The present invention relates to a connecting rod made of composite material, especially for internal-combustion engines, the composite material being formed by a reinforcement embedded in a cured material, and the connecting rod (A) comprising, along the longitudinal extension (Xxe2x80x94X) of the connecting rod, a central shank (B) extended respectively, at its two ends, by a connecting-rod big end (C) and a connecting-rod small end (D). According to the invention, the connecting rod (A) is produced entirely as a single component made of composite material and the reinforcement of the composite material comprises superposed plies of crossed straight filling yarns, the filling yarns, which extend parallel to the longitudinal extension (Xxe2x80x94X) of the connecting rod (A), constituting at least twice the volume percentage of the filling yarns which extend in each of the directions other than the longitudinal extension (Xxe2x80x94X) of the connecting rod (A), and binding yarns pass through the superposed plies.

The present invention relates to a connecting rod made of composite material, especially for internal-combustion engines, as well as to a method for manufacturing such a connecting rod.
Such a connecting rod is an elongate component which includes, in addition to a central shank, a wider big end, which is the part of the connecting rod lying on the crankshaft side, and a narrower small end, which is the part of the connecting rod lying on the piston side. In order to mount it, the big end must be able to open, and it therefore includes two elements fastened by two bolts which exert a significant stress on that surface of the element against which they are tightened. The connecting rod is a component which has a preferential direction of loading and has to have a high stiffness preventing deformations around the bores of the small end and the big end.
A connecting rod made of composite material is already known, for example from Patent FR-A-2,654,483. By composite material is meant a material which includes a reinforcement of yarns or fibers, this reinforcement being embedded in a matrix of cured synthetic material. Such a composite material, in addition to the weight saving that it provides, withstands mechanical loads extremely well, has a high corrosion resistance and excellent high-temperature behavior. However, in Patent FR-A-2,654,483, these properties of composite materials are not fully exploited on account of the fact that, in this case, the shank, small end and big end of the connecting rod are produced in the form of separate components connected by adhesive bonding and winding of a yarn, forming a strap. Furthermore, such a production is complicated and has to be implemented in several steps, thereby preventing effective mass production of such connecting rods.
The object of the present invention is to avoid these drawbacks and relates to a connecting rod made of composite material, the structure of which makes it possible, on the one hand, to fully exploit the properties of the composite materials and, on the other hand, to manufacture a large number of such components easily and quickly.
For this purpose, the connecting rod made of composite material, especially for internal-combustion engines, said composite material being formed by a reinforcement embedded in a cured material, and said connecting rod comprising, along the longitudinal extension of the connecting rod, a central shank extended respectively, at its two extremities, by a connecting-rod big end and a connecting-rod small end, is noteworthy in that, according to the invention, said connecting rod is produced entirely as a single component made of composite material, in that the reinforcement of said composite material comprises superposed plies of crossed straight filling yarns, the filling yarns, which extend parallel to the longitudinal extension of the connecting rod, constituting at least twice the volume percentage of the filling yarns which extend in each of the directions other than the longitudinal extension of the connecting rod and in that binding yarns pass through said superposed plies.
Thus, the reinforcement of the connecting rod made of composite material according to the invention has an increased strength in the maximum load direction, that is to say the longitudinal extension of the connecting rod, and, in addition, since the connecting rod is made of a single component of composite material, it is simple to manufacture and the properties of the composite material may be exploited to the maximum.
Advantageously, assuming that the filling yarns of the reinforcement extending parallel to the longitudinal extension of the connecting rod are the 0xc2x0 direction yarns, the other filling yarns of the reinforcement extend along the 45xc2x0, 90xc2x0 and 135xc2x0 directions.
In particular, the reinforcement may comprise as many 0xc2x0 direction filling yarns as there are filling yarns extending along the other three, 45, 90xc2x0 and 135xc2x0, directions.
Preferably, with respect to the total volume of the composite material including the reinforcement and the cured matrix, the volume percentage of the filling yarns is between 40% and 40% and the volume percentage of the binding yarns is between 1% and 10%.
In particular, the volume percentage of the 0xc2x0 direction filling yarns is at least substantially equal to 27%, while the volume percentage of the 45xc2x0, 90xc2x0 and 135xc2x0 direction filling yarns is at least substantially equal, in each case, to 9%.
Moreover, the volume percentage of the binding yarns may be at least substantially equal to 3%.
Advantageously, for each series of plies, the filling yarns are arranged in the following sequence: 0xc2x0 direction yarns, 45xc2x0 direction yarns, 0xc2x0 direction yarns, 90xc2x0 direction yarns, 0xc2x0 direction yarns and 135xc2x0 direction yarns.
According to another characteristic of the invention, additional 90xc2x0 direction filling yarns are provided in the region of the connecting-rod big end, increasing its thickness.
Preferably, said additional 90xc2x0 direction filling yarns are incorporated in each of said series of plies.
According to yet other characteristics of the invention, 0xc2x0 direction filling yarns, going around the connecting-rod small end, may be incorporated between said series of plies, and/or yarns, going around the connecting-rod small end, may be arranged by stitching along the edges of said connecting-rod small end.
The present invention also relates to a method for manufacturing a connecting rod made of composite material, which has just been described, noteworthy in that, according to the invention:
a) a reinforcement for a sheet of composite material is produced, said reinforcement comprising superposed plies of crossed straight filling yarns, the filling yarns, which extend parallel to a first direction, constituting at least twice the volume percentage of the filling yarns which extend in each of the other directions, and binding yarns passing through said superposed plies;
b) said reinforcement is impregnated with a synthetic material intended to form the matrix of said sheet of composite material;
c) said synthetic resin is cured so as to form said sheet of composite material;
d) said sheet of composite material is cut so as to obtain connecting-rod preforms, said first direction corresponding to the longitudinal extension of said preforms; and
e) each connecting-rod preform thus obtained is machined into its final state.
In particular, assuming that the filling yarns of the reinforcement extending along said first direction are the 0xc2x0 direction yarns, the other filling yarns of the reinforcement extend along the 45xc2x0, 90xc2x0 and 135xc2x0 directions.
Preferably, in step a), as many 0xc2x0 direction filling yarns are laid down as there are filling yarns extending along the other three, 45xc2x0, 90xc2x0 and 135xc2x0, directions.
Advantageously, for each series of plies, the filling yarns are laid down according to the following sequence: 0xc2x0 direction yarns, 45xc2x0 direction yarns, 0xc2x0 direction yarns, 90xc2x0 direction yarns, 0xc2x0 direction yarns and 135xc2x0 direction yarns.
According to another characteristic of the invention, in step a), additional 90xc2x0 direction filling yarns are laid down in the region corresponding to the connecting-rod big ends.
Preferably, in this case, said additional 90xc2x0 direction filling yarns are laid down at the time of production of each of said series of plies.
According to yet another characteristic of the invention, between said series of plies, 0xc2x0 direction filling yarns, going around the places provided for the connecting-rod small ends, are laid down.
In particular, step d) may be carried out before steps b) and c) in order thus to make it possible, after step d), to stitch yarns into the reinforcement, going around the connecting-rod small end, along the edges of the latter.

Connecting rod made of composite material

Aerospatiale Societe Nationale Industrielle


An air-cooled hard hat includes a hard hat and a fan arrangement. The fan arrangement has a fan, an input, and at least one outlet for distribution of air. An opening is made on the hard hat, which the at least one outlet feeds through. The opening may be located on the front face of a laterally facing wall of the hard hat. When the fan arrangement is attached to the hard hat, the outlet provides air to the interior of the hard hat through the hole. Additionally, another opening may be located along a front brim of the hard hat. A second outlet that feeds through the opening in the brim provides air down onto the face of the user.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates in general to the field of hard hats. More particularly, the present invention relates to a fan arrangement cooling device that can be installed on a standard, traditional hard hat with little modification of the hard hat.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
It is well known that construction projects often involve work during hot conditions. Nevertheless, workers are normally required to wear appropriate safety gear including hard hats at all times when on a job site. As a result, a variety of different products have been introduced to help ensure an increased level of comfort in warm temperatures.
For instance, there are a number of specially made hard hats that include various cooling devices and fans within these configurations. One such configuration features a specially designed hard hat having a removable temperature panel that slides out such that a cooling pack or heating pack can be inserted into the crown of the hard hat. Other hard hats have extended portions in the rear of the hard hat that create a wind tunnel. Still other options provide blowers that attach to the rear of a hard hat to blow air up from under the rear rim of the hard hat.
Another option is hard hat configurations with additional devices mounted to the top of the hard hat, such that air is blown directly downward onto the scalp of the user. These configurations often require a specialized hard hat with additional space above the user's head to allow the necessary clearance. While providing increased air movement and comfort to the user, mans' of these options are heavy or bulky headgear which may be distracting or uncomfortable for a user accustomed to a standard hard hat. Additionally, many of these options require a specialized hard hat that must be specially manufactured.
What is needed, therefore, is a cooling device for use with a hard hat that is both light weight and easily adaptable to an existing hard hat, such that a user can have a cooling feature without having to purchase a specially made hard hat and without sacrificing the safety and comfort of a traditional hard hat.


An insulated electrical cable includes: a conductor; and an insulating layer that is laminated on an outer peripheral surface of the conductor and includes a polyimide as a main component, wherein the insulating layer includes a plurality of pores, and wherein a porosity of the insulating layer is greater than or equal to 25% by volume and less than or equal to 60% by volume.

Insulated electrical cables used as coil windings of electrical devices such as transformers generally have a structure in which an insulating layer is formed on the outer peripheral surface of a conductor, and from the viewpoint of excellent heat resistance, a material including polyimide as a main component is preferably used as the material of this insulating layer.
In particular, in a case where an insulated electrical cable using such a polyimide is used under a high-temperature and high-humidity environment, the film is deteriorated by hydrolysis of the polyimide and the film strength is lowered. Therefore, there is a possibility that a crack of the insulating layer occurs.
As a technique for suppressing an occurrence of a crack of an insulating layer as described above, a method is proposed by which an electrodeposition coating film of a block copolymer polyimide having a siloxane bond and an anionic group is formed by a suspension-type electrodeposition coating material and a polyamideimide coating film that covers the electrodeposition coating film is further formed to form a composite insulating layer. According to this method, it seems that, due to an excellent resistance to moist heat or the like, an insulating member in which a crack of an insulating layer does not easily occur is obtained (see Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 2010-108725).


This invention relates to the method of use of a congener of an endothelium-derived bioactive composition of matter, which comprises administering said congener percutaneously to a site proximately adjacent the exterior of a coronary blood vessel at a therapeutically effective dosage.

This invention relates to methods and devices for the site-specific delivery of bioactive agents in mammals, especially for cardiac and peripheral vascular applications, and more particularly, is directed to a method for treating the heart by intrapericardial access.
1. Pathophysiological Background
A. Vascular Endothelium Function
Normal blood vessels are lined with a layer of endothelial cells. The endothelium releases local factors (endothelium-derived relaxing factor nitric oxide! and prostaglandin I.sub.2 PGI.sub.2, or prostacyclin!) into the vessel wall (intramural release) and into the blood stream (intraluminal release). These factors maintain vascular tone (vessel relaxation), inhibit clot formation on the vessel inner surface (platelet adhesion and aggregation), inhibit monocyte adherence and chemotaxis, and inhibit smooth muscle cell migration and proliferation. Normal endothelium releases both prostacyclin and nitric oxide in response to platelet aggregation. Nitric oxide release inhibits platelet adhesion, prevents further aggregation, and promotes platelet disaggregation. Prostacyclin release, promoted by platelet-derived thromboxane A.sub.2, acts synergistically with nitric oxide to prevent platelet-mediated vasoconstriction. As a result of this process, vasodilation and thrombolysis occurs, and blood flow is maintained. If the endothelium is dysfunctional or damaged, however, nitric oxide and prostacyclin release is impaired. Platelet aggregation and adhesion can occur unopposed, with platelet-derived products acting directly on the smooth muscle cells to cause vasoconstriction. The net result is a blood vessel which is highly susceptible to thrombosis and vasospasm. See, "Nitric oxide release accounts for the biological activity of endothelium-derived relaxing factor", Palmer R., et al., NATURE, 327:524, 1987; "Control of coronary vascular tone by nitric oxide", Kelm M., et al., CIRC. RES., 66:1561, 1990; "Regulatory functions of the vascular endothelium", Vane J., et al., N. ENGL. J. MED., 323:27, 1990; "Endothelial modulation of vascular tone: Relevance to coronary angioplasty and restenosis", Harrison D., J. AMER. COL. CARDIOL., 17:71B, 1991; "The antiaggregating properties of vascular endothelium: Interactions between prostacyclin and nitric oxide", Radomski M., et al., BRIT. J. PHARMACOL., 92: 639, 1987; "EDRF increases cyclic GMP in platelets during passage through the coronary vascular bed", Pohl U., et al., CIRC. RES., 65:1798, 1989; "Human endothelial cells inhibit platelet aggregation by separately stimulating platelet cAMP and cGMP", Alheid U., et al., EUROP. J. PHARMACOL., 164:103, 1989; "Nitric oxide: An endogenous modulator of leukocyte adhesion", Kubes P., et al., PROC. NATL. ACAD. SCI., 88:4651, 1991; "Nitric oxide and prostacyclin: Divergence of inhibitory effects on monocyte chemotaxis and adhesion to endothelium in vitro", Bath P., et al., ARTERIOSCLER. THROMB., 11:254, 1991; "Nitric oxide generating vasodilators and 8-Br-cGMP inhibit mitogenesis and proliferation of cultured rat vascular smooth muscle cells", Garg U., et al., J. CLIN. INVEST., 83:1774, 1989; "Role of blood platelets and prostaglandins in coronary artery disease", Mehta J., et al., AMER. J. CARDIOL., 48:366, 1981; and "Prostaglandins and cardiovascular disease: A review", Jacobsen D., SURGERY, 93:564, 1983.
B. Vascular Stenosis
Atherosclerosis can form within a blood vessel over a period of years from a variety of causes. The resulting lesion, or plaque, may progressively occlude the vessel and impede blood flow to vital organs. The stenotic lesions when covered by endothelium are termed stable. See, "Cellular proliferation in atherosclerosis and hypertension", Schwartz S., et al., PROG. CARDIOVASC. DIS., 26:355, 1984; and "The pathogenesis of atherosclerosis: An update", Ross R., N. ENGL. J. MED., 314:488, 1986.
Unstable stenotic lesions are associated with endothelial cell injury at the sites of coronary stenosis. Injury to the endothelium stops the local release of the endothelium-derived factors. Severe injury to the vessel wall exposes the underlying collagen layer, which immediately activates platelet adhesion and aggregation (clumping) and stimulates vasoconstriction (spasm). The platelet blood clotting cascade is triggered, thrombin and fibrin quickly form at the site(s) of vascular injury, and a thrombus begins forming. The aggregating platelets release local growth factor (platelet-derived growth factor or PDGF) which activates smooth muscle cells within the vessel wall. Over a period of days-to-weeks, smooth muscle cells migrate into the thrombus and proliferate, and the thrombus becomes organized. See, "The restenosis paradigm revisited: An alternative proposal for cellular mechanisms", Schwartz R., et al., J. AMER. COL. CARDIOL., 20:1284, 1992; "The pathogenesis of coronary artery disease and the acute coronary syndromes: Parts I and II", Fuster V., et al., N. ENGL. J. MED., 326:242 and 310, 1992; "Migration of smooth muscle and endothelial cells", Casscells W., CIRC., 86:723, 1992; "The role of platelets, thrombin and hyperplasia in restenosis after coronary angioplasty", Ip J., et al., J. AMER. COL. CARDIOL., 17:77B, 1991; "Syndromes of accelerated atherosclerosis: Role of vascular injury and smooth muscle cell proliferation", Ip J., et al., J. AMER. COL. CARDIOL., 15:1667, 1990; "Time course of smooth muscle cell proliferation in the intima and media of arteries following experimental angioplasty", Hanke H., et al., CIRC. RES., 67:651, 1990; "Effect of platelet factors on migration of cultured bovine aortic endothelial and smooth muscle cells", Bell L., et al., CIRC. RES., 65:1057, 1989; "Role of platelets in smooth muscle cell proliferation and migration after vascular injury in rat carotid artery", Fingerle J., et al., PROC. NATL. ACAD. SCI., 86:8412, 1989; "Restenosis after coronary angioplasty: Potential biologic determinants and role of intimal hyperplasia", Liu M., et al., CIRC., 79:1374, 1989; "Is vasospasm related to platelet deposition?", Lam J., et al., CIRC., 75:243, 1988; "Role of platelets and thrombosis in mechanisms of acute occlusion and restenosis after angioplasty", Harker L., AMER. J. CARDIOL., 60: 20B, 1987; and "Restenosis after arterial angioplasty: A hemorrheologic response to injury", Chesebro J., et al., AMER. J. CARDIOL., 60:10B, 1987.
C. Coronary Artery Stenosis
The described vasoconstrictive physiologic mechanisms occur both in peripheral and in coronary arteries, but the consequences of the processes are more life threatening in the coronary arteries. Coronary arteries, the arteries of the heart, perfuse the cardiac muscle with oxygenated arterial blood. They provide essential nutrients and allow for metabolic waste and gas exchange. These arteries are subject to unremitting service demands for continuous blood flow throughout the life of the patient. A severe proximal coronary artery stenosis with endothelial injury induces cyclic coronary flow reductions ("CFR's"). These are periodic or spasmodic progressive reductions in blood flow in the injured artery. Episodes of CFR's are correlated to clinical acute ischemic heart disease syndromes, which comprise unstable angina, acute myocardial infarction and sudden death. The common pathophysiologic link is endothelial injury with vasospasm and/or thrombus formation.
Coronary artery disease is the leading cause of death in the United States today. In 1992, the clinical population of unstable angina patients in the United States numbered approximately 1,000,000. Of these patients, it is estimated that 160,000 underwent coronary thrombolysis therapy where a clot dissolving agent is injected intravenously or intracoronary to reopen the thrombosed vessel and reduce the incidence of myocardial infarction and sudden death. See, "Mechanisms contributing to precipitation of unstable angina and acute myocardial infarction: Implications regarding therapy", Epstein S., et al., AMER. J. CARDIOL., 54:1245, 1984; "Unstable angina with fatal outcome: Dynamic coronary thrombosis leading to infarction and/or sudden death", Falk E., CIRC., 71:699, 1985; "Speculation regarding mechanisms responsible for acute ischemic heart disease syndromes", Willerson J., et al., J. AMER. COL. CARDIOL., 8:245, 1986; "Platelets and thrombolytic therapy", Coller B., N. ENGL. J. MED., 322:33, 1990; and "Frequency and severity of cyclic flow alterations and platelet aggregation predict the severity of neointimal proliferation following experimental coronary stenosis and endothelial injury", Willerson J., et al., PROC. NATL. ACAD. SCI., 88:10624, 1991.
2. Surgical Procedures for Coronary Artery Disease
A. Procedures
Historically, the treatment of advanced atherosclerotic coronary artery disease (i.e., beyond that amenable to therapy via medication alone) has involved cardiac surgery in the form of a coronary artery bypass graft ("CABG"). The patient is placed on cardiopulmonary bypass (heart-lung machine) and the heart muscle is temporarily stopped (cardioplegia). Repairs are then surgically affected on the heart in the form of detour conduit grafted vessels (vein or artery graft) providing blood flow around the coronary artery obstruction(s). While CABG surgery has been shown to be effective, it carries with it inherent surgical risk and requires a recuperation period of several weeks. During 1992, approximately 290,000 patients underwent CABG surgery in the United States.
A major advance in the treatment of atherosclerotic coronary artery disease occurred in the late 1970's with introduction of the less-invasive percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty ("PTCA") procedures. The PTCA technique involves the retrograde introduction, from an artery in the leg or arm, up to the area of coronary vascular stenosis, of a catheter with a small dilating balloon at its tip. The catheter is advanced through the arteries via direct fluoroscopic guidance and passed across the luminal narrowing of the vessel. Once in place the catheter balloon is inflated for a short period of time. This results in mechanical deformation of the lesion or vessel with a subsequent increase in the cross-sectional area. This in turn reduces obstruction and transluminal pressure gradients, and increases blood flow through the coronary artery. PTCA or angioplasty is a term that now may include other percutaneous transluminal methods of decreasing stenosis within a blood vessel, and includes not only balloon dilation, but also thermal ablation and mechanical atherectomy with shaving, extraction or ultrasonic pulverization of the lesion. During 1992 in the United States, it is estimated that some 400,000 patients underwent coronary angioplasty procedures.
B. The Problem of Vascular Restenosis
Despite the major therapeutic advances in the treatment of coronary artery disease represented by thrombolytic therapy, CABG operations and PTCA procedures, the success of these measures has been hampered by the development of vessel renarrowing or reclosure, most significantly in patients undergoing thrombolysis and angioplasty procedures. Abrupt vessel occlusion or early restenosis may develop during a period of hours to days post-procedure due to vasospasm and/or platelet thrombus formation at the site of vessel injury. The more common and major limitation, however, is a development of progressive reversion of the diseased vessel to its previous stenotic condition, negating any gains achieved from the procedure. This gradual renarrowing process is referred to as restenosis or intimal hyperplasia. Restenosis is a reparative response to endovascular injury after angioplasty and in vein grafts following vessel bypass surgery. The sequence of events is similar to that described above for unstable lesions associated with endothelial injury, progressing through the process of platelet aggregation, vasoconstriction, thrombus formation, PDGF release, smooth muscle cell proliferation, and thrombus organization.
Clinical studies indicate that thrombolytic therapy is ineffective in about 20% of the treated patients and that 20% of those patients initially responding to therapy develop vessel rethrombosis within one week. Clinical studies also indicate that significant restenosis occurs in about 40% of the PTCA patients within six months and in about 20% of the CABG patients within one year. This complication results in increased morbidity, need for repeating the procedure, and escalating medical costs. With an estimated 690,000 coronary revascularization procedures performed in the United States in 1992, these incidences mean as many as 200,000 patients may develop vessel restenosis within one year after operation. Repeat procedures could account for $2.85 billion in additional health care costs in the United States.
6. Lack of Success in Prevention of Vasular Restenosis Without Side-Effects
At present, no therapy is know that consistently prevents the major clinical problem of vascular restenosis. Intravenous medications have been tried as a means to prevent PTCA restenosis and other coronary disease syndromes. Systemically administered pravastatin (U.S. Pat. No. 4,346,227) and lovastatin (U.S. Pat. No. 5,140,012), both HMG CoA reductase inhibitors, have been said to prevent restenosis following angioplasty. Prostaglandin E.sub.1 ("PGE.sub.1 ", a congener of endothelium-derived PGI.sub.2 and prostacyclin) and a known potent vasodilator with antiplatelet, anti-inflammatory and antiproliferative effects--see "Hemodynamic effects of prostaglandin E.sub.1 infusion in patients with acute myocardial infarction and left ventricular failure", Popat K., et al., AMER. HEART J., 103:485, 1982; "Comparison of equimolar concentrations of iloprost, prostacyclin, and prostaglandin E.sub.1 on human platelet function", Fisher C., et al., J. LAB. CLIN. MED., 109: 184, 1987; and "Prostaglandin E.sub.1 inhibits DNA synthesis in arterial smooth muscle cells stimulated with platelet-derived growth factors", Nilsson J., et al., ATHEROSCLEROSIS, 53:77, 1984--has been reported to inhibit abrupt occlusion and early restenosis in patients when infused intravenously after PTCA for 12 hours at dosages of from 20 to 40 ng/kg/min following a 65 ng bolus given intracoronary before and after PTCA, "Prostaglandin E.sub.1 infusion after angioplasty in humans inhibits abrupt occlusion and early restenosis", See J., et al., ADV. PROSTAGLANDIN, THROMBOXANE AND LEUKOTRIENE RES., 17:266, 1987. However, prostacyclin (PGI.sub.2) did not lower the coronary restenosis rate at 5 months following PTCA, although infused intravenously for 48 hours after PTCA at dosages of 5.0 ng/kg/min following intracoronary infusion at 7.0 ng/kg/min before and after the PTCA procedure, "Effect of short-term prostacyclin administration on restenosis after percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty", Knudtson M., et al., J. AMER. COL. CARDIOL., 15:691, 1990.
Sodium nitroprusside and other organic nitrates including nitroglycerin have long been used as vasodilator agents, and investigations, cited above, have shown that nitric oxide is the endogenous endothelium-derived nitrovasodilator. These agents also have anti-platelet effects, "The interaction of sodium nitroprusside with human endothelial cells and platelet: Nitroprusside and prostacyclin synergistically inhibit platelet function", Levin R., et al., CIRC., 66:1299, 1982; "Platelets, vasoconstriction, and nitroglycerin during arterial wall injury: A new antithrombotic role for an old drug", Lam J., et al., CIRC., 78:7122, 1988. In a study in stenosed and endothelium-injured canine coronary arteries, promotion of endogenous nitric oxide production by infusion of L-arginine (the precursor for nitric oxide synthesis), at a dosage of 60 mg/kg, decreased platelet aggregation and abolished CFR's, "Endogenous nitric oxide protects against platelet aggregation and cyclic flow variations in stenosed and endothelium-injured arteries", Yao S., et al., CIRC., 86: 1302, 1992. Intravenous nitroglycerin infusion at dosages from 10 to 15 .mu.g/kg/min inhibited CFR's in stenosed and endothelium-injured coronary arteries of dogs. This effect was potentiated by the pretreatment with the reduced thiol, N-acetylcysteine, at a dose of 100 mg/kg for 30 minutes, "Intravenous nitroglycerin infusion inhibits cyclic blood flow responses caused by periodic platelet thrombus formation in stenosed canine coronary arteries", Folts J., et al., CIRC., 83:2122, 1991. Sodium nitroprusside is also a nitric oxide donor agent, "Metabolic activation of sodium nitroprusside to nitric oxide in vascular smooth muscle", Kowaluk E., et al., J. PHARMACOL. EXPER. THERAPEUTICS, 262:916, 1992.
The difficulty with systemic infusion of PGE.sub.1, PGI.sub.2, prostacyclin, sodium nitroprusside and the other organic nitrates is that, in dosages high enough to provide signs of beneficial cardiac effect, the potent vasodilator and antiplatelet effects of these bioactive agents also produce systemic side effects of bleeding and hypotension. No know therapy consistently prevents acute coronary thrombosis and chronic vascular restenosis while reducing the systemic side-effects of bleeding and hypotension. See, "Prevention of restenosis after percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty: The search for a `magic bullet`", Hermans W., et al., AMER. HEART J., 122:171, 1991; and "Clinical trials of restenosis after coronary angioplasty", Popma J., et al., CIRC., 84:1426, 1991.
Recently, site-specific drug delivery to the arterial wall has become a new strategy for the treatment of vascular diseases, including vessel restenosis following PTCA. These drug delivery systems include: (1) intravascular devices for site-specific (coronary artery) drug delivery comprising double-balloon catheters, porous balloon catheters, microporous balloon catheters, channel balloon catheters, balloon over stent catheters, hydrogel coated balloon catheters, iontophoretic balloon catheters and stent devices; (2) periadventitial and epicardial drug delivery devices, requiring surgical implantation, which include drug-eluting polymer matrices and a iontophoretic patch device; and (3) intramural injection of drug-eluting microparticles. All of these methods are limited by certain problems including additional trauma to the vessel wall, rapid washout of drug, need for invasive insertion, and/or use of therapeutic agents having a single mechanism of action. See, "Effect of controlled adventitial heparin delivery on smooth muscle proliferation following endothelial injury", Edelman E., et al., PROC. NATL. ACAD. SCI., 87:3773, 1990; "Localized release of perivascular heparin inhibits intimal proliferation after endothelial injury without systemic anticoagulation", Okada T., et al., NEUROSURGERY, 25:892, 1989; "lontophoretic transmyocardial drug delivery: A novel approach to antiarrhythmic drug therapy", Avitall B., et al., CIRC., 85:1582, 1992; "Direct intraarterial wall injection of microparticles via a catheter: A potential drug delivery strategy following angioplasty", Wilensky R., et al., AMER. HEART J., 122: 1136, 1991; "Local anticoagulation without systemic effect using a polymer hepatin delivery system", Okada T., et al., STROKE, 19:1470, 1988.
Intrapericardial injection of drugs has been used for the treatment of malignant or loculated pericardial effusions in man. Drugs that have been injected into the pericardial space include antibiotic, antineoplastic, radioactive and fibrinolytic agents. This method of site-specific drug delivery has been shown to be effective in attaining higher, longer-lasting drug levels in the pericardial fluid with lower plasma concentrations and less systemic toxicity. It has been reported that no major complications were associated with the intrapericardial drug infusion catheter and that it was possible to repeat the procedure without difficulty. See, "Intrapericardial instillation of platin in malignant pericardial effusion", Fiorentino M., et al., CANCER, 62:1904, 1988; and "Use of streptokinase to aid drainage of postoperative pericardial effusion", Cross J., et al., BRIT. HEART J., 62:217, 1989.
Intrapericardial drug delivery has not been clinically utilized for heart-specific treatments where pericardial pathology is normal, however, because the pericardial space is normally small and very difficult to access without invasive surgery or risk of cardiac injury by standard needle pericardiocentesis techniques. The pericardiocentesis procedure is carried out by experienced personnel in the cardiac catheterization laboratory, with equipment for fluoroscopy and monitoring of the electrocardiogram. Complications associated with needle pericardiocentesis include laceration of a coronary artery or the right ventricle, perforation of the right atrium or ventricle, puncture of the stomach or colon, pneumothorax, arrhythmia, tamponade, hypotension, ventricular fibrillation, and death. The complication rates for needle pericardiocentesis are increased in situations where the pericardial space and fluid effusion volume is small (i.e., the pericardial size is more like normal).


The present invention is to provide a diene polymer that exhibits excellent low rolling resistance when used in a tire, a method for producing the diene polymer, and a rubber composition containing the diene polymer. The diene polymer of an embodiment of the present invention is produced by polymerizing a monomer containing at least a diene monomer by using an initiator prepared from an organolithium compound, an alkyl aluminum, and a metal alcoholate, and then terminating the polymerization by using an electrophile selected from the group consisting of titanium halides, tin halides, cyclic silazanes, alkoxysilanes, epoxides, amines, ketones, and compounds represented by Formula (N) below.

Butadiene homopolymers (BR), butadiene-styrene copolymers (SBR), and the like have been known as rubber materials used in tires and the like.
Note that BR and SBR are produced mainly by emulsion polymerization or solution polymerization. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses, as a method for producing a conjugated diene polymer by solution polymerization, a method for producing a conjugated diene polymer that polymerizes a monomer formed from a conjugated diene or a conjugated diene and an aromatic vinyl compound in an inert organic solvent by using a catalyst composition containing (a)dialkoxy barium compound, (b) organoaluminum compound, (c) organolithium compound, and (d) an amine compound represented by General Formula (I) or a diamine compound represented by General Formula (II).

Diene polymer, method for producing diene polymer, and rubber composition


A compact image-forming optical system is disclosed which has a high optical performance due to arranging a reflective optical unit and a refractive optical unit at suitable positions. The image-forming optical system is an optical system performing image formation from a magnifying side to a demagnifying side or from the demagnifying side to the magnifying side, and includes, in order from the magnifying side to the demagnifying side, a refractive optical unit having a positive optical power as a whole, and a reflective optical unit including at least three reflective surfaces. The image-forming optical system has a pupil on the magnifying side further from the reflective surface furthest on the magnifying side the reflective optical unit, and the focal length of the refractive optical unit is set to be within a range of 0.2 to 5 times the focal length of the reflective optical unit.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image-forming optical system, and particularly to an image-forming optical system including a refractive optical unit and a reflective optical unit.
2. Description of the Related Art
Image-forming optical systems forming an image of an object surface on a predetermined surface are used in optical apparatuses such as video cameras, still cameras, copying machines, projectors and exposure apparatuses.
FIG. 8 shows an example of a reflective optical system as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid Open No. 2000-231060. In this example, reflective surfaces 102 to 105 having a decentration are used, and an optical system with a compact structure is attained by letting the optical path cross within the optical system.
Ordinarily, it is possible to suppress chromatic aberration by using the reflective surfaces, so that by using a reflective optical system which is a non-coaxial optical system for projectors or image-scanning optical systems of copying machines, in which chromatic aberrations are problematic, it is possible to a realize an optical system with better performance than in the case of using a coaxial optical system.
Such a non-coaxial optical system is also referred to as an off-axial optical system. The off-axial optical system is defined as, when the path which a light ray passing through the center of an image and the center of a pupil is taken as the reference axis, an optical system including curved surfaces (off-axial curved surfaces) whose surface normals on the intersection between the surface and the reference axis do not coincide with the reference axis. In this case, the reference axis has a bent shape.
The constituent surfaces of such an off-axial optical system are ordinarily non-coaxial, and it is easy to construct the optical system using reflective surfaces, since no eclipse occurs at the reflective surfaces. Moreover, by forming an intermediate image within the optical system, it is possible to configure a compact optical system while ensuring a broad field angle.
Japanese Patent Application Laid Open No. H08 (1996)-292372, Japanese Patent Application Laid Open No. H09 (1997)-222561, and Japanese Patent Application Laid Open No. H09 (1997)-258105 disclose zoom optical systems using an off-axial optical system, and Japanese Patent Application Laid Open No. H09 (1997)-5650 discloses a method for designing a zoom optical system.
Moreover, optical systems combining refractive lenses and refractive surfaces have been proposed (see for example Japanese Patent Application Laid Open No. H09 (1997)-258106), but the object of most of these is to correct chromatic aberration.
In the optical system disclosed in FIG. 8, all of the reflective surfaces 102 to 105 are provided with a positive optical power in order to let the optical path intersect within the optical system and to make it compact. Furthermore, an incident surface 101 and an emergent surface 106 have a soft curvature and are substantially planar in order to suppress chromatic aberration. In order to suppress chromatic aberration, it is preferable that the incident and the emergent surfaces 101 and 106 have a negative optical power. In the case of refractive lenses, the Petzval's terms have the same sign as the optical power, whereas in the case of reflective surfaces, the Petzval's terms have the opposite sign of the optical power.
In the optical system of FIG. 8, if the influence of the incident and the emergent surfaces is disregarded, the Petzval's terms are all negative, so that a curvature of field occurs at the image surface, and a high optical performance cannot be attained. Moreover, if the optical system has reflective surfaces with a negative optical power, then the light flux diverges at these surfaces, so that the optical system becomes large. Due to this reason, it is desirable that the number of surfaces having negative optical power is reduced, when the goal is to make the optical system more compact.
However, in order to make the Petzval's sum zero, reflective surfaces having positive and negative optical power are necessary. As noted above, for refractive lenses, the Petzval's terms have the same sign as the optical power, where as for reflective surfaces they have the opposite sign of the optical power, so that when combining reflective surfaces and refractive lenses, it is possible to reduce the number of surfaces having negative optical power, making it possible to correct the Petzval's sum.


The present invention is directed to an antenna for radio-operated communication terminal devices. For effecting a multi-band antenna, a planar inverted-F antenna is provided that is designed in size for a predetermined, lower emission frequency and that includes one or more notchings or graduations in longitudinal direction with which one or more geometrical paths derive over whose course emittable waves form with a higher frequency than the predetermined, lower frequency.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is directed, generally, to an antenna for radio-operated communication terminal equipment and, more specifically, to a planar inverted-F antenna for covering a number of different frequency bands.
2. Description of the Prior Art.
Particularly in view of developments in mobile radio telephone technology, antennas are required to simultaneously cover a number of frequency bands. Moreover, the marketplace is demanding both smaller and cheaper mobile ratio telephone devices. Antennas are therefore required that have a low space requirement, that can be unproblemmatically designed to function in either a plurality of frequency bands or a broadband frequency range and that can be inexpensively manufactured.
Solutions are known in this field wherein two or more individual planar inverted-F antennas are integrated in a piece of communication terminal equipment. However, one or more feed points are then required which need to be driven via suitable circuitry; thus, representing an additional outlay.
An object of the present invention, therefore, is to specify an antenna for radio-operated communication terminal equipment that is configured as a planar inverted-F antenna which, however, is also in the position of simultaneously covering a plurality of frequency bands.
An antenna for radio-operated communication terminal equipment for achieving the above-mentioned object is characterized by a planar inverted-F antenna having a feed point and one or more ground connections that is designed for a predetermined, lower emission frequency that has its size defining the overall dimension of the antenna. Such antenna further includes one or more notchings or graduations in longitudinal direction with which one or more geometrical paths derive that are composed of a plurality of straight-line or curved individual paths, and that proceed from the feed point or some other corner or end point to one of the corner points created by the notchings or graduations. Moreover, over the course of such paths an emittable wave is formed with a higher frequency than the predetermined, lower frequency.
The inventive antenna is easy and inexpensive to manufacture, has a small space requirement and can be unproblemmatically designed to function in either a plurality of frequency bands or a broadband frequency range.
Additional features and advantages of the present invention are described in, and will be apparent from, the Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments and the Drawings.

Antenna for radio-operated communication terminal equipment


The housing system uses foam filled cement and fiberglass clad panels and cement fiberglass moldings to construct modular housing. The panels have a foam core made of polystyrene bead foam coated with an adhesion promoter and then covered with a laminate consisting of layers of continuous strand fiberglass matt and Portland cement. The moldings used to fit the sections together are also made from Portland cement and fiberglass. The panels can be shaped to serve multiple purposes, such as roof panels. Wall panels can be oriented so that the space left between the panel ends and the moldings can be filled with cement. An adhesion promoter can also be used to assist the bonding between the foam and fiberglass panels and the cement fiberglass moldings to provide greater structural strength for the resulting structure.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to prefabricated construction systems and more specifically to a system and method for construction of inexpensive private dwellings and small businesses where low costs and simplicity of construction are of primary importance.
2. Description of Related Technology
Construction of private dwellings in third world countries has been substantially limited by the relatively low availability of skilled labor and high strength building materials. Furthermore, the construction of dwellings in such countries has often been influenced by the frequently encountered high heat and humidity at such locations, combined with the resultant biological attacks on the structure from mildew, insects and organisms which thrive in a hot humid environment. One solution which has existed for ages in such locations is to make the housing out of relatively flimsy, locally available materials, such as palm fronds or straw and the like, combined with mud and clay infused into a bare structure. However, such structures, while certainly economical, provide little in the way of genuine protection from the elements and provide extensive cover for insects and vermin. Thus, it is very difficult to prevent the spread of disease in and among such dwellings, and the quality of daily life in such structures is necessarily low. Furthermore, such construction is not amenable to housing modern equipment or perishables, offers little shelter from the elements and thus severely limits their use for business purposes.
Also, the dwellings of this type often have a very high labor cost in terms of the number of man hours required to erect a dwelling and do not include simple provisions for any of the modem requirements for housing, including the availability of electrical wiring and the like. However, most applications for such housing are incompatible with relatively high cost of construction associated with modern dwellings, even if the low cost of labor in the local area is considered. Therefore, it would be useful to provide a construction design which would not use expensive materials, was easily fabricated in remote locations, and easily erected at the site where the housing is desired.

Low cost prefabricated housing construction system


A system and method are disclosed for providing a process, temperature and over-drive invariant over-current protection circuit. The over-current protection circuit comprises a power transistor, a sense transistor, at least one current sense transistor and at least one current reference transistor. The over-current protection circuit provides a current limit trip value that remains substantially constant over temperature variations, and over-drive voltage variations, and process variations.

The design of a typical power supply circuit may be characterized as a voltage regulation problem. Experienced circuit designers recognize, however, that the task of designing an efficient power supply circuit requires that the issues of current measurement and current control be considered. One of the most important reasons for monitoring current in a power supply circuit is to be able to provide current limit or over-load protection for the power supply circuit.
In prior art circuits the current limit function is normally placed inside power integrated circuit (IC) chips in order to save external board area and to reduce the cost of manufacturing the power supply circuit. In the case of switching regulators (which include power switches inside the IC chip) the over-load protection is usually implemented inside the IC chip by sensing the current through power switching and then comparing the sensed signal with a reference signal to determine whether the power supply is in an over-load condition.
Because components outside of the IC chip have no control of the current limit, it is a very important and challenging task to be able to keep the accuracy of over-load protection during variations of operating conditions such as process, temperature and over-drive voltage variations. It would be desirable to have a current sense and current limit circuit that could guarantee an overall performance of over-load protection under variable operating conditions.
FIG. 1 illustrates a schematic diagram of a prior art current sense and current limit circuit 100. Circuit 100 comprises a level shifter 110 having an output connected to the input of a driver 120 as shown in FIG. 1. Level shifter 110 receives an input signal from an IN node. Level shifter 110 and driver 120 both receive a CBOOT signal from a CBOOT node. Level shifter 110 and driver 120 both receive an SW signal from a SW node.
The output of driver 120 is connected to the gate of an n-channel transistor 130 (designated M1) and to the gate of an n-channel transistor 140 (designated M2). Transistor 130 M1 is a high-side Power Field Effect Transistor (FET). Transistor 130 M1 is sometimes referred to as power transistor 130 M1. Transistor 140 M2 is a sense Field Effect Transistor (FET) that has a much smaller size than Transistor 130 M1. For example, a typical width of transistor 130 M1 is ten thousand microns (10K μ) and a typical width of transistor 140 M2 is ten microns (10μ). Resistor 150 (designated R1) is a current sense resistor. Resistor 160 (designated R3) is a current reference resistor. Typical values of resistance for resistor 150 R1 and for resistor 160 R3 are in the range of one thousand ohms (1 kΩ) to ten thousand ohms (10 kΩ).
As shown in FIG. 1, the drain of transistor 130 M1 is connected to a first end of current sense resistor 150 R1 and to a first end of current reference resistor 160 R3 and to the input voltage node VIN that supplies the input voltage VIN. The source of transistor 130 M1 is connected to the SW node. The drain of transistor 140 M2 is connected to a second end of the current sense resistor 150 R1 and to a sense "drain to source voltage" node (designated "VDS sen" in FIG. 1). The source of transistor 140 M2 is connected to the SW node.
The second end of the current reference resistor R3 is connected to a reference "drain to source voltage" node (designated "VDS ref" in FIG. 1). The second end of the current reference resistor R3 is also connected to a first side of a current source 170 (designated I1). The second side of the current source 170 I1 is connected to ground.
When the input signal IN is high, transistor 130 M1 and transistor 140 M2 are fully turned on and both of them are operating in the triode region. The voltage drop across the drain and source of transistor 130 M1 (designated VDS1) is given by the expression:VDS1≅IORDSON1  Eq. (1)
In Equation (1) the expression IO represents the load current and the expression RDSON1 represents the drain to source resistance of transistor 130 M1.
The voltage drop VR1 across the current sense resistor 150 R1 is given by the expressions:VR1=VIN−VVDS sen  Eq. (2)
                              V                      R                                                                          1                          =                              V                          DS                                                                                1                                                                                R                                                                                1                                                      R                                                                                1                            +                              R                                  DSON                                                                                2                                                                                Eq        .                                                    (          3          )
                              V                      R                                                                          1                          =                              I            O                                                                                R                          DSON                                                                                1                                                                    R                                                                                1                                                      R                                                                                1                            +                              R                                  DSON                                                                                2                                                                                Eq        .                                                    (          4          )
The expression VVDSsen represents the reference drain to source voltage on the drain of transistor 140 M2. The expression VDS1 represents the drain to source voltage of transistor 130 M1. The expression RDSON2 represents the drain to source resistance of transistor 140 M2. From Equation (4) one can see that the voltage drop VR1 is proportional to the value of the load current IO.
The reference current passes through current reference resistor 160 R3. The current reference resistor 160 R3 sets the current limit trip value. When the voltage drop across the current sense resistor 150 R1 is greater than the voltage drop across the current reference resistor R3, then the voltage on the VDSsen node will be lower than the voltage on the VDSref node. The voltage on the VDSsen node and the voltage on the VDSref node are provided to the inputs of a current limit comparator circuit (not shown in FIG. 1). When the voltage on the VDSsen node is lower than the voltage on the VDSref node then the current limit comparator will be triggered and the output of the current limit comparator will go high to flag this fault condition.
The current limit will be tripped when the voltage drop across the current sense resistor 150 R1 is equal to the voltage drop across the current reference resistor 160 R3. This equality condition is expressed as:VR1=VR3  Eq. (5)
The equality condition leads to the result:
                                          I            O                                                                                R                          DSON                                                                                1                                                                    R                                                                                1                                                      R                                                                                1                            +                              R                                  DSON                                                                                2                                                                    =                              I            REF                                                                        R                                                              3                                    Eq        .                                                    (          6          )
The limit value IO(LIMIT) of the load current IO is:
                              I                      O                                                                                (              LIMIT              )                                      =                              I            REF                                                                                R                                                                                3                                      R                                                                                1                                                                                (                                                R                                                                                1                                +                                  R                                      DSON                                                                                2                                                              )                                      R                              DSON                                                                                1                                                                        Eq        .                                                    (          7          )
From Equation (7) it would seem that in order to guarantee that the current trip value keeps constant over input voltage (VIN) variations, temperature variations, and process variations, then the current sense resistor 150 R1, and the current reference resistor 160 R3, and the resistors RDSON1 and RDSON2 should be the same type of resistors and match over a wide range (assuming that the reference current IREF has a zero temperature coefficient).
In reality this requirement cannot be met because all of the underlying requirements cannot be simultaneously satisfied. The mismatch of the resistors causes the current limit trip value to vary widely over the input voltage (VIN) variations, and the temperature variations, and the process variations.
FIG. 2 illustrates simulation results for the prior art current sense and current limit circuit 100 over temperature for a range of different over-drive voltages for an ideal current limit of four amperes (4.0 A). As shown in FIG. 2, the temperature ranges from minus forty degrees Celsius (−40° C.) to a positive one hundred degrees Celsius (+140° C.). The current range is from three amperes (3.0 A) to six amperes (6.0 A).
The variation of the current limit trip value as a function of temperature for an overdrive voltage of four volts (4.0 V) is shown in curve 210. The variation of the current limit trip value as a function of temperature for an overdrive voltage of five volts (5.0 V) is shown in curve 220. The variation of the current limit trip value as a function of temperature for an overdrive voltage of six volts (6.0 V) is shown in curve 230.
The results illustrated in FIG. 2 show that there is a variation of over sixty percent (60%) in the current limit trip value. This is even without the process variations being considered. It would be very difficult for a designer of power supply circuitry to design an efficient power supply circuit when faced with such wide variations in the current limit trip value.
Therefore, there is a need in the art for a system and method that is capable of solving the poor performance problems that are exhibited by prior art devices. In particular, there is a need in the art for a system and method for providing an efficient process, temperature and over-drive invariant over-current protection circuit.
The present invention provides an over-current protection circuit that comprises a power transistor, a sense transistor, at least one current sense transistor and at least one current reference transistor. The over-current protection circuit provides a current limit trip value that remains substantially constant over temperature variations, and over-drive voltage variations, and process variations.
Before undertaking the Detailed Description of the Invention below, it may be advantageous to set forth definitions of certain words and phrases used throughout this patent document: the terms "include" and "comprise," as well as derivatives thereof, mean inclusion without limitation; the term "or," is inclusive, meaning and/or; the phrases "associated with" and "associated therewith," as well as derivatives thereof, may mean to include, be included within, interconnect with, contain, be contained within, connect to or with, couple to or with, be communicable with, cooperate with, interleave, juxtapose, be proximate to, be bound to or with, have, have a property of, or the like.
Definitions for certain words and phrases are provided throughout this patent document, those of ordinary skill in the art should understand that in many, if not most instances, such definitions apply to prior uses, as well as to future uses, of such defined words and phrases.

System and method for providing a process, temperature and over-drive invariant over-current protection circuit


A semiconductor laser device comprises: an active layer; a cladding layer of a first conductivity type; an insulating film; a first electrode; and a pad electrode provided on the first electrode. The cladding layer is provided above the active layer, and has a ridge portion constituting a striped waveguide and non-ridge portions adjacent to both sides of the ridge portion. The insulating film is covering side faces of the ridge portion and an upper face of the non-ridge portions. The first electrode has a gap portion provided above the non-ridge portions. The pad electrode is provided on the first electrode.

DVD (Digital Versatile Disc) and other optical disc recording applications require a semiconductor laser beam with higher optical output to increase recording speed. For example, optical output exceeding 100 mW is desired for gallium nitride based semiconductor laser devices in the 400 nm wavelength band for use in the next generation DVD applications.
Such high output operation involves a large amount of heat generation from the active layer that emits the laser beam. However, the optical output of a semiconductor laser device decreases when it is used in a temperature range above the maximum lasing temperature.
In general, as the temperature of a semiconductor layer increases, its refractive index also increases. Therefore, when a large temperature difference occurs in the waveguide or near the active layer, the refractive index difference within that region increases. This changes optical confinement of the horizontal transverse mode in particular, and thereby higher order modes are more likely to occur.
Furthermore, in high output operation, higher order modes are more likely to occur in the horizontal transverse mode as the operating current increases. This may result in a kink phenomenon in the characteristics of optical output versus operating current. This phenomenon is undesirable because it restricts the available range of optical output of the semiconductor laser device.
A previously disclosed technology (U.S. Pat. No. 6,775,311) involves stabilization of the horizontal transverse mode in an attempt to remedy the above problems. In this disclosed technology, a hollow portion is provided approximately parallel to the ridge waveguide in the current blocking layer.


A lens control apparatus includes a temperature detection unit configured to detect a temperature near a zoom lens and a focus lens, a zoom lens drive unit configured to drive the zoom lens, and a controller configured, if it is determined that a current temperature near the zoom lens and the focus lens detected by the temperature detection unit is higher than a reference temperature, to acquire a telephoto end position to be set at the current temperature, to compare the telephoto end position with a current position of the zoom lens, and to cause the zoom lens drive unit to move the zoom lens to the telephoto end position if the current position of the zoom lens is located beyond the telephoto end position on a telephoto side.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a lens control apparatus configured to control the position of a zoom lens and a focus lens, to a lens barrel, to an imaging apparatus having the lens barrel and the lens control apparatus, and to an optical apparatus.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventionally, a lens barrel for a still camera or a video camera has been widely used that drives a zoom lens and a focus lens, each including a lens unit, with a driving member, such as a stepping motor.
Generally, in the case of driving a lens unit with a driving member, such as a stepping motor, an open loop control method is often used as a control method for driving and positioning the lens unit. This is because in the open loop control method, it is not necessary to provide a detection device for detecting the current position of the lens unit. In addition, this is because in the open loop control method, the configuration of a control system can be more simplified and the size of the apparatus can be relatively small compared to a control system of the closed loop control type.
However, in the case of performing positioning control on a lens unit with the open loop control method that uses a stepping motor, it is necessary to perform control so that a drive start position of the stepping motor corresponds to a movement start position of the lens unit. Accordingly, in this case, it is required that each lens unit is provided with a reference position detection unit configured to move a lens unit back to a predetermined reference position before starting the positioning control and to determine whether the lens unit has been positioned back to the reference position (reset position).
Generally, with respect to the shape of a moving locus (a cam locus) of a focus lens, the cam locus goes along a hill-like shaped continuous curve as in the case of a cam locus at an infinite object distance. More specifically, in this case, the cam locus continues to rise from a wide-angle end to a middle position, then comes along a gentle upward curve to reach a peak at the middle position, and goes downward from the middle position to a telephoto end.
As is commonly and publicly known, the cam locus goes along a steeper curve from the middle position to the telephoto end as it approaches the telephoto end, which is characteristic to the cam locus.
Meanwhile, in recent years, in an optical apparatus such as a camera, the size of a lens barrel and the image size of a solid-state image sensor have been more and more decreased. Furthermore, a plastic material is often used as a material of a retaining member for a lens barrel and an optical system.
In this regard, it is useful to use a plastic material as a material of the retaining member for a lens barrel and an optical system because the retaining member can be easily molded with a mold. Furthermore, in this case, the shape of the retaining member can be arbitrarily selected. In addition, the manufacturing costs can be reduced compared to costs for manufacturing a retaining member made of other materials, such as a metal material.
On the other hand, in this case, a problem may arise in that the physical property and size of the retaining member made of a plastic material significantly change due to a high sensitivity to the change of temperature or moisture. In this regard, if a plastic material is used as a material of a component of a lens barrel, the focal length and/or in-focus position more significantly changes than in the case of using a metal material. In this case, the optical performance may degrade due to a phenomenon of defocusing that may arise due to the change in the focal length and in-focus position.
In order to solve the problem like this, Japanese Patent No. 3,581,513 discusses a method for correcting the position of a focus lens according to a result of calculating a defocusing amount based on the temperature change amount.
If the optical magnification is simply increased and the size of an optical system is simply reduced, then the above-described steep slope of the cam locus around the telephoto end may become more significant.
Accordingly, when the optical magnification is high, in an optical system that controls the position of a focus lens along the cam locus, if the position of the zoom lens at the telephoto end is displaced even slightly due to any particular cause, it becomes necessary to move the focus lens by an amount several tens of times as large as the amount of displacement of the position of the zoom lens at the telephoto end.
The most significant cause for such defocusing is a possible thermal expansion of the component member for a lens unit occurring due to the temperature rise. If the zoom lens moves to a position beyond the telephoto end due to the thermal expansion occurring due to the temperature rise, then it becomes necessary to move the focus lens towards an image plane (towards an image sensor, such as a charge-coupled device (CCD) or a complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS)) by a distance several tens of times as great as the distance of the movement of the zoom lens beyond the telephoto end to achieve an in-focus state.
In this case, with respect to the mechanical dimension of a lens barrel, it becomes necessary to provide a clearance greater than the above-described distance of moving the focus lens to achieve an in-focus state. Accordingly, in this case, the entire mechanical length of the lens barrel may become long and the size thereof may become large.

Lens control apparatus, lens barrel, imaging apparatus, and optical apparatus


An electrical power connection module adapted to indicate when a weld between a pin and a socket has occurred. The present invention provides a multiple pin plug wherein each pin mounted in the plug is attached thereto using a spring means. The biasing means is adapted to maintain the pin in a first position if a weld has not occurred, and a second position if a weld has occurred to thereby provide the user with a visual indication of the welded pin. Therefore, rather than requiring that an entire line replaceable unit be removed and replaced at substantial cost and delay, the present invention allows the user to quickly determine which pin has become welded, and to quickly disconnect the welded pin from the plug for removal of the plug and then subsequent removal of the welded pin.

Modern aircraft include a large number of electrically powered systems which need to be supplied with power through conductors in the form of various types of cabling, wires, or the like. Early prior art systems used individual connectors dedicated to certain components to connect components together, or to a source of power. In aerospace electrical equipment systems, most of the electrical power connections were of the threaded terminal type to which the aircraft cable was connected with lugs at the ends of the wire cable. Electrical connections of signal level power were typically not made with such threaded terminal type connectors, but rather were made with circular connectors. Regardless of whether threaded terminal type or circular type connectors are employed, individual dedicated lines were used to connect each component.
However, as the size and scope of modern aircraft have increased, so have the electrical wiring demands within the aircraft. More recent cabling has therefore attempted to combine a number of lines into a single cable and provide a multiple-pin plug at the end of the cable for connection to a multiple-receptacle socket. Such systems allow for easier installation and repair over systems employing individual cables, and impose less severe weight and space penalties onboard an aircraft. U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,562,486 and 5,601,450 are indicative of prior art systems wherein multiple lines are combined into a single connector.
While multiple pin plugs and sockets do alleviate some of the problems associated with individual wires for each individual component onboard the aircraft, the multiple pin plugs and sockets can be difficult to disconnect under certain circumstances, thus resulting in costly downtime for the aircraft. With specific reference to the scope of the present application, one difficulty arises when a pin welds to the socket within which it is received. Even though all the other pins may be free from the other sockets, one welded pin can prevent the multiple pin plug from being separated from the multiple opening socket. The problem can be accentuated if multiple pins and socket receptacles become welded together.
Moreover, not only does the welded pin and socket prevent the multiple pin plug from being disconnected, but the operator is not provided with any means of determining the source of the difficulty, or even the exact pin and socket which are welded together. This therefore requires that the entire cabling system along with the multiple pin plug and socket, referred to as a Line Replaceable Unit (LRU), be replaced at substantial cost and downtime for the aircraft. Given the aircraft industry and its ever-increasing efficiency requirements, such cost and downtime are unacceptable. The industry demands that a means be provided for quickly determining the source of the weld, and quickly alleviating the problem to return the aircraft to service.
While prior art devices have provided various types of electrical connectors to indicate to the user the state of the connection, none have specifically addressed the problem of determining when a weld has occurred, or which connection has actually become welded together. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,915,648 discloses an electrical connector which provides the user with an indication as to when the connectors are connected and locked in place. However, no means is provided to indicate when connectors have welded together.


An IC which integrates an EPROM is disposed on a circuit board. Also, a pad for supplying a writing voltage to the EPROM and a voltage supplying circuit, for supplying a power voltage to power terminals of the IC, which includes a first transistor and a second transistor, are disposed on the circuit board. When the pad is supplied with a high voltage for writing the data in the EPROM, the first transistor is on, the second transistor is off, and the voltage is supplied to the EPROM as the writing voltage. When data are read from the EPROM after the circuit board is packaged, because the pad is not supplied with any voltage, the first transistor is off, the second transistor is on, and a reading voltage is supplied to the EPROM via the outer terminal.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a hybrid integrated circuit device which includes a memory cell which is capable of having data electrically written therein and a circuit element which writes the data in the memory and reads the data from the memory both disposed on a circuit board.
2. Description of Related Art
FIG. 11 is a circuit diagram illustrating a part of conventional hybrid integrated circuit device. An EPROM 2 has a memory cell, which electrically stores data such as programmed data therein and a circuit element such as an integrated circuit (IC) 3 consisting of circuits including a microcomputer which writes the data in the EPROM 2 and reads the data from the EPROM 2 disposed on a circuit board 1. As shown in FIG. 11, the EPROM 2 is integrated in the IC 3.
When the data are written in the EPROM 2 after hybrid integrated circuits are disposed on the circuit board 1, a high voltage V.sub.PP for writing the data (writing voltage) is supplied to the EPROM 2 via an outer terminal B and a power terminal 3a of the IC 3, and also an active voltage V.sub.DD is supplied to the IC 3 via an outer terminal A and a power terminal 3b. When the data written in the EPROM 2 are read from the EPROM 2 after the circuit board 1 is packaged, a reading voltage used for reading the data is supplied to the EPROM 2 via the outer terminal B and the power terminal 3a, and also the logic power is supplied to the IC 3 via the outer terminal A and the power terminal 3b. In this case, the reading voltage is the same voltage as the voltage V.sub.DD of the IC 3.
Recently, because functions of the hybrid integrated circuit device are improved, the number of outer terminals of the hybrid integrated circuit device have increased. However, if the outer terminals of the hybrid integrated circuit device increase, the area of the circuit board also increases, thus, the number of outer terminals of the hybrid integrated circuit must be decreased in order to reduce the area of the circuit board.
Because the writing voltage must be higher than the reading voltage and the voltage V.sub.DD, as shown in FIG. 11, the outer terminal B is necessary to supply the writing voltage to the EPROM 2. In this case, if the data are written in the EPROM 2 before the hybrid integrated circuits are disposed on the circuit board 1, and the reading voltage is supplied to EPROM 2 from a power source area other than the outer terminal B, for instance, the reading voltage is supplied to the EPROM 2 from the V.sub.DD terminal, the outer terminal B used for writing the data is not necessary. However in this case, it takes many hours to complete the writing of the data in the EPROM 2 of this hybrid integrated circuit device; thus, there is little advantage to this type of EPROM 2.

Hybrid integrated circuit device and method of fabricating the same


Processor(s) operating a random access memory is subject to reboot processing which comprises clearing the random access memory. Registration is provided of a portion of the random access memory, the registration indicating that data stored in the registered portion of the random access memory is to be preserved during the reboot processing. In reboot processing, the processor responds to the registration, preventing data stored in the registered portion from clearing during the reboot processing.

Saving data in the event of power loss has been addressed in many instances, and typically comprises storing the data in a nonvolatile memory, such as a battery backed up memory or a disk drive, and also addressed by electrical back up systems to allow power to continue to be supplied to the system to allow any data to be saved.
More likely to occur, however, is a reboot of the system, and typically while the system is operating. This is especially a concern for data that is to be written to recordable media. Typically, the data is temporarily stored or buffered in random access memory as it is being written to recordable media. The original source of that data is typically freed to overwrite the data. One example is a data storage system that stores data on recordable media, and indicates to the host that supplied the data, that the data has been received when it is temporarily stored or buffered in random access memory. The host system may follow a similar procedure, and place the data in a buffer to be provided to the data storage system, releasing the program that was the source of that data. Data that has been read from the recordable media, and is being altered before being rewritten, is also typically stored in random access memory during the processing.
A system reboot typically involves clearing the random access memory. As the result, the data stored in the random access memory will be deleted. If the data is being altered, the alterations are lost. Thus, if lost, read data being processed would have to be reaccessed and the processing conducted again. If write data being temporarily stored or buffered is lost, no source data may be available to reconstitute that data. A solution has been to make the reboot process wait, move the data to a nonvolatile store, wait for the reboot to complete, access the data from the nonvolatile store, and again temporarily store or buffer the data. Processing of the data or conducting the process of writing the data may then be resumed. This, however, requires two types of storage for the data, one of which is necessary only during reboot, and requires processes for moving the data back and forth.

Method of registering a portion of RAM with firmware to preserve the portion during reboot

International Business Machines Corporation


A blind fastener (11) for installation in a thermoplastic workpiece, which blind fastener has a leading end face (21) which is substantially flat and non-abrasive and without drilling teeth, so that when the leading end face of the fastener is held in contact with the near face of the thermoplastic workpiece (22) and heat and pressure are applied to the contacted area of the workpiece by means of the leading end of the fastener, the fastener progressively forms a hole through the thermoplastic workpiece in which hole it can then be installed.

The present invention relates in one of its aspects to a blind fastener, and in another of its aspects to a method of installation of such a blind fastener into a suitable workpiece.
The term "fastener" is used to include, for example, a rivet which secures together two or more members forming a workpiece, and also, for example, a threaded insert which, when installed in a workpiece, allows a screw to be engaged therewith to secure another member to the workpiece. Such a threaded insert may be such that it will also secure together two or more members forming a workpiece.
By "blind" is meant a fastener which can be installed in the workpiece by access to only the front or near side of the workpiece.
It is clearly advantageous if the number of separate operations involved in such installation can be reduced. Most such fasteners require the provision of a suitable pre-formed hole through the workpiece through which the fastener is inserted. Fasteners which drill their own hole do exist, the fastener having teeth on its leading end to provide drilling means which with suitable rotation of, and axial pressure on, the fastener drills a suitable hole. However, such an arrangement has numerous practical disadvantages. These may be summarised as follows:    1. additional cost of manufacture and inspection of drill teeth on each fastener, and of non-damaging handling thereof after manufacture;    2. skidding or skating of the core drill across the workpiece face when attempting initial location;    3. mechanical damage to the workpiece, especially if the latter is laminated i.e. consists of more than one member;    4. the insert must be circular in exterior section along all of that part of its length which enters the hole;    5. the drilling operation produces debris from the workpiece, and a drilled-out slug, which may be inconvenient and possibly dangerous;    6. the drill teeth on the installed fastener can provide a hazard on the blind side of the workpiece.

Blind fastener and method of installation thereof


An automotive exterior resin part which is a molded article made of a long glass fiber reinforced polycarbonate resin/styrene-based resin, has been molded by injection molding, has a projected area of 200 cm2 or above and allows coating, plating or deposition, wherein the content of the glass fibers in the molded article is 25 to 50% by weight and the weight-average fiber length thereof is 1.0 to 1.5 mm, the centerline average surface roughnesses (Ra) over all faces to be subjected to coating, plating or deposition is 0.8 μm or below and the maximum coefficient of linear expansion at 30 to 80° C. is 5×l0−5 (1/K) or below.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to an automotive exterior resin part which is excellent in dimensional stability, coating properties, etc.
2. Related Art
In automotive exterior parts, it has been a practice to employ a structure wherein an exterior metal panel is attached to a structural metal part. In recent years, however, various lighter automotive parts are preferred to improve, for example, fuel efficiency and traveling performance of automobiles. Under these circumstances, there is a tendency toward the use of resins in exterior panels and structures supporting the same.
It is required that an automotive exterior resin part, which has a relatively large size, has a high dimensional stability (a low warpage), a high mechanical strength, a high heat resistance, a high impact resistance, a low specific gravity, an excellent surface appearance, etc.
In automotive exterior resin parts, there has been proposed to use a carbon fiber reinforced polyamide composition (JP-A-2002-226703) and a fiber-reinforced polyester resin composition comprising, for example, polybutylene terephthalate (JP-A-2006-82275) and attempts have been made to satisfy the requirements as described above by controlling the amount or length of the fibers to be added. However, no sufficient effect has been established so far.


An apparatus for rapid charging using onboard power electronics includes a DC bus, a first energy storage device coupled to the DC bus and configured to output a DC voltage, a first bi-directional voltage modification assembly coupled to the DC bus, and a high-impedance voltage source coupleable to the DC bus. The apparatus further includes a charging system having a first receptacle coupled to the DC bus and a second receptacle coupled to the first bi-directional voltage modification assembly. The first receptacle is constructed to mate with a first connector coupled to the high-impedance voltage source and the second receptacle is constructed to mate with a second connector coupled to the high-impedance voltage source. A controller is programmed to control a simultaneous transfer of charging energy through the first and second receptacles of the charging system to the DC bus.

Embodiments of the invention relate generally to electric drive systems including hybrid and electric vehicles and to stationary drives that are subject to transient or pulsed loads and, more particularly, to transferring energy between an energy storage device of the vehicle or drive and a power source external to the vehicle or drive to rapidly charge the energy storage device.
Hybrid electric vehicles may combine an internal combustion engine and an electric motor powered by an energy storage device, such as a traction battery, to propel the vehicle. Such a combination may increase overall fuel efficiency by enabling the combustion engine and the electric motor to each operate in respective ranges of increased efficiency. Electric motors, for example, may be efficient at accelerating from a standing start, while combustion engines may be efficient during sustained periods of constant engine operation, such as in highway driving. Having an electric motor to boost initial acceleration allows combustion engines in hybrid vehicles to be smaller and more fuel efficient.
Purely electric vehicles use stored electrical energy to power an electric motor, which propels the vehicle and may also operate auxiliary drives. Purely electric vehicles may use one or more sources of stored electrical energy. For example, a first source of stored electrical energy may be used to provide longer-lasting energy while a second source of stored electrical energy may be used to provide higher-power energy for, for example, acceleration.
Plug-in electric vehicles, whether of the hybrid electric type or of the purely electric type, are configured to use electrical energy from an external source to recharge the traction battery. Such vehicles may include on-road and off-road vehicles, golf cars, neighborhood electric vehicles, forklifts, and utility trucks as examples. These vehicles may use either off-board stationary battery chargers or on-board battery chargers to transfer electrical energy from a utility grid or renewable energy source to the vehicle's on-board traction battery. Plug-in vehicles may include circuitry and connections to facilitate the recharging of the fraction battery from the utility grid or other external source, for example. The battery charging circuitry, however, may include dedicated components such as boost converters, high-frequency filters, choppers, inductors, and other electrical components dedicated only to transferring energy between the on-board electrical storage device and the external source. These additional dedicated components add extra cost and weight to the vehicle.
In addition, on-board or off-board rectifiers may be used to provide high charging currents for rapidly charging energy storage devices. However, such rectification has the undesirable effects of high utility harmonics and a low power factor due to phase shift of the utility fundamental waveforms. The power factor of an AC electric power system is defined as the ratio of the real power to the apparent power and may be expressed as a number between 0 and 1 or as a percentage between 0 and 100. Real power is the capacity of the circuit for performing work in a particular time. Apparent power is the product of the current and voltage of the circuit. Due to energy stored in the load and returned to the source, or due to a non-linear load that distorts the wave shape of the current drawn from the source, the apparent power can be greater than the real power. A circuit with a lower power factor performs less work than a circuit with a higher power factor. Therefore, to perform the same amount of work, a higher voltage or current is input into the circuit with the lower power factor.
While a power factor correction capacitor may be used to improve the low power factor resulting from use of the rectifier, the size of such a correction capacitor is large due to the low frequency of the utility (e.g., 50 or 60 Hz). Further, a power factor correction capacitor has minimal effect on lower-frequency harmonic currents that also contribute to the low power factor and can lead to unexpected system resonances. Dedicated active filters may also be provided, however, implementing such filters adds additional costs to the system in the form of a full-power-rated power electronic converter, which processes the complete charging power using expensive switching devices, and associated controls.
It would therefore be desirable to provide an apparatus to facilitate the rapid transfer of electrical energy from an external source to the on-board energy storage device of a plug-in vehicle that reduces the number of components dedicated only to transferring energy between the on-board electrical storage device and the external source and reduces the charging system costs, while maintaining a high power factor and low harmonic currents.

Apparatus for rapid charging using onboard power electronics and method of manufacturing same


A method for fabricating an optoelectronic device includes forming an adhesion layer on a substrate, forming a material layer on the adhesion layer and applying release tape to the material layer. The substrate is removed at the adhesion layer by mechanically yielding the adhesion layer. A conductive layer is applied to the material layer on a side opposite the release tape to form a transfer substrate. The transfer substrate is transferred to a target substrate to join the target substrate to the conductive layer of the transfer substrate. The release tape is removed from the material layer to form a top emission optoelectronic device.

Technical Field
The present invention relates to semiconductor processing, and more particularly to fabricating light emitting diodes using a transfer process to reduce processing time, increase transmissibility and improve performance.
Description of the Related Art
Top emission organic light emitting diodes (OLED) are typically fabricated with a top electrode formed using a vacuum process. Top emission OLEDs with a high transmission top electrode for light out-coupling are difficult to fabricate since the vacuum processes often lead to surface damage on the top electrode. This surface damage has an impact on the transmissibility of the top electrode. In addition, vacuum processes tend to be time consuming, which increases expense. Further, since vacuum processes provide materials on bottom or underlying layers, the type of materials selected are limited due to material compatibility issues.
Examples of vacuum processes described below suffer from additional drawbacks. For example, sputtering deposition can significantly damage the underlying layer or layers on which the sputtered material is formed. Humidity during an atomic layer deposition (ALD) process can lead to a degradation in the properties of existing layers. Chemical deposition processes can cause additional unwanted reactions with the existing layers. Evaporation processes take a long time to introduce a multilayer structure, and also reduce the transmission for transparent conducting electrodes.
Even solution processes top electrodes, such as, solution processed transparent conductive oxides (TCO) can degrade the transmissibility of the top electrode. Such processes also require high temperature annealing, which limits the material alternatives for the bottom layers, to achieve good conductivity.

Optoelectronics integration by transfer process

INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION


A method for forming thin-walled products from low-melt plastic in a mold, wherein an amount of the plastic, heated, is introduced into a mold cavity, with the mold at least partly opened, whereafter the mold is closed, such that the plastic in the mold cavity is pressed away by the wall parts of the mold cavity, whereby a complete filling of the mold cavity is obtained.

The invention relates to a method for forming thin-walled products from plastic in a mold.
Thin-walled products are usually manufactured from plastic by injection molding in a mold. To this end, materials are used having a relatively high Melt Flow Index (MFI), at least a high melt. Such a high MFI means that the plastic in flowable form has a low viscosity and hence can traverse relatively long flow paths of small dimensions in a mold cavity. The ratio between the length of a flow path and the minimum passage height of the flow path involved is usually designated as the Melt Flow Rate (MFR). A high MFR therefrom means a relatively long, narrow flow path. Injection molding is possible, in principle, with plastics having a high MFI, with a direct relation existing between the MFI and the MFR. A higher MFR required a higher MFI. It will be clear, therefore, that plastics having a low melt, at least a low MFI, do not permit of injection molding, at least not to form thin-walled plastic products, since thin-walled plastic products have an MFR that is too high for that. This means that only products having relatively thick walls and relatively short flow paths can be injection molded from low-melt plastics. Moreover, such methods require relatively high closing forces and a relatively long cycle time, which is economically disadvantageous.
One object of the invention is to provide a new method for forming plastic products in a mold.
Another object of the invention is to provide such a method with which products can be formed in a mold from plastics having a relatively low melt.
A further object of the invention is to provide a method with which products can be manufactured in a mold, from plastic, in which a relatively low closing force can be used and a method with which relatively short cycle times can be achieved.
These and further objects are achieved with a method according to the invention.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Method and apparatus for forming thin-walled products, and a product manufactured therewith