A method of processing lignocellulosic material comprises the steps of (a) generating a pulsed laser beam consisting of a train of laser pulses, each laser pulse having a duration less than 1.times.10.sup.-9 sec. and a peak intensity of at least 1.times.10.sup.11 w/cm.sup.2 ; and (b) directing the laser beam generated in step (a) onto a surface of the lignocellulosic material to cause ionization and fragmentation of macro-molecules thereof. The method of the invention enables one to cut, carve and/or sand the surface of lignocellulosic material without, burning same or damaging the cells of the lignocellulosic material.

Wood has served man for untold centuries. This unique material has been used to provide such basic necessities as shelter, warmth, weapons and tools. One of the important characteristics of wood is the ease with which it can be worked with tools. In the early 19th century, circular saw, band saw and surface planing machines were invented for wood processing. Since then, wood processing has been subjected to improvements depending on the market demand which is mostly affected by the quality and production costs.
Wood processing principally involves the separation of chips from a workpiece up to a desired dimension and surface quality. The process produces characteristic wood failures. During wood processing, the superficial layer is subjected to various types of stress, such as cutting force and friction. If these stresses exceed the elastic deformation range, permanent deformation will take place. It is considered that this permanent deformation plays an important role on the final surface quality and/or subsequent operation. In the past, many researches have chosen the shear strength at the glue line of a laminated board as a surface quality criterion. Through these studies, the board was planed under various machine conditions. It was then laminated and subjected to shear test. Despite an apparently smooth surface after conventional surface planing, previous studies show that in most cases the gluing performance was altered. This alteration has been attributed to the superficial damages due to the stresses which has been developed through machining processing. River and Miniutti in Wood and Wood Products, Vol. 80, No. 2, 1975, pp. 35-36 and 38, evaluated the lamination performance in yellow polar, and red oak specimens planed with saw, knife planer and jointer. The overall gluing performance decreased progressively from planed surface with jointer to planer and then to sawn surface.
Jokerst and Stewart, in Wood and Fiber, Vol. 8, No. 2, 1976, pp. 107-113, reported lower shear strength at the glue line of laminated boards on the surface planed with an abrasive planer as compared to a knife planer. The reduction of the shear strength at the glue line has been attributed to the normal force component which developed through cutting action. The magnitude of this normal force is related to the knife geometry, as well as the combination of the material, and machine conditions. If this vertical force exceeded the stress at the proportional limit of the wooden workpiece, the superficial cells will be subjected to a permanent crushing and breakage. As a result, any glue application for laminating or finishing products when applied on these damaged cells will result in lower strength and quality. The severity of damage depends on the specific cutting conditions. The development of this perpendicular component mostly has been attributed to large rake angle in abrasive planing, negative clearance angle in knife planer, as well as the development of the wear at cutting edge.
A fixed-knife pressure-bar system has been proposed as an alternative planing method to reduce or eliminate subsurface damage induced in wood. The fixed-knife pressure-bar surface planing improved the shear strength at the lamination line compared to a knife-planer method after a cycle of sorption. Hernandez, in Forest Product Journal, Vol. 44, No. 7/8, 1994 pp. 63-66, confirms the superior gluing performance of the maple board planed with fixed-knife pressure-bar compared to knife planing method. The difference mostly related to a negative clearance angle through the knife-planer action compared to positive clearance angle and lower normal force components through the fixed-knife pressure-bar planing method. However, this should take into account the dealing with a knife during surface preparation, which means continuous changing of the sharpness and knife geometry due to the knife wear.
In recent years, laser light was introduced to the wood industry with a view to improving the above mentioned mechanical difficulty. A laser beam acts as a fresh knife with the ability to apply the desired cutting condition with minimum kerf width. The application of laser light to wood processing was promising since each laser beam acts as an individual sharp, disposal cutting edge with high precision and performance. However, laser planed surfaces always left behind a layer of char because of the specific strong heating action of laser light. Such heating action blows away surface material while also heating the surface. The heated surface in turn oxidizes since it reacts mostly with oxygen molecules in the air, leaving behind a burnt mark. McMillin and Huber, in Forest Products Journal, Vol. 35, No. 1, 1985, pp. 23-25, evaluated the glue bond strength of a laser planed surface. The results show that the strength of laser cut oak glued with polyvinyl acetate adhesive was reduced to 75% of sawn lamination. It was concluded that a light sanding or planing was necessary to remove the burned superficial layer. The blackened-up burned superficial layer contained a powdery char. This of course was not appreciated in the wood industry.

Use of ultrafast intense laser for processing lignocellulosic material


An image pickup apparatus detects a face region out of an image signal representative of a field picked up by an image pickup device, and compares the lightness of the face region or a person region with the lightness of a background region also included in the image signal to thereby determine whether or not a subject is backlit. The apparatus causes, if the subject is backlit, the image pickup apparatus to execute actual pickup with backlight correction.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image pickup apparatus including image pickup means for converting an optical signal generated via optics to an electric image signal, and more particularly to a still camera, video camera, cellular phone or similar image pickup apparatus. The invention also relates to a method of picking up an image.
2. Description of the Background Art
Japanese patent laid-open publication No. 2003-92700 and U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,488,429, 5,638,136 and 5,561,474 to Kojima et al, for example, disclose digital cameras of the type automatically releasing the shutter at adequate timing on detecting a face image and moreover automatically determining a frame size and executing backlight processing in accordance with the face image.
A digital camera may be adapted for recognizing a face image and measuring the lightness thereof to detect a back-light condition and automatically turn on a strobe when having determined the backlight condition. However, a problem with a digital camera having such a capability is that the camera is likely to erroneously detect a backlight condition which is contrary to fact.
Laid-open publication No. 2003-92700 and three Kojima et al mentioned above both do not take comparison between the lightness of a background and that of a subject into consideration because the former senses a face but does not sense background, while the latters simply use a flesh-color area for a decision, resulting in inaccurate correction of backlight. Further, neither one of the above four documents gives consideration to correction also necessary in the event of pickup of a subject against a night scene, i.e. pickup of a night scene.

Image pickup apparatus with backlight correction and a method therefor


A transmission apparatus includes an interlock member having a restraining portion movable together with a shift and select member in a right-angled direction and, while fork heads are at neutral positions in the right-angled direction, extending in the right-angled direction along a notch of the tip end of each fork head. The restraining portion has a gap into which the tip end of each fork head extends. A dimensional relationship among an outer span of the tip end of each fork head, an inner span of the notch, an outer span of the restraining portion, an inner span of the restraining portion, a width of the tip end of the shift and select member, and a shift stroke of each fork head is set to be: H2−P1≧0; P2−H1+2S≧0; and H2−2S−I≧0.

As an automated manual transmission apparatus for a vehicle, such as an automobile, although it has been conventionally believed that a fluid-type torque converter can be generally applied, consideration should be given preferably to that a transmission efficiency for transmitting a driving force of a driving power source, such as an engine, may on occasions be deteriorated due to a slip in transmitting the driving force, the slip which tends to occur in the fluid-type torque converter. In the light of the foregoing, suggestions have given to an automatic operation of a transmission apparatus that is provided with a gear-type manual transmission. As one of examples thereof WO2003-532040A discloses a double clutch-type gearing and power transmission apparatus. FIGS. 8 to 11 illustrates an outline of this apparatus.
In the first place, a gearing and power transmission mechanism of this double clutch-type gearing and power transmission apparatus is explained with reference to FIGS. 8 and 9. In this gearing and power transmission mechanism, an output from a driving shaft 31, such as an output shaft of an engine, is transmitted to a first input shaft 33 through a first clutch 32a of a twin-clutch assembly (a double-clutch assembly) 32, and is further transmitted through a second clutch 32b of the twin-clutch assembly 32 to a second input shaft 34 which is of cylindrical-shaped and is coaxially arranged at an outer periphery of the first clutch 32a. As is summarized in FIG. 9, the first clutch 32a and the second clutch 32b are controlled in such a manner that a transmission torque A is increased while the other transmission torque B is decreasing, and vice versa, for example in general, in such a manner that the transmission torque A is controlled at a predetermined torque value TO when the other transmission torque B is controlled to be zero, and vice versa. This gearing and power transmission mechanism is further provided with a first intermediate shaft 35 and a second intermediate shaft 36, which are both arranged in parallel with the first input shaft 33 and the second input shaft 34. On the first input shaft 33, the first intermediate shaft 35 and the second intermediate shaft 36, a first gear transmission mechanism 30A is mounted, which is capable of establishing four shift stages: a first shift stage; a third shift stage; a fifth shift stage; and a seventh shift stage. On the second input shaft 34, the first intermediate shaft 35 and the second intermediate shaft 36, a second gear transmission mechanism 30B is mounted, which is capable of establishing three shift stages: a second shift stage; a fourth shift stage; and a sixth shift stage. On the first input shaft 33 and the second intermediate shaft 36, a rearward shift stage gear train 47 is mounted The first and second intermediate input shafts 35 and 36 are respectively linked to an output shaft 38 when a gear 48a, which is mounted on the first intermediate shaft 35, and a gear 48b, which is mounted on the second intermediate shaft 36, are respectively engaged with a gear 48c, which is mounted on the output shaft 38.
The first gear transmission mechanism 30A incorporates, therein, a first shift stage gear train 40, a third shift stage gear train 42, a fifth shift stage gear train 46 and a seventh shift stage gear train 44. The first shift stage gear train 40 is configured with a gear 40a, which is fixedly mounted on the first input shaft 33, and a gear 40b, which is rotatably mounted on the first intermediate shaft 35. The third shift stage gear train 42 is configured with a gear 42a, which is fixedly mounted on the first input shaft 33, and a gear 42b, which is rotatably mounted on the first intermediate shaft 35. A first switching clutch 50 is mounted on the first intermediate shaft 35, the first switching clutch 50 which is switched among three positions: a first shift stage position to be engaged with the gear 40b side; a third shift stage position to be engaged with the gear 42b side; and a neutral position not to be engaged with any of the gear 40b side and the gear 42b side. The fifth shift stage gear train 46 is configured with the gear 42a, which is fixedly mounted on the first input shaft 33, and a gear 46b which is rotatably mounted on the second intermediate shaft 36. That is, the gear 42a is shared by the third shift stage gear train 42 and the fifth shift stage gear train 46. The seventh shift stage gear train 44 is configured with a gear 44a, which is fixedly mounted on the first input shaft 33, and a gear 44b, which is rotatably mounted on the second intermediate shaft 36. A third switching clutch 52 is mounted on the second intermediate shaft 36, the third switching clutch 52 which is switched among three positions: a fifth shift stage position to be engaged with the gear 46b side; a seventh shift stage position to be engaged with the gear 44b side; and a neutral position not to be engaged with any of the gear 46b side and the gear 44b side.
The second gear transmission mechanism 30B incorporates, therein, a second shift stage gear train 41, a fourth shift stage gear train 43, and a sixth shift stage gear train 45. The second shift stage gear train 41 is configured with a gear 41a, which is fixedly mounted on the second input shaft 34, a gear 41b, which is rotatably mounted on the first intermediate shaft 35. The fourth shift stage gear train 43 is configured with a gear 43a, which is fixedly mounted on the second input shaft 34, and a gear 43b, which is rotatably mounted on the first intermediate shaft 35. A second switching clutch 51 is mounted on the first intermediate shaft 35, the second switching clutch 51 which is switched among three positions: a second shift stage position to be engaged with the gear 41b side, a fourth shift stage position to be engaged with the gear 43b side, and a neutral position not to be engaged with any of the gear 41b and the gear 43b. The sixth shift stage gear train 45 is configured with a gear 45a, which is fixedly mounted on the second input shaft 34, and a gear 45b, which is rotatably mounted on the second intermediate shaft 36. The rearward shift stage gear train 47 is configured with the gear 40a, which is fixedly mounted on the first input shaft 33, gears 47a and 47b, which both are fixedly mounted on a reverse shaft 37 that is arranged in parallel to the shafts 33, 34, 35 and 36, and a gear 47c which is rotatably mounted on the second intermediate shaft 36. That is, the gear 40a is shared by the first shift stage gear train 40 and by the rearward shift stage gear train 47. A fourth switching clutch 53 is mounted on the second intermediate shaft 36, the fourth switching clutch 53 which is switched among three positions: a sixth shift stage position to be engaged with the gear 45b side; the rearward shift stage position to be engaged with the gear 47c; and a neutral position not to be engaged with any of the gear 45b and the gear 47c.
The first, second, third and fourth switching clutches 50, 51, 52 and 53 are automatically and selectively operated, by a controller (not illustrated), among the respectively three positions by use of the first and second clutches 32a and 32b, and first, second third and fourth shift forks 61A, 61B, 61C and 61D. The controller calculates, on the basis of a vehicle driving condition such as an accelerator opening degree, a vehicle speed and an engine rotational speed, a shift stage that is appropriate to the vehicle driving condition, and further controls each clutch 32a, 32b, 50, 51, 52 and 53 in such a manner of establishing the shift stage which is a result of the aforementioned calculation. Under a normal condition, the first and second clutches 32a and 32b are both controlled in such a manner that the respective transmission torque are increased and decreased contrarily to each other, as described above. On the other hand, when an engine is being inactivated, and a vehicle is not moving, the first and second clutches 32a and 32b are both released from being controlled.
Next, explained below is operation of the first gear transmission mechanism 30A and the second gear transmission mechanism 30B.
When the twin-clutch assembly 32 is not operated, both the first and second clutches 32a and 32b are released from being operated or engaged, and the clutches 50, 51, 52 and 53 are controlled to the neutral positions. When an engine, which is being connected to the drive shaft 31, is activated at a vehicle stationary condition, the controller shifts, by use of the first shift fork 61A, the first switching clutch 50 to the first shift stage position. The first clutch 32a is then engaged at an event that an engine rotational speed reaches a predetermined rotational speed in response to increase of an opening degree of a throttle valve. Accordingly, the driving torque of the drive shaft 31 is transmitted from the first clutch 32a to the output shaft 38 via the first input shaft 33, the first shift stage gear train 40, the first switching clutch 50, the first intermediate shift 35, the gear 48a, and the gear 48c, whereby a vehicle starts driving with the first shift stage established in the transmission. At this state, in the eventuality of shifting up to the second shift stage, the controller shifts, the second switching clutch 51 of the second gear transmission mechanism 30B to the second shift stage position, by use of the second shift fork 61B. In a matter of time, when a vehicle driving condition, such as an accelerator opening degree, a vehicle speed, and an engine rotational speed, becomes appropriate for driving at a second shift stage, the controller terminates engagement of the first clutch 32a and establishes engagement of the second clutch 32b. Accordingly, the driving torque of the drive shaft 31 is transmitted from the second clutch 32b to the output shaft 38 via the second input shaft 34, the second shift stage gear train 41 of the second gear transmission mechanism 30B, the second switching clutch 51, the first intermediate shaft 35, the gear 48a and the gear 48c, whereby a vehicle driving is switched from the first shift stage to the second shift stage. When an actual vehicle driving condition is appropriate for further continuously shifting up, the controller, by use of the first shift fork 61A, shifts the first switching clutch 50 from the first shift stage position to the third shift stage position. In a matter of time, when an actual vehicle driving condition becomes appropriate for driving at the third shift stage, the controller terminates engagement of the second clutch 32b and establishes engagement of the first clutch 32a, whereby shifting to a vehicle driving at the third shift stage.
As described above, when an actual vehicle driving condition becomes appropriate for further continuously shifting-up, the controller controls one of the switching clutches 50, 51, 52 and 53 in such a manner that a gear train of a shift stage, which is one shift stage lower than a shift stage being currently established in the transmission, is released from being engaged, and a gear train of a shift, stage, which is one shift stage higher than the shift stage being currently established in the transmission, is to be engaged. In a matter of time, when an actual vehicle driving condition becomes appropriate to a vehicle driving at the shift stage that is one shift stage higher, an engagement condition of the twin-clutch assembly 32 is switched. By repeatedly performing the above-described control in the transmission, a shift-up operation can be achieved. When an actual vehicle driving condition is appropriate for shifting down, the controller controls one of the switching clutches 50, 51, 52 and 53 in such a manner that the a gear train of a shift stage, which is one shift stage higher than a shift stage being currently established in the transmission, is released from being engaged, and a gear train of a shift stage, which is one shift stage lower than the shift stage being currently established in the transmission, is to be engaged. In a matter of time, when an actual vehicle driving condition becomes appropriate to a vehicle driving at the shift stage that is one shift stage lower, an engagement condition of the twin-clutch assembly 32 is switched. By repeatedly performing the above-described control in the transmission, a shift-down operation can be achieved. On the other hand, when a shift stage being currently established in the transmission is appropriate to an actual vehicle driving condition, the controller does not switch operations of the switching clutches 50, 51, 52 and 53, and of the first and second clutches 32a and 32b, and maintain the shift stage being currently established in the transmission.
In response to a manual reverse operation at a time that a vehicle is being stationary, the controller returns the first switching clutch 50 to the neutral position, as needed, and shifts the fourth switching clutch 53 to a rearward position. In a matter of time, when an engine rotational speed reaches a predetermined rotational speed in response to increase in a throttle opening degree, the first clutch 32a of the twin-clutch assembly 32 is engaged. Accordingly, the driving torque of the drive shaft 31 is transmitted from the first clutch 32a to the output shaft 38 via the first input shaft 33, the rearward gear train 47, the fourth switching clutch 53, the second intermediate shaft 36, the gear 48b and the gear 48c.
Next, described below is an operation by the first and second gearing and power transmission mechanisms 30A and 30B with reference to FIG. 8. The shift forks 61A, 61B, 61C and 61D, which are respectively engaged with peripheral grooves that are defined circumferentially on outer peripheries of the switching clutches 50, 51, 52 and 53, are respectively linked to fork heads 60A, 60B, 60C and 60D (illustrated in FIGS. 10 and 11) via respective fork shafts (not illustrated) that extend in parallel with the shafts 33, 34, 35 and 36. The fork heads 60A to 60D are arranged in such a manner that tip ends of the respective fork heads 60A to 60D are lined up in a right-angled direction with the first and second input shafts 33 and 34. The tip end of each fork head 60A to 60D is integrally formed with a reverse-C shaped notch 60a. The reverse-C shaped notches 60a of the fork heads 60A to 60D are arranged so as to overlap one another in a direction, which makes right angles with the first and second input shafts 33 and 34. The fork heads 60A to 60D can be moved in a shift direction, which is in parallel with an extending direction of the input shafts 33 and 34, and can fall within a range limited by stoppers S1 and S2 that are provided at both sides of each fork head Therefore, in response to movement of one of the fork heads 60A to 60D, the corresponding one of the shift forks 61A to 61D can be operated via the corresponding fork shafts, and then the corresponding one of the switching clutches 50, 51, 52 and 53 can be switched to either a position at which the clutch is engaged with a gear at one side; a position at which the clutch is engaged with a gear at the other side; or a neutral position. The shift and select member 62 moves within the notches 60a in a select direction, which makes right angles with both the input shafts 33 and 34, and then selects one of the plural fork heads 60A to 60D. In such circumstances, at an event that the shift and select member 62 moves in the shift direction, the fork head, which has been selected, can be moved in the shift direction. Accordingly, the shift fork corresponding to this fork head is operated so as to switch the position of the corresponding switching clutch.
In the gearing and power transmission mechanism illustrated in FIG. 8, as described above, in the first place, a shift stage is established in the transmission by switching a gear engagement by use of the switching clutch 50 or 52 (or the switching clutch 51 or 53) of the gearing and power transmission mechanism 30A (or the gearing and power transmission mechanism 30B). In such a condition, in the eventuality of necessity of a shift operation, a next appropriate shift stage is selected by switching a gear engagement via the switching clutch 50 or 52 (or the switching clutch 51 or 53) of the gearing and power transmission mechanism 30A (or the gearing and power transmission mechanism 30B). As described above, wherever each fork head 60A to 60D is positioned, it is necessary that the shift and select member 62 positioned at a neutral position can be moved in the select direction. Therefore, as illustrated in FIG. 11(b), each notch 60a is designed to possess a dimension through which the shift and select member 62 can pass in the select direction wherever each fork head 60A to 60D is positioned among the one gear side; the other gear side; and the neutral position. Therefore, as illustrated in FIG. 10, a dimensional allowance D, which is superior to a shift stroke of each fork head 60A to 60D to one side, or is substantially equal thereto, is provided between one side of the shift and select member 62 at the neutral position (i.e., at an intermediate position) and one inner side of the notch 60a of each fork head 60A to 60D at the neutral position (i.e., at an intermediate position), and likewise between the other side of the shift and select member 62 and the other inner side of the notch 60a thereof.
Structures of the double clutch-type gearing and power transmission apparatus, and of the gearing and power transmission mechanism thereof, as is illustrated in FIGS. 8 to 11, are already described above.
According to the above-described conventional technology, each fork head 60A to 60D and each shift fork 61A to 61D can be held at the neutral position or at each shift position in an elastic manner by a detent device, which is configured with a ball, which is biased by a spring provided between each fork shaft (not illustrated) and a transmission casing, and plural notches elastically engaged with this ball. However, a member is not provided, which actively restrains each shift fork 61A to 61D at the neutral position, or each shift position. In this case, at a time that a strong external force is applied to each shift fork 61A to 61D, there is a danger of the shift fork of being undesirably displaced from the neutral position to one of the shift positions, or from one of the shift positions to the neutral position In this case, there is a danger of an occurrence of a gear jump out, in which a shift stage, which should actually be established in the transmission, can not be established, or of a double-gear engagement, in which a shift stage, which should not actually be established in the transmission, is undesirably established.
The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and provides a twin clutch-type gearing and power transmission apparatus which is provided with an interlocking feature, by which, for example a gear jump out and a double gear engagement can be avoided.

Gearing and power transmission apparatus


Diacylpiperazines of general structure ##STR1## are: angiotensin II (A-II) antagonists selective for the type 2 (AT.sub.2) subtype useful in the treatment of cerebrovascular, cognitive, and CNS disorders; tachykinin receptor antagonists useful in the treatment of inflammatory diseases and pain or migraine; and calcium channel blockers useful in the treatment of cardiovascular conditions such as angina, hypertension or ischemia.

It is now known that there are two subtypes of angiotensin II (A-II) receptors, the AT.sub.1 and AT.sub.2 subtypes. Recent studies have shown that in rat brain, A-II receptors are primarily of the AT.sub.2 subtype [Chang et al., Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun., 171, 813 (1990)]. Agents acting as specific antagonists at these brain A-II receptors are of value in the treatment of a variety of cerebrovascular, cognitive and CNS disorders. For example, the utility of compounds having activity at the AT.sub.2 receptor is disclosed by Bumpus, et al, Hypertension, 17, 720-721 (1991).
Receptors of the AT.sub.2 subtype are also found in female reproductive organs of mammals, including uterus (Dudley, et al, Molecular Pharmacol., 38 370-377 (1990)) and ovaries (Pucell, et al, Endocrinology, 128, 1947-1959 (1991)). The role of angiotensin II in processes leading to ovulation has been reviewed (Andrade Gordon, et al, Biochem. Pharmacol., 42, 715-719 (1991)).
In addition, AT.sub.2 receptors are found in neuronal tumor cells (Speth, et al, Peptide Res., 2, 232-239 (1989)) and in transformed human neural cells (Tallant, et al, Hypertension, 17, 1135-1143 (1991)).
Some AT.sub.2 selective A-II antagonists are known. See for example EP 245,637 and Chang et al., Mol. Pharmacol, 29, 347 (1990) which disclose compounds with structures somewhat different from those of the present application and of rather low potency. Also Whitebread et al., Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun., 163, 284 (1989) describes a peptide with selective AT.sub.2 antagonist properties but as with all peptides suffers rapid metabolic breakdown and lack of oral activity. Warner Lambert PCT Patent Publication No. WO 92/05784 discloses certain AT.sub.2 -selective A-II antagonists as having a wide variety of utilities.
Some compounds of chemical structures somewhat similar to those of the compounds of the present invention have been reported in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,089,958 and 4,138,564. However, they are reported as chemical intermediates only.
Some 1,4-bis(diphenylacetyl)piperazines (without substituents on the piperazine ring carbons) have been disclosed as analgesic, antipyretic, and antiinflammatory agents and CNS depressants (U.S. Pat. No. 3,288,795). The preparation of 1,4-bis(diphenylcarbamoyl)piperazine has been reported [D. E. Rivett and J. F. K. Wilshire, Australian J. Chem., 19, 165 (1966)]. Unsymmetrical 1-acyl-4-(diphenylcarbamoyl)piperazines and 1-acyl-4-(dialkylcarbamoyl)piperazines have also been described [L. Korzycka, et al., Pol. J. Pharmacol. Pharm., 38, 545 (1986); L. Toldy, et al., Acta. Chim. Acad. Sci. Hung., 70, 101 (1971)]. All of these are unsubstituted on the piperazine ring carbons.
Certain 1,4-diacylpiperazine-2-carboxylates and related derivatives in which at least one of the acyl groups is substituted benzoyl have been disclosed as platelet activating factor antagonists (U.S. Pat. No. 4,923,870 and European Patent Application EP 0,368,670). Methyl 4-(benzyloxycarbonyl)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)piperazine-2-carboxylate has been reported as an intermediate (EP 0,368,670), as has methyl 1-(benzyloxycarbonyl)-4-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)piperazine-2-carboxylate and the coresponding acid [C. F. Bigge, et al., Tetrahedron Lett., 30, 5193 (1989).
Analgesia has historically been achieved in the central nervous system by opiates and analogs which are addictive, and peripherically by cyclooxygenase inhibitors that have gastric side effects. Substance P antagonists induce analgesia both centrally and peripherially. In addition, substance P antagonists are inhibitory of neurogenic inflammation.
The neuropeptide receptors for substance P (neurokinin-1; NK-1) are widely distributed throughout the mammalian nervous system (especially brain and spinal ganglia), the circulatory system and peripheral tissues (especially the duodenum and jejunum) and are involved in regulating a number of diverse biological processes. This includes sensory perception of olfaction, vision, audition and pain, movement control, gastric motility, vasodilation, salivation, and micturition (B. Pernow, Pharmacol. Rev., 1983, 35, 85-141).
The receptor for substance P is a member of the superfamily of G protein-coupled receptors. This superfamily is an extremely diverse group of receptors in terms of activating ligands and biological functions. In addition to the tachykinin receptors, this receptor superfamily includes the opsins, the adrenergic receptors, the muscarinic receptors, the dopamine receptors, the serotonin receptors, a thyroid-stimulating hormone receptor, a luteinizing hormone-choriogonadotropic hormone receptor, the product of the oncogene mas, the yeast mating factor receptors, a Dictyostelium cAMP receptor, and receptors for other hormones and neurotransmitters (see A. D. Hershey, et al., J. Biol. Chem., 1991, 226, 4366-4373).
Substance P (also called "SP" herein) is a naturally occurring undecapeptide belonging to the tachykinin family of peptides, the latter being so-named because of their prompt contractile action on extravascular smooth muscle tissue. The tachykinins are distinguished by a conserved carboxyl-terminal sequence Phe-X-Gly-Leu-Met-NH.sub.2. In addition to SP the known mammalian tachykinins include neurokinin A and neurokinin B. The current nonmenclature designates the receptors for SP, neurokinin A, and neurokinin B as NK-1, NK-2, and NK-3, respectively.
More specifically, substance P is a pharmacologically active neuropeptide that is produced in mammals and possesses a characteristic amino acid sequence that is illustrated below:
Arg-Pro-Lys-Pro-Gln-Gln-Phe-Phe-Gly-Leu-Met-NH.sub.2 (Chang et al., Nature New Biol. 232, 86 (1971); D. F. Veber et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,680,283).
Neurokinin A possesses the following amino acid sequence: EQU His-Lys-Thr-Asp-Ser-Phe-Val-Gly-Leu-Met-NH.sub.2.
Neurokinin B possesses the following amino acid sequence: EQU Asp-Met-His-Asp-Phe-Phe-Val-Gly-Leu-NH.sub.2.
Substance P acts as a vasodilator, a depressant, stimulates salivation and produces increased capillary permeability. It is also capable of Producing both analgesia and hyperalgesia in animals, depending on dose and pain responsiveness of the animal (see R. C. A. Frederickson et al., Science, 199, 1359 (1978): P. Oehme et al., Science, 208, 305 (1980)) and plays a role in sensory transmission and pain perception (T. M. Jessell, Advan. Biochem. Psychopharmacol. 28, 189 (1981)). For example, substance P is believed inter alia to be involved in the neurotransmission of pain sensations [Otsuka et al, "Role of Substance P as a Sensory Transmitter in Spinal Cord and Sympathetic Ganglia" in 1982 Substance P in the Nervous System, Ciba Foundation Symposium 91, 13-34 (published by Pitman) and Otsuka and Yanagisawa, "Does Substance P Act as a Pain Transmitter?" TIPS (Dec. 1987) 8 506-510]. In particular, substance P has been shown to be involved in the transmission of pain in migraine (see B. E. B. 1009 (1982)), and in arthritis (Levine et al. Science, (1984) 226 547-549). These peptides have also been implicated in gastrointestinal (GI) disorders and diseases of the GI tract, such as inflammatory bowel disease, ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease, etc. (see Mantyh et al., Neuroscience, 25 (3), 817-37 (1988) and D. Regoli in "Trends in Cluster Headache" Ed. F. Sicuteri et al., Elsevier Scientific Publishers. Amsterdam, 1987, pp. 85-95).
It is also hypothesized that there is a neurogenic mechanism for arthritis in which substance P may play a role (Kidd et al., "A Neurogenic Mechanism for Symmetric Arthritis" in The Lancet, 11 Nov. 1989 and Gronblad et al., "Neuropeptides in Synovium of Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis and Osteoarthritis" in J. Rheumatol. (1988) 15(12) 1807-10). Therefore, substance P is believed to be involved in the inflammatory response in diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis (O'Byrne et al., in Arthritis and Rheumatism (1990) 33 1023-8). Other disease areas where tachykinin antagonists are believed to be useful are allergic conditions (Hamelet et al., Can. J. Pharmacol. Physiol. (1988) 66 1361-7), immunoregulation (Lotz et al., Science (1988) 241 1218-21, Kimball et al., J. Immunol. (1988) 141 (10) 3564-9 and A. Perianin, et al., Biochem Biophys. Res. Commun. 161, 520 (1989)) vasodilation, bronchospasm, reflex or neuronal control of the viscera (Mantyh et al., PNAS (1988) 85 3235-9) and, possibly by arresting or slowing .beta.-amyloid-mediated neurodegenerative changes (Yankner et al., Science, (1990) 250, 279-82) in senile dementia of the Alzheimer type, Alzheimer's disease and Downs Syndrome Substance P may also play a role in demyelinating diseases such as multiple sclerosis and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis [J. Luber Narod et. al., poster to be presented at C.I.N.P. XVIIIth Congress, 28th Jun.-2nd Jul. 1992, in press].
In the recent past, some attempts have been made to provide peptide like substances that are antagonists for substance P and other tachykinin peptides in order to more effectively treat the various disorders and diseases listed above. See for example European patent applications (EPO Publication Nos. 0,347,802, 0,401,177 and 0,412,452) which disclose various peptides as neurokinin A antagonists. Similarly, EPO Publication No. 0,336,230 discloses heptapeptides which are substance P antagonists useful in the treatment of asthma. Merck U.S. Pat. No. 4,680,283 also discloses peptidal analogs of substance P.
Certain inhibitors of tachykinins have been described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,501,733, by replacing residues in substance P sequence by Trp residues.
A further class of tachykinin receptor antagonists, comprising a monomeric or dimeric hexa- or heptapeptide unit in linear or cyclic form, is described in GB-A-2216529.
The peptide-like nature of such substances make them too labile from a metabolic point of view to serve as practical therapeutic agents in the treatment of disease. The non peptidic antagonists of the present invention, on the other hand, do not possess this drawback, as they are expected to be more stable from a metabolic point of view than the previously discussed agents.
It is known in the art that baclofen (.beta.-(aminoethyl)-4-chlorobenzenepropanoic acid) in the central nervous system effectively blocks the excitatory activity of substance P, but because in many areas the excitatory responses to other compounds such as acetylcholine and glutamate are inhibited as well, baclofen is not considered a specific substance P antagonist. Pfizer WIPO patent applications (PCT Publication Nos. WO 90/05525 and WO 90/05729) and publications (Science, 251, 435-437 (1991); Science, 251, 437-439 (1991)) disclose 2-arylmethyl-3-substituted amino-quinuclidine derivatives which are which are disclosed as being useful as substance P antagonists for treating gastrointestinal disorders, central nervous system disorders, inflammatory diseases and pain or migraine. A Glaxo European patent application (EPO Publication No. 0,360,390) discloses various spirolactam substituted amino acids and peptides which are antagonists or agonists of substance P. A Pfizer WIPO patent application (PCT Publication No. WO 92/06079) discloses fused-ring analogs of nitrogen containing nonaromatic heterocycles as useful for the treatment of diseases mediated by an excess of substance P.
Calcium channel blocking agents are a known group of drugs which act to inhibit transfer of calcium ions across the plasma membrane of cells. It is known that the influx of calcium ions into certain cells in the mammalian body, including the vascular smooth muscle cells and myocardial cells, participates in the activity of such cells and that the administration of calcium channel blockers (also known as calcium antagonists or calcium entry blockers), which inhibit such influx, would suppress myocardial contractile force and rate and cause vasodilation. Calcium channel blockers delay or prevent the cardiac contracture which is believed to be caused by an accumulation of intracellular calcium under ischemic conditions. Calcium overload, during ischemia, can have a number of additional adverse effects which would further compromise the ischemic myocardium. These include less efficient use of oxygen for ATP production, activation of mitochondrial fatty acid oxidation, and possibly, promotion of cell necrosis. Calcium channel blockers are, therefore, useful in the treatment or prevention of a variety of diseases and disorders of the heart and vascular system, such as angina pectoris, myocardial infarction, cardiac arrhythmia, cardiac hypertrophy, coronary vasospasm, hypertension, cerebrovascular spasm and other ischemic disease. In addition, certain calcium channel blocking agents are capable of lowering elevated intraocular pressure when administered topically to the hypertensive eye in solution in a suitable ophthalmic vehicle.
Also, certain calcium channel blockers sensitize multidrug resistant cells to certain chemotherapeutic agents and are useful in the reversal of multidrug resistance by enhancing the efficacy of various anticancer agents (J. Biol. Chem., 262 (5), 2166-2170 (1987); Scientific American, 44-51 (March 1989)). In addition, certain calcium channel blockers are suggested as having activity in blocking calcium channels in insect brain membranes and so are useful as insecticides (EMBO J., 8(8), 2365-2371 (1989)).
A number of compounds having calcium channel blocking activity are known, for example certain dihydropyridine derivatives, such as nifedipine and nicardipine, and other compounds such as verapamil, diltiazem and flunarizine.


A bipolar type semiconductor device capable of attaining high current gain and high cut-off frequency and performing a satisfactory transistor operation also in a high current region while maintaining a high breakdown voltage performance, as well as a method of manufacturing the semiconductor device, are provided. In a collector comprising a first semiconductor layer and a second semiconductor layer narrower in band gap than the first semiconductor layer, an impurity is doped so as to have a peak of impurity concentration within the second collector layer and so that the value of the peak is higher than the impurity concentration at any position within the first collector layer. It is preferable to adjust the concentration of the doped impurity in such a manner that a collector-base depletion layer extends up to the first collector layer.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a semiconductor device, especially a bipolar transistor, and a method of manufacturing the same.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Recently, bipolar transistors and integrated circuits with bipolar transistors mounted thereon have been utilized in various application fields. The bipolar transistor is advantageous over the field effect transistor in terms of high speed performance and high breakdown voltage performance, and its application is expanded for communication devices, storage systems, etc. Conventional examples of a bipolar transistor capable of attaining high speed and high breakdown voltage include a silicon-germanium heterobipolar transistor using the selective epitaxial technique (Patent Literature 1). FIG. 3A and FIG. 3B show the distribution of impurities (FIG. 3B) and that of germanium (FIG. 3A) in a principal portion of a conventional transistor. In both FIGS. 3A and 3B, the axes of abscissa are illustrated in a correlative manner to make it easy to understand how Ge distribution and impurity concentration are correlated with each other. In the drawings, the impurity concentration of a low concentration collector layer is adjusted depending on the purpose of use of a transistor. More particularly, in the case of a transistor aiming at a high speed, a high concentration is attained by, for example, ion implantation, while in the case of a transistor for which a high voltage resisting characteristic is important, a low concentration is ensured. The distribution of germanium is designed so as to cover the base region, and a heterointerface comprising a silicon/silicon-germanium junction is formed in the vicinity of an emitter-base junction. In a heterobipolar transistor, a change of a forbidden band at a hetero interface in the vicinity of an emitter-base junction restricts a hole current flowing from base to emitter and brings about the effect of improving the current gain. On the other hand, on the collector side, it is likely that the aforesaid change of the band gap will obstruct the transistor operation, and therefore the heterointerface is designed so as to be spaced a certain distance from a collector-base junction. If the heterointerface is present near the collector-base junction, there is a great possibility that the heterointerface may be positioned within a p-type base layer under the influence of base impurity diffusion caused by heat treatment or the like during the formation of a transistor. In this case, all discontinuous quantity of the band gap appears as barrier in a conduction band, greatly impeding the conduction of electrons, with a consequent great decrease of the current amplification factor and deterioration in high-speed operation of the transistor. In the case of an npn-type bipolar transistor using silicon-germanium, if a heterointerface is present sufficiently on the collector side rather than collector-base junction, all discontinuous quantity of the band gap appears on a valence band side and therefore the above-mentioned problem does not arise in at least a low current operation. However, also in the conventional heterobipolar transistor thus designed, there still exists the problem that the influence of a heterointerface on the collector side greatly impedes the transistor operation in the case where a high current operation is needed. FIG. 4 is an energy band diagram in low and high current operations of a conventional npn-type heterobipolar transistor. A concrete construction of npn heterojunction is shown in the upper portion of the figure. Usually, when a high current is applied to an npn-type transistor, many electrons are accumulated in collector-base junction which is attributable to a finite carrier speed, canceling a fixed charge in a depletion layer in the junction. This phenomenon causes an increase of the base width, i.e., Kirk effect. However, in the case of a bipolar transistor having a heterointerface also on the collector side, the heterointerface and the collector-base junction approach each other upon occurrence of Kirk effect and the foregoing conduction band barrier occurs in the heterointerface and greatly impedes the transistor operation. FIGS. 5 and 6 schematically show collector current dependence of current gain and cut-off frequency respectively of a heterobipolar transistor. In both figures, the axes of abscissa represent collector current and the axes of ordinate represent current gain (FIG. 5) and cut-off frequency (FIG. 6). In each figure, a thin line characteristic is of Si BJT and a thick line characteristic is of SiGe HBT. Further, the value of collector current usually employed is shown as "working current (current of use)." As shown in the figures, in the heterobipolar transistors, an abrupt lowering of current gain and that of cut-off frequency are observed and thus transistor characteristics are deteriorated in comparison with the ordinary type of bipolar transistors. The lower the collector impurity concentration, the more conspicuous this phenomenon. This phenomenon is apt to occur particularly in a transistor which aims at attaining a high breakdown voltage. As shown in the figures, satisfactory characteristics are not obtainable in the vicinity of the working current.
[Patent Literature 1]
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. Hei 10-79394

Semiconductor device and method of manufacturing the same


This invention is directed to a futon sofa sleeper having a sofa frame, a folding mechanism and a mattress assembly. The a sofa frame has a back with a cavity and a pair of opposed arms. The folding mechanism folds into and out of the sofa frame and is extendable from a first position to a second position. The folding mechanism includes a frame with a rear section rotatably coupled with the sofa frame, a middle section pivotally coupled with the rear section, and a front section pivotally coupled with the middle section. The mattress assembly is supported on the folding mechanism and contains a shell and an inner support received within the shell. The inner support including an innerspring construction and an air bladder, wherein in the first position, the rear and middle sections of the folding mechanism are located within the cavity and the front section is used as a seating surface and wherein in the second position, the rear, middle, and front sections are used as a sleeping surface.

This invention relates generally to a folding mechanism for a sofa sleeper and, more particularly, to a folding mechanism for a futon type sofa sleeper having a mattress that contains both an innerspring construction and an air bladder, whereby the air bladder may be deflated for easy storage of the mattress within the futon sofa sleeper.
Traditional futon sofa sleepers are designed to be used as both a sofa and a bed. The futon sofa sleepers are designed with a folding frame mechanism that allows the futon mattress to be used as the support for the user when the unit is used as a sofa as well as a bed. Specifically, the futon mattress rests upon a support surface and the support surface can be moved from a sofa configuration to a sleeping configuration. The mattress supports the user in both the seated position and the sleep position. The mattress is typically foldable and includes an outer shell and an inner material. Due to the necessity of the mattress to fold, the inner material is typically a bedding material, including but not limited to, foam, feathers, cotton stuffing, and the like. Thus, while the mattress may be folded, the composition of the inner material does not provide a sleeping or sitting surface that is as comfortable as a typical sofa sleeper. Further, standard futon sofa sleepers typically sit low to the floor. As such, the futon sofa sleeper, when in the sofa configuration, is very low and not as comfortable to the seated user as a typical sofa.
Thus, it would be desirable to manufacture a futon sofa sleeper that provides the enhanced comfort and the look of a conventional sofa sleeper for the individual sleeping or sitting thereon.

Folding mechanism for a futon sofa sleeper


A semiconductor device comprises a main switching element, an electric field detector and an on-voltage application unit. The main switching element includes a high-voltage main electrode, at least a low-voltage main electrode and at least a first gate electrode. The electric field detector has a MOS structure making conductive between the high-voltage main electrode and the first gate electrode in a path other than the main switching element in accordance with a predetermined electric field generated in the main switching element. The on-voltage application unit applies an on-voltage to the first gate electrode on the basis of the conductive state.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a semiconductor device and a protection method, and more in particular to a power control semiconductor device and a protection method capable of protecting a switching element from a high voltage applied in off state or in a state leading to an off state.
2. Description of the Related Art
In recent years, an IGBT (Insulated Gate Bipolar Transistor) has been closely watched as a power control semiconductor device. The IGBT, which is a bipolar device having a MOS structure, has a high-speed switching characteristic of a power MOSFET and high withstand voltage, and high conduction characteristics of a bipolar transistor.
The IGBT of this type is used as a main switching device connected with the drain electrode D thereof as a positive potential side and the source electrode S thereof as a negative potential side in a series circuit of a DC power supply 301 of E1 in voltage and a motor coil 302, as shown in FIG. 1. The potential of the gate electrode G of the IGBT is controlled by a gate control circuit 303 thereby to turn the series circuit on and off.
An on-off control timing chart is shown in FIG. 2, for example. Character V designates a drain-source voltage (hereinafter referred to as the main voltage), and I designates the drain-source current or the current in the series circuit. Vg designates a gate voltage.
Now, assume that Vg is 0 and IGBT is off (time t=T1). In other words, assume that I is 0, and V is substantially equal to a power source voltage value. Next, it is assumed that a predetermined voltage is applied to Vg and the IGBT is turned on (time t=T2). When the IGBT is turned on, V is rapidly reduced while I gradually increases. In this case, a coil 302 stores energy of (1/2)LI.sup.2 when the self-inductance is assumed to be L.
Next, assume that Vg is 0 and that IGBT is turned to off state (time t=T3). When IGBT is turned off, V rapidly rises to a value higher than the power source voltage value E1 and then settles at the power source voltage value E1. The rapidly rising portion of V occurs as the IGBT receives the coil energy when the IGBT changes from on to off state. Like other semiconductor devices, the IGBT is highly liable to break down upon application thereto of a voltage higher than the voltage allowed for the operation (hereinafter referred to as the overvoltage). It is therefore necessary to protect the IGBT by suppressing the overvoltage of the rapidly-rising V portion below a certain value.
The IGBT is liable to reach to an overvoltage state when it is off or transferring to an off state. In other words, the overvoltage condition of the IGBT occurs when the gate voltage Vg is zero or assumes a low negative value, or the gate voltage Vg is reduced. If the IGBT is to be protected, therefore, the gate voltage Vg is required to be increased so that the IGBT is turned on incompletely and thereby the IGBT resistance is reduced to prevent the main voltage from increasing beyond an allowable value.
The IGBT has its own function of preventing a voltage of a predetermined value or more from being applied thereto. This is called the self-clamping function, and the value of the voltage thereof is called the self-clamp voltage. The self-clamp function, however, is difficult to control since it is a current conduction attributable to the avalanche phenomenon due to a high electric field. The IGBT thus is liable to break down due to local current concentration within itself.
In order to protect the IGBT from the overvoltage at the time of turning off, a zener diode ZD is conventionally connected between the drain and gate as shown in FIG. 3. Also, the gate is connected to a gate drive circuit 303 through a resistor Rg. Now, this protection circuit will be explained in detail with reference to FIG. 4.
FIG. 4 is a sectional view schematically showing an IGBT of this type and a peripheral configuration thereof. This IGBT includes a drain electrode 312 formed on a p-type drain layer 311. An n-type base layer 313 is also formed on the surface of the p-type drain layer 311 opposite to the drain electrode 312. A plurality of p-type base layers 314 are selectively formed by diffusion in the surface of the n-type base layer 313. A plurality of n-type source layers 315 are selectively formed in the surface of each p-type base layer 314.
A gate electrode 317 is formed through a gate insulating film 316 on each p-type base layer 314 formed between each n-type source layer 315 and the n-type base layer 313. Also, a source electrode 318 is formed on each p-type base layer 314 and the n-type source layers 315.
Each gate electrode 317 is connected to a gate drive circuit 303 through a gate resistor Rg.
Further, a zener diode ZD is interposed between the gate electrodes 317 and the drain electrode 312 in order to protect the IGBT from the overvoltage described above.
If this IGBT is to be turned on, a voltage positive with respect to the source electrodes 318 is applied to the gate electrodes 317 with a voltage (main voltage) positive with respect to the source electrodes 318 being applied to the drain electrode 312. As a result, a n-type channel is formed in the surface of the p-type base layer 314 held between the n-type base layer 313 and the n-type source layer 315, so that an electron current flows into the n-type base layer 313. On the other hand, a hole current flows into the n-type base layer 313 from the p-type drain layer 311. Thus a conduction modulation occurs in the n-type base layer thereby to turn on the IGBT.
If the IGBT is to be turned off, on the other hand, a zero or a negative voltage with respect to the source electrode 318 is applied to the gate electrode 317. As a result, the n-type channel disappears and electron injection into the n-type base layer 313 ceases, and the IGBT soon turns off. The main voltage is applied even in this state.
The IGBT is liable to suffer an overvoltage when in an off state or transferring to the off state.
In the configuration of FIG. 4, a zener diode ZD is provided for preventing the overvoltage condition. This zener diode ZD has a zener voltage (peak inverse withstand voltage) lower than the self-clamp voltage of the IGBT. A current flows in the zener diode ZD when an inverse voltage higher than the zener voltage is applied thereto. As a result, when the main voltage higher than the zener voltage is applied between drain and source of the IGBT, a current flows through the zener diode ZD to the gate drive circuit 303 from the drain of the IGBT. Consequently, the voltage drop due to the gate resistor Rg increases the gate voltage Vg and turns on the IGBT incompletely thereby to protect the IGBT from an overvoltage.
The use of a zener diode thus can prevent the breakdown of the conventional IGBT but poses the problem described below.
First, when the drain-source main voltage rapidly rises to a value higher than the power source voltage value due to the inductance, the zener diode ZD protects the IGBT from an overvoltage. In the process, however, the negative resistance of the zener diode ZD generates a large noise. This noise in turns causes a gate operating error and the breakdown of the IGBT.
Also, the zener voltage across the zener diode ZD is subject to considerable variations. Even when the same type of zener diode ZD is used in the same circuit, therefore, the same voltage is not necessarily generated for protection. Due to the variations in zener voltage, the protection voltage (clamp voltage) is difficult to design. Further, the clamp voltage cannot be changed once the zener diode ZD is built in the circuit. It is therefore difficult to change the clamp voltage in accordance with the operating conditions, temperature or circuit conditions of the IGBT.
Also, since the IGBT has a high operating voltage, the clamp voltage also assumes a high value. The zener voltage of the zener diode ZD, however, assumes a value considerably lower than the clamp voltage of the IGBT. Actually, therefore, the zener diode ZD in FIG. 4 is configured of a series circuit of a plurality of zener diodes, leading to the problem that a large area is required.
Furthermore, in the case where the rate dv/dt at which the main voltage rises is large, the IGBT may be broken. This is called the dv/dt breakdown, which is difficult to prevent for the IGBT using a zener diode ZD.

Semiconductor device and protection method


The present invention provides a non-invasive portable device and method for diagnosing an occlusion in coronary arteries of a patient. The diagnostic system includes a signal processor configured to receive signals from a group of acoustic sensors attached to the torso of a patient. The diagnostic device is configured with a processor to receive and generate an output on a display using a high end algorithm.

Coronary Artery Disease (CAD), the most common form of heart disease, causes impaired blood flow in the arteries that supply blood to the heart. The most common cause of CAD is vascular injury with cholesterol plaque buildup in the arteries, known as atherosclerosis. When one or more of the coronary arteries become wholly or partially blocked, the heart's blood supply gets restricted. Thus, it becomes necessary to detect blockages in the coronary arteries at an early stage so as to prevent the blockage from getting more significant.
Traditionally, the use of angiography technique was done for the detection. Moreover, angiography is an invasive technique that requires the insertion of a catheter affixed with a camera into a patient's coronary arteries to view the patient's arteries. While angiography has been used to detect CAD for a long time, such invasive techniques require making incisions in the patient's body, which could sometimes leave large wounds that are painful and take a long time to heal. Moreover, there is a risk of infection while operating invasively.
A U.S. Pat. No. 8,055,333, ('333 patent) assigned to Jeng-Ren Duann, discloses a non-invasive technique to detect and locate abnormal heart conditions. Significant limitations to the methods and techniques disclosed in the patent include the use of a sensor arrangement that comprises a 12-lead EKG set, which is quite bulky, and the time required to perform the process.
Another U.S. Pat. No. 7,291,111, ('111 patent) assigned to MedScanSonics Inc., discloses a non-invasive technique to diagnose and detect the location of stenosis in the coronary artery of a patient. The '111 patent is a lighter system than the '333 patent system; however, the technique disclosed still uses acoustic sensors and an electrical sensor to diagnose stenosis using a Wavelet Transform (WT) analysis.
To overcome the drawbacks of invasive surgery while also addressing the shortcomings of the above described prior art non-invasive techniques, a device using non-invasive techniques to diagnose and detect CAD is disclosed in our invention.
Embodiments of the present invention may use just four lightweight acoustic sensors and eliminate any reliance on the electrical sensor used by prior art devices. Further, at least some of the present invention's embodiments disclose techniques typically used to detect occlusions in the heartbeat's diastolic part using a signal processing algorithm employing a simple Fourier Transform (FT) analysis.
As noted above, numerous methods and systems have been developed in the prior art that are adequate for various purposes. However, even though these inventions may be suitable for the specific purposes to which they address, they would not be ideal for the purposes addressed by the present invention as previously described.


The present invention provides a seating apparatus having an adjustable level of firmness. The seating apparatus comprises a base, an inflatable element arranged on the base, and a cover covering the inflatable element. Access means in communication with the inflatable element are provided, enabling inflation of the inflatable element for providing an adjustable firmness in the seating area. The inflatable element may comprise a ring having a center opening. The base may comprise a ring having a center opening coinciding with the center opening of the inflatable element. The cover may comprise a section of permeable material over the center opening. A fan may be affixed within the center opening for providing airflow through the center opening.

The present invention relates to a seating apparatus aimed primarily at musicians and others that are required to sit for extended periods of time while exerting themselves. In particular, the present invention provides a seating apparatus that provides the ability to set and adjust the firmness of the seat, as well as a means to allow for increased airflow through the seat.
Any professional relies on tools to perfect their trade. Certainly musicians are among the most visible in the use of their tools. The most evident tools are the instruments they play. There are, however, many tools used by musicians that go largely unnoticed and, therefore, remain largely untouched by innovation.
One such tool is the focus of this invention, namely the seat used by drummers and other performers during their performance. Commonly referred to as a "throne" by drummers and percussionists to denote its prominence, the seat is an integral part of a tool kit that is largely ignored by anyone but the user.
The seat or throne, whether the traditional fabric or vinyl covered foam or the adjustable type as described herein, is critical to the user's ability to perform. Not only does the throne provide a place to sit, but, particularly in the case of a drummer, its position is key to the ability of a drummer to perform as he has practiced. That is, if a drummer were to sit on any chair or stool that did not provide the correct position he may have to struggle mightily to perform as expected.
Because performer seating is not well appreciated, there has been little innovation in the art, particularly in seating available for a drummer. For simplicity, the description of the invention herein will focus on example embodiments particularly suited for seating for a drummer. However, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the present invention is applicable to virtually any seating application, whether for a performer or others.
For a drummer's seat, there are two basic prior art models available today: (1) a simple round, padded stool seat and; (2) a padded stool seat that resembles an old-fashioned motorcycle seat. Still other performers rely on rectangular benches. The only variations in these models, aside from the firmness of the foam padding, is the design of the base. Such bases range from more traditional collapsible hardware type bases to those similar to common desk chairs. While the choice of the base is largely made at the time of purchase, based on specific requirements, adjustability is the primary variable in the base.
Unfortunately, a choice of the seat firmness also must be made at the time of purchase. There is no ability to accommodating necessary changes in seat firmness without the procurement of another seat. Such changes might be required by different performers using the same kit, as in the case of a bandstand arrangement, or by the same performer who wishes some change during a long performance to help relieve fatigue.
It would be advantageous to provide a seat having an adjustable firmness level. It would be further advantageous to provide such an adjustable firmness level through the use of an inflatable bladder located in the seat cushion. It would also be advantageous to provide for cooling or heating of the seat cushion.
The present invention provides the foregoing and other advantages.


A telescopic loft ladder has two stiles with sections that are telescopically collapsible within each other, rungs having lateral ends each connected to respective sections the stiles, retractable pins in the ends of the rungs for engaging holes in the stile sections to retain them in an extended position, and levers on the rungs that automatically operate when two rungs contact one another to disengage pins of the upper of the contacting rungs from the holes to permit collapse of the next higher rung. Each uppermost stile section is rotatable relative to the section connected to the uppermost rung of the ladder and has circumferentially and axially offset pin receiving holes. At least one resilient element biases the next to uppermost rung away from the uppermost rung to ensure that the locking pin of the uppermost rung engages a hole in the uppermost stile section as the ladder is lowered.

Collapsible ladders are known in which the stiles are formed of telescopically collapsible tubes and each rung is secured to a section of each stile. Each rung is formed with retractable pins at its opposite ends that engage in holes in the stiles to prevent the ladder from collapsing when a person is standing on one of the rungs. Manually operable levers or ring-pulls are provided to retract the pins, to allow the ladder to be collapsed one rung at a time. A disadvantage of such a ladder is that it is cumbersome and time consuming to collapse.
To overcome this disadvantage, a ladder has been proposed in EP 0527766 that is designed to collapse automatically from the bottom rung up. To collapse the ladder, pins of the lowermost rung are disengaged from the holes in the stiles to cause the whole of the ladder to drop by the height of one rung. As the lowermost rung contacts the rung above it, it releases the pins of the latter rung, causing the ladder to drop by a further rung height. This process is repeated until the whole ladder has been reduced to its minimum size.
It has further been proposed to use a ladder of the type described in EP 0527766 as a loft ladder. In this case, the top rung is pivotably attached to a rafter in the loft and a suitable stop is provided to support the weight of the ladder. For example, the stop may be part of a frame secured to a hatch door affording access to the loft.
When raised off its support, the ladder extends automatically under the weight of the ladder sections and the rungs lock into place. To collapse the ladder, the pins of the lowermost rung are disengaged from the stiles and as the lowermost rung is raised manually it disengages the pins of the next rung. Once again, continued raising of the bottom end of the ladder causes automatic release of all the stile sections one rung at a time, until the ladder is again small enough to be stowed in the loft.
Loft ladders need to be sized to suit the ceiling height and this may vary from one installation to another. The maximum height of the ladder may be varied by providing a greater or lesser number of rungs but the height between rungs is fixed and on some occasions the desired height may not be a whole number multiple of the distance between rungs.
To allow a ladder to be installed to suit differing ceiling heights, the present applicants have considered making the uppermost section of each stile rotatable relative to the section connected to the uppermost rung of the ladder and to form pin receiving holes in the uppermost section of each stile that are circumferentially and axially offset from one another.
The pins of the uppermost rung of the ladder will engage within the first holes in the uppermost stiles when the ladder is lowered. If the uppermost stile sections have holes that are circumferentially and axially staggered, it is possible during installation to set the effective length of the uppermost stile sections by rotating them, this having the effect of varying the distance travelled by the uppermost rung before its pins encounter holes in the stiles.
A loft ladder constructed in this manner suffers, however, from a problem in that if the uppermost rung is still in contact with the rung beneath it as it slides relative to the uppermost sections of the stiles, its pins will be in their retracted position, and will not engage with any of the holes in the uppermost stile sections, the upper ends of which are secured to the loft. The entire ladder therefore risks separating from the uppermost stile sections.


A mobile device, such as a smartphone or a tablet computer, can execute functionality for configuring a network device in a communication network and for subsequently controlling the operation of the network device with little manual input. The mobile device can detect, from the network device, sensor information that is indicative of configuration information associated with the network device. The mobile device can decode the received sensor information to determine the configuration information and can accordingly enroll the network device in the communication network. In response to determining to control the enrolled network device, the mobile device can capture an image of the network device and can use the captured image to unambiguously identify the network device. The mobile device can establish a communication link with the network device and can transmit one or more commands to vary operating parameters of the network device.

Embodiments of the inventive subject matter generally relate to the field of communication networks and, more particularly, to sensor based configuration and control of network devices.
Local area networks typically comprise a variety of network devices. For example, a home network can comprise different types of smart devices (e.g., smart appliances) and other suitable types of communication devices. A "smart" device typically refers to an electronic device (e.g., a home appliance such as a lighting device, a refrigerator, a heating/cooling unit, etc.) that can automatically monitor and adjust its operation to meet the needs and requirements of a user. The smart device may be wirelessly configured and controlled and may even communicate/coordinate with other smart devices.

Sensor based configuration and control of network devices


A fire collar (10) is supported around a plastic material pipe (30) extending through a bore (32) in a wall (44). The fire collar (10) comprises a cylindrical metal collar (12) carrying a layer of intumescent material (36) on its inner circumferential surface. A sleeve (22) of fire resistant material is attached to the metal collar (10) and extends within the collar and around the pipe (30). In the event of a fire the pipe (30) melts. The intumescent material (36) is constrained to expand radially inwardly and as it does so it pushes the fabric sleeve (22) radially inwardly. The sleeve (22) and the espanded intumescent material (36) together form a physical barrier across the fire collar (10) which blocks the bore (32)

The present invention relates to a method of protecting a bore in a partition using a fire collar and to a fire collar for use in such a method.
Increasingly, plastics material pipes are used in buildings. Such pipes extend through bores in partitions such as walls, floors and ceilings. In the event of a fire such pipes melt or collapse whereby the bore in the barrier provides a channel for the transmission of the fire or smoke or other products therefrom through that partition.
It is obviously important, in the event of a fire, that partitions remain able to contain the fire for as long as possible and fire collars are increasingly provided to ensure that any channel remaining by the melting or collapse of a plastics material pipe is blocked. Generally, the fire collar comprises a metal collar fastened around a pipe, the collar enclosing intumescent material between the collar and the piping. When fire causes the pipe to melt, it also causes the intumescent material between the collar and the piping. When fire causes the pipe to melt, it also causes the intumescent material to expand. The fire collar prevents expansion outwardly, so that the expansion of the intumescent material is inwardly to fill the void left by the melted pipe. In this way, a physical barrier is formed across the bore in which the pipe was arranged.
However, various authorities, including those in the USA, now require that the physical barrier formed across the bore, for example, by the intumescent material, should be capable of withstanding the force of water from a fire hose. Otherwise, attempts using fire hoses to put out the fire can, in fact, break open the bore through the partition and encourage the spread of the fire therethrough.
Various attempts have been made to provide fire collars which are capable of maintaining a partition fireproof even though a plastics material pipe extending therethrough has melted. Examples of proposed devices are described, for example, in British specifications Nos. 1,513,543 and 1,589,890 and U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,307,546, 4,559,745, 5,257,641, and 5,421,127. However, such prior proposals all require the use of more or less complex mechanical devices which are moved by the collapse of the plastics material pipe, for example, to mechanically position a physical barrier across the bore.

Intumescent fire arrester collar for pipelines


A ball bat extending about a longitudinal axis. The bat includes a barrel portion defining a primary tubular ball impact region. The barrel portion is formed of a fiber composite material. The fiber composite material includes at least first and second plies. The first and second plies include first and second pluralities first and second resins, respectively. Substantially all of the first and second pluralities of fibers of the first and second plies are generally aligned to define first and second angles with respect to the axis, respectively. The angles are each within the range of 45 to 90 degrees. Each of the plies is sized to extend about the full circumference of the barrel portion. The first and second pluralities of fibers are sectioned such that the fibers do not continuously extend about the full circumference of the impact region.

Baseball and softball organizations periodically publish and update equipment standards and/or requirements including performance limitations for ball bats. One recently issued standard is the Bat-Ball Coefficient of Restitution ("BBCOR") Standard adopted by the National Collegiate Athletic Association ("NCAA") on May 21, 2009. The BBCOR Standard, which became effective on Jan. 1, 2011 for NCAA baseball, is a principal part of the NCAA's effort, using available scientific data, to maintain as nearly as possible wood-like baseball bat performance in non-wood baseball bats. Although wood ball bats provide many beneficial features, they are prone to failure, and because wooden ball bats are typically solid (not hollow), wooden bats can be too heavy for younger players even at reduced bat lengths. Wood ball bats also provide little or no flexibility in the design of the hitting or barrel region of the bat. Non-wood bats, such as bats formed of aluminum, other alloys, composite fiber materials, thermoplastic materials and combinations thereof, allow for performance of the bat to be more readily tuned or adjusted throughout or along the hitting or barrel portion. Such characteristics enable non-wood bats to provide more consistent performance, increased reliability and increased durability than wood bats.
Other organizations have also adopted the BBCOR Standard. For example, the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) has set Jan. 1, 2012 as the effective date for implementation of the BBCOR Standard for high school play. The BBCOR Standard includes a 0.500 BBCOR bat performance limit, which specifies that no point on the barrel or hitting portion of a bat can exceed the 0.500 BBCOR bat performance limit.
Bat manufacturers, such as DeMarini, have responded by producing bats that are certified under the BBCOR Standard. These bats generally have a slightly higher moment of inertia and can have stiffer barrels or impact regions than non-BBCOR baseball bats. One approach to achieving a stiffer barrel portion or region of a bat made of a fiber composite material is to form the bat with fiber composite layers having high angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of the bat (e.g. 45 degrees and higher). The higher angle fiber layers provide more hoop strength to the cylindrical barrel portion without adding additional thickness and/or weight to the barrel portion. However, higher angle fiber composite layers can be difficult to work with because the high angle fiber layers when wrapped about a bladder during molding of the barrel portion of the bat severely restricts the expansion of the material. Accordingly, bladder molding of a barrel portion of a ball bat having high angle fiber composite layers often result in voids, low durability and poor cosmetic appearance. Compounding the concern is the material costs. Fiber composite material is very expensive and any condition that results in an increase in production time, production cost or waste is highly undesirable. Bladder molding of a barrel portion of a ball bat having high angle fiber composite layers often results in barrel portions exhibiting poor and/or undesirable reliability, durability and/or an undesirable appearance.
Accordingly, a need exists to develop a method and/or system for forming barrel portions of a ball bat or other cylindrical portions of a ball bat using fiber composite material having high fiber angles in a cost effective, reliable and high quality manner. What is needed is a system or process of developing a ball bat formed at least in part of high angle fiber composite material that provides a high quality cosmetic appearance, is highly durable, and provides the desired operational characteristics. It would be advantageous to provide a ball bat, and a system or method for producing a ball bat including a barrel portion formed of a high angle fiber composite material, that can satisfy performance requirements, such as BBCOR certification, without adding too much weight or wall thickness to the barrel portion. It would be advantageous to provide a ball bat with a desirable level of barrel stiffness, and provides exceptional feel and performance.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Ball bat including a fiber composite component having high angle discontinuous fibers


A manufacturing method for generatively manufacturing a three-dimensional object by a layer-by-layer application and selective solidification of a building material. The method includes applying a layer of the building material to a build area by a recoater and selectively solidifying the applied layer of the building material at points corresponding to a cross-section of the object to be manufactured by a solidification device. The steps of applying and solidifying are repeated until the three-dimensional object is completed. A heating element locally introduces thermal energy into the newly applied layer of the building material and/or into the layer of the building material which is already selectively solidified. In the course of this, the thermal energy released by the heating element is adjustable depending on the position of this point in the build area.

Devices and methods of this type are, for instance, used in Rapid Prototyping, Rapid Tooling, or Additive Manufacturing. An example of such a method is known as, selective laser sintering or melting. In the course of this, a thin layer of a building material in powder form is repeatedly applied, and the building material in each layer is selectively solidified using a laser beam by selectively irradiating points corresponding to a cross-section of the object to be manufactured.
DE 10 2016 203 556, which was not yet published at the date of the present application, describes a laser sintering device in which the building material in powder form is applied by means of a recoating unit moving across a build area and is heated by means of a local radiation heater moving behind the recoating unit across the build area.

Method and device for the generative manufacturing of a three-dimensional object


A primary optic for a headlamp of a motor vehicle is provided. The primary optic is a multi-component injection molding comprising at least two injection molded photometrical components coupled to each other, whereby the at least two photometrical components are arranged to consecutively receive light emitted by a light source.

A primary optic is arranged as a first optical element in front a light source. It is commonly used as a part of headlamps in motor vehicles, to receive light emitted by the light source of the headlamp and to refract the light, giving it a direction in order to illuminate a road on which the motor vehicle is traveling.
Primary optics for use in headlamps of motor vehicles are high-precision optical elements, which are typically manufactured by means of injection molding. Generally, injection molding is a cost-effective manufacturing method. However, a certain thickness of the primary optic of typically 3 to 5 mm, which the light must pass in order to be sufficiently refracted, is required when applying the primary optic in headlamps of motor vehicles. Due to the required large thickness, the primary optics are particularly susceptible to shrinkage of the mold at the time of cooling and solidifying, which can result in poor size accuracy of the injection molded primary optic. Thus, a further manufacturing step of machining the injection molded primary optics is obligatory to assure that it is within specified nominal dimensions. This additional step is cost-intensive and time-consuming.

Multi-component injection molded primary optic, headlamp of a motor vehicle and motor vehicle


A method for reducing pressure damage to skin of a person includes determining a location on the person susceptible to pressure damage, and adhesively securing a skin protective device to the location. The skin protective device includes a substrate having an inner surface, and an outer surface. An adhesive layer substantially covers the inner surface, and at least one fluid-filled cell is on the outer surface to cushion the skin of the person.

Decubitus ulcers, also known as pressure sores, are difficult to treat medical problems that can lead to serious consequences. Pressure sores occur when the skin breaks down as a result of continuous pressure, thus forming open sores. Pressure sores frequently affect the skin over bony prominences of the body. Areas most commonly affected include the skin over the heel, ankle bones, coccyx or tailbone, trochanters or hip bones and the sacral area of the lower back.
An estimated 2 to 3 million people in the United States are affected by pressure sores, with most of them being elderly. One study showed that over 12% of nursing home residents developed pressure sores within their first year. This number increases to 20% after 2 years. Moreover, an estimated 60,000 people die from pressure sore complications every year.
Pressure sores occur when there is a lack of blood supply to a dependent area of the body. This lack of blood supply is caused by compression of the skin and underlying soft tissue between the bony prominence and a supporting surface, such as a mattress. The weight of the body part exerts sufficient pressure to impair the blood supply to the soft tissue and skin. If this impairment of the blood supply is prolonged, permanent injury results causing necrosis or death of the skin and underlying soft tissue in the affected area. Other factors causing pressure sores include friction of the skin against bed sheets, casts or braces.
Pressure sores commonly affect individuals with limited mobility, such as those confined to a bed because of illness, injury or old age. These are frequent problems in nursing home patients, especially those with circulatory problems, or impaired sensations because of diabetes or stroke.
Once a pressure sore occurs, treatment is very difficult and time consuming, often requiring weeks or months of wound care. Dressing changes are usually painful to the patient. Complications, including localized or generalized infection, may be serious and commonly require hospitalization for proper treatment. Surgical intervention is frequently required, including debridement or excision of dead tissue, skin grafting and even leg amputation.
Pressure sores are generally considered to be a preventable condition, but prevention has proven to be difficult, time consuming and costly. Prevention requires avoiding prolonged pressure on any area of the skin by frequently moving the patient, and attention to skin care is required to avoid irritation or chaffing.
Published patent application no. 2003/0032485 to Flam et al. discloses a number of skin protective devices for preventing pressure sores. In particular, the skin protective devices have an inner surface which conforms to the body part to be protected, and is made of a material suitable for distributing the weight of the body part over an extended area.
A bed pad comprising a plurality of air-filled cells for treating pressure sores is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,462,519 to Carver. A skin protective device for ankles, heels and elbows is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,944,683 to Baranowski. In Baranowski, the skin protective device is a cushion formed of a closed cell foam having a resilience with respect to pressure. The resilient cushioning foam may include air, gel or water.
Other skin protective devices such as air mattresses and floatation beds, foam, silicon gel, sponge rubber and sheepskin pads of various shapes have been available—but these are difficult to apply or maintain in position. Moreover, some are uncomfortable to the patient and some are prohibitively expensive.
In spite of these efforts, the incidence of pressure sores has not diminished. In fact, the problem is becoming more frequent as the population ages. More individuals require long-term care and are confined to nursing homes. As nursing homes become more short-staffed, caregivers have even less time to devote to frequently changing a patient's position, and to providing attention to skin care. There exists a need for a straightforward skin protective device that can be easily applied to a vulnerable area of the body, stays in position once applied, and does not cause discomfort.

Method for reducing pressure damage to skin of a person, and corresponding skin protective devices


A distance-adjustable nozzle mechanism 25 is disposed to a passage member 17 to be located at the ejection sides of left and right medicine passages 20, 20. The distance-adjustable nozzle distance 25 includes fitting projection sections 26, 26 formed in the passage member 17, adjustable nozzles 27, 27 which are rotatably and detachably attached to the fitting projection sections 26, and tapered spray holes 28, each of which is in communication with the medicine passage 20 and formed throughout the fitting projection section 26, and the adjustable nozzle 27, in which the axis of the adjustable nozzle 27 is eccentric to a rotational center. Accordingly, when each adjustable nozzle 27 is rotated, the nozzles can approach or separate from each other by an amount corresponding to the eccentricity relative to the rotational center, so that the nozzle pitch between the respective adjustable nozzles 27 can be easily adjusted in conformity with the distance between the nasal cavities of the patient. Additionally, cleaning can be facilitated by removing each adjustable nozzle 27.

In general, a method of curing by administering powder-state medicine through nasal cavities has been employed for a patient of nasal allergy, asthma and the like. In this curing method, the powder-state medicine filled in a medicine accommodating chamber, such as a capsule or the like, is administered into nasal cavities by using an exclusive medicine administering device for nasal cavities.
One sprayer to be used for this curing method is shown in Japanese Patent Provisional Publication No. 59-34267.
In the sprayer according to this conventional technique, a cylindrical member is provided at its air inflow-side with a pump section and is formed at its air outflow-side with a concave-shaped section into which a capsule is to be inserted. The cylindrical member is detachably provided at its tip end side with a tip end section, which is formed with an opening section which serves as a medicine spray hole. The tip end section is fitted to the cylindrical member to form a capsule accommodating section. Further, a cap is provided to be detachably fitted to the above-mentioned cylindrical member and the tip end section, and the cap is provided thereinside with an axially extending needle. The cap is fitted to the above-mentioned cylindrical member, thereby forming a hole in the capsule accommodated in the capsule accommodating section with the needle inside the cap.
In this conventional technique, first, the capsule filled with powder-like medicine is inserted in the concave-shaped section of the cylindrical member. Thereafter, the tip end section is fitted to the cylindrical member, thereby accommodating the capsule in the capsule accommodating section. Then, the cap is installed through the tip end section in such a manner that the needle disposed inside the cap pierces the opening section of the tip end section, thereby forming holes at the axially opposite sides of the capsule.
Next, when the medicine is administered, the tip end section is inserted into one of the nasal cavities of the patient, after detaching the cap from the cylindrical member. Then, the pump section is pressed so that air from the pump section streams through an air introduction passage into the capsule. Accordingly, the medicine in the capsule is sprayed through the opening section into the nasal cavities of the patient under the action of this air. Insertion of the tip end section into the nasal cavity is made alternately to both nasal cavities and the pressing action of the pump section is repeated, thereby accomplishing medicine administration to the patient.
Additionally, a clearance is formed between the capsule accommodating section and the capsule so that the medicine administration to nasal cavities is made alternately to the left and right nasal cavities so as to prevent all the medicine in the capsule from being administered after only one pressing action of the pump section. A predetermined amount of the medicine is administered after about four pressing actions of the pump section for each nasal cavity.
Now, in the sprayer according to the above-discussed conventional technique, medicine administration alternates between the left and right nasal cavities, and therefore pressing the pump section and inserting the cylindrical member into each nasal cavity must be repeated many times in order to supply the left and right nasal cavities with an equal amount of the medicine. Accordingly, there is a problem in that treatment during medicine administration becomes cumbersome.
Furthermore, when the hole is formed in the capsule in order to make preparation of the medicine administration, the tip end section is detached from the cylindrical member, and then the capsule is accommodated. Next, the cap is fitted around the above-mentioned cylindrical member and the tip end section, thereby accomplishing the hole formation. When the medicine is to be sprayed, the pump section is operated to accomplish the spraying into the nasal cavities after the cap again is detached. Accordingly, it is required to install and detach the cap, thereby providing such problems in that not only is the preparation action troublesome but also there is the fear of losing the cap.
Furthermore, even if a medicine administering device provided with left and right medicine spraying openings is produced, there is a problem in that it is required to prepare a plurality of kinds of the devices which have different distances between the nasal cavities because the distance between the nasal cavities is different among, for example, children and adults.
The present invention has been made in view of the above-discussed problems of the conventional technique and is intended to provide a medicine administering device for nasal cavities that can administer the medicine in the medicine accommodating chamber simultaneously into the left and right nasal cavities of the patient under simple operations and be used by children and adults.

Medicine administering device for nasal cavities and method of using same


A reaction-bonded silicon carbide (SiC) body is produced by: providing a preform including ceramic elements and carbon, and one or more surface features; providing a powder which includes diamond particles and carbon; locating the powder in the surface feature(s); and infiltrating the preform and the powder with molten silicon (Si) to form reaction-bonded SiC in the preform, and to form reaction-bonded SiC coatings on the diamond particles. The present disclosure also relates to a device/component which includes: a main body portion and discrete elements located at least partially within the main body portion. The main body portion may include reaction-bonded SiC and Si, but not diamond, while the discrete elements include diamond particles, reaction-bonded SiC coatings surrounding the diamond particles, and Si. According to the present disclosure, diamond may be advantageously located only where it is needed.

U.S. Pat. No. 9,469,918, issued Oct. 18, 2016, refers to a multilayer substrate which includes a diamond layer and a composite layer, where the diamond layer is grown on the composite layer, and where the composite layer includes diamond and silicon carbide (SiC), and, optionally, silicon (Si). According to U.S. Pat. No. 9,469,918, the composite layer may be formed by mixing diamond particles with SiC particles or a SiC-forming precursor. The entire disclosure of U.S. Pat. No. 9,469,918 is expressly incorporated herein by reference.
United States Patent Application Publication No. 2021/0002534, based on International Application No. PCT/EP2019/056457, filed Mar. 14, 2019, refers to SiC-bound hard diamond material particles. According to United States Patent Application Publication No. 2021/0002534, diamond particles may be embedded in a matrix of reaction-formed SiC. The entire disclosure of United States Patent Application Publication No. 2021/0002534 is expressly incorporated herein by reference.

Silicon carbide body with localized diamond reinforcement