A method to produce a catalytic bed is initiated by forming apertures in a predetermined pattern on a strip or segment of thin foil. A pattern of desired channels is formed into the apertured foil, for example, as a herringbone pattern. The patterned foil is heat treated, and the surfaces of the foil are provided with at least one washcoat and at least one catalyzed coat, and cured. Cured foil in strip form is rolled into a multi-layer coil, or cured foil in segment form is stacked in multiple segment layers, to produce a desired geometric shape of the catalytic bed. The channels between layers of foil are offset in each successive layer to preclude channel nesting. The offset channels and apertures provide turbulent longitudinal and radial flow of a desired material throughout the catalytic bed.

Operating conditions of a catalyst system in an exemplary industrial process catalytic reactor cover a relatively small range of variables. The flow ranges in an exemplary industrial process are no more than 4 or 5:1, the inlet flow and mixing conditions are well defined, and the reaction zones are also closely controlled to produce temperature profiles that are maintained within a narrow range. Start conditions are carefully controlled to assure the catalyst and reactor are performing according to prescribed conditions. This type of operation leads to catalyst system designs that have less demanding requirements compared to operations of similar processes where temperature and performance controls must be held tightly over a wide range of dynamic operating conditions.
One of the most familiar deviations from the exemplary industrial process reactor is the automotive exhaust emission control catalyst system. In this system, the start and operating conditions are significantly different. Temperature difference and reactant ratio from start to operating conditions can vary rapidly. This catalyst system also operates with wide ranges of throughput, which can vary as much as 50:1, with space velocities in excess of 100,000 hr−1, and high heat release (significantly higher than the exhaust emission converter) over the operating range. Because of their application, catalytic reactors must be compact as well. This demands the development of creatively designed catalyst systems that can be prepared by methods commercially conceivable.
One commercially available approach for exhaust emission control catalysts employs honeycomb monoliths for the reactor. In the operation of honeycomb monolith catalytic reactors on vehicles, thermal profile and conversion are maintained over the wide engine operating conditions, without raising system back pressure, by combining the catalyst bed structure variables, associated with the honeycomb monolith, with catalyst preparation procedures. By increasing the honeycomb cell or channel density, i.e., decreasing the cell size and reducing the wall thickness, the fluid dynamics of the reactant gases and reactions taking place over the entire operating range are improved over larger cell sizes, thus helping to maintain reasonably well-controlled temperature profiles and subsequently providing better durability.
Through the use of honeycomb monolith catalyst systems, catalyst type and loading over the length of the catalyst/converter flow path can offer reaction and temperature profile control, while simultaneously meeting the conversion required via catalyst loading and control of material availability during catalyst preparation. Improved catalyst materials, preparation procedures, and structure were developed concurrently with refinement of the catalyst structure in achieving this higher performance.
Drawbacks exist, however, for honeycomb monolith catalyst systems in fuel cell fuel processor system applications. The heat flux (heat release rate and quantity) and the relative ratio of size to degree of reaction complexity associated with an automobile exhaust catalytic reactor are relatively small compared to the primary reactor of a fuel cell fuel processor. Also, automobile honeycomb monolith exhaust catalytic reactors often detrimentally develop laminar flow through large sections of the straight, continuous, channels of their honeycomb structure. This creates mass transport problems, and the only effective means for distributing heat is axially, along the length of the channels. If any over-temperature condition develops in the inlet section, where turbulence does exist, or if any blockage or unequal distribution of inlet feed exists, there is no means by which the reactants can migrate from one channel to another in a single monolith, or redistribute the reactant flow some distance downstream from a blockage.
Modification of the honeycomb monolith assembly provides some improvement. By providing many "slices" of a honeycomb monolith, wherein the channel alignment of each slice is offset, conditions closer to continuous mixing and redistribution phenomena take place. This approach also has drawbacks, however, in that washcoating and catalyst loading are performed after assembly, which can result in non-uniform washcoating and catalyst loading throughout the offset monolith. After-assembly washcoat and catalyst loading is both extremely difficult and cost ineffective to both prepare and subsequently to retain the catalyst structure without physical damage to the washcoat or catalyst layer(s).
Another catalyst structure that has been considered for automotive and fuel processor applications is the foam support. This structure potentially provides the desired tortuous flow path that can assist in maintaining turbulent mixing of the reactants through the catalyst bed, thereby enhancing mass and heat transport properties. The disadvantage of this support structure is similar to the "sliced honeycomb monolith" in that washcoating and catalyzing the surfaces requires forcing a slurry of the washcoat and/or catalyst material through its webbed structure after assembly. Washcoating these supports uniformly throughout the structure can be very problematic, particularly when cell density is relatively high. In addition, these supports have been found to be very non-uniform in both cell size and cell distribution. This results in areas where blockages occur because of fabrication faults, making coating and distribution activity less controlled. A further disadvantage is that backpressure through these monoliths is higher than for the honeycomb monoliths.
Based on the above, there is a need for tailored catalyst systems that meet the desired activity of a fuel cell fuel processor (reactor) over a wide range of operating conditions. Catalyst system requirements for an onboard hydrocarbon (i.e., gasoline, LPG or NG) conversion processor have both similarities and significant differences from the previously mentioned examples. Similarities include: 1) the choice of catalyst and catalyst loading must be commensurate with the reaction processes and cost requirements; and 2) heat transfer and control of temperature are critical to maintaining life and conversion selectivity.
An optimal catalyst system design for fuel processor operation should provide a variety of flow paths throughout the length of the catalytic reactor, in order to induce turbulent flow to accommodate the reaction flux over the entire set of operating conditions, without compromising (1) the catalyst loading or type, (2) life of either the catalyst or reactor, (3) pressure drop, or (4) performance, i.e., conversion/selectivity. Uniformly controllable washcoat and catalyst loading is not available with the honeycomb or foam support design catalytic beds. A catalyst manufacturing method is therefore required which also incorporates controlled, but passively variable flow paths throughout the catalyst bed to promote turbulent flow throughout, the ability to control washcoat and catalyst loading prior to assembly of the bed, and an assembly which permits either the washcoat or the catalyst or both washcoat and catalyst to be varied through the catalytic bed.

Reactor manufacturing method for a fuel cell processor


Described are p-methylenedioxyphenyl propionitrile and propiohydroxylamine derivatives defined according to the generic structure: ##STR1## wherein Z.sub.1 represents the moiety: ##STR2## and the moiety: ##STR3## and R.sub.1 is hydrogen or methyl and also having the generic structure: ##STR4## wherein X is HSO.sub.3.sup.- ; SO.sub.4 ;=Cl.sup.- ; PO.sub.4.sup..tbd. ; H.sub.2 PO.sub.4.sup.- ; and HPO.sub.4.sup.=. The p-methylenedioxyphenyl propionitrile and propiohydroxylamine derivatives having the structures: ##STR5## have useful organoleptic properties in the perfumery area. Also described are processes for preparing such p-methylenedioxyphenyl propionitrile and propiohydroxylamine derivatives. The compounds defined according to the structure: ##STR6## are useful intermediates in such processes. The subgenus defined according to the structure: ##STR7## covers novel compounds.

Our invention relates to p-methylenedioxyphenyl propionitrile and propiohydroxylamine derivatives defined according to the structures: ##STR8## wherein R.sub.1 is hydrogen or methyl; Z.sub.1 is one of the moieties: ##STR9## M is 1, 2 or 3; and X is one of the anions: HSO.sub.4.sup.- ;
SO.sub.4.sup.= ; PA1 Cl.sup.- ; PA1 Br.sup.- ; PA1 PO.sub.4.sup..tbd. ; PA1 H.sub.2 PO.sub.4.sup.- ; and PA1 HPO.sub.4.sup.=.
Our invention also covers the genus of compounds having the structure: ##STR10## as well as the genus of compounds having the structure: ##STR11## as novel compounds. Our invention also covers the uses of the compounds having the structures: for their organoleptic (e.g., perfumery) properties.
There has been considerable work performed relating to substances which can be used to impart (modify, augment or enhance) fragrances to (or in) various consumable materials. These substances are used to diminish the use of natural materials, some of which may be in short supply and to provide more uniform properties in the finished product.
Long-lasting intense substantive sweet, anisic, ozoney, ylang, geranium, melony, basil, floral ana muguet aromas with sweet, anisice ylang ana geranium topnotes are highly desirable in several types of perfume compositions, perfumed articles and colognes (e.g.; piney fragrances).
The perfume uses of nitrile-containing derivatives which contain phenyl moieties are well known in the prior art. Thus, the compounds defined according to the structure: ##STR12## wherein R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 are the same or different and each represents hydrogen or methyl are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,143,899 issued on Sep. 1, 1992 (title uprocess For Preparing Phenyl Butyronitriles And Perfumery Use Of 2,2-Dimethyl-4-Phenyl Valeronitrile"). other perfume uses of nitrile-containing derivatives which also contain phenyl moieites are shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,837,351 issued on Jun. 6. 1989 wherein it is indicated that the compound having the structure: has a powerful, fresh, fruity, floral odor note accompanied by a citrus, green topnote. Furthermore, U.S. Pat. No. 3,325,369 discloses the use of cinnamonitrile as a material useful in augmenting or enhancing the aroma of perfume compositions.
Other nitriles containing gem-dimethyl moieties "alpha" to the cyanide moiety are disclosed in Blumenthals et al, U.S. Pat. No. 3,168,550 issued on Feb. 2, 1965.
Nothing in the prior art discloses the use in perfumery of the p-methylenedioxyphenyl propionitrile and propiohydroxylamine derivatives of our invention.
However, the compound having the structure: ##STR13## is disclosed as a chemical intermediate in the article by Semmelhack and Bargar, J.Am.Chem.Soc. 1980, 102(26) at pages 7765-7774 (abstracted at Chemical Abstracts Volume 94:3607e); (title "Photostimulated Nucleophilic Aromatic Substitution For Halides with Carbon Nucleophiles. Preparative and Mechanistic Aspects").
Nothing in the prior art, however, discloses the perfumery uses of the p-methylenedioxyphenyl propionitrile and propiohydroxylamine derivatives of our invention and nothing shows the use of the intermediates of our invention in the processes of our invention.

P-methylenedioxyphenyl propionitrile derivatives, process for producing same, intermediates used in said process and organoleptic uses of said derivatives and intermediates


The invention relates to an airfoil for a gas turbine, which comprises a compound fillet disposed between the airfoil and a platform. The compound fillet consists of a first arc and a second arc. A first end of the first arc tangentially adjoins an outer surface of the airfoil. A second end of the first arc tangentially adjoins a first end of the second arc. A second end of the second arc tangentially adjoins a surface of the platform, wherein the following equation is satisfied: 0.15≦R1/s≦0.45, and 0.09≦a/s≦0.27.

A gas turbine typically includes at least one rotor assembly in which a plurality of blades/vanes, comprising airfoils radially extending from platforms, are circumferentially fitted and distributed around a rotor disk. During operation, centrifugal forces generate circumferential rim stress in the rotating blades. As for vanes, gas pressure and vibration may also generate stress. These stresses can concentrate at the transition between the platform and the airfoil. This stress concentration can be minimized by fillets at the platform/airfoil connection portion. Adequate stress relief can however only be achieved with an adequately sized and shaped fillet.
Generally, it is desirable to reduce the size of the platform, or alternatively avoid reworking of a blade/vane when it is discovered in final design stages that there is insufficient space between the airfoil and platform edge to enable tangentially joining the fillet to the platform surface. It is therefore desirable to provide a compound fillet consisting of multiple sections of curves that requires less platform surface space without compromising mechanical integrity.
A compound fillet for a turbine blade is disclosed in EP2184442A1, which covers an airfoil to platform join and is configured to comprise a first arc and a second arc. The first arc has a first end tangential to the airfoil surface. The second arc having a first end tangentially adjoins the second end of the first arc and a second end adjoins the plat form surface. The radius of the first arc is larger than the radius of the second arc. Furthermore, another compound fillet also is disclosed in this reference, which comprises a first arc and a second arc wherein the second arc adjoins non-tangentially the platform surface.
A kind of transition between a surface of a blade/vane airfoil and a platform at an end of the airfoil is disclosed in GB2353826A, which comprises at least two curves of different radii, the radius of the curve nearest the surface of the airfoil being larger than the radius of the curve nearest to the platform. The transition may comprise two curves of different radii separated by a straight line section, or it may form a section of an ellipse.
A cooled moving blade for a gas turbine is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,190,128 B1, which has a base portion of a profile formed by an elliptically curved surface and a rectilinear surface portion, wherein the rectilinear surface portion is provided at a hub portion of the blade where thermal stress is large.
Even though different compound fillets are proposed in the above mentioned publications, there exists much more space to develop in respect of optimizing the parameters of compound fillet in order to improve the stress relief capacity of the blade/vane, hence improve the working life of the blade or vane.


An apparatus for the self-dosing of a liquid medicine. The apparatus includes a chamber formed in a casing for receiving a liquid medicine to be self-dosed by a patient, with an inlet and outlet port formed to communicate with the chamber free from leakage of the medicine. The apparatus further includes a piston fitted liquid-tightly in the chamber, a push button attached to and adapted to actuate the piston and which is capable of being pressed by the patient a desired number of times corresponding to an amount of liquid medicine to be dosed, and a spring urging the piston towards its home position. After the patient presses the button and removes his hand from the button, the spring forces the piston backwards to its home position and the resulting negative pressure causes a subsequent smooth refilling of the chamber. The apparatus, which is a simple structure and can be manufactured at a low cost, can be employed in an integrated system for the self-dosing of the liquid medicine.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an apparatus for the self-dosing of a liquid medicine and also to a system in which the apparatus is incorporated. More particularly, the present invention relates to an apparatus which may be incorporated in a system or used as an independent device so as to be operated by a patient for the purpose of repeatedly dosing small amounts of, for example, analgesics to relieve postoperative pain or small amounts of an anticancer medicine to relieve cancer pain, or one-shot dosing of other medicines.
2. Description of the Related Art
It is becoming popular in anesthetic treatment to repeat or continue the administration of small amounts of an analgesic for the control of postoperative or cancer pain, wherein a certain device is used and an epidural catheter is inserted into a patient's body. On the other hand, the conditions of patients vary, and some patients may suffer acute pain during the continuous administration of prescribed amounts of analgesics. Therefore, there have been proposed various kinds of apparatuses adapted for use by a patient himself or herself in the event of such acute pain. These apparatuses are designed to allow the patient to make a one-shot administration of an analgesic, as disclosed for example in Domestic Republishing Gazette Sho. 63-501195 of an International Patent Application.
This apparatus for the patient-controlled delivery of a beneficial agent comprises, as shown in FIG. 5(a) of the present application, a chamber 90 defined between a raised plateau 98 of a back plate 86 and a circular flexible sheet 96. The chamber 90 is connected to conduits, which are respectively attached to and communicate with a bladder or container of the agent and to a catheter or other medical device. The flexible sheet 96 supports a floating plate 100 disposed thereon. A button-like control switch 84 is located above the floating plate so as to be pushed thereto by the patient. A base portion of the control switch 84 is journaled on the back plate by a pivot pin 116, and a coil spring 124 surrounds this pin. When the switch 86 is pushed by the patient, the chamber 90 will be compressed as shown in FIGS. 5(b) and 5(c) so that the beneficial agent is supplied to him or her via one of the conduits. Upon retraction of the patient's finger from the button-like switch 84, the coil spring 124 causes it to return to its home position shown in FIG. 5(d).
It is noted here that the flexible sheet 96 in the prior art apparatus remains pressed as illustrated in FIG. 5(d), even after the patient has removed his or her finger from the switch 84. Thus, the refilling of the chamber 90 with the beneficial agent is done only by a moderate compressive force imparted by the bladder to the beneficial agent therein. The elastomeric bladder is, however, of such a nature that only small amounts of the agent can be dosed. Consequently, the beneficial agent is fed to the chamber at a slow speed (see Gazette 63-501195, page 6, lines 13-19).
This feature of the prior art apparatus is disadvantageous in that prompt and rapid refilling of the agent for the next dose is not possible.
Further, the patient cannot change or adjust the quantity of one dose, because only a limited volume of the agent can be discharged at a time by means of the conventional apparatus. Such a limited quantity and a slow refilling render it impossible for the patient to dose himself or herself a freely selected quantity of the agent at any desired rate.
It is also noted that, as can be seen in FIGS. 5(a) to 5(d), this conventional apparatus is of a comparatively complicated structure which can be manufactured only at a relatively high cost. In addition, the liquid agent is likely to leak from the periphery of the flexible sheet 96.

Apparatus and system for the self-dosing of a liquid medicine


A method for generating an acoustic source in a liquid includes transmitting an optical pulse through the liquid so the optical pulse reaches ILIB through pulse compression and ionizes a liquid volume. The pulse compression is achieved through at least one of a) group velocity dispersion induced longitudinal compression of a frequency chirped optical pulse and b) transverse self focusing via a nonlinear optical Kerr effect. The acoustic source can be generated at a controllable remote location many meters from the optical source. The optical source can be a laser or other suitable optical device.

Underwater acoustic sources are useful in the marine environment both near the surface and undersea. For example, acoustic sources can be used to mark the location of an object for salvage, as navigational aids for undersea vehicles, and for other applications.
Current underwater acoustical sources are discrete devices that are dropped from ships or aircraft, intended to sink to a location where they begin transmitting.
S. V. Egerev describes development of noncontact laser acoustic sources in "In Search of a Noncontact Underwater Acoustic Source", Acoustical Physics, vol. 49, issue 1, pages 51-61, 2003. A laser-based ultrasonic and hypersonic sound generator is discussed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,392,368 to Brewer et al. Laser induced electric breakdown in water is discussed by C. A. Sacchi in the Journal of the Optical Society of America B, Vol. 8, No. 2, February 1991, pages 337-345. P. K. Kennedy discusses laser induced breakdown thresholds in ocular and aqueous media in IEEE Journal of Quantum Mechanics, Vol. 31, No. 12, December 1995, pages 2241-2249 and 2250-2257. A. Vogel and S. Busch discuss shock wave emission and cavitation generation by picosecond and nanosecond optical breakdown in water in J. Acoustical Society of America, Vol. 100, Issue 1, July 1996, pages 148-165.
T. G. Jones, J. Grun, L. D. Bibee, C. Manka, A. Landsberg, and D. Tam discuss laser-generated shocks and bubbles as laboratory-scale models of underwater explosions in Shock and Vibration, IOP Press, Vol. 10, pages 147-157, 2003.
P. Sprangle, J. R. Penano, and B. Hafizi discuss propagation of intense short laser pulses in the atmosphere in Physical Review E, Vol. 66, 2002, pages 046418-1-046418-21. The optical Kerr effect, a non-linear change in the refractive effect at high intensity, is discussed by Siegman, Lasers, pages 375-386, 1986.

United Statesof America as Represented by the Secretary of the Navy


Disclosed is an improved process for reacting a halogenated ester with an alkali metal alkoxide to form an alkoxy ester and a salt. A solvent is added to the halogenated ester prior to the addition of the alkali metal alkoxide. This results in a substantial increase in the particle size of the salt which greatly facilitates its separation from the solution of the alkoxy ester product.

This invention relates to a process for making an alkoxy ester by reacting a halogenated ester with an alkali metal alkoxide. In particular, it relates to a modification of that process in which solvent is added to the halogenated ester prior to the addition of the alkali metal alkoxide in order to increase the particle size of the salt byproduct that is formed in the reaction.
Ethyl ethoxy acetate (EEA) is used to make a herbicide. At the present time, it is made by reacting ethyl monochloro acetate (EMCA) with a solution of sodium ethoxide in ethanol. Unfortunately, the particle size of the sodium chloride byproduct that is formed is so small that it passes through all but the finest filters and requires days to settle. Even when a medical centrifuge is used to remove the salt from the reaction crude some EEA product and ethanol solvent are lost because they are infused within the finely divided salt bed.


A structure that includes a plurality of cells of a cured resinous material. Each cell is joined to at least one other cell.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a structure that may be formed of a plurality of resinous cells, a method and an apparatus for forming such a structure. The structure may be formed in place where it is to be utilized.
2. Description of Related Art
In many situations, it may be desirable to form a structure in place where it is to be utilized. Sometimes, a structure is preformed and then assembled in place. One proposed application of such structures is in outer space. For example, it has been proposed to form spacecraft or portions of spacecraft from prefabricated inflatable structures. Prefabricated inflatable structures have also been proposed for forming structures on other celestial bodies, such as moon bases and underground caverns. Such structures have also been proposed for use in terrestrial applications.
Space-based structures that are assembled and/or formed in place can include a plurality of layers of material with various functions. In the context of a spacecraft, the structures can include layers for meteorite resistance, gas retention for inflatable structures, layers for helping the structure to maintain its shape, layers to help retain heat, and/or layers for other functions.
Space based structures have been proposed that are prefabricated and then inflated in space. For example, satellites have been proposed and deployed, which include an inflatable structure. According to one example, the satellite referred to as Explorer XIX, which was launched in December 1963, included a 20 inch inflatable structure. The structure was inflated with gas and included 40 gore plies of preform over a hemispherical mold. The skin was a four-ply laminate consisting of alternating layer so aluminum foil and mylar film, each 0.5 or 0.013 mm thick. The inflatable structure maintained its shape after evacuation of the inflating gas.
Other satellites formed from inflating structures include the ECHO satellites, such as the PAGEOS satellite launched in June of 1966. This satellite included 84 gore plies sealed with adhesive tape. The structure was inflated utilizing a mixture of subliming powders. During ground-based tests, the inflated structure was found to differ from the designed dimensions by less than one-half of one percent. This accuracy was obtained at least in part by utilizing an accurate gore ply pattern, by maintaining seal tolerances and by lowering sealing temperature.
Another proposed use of inflatable structures is as a protective expandable enclosure for astronauts. In particular, an enclosure was built that included a composite wall having an inner three-barrier pressure bladder for gas retention, a four-ply Dacron cloth structural layer, a 2-inch thick polyether foam meteoroid barrier, and a film-cloth laminate outer cover with thermal coating. The expandable composite wall could be structurally bonded to a rigid aluminum honeycomb sandwich floor.
Another example includes an inflatable antenna. The antenna as it has been proposed includes a large, pressurized antennae. In a structure shaped by internal pressure, using a low modulus plastic film, the pressure level decreases with the third power of the linear dimension. As a result, lost inflatant mass would decrease with increasing antenna size. This would make it possible to build low-mass inflatable systems with 5- to 10-year lifetimes. One design incorporates a stabilization torus, with a pressure sufficiently high to warrant the use of a rigidizing structure.
Another proposal includes an inflatable, space-rigidized structure (ISRS). One example of this structure is a 10-m antenna reflector. The antenna consisted of a thin, fiber-reinforced composite lamina. The materials used were a lightweight KEVLAR cloth in an imide-modified, catalytically cured, cycloaliphatic epoxy resin, which may be cured either thermally or by an external gaseous catalyst. The area mass of the resulting composite wall, including a plastic foil gas barrier, was of the order of 0.1 kg/mz.
According to another example, the SOLARES was a 1000 m diameter flat light-reflective membrane stretched by an inflatable toroidal hoop stabilized by tension lines to two masts normal to the membrane at the center. Also, an inflatable antenna has been created that includes a large microwave or light collecting or reflecting dish fabricated using an inflated torus for the rim and either parabolically shaped or spherical shaped plastic membranes attached to the torus. The membranes were stretched to shape by air pressure. The concave surface was metallized to produce the desired microwave reflectivity.
It has been proposed to form a structure by blowing large bubbles in space using self-rigidizing liquids. This would allow the fabrication of large flat structures. Then, self-rigidizing foam could be used to inflate and subsequently rigidize inflatable structures.
As apparent from the above discussion, a number of methods for fabrication of structures in space have been postulated. A number of the proposals have involved inflated structures, clever mechanisms that unfold and lock into position, or polymeric based component systems that can be processed real time. Each has benefits and drawbacks.
Attempts to inflate a structure have been successful in initial deployment, but require a method of maintaining the pressure or stabilizing the structural elements once the gas has been used to position them. Long-term gas supply requires dedicated mission payload capacity. The gas must be maintained in a leak free containment or the structure will collapse. Any gas that does leak or diffuse through the structure over time will be a possible contaminant to sensors and solar cell arrays. This is true even for a structure that only depends on the gas for deployment, not to maintain structural rigidity.
A mechanical approach has been successful in a number of cases, but it is limited to smaller structures due to the inefficiencies inherent in joints, fasteners and sliding surfaces. A number of deployment failures have occurred that were traced to environmental effects, such as thermal expansion and contraction or to tribological effects.
It has also been proposed to fabricate polymeric-based composite structures in space, by pultruding or extruding the materials through a heated processing device. However, the energy requirements for heating can be very taxing on a spacecraft's power system. The residual stresses developed in a composite structure as it is heated during curing and cooled to ambient, and possibly very low, temperatures add complication to the design. Another detrimental factor of such techniques is outgassing of the resin as it is processed. Again, this presents a contamination issue. One approach to get around this issue has been the exploration of using ultraviolet (UV) curing resin systems. The primary drawback to this technology has been the inability to develop a process that allows the resin to be cured with UV while the composite material is being compacted. A composite structure cured with no compacting load will have a substantially reduced performance due to low fiber volume fraction.
Another research path has been the use commercial closed cell foam technology to produce a lightweight rigid structure that expands to shape during processing. Unfortunately, all of the commercial foaming technology produces a gas that can become a contaminant as it diffuses through the polymer. A two component foaming technology is very difficult to control in terms of cell size and cell size distribution throughout a structure's cross-section.
With respect to boom structures utilized in space, boom structures currently are considered to fall into one of the five categories discussed below. The simplest boom structure is based on the use of tension members, typically wire. These structures have limited application, as the spacecraft must be spinning. Centrifugal force deploys and maintains the boom structure.
To date, probably the most common type of boom is the tubular boom. It consist of a thin metallic strip which is spool-wound during storage, but upon controlled release is automatically formed into a tubular shape giving it its stiffness. The tubular boom is, however, limited by its buckling strength at the root.
Another type of boom is the telescoping boom. A telescoping boom is typically shorter but has greater strength than a tubular boom. A telescoping boom is typically deployed using a lead screw or similar type device.
A fourth type of boom employs a series of continuous longerons, which are bent and twisted into a helix for stowage in a cylindrical container. Batten frames are arranged perpendicular to the longerons to provide the required separation, while diagonal cables are used to provide the required shear stiffness. This technology is limited by the amount of strain that can be placed on the longerons in the storage container. Booms of this type have been built in excess of 100 feet long.
The final boom type is similar to the one previously described except it uses articulated longerons instead of continuous longerons. In this type of structure, the longerons are in segments and connected with hinged joints to the batten frames. This approach also utilizes diagonal cables to provide the required shear stiffness.

Structure including a plurality of cells of cured resinous material, method of forming the structure and apparatus for forming the structure


An eight way electrical coupling system for electrically interconnecting a tractor and a trailer. The electrical coupling system includes a wiring harness between tractor and trailer vehicles having base plates with eight pronged electrical connections each including a central electrical male terminal surrounded by seven radially disposed equidistant electrical male terminals arranged in a circular configuration. An adapter is also described for electrically interconnecting an electrical wiring harness, having seven or eight wires between tractor, and trailer base plates, having seven or eight pronged electrical connections.

1. FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to electrical couplings between the wiring systems of tractor and trailer vehicles.
2. DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART
When technology advances in an area where electrical power is used, the electrical power demands of that field often also increase. For example, lighting demands in the trucking industry have been steadily rising. The increased demand for lighting on a tractor vehicle and a trailer vehicle causes a concomitant increase in demand on the electrical power of the towing vehicle. However, because electrical circuits have a power handling capacity, as the electrical power demands of an electrical circuit are increased, the risk of exceeding the power capacity of that circuit grows. Thus, there is a potential problem with the power handling capacity of the electrical circuits between tractor and trailer vehicles being exceeded.
Such demands have caused the standard configuration of electrical connectors for use between tractor and trailer vehicles to change a few times. When six electrical terminals became a standard in the trucking industry, the typical wiring harnesses between tractor and trailer vehicles became arranged in a circular configuration because a circular configuration conserves space for electrical harnesses containing six or more terminals. The current standard electrical connection for electrical harnesses connecting tractor and trailer vehicles in the trucking industry is a connection consisting of a central electrical terminal (for attachment of auxiliary electrical components) surrounded by six radially disposed equidistant electrical terminals forming a circle, i.e. a "seven-way" connection.
The following U.S. Patents each show connections for the current standard seven-way electrical connection: U.S. Pat. No. 4,061,407, issued to John P. Snow on Dec. 6, 1977; U.S. Pat. No. 4,770,644, issued to Emil Feder on Sep. 13, 1988; U.S. Pat. No. 4,792,308, issued to Raymond L. Johnson on Dec. 20, 1988; U.S. Pat. No. 5,080,594, issued to Stephen W. Swinford on Jan. 14, 1992; U.S. Pat. No. 5,385,476, issued to Kenneth O. Jasper on Jan. 31, 1995; U.S. Pat. No. 5,514,009, issued to Michael T. Hughes on May 7, 1996; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,516,136, issued to Peter L. Matthews et al. on May 14, 1996.
As noted, the number of terminals in the standard seven-way connection for a wiring harness electrically interconnecting the electrical systems of tractor and trailer vehicles has increased over time. The following patents show electrical connections for electrical wiring harnesses electrically interconnecting tractor and trailer vehicles in the trucking industry different from those of the current standard: U.S. Pat. No. 2,660,679, issued to Arthur E. Hunt on Nov. 24, 1953; U.S. Pat. No. 4,460,811, issued to Paul G. Murr et al. on Jul. 17, 1984; U.S. Pat. No. 4,781,393, issued to C. Duane Jeter on Nov. 1, 1988; U.S. Pat. No. 4,842,532, issued to Jeffrey J. Krause on Jun. 27, 1989; U.S. Pat. No. 5,443,389, issued to Michael T. Hughes on Aug. 22, 1995; German Patent Number 3,904,522, published on Aug. 16, 1990; and European Patent Number 610,681, published on Aug. 17, 1994.
Furthermore, changes in the standard connection for a wiring harness electrically interconnecting the electrical systems of tractor and trailer vehicles take place gradually, because tractor and trailer vehicles which were complementarily constructed and compatible with a previous standard remain on the road for many years after a change occurs in the manufacturing standard. Thus, because tractors and trailers are intended to be used interchangeably, the need for adapters capable of electrically interconnecting otherwise incompatible electrical connections arise as new lighting devices, or other electrically operated devices, are added to one or the other. The following U.S. Patents show adapters capable of electrically interconnecting otherwise incompatible electrical connections between tractor and trailer vehicles: Hughes '389, Hughes '009, Jeter '393, and Krause '532.
However, none of the above inventions and patents show an electrical wiring harness having an eight pronged electrical connection consisting of a central auxiliary terminal surrounded by seven radially disposed equidistant terminals arranged in a circular configuration for use between tractor and trailer vehicles having a standard seven-way connection. Likewise, none of the above inventions and patents show an adapter capable of electrically interconnecting the current standard configuration of electrical terminals in a wiring harness between tractor and trailer vehicles with an eight pronged electrical connection consisting of a central auxiliary terminal surrounded by seven radially disposed equidistant terminals arranged in a circular configuration. Thus, none of the above inventions and patents, taken either singularly or in combination, is seen to describe the instant invention as claimed. Therefore, an eight-way electrical coupling system for tractor and trailer vehicles solving the aforementioned problems is desired.

Eight-way tractor and trailer electrical coupling system


A disposal container for automatic release of cannulas from a holder and for disposal of the cannulas, and a system for hands-free release of a cannula from a holder. Included is a disposal container having a release aperture formed in the top, the aperture including opposite tapered sides extending into the container. A cannula is mounted in a cannula holder, the holder having at least one depressible lock element extending from the holder. The holder is inserted in the release aperture with the lock element engaging the tapered side, and the holder is then depressed to automatically eject the cannula from the holder. If the cannula is installed in a removable adaptor inserted in the holder, both the adaptor and the cannula are ejected when the holder is depressed in the aperture.

This invention relates to needle disposal apparatus, and more particularly to a container and system for hands-free release of a cannula from a holder and disposal of the cannula.
As medical science has advanced, the sampling and analysis of a patient's blood has become an important diagnostic aid. However, blood collection can also pose hazards for the person drawing blood, and therefore various devices have been developed to protect the drawer as much as possible from contamination.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,841,985; 4,984,580 and 5,117,837 are directed to various developments in blood drawing apparatus, and the disclosures of said patents are incorporated herein by reference. In one form of the blood drawing apparatus of such patents, a disposable cannula adaptor is employed in connection with a holder for an evacuated blood collection tube. The cannula adaptor is inserted in one end of the holder and held temporarily in place, and a blood needle is then screwed into the adaptor, with one end extending outwardly for vein puncture, and an opposite end extending inwardly in the holder for piercing the blood collection tube. After use of the holder to collect blood, the cannula adaptor and cannula are released from the holder, and disposed. The holder can then be disposed, or cleaned and reused with a new cannula adaptor and cannula.
While the cannula adaptor concept of the incorporated patents provides a significant advance in blood drawing apparatus, the proper disposal of the soiled cannulas and cannula adaptors remains beyond the scope of the patents.

Needle disposal container and disposal system


A photonic crystal and a producing method thereof are provided. The photonic crystal includes at least two media of different refractive indices formed on a semiconductor substrate. One of the media is periodically arranged in another one of the media. The photonic crystal has a cleaved surface on its side. The directions of primitive translation vectors representing the periodic arrangement directions of the one medium are at desired angles with the cleaved surface. Preferably, the direction of at least one of the primitive translation vectors is in parallel with the cleaved surface.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a photonic crystal and a producing method thereof, and more particularly to a photonic crystal capable of efficiently introducing external light and producible with a high yield, and a producing method thereof. The term "light" herein is a concept including, not only visible light, but also electromagnetic waves of longer or shorter wavelengths than the visible light.
2. Description of the Background Art
In recent years, a photonic crystal of a multi-layered structure formed of at least two kinds of dielectric, semiconductor or other materials, having a periodic structure with the refractive index distributed periodically, has attracted an attention. In the photonic crystal, if the refractive indices of the materials and the periodic structure are set appropriately, a frequency band forbidding light propagation appears, which is called a photonic bandgap. The photonic bandgap can suppress propagation of the light having a particular frequency within the photonic crystal. Further, introduction of a defect in the periodic structure of the photonic crystal creates a certain frequency band permitting light propagation within the photonic bandgap, so that the light within the photonic crystal can be deflected or diverged freely. Taking advantage of these characteristics, the photonic crystal can be adapted to an optical resonator or an optical waveguide. In the future, a micro-optical circuit or an optical demultiplexer may be implemented with the photonic crystal.
Methods applicable in production of such a photonic crystal are disclosed, e.g., in Japanese Patent Laying-Open Nos. 2000-150340 and 2000-162459.
The method disclosed in Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2000-150340 relates to an exposure method wherein an optical aligner is used for photolithography to expose a lattice pattern on a photoresist. In this method, at least two kinds of patterns are multi-exposed for patterning. With this method, contrast in light intensity between the exposed portion and the non-exposed portion can be increased, which ensures formation of a fine lattice pattern.
In the method disclosed in Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2000-162459, firstly, a semiconductor layer is formed on a single crystal substrate. Thereafter, an atomic force microscope fine working method or the like is used to periodically oxidize the surface of the semiconductor layer to thereby form a fine oxide mask. A prescribed thin film material layer is formed on the semiconductor layer in the portion where the oxide mask is not formed, while it is not formed in the portion where the oxide mask is formed. With this method, a high-quality photonic crystal free from sub-micron order damages can be produced.
The conventional photonic crystals produced by the above-described methods and others, however, would pose a problem that external light is not introduced therein efficiently. An optical circuit component made of the photonic crystal that cannot guarantee efficient introduction of external light may become defective. As such, there has been a demand for production of a photonic crystal capable of efficiently introducing external light with a high yield, so as to improve the manufacturing yield of the optical circuit components made of the photonic crystals.

Photonic crystal and producing method thereof


A smaller mask programmable gate array (MPGA) device derived from a larger field programmable gate array (FPGA), comprising: a layout of transistors and a plurality of interconnect layers substantially identical to a smaller region of the FPGA; and input/output pads matching a subset of the input/output pads of the FPGA; wherein, a design that is mapped to said smaller region of the FPGA device using said subset of input/output pads by a user programmable means can be identically mapped to the MPGA by a hard-wire circuit. Such a gate array further comprises a mask programmable metal-circuit in lieu of a user programmable configuration circuit of the FPGA; and a logic block to input/output pad connection in lieu of a logic block to a register at the boundary of said smaller region to an input/output pad connection of the FPGA.

The present invention relates to multi-dimensional integrated circuits. More specifically it relates to design conversion from a field programmable device (FPGA) to different density metal programmable application specific devices (MPGA) to reduce cost and improve performance, power and reliability.
Traditionally, integrated circuit (IC) devices such as custom, semi-custom, or application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) devices have been used in electronic products to reduce cost, enhance performance or meet space constraints. However, the design and fabrication of custom or semi-custom ICs can be time consuming and expensive. The customization involves a lengthy design cycle during the product definition phase and high Non Recurring Engineering (NRE) costs during manufacturing phase. When device geometries shrink, signal timing in an ASIC is wire-delay dominant. Wire delays are non-predictable during synthesis & placement phase, and comprise "RC" extractions of post-placement result of the best guess placement. Thus timing closure becomes a significant bottle neck in ASIC designs. Further, should errors exist in the custom or semi-custom ICs, the design/fabrication cycle has to be repeated, further aggravating the time to market and engineering cost. As a result, ASICs serve only specific applications and are custom built for high volume and low cost applications.
Another type of semi custom devices called Gate Array, Structured Array, Structured ASIC or Metal Programmable Gate Arrays (MPGA), henceforth all termed MPGAs, customizes modular blocks at a reduced NRE cost by synthesizing the design using a software model similar to the ASIC. The logic arrays are pre-fabricated; while only one or more metal layers are customize to fit the design with lower utilization over ASICs. The missing apriori wire-delays make the MPGA timing closure as difficult as in the ASIC. The missing silicon level design verification results in multiple spins and lengthy design iterations.
In recent years there has been a move away from custom or semi-custom ICs towards field programmable components whose function is determined not when the integrated circuit is fabricated, but by an end user "in the field" prior to use. Off the shelf, generic Programmable Logic Device (PLD) or Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) products, henceforth all termed FPGAs, greatly simplify the design cycle. These products offer user-friendly software to fit custom logic into the device through programmability, and the capability to tweak and optimize designs to optimize silicon performance. All wire delays are pre-characterized and FPGAs offer easy timing closure in a predictable manner thus solving ASIC and MPGA biggest problem. The flexibility of this programmability is expensive in terms of silicon real estate, but reduces design cycle and upfront NRE cost to the designer.
FPGAs offer the advantages of low non-recurring engineering costs, fast turnaround (designs can be placed and routed on an FPGA in typically a few minutes to a few hours), and low risk since designs can be easily amended late on in the product design cycle. It is only for high volume production runs that there is a cost benefit in using the more traditional approaches. However, the conversion from an FPGA implementation to an MPGA or ASIC implementation typically requires a complete redesign. Such redesign is undesirable in that the FPGA design effort is wasted.
Compared to an FPGA, an ASIC or MPGA has hard-wired logic connections, identified during the chip design phase, and need no configuration memory cells. They further require much less wires to connect logic. This is a large chip area and cost saving for the ASIC. Smaller ASIC die sizes lead to better performance. A full custom ASIC also has customized logic functions which take less gate counts compared to PLD and FPGA configurations of the same functions. Thus, an ASIC is significantly smaller, faster, cheaper and more reliable than an equivalent gate-count FPGA. The trade-off is between time-to-market (PLD and FPGA advantage) versus low cost and better reliability (ASIC pr MPGA advantage).
There is no convenient timing exact migration path from an FPGA used as a design verification and prototyping vehicle to the lower die size (hence lower cost) ASIC or MPGA. All of the SRAM or Anti-fuse configuration bits and programming circuitry that makes the FPGA more expensive has no value to the ASIC or MPGA. Programmable module removal from the FPGA and the ensuing layout and design customization is time consuming with severe timing variations from the original design. Input/output pad position changes also impact signal timing.
There is no convenient timing improvement or power reduction path from an FPGA used as a design verification and prototyping vehicle to the lower die size ASIC or MPGA. All of the SRAM or Anti-fuse configuration bits and programming circuitry that makes wire delays slow and power consumption high has no value to the ASIC or MPGA. Programmable module removal from the FPGA and the ensuing layout and design customization is time consuming with severe non-predictable timing variations from the original design.
There is no convenient single prototype FPGA that can be used as a design verification and prototyping vehicle, and provide an easy bit-stream compatible design conversion to a lower cost, or better performance, or lower power, or smaller density ASIC or MPGA. All of the configuration and programming overhead & pre-connected parasitic overhead within the FPGA has no value to the ASIC or MPGA. Parasitic overhead removal from the FPGA and the ensuing layout and design customization is time consuming with severe non-predictable timing variations from the original design.
What is therefore needed is a single prototype FPGA that can be used as design verification and prototyping vehicle, and further provide easy bit-stream compatible design conversion to more user desirable one or more MPGA products comprising varying densities for production.


Two ferroelectric capacitors including a PZT film are connected to one MOS transistor. Electrodes of the ferroelectric capacitor are arranged above a main plane of a substrate parallel to the main plane. Therefore, high capacity can be obtained easily. Furthermore, a (001) direction of the PZT film is parallel to the virtual straight line linking between the two electrodes. Therefore, a direction in which an electric field is applied coincides with a direction of a polarization axis, so that high electric charge amount of remanent polarization can be obtained.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a semiconductor device suitable for a ferroelectric memory and a method for manufacturing the same.
2. Description of the Related Art
A nonvolatile memory is a semiconductor memory which can store data even when a power supply is turned off. As a kind of the nonvolatile memory, there exists a ferroelectric memory using ferroelectric materials for a capacity insulating film.
The ferroelectric memory utilizes characteristics of two remanent polarizations whose polarities are different from each other, so that data can be stored if the power supply is turns off. The ferroelectric memory endures, in comparison with the other nonvolatile memories, a large number of write/erase cycles giving an indication of nonvolatility, about 1010 times to 1012 times. Write/erase speed thereof is also high, on the order of several dozen nanoseconds.
In the ferroelectric memory, a ferroelectric material can be polarized in two opposite directions. If being polarized in one direction is stored as information of "1", and being polarized in the other direction is stored as information of "0", the stored information can be discriminated by distinguishing polarization directions. A polarization direction of a ferroelectric material can be detected by giving the ferroelectric material enough electric potential to reverse the polarization.
In a case that the capacity insulating film is made of a dielectric material, not of the ferroelectric material, the polarization maintains only while a potential difference exists between electrodes. And when the potential difference is removed, the polarization vanishes. Therefore, information is not maintained.
As the ferroelectric materials, lead-system ferroelectric materials and bismuth-system ferroelectric materials can be cited. As the lead-system ferroelectric materials, PZT (PbZrxTi1-xO3), PLZT (PbyLa1-yZrzTi1-xO3) and the like can be cited. As the bismuth-system ferroelectric materials, SBT (SrBi2Ta2O9), BIT (Bi4Ti3O12) and the like can be cited.
Because a system LSI using the ferroelectric capacitor may be applied to the equipment in which money information and personal information stored in an IC card or a smart card and the like are handled, extremely high reliability is required. In addition, the system LSI requires a memory retention period for 10 years, write/erase cycles of 1015 times, and a guarantee for operational stability at the temperature of −45° C. to +125° C.
FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view showing a part of a conventional ferroelectric memory. An interlayer insulating film 104 is formed over a semiconductor substrate 101, and a ferroelectric capacitor 105 is formed thereon. The ferroelectric capacitor is provided with a lower electrode 106 made of a Pt film, a capacity insulating film 107 made of a PZT film, and an upper electrode 108 made of the Pt film. On a surface of the semiconductor substrate 101, an element isolation insulating film 102 and a transistor 103 are formed. In the interlayer insulating film 104, a contact plug 109 is embedded. The contact plug 104 reaches to a diffusion layer of the transistor 103. An insulating film 110 covering the ferroelectric capacitor 105 is formed on the interlayer insulating film 104. A contact hole reaching to the upper electrode 108 is formed in the insulating film 110. And an Al wiring 111 which connects the contact plug 109 to the upper electrode 108 is formed.
In the conventional ferroelectric memory thus fabricated, as one of the way to increase a capacity of the ferroelectric capacitor, an enlargement of an area of the capacity insulating film 107 is considered, however, it will lead to the enlargement of a chip area directly. Meanwhile, with a miniaturization technique progresses, there arises a situation that the capacity has to be lowered. Besides, higher electric charge amount of a remanent polarization is also required.
Prior arts are disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 3435966 and Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. Hei 06-021338.

Semiconductor device and method of manufacturing the same


A printed circuit board may include a memory controller, a plurality of synchronous data memory devices, each synchronous memory device including at least one data pin and at least one address/command pin, an ECC memory device including at least one ECC data pin and at least one ECC address/command pin, and at least one surface. The plurality of synchronous data memory devices may be arranged around a central location on the at least one surface and each synchronous data memory device may be oriented such that the at least one data pin is further from the memory controller than the at least one address/command pin.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to memory for computer systems.
2. Description of Related Art
A number of factors influence the likelihood of failure of Random Access Memory (RAM). Power surges, decay of the chip, and even cosmic rays originating in outer space can cause the data stored in memory to become corrupted. When a memory failure occurs, the byte of data returned from memory in response to a read request is different than the byte of data originally written into memory. In a typical memory chip, these errors go undetected, leading to application or system crashes. For commercial applications in which data integrity is critical, such as web servers, these problems with reliability can result in significant costs to a corporation.
Error Correcting Code (ECC) memory addresses these problems by introducing additional circuitry for testing the accuracy of data as it passes in and out of memory. More specifically, ECC memory stores redundant bits of data and performs additional calculations using these redundant bits to dynamically detect and correct errors.
While ECC memory is an effective means for error detection and correction, the additional circuitry and data bits used to implement ECC memory introduce a number of problems. Primarily, it becomes more difficult to implement synchronous dynamic random access memory (SDRAM) when including error correction circuitry. SDRAM, which includes Double Data Rate (DDR) SDRAM and DDR2 SDRAM, synchronizes with the computer's system bus, so all operations are typically performed within a predetermined time window. If an operation is not performed in the proper time window, a timing violation occurs and often results in a system crash, the very problem ECC memory was designed to avoid. Because ECC memory adds an additional data bit, correctly timing operations and thereby avoiding system crashes becomes more complex. Thus, there is a need for a simple, cost-effective solution for meeting timing requirements when implementing SDRAM with ECC.
The foregoing objects and advantages of the invention are illustrative of those that can be achieved by the various exemplary embodiments and are not intended to be exhaustive or limiting of the possible advantages which can be realized. Thus, these and other objects and advantages of the various exemplary embodiments will be apparent from the description herein or can be learned from practicing the various exemplary embodiments, both as embodied herein or as modified in view of any variation which may be apparent to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, the present invention resides in the novel methods, arrangements, combinations and improvements herein shown and described in various exemplary embodiments.

Placement and routing of ECC memory devices for improved signal timing


An organic carboxylic acid salt of 2-[(3S,4R)-1-{[2-chloro-6-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]methyl}-3-{[1-(cyclohex-1-en-1-ylmethyl) piperidin-4-yl]carbamoyl}-4-methylpyrrolidin-3-yl]acetic acid and a crystal thereof.

Chemokines are major cell migration factors and regulate infiltration of lymphocytes into tissues through the enhancement of cell movement and the activation of adhesion molecules. Chemokines are classified into four subfamilies of CC, CXC, C and CX3C based on their sequences of the first two cysteine residues.
Fractalkine is the sole CX3C chemokine member and has distinct characteristics in its structure and functions which are not found in other chemokines. Fractalkine binds to a receptor, CX3CR1, which can mediate strong adhesion without mediation of selectin or integrin even in the presence of a physiological blood flow. This means that the fractalkine-CX3CR1 system mediates multi-stage infiltration mechanism through selectin or integrin by only a one-stage reaction.
Expression of fractalkine on vascular endothelial cells is induced by inflammatory cytokines TNF and IL-1. On the other hand, CX3CR1 is expressed on monocytes, almost all NK cells and some T cells, but is not expressed on neutrophils. Therefore, the fractalkine-CX3CR1 system is considered to be an extremely effective mechanism to mobilize immune cells onto the endothelial cells of damaged tissues or into the tissues.
With regard to the relation between the fractalkine-CX3CR1 system and pathologies, it is suggested that the fractalkine-CX3CR1 system is involved in the development and pathologies of autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease, lupus nephritis and multiple sclerosis (Non Patent Literature 1). In particular, with regard to inflammatory bowel disease, it is reported that expression of fractalkine is enhanced at inflammatory sites of colonic tissues of patients and that CX3CR1 plays an important role in the infiltration of immune cells into the colon tissue (Non Patent Literature 2).
Antibodies described in Patent Literature 1 and low molecular weight compounds described in Patent Literatures 2 to 6 have been previously known as fractalkine inhibitors.
In addition, compounds described in Patent Literature 7 are described to be useful as chemokine CCR2 receptor antagonists, but differ in the target chemokine family from such inhibitors.

Salt of pyrrolidin-3-yl acetic acid derivative and crystals thereof


Disclosed is a structure for a front part of a vehicle body including a front sidemember that extends in a longitudinal direction of a vehicle; a bumper reinforcement, at least a part of which is positioned at the same height as the front sidemember in a vertical direction of the vehicle, and extends in a lateral direction of the vehicle so as to face the front sidemember; and a support portion. The end portion of the bumper reinforcement has an extension portion that extends in the lateral direction of the vehicle up to a position which overlaps a wheel when seen from the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. At least a front surface of the bumper reinforcement in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle and the extension portion have strength higher than that of other portions of the bumper reinforcement.

In the related art, a structure for a front part of a vehicle body of a vehicle includes a bumper reinforcement at a front end of a front sidemember. In the structure for the front part of the vehicle body, the bumper reinforcement is turnably connected to a front end portion of a sidemember via a turning motion connection point. The bumper reinforcement is provided with a receiving portion that has an inclined surface. When only an end portion of the front part of the vehicle body in a lateral direction of the vehicle collides with a colliding object, the receiving portion serves to interfere with the colliding object, and slide toward a side portion of the vehicle.

Structure for front part of vehicle body


It is arranged so that the user of a camera will not experience a sense of incongruity when the camera is switched between an optical viewfinder and an electronic viewfinder. When the electronic viewfinder function is set, the image of a subject captured by a solid-state electronic image sensing device is displayed on the display screen of a liquid crystal device and a viewfinder shutter closes. When the optical viewfinder function is set, the viewfinder shutter opens and the image of the subject is not displayed on the liquid crystal device. At the time of a changeover between the electronic viewfinder function and the electronic viewfinder function, the image of the subject being displayed on the liquid crystal device gradually vanishes, or the image of the subject is gradually displayed on the liquid crystal device, while the opening and closing of the viewfinder shutter is tracked. Sudden darkening and sudden brightening at the time of the viewfinder changeover is prevented.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a camera and to a method of controlling the operation thereof.
2. Description of the Related Art
An optical/electronic viewfinder that can be switched between an optical viewfinder and an electronic viewfinder is available in the art. In a case where an optical/electronic viewfinder functions as an optical viewfinder, the user can see the optical image of a subject through an objective window, which is formed on the front of the camera, when the user looks at the subject through an eyepiece window. In a case where the optical/electronic viewfinder functions as an electronic viewfinder, the image of a subject obtained by imaging is displayed on a liquid crystal panel and this image is introduced to the eyepiece window by a deflecting device such as a half-mirror and prism or the like. The user looking at the eyepiece window sees the image of the subject being displayed on the liquid crystal panel (Patent Document 1).
The optical/electronic viewfinder is provided with a finder shutter between the deflecting device and the objective window. If a changeover is made from the optical viewfinder to the electronic viewfinder, the finder shutter closes. As a result, the eye of the user looking at the eyepiece window cannot see the subject through the objective window and see the image of the subject displayed on the liquid crystal panel. Conversely, if a changeover is made from the electronic viewfinder to the optical viewfinder, the finder shutter opens and the image of the subject being displayed on the liquid crystal panel vanishes.
In addition to a digital single-lens reflex camera having the above-described optical/electronic viewfinder, there is also one having an electronic viewfinder that shares part of the optical system of an optical viewfinder and makes it possible to observe an electronic image captured by imaging means (Patent Document 2). There is also a single-lens reflex camera that can be switched between observation of a subject from an optical finder and observation of a subject achieved by displaying the image of the subject on a back panel (Patent Document 3). There are other examples as well.
Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2012-63722
Patent Document 2: Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2008-60811
Patent Document 3: Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2008-170872
In a case where a changeover is made from the optical viewfinder to the electronic viewfinder in an optical/electronic viewfinder, the interior of the finder suddenly goes dark when the finder shutter suddenly closes. Further, in a case where a changeover is made from the electronic viewfinder to the optical viewfinder, the interior of the finder brightens suddenly when the finder shutter opens. Further, when the image in the electronic viewfinder and the image in the optical viewfinder are superimposed and displayed, a dual image appears and the result will be too bright for the user. When the dual image changes to the image in the electronic viewfinder or to the image in the optical viewfinder, the too-bright image becomes an image that is relatively dark, causing the user to experience flickering. In any case, the user looking at the eyepiece window will experience a sense of incongruity.

Camera and method of controlling operation of same


Technologies are disclosed for providing a device registry service for devices that communicate over a network. The devices are configured as Internet of Things (IoT) devices. The devices are registered and classified as various types. Based upon the classification, interfaces are provided for the registered devices by the registry service if the devices do not already include them to allow for interaction and control of the devices. New interfaces can be provided to the service by various parties including manufacturers and system integrators to expose additional capabilities of the devices and create additional functionalities. The new interfaces are generally made available to all users of the registry service.

Devices that can communicate and interact with each other are becoming more commonplace. For example, many devices can communicate and interact with each other over a network. An example of such devices includes devices configured to communicate over the Internet. Such an arrangement is generally referred to as the "Internet of Things" ("IoT"). Thus, devices configured as IoT devices can communicate and interact with one another over the Internet. More particularly, generally, Internet of Things refers to a network of physical objects-devices, vehicles, buildings and other items embedded with electronics, software, sensors, and network connectivity—that enables these objects to collect and exchange data. IoT allows objects to be sensed and controlled remotely across existing network infrastructure, creating opportunities for more direct integration of the physical world into computer-based systems, and resulting in improved efficiency, accuracy and economic benefit. When IoT is augmented with sensors and actuators, the technology becomes an instance of the more general class of cyber-physical systems, which also encompasses technologies such as smart grids, smart homes, intelligent transportation and smart cities. Each Thing is uniquely identifiable through its embedded computing system, but is able to interoperate within the existing Internet infrastructure
For example, a building generally has numerous rooms with various arrangements for lighting the rooms. An owner of the building might wish to control lighting within the rooms remotely when the owner is not present. Thus, the owner might have a device that can communicate with the various lighting arrangements within the building over the Internet in order to control the lighting arrangements. Examples of such a device include, for example, mobile devices, computing devices, watches, etc.
As IoT devices become more prevalent, it is becoming more difficult for organizations and individuals to manage and organize their IoT devices. Additionally, there is currently no centralized way in which organizations and individuals can share the functions and capabilities of their IoT devices with each other, or obtain and share interfaces that allow for exposure and access to various functions and capabilities of their IoT devices.
The disclosure made herein is presented with respect to these and other considerations.


A child safety seat or a baby carrier for mounting on a motor vehicle seat, particularly a motor vehicle side seat, has a seat tray and a side impact bar mounted thereon which can be moved from a rest position located in particular within a standard width to a functional position located in particular outside thereof, and vice versa, wherein the side impact bar is positioned in particular on both sides of the seat tray so as to transmit any lateral forces behind the back of a child sitting in the child safety seat and to direct said lateral forces into the seat tray. A side impact bar is used with and mounted on the child safety seat or baby carrier.

Disclosed herein is a child safety seat, or an infant car seat, to be mounted on a motor vehicle seat, as well as a side-collision protection that may be mounted to such a seat or such an infant car seat.
In the scope of this disclosure, the term "child safety seat" is to be understood as a generic term for child safety seats and infant car seats. Therefore, the features provided for a child safety seat within the scope of this disclosure generally also apply to an infant car seat and vice versa, except where otherwise noted. The same applies to the term "child", which is also to be understood as a generic term for children, as well as infants.
Child safety seats and infant car seats, which may be mounted on a motor vehicle seat, have been known for quite some time. Such child safety seats or infant car seats serve as seats for infants, toddlers and children and offer them increased protection, especially in the event of an accident. The attachment of such child safety seats generally occurs by the use of the car's seatbelt system or via Isofix latches. In the event of an accident, this type of attachment secures the child safety seat to the motor vehicle seat, so that it will remain on the motor vehicle seat and isn't catapulted forward, especially in the event of a rear-end collision. However, these seats revealed problems in side collisions, as neither the belt's attachment, nor the Isofix latches sufficiently secured the child safety seat or the infant car seat from a sideway motion of the seat. However, this is important to the safety of the child in the child safety seat. Thus, in the past, existing child safety seats were provided with a side-collision protection, such as described in German patent document DE 20 2009 010 536 U1 or in U.S. patent publication U.S. 2009/0152913 A1. The apparatus disclosed therein is an energy absorbing element in the form of a strap or an air cushion and stretches across the child safety seats' side. However, in the past, it has become clear that apparatuses, such as described in DE 20 2009 010 536 U1 or U.S. 2009/0152913 A1, are not capable of providing a maximum of safety for the child in the child safety seat, due to the fact, that according to the disclosure, an exchange of power directly impacts the child in the child safety seat, and the child safety seats cannot sufficiently absorb an impact and/or dissipate it.

Child safety seat or baby carrier for mounting on a motor vehicle seat and side impact bar for such a seat


An advanced gray rod control assembly (GRCA) is for a nuclear reactor. The reactor has a plurality of fuel assemblies each including numerous elongated fuel rods supported in an organized array by substantially transverse support grids, and a plurality of guide thimbles disposed through the support grids and along the fuel rods. The GRCA includes a spider assembly structured to provide controlled insertion of gray rod assemblies within the thimbles of the fuel assembly, thereby controlling the rate of power produced by the reactor. Each gray rod assembly includes an elongated tubular member, a first end plug, a second end plug, a substantially pure silver neutron-absorber disposed within the tubular member, and a support tube surrounding the neutron-absorber within the tubular member to resist silver-swelling. Delta-power of the reactor is improved by minimizing the exposed surface area of the absorber and distributing it among all of the rods of the GRCA.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to nuclear reactors and, more particularly, to an advanced design of gray rod control assemblies (GRCAs).
2. Background Information
The power produced by the reactor of a nuclear power plant is generally controlled by raising or lowering control rod assemblies within the reactor core, and the change in reactor power output required in order to accommodate a change in the demand for electrical output from the electrical power plant is commonly referred to as load follow. As described, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,079,236, load follow presents many operating issues. For instance, in a pressurized water reactor (PWR) during load follow, reactivity must be controlled and axial power distribution changes in the core in response to the power level change, must be addressed.
The fuel assemblies of modern reactor cores typically employ two types of rod control assemblies to control reactivity, rod cluster control assemblies (RCCAs) and gray rod control assemblies (GRCAs). Both consist of a plurality of neutron-absorbing rods fastened at their top ends to a common hub or spider assembly. The body of the rods generally comprises a stainless steel tube which encapsulates a neutron-absorbing material, such as a silver-indium-cadmium absorber material, and the rods are slid within tubular guide thimble tubes of the fuel assembly with a control drive mechanism near the top of the spider assembly operating to control the movement of the rods within the thimble tubes. In this manner, the controlled insertion and extraction of the rods generally controls the rate of reactor power produced.
Typically, GRCAs are used in load follow maneuvering because they comprise reduced worth control rods, commonly referred to in the art as "gray" rods. Gray rods are known to provide a mechanical shim (MSHIM) reactivity mechanism as opposed to a chemical shim, which requires changing the concentration of soluble boron in the reactor coolant. Thus, the use of gray rods minimizes the need for processing the primary reactor coolant on a daily basis and, therefore, greatly simplifies operations. More specifically, existing GRCA designs typically consist of 24 rodlets fastened at their top ends to the spider. Of the 24 rodlets within the cluster, only four rods are absorber rods, and the neutron-absorber material encapsulated within the absorber rods typically consists of about 85% silver, about 10% indium, and about 5% cadmium. Such a design poses several disadvantages.
Among the disadvantages of known GRCA designs, is the fact that indium and cadmium have relatively large neutron cross-sections, which result in their depletion over a relatively short period of time. As a result, the rod worth of such GRCA design is reduced to about 80% of its initial value within about five years, or three 18-month fuel cycles, and continued decrease in the rod worth results in the GRCAs becoming ineffective in controlling the reactor during load follow. This undesirably leads to frequent GRCA replacement. A second disadvantage relates to changes in the local rod power for fuel rods which are adjacent to the four guide thimbles that contain the absorber rods. Specifically, because the absorber material is localized to four rodlets, a rapid change in power, commonly referred to as the delta-power of the fuel rods, occurs, for example, during a rod pull. A rod pull is the process of extracting the GRCA from the fuel assembly, and in known GRCA designs it results in a delta-power spike. Specifically, with the relatively large amount of absorber material confined to only four rods, a significant amount of heat is generated within those rods during such conditions (e.g., rod pull) of high local power density. This can cause bulk boiling, silver-swelling, and related disadvantages. Silver-swelling, which has been a longstanding problem in the industry for many years, frequently occurs because, although silver depletes slower than cadmium and indium, it also has the highest fluence, or absorption, of the three absorber materials, thus making it most susceptible to excessive heating and swelling. Too much swelling of the absorber can result in the absorber contacting and potentially cracking the cladding surrounding it.
There is, therefore, room for improvement in GRCAs for nuclear reactors.


A method of playing a poker game comprises receiving a primary wager to initiate game play and displaying a first card hand formed from a first group of cards. The method further comprises evaluating whether the first card hand is a winning hand payable according to a paytable. The method further comprises displaying a second card hand formed from a second group of cards, and if the second card hand satisfies a bonus award criteria, awarding a bonus award. In an embodiment, the first card hand comprises five cards and the second card hand comprises two cards.

Gaming machines, such as slot machines, video poker machines and the like, have been a cornerstone of the gaming industry for several years. Generally, the popularity of such machines with players is dependent on the likelihood (or perceived likelihood) of winning money at the machine and the intrinsic entertainment value of the machine relative to other available gaming options. Where the available gaming options include a number of competing machines and the expectation of winning at each machine is roughly the same (or believed to be the same), players are likely to be attracted to the most entertaining and exciting machines. Shrewd operators consequently strive to employ the most entertaining and exciting machines, features, and enhancements available because such machines attract frequent play and hence increase profitability to the operator. Therefore, gaming machine manufacturers continuously develop new games and improved gaming enhancements that will attract frequent play through enhanced entertainment value to the player.
One concept that has been successfully employed to enhance the entertainment value of a game is the concept of a "secondary" or "bonus" game that may be played in conjunction with a "basic" game. The bonus game may comprise any type of game, either similar to or completely different from the basic game, which is entered upon the occurrence of a selected event or outcome in the basic game. Generally, bonus games provide a greater expectation of winning than the basic game and may also be accompanied with more attractive or unusual video displays and/or audio. Bonus games may additionally award players with "progressive jackpot" awards that are funded, at least in part, by a percentage of coin-in from the gaming machine or a plurality of participating gaming machines. Because the bonus game concept offers tremendous advantages in player appeal and excitement relative to other known games, and because such games are attractive to both players and operators, there is a continuing need to develop gaming machines with new types of bonus games to satisfy the demands of players and operators.
Traditional video poker games have utilized a variety of mechanisms to present various combinations of symbols, and to award prizes, money, or other awards associated with certain predefined winning combinations. Video poker gaming machines offer an alternative wherein winning combinations correspond with traditional winning poker hands. However, traditional video poker machines typically involve only basic play of various poker games and fail to offer a player exciting bonus awards and features often found in video slot machines and other gaming machines. Thus, a need exists for a video poker gaming machine including more exciting and entertaining features. The present invention is directed to satisfying one ore more of these needs and solving other problems.


An infectious waste feed system for comminuting infectious waste and feeding the comminuted waste to a combustor automatically without the need for human intervention. The system includes a receptacle for accepting waste materials. Preferably, the receptacle includes a first and second compartment and a means for sealing the first and second compartments from the atmosphere. A shredder is disposed to comminute waste materials accepted in the receptacle to a predetermined size. A trough is disposed to receive the comminuted waste materials from the shredder. A feeding means is disposed within the trough and is movable in a first and second direction for feeding the comminuted waste materials to a combustor.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a waste feed system and, more particularly, to an infectious waste feed system for feeding infectious waste materials, such as hospital waste, to a combustor.
2. Description of the Related Art
Infectious waste can be defined as that waste which, unless processed, disposed, stored, collected or transported with caution, is or may be contaminated by disease-producing microorganisms or may harm or threaten human health. The term infectious waste includes, among others, the following types of waste: waste generated by hospitalized patients who are isolated, or on blood and body fluid precautions in order to protect others from their communicable disease; cultures and stocks of etiologic agents; animal waste blood and animal blood products which are known or suspected to contain contagious zoonotic pathogens, and human waste blood and blood products; tissues, organs, body parts, blood, and body fluids that are removed during surgery and autopsies; wastes that were in contact with pathogens in any type of laboratory work; carcasses and body parts of animals exposed to contagious zoonotic pathogens; waste biologicals, for example vaccines, produced by pharmaceutical companies for human or veterinary use; and food or other products or equipment that is discarded because of contamination with etiologic agents.
Many of the above types of infectious wastes are generated at hospital sites. Hospitals are currently experiencing much difficulty in properly disposing of this waste. This is, in part, because the waste generated at the hospital sites includes a variety of constituents having different moisture contents and densities.
By its nature, hospital waste is a material that is difficult to handle and feed by mechanical means because of its extremely heterogeneous and possibly wet and sticky nature. The problems of handling and feeding such waste are exacerbated by the potential of the waste to be infectious and/or toxic. While incineration in a fluidized bed combustor is technically feasible and has a number of advantages, the waste must first be reduced in size to avoid problems in the fluidized bed such as de-fluidization, bed material agglomeration, disruption to combustion air and fuel distribution, and poor combustion.
A critical area in the incineration process for infectious hospital waste in a fluidized bed combustor is the ability to safely and reliably feed the waste into the combustor. The feed system must be able to properly handle the waste without creating atmospheric contamination and without posing undue health risks to operators. Relevant Pennsylvania codes require that compactors, grinders, or similar comminuting devices may not be used to reduce the volume of infectious waste before the waste has been rendered non-infectious. Therefore, the waste must reach any incinerator in a sealed container. However, for effective destruction in the fluidized bed, size reduction to two inches, or possibly smaller, is desired. In order to comply with the regulations and yet provide sized waste materials that are acceptable for incineration in a fluidized bed, it is necessary to have a waste feed system, including a size reduction system, which is an integral component of the combustor both in terms of mechanical attachment and control systems. Thus, after the waste has entered the feed/size reduction system, the process should be fully automatic and further human intervention or contact should not be required.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a waste feed system that is an integral component of a combustor, both in terms of mechanical attachment and control systems.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a waste feed system that is fully automatic and interconnected with the combustor so that human intervention or contact is not necessary after the waste has entered the waste feed system.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a waste feed system that controls the rate at which waste is introduced into the combustor and that prevents the emission of toxic substances.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a cost-effective and reliable apparatus which does not cause atmospheric contamination or pose undue health risks to operators.
Additional object and advantages of the invention will be set forth in the description which follows, and in part will be obvious from the description or may be learned by practice of the invention. The objects and advantages of the invention may be realized and attained by means of the instrumentalities and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims.


A first amplifier circuit having a high frequency characteristic and a second amplifier circuit having a low frequency characteristic have first and second input terminals, respectively. The first and second amplifier circuits have first and second feedback resistors for self-bias and first and second switching elements capable of interrupting outputs of the amplifier circuits, respectively. Between the first and second input terminals, a third switching element is connected. A device for controlling on and off of the switching elements is provided in order that according to a signal input to the first and second input terminals, the signal is transmitted to either the first amplifier circuit or the second amplifier circuit. As a result, irrespective of whether the front end has one output terminal or two output terminals, the input circuit can be connected to the PLL synthesizer IC as it is by connecting the output to the first input terminal or to the two input terminals.

The present invention relates to an input circuit of a counter circuit used in a frequency synthesizer IC (integrated circuit). More specifically, the present invention relates to an input circuit of a counter circuit and to an integrated circuit for a frequency synthesizer using the same. The input circuit is capable of being connected as it is in both 1) where signals of two frequency bands which are away from each other such as the AM (amplitude-modulated) band and the FM (frequency-modulated) band are output from one output terminal and b) where the signals are separately output from two output terminals.

Input circuit of counter circuit, and integrated circuit for frequency synthesizer using the same


A tank trailer for transporting corrosive fluids is disclosed that includes a chassis and one or more cradle supports supporting a corrosion-resistant tank. The chassis is formed from a first material that is a high-strength material. The corrosion-resistant tank has a substantially cylindrical body and a plurality of ring supports, with each such ring support surrounding and reinforcing at least a portion of the cylindrical body. The ring supports may be formed from a material that is the same as, or similar to, the first material used to form the chassis. The first material and second material are joined at interfaces between (1) the cylindrical body and the cradle supports and (2) the cylindrical body and the ring supports. The interfaces comprise a third material that is compatible with the first material and the second material.

Vehicular trailers are used to haul many types of cargo, including fluids. Such trailers may be attached to tractor trailers and used as shipping containers in larger freight operations, such as rail and ship-based transportation systems. Where the cargo being transported, a trailer may include a sealed tank that is attached to a frame. The tanks may be used to haul any variety of fluids, from dairy to petrochemicals. A portion of such fluids may be corrosive liquids. Examples of such corrosive liquids may include gasoline, solvents, and catalyst materials for use in industrial activities.
To accommodate corrosive liquids, tank trailers may have corrosion resistant properties, such as corrosion-resistant material compositions or coatings. Tank trailers that do not have such corrosion-resistant properties may experience significant degradation over time, compromising safety and longevity of the trailer. Typical tank trailers that are constructed to transport corrosive liquids include a tank trailer and frame crafted from a single, homogeneous material that is resistant to the otherwise corrosive properties of the liquids to be transported. Corrosive-resistant materials, however, may be relatively heavy and expensive in comparison to materials that are selected based on mechanical properties alone. Thus, conventional corrosion-resistant tank trailers are typically heavy and more expensive to build than tank trailers that are built to transport inert, non-corrosive materials.
The illustrated figures are only exemplary and are not intended to assert or imply any limitation with regard to the environment, architecture, design, or process in which different embodiments may be implemented.


A valve designed to bleed air in to the suction line of a pool when the suction pressure exceeds a predetermined value. The valve is housed in a four port fixture in which the ports are designated as the first, second, third and forth ports. Each port has a central axis with all the central axes lying in a single plane. The central axes of the first and third port lie on a first straight line and the axes of the second and forth port lie on a second straight line. The first and second line cross one another orthogonally which places the first and third ports opposite one another and the second and forth port opposite one another. The second and forth ports each contain an individual moveable element which has a first and a second position. In the first position the moveable element blocks the port. In the second position the port is opened and will admit air into the valve. A resilient element connected between the moveable elements produces a force which urges the moveable elements into their first position where they block their respective ports, but the force produced by the resilient element can be overcome by a predetermined suction force within the valve. Water flows through the valve from the first to third port. A suction level which produces a force on the moveable elements that exceeds the predetermined force will open the second and forth ports and admit air into the valve.

1. Field
The present invention relates to pressure safety valves and more specifically to automatic pressure valves used with swimming pools and spas to relieve suction pressure in drains as necessary to avoid injury.
2. Prior Art
Pools typically have a single drain at their bottom to remove water from the pool which is then circulated through a pump and filter before it is returned to the pool. There have been a number of very serious injuries caused by the use of single drains in swimming pools. The suction in the drain has held children under the water resulting in drowning. In other instances, children sitting on the drain have been disemboweled by the suction force of the pump coming through the drain. Prior art attempts to prevent this include placing two drains at the bottom of a pool so that if one is closed off, the water is drawn through the second drain, thereby preventing the build up of excessive suction at the closed off drain. This arrangement permits a person held to a drain to pull themselves away from it more easily and with little or no damage. However, the problem remains with many single drain pools that have their drains set in concrete. A second drain could be installed in such pools, but usually at great expense because it often requires the breaking up of the bottom of the pool to install the second drain. As a result, virtually none of the existing single drain pools have been retrofitted in this manner and there remains a need to provide an affordable system for preventing such injuries.