article, the inherent capacitance of the article interacts with the resonant circuit of the tag generally adding both capacitance and resistance to the resonant circuit. The addition of capacitance and resistance to the resonant circuit affects both the resonant frequency of the circuit and the Q factor of the circuit. It has been determined that in a typical standard security tag having an inductance/capacitance resonant circuit, attachment of the tag to an article having an inherent capacitance typically results in a shifting of the resonant frequency of the resonant circuit in the range of 500 to 1500 KHz and a reduction in the Q factor of the circuit in the range of from 40 to 80 percent. The precise shift in the resonant frequency of the circuit and the precise reduction in the Q factor depends upon many variables, including the particular material of the article and its electrical conductivity, the size of the article, the proximity of the tag to the article, the temperature of the article, etc. However, such a shift in the resonant frequency when coupled with such a reduced Q factor, in the case of some articles, is sufficient to so diminish the performance of the resonant circuit as to materially diminish the effectiveness of the electronic article security system for use in detecting the unauthorized removal or presence of such articles.
The present invention relates to an article compensating security tag which is particularly adapted for use with an article having inherent electrical properties, such as inherent capacitance, which interact with the circuitry of the security tag. The security tag of the present invention is particularly well suited for protecting meat, particularly expensive cuts of meat. A security tag made in accordance with the present invention is designed to provide an initial resonant frequency which is above the center frequency of the article security system so that when the tag is attached to an article having such inherent capacitance, the inherent capacitance interacts with the resonant circuit to shift the resonant frequency of the resonant circuit closer to the center frequency of the security system.

Security tag for use with article having inherent capacitance


An open-close apparatus includes: a first member movably provided with respect to an apparatus main body; a second member movable with respect to the first member, and movably provided with respect to the apparatus main body; and a limiting section, provided between the first and second members, that limits a moving speed of the first and second members.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to an open-close apparatus and an image forming apparatus.
2. Related Art
A technique used in an open-close apparatus or image forming apparatus using a member or unit movably provided with respect to an open-close apparatus main body or image forming apparatus main body is known.

Open-close apparatus and image forming apparatus


The present invention relates to a magnetic apparatus pointer of traditional Chinese medicine for health care, and in particular, relates to a magnetic medicine instrument of acupuncture. The apparatus of pointer includes an air bag, and a permanent magnetic head provided within the hollow case. To operate the pointer of the present invention, the air bag shall be pressed, and at the same time, the hollow case shall be attached closely to the acupuncture point of human body. When the press is released, the air bag restores to the original shape and the air within the hollow case is sucked into said bag, so as to make the magnet head closely attached to the acupuncture point of human body. The pointers with N pole and S pole may be positioned on both sides of human body making vertical cutting lines of magnetic force acting upon human body.

In the field of acupuncture of Chinese medicine, the application of magnetic treatment to an acupuncture point of human body is a new physical therapy. In clinical practice of magnetic acupuncture, a main acupuncture point or a plurality of acupuncture points shall be first picked up from human main and collateral channels which relate to the disease, and then a doctor or patient himself fixes the magnetic pole of the magnetic medical instrument to the acupuncture points to be treated. At present, the magnetic medical instruments mainly include magnetic medical instrument, magnets of slice or block shapes and magnetic needle etc.
The present magnetic medical instruments of acupuncture have four defects: firstly, an ordinary magnetic medical instrument may only apply treatment to one or two acupuncture points simultaneously as the number of the magnetic heads is limited, and when such treatment shall be applied to plural points at inner or outer joints of human body or the points requiring bigger magnetic field, the present magnetic medical instrument may not come up to the requirement; secondly, the magnetic poles of the present magnetic medical instrument may not be easily fixed to the acupuncture points to be treated; thirdly, the magnetic heads of the present magnetic medical instrument are of all N poles, which may not form a closed magnetic circuit of N and S poles at the points to be treated and can not achieve better magnetic medical effect, and fourthly, the present magnetic medical instrument has a complicated structure, which results in high price.
Magnets of slice or block shapes may not concentrate the magnetic energy to the points to be treated, and consequently the stimulation of magnetic poles to the points to be treated is weakened. In addition the magnets of slice or block shapes may not easily fixed to the points to be treated.
The application of treatment of magnetic needle may bring pain to patients and in particular it may not be easily operated by the patients themselves.


An image forming apparatus includes an apparatus body; a recording head to discharge droplets onto a recording medium, wherein a mist is generated when droplets are discharged to form an image; a battery, detachably disposed inside the apparatus body, to supply power necessary for operation of the apparatus body; and a connection terminal to connect the battery to the apparatus body and disposed outside a movement of the mist generated when the recording head discharges the droplets.

1. Technical Field
Exemplary embodiments of the present invention relate to an image forming apparatus, and, in particular, to an image forming apparatus including a recording head to discharge droplets and which can be driven by a battery.
2. Background Art
Among various types of image forming apparatuses including a printer, a facsimile machine, a copier, a plotter, and a multifunction apparatus combining several capabilities of the above devices, an inkjet recording apparatus is known in which a recording head formed of a liquid discharge head (droplet discharge head) to discharge droplets is employed.
Among such image forming apparatuses there are those which are powered by a battery. For example, a charging device including a battery and a battery charger is attached externally to the body of the image forming apparatus and the image forming apparatus and the charging device are both installed in a cradle that functions as a stand, so that the battery in the charging device can be charged.
However, in the above battery-powered system in which the battery is connected externally to the body of the apparatus, when the battery is left behind, the apparatus cannot be operated, which is not convenient.
Conceivably, the battery may be detachably attached inside the image forming apparatus. However, in such an apparatus, to form an image through the droplet discharge method, ink mist generated during image formation coats the connection between the battery and the apparatus and can cause a connection failure that results in a power failure.


A cover and noseform is disclosed for protecting, dilating and maintaining dilation of the nose as well as aligning the nasal passages with the nares of the nose to increase the efficiency of breathing and prevent problems such as snoring. The noseform is applied to cover at least a portion of the nose and causes the end or apex of the nose to be lifted in a direction aligned with the nose and toward the forehead of the person to align the nares and nasal passages of the nose. The noseform includes a first portion adhered to the nose, a second portion adhered to the nose distal from the first portion and a means for moving the second portion toward the first portion to lift the end of the nose toward the glabella or forehead region as well as covering the nose of the wearer. The noseform also includes a rest to prevent a pair of glasses from slipping down the nose and constricting the nasal passages. Furthermore, the noseform of the present invention is designed to be decorated and altered to achieve differing aesthetic appearances including a passage therethrough for creating a sun-tattoo as well as extensions over the forehead.

1. Field of the invention
The present invention generally relates to an apparatus and method for altering the appearance and performance of the nose. The present invention further relates to a means of elevating the nose from apex to root and changing its shape thereby dilating the nasal passages. The noseform and nasal passage dilator apparatus of the present invention may be designed to provide a protection of the nose and glabella from sun damage. The noseform provides an aid in breathing, increased respiratory efficiency and enhanced performance of physical activities. In another embodiment the noseform acts as a rest support for eyeglasses to prevent slippage which leads to nasal passage constriction from the glasses pressing the outside of the nose.
The noseform of the present invention allows styling opportunity--a wide variety of sizes and shapes can be imagined. The apparatus may also cover the glabella and other parts of the forehead for additional sun protection. The noseform may contain a cut-out to create a decorative "sun-tattoo".
2. Description of the Prior Art
It is well known that humans are most conscious of and constantly trying to improve their appearance. It is also well known that humans are also always trying to improve their health and performance. Many humans have significant problems with the nasal passages of their nose being constrictive thereby preventing easy and efficient breathing. A brief explanation of the anatomy, physiology and pathology of the nose will help to better understand the causes of the above mention problems and the need for this invention.
The human nose, located on the anterior middle portion of the head in the middle of the face, is sometimes compared to a three-sided pyramid with its internal skeleton referred to as the nasal pyramid. The base of the nose faces downward and surrounds the nares, commonly referred to as the nostrils, which open into the nasal cavities. The two nasal cavities are narrow above, wider below, and are separated by the nasal septum. The lower portions of the nasal cavities are referred to as the vestibules and are lined with a mucous membrane and provided with hairs for filtering debris.
The sides of the nose (or pyramid) meet in the middle of the nose along the dorsum nasi which extends from the root of the nose, continuous with the forehead, to the apex or tip of the nose. The lower portion of the side of the nose, which is typically flared, is referred to as the ala or wing. See FIG. 1 for a detail of the nose.
The nose further includes lateral nasal (or upper) cartilages which are unitary and continuous with each other and a septal cartilage, which extends backward and downward from the lateral nasal cartilages to articulate with the septum, and downward toward the apex of the nose. Greater alar (or lower) cartilages are located below the lateral nasal cartilages and laterally from the septal cartilage. The greater alar cartilages support their respective ala and form a lower part of the nasal structure. The middle and upper regions of the skin over the dorsum nasi including the lateral nasal cartilage and the septal cartilage is movable thus allowing the tip or apex of the nose to be lifted because the skin will not move over the apex of the nose.
Since the skin is movable over some regions of the nose, there are associated therewith known lines of tension of the skin. The known lines of tension of the skin are commonly referred to as Langer's lines, see FIG. 2. The lines of tension typically run in directions transverse to the direction in which the skin moves. With age the skin hypertrophies resulting in additional skin causing the nasal passages to become constricted or closed.
With the above information regarding the anatomy of the nose, some of the problems associated with the nose become more understandable. The most common problem associated with the nose is snoring. Other problems include a deviated septum and nasal polyps. Additionally, diseases such as Rhinophyma, benign lesions, collagen diseases, etc. alter nose anatomy and cause impingement upon the nasal passages. Altering the shape of the nose is known to affect these conditions. Furthermore, it is very well known that some people do not like the shape or size of their nose and spend large sums on expensive surgeries to alter the appearance of their nose.
Prior to the present invention attempts to use devices to dilate or more fully open nasal passages in humans and in animals have been described. Such devices claim to provide easier breathing and to help eliminate snoring. Occasionally, such devices are also used by athletes to help increase the amount of air intake and thereby increase the amount of air in the bloodstream to augment their physical performance and endurance.
An example of one type of prior art device is the insert device of U.S. Pat. No. 4,414,977, to Rezakhany, which discloses a nasal dilator adapted to be inserted into the nostril of the human nose to prevent the tissues of the ostium internum of the nose from contracting during breathing. Many devices similar to the Rezakhany reference disclose variations which prevent the nose from sagging and drooping or also dilate the nostrils to allow an increased flow of air through the nostrils. A representative group of these patents includes U.S. Patent No. 2,335,936, to Hanlon; U.S. Pat. No. 2,515,756, to Bove; U.S. Pat. No. 3,710,799, to Caballero; U.S. Pat. No. 1,232,956, to Mooney; U.S. Pat. No. 4,759,365, to Askinazy; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,576,168, to Jalowayski.
However, these types of insert devices are uncomfortable, cumbersome, expensive and potentially very dangerous. This is particularly true for an athlete engaged in a competition which is very fast paced, trauma prone or physical as are many sports today such as soccer, lacrosse, football, basketball and in particular ice hockey (especially when) struck in the nose.
Another class of devices for dilating a nasal passage is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 1,950,839, to Chirila, which discloses a pair of suction members which are applied to the outer skin surface of the nose over the septal cartilage between the dorsum nasi and the alac. The suction members stick to the skin of the nose and are biased outward to dilate the nasal passage to facilitate breathing. Similar to the Chirila device are U.S. Pat. No. 1,034,123, to Knowlson; U.S. Pat. No. 1,232, 956, to Mooney; U.S. Pat. No. 1,043,924, to Gottlieb; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,201,217, to Slater, which all expand upon the idea of pulling or pushing the sides of the nose outward as a way of dilating the nasal passages.
However, the Chirila device and the others like it are also very bulky, cumbersome, ugly and potentially very dangerous when a blow to the nose occurs. Furthermore, the prior art proposed solutions have not conceived of possible uses and combinations which can be made with such devices.
Accordingly, in the prior art, dilation of the nasal passages of a human nose by stretching or pulling the outer sides of the nasal passage has been proposed. Also, the prior art requires large, unsightly devices for dilating the nasal passage and lacks a structure which is compact, ornamental and safe to use.
Despite the many attempts in the prior art, there is a failure of the known devices for nasal dilation to provide a structure which will prevent damage to the skin of the nose from environmental factors. Further, none of the known devices have a decorative appearance which may be selected by a user while improving ventilation and respiration by dilating the nostrils. In addition to the above, there is still a need to provide a noseform having a support and rest to prevent a pair of eyeglasses or sunglasses from slipping or sliding down the nose and constricting the air passages of the nose.
The elimination of problems associated with nasal passage constrictions such as snoring is a particular additional benefit of the present invention.

Noseform, cover and reset-structure and method


A method for cleansing the phosphor screen of a display device comprising the removal of oxygen or sulfur from the surface of the phosphor, and/or its associated binder material, to a depth that prevents oxygen diffusion from the phosphor and/or binder, thereby creating an oxygen deficient surface on the phosphors.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to field emission displays, and more particularly to the removal of contaminants from the phosphor screens of such displays.
2. State of the Art
Cathode ray tube (CRT) displays, such as those commonly used in desktop computer screens, function as a result of a scanning electron beam from an electron gun impinging on phosphors on a relatively distant screen. The electrons increase the energy level of the phosphors. When the phosphors return to their normal energy level, they release the energy from the electrons as photons of light. The photons are transmitted through the glass screen of the display to the viewer.
Phosphors are known to decline in efficiency with use. There is an initial dramatic decrease in efficiency, followed by a slower, more gradual degradation over time. After the initial decrease in phosphor efficiency, the phosphors luminesce in a more uniform manner.
Phosphor coated screens are typically treated to bring about this initial aging, also known as xe2x80x9cbrowning,xe2x80x9d prior to the sale of the display. Electron beam xe2x80x9cscrubbingxe2x80x9d is one approach currently used in the manufacture of cathode ray tubes (CRT) to burn-in or age the phosphors. This process has been accomplished with the use of the electron (cathode ray) gun after the display has been assembled. Hence, the process is performed at duty cycles similar to those used for viewing purposes, as illustrated in FIG. 1. In other words, the normal operation of the CRT serves to cleanse the screen.
Flat panel displays have become increasingly important in appliances requiring lightweight portable screens. Currently, such screens use electroluminescent or liquid crystal technology. A promising new technology is the use of a matrix-addressable array of field emission microtips to excite phosphors on a screen.
Similar to cathode ray tubes (CRT), field emission displays (FED) are comprised of an anode and a cathode. The anode comprises a phosphor coated glass plate. The phosphor luminesces when it is bombarded by electrons. However, unlike a CRT, the field emission device has a cold cathode which is comprised of arrays of micro-miniature field emitters.
The xe2x80x9cscrubbingxe2x80x9d or cleansing of the phosphor screen to remove contaminants would also be fabrication of field emission displays. However, most of the known xe2x80x9cscrubbingxe2x80x9d methods are inappropriate for such displays.
One reason current xe2x80x9cscrubbingxe2x80x9d techniques are unworkable in a field emission display (FED) is that the micro-miniature cathode emitter tips are much more sensitive to contamination than the large cathode ray gun of CRT. If the contaminants dissociated during the scrubbing process react with the cathode emitter tips, the emission, and resulting display performance, will be degraded. Hence, the standard CRT method of electron beam scrubbing is not a practical approach for use in field emission displays.
The inventors of the present invention have determined that the degradation in performance of the field emitters is a result of the oxygen dissociated from the phosphors of the display screen. If the emitter tips are fabricated from a silicon-based material, the presence of oxygen may result in the formation of silicon dioxide. An oxidation layer functions as an insulator, thereby inhibiting electron emission. Hence, in a field emission display, the cleansing process must remove oxygen and as well as other contaminants from the display screen.
Another difference between CRTs and FEDs is that field emission displays employ low voltage phosphors compared to those used in CRT displays. Low voltage phosphors characteristically luminesce at voltages less than 5000 V. The difference in the type and quality of the phosphors used in field emitter displays also necessitates the development of a new cleansing process for the screens used therein.
Despite the apparent benefits that could be achieved from xe2x80x9cscrubbingxe2x80x9d the phosphor screens, in the present manufacture of field emitter displays, the screens are not scrubbed appropriately, if they are scrubbed at all. Consequently, it is necessary to accept a certain amount of degradation in the emitter performance. Therefore, there is a need in the industry for a screen cleansing method that will be effective when used for field emission displays.
One advantage of the present invention is that after the screen is properly scrubbed and the display is assembled, the display emitters will not experience a degraded performance as a result of contamination. This is a significant improvement, as degradation limits the lifetime and quality of the display.
In an example process in accordance with the present invention, the phosphor screen of the field emission display is bombarded by electrons at very high current densities (for example 1.0 mA/cm2) and at low energies (for example those less than 1000 V) in order to remove oxygen contamination from the phosphors and/or phosphor binder material, prior to sealing the screen on the display. The removal of the oxygen prevents the degradation of the field emitters in the display during operation.

Method for cleaning phosphor screens for use with field emission displays


A yo-yo with an axle having two side-by-side bearings constituting a double bearing that enhances yo-yo performance characteristics by improving balance and reducing unwanted effects such as wobble, tilting, twisting, vibration, and string friction. Each bearing having an outer ring, an inner ring, and an array of balls trapped in tracks between the two rings. The outer rings of the bearings may be beveled to form a groove to enhance stability and centering of a string. Alternatively, the bearings may be covered with a bridge that has a straight outer surface or has an outer surface with a groove that could take several shapes. The bridge may have an internal ridge that acts as a centering mechanism for the bearing and bridge assembly. The inner and outer rings of the bearings may be independent or shared, and the rings of one bearing may overlap the rings of the other bearing. The inner rings of the bearings may be extended outward to provide spacing between bearing parts and yo-yo side walls.

This invention pertains to bearings for yo-yos. More particularly, it pertains to a double bearing, essentially two distinct bearings located side-by-side, positioned around the axle of a yo-yo to provide friction reduction and string centering that improves on the performance of a yo-yo with a single bearing.
Single bearings have been employed in yo-yos for approximately forty years and they dramatically reduce friction created between string and yo-yo parts during rapid spins of the yo-yo and during various tricks performed while the yo-yo is spinning. An early use of a ball bearing is taught by Isaacson in U.S. Pat. No. 3,175,326. A recent use of a roller bearing is taught by Marcantonio in U.S. Pat. No. 6,565,408 B1. Such single bearings are located at the midpoint of the axle around which the yo-yo spins between the string gap and the axle. Friction reduction allows the yo-yo to spin more rapidly and for a greater variety of tricks to be performed.
Although single bearings reduce friction, they still have several drawbacks. They are limited in terms of widths that are practically feasible and are available as stock items. Wide bearings can be important for avoiding friction between the string and the inner walls of the yo-yo and can also be important for performing advanced tricks. Also, single bearings used in yo-yos have bearing balls contained within two rings, an outer ring and an inner ring. A yo-yo string is wrapped around the outer ring of the bearing. In launching: a yo-yo, when the yo-yo reaches the bottom of a throw, the string abruptly pulls against the outer ring of the bearing, and introduces angular "tilting" or "wiggle" of the outer ring relative to the yo-yo's axle owing to clearances needed for individual bearing balls that must be free to roll around semi-circular internal grooves (referred to here as "tracks") in the inner and outer rings that help contain the bearing balls between the rings. This wiggle or tilting of the outer bearing ring causes the string to slide off center and contact edges of yo-yo walls, thus imparting extra undesired friction that reduces spin time, and consequently reduces the time to perform tricks or to enjoy free-spinning suspension of yo-yo on the string. Wiggle of the outer bearing ring also gives rise to vibration and wiggle of the overall yo-yo.
Recently, improvements have been made in single bearing yo-yos. These include ceramic bearings with ceramic bearing balls, instead of the usual stainless steel bearing components, that reduce friction within the bearing itself1; curved outer rings that help keep the string centered, thus reducing friction with yo-yo walls such as the KonKave2 bearing; and different types of lubricants3 other than the previous standards such as grease or mineral oil. New lubricants such as light petroleum, synthetic oils, and Teflon-enriched oils are designed to reduce the internal yo-yo friction to extend spin times. However, in spite of these improvements, single bearing yo-yos are still subject to: angular tilting of the outer bearing ring; string friction with the walls of the yo-yo; and overall yo-yo vibration, wobbling, and "precession." Precession refers to a well-known phenomena where the entire yo-yo tilts and twists during a spin as it slows down owing to forces of friction. As discussed by Watson4 precession is caused by frictional forces generated at various points within a yo-yo, including forces within a bearing (between the balls and track), and friction between the string and other moving parts of the yo-yo. The direction of the tilting or twisting depends on where the friction occurs relative to the axis of spin. The inertia and gyroscopic action of a fast spinning yo-yo resists precession, but as a yo-yo slows, the tilting and twisting become more pronounced. The effects of precession significantly shorten the useful duration of a spinning yo-yo.
The double bearing system disclosed here provides significant improvements over previous yo-yo bearing systems. The double bearing system, located between string and axle, provides two points of balance for the yo-yo instead of one. These two points of balance are located laterally outside the string position so that the string applies pressure to the bearing within the spacing between the two tracks of bearing balls. This position means the throwing force is distributed and balanced between two sets of bearing balls instead of being unstably balanced over a single track of bearing balls, and as a result there is a significant reduction in angular tilting of the outer ring for a double bearing as compared with a single bearing. Furthermore, the double bearing design significantly reduces precession effects for the yo-yo. Because the axle has two points of suspension instead of one, angular torque that typically causes precession has much less effect on a double bearing yo-yo. The result is much improved stability in vertical and horizontal orientation, meaning that there is less tilting and twisting.


As a communication device receives packet data via a first access network, the communication detects that packet data arriving via a second access network is duplicative of the packet data that the communication device is receiving via the first access network. In response to detecting such duplication, the communication device discontinues being served by the first access network and continues with communication via the second access network.

Unless otherwise indicated herein, the materials described in this section are not prior art to the claims and are not admitted to be prior art by inclusion in this section.
In general, a given region may include a number of different access networks arranged to provide communication devices with access to engage in packet-data communication on a transport network such as the Internet. These access networks may be arranged to serve communication devices over wired or wireless interfaces and may take any of a variety of forms. In practice, for instance, each such access network may include one or more access nodes with which communication devices can directly communicate and may further include or connect with other supporting infrastructure such as routers, switches, and gateways that provide packet-data network connectivity. When a communication device connects with an access node of such an access network, the access node or the supporting infrastructure may then assign an Internet Protocol (IP) address to the communication device, or the communication device may have a previously assigned IP address. The communication device may then use its IP address to engage in packet-data communication via the access network with various remote entities, such as other communication devices or network servers for instance.
At times, it may be desirable for a communication device to transition from being served by one such access network to being served by another such access network. This may occur, for instance, as the device moves from an area where just one access network provides service to an area where another access network also provides service, and/or in view of various considerations, such as application requirements, cost of service, quality of service, network load, and the like. In practice, when a device engages in such a transition, the device may disconnect from its serving access network and newly connect with the other access network. The device may thus stop being served by one access network and proceed to be served by the other access network.

Use of packet data duplication to manage access network connections