A sealing material for sealing an envelope of an electron tube. The sealing material comprises 0.01˜2.0 wt % of fine particle selected from the group consisting of SiO2, Al2O3 and ZrO2 having a particle diameter of 0.001˜0.1 μm, P2O5—SnO type low melting glass and thermal expansion-controlling low melting ceramics.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a sealing material for sealing an envelope of an electron tube using P2O5—SnO type low melting glass powder, and a method of preparing the sealing material for sealing an envelope of an electron tube, as well as, to an electron tube having an envelope sealed with the sealing material.
2. Description of the Related Art
FIG. 8 is a diagrammatic view showing a general structure of a vacuum fluorescent display, as an example of the electron tube, having an envelope sealed by a sealing material. The vacuum fluorescent display 1 shown in FIG. 8 generally includes the envelope which is maintained in high vacuum. The envelope is formed of a glass substrate 2 on which an anode electrode and a grid electrode are formed, a spacer glass plates 5, and a front panel 6 bonded together with an amorphous low melting glass 7 as a sealing material for sealing the vacuum fluorescent display. The envelope further includes an anchor for supporting a filament and various metal parts, such as, a filament lead 3 for taking the filament out of the envelope and a lead 4 for taking the anode electrode and grid electrode out of the envelope to be bonded between the upper surface of the glass substrate 2 and the spacer glass plates 5 with the amorphous low melting glass 7.
The amorphous low melting glass 7 used in the vacuum fluorescent display is a paste-like sealing material prepared by kneading a mixture of PbO—B2O3—SiO2 type low melting powder and thermal expansion controlling ceramics PbTiO3 with a vehicle prepared by dissolving a binder, such as, 1˜5% ethyl cellulose in a solvent, such as, terpineol.
The amorphous low melting glass 7 as a sealing material is formed in a predetermined pattern on the upper surface of the glass substrate 2 in advance by means of a screen printing method, and then subjected to a baking step in which temperature is raised to about 400˜500° C., maintained at that temperature, and then lowered to ordinary temperature to be vitrified to form the seal pattern 8.
The seal pattern 8 is heated again to about 400˜500° C. at assembly steps of the envelope to bond and hermetically seal the glass substrate 2 to the spacer glass plates 5 and then the temperature is lowered to ordinary temperature. As a result, the seal pattern 8 is made to be amorphous glass, and the hermetic sealing can be maintained.
In recent years, in order to minimize adverse effects on environment, it has been proposed to use numerous lead-free low melting glass powders including various phosphoric acid type low melting glass powders instead of the PbO—B2O3—SiO2 type low melting glass powder containing Pb which is hazardous to environment. For example, these glass powders are disclosed in Unexamined Japanese Patent Publications No. 5-132339 and No. 8-239239.
A sealing material comprising P2O5—SnO type low melting glass powders as a phosphoric acid-type low melting glass powders is disclosed in, for example, Unexamined Japanese Patent Publication No. 11-283537. A paste-like sealing material prepared by kneading the P2O5—SnO type low melting glass powders with a vehicle is disclosed in, for example Unexamined Japanese Patent Publication No. 2000-72749. Further, a paste-like sealing material prepared by kneading the P2O5—ZnO—SnO type low melting glass powders with a vehicle, such as, nitrocellulose, used for preparing a good hermetically sealed envelope by providing a temperature profile maintaining 200˜250° C. for ten (10) minutes is disclosed in, for example, Unexamined Japanese Patent Publication No. 2002-20319.
In accordance with the teachings of prior art, inventors prepared a paste-like sealing material by kneading 80 wt % of phosphoric acid type lead-free glass (powder glass of P2O5—SnO type low melting glass having the softening point of about 300˜400° C.) with 20 wt % of vehicle prepared by dissolving 3˜5 wt % of binder, such as, ethyl cellulose in a solvent, such as, alcohol. The paste-like sealing material thus obtained is formed in the seal pattern 8 similarly to prior art and then maintained at temperatures of 400˜500° C. for a given time to form vitrified paste-like sealing material. The temperature is then raised again to, and maintained at, 400˜500° C. to melt the vitrified sealing material again, thereby hermetically sealing the glass substrate 2 and the spacer glass plates 5. However, it is noted that the mechanical strength of the sealing material at the sealing area is not sufficient.
In order to confirm and pursue the cause of the insufficient mechanical strength of the phosphoric acid-type lead-free glass (powder glass of P2O5—SnO type low melting glass having the softening point of about 300˜400° C.,) the inventors prepared the sealing material comprising PbO—B2O3—SiO type low melting glass powder having sufficient mechanical strength which is subjected to bake at a temperature of 400˜500° C. to form amorphous low melting glass. FIG. 1 shows an ×200 magnification micrograph of the surface of the amorphous low melting glass thus obtained.
As shown in the micrograph of FIG. 1, the amorphous low melting glass prepared by baking the sealing material comprising P2O5—B2O3—SnO type low melting glass powder at the temperature of 400˜500° C. includes non-vitrified surface of the amorphous low melting glass in part shown in the region (A) because of deposition of devitrified substances. However, a larger part of the surface of the amorphous low melting glass is vitrified as shown in the region (B).
On the other hand, the inventors prepared a sealing material comprising P2O5—SnO type low melting glass powder which is subjected to bake at a temperature of 400˜500° C. to form amorphous low melting glass. FIG. 2 shows an ×200 magnification micrograph of the surface of the amorphous low melting glass thus obtained.
As shown in the micrograph of FIG. 2, the amorphous low melting glass prepared by baking the sealing material comprising P2O5—SnO type low melting glass powder at the temperature of 400˜500° C. includes non-vitrified surface of the amorphous low melting glass on the whole region shown in the region (A) because of the crystallization of devitrified substances.
FIG. 5 shows relative content of substances present on the surface of the amorphous low melting glass prepared by baking the sealing material comprising P2O5—SnO type low melting glass powder at the temperature of 400˜500° C. shown in the micrograph of FIG. 2.
As shown in the graph of FIG. 5, each of SnO component which contributes to low melting point and P2O5 component constituting network structure on the surface of the seal pattern 8 using the conventional sealing material of P2O5—SnO type low melting glass powder decreases by about 50% or more as compared with those on the surface of the amorphous glass out of which devitrified substances are not crystallized.
Judging from the foregoing analysis, it is conceived that the weak mechanical strength of the sealing area of the conventional sealing material of P2O5—SnO type low melting glass powder is due to the crystallization of devitrified substance on the surface of the sealing material. Also, the weak mechanical strength of the sealing area of the amorphous glass prepared by baking the conventional sealing material of P2O5—SnO type low melting glass powder and thermal expansion-controlling ceramics at the temperature of 400˜500° C. is due to insufficient vitrification of the P2O5—SnO type low melting glass powder after baking at the temperature of 400˜500° C.
The reason why the P2O5 type low melting glass powder is not sufficiently vitrified is that SnO which contributes to low melting point as a network modifying agent penetrates partly the network structure of P2O5 and is crystallized in a state of glass having a stable structure intact at the time of baking the sealing material of P2O5 type low melting glass as a network molecule of glass at the temperature of 400˜500° C. As a result, devitrification occurs.


A process of producing transgenic plants or plant cells stably transformed on a chromosome with a DNA sequence of interest capable of expressing a function of interest, said process comprising (a) providing plant cells or plants with at least two different vectors that are adapted to recombine with each other between site-specific recombination sites compatible with a site-specific recombinase that is also provided in order to produce a non-replicating recombination product containing said DNA sequence of interest, (ii) said at least two different vectors are adapted for integrating said DNA sequence of interest into said chromosome, (iii) said DNA sequence of interest contains sequence portions from at least two of said at least two different vectors, said sequence portions being necessary for expressing said function of interest from said DNA sequence of interest; and (b) selecting plants or plant cells expressing said function of interest.

Currently used methods of stable plant transformation usually employ direct (microprojectile bombardment, electroporation or PEG-mediated treatment of protoplasts, for review see: Gelvin, S. B., 1998, Curr. Opin. Biotechnol., 9, 227-232; Hansen & Wright, 1999, Trends Plant Sci., 4, 226-231) or Agrobacterium-mediated delivery of pre-engineered DNA fragment(s) of interest into plant cells. Manipulations with said DNA vectors in planta are restricted to simplifying the resolution of complex integration patterns (U.S. Pat. No. 6,114,600; Srivastava & Ow, 2001, Plant Mol Biol., 46, 561-566; Srivastava et al., 1999, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 96, 11117-11121) or removal of auxiliary DNA sequences from vectors stably integrated into chromosomal DNA. The methods of stable Agrobacterium-mediated integration of T-DNA regions within plant cells use whole desired DNA fragment flanked with left (LB) and right (RB) border sequences necessary for T-DNA transfer and integration into the host chromosomal DNA (U.S. Pat. No. 4,940,838; U.S. Pat. No. 5,464,763; EP0224287; U.S. Pat. No. 6,051,757; U.S. Pat. No. 5,731,179; WO9400977; EP0672752). In most cases, the approaches are directed to the integration of one specific T-DNA region into the chromosomal DNA. Also, co-integration of two or more different T-DNA regions was tried (U.S. Pat. No. 4,658,082). The latter approach is used for segregating different T-DNAs in progeny for various purposes. For example, Komari and colleagues (U.S. Pat. No. 5,731,179) describe a method of simultaneously transforming plant cells with two T-DNAs, one carrying a selectable marker functional in plants, while another T-DNA contains a desired DNA fragment to be introduced into plant cells.
In general, the DNA regions designed for stable integration into plant cells are pre-engineered in vitro by employing standard molecular biology techniques (Sambrook, Fritsch & Maniatis, 1989, Molecular cloning: A laboratory manual, 2nd ed. Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y.: CSH Laboratory Press). Also, in vivo engineering in bacterial cells is used, for example in order to assemble the binary vector with the help of homologous recombination (U.S. Pat. No. 5,731,179). Manipulations with T-DNA in planta are restricted to T-DNA regions pre-integrated into a chromosome like removing certain sequences from T-DNA, e.g. sequences encoding selectable markers including morphological abnormality induction genes. The removal of unwanted DNA fragments from T-DNA regions occurs either with the help of site-specific recombination (WO9742334; Endo et al., 2002, Plant J., 30, 115-122) or by means of transposition (U.S. Pat. No. 5,792,924).
Site-specific recombination has been used for removing auxiliary sequences from T-DNA regions. Although site-specific recombinase/integrase-mediated DNA excision is more efficient than integration, the selection for excision events is a necessity, which leads to an additional step of tissue culture or screening of progeny for desired recombination events. In summary, all processes of manipulation with T-DNAs stably integrated into plant chromosomes are time-consuming, unflexible, and in general restricted to simple excision (with less efficiency—to integration) of desired DNA fragments. In addition, these processes are usually very limited in combinatorial diversity, as they are restricted to simple manipulations with a limited number of known genes and regulatory elements.
Offringa et al. (EMBO J. (1990), 9, 3077-3084) have described an extrachromosomal homologous recombination event between two Agrobacterium-delivered T-DNAs in plant cells followed by integration of the recombination product into nuclear DNA. The extrachromosomal homologous recombination efficiency between the co-delivered T-DNAs in the plant cell was however too low to have practical applications for vector engineering in vivo and was therefore used as control experiment in scientific studies of the mechanism of homologous recombination in plants (Offringa et al., 1990, EMBO J., 9, 3077-3084; Tinland et al., 1994, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 91, 8000-8004; Puchta et al., 1996, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 93, 5055-5060). The frequency of homologous recombination followed by integration into chromosomal DNA was approximately 1% of the plant co-transformation frequency with two T-DNAs (Offringa et al., 1990, EMBO J., 9, 3077-3084; Tinland et al., 1994, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 91, 8000-8004; Puchta et al., 1996, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 93, 5055-5060). Due to the low overall efficiency of this process, practical applications of this method have not been developed.
The frequency of targeted integration of transiently delivered T-DNA into a pre-engineered loxP site in plants is also very low. For example, Vergunst and colleagues (1998, Nucl. Acids Res., 26, 2729-2734) demonstrated that the frequency of Cre-mediated site-specific integration of an Agrobacterium-delivered T-DNA fragment of interest into a genomic T-DNA region with a loxP site is within the range of 1.2-2.3% of the number of random integration events. Due to this low efficiency, such integration processes require an additional selection round and the use of tissue culture to recover the cells carrying recombination events. In contrast to that, the frequency of chromosomal double-stranded DNA rearrangements with the help of site-specific recombinases is significantly higher and occurs in 29-100% of all plant germ cells (Zuo et al., 2001, Nature Biotechnol., 19, 157-161; Luo et al., Plant J., 23, 423-430). This is not surprising, as site-specific integrases/recombinases require double stranded DNA substrate for recognition of recombination sites and performing the reaction of site-specific recombination (Panigrahi et al., 1992, Nucleic Acids Res., 20, 5927-5935; Martin et al., 2002, J. Mol. Biol., 19, 107-127; Thorpe et al., 2000, Mol. Microbiol., 38, 232-241).
All data mentioned above suggest that T-DNA transiently delivered into the plant cell is a poor substrate for site-specific recombinases.
In a previous invention, we have overcome the above-described low efficiency by site-specific recombination-mediated assembly of RNA-viral amplicons (WO02/088369). The assembled viral amplicons were capable of strong autonomous amplification, cell-to-cell and systemic movement and, therefore, could strongly amplify the rare recombination events. Said viral amplicons were assembled in planta from two or more vectors by recombinase-mediated site-specific recombination and contained a gene of interest to be expressed transiently with the aim of achieving the strongest possible expression of the gene of interest throughout a plant that was infected by said vectors. However, expression of gene of interest was transient; stable transformation of plant chromosomes for stable and inheritable expression of a gene of interest was not addressed.
For many applications, the methods described in WO02/088369 can, however, not be used due to the following problems: Amplification and spread of the viral amplicon leads to viral disease symptoms that compromise plant health. Therefore, these methods cannot be used for gene function determination (functional genomics) since disease symptoms frequently obscure the function of a gene to be determined or prevent expression of the function to be determined. Further, expression of a gene of interest from an amplicon gives rise to unnaturally high expression levels leading to phenotypes different from the natural phenotype of that gene, perhaps due to unnatural interactions with functions of native genes of that plant.
Therefore, it is an object of the invention to provide an efficient, rapid and highly versatile process for transforming a plant or plant cells on a chromosome, notably a nuclear chromosome, whereby genetically stable transgenic plants or plant cells may be produced. It is another object of the invention to provide a process of producing transgenic plants transformed on a chromosome, whereby (e.g. for reducing cloning work) the DNA sequences to be integrated in said chromosome can be engineered in planta. It is a further object to provide a process of stably transforming plants or plant cells on a chromosome with a DNA sequence of interest having toxic effects on bacteria normally used for cloning said DNA sequence of interest. It is another object of the invention to provide a process of genetic transformation of plant nuclear DNA, which allows for screening for an optimal expression unit of a gene of interest. It is a further object to provide a process of stably transforming plants or plant cells on a chromosome, whereby vectors can be used in a modular fashion, for reducing the cloning work and the overall size of the vector molecules. It is another object of the invention to provide a process of stably transforming plants or plant cells on a chromosome, whereby said process allows screening of DNA libraries for desired functions in plants. It is further object of the invention to provide an in planta process of shuffling genetic elements/gene fragments, whereby said process is linked with a process of stably transforming plants or plant cells with a DNA sequence of interest resulting from said shuffling.

Plant transformation with in vivo assembly of a sequence of interest using a site-specific recombinase


In a method for manufacturing a gearwheel, a gearwheel blank is clamped in a workholder of a multi-axis machine tool. A milling head is clamped in a tool holder which is rotated by a spindle drive to enable the milling head to mill out tooth spaces of the gearwheel blank to thereby create a gearwheel having teeth. After replacing the milling head in the tool holder with an inductor, the inductor is inserted successively between two adjacent teeth of the gearwheel and supplied with alternating current from a current supply device of the spindle drive to inductively heat at least one of the two adjacent teeth. The inductor in the tool holder is then replaced with a machining tool to remachine the teeth of the gearwheel.

The present invention relates to a process for manufacturing a gearwheel.
The following discussion of related art is provided to assist the reader in understanding the advantages of the invention, and is not to be construed as an admission that this related art is prior art to this invention.
Large gearwheels are generally manufactured as individual pieces or in small series. A gearwheel blank is hereby first clamped in a workholder of a special gear cutting machine. In this state tooth spaces are milled out of the gearwheel blank by a milling head, so that by milling out the tooth spaces from the gearwheel blank a gearwheel having teeth is produced. The premachined gearwheel is then removed from the gear cutting machine and placed in a furnace. There the gearwheel is heated as a whole and is hardened—generally with the addition of additives. Then in a further machine tool the teeth of the gearwheel are remachined, for example remilled or reground.
This process is time-consuming, expensive and relatively imprecise. In particular, transporting the gearwheel between the milling-out of the tooth spaces and the remachining of the teeth of the gearwheel can cause inaccuracies in the adjustment of the gearwheel.
It would therefore be desirable and advantageous to address prior art shortcomings and to render application of an inductive hardening process possible, without requiring any additional current supply device especially for an inductor.

Method for inductive hardening of teeth of gearwheels


A splice enclosure assembly is provided for enclosing a splice between first and second fiber optic cables, the first and second fiber optic cables each having a jacket, an elongate optical fiber and at least one flexible, elongate strength member extending through the jacket. The splice enclosure assembly includes an elongate bridge member and an elongate cover member. The elongate bridge member has first and second opposed ends. The bridge member defines a channel extending axially between the first and second ends. The elongate bridge member includes an intermediate portion and first and second strain relief coupling structures. The intermediate portion is disposed between the first and second ends and has an intermediate portion of the channel defined therein. The bridge member is configured to receive the first and second fiber optic cables in the channel such that the splice is disposed in the intermediate portion of the channel. The first and second strain relief coupling structures are located on opposed sides of the intermediate portion. The first and second strain relief coupling structures are configured to engage and secure the strength members of the first and second fiber optic cables to the bridge member and thereby mechanically couple the first and second fiber optic cables to one another and to the bridge member. The elongate cover member is configured to surround the bridge member, the first and second fiber optic cables and the splice when the first and second fiber optic cables are disposed in the channel and the strength members of the first and second fiber optic cables are engaged with the first and second strain relief coupling structures.

Fiber optic cables or cords are widely used for telecommunications applications where high information capacity, noise immunity and other advantages of optical fibers may be exploited. It is often necessary or desirable to splice two segments of fiber optic cable to one another. Commonly, the splice environment and/or application necessitates that a protective enclosure, such as a splice tray, be provided to protect the splice.

Optical fiber splicing closures and methods


A level shifter circuit which is suitable for use in an integrated circuit converts an input logic signal having a first voltage potential to an output logic signal having a second voltage potential. For logic signals transmitted between sections of an integrated circuit operating with different supply voltages, the level shifter circuit allows reliable circuit operation between the sections when the voltage potential of the input logic signal is converted to the output logic signal having a higher voltage potential, the same voltage potential, or a lower voltage potential. The level shift circuit includes an inverter stage which drives a fully differential output stage, and the fully differential output stage includes two sections. Each section incorporates a fast switching pair of transistors connected in series across an output supply voltage and ground potential which act as an inverter and which provide an output node at the series connection. For a section, the series-connected transistor between the output supply voltage and the output node is also connected in parallel with a voltage pull-up transistor having its gate controlled by the signal provided at the output node of the other section. The first section is controlled by the input logic signal provided to the gate of the series-connected transistor between its output node and the ground potential and the inverted input logic signal provided to the gate of the series-connected transistor between its output node and the output supply voltage. Similarly, the second section is controlled by the inverted input logic signal provided to the gate of the series-connected transistor between its output node and the ground potential and the input logic signal provided to the gate of the series-connected transistor between its output node and the output supply voltage.

Current integrated circuits (ICs), such as digital signal processor (DSP) based superchips, often contain many circuits, including both digital logic circuits as well as analog circuits, which may operate with different power supply constraints. For example, a DSP engine of an IC may operate between different logic level voltages than memory, input/output interfaces, or other digital signal processing sections. Also, for some digital circuits it may be desirable to select DSP supply voltage to optimize performance for specific applications or operating conditions. For example, one might increase supply voltage to increase DSP processing rate, or in other situations reduce supply voltage to conserve power when less processing capability is required. To accommodate various power supply combinations, logic level shifters are required to couple signals reliably between the circuits with different supplies. Such a circuit is described, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,272,389 to A. Hatada.
For a case where logic levels are translated from a low supply voltage (VDDL) to a high supply voltage (VDDH) and in circuits which share a common ground level (VSS), without a level shifting circuit (a "level shifter") a logic high from the VDDL side may drive a gate on the VDDH side to a mid-range voltage, resulting in an indeterminate logic state and high current consumption. Another problem encountered for such a case may be increasing switching speed while preventing latch-up during power-up of the circuit. For this case where the circuit translates from a low to high voltages, a comparator may be used with transistors to limit voltages at some circuit nodes while also limiting the voltage across transistors during switching to improve reliability. Such a circuit is described, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,321,324 to Hardee et al.
For a case where logic levels are translated from a high supply voltage to a lower voltage, special logic level conversion circuits may not be required, if both circuits share a common ground potential. For this case, the logic-high output from the high-voltage circuit should also be more than sufficient to drive the low-voltage gate to saturation.
However, for a more general case where one supply may be either higher or lower than the other, level shifters are required which work well under a combination of conditions. An example of this situation might be a DSP superchip for which the analog sections require a 2.7 volt supply, while the DSP may be operated at any voltage from 1.8 to 5 volts. For clock or data-path signals, it is usually important that the level shifter maintain reasonable balance between rise and fall delays and that delays be relatively short. Timing requirements for control signals are usually less stringent, but reliability is still paramount. However, many level conversion circuits employ complex biasing of the transistor stages to accomplish reliable operation, such as the circuit described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,479,116 to Sallaerts et al., with the disadvantages of increased complexity and increased use of valuable IC real estate.
Therefore, there is a need for a level conversion circuit which translates from a low voltage to a high voltage as well as translating from the high voltage to the low voltage. In addition, the level conversion circuit configuration should be simple and require minimal biasing for reliable operation.

Universal logic level shifting circuit and method


An aerosol dispenser having a metering valve mechanism having a metering chamber and a propellant-accommodating space region configured to be isolated from each other by an annular piston, and a metering formation seal valve configured to isolate the metering chamber from a contents accommodation space region in a propelling mode. In a contents filling mode the seal valve is moved by the flow of the filled contents in a direction away from the stem to allow the filled contents to flow into the contents accommodation space region.

The applicant of the invention suggests, as a metering valve mechanism of an aerosol container,
(11) a valve mechanism that consists an inner annular space region for accommodating a stem and the outer annular space region thereof. The outer annular space region has an annular piston that is a component of the metering chamber to move by the pressure action by the propellant. The move of this annular piston causes the contents of the metering chamber to be pushed out to the outer space region (see FIG. 3 of Patent Publication 1).
(12) The applicant of the invention suggests a valve mechanism that has a seal valve providing a valve action with the stem in the housing to provide the communication and blocking between the metering chamber and the interior of the container body. The strength of the flow from the filling material causes the seal valve to move away from the stem (i.e., the material is moved through the housing and is subsequently filled in the container body side) (see Patent Publication 2).
The suggested metering valve mechanisms have an advantage that:
(21) the contents of the metering chamber is propelled to the outer space region through the U-shaped propelling path extending from the outer annular space region to the inner annular space region, thus draining the contents (undiluted solution) in a preferred manner as described above.
(22) Another advantage is that the contents can be filled efficiently in an opposite direction to the propelling direction by a typical contents propelling path including the annular space region around the stem in the housing, for example.

Metering valve mechanism of aerosol container and aerosol type product with said metering valve mechanism


A timer circuit that utilizes the thermal runaway effect, and includes a switch, a resistor, a transistor and a protective device. The temperature of the transistor rises due to a phenomenon known as the thermal runaway effect, which causes the temperature of the transistor to rise while increasing current flow. This will eventually cause the protective device to activate. The time it takes to activate the protective device is predictable for a given transistor, therefore the circuit operates as a timer. In an alternate embodiment, a heat source is used. This heat source rises in temperature as current flows in the circuit. A heat sensor located near the heat source rises in temperature along with the heat source. A comparator compares the temperature from this heat sensor with the temperature of a heat sensor located further from the heat source. When there is a user-definable difference in temperature due to thermal diffusion between the two heat sensors, power to the transistor is disconnected. Since the heat sensors will change temperature at a predictable rate depending on the type of sensor and distance from the heat source, this circuit acts as a timer.

The present invention relates, in general, to a control circuit, and, in particular, to a time delay circuit.
Several different designs exist for timer circuits. An example of a fairly simple design can be found in U.S. Pat. No. 4,409,640 entitled xe2x80x9cABORT CYCLE TIMER.xe2x80x9d U.S. Pat. No. 4,409,640 is hereby incorporated by reference into the specification of the present invention. This invention disclosed typical configurations of some Resistor-Capacitor (R-C) timer circuits. For these to operate, the circuits require a voltage source, at least one resistor, at least one capacitor, and a threshold circuit. The threshold circuit determines when the capacitor has charged to the appropriate voltage, and sends a signal. Since this occurs at regular intervals, a timer is created. The required threshold circuit is made up of several additional components. This makes the R-C timer circuit complicated, and thus more susceptible to failure.
A similar timer circuit is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,560,892 entitled xe2x80x9cONE-SHOT DELAY TIMER.xe2x80x9d U.S. Pat. No. 4,560,892 is hereby incorporated by reference into the specification of the present invention. In U.S. Pat. No. 4,560,892, an R-C timer circuit of the type described above is disclosed. The threshold circuit adds a number of resistors and an operational amplifier to the device. This makes the device complicated and more susceptible to failure. Further, the operational amplifier increases the cost a significant amount since it is also composed of transistors, resistors and capacitors.
The other major type of timer circuit is a digital timer circuit. An example of this type of circuit was disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,303,279 entitled xe2x80x9cTIMER CIRCUIT.xe2x80x9d U.S. Pat. No. 5,303,279 is hereby incorporated by reference into the specification of the present invention. U.S. Pat. No. 5,303,279 uses a clock circuit, a bit counter, an overflow detection circuit, a delay circuit and a switch circuit to construct a timer circuit. The clock circuit sends bits to the bit counter. The bit counter, after receiving a certain number of bits, submits received bits to the overflow detector. The overflow detector then sends a signal to the delay circuit. The delay circuit holds the bits for a certain period of time before releasing them. This will occur at regular intervals, creating a timer. Each of these components is made up of complicated circuitry including resistors, transistors, and flip-flops, among other things. This decreases the reliability of the circuit and increases the overall cost. While the use of these types of circuits may be necessary for situations requiring high precision, the problems associated with them make them undesirable for less precise applications.
It is an object of the present invention to create a timer circuit utilizing the thermal runaway effect.
It is a further object of this invention to create a timer circuit utilizing the thermal diffusion effect capable of being used in an integrated circuit.
The present invention is a timer circuit utilizing the thermal runaway effect. The preferred timer circuit includes a switch, a resistor, a transistor and a protective device. A current is caused to flow in a first terminal of the transistor, which, in time, causes a current to flow in a second terminal of the transistor. This current flowing in the second terminal heats the transistor and increases its gain and leakage current. The increased gain causes a higher current to flow in the second terminal which heats the transistor further. This cycle eventually activates the protective device, which both acts as the time indicator and disconnects the power to the transistor to protect the transistor from destruction.
An alternate embodiment includes a switch, a resistor, a transistor, a heat source, two heat sensors and a comparator. The heat source rises in temperature due to the current flowing in the second terminal of the transistor. The two heat sensors rise in temperature due to the rise in temperature of the heat source, but one is located closer to the heat source than the other. A comparator compares the difference in temperature of the heat sensors, and when this difference reaches a user-definable value the comparator disconnects power to the transistor and activates a time indicator.

The United States of America as represented by the National Security Agency


A scan test apparatus for operating a test unit according to a test pattern and outputs address information of the test pattern at which a fail takes place, which includes a memory unit for holding circuit information in which scan flip-flops are written at corresponding addresses and a control unit for outputting, in addition to the address information, a scan flip-flop name from the memory unit corresponding to the address information.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to scan test apparatus for performing scan test of devices.
2. Description of the Related Art
Recently, it is difficult to perform operation test of device mounted boards or mounted devices because of high functions or high density mounting of devices. Especially, in-circuit testers are prohibitively expensive to do operation analysis. Scan test systems are used for scan designed devices such as those according to the architecture under IEEE Standard 1149.1a. They are able to check the operation of a specified device or each device by forming a scan pass in which scan flip-flops on the devices are connected with a scan chain to output from the connector output defect analysis information (hereinafter "scan data log").
In the conventional scan test systems, the contents of a scan data log are data outputted in response to a test pattern, which indicate the failure position with the address at which the failure takes place.
The above conventional scan test systems provide only data for the test pattern and the failure occurrence address and the following problems:
The information desired to obtain from the scan test includes:
(1) the scan chain where a failure takes place and PA1 (2) the scan flip-flop where a failure takes place. These pieces of information have been determined by using the test pattern, the historical information which shows how the test pattern is inputted, and the failure occurrence address. However, this operation requires large amounts of work and time.
The circuit design of devices includes computer simulation of the operation of designed circuits, scan test of the manufactured devices, and comparison between these results.
The computer simulation usually shows transitional conditions of the devices along the time axis. The conventional scan test systems provide only the failure occurrence address so that it is necessary to compare data at different parameters such as "address" and "time". Consequently, it is difficult to compare waveforms at a time, making failure analysis difficult.


Mixing of a sample containing a suspect bioagent or antigen with 1° recognition molecule coated magnetic beads in the preliminary stage of an enzyme linked immunoassay (“ELISA”) procedure is emulated by first inserting the coated magnetic beads into a non-magnetic confinement region, generating a magnetic field B along the axis of said non-magnetic confinement region to agglomerate the coated magnetic beads into a porous mass; then percolating or otherwise forcing the sample solution through said porous mass; and withdrawing the magnetic field to de-agglomerate said coated magnetic beads. In seeping or otherwise flowing through the magnetic beads the molecules of the sample link to respective magnetic beads that are coated with recognition molecules.

One known test procedure or process for detection of a specific bioagent that is applicable to a variety of fields, such as biotechnology, environmental protection and public health, is the enzyme linked immunoassay (hereafter referred to as "ELISA"). The ELISA process constitutes an identification process that uses molecular interactions to uniquely identify target substances. A basic definition of ELISA is a quantitative in vitro test for an antibody or antigen (e.g., a bioagent) in which the test material is adsorbed on a surface and exposed to a complex of an enzyme linked to an antibody specific for the substance being tested for with a positive result indicated by a treatment yielding a color in proportion to the amount of antigen or antibody in the test material. The basic ELISA procedure is described more specifically, for one, in a book entitled Methods in Molecular Biology Vol. 42, John R. Crowther, Humana Press, 1995.
The "antibody specific for the substance being tested for" in the foregoing definition constitutes one type of recognition molecule, a molecule that is capable of binding to either reactant or product molecules in a structure-restricted manner. That is, the recognition molecule binds to a specific three-dimensional structure of a molecule or to a two-dimensional surface that is electrically charged and/or hydrophobic in a specific surface pattern. It may also be recognized that ELISA-like approaches using other recognition molecules can also be used, such as aptamers, DNA, RNA and molecular imprint polymers.
More recently, the foregoing definition for ELISA has been expanded beyond the colormetric approach, in which color and color intensity is used as the reporter or indicia of the antigen or antibody, to include a voltametric or amperiometric approach to detection and assay, in which the rate of change of voltage or current conductivity is proportional to the amount of antigen or antibody contained in the test material. Patent Cooperation Treaty application PCT/US98/16714, filed Aug. 12, 1998 (International Publication No. WO 99/07870), entitled "Electrochemical Reporter System for Detecting Analytical Immunoassay and Molecular Biology Procedures" (hereafter the "16714 PCT application"), claiming priority of U.S. patent application Ser. Nos. 09/105,538 and 09/105,539"), to which the reader may refer, describes both a colormetric and an electrochemical reporter system for detecting and quantifying enzymes and other bioagents in analytical and clinical applications. The electrochemical reporter system of the 16714 PCT application employs a sensor for detecting voltametric and/or amperiometric signals that are produced in proportion to the concentration of organic (or inorganic) reporter molecules by redox (e.g. reduction-oxidation) recycling at the sensor.
In brief, in the ELISA test, the suspect bioagent is initially placed in a water-based buffer, such as a phosphate buffered saline solution, to form a sample solution. That sample solution is mixed with a quantity of particles, beads, the surface of which is coated with a recognition molecule for the suspect bioagent (also sometimes referred to as a receptor molecule). The particular recognition molecule used to coat the beads is known to bind to the bioagent of interest and is a primary recognition molecule (antibody) or "1° Ab." That is, the recognition molecule coating exhibits a chemical "stickiness" that is selective to specific bioagents.
Any bioagent that is present in the sample solution binds with a non-covalent bond to a respective recognition molecule and thereby becomes attached to a respective one of the beads in the mixture-solution. If the sample solution does not contain a bioagent or if the bioagent that is present in the solution is not one that binds to the selected recognition molecule, then the recognition molecule remains unbound. Further processing of the ELISA process then shows nothing.
Assuming the suspect bioagent is present in the sample, the bioagent bonds to the coating on the beads. The solution then contains a quantity of bioagent molecules bound respectively to a quantity of coated beads. The mixture is optionally washed, as example, in a phosphate-buffered saline, and a second recognition molecule, more specifically, a recognition molecule and enzyme linked combination, is then added to the mixture. The second recognition is also one that is known to bind to the suspect bioagent. The second recognition molecule may either be one that is monoclonal, e.g. one that binds to only one specific molecule, or polyclonal, e.g. a mixture of different antibodies each of which shares the characteristic of bonding to the target bioagent. The enzyme is covalently bound to the second recognition molecule and forms a complex that is referred to as a secondary recognition molecule-enzyme conjugate or "2° Ab-enz." As known by those skilled in the art, an enzyme is a "molecular scissors", a protein that catalyzes a biological reaction, a reaction that does not occur appreciably in the absence of the enzyme. The enzyme is selected to allow the subsequent production of an electrochemically active reporter.
The 2° Ab-enz binds to the exposed surface of the immobilized bioagent to form a "recognition molecule sandwich" with the bioagent forming the middle layer of that sandwich. The recognition molecule sandwich coated beads are washed again to wash away any excess 2° Ab-enz in the solution that remains unbound.
The beads and the attached recognition molecule sandwich, the 1° Ab/bioagent/2° Ab-enz complex, in the solution are placed over the exposed surface of the redox recycling sensor. The substrate of the foregoing enzyme is added to the solution and the substrate is cleaved by the enzyme to produce an electrochemically active reporter. The substrate of the enzyme, referred to as PAP-GP, is any substance that reacts with an enzyme to modify the substrate. The effect of the enzyme is to separate, cut, the PAP, a para-amino phenol, the electrochemically active reporter, from the GP, an electrochemically inactive substance.
The foregoing chemical reaction is concentrated at the surface of the sensor. The rate of production of the foregoing reporter (PAP) is proportional to the initial concentration of bioagent. The reporter reacts at the surface of the sensor, producing an electrical current through the sensor that varies with time and is proportional to the concentration of the bioagent, referred to as redox recycling. The occurrence of the electric current constitutes a positive indication of the presence of the suspect bioagent in the sample. Analysis of the electric currents produced over an interval of time and comparison of the values of that electric current with existing laboratory standards of known bioagents allows quantification of the concentration of bioagent present in the initial sample.
Recognizing that need, the present inventors, together with other co-inventors, created an automated test procedure and apparatus, which is described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/837,946, filed Apr. 19, 2001, entitled Automated Computer Controlled Reporter Device for Conducting Immunoassay and Molecular Biology Procedures (hereafter the "946 application"), assigned to the assignee of the present application, the content of which is incorporated herein by reference. The apparatus of the '946 application, hereafter referred to as the automated ELISA system, provides a user friendly stand-alone portable automated system that is able to automatically perform an ELISA test. The automated ELISA system contains a number of solutions in respective reservoirs and pumps that are controlled by a programmed computer. That automated unit may be operated by persons who are not biologists and who require minimal training to operate the unit.
The foregoing automated ELISA system also employs coated beads of magnetic material and a magnetic positioning device to manipulate and position the coated magnetic beads under control of the computer, such as during the washing steps of the ELISA process, and in positioning the beads at the sensor during redox recycling. The automated ELISA system of the '946 application provides a solution that permits wide dispersal of testing units among the general population that takes into account the lesser skills of the prospective operators for those units.
In a first step of the assay procedure the sample solution, containing the sample that is to be tested for the presence of a specific bioagent, is placed in a container (or equivalent vessel) containing the 1° recognition molecule coated magnetic beads, and the contents of the container is mixed together to ensure that the respective parts, that is, molecules, of the sample contacts the coating of a respective bead. If the sample is of the specific bioagent, then the respective parts of the sample link or, as variously termed, stick to the recognition molecule coating of a respective bead. In the automated ELISA apparatus of the '946 application, the sample solution and the coated beads are pumped into the common container by electrical pumps controlled by a programmed computer. Although the injection of the two ingredients into a single container was originally thought to sufficiently mix the two ingredients, current thinking is that mixing with greater thoroughness provides a more accurate assay and a better result.
One result of the process is to determine how much of the bioagent is in the solution; that is, the concentration. The purpose of mixing the solution of sample and coating beads is to ensure that every portion of the sample has an opportunity to strike the coating of a bead in order to attach or link as much of the sample as possible. In practice, the volume of the sample and bead solution is small and the container, which may be a length of pipette tubing, is also small. A known practical way to mix the ingredients of the solution is to create turbulence by repeatedly pumping the foregoing solution out of the container and then pumping that solution back into the container or to recirculate that solution. It is found that the foregoing approach to mixing is not as efficient as desired. Not only must additional pumps and/or valves and plumbing be included in the automated system or the pumps and/or valves that are included in the automated system must be adapted to that task, which increases the complexity of that system, but, more importantly, due to the inefficiency of that mixing process, considerable mixing time is required to ensure that molecules of the sample have the opportunity to link to an available coated bead, an effect here described as thorough mixing.
Accordingly, a principal purpose of the present invention is to bring the molecules of the sample into close association with the recognition molecule coated magnetic beads in the automated system in a shorter period of time and with greater efficiency than previously carried out.
An additional purpose of the invention is to increase the effectiveness of the automated computer controlled reporter device for conducting immunoassay and molecular biology procedures disclosed in the '946 application.

Magnetic bead agglomerator for automated ELISA process


A fold down seat back has an ergonomic support device in it. A traction cable is operatively engaged at one end with the lumbar support device to actuate it. The fold down seat back includes a rotating cable tension unit and a fixed torsion bar. The rotating member moves relative to the fixed member when said fold down seat back is folded down. The traction cable is comprised of a sleeve having a first end and a second end and a wire having a first end and a second end. The wire is disposed to slide axially through the sleeve. The first sleeve end is attached to the rotating cable tension unit. The wire end is attached to the fixed torsion bar. The wire end may be attached to the torsion rod with a pulley. These attachments of the sleeve end and the wire end cause the wire to be drawn axially through the sleeve when the seat back is folded up, extending a lumbar support, and cause the wire to be relaxed when the seat back is folded down, flattening the lumbar support. The ergonomic device may be a bolster, a wire array, an arching pressure surface or a scissors lumbar support.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention is in the field of lumbar supports for automobiles.
2. Related Art
Lumbar supports for automobile seats are a known and popular ergonomic option.
Whether lumbar supports are static or variable, their effect depends upon the creation of depth in the portion of the seat positioned to correspond to the passenger's lumbar spine.
Another popular feature in vehicles having cargo space such as sport utility vehicles, station wagons and the like, is fold down rear seats. Folding these seats down increases the cargo space. For that purpose, it is advantageous that the seat backs for the fold down rear seats be as thin as possible in their down position. Any reduction in the depth of the seat back when it is folded down increases the amount of available cargo space above it.
Hence, there is a need in the industry for a fold down rear seat back that has depth in the lumbar area when in its up position and is as thin as possible when in its down position.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Fold down seat lumbar support apparatus and method


An imaging system includes incidence faces composed of optical faces having an image focusing function; prisms; and exit faces. The incidence faces are arranged with a first pitch along a first axial direction. The prisms are arranged with a second pitch along the first axial direction. The exit faces are arranged with a third pitch along the first axial direction. The first axial direction is set as a Y direction. A normal line direction of a face top of an optical face of the incidence face in a plane perpendicular to the first axial direction is set as a X direction. A direction perpendicular to the Y direction and the X direction is set as a Z direction. In a XZ cross-section plane, a width of the prism in the Z direction is smaller than a width of optical face of the incidence face in the Z direction.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to an imaging system, a writing head and an image forming apparatus.
2. Background Art
Exposing devices used for image forming apparatuses such as laser printers and copiers include a writing head configured with a light source such as light emitting diode (LED) array and an organic electroluminescence (OEL) array, and a lens array. The lens array of the writing head may employ a gradient index lens array, but light use efficiency of the gradient index lens array may not be sufficient. Therefore, the gradient index lens array may not be employed for high speed apparatuses. Especially, if the OEL is used as the light source, because light quantity of the OEL is smaller than light quantity of the LED, an optical system to enhance light use efficiency is required.
To enhance the light use efficiency of the writing head, an imaging system configured with a lens and a roof prism or with a lens and a roof mirror can be used. In such imaging system, a plurality of optical systems are arranged in a main scanning direction, and the lens array pitch is same as the roof prism array pitch or the roof mirror array pitch. Therefore, this imaging system has a retroreflective optical system that reflects an image for two times in a main scanning direction using the roof prism and the roof mirror, and an "upright image" can be generated in the main scanning direction, and an "inverted image" can be generated in a sub-scanning direction.
In the above described imaging system, if some of the light is focused at a position on an imaging face that should not be focused, ghost light may occur. The ghost light can be suppressed by disposing a slit at the lens array side.
The ghost light can be reduced using the slit having an light absorbing effect, but the light use efficiency becomes lower due to the light absorbing by the slit.
Further, an aperture can be disposed at the incidence face side of the imaging system to suppress light propagation to undesired positions. However, it is very difficult to manufacture an aperture array matched to each incidence face of the imaging system with high precision. Therefore, the aperture may not be practical for preventing occurrence of ghost light.
Further, an aperture can be disposed at the exit face side of the imaging system to suppress occurrence of ghost light. The aperture disposed at the exit face side of the imaging system can be a single aperture, but the single aperture becomes a long aperture in a long side direction of the imaging system. Such long aperture is difficult to manufacture, and strength of the aperture becomes weak, and resultantly the aperture becomes weak to vibration. Therefore, mechanical strength of the imaging system becomes lower.
Further, the number of parts increases when the aperture is disposed as above described. Further, a correct positioning between the aperture and the optical face of the imaging system is required, which increases cost of the imaging system.

Imaging system, writing head, and image forming apparatus


A notifiable event pertaining to an interaction with a series of videos from a particular user may be detected. Another user who is associated with the particular user and who has stopped viewing the series of videos may be identified. The another user may be assigned an affinity score indicating a user interest to continue viewing the series of videos. A notification identifying the particular user and the notifiable event pertaining to the interaction with the series of videos by the particular user may generated where the notification includes a reference to a point in the series of videos that is associated with a portion of the series of videos at which the another user has stopped viewing the series of videos. Furthermore, the notification may be transmitted to the another user.

On the Internet, social networks allow users to connect to and share information with each other. Many social networks include a content sharing aspect that allows users to upload, view, and share content, such as video content, image content, audio content, and so on. Other users of the social network may comment on the shared content, discover new content, locate updates, and otherwise interact with the provided content. The shared content may include content from professional content creators. The shared content may include movie clips, television (TV) clips, and music videos, as well as content from amateur content creators, e.g., video blogging and short original videos. The content sharing platform may provide notifications to the users. For example, the notifications may deliver a message informing a user about the availability of a particular media content item.


Technology for dynamic characterization of a communication device is disclosed. One method comprises sending an acoustic characterization excitation signal to be output by an acoustic transducer in the communication device. A received acoustic coupling signal that is received by a microphone of the communication device in response to the output of the acoustic transducer is measured. An acoustic signal conditioning algorithm is applied to at least one of the microphone or the acoustic transducer to reduce an amplitude of the acoustic signal or the received acoustic coupling signal to a level below a selected threshold.

Constructing audio communication devices that have consistent acoustic performance can be difficult. The various transducers involved in sound reproduction, such as microphones, earpieces, and loudspeakers are designed based on set specifications and tolerances. However, regardless of how thoroughly a transducer is evaluated during a product's design phase, manufacturing drift in a transducer' design can cause high failure rates during product testing, thereby increasing overall product costs. In addition, even those transducers that pass the product testing phase can have a relatively wide range of outputs.
Accordingly, modern communication devices such as desktop phones are typically designed around a transducer that is operating within a pre-defined set of limits and tolerances. Adjustments are not made during manufacturing to compensate for instances where transducers that may stray from their expected performance limits. Large groups of communication devices that are manufactured together are designed to operate based on a worse case performance of transducers operating on the edge of the pre-defined limits. This type of design results in non-optimal performance, even for communication devices with transducers having near optimal performance.
Reference will now be made to the exemplary embodiments illustrated, and specific language will be used herein to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the invention is thereby intended.

Dynamic characterization of a communication device


A method for treating various diseases with a dried total extract of Rosmarinus officinalis. The dried total extract is obtained by macerating Rosmarinus officinalis leaves in hydrated ethyl alcohol for a period of 10-20 days, filtering, and drying. The dried extract has been demonstrated to be highly effective in treating patients suffering from varicose and neurotrophic ulcers, inner ear disorders, and hemorrhoids, when administered orally. The dried extract has low acute and chronic toxicity in both animals and humans. There are no side effects to the treatment.

Varicose ulcers are open skin sores that are caused by trauma to an area of the skin having poor blood flow. The vascular insufficiency renders the area extremely vulnerable to injury.
The trauma can be mechanical, such as a simple scratch or a laceration. This is the most common cause of varicose ulcers. Thermal trauma, from either heat or cold, can also lead to varicose ulcers. Chemicals can cause blistering, another form of trauma. Surgery is a fourth form of trauma. All of these forms of trauma to the skin can cause varicose ulcers.
The most common locations of varicose ulcers are the lower part of the legs and the feet (M. E. Levin in M. E. Levin et al., "The Diabetic Foot", 5th Edition, pages 17-59, Mosby-Year Book, Inc., 1993). Lower limbs which are affected with eczema or swelling are especially susceptible to varicose ulcers. Diabetics are more likely to have varicose ulcers than the general population.
Patients with varicose ulcers have symptoms such as burning, pain, leg discomfort while resting, walking pain, redness of the skin, and loss of hair, in addition to the open sores on the skin.
A neurotrophic ulcer is a disease of vascular origin occurring most often in patients affected with diabetes mellitus. The blood vessels of the lower extremities are affected most often, particularly the tibial and fibular arteries and their smaller branches. Patients suffering from neurotrophic ulcers have symptoms similar to patients suffering from varicose ulcers.
Several drugs, including pentoxifylline, have been used to treat varicose and neurotrophic ulcers (P. F. Adler, J. Foot Surgery, vol. 30, pages 300-303 (1991) and Ramani et al., Angiology, vol. 44, pages 623-626 (1993)). There are several disadvantages to the present drug treatments. Healing takes a long time, 90-120 days, a long period of time to suffer from open skin sores. In addition, many patients who start drug treatment of varicose and neurotrophic ulcers have to stop the treatment due to side effects or interactions with other medicines. Finally, the conventional drug treatments are not very effective in healing the ulcers.
The Adler study, referenced above, is a typical example of conventional drug treatment of skin ulcers. In this study, 12 diabetic patients affected with neurotrophic ulcers on their feet were treated with 400 mg of pentoxifylline, three times a day. Of the 12 patients, only 9 were able to complete the six month program because of side effects from the pentoxifylline. After 60 days, only 7 of the ulcers had healed. Another ulcer healed after 120 days. One was reduced in size from 4 cm to 2 cm after six months. This study illustrates that conventional drug treatment of patients suffering from varicose and neurotrophic ulcers has side effects and does not heal all of the ulcers.
Even after drug treatment, many patients must still undergo surgery to amputate the affected limb. Although overall statistics are not available, there are data on rates of amputation for diabetics. Diabetics are far more likely to suffer from neurotrophic ulcers than people who do not suffer from this disease. The global rate of amputation in diabetic patients is 15-40 times higher than for the general population. Furthermore, 50% of the patients who have a limb amputated are likely to have another amputation within the next five years. There is a clear need for a treatment for varicose and neurotrophic ulcers which can heal the ulcers in a shorter time and which has fewer side effects than traditional drug treatments.
Inner ear problems can cause body equilibrium problems such as dizziness and nausea. Such symptoms are very common. Body equilibrium disorders are the principal cause of consultation of general clinicians (W. Rubin, Modem Treatment, vol 6, page 54 (1976)). A recent study concluded that approximately 14 million people in the United States suffer from dizziness. There are other medical conditions related to the inner ear, such as poor hearing and tinnitus, or ringing in the ears.
Various drugs, including cinarizine, flunarizine, pentoxifylline, and Ginkgo biloba, have been used to treat dizziness, poor hearing, and tinnitus. All of these drugs have side effects. For example, all of the drugs cause nausea. Several have interactions with alcohol or other drugs. Several cause sleepiness. There is a need for a drug treatment for diseases of the inner ear, such as dizziness, poor hearing, and tinnitus that does not have side effects. There is a need for a rapid, effective treatment for the symptoms resulting from inner ear problems.
Hemorrhoids occur frequently in the general population. Hemorrhoids cause symptoms such as pain, burning, bleeding during defecation, and the appearance of protruding veins, particularly in the rectal area.
The normal treatment method for hemorrhoids is surgery to remove the protruding vein. The surgery can lead to difficulties such as pain and excessive bleeding. After the surgery, the patient must maintain a strict diet to minimize the chance of recurrence of the hemorrhoids. Even if the patient maintains the strict dietary regimen, the hemorrhoids can recur. There is a need for a nonsurgical treatment for hemorrhoids.
There is a need for a convenient and effective treatment for various diseases such as varicose and neurotrophic ulcers, diseases of the inner ear, and hemorrhoids. There is also a need for a treatment for these diseases that does not have the side effects of the present drug treatment methods.
Rosmarinus officinalis has previously been found to be a source of materials which have beneficial properties. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,318,906 to Llopart describes a liquid prepared from a blend of five plant oils, including an oil from Rosmarinus officinalis. The blend was found to be useful in treating wounds when applied to the surface of the skin. The blend was applied to an external varicose ulcer with a spray gun four to six times per day. The wound closed up after fourteen days and was completely healed after forty days. The need to spray the wound on such a frequent basis is inconvenient to the patient and could stain clothing. The healing time of forty days is a long period for the patient to suffer the symptoms of a varicose ulcer. There is a need for a more convenient and rapid method of treating varicose ulcers.
Rosmarinic acid has been isolated by extraction from Rosmarinus officinalis (Ricera Sci 1958, vol. 28, p 2392 to 2393 and Tetrahedron 1958, vol. 4, p 43 to 48). Extracts containing rosmarinic acid have been tested for stimulation of circulation (Deutsche Apotherker-Zeitung 1964, vol. 104 p. 287 to 289) and for antimicrobial activity (N. Z. Alimkhodzhaeva et al, Chemical Abstracts, vol. 82, 167491).
Wirtz-Peitz et al. (U.S. Pat. No. 4,358,442) prepared a rosmarinic acid-phospholipid complex which was found to have anti-inflammatory activity in rats. Isolating rosmarinic acid from plants is a complex process involving several steps, including extraction, drying, and recrystallization (U.S. Pat. No. 4,354,035). Reacting the purified rosmarinic acid with phospholipid and isolating the product further adds to the complexity and cost. There is a need for a product which can be made more conveniently and less expensively.
Extracts from rosemary leaves, stems or the like have also been used as food antioxidants. Chang et. al. isolated the active ingredient, Rosmaridiphenol, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,638,095.
Accordingly, the objects of the present invention are to provide a method for isolating a dried total extract of Rosmarinus officinalis and to demonstrate its use in treating a variety of diseases, including: varicose and neurotrophic ulcers; diseases of the inner ear such as dizziness, poor hearing, and ringing in the ears; and hemorrhoids.

Method of using rosmarinus officinalis for treating various diseases


Light is directed towards at least one eye of a user of a personal alert safety system (PASS), and the reflected light is sensed. When the eye blinks, there is an interruption of the reflected light signal indicating that the user is conscious. Electronic circuitry converts the variation in reflected light intensity into a corresponding variation in electrical signal. The PASS interprets this variable electrical signal as a reset indicator, so that as long as the wearer is conscious, the audio warning alarm in the PASS does not sound. The light is provided by a light emitting diode in the near infrared range, and the reflected beam may be sensed by a photodiode or phototransistor. Alternatively, ultra sound, or other light frequencies, may be used.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to safety alarms and the like, and is more particularly concerned with a method and apparatus for providing a reliable reset means for a personal alert safety system as long as the user is conscious.
2. Discussion Of The Prior Art
Firefighters, and others in hazardous locations, wear a personal alert safety system, or PASS. The PASS is designed to alert others in the event a person loses consciousness. In the demanding circumstances of a fire scene, for example, a firefighter could lose consciousness and no one may notice. The PASS, then, is designed to emit a signal that can be heard by close-by buddies in the event a firefighter loses consciousness.
The conventional PASS utilizes a motion sensor to determine whether or not the wearer is conscious, so the device must be moved periodically to indicate that the wearer is conscious. It will be understood, however, that a firefighter may need to be rather still at times, even though he is actively fighting a fire. As a result, the conventional PASS often indicates that the person is unconscious when he is not.
The PASS is designed to emit a pre-alert signal when the PASS has been motionless for a predetermined length of time. The wearer, if conscious, can then move, or hit the PASS device, and the device will reset. However, the requirement to take active steps to re-set the PASS takes time and attention away from the job at hand. Furthermore, other people in the vicinity may also hear the pre-alert signal and move in order to reset their own PASS, either mistaking the pre-alert signal for theirs, or simply being reminded that they must move occasionally.
There are times when the wearer of a PASS does not hear the pre-alert signal, and the PASS emits the full alarm signal, which is loud enough that others in the vicinity will hear the alarm. First, this requires that the wearer of the PASS use his hand in order to reset the PASS and stop the alarm from sounding. Next, others in the vicinity will stop what they are doing and go to the rescue of the person whose alarm sounded. As a result, several people are taken away from their duties, even though no one is in trouble.
In view of the above mentioned difficulties, firefighters frequently do not turn on their PASS. While this prevents false alarms, it also takes away the proposed benefit of the PASS. Thus, the prior art has not provided means for accurately determining when the wearer of a PASS device has lost consciousness so the PASS alert signal can be sounded appropriately.

Automatic reset for personal alert safety system


A mechanism of specification of business process templates, to capture commonly performed business activities/workflows/projects within a business organization and encourage reuse of best practices. Long transaction workspaces based business process template execution mechanism are presented, which have several advantages over existing business process execution mechanisms in web collaboration frameworks. This execution approach provides support for an isolated environment for business process execution. This isolates the changes made on different resources while executing a business process from the external world until the business process completes. It enables the ability to concurrently manipulate same resources in different components of a business process, and later resolve conflicts if any and merge the different views of the same resource manipulated by different components of a business process. It also enables easy and effective mechanisms for error recovery and rollback during business process execution.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is generally related to business processes, and more particularly to the modeling and execution of a business process within a collaboration environment.
2. Brief Description of Related Developments
The advent of the Internet has eased the global presentation and distribution of information. The Internet has been used for collaboration purposes for several years now. There are many software vendors that provide a collaboration environment over the web. But there is a lack of a framework to model and execute real-world business processes in existing collaboration environments over the web.
Traditional workflow modeling and execution is designed to integrate business processes across heterogeneous systems, by modeling and executing control flow across systems. Traditional workflows do not address modeling of business organization structure and data sharing and merging within the hierarchy, which typically occurs during the execution of a complex business process.
Commercial Collaboration system like eRoom™ (ER), Sitescape™ (SI), on Project™ (OP), Microsoft SharePoint Portal Server™ (MSP), IBM's Quickplace™ (IBMQ) provide a comprehensive collaboration framework including sharing of content (file content and limited support for database content) and interaction between project members. These traditional frameworks do not have proper support for collaboration during long duration projects involving relational database content.
Collaboration frameworks mentioned above also do not have proper support for modeling hierarchical project structures. Hierarchical project structures have to provide support for merging both relational and file/folder content across a hierarchy. WEBDAV (WDAV) based collaboration systems do provide support for hierarchical project structures. However, WEBDAV does not natively address the type of content being shared. So, any system built using this specification has to address the problem of support for collaboration on relational content. The non-WEBDAV based collaboration systems do not contain a framework to model hierarchical projects. Also, none of the above mentioned collaboration systems support business processes based on long-transaction frameworks.
Existing web collaboration frameworks do not have a proper framework support for specifying and executing any arbitrary business process. Also, their business process execution frameworks do not provide proper support for isolated business process execution environment, so that the changes to the resources during the business process execution are not exposed to the external world until the business process is terminated properly. They also lack fine-grained access control support on the resources being manipulated during a business process execution. These frameworks also do not support for creating savepoints and rolling back to savepoints (markers to which data in a long transaction can be rolled back to).
The existing web collaboration frameworks does not provide proper support for concurrent updates of the same resource in parallel steps of a business process and then an ability to merge the different views of the same resource from different parallel steps at synchronization time with conflict resolution.

Framework to model and execute business processes within a collaborative environment


The invention relates to an actuator having a sensor layer by which a temperature can be detected, and to a method for producing the same.

Actuators are used for example in fuel injection systems. Such actuators have a variable-length region having piezoelements which expand or are compressed depending on an applied voltage. In multilayer actuators or piezo-multilayer actuators such as are used in the fuel injection systems, having a layered arrangement of the piezoelements, for example the operating temperature is one aspect which affects the lifetime of this component. In some applications, nevertheless, the temperature is not monitored.
In order to detect an operating range that limits the lifetime or possible incipient damage of the component, it is desirable to monitor the temperature of the component, for example by means of a sensor system.
Temperature sensors thermally coupled to the actuator can be used for temperature monitoring. These separate, non-integrated sensors require additional structural space. Moreover, they are not suitable for detecting the core temperature of the component. Depending on thermal resistances of the materials used and the specific design, the measured temperature can differ significantly from the core temperature of the actuator.
A further possibility for temperature detection comprises determining temperature information from the value of the small-signal capacitance of the actuator. However, this method has only a limited accuracy. Moreover, the measured value is corrupted by the pyroelectric characteristic of the piezoceramic (PZT) material used. Moreover, the linear small-signal measurement required for this type of temperature detection is complicated to combine with the large-signal driving of the actuator, thus giving rise to additional costs for the electronics.


A washing machine includes a washing tub configured to accommodate laundry therein, a motor configured to rotate the washing tub, and a controller. The controller is configured to: determine a laundry amount and a laundry-tangled degree by using a plurality of types of data that are measured while rotating the washing tub at a specific rotational speed; set an allowable unbalance (UB) value corresponding to the laundry amount and the laundry-tangled degree; determine a UB value based on rotating the washing tub during a dewatering stroke; and control the motor to stop rotating the washing tub based on the UB value exceeding the allowable UB value.

A washing machine is a device that can remove dirt from laundry (hereinafter also referred to as "fabric") such as clothing, bedding, etc. by using chemical cleaning action of water and detergent and physical action such as friction between water and the laundry.
A washing machine may be classified into an agitator type, a pulsator type, and a drum type. The drum type washing machine may include a water storage tank (or tub) for storing water and a washing tub (or drum) rotatably disposed in the water storage tank to accommodate laundry therein.
The washing tub (or drum) may have a plurality of through holes through which water passes. A washing operation may be divided into a washing stroke (cycle), a rinsing stroke (cycle), and a dewatering stroke (cycle). In some cases, a process of each stroke may be displayed through a control panel (or display) provided outside a washing machine.
The washing stroke may include an operation to remove dirt from laundry using friction between water stored in the water storage tank and the laundry placed in the washing tub and chemical cleaning action of detergent in water.
The rinsing stroke may include an operation to rinse the laundry with clean water to remove the detergent soaked (adhered) during the washing stroke by supplying clean water (no detergent dissolved) into the water storage tank. A fabric softening agent may be supplied together with the water during the rinsing stroke.
The dewatering stroke may include an operation to remove water from the laundry by rotating the washing tub at high speed after the rinsing stroke is finished. In some cases, an entire washing operation of the washing machine may be finished with an end of the dewatering stroke. In some cases, for examples, in the case of a combo washer dryer, a drying stroke may be further added after the dewatering stroke.
In some examples, the washing operation may be set to operate under a different condition depending on a load or amount of laundry (hereinafter also referred to as "amount of fabrics") placed in the washing tub. For example, a water level, washing strength, a drain time, a dewatering time, etc., may vary according to the amount of laundry.
In some cases, washing performance can vary according to not only the amount of the laundry but also a laundry type (fabric type). Therefore, when setting the washing operation only based on the amount of the laundry, sufficient washing performance may not be obtained.
In some cases, a washing machine may sense an amount of laundry and a fabric type. For example, the washing machine may sense the amount of laundry by using an average value of current values and detect the fabric type by using a current value deviation.
In a washing operation, laundry may need to be effectively or evenly loaded (distributed) in the dewatering stroke after the washing and rinsing strokes are finished. If the laundry is not evenly loaded and concentrated on one side, an unbalance (UB) of laundry may be generated, which may cause the washing tub to shake or vibrate. In some cases, a dewatering stroke time may become longer, and noise may become larger.
In some examples, the washing machine may include only a fixed UB table in which the allowable UB value, a criterion for initializing the dewatering process, is set according to the laundry amount. For instance, the fixed allowable UB value may only take the laundry amount into account without considering the laundry-tangled degree.
In some cases, where the laundry-tangled degree is not considered, the allowable UB value may be set somewhat larger in order to complete dewatering within a reasonable time even in the case of laundry with a high degree of tangling.
In some cases, unbalance may be large in the case of laundry having a high degree of tangling (clothes that get easily tangled), and unbalance may be small in the case of laundry having a low degree of tangling (clothes are not tangled easily).
The laundry having a low degree of tangling may enter a high-speed dewatering process without proper laundry balancing (laundry diffusion) since the allowable UB value is set to be large. In this case, noise may be generated as the high-speed dewatering process is performed for the laundry having a low degree of tangling in a state the laundry balancing is not properly performed.
Recently, there has been an increased interest in machine learning, artificial intelligence (AI), and deep learning.
In some examples, the machine learning may focus on statistics-based classification, regression, and cluster models. In particular, in supervised learning of the classification and regression models, the learning models that distinguish new data from characteristics of learning data based on these characteristics may be defined by a person in advance. Deep learning, on the other hand, is one in which a computer searches for and identifies its own characteristics.
One of the factors that accelerated development of the deep learning may be deep learning frameworks provided as an open source such as Theano of the University of Montreal, Canada, Torch of New York University, Caffe of the University of California, Berkeley, and TensorFlow of Google.
With the release of deep learning frameworks, in addition to deep learning algorithms, extraction and selection of data used for a learning process, a learning method, and learning are becoming more important for effective learning and recognition.
In addition, research is being actively conducted for applying artificial intelligence and machine learning to various products and services.
Development in employing artificial intelligence and machine learning in a dewatering stoke may improve an optimization of the dewatering stroke.

Washing machine and method for controlling the same


A vehicle seat is mounted on the vehicle floor by a seat adjusting mechanism permitting fore and aft adjusting movement of the seat. A grooved rod is mounted on the vehicle floor. A locking device connected to the seat belt buckle houses a jaw sleeve which surrounds and is normally freely slidable along the grooved rod during seat adjustment. The jaw sleeve is slotted at one end to form a plurality of tooth members having a ramped outer surface. A collar formed integral with the jaw sleeve is threaded to receive a bolt attach to the seat adjuster and provides the connection of the locking device with the seat adjuster. The collar is moveable within a recess in the housing of the locking device from the normal, unlocked position in which the tooth members clear the grooves of the rod to a locked position in which the housing acts on the ramped surface of the tooth members to deflect the tooth member into a rod groove to lock the locking device on the rod under the imposition of a substantial occupant restraint load on the locking device by the seat belt. The seat belt attachment bracket is pivotable about the locking device housing to allow variable positioning of the belt buckle assembly during seat adjustment.

It has been recognized in the prior art as desirable to mount a seat belt directly to the vehicle seat so that adjustment of the seat belt coincides with the adjusting movement of the seat. Various devices have been provided to act between the seat belt anchor on the seat and the vehicle floor to transfer occupant restraint loads to the floor.
Certain of these mechanisms include parts which are designed to deform upon imposition of a predetermined occupant restraint load to allow locking of a locking device. Examples of such parts are shear pins, bendable flanges or tabs, and crushable members which expose locking surfaces when severed. Some of these mechanisms require a considerable amount of seat belt travel before locking of the mechanism is achieved.
It would be desirable to provide a belt load anchorage mechanism which requires a minimal amount of belt travel in the occupant loading direction before lock-up occurs.
Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide such a belt load anchorage mechanism which requires a minimal amount of belt travel before lock-up, yet which allows free adjusting movement of the vehicle seat.
Another object of the invention is to provide a belt load anchorage mechanism which is repeatably functioning and does not include design features which incorporate sacrificial parts which must be discarded and replaced after the imposition of an occupant restraint load of a significant magnitude.
A further object of the invention is to provide a locking device for a belt load anchor mechanism which increases in its locking force as the magnitude of the imposing belt load is increased.
Yet another object of the invention is to provide a seat belt attachment which can pivot in multiple directions to better manage and direct the occupant restraint load along a desired path.

Omni locking adjustable seat belt load transfer mechanism


The present disclosure describes methods and apparatus for supporting QoS and media flow mapping over simultaneous connection for a user equipment (UE), when the simultaneous connections are established over heterogeneous systems having different QoS models, such as 3GPP LTE (4G) QoS model and 3GPP 5G QoS model. The 4G and 5G networks may share the user plane and/or share a policy server. In one aspect, methods for consolidating and distributing the QoS for the NGBR flow and bearer across simultaneous PDN connection over 4G and PDU session over 5G to the same data network (DN) or different DNs are provided. In another aspect, methods are provided for mapping one or more media flows of a multimedia session, such as an IMS session, over simultaneous 4G and 5G connections for a UE are provided, where the 4G connection and the 5G connection for the UE may or may not share the assigned IP address for the UE.

Fourth Generation (4G) networks are now widely deployed and the Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) is currently developing the standards for Fifth Generation (5G) systems. When 5G networks become available, network operators are expected to deploy a mixture of 5G core (5GC) networks and Evolved Packet Core (EPC) networks.
Currently 3GPP is finalizing specifications for 5GC network in 3GPP Technical specification, TS 23.501, 3GPP TS 23.502 and 3GPP TS 23.503. The 5GC network may be based on an evolution of the current EPC or based on a "clean slate" approach. 5GC is defined over the Network Function Virtualization (NFV) and Software Defined Networking (SDN). 5GC must support various access networks including but not limited to:                The new radio access network (New RAN), also known as the 5G Universal Terrestrial Radio Access Network (G-UTRAN), NextGen (NG) RAN or 5G/NG RAN, that supports the Evolved Long Term Evolution (eLTE) Evolved NodeBs (eNBs), also referred to as NG eNBs; and/or        the new radio (NR) access network technology, also known as 5G Universal Terrestrial Radio Access (G-UTRA), base stations (BSs), which are also referred to as 5G NodeB (5G NB) or gNB; and/or        Other non-3GPP access network such as a Wireless Local Area Network, WLAN.
It is expected that most user equipment (UE) that support 5G will also support 4G or other radio access technologies. This is a likely scenario during a transition period to a full 5G deployment or on a more long-term as perhaps not all operators will migrate their network to 5G. Currently, a UE supporting 4G is connected to an EPC network via an LTE eNB, where EPC is specified in 3GPP TS 23.401. A 4G/5G UE supports at least 4G and 5G radio access technologies, and may access:                an EPC, via 4G LTE eNB or 5G gNB, or        a 5GC, via a LTE Ng eNB or via 5G gNB.
3GPP 5G and 5GC introduce a different QoS framework compared to the 4G and EPC QoS framework. 5G supports a flow based QoS model, while 4G is based on bearer level QoS. 5G specifies a guaranteed bit rate (GBR) flow and a non-guaranteed bit rate (Non-GBR or NGBR) flow which is equivalent to 4G GBR bearer, and Non-GBR or NGBR bearer. In 4G and EPC, each bearer has an associated QoS Class Identifier (QCI) and an Allocation and Retention Priority (ARP) and then each QCI, i.e., each bearer, is characterized by priority, packet delay budget and acceptable packet loss rate. QoS is hence specified per bearer where a bearer may transport one or more media flows sharing the same QoS characteristics of the bearer. On the other hand, QoS in 5G is defined at the flow level where at the gNB, the Service Data Adaptation Protocol (SDAP) sublayer configured by the Radio Resource Control (RRC) sublayer, maps QoS flows to radio bearers. One or more QoS flows may be mapped onto one radio bearer. The 5G QoS Identifer (5QI) is a scalar that is used as a reference to 5G QoS characteristics to control QoS forwarding treatment for the QoS Flow (e.g. scheduling weights, admission thresholds, queue management thresholds, link layer protocol configuration, etc.). 5QI is similar to the QoS class identifier (QCI) of 4G. In addition, a QoS Flow ID (QFI) is used to identify a QoS flow in the 5G system. User Plane traffic with the same QFI within a Protocol Data Unit (PDU) session receives the same traffic forwarding treatment (e.g. scheduling, admission threshold), i.e., 5QI. The QFI is carried in an encapsulation header on N3 (Reference point between RAN and User Plane Function (UPF) in 5GC). The QFI is hence unique within a PDU session in 5G.
Currently, the Internet Protocol Multimedia Subsystem (IMS), is used to provide services such as voice or video over Long Term Evolution, VoLTE and ViLTE, over EPC and LTE. The VoLTE profile is described for 4G in Group Special Mobile Association GSMA PRD IR.92, V.10.0. However, requirements to support IMS and VoLTE/ViLTE like services over 5G are also specified in 3GPP. IMS should thus be accessed via EPC or 5GC in a communication system. The Proxy Call Session Control Function (P-CSCF) and other IMS functions in the IMS interfaces with:                the EPC/5GC over an Rx/N5 interface to a policy server, referred to by 3GPP as a server hosting a Policy and Charging Rules (PCRF) or Policy Control Function (PCF), and        the EPC/5GC over the SGi/N6 interface to a packet data gateway (PGW) for sending and receiving IMS signaling and IMS media packets to and from the UE.VoLTE/ViLTE currently specified over 4G require at least an:        Evolved Packet System (EPS) Non-Guaranteed bit rate, EPS NGBR, for transporting all of the IMS signaling over Gm between the wireless device and P-CSCF. The EPS NGBR must first be established as a default bearer of a packet data network, PDN, connection to the IMS well-known Access Point Name, APN. The EPS NGBR is assigned a QCI of 5. The characteristics of QCI=5 are specified in 3GPP 23.203.        EPS Guaranteed bit Rate (EPS GBR) dedicated bearer established through interaction with the PCRF between the wireless device and the PGW in the EPC. The PGW in the EPC must initiate the creation of the dedicated bearer to transport the voice media within the established PDN connection to the well-known IMS APN following dynamic provisioning of the policy rules from the PCRF triggered by VoLTE or ViLTE session establishment. The dedicated GBR bearer for voice is assigned a QCI of 1.
One challenge for supporting simultaneous connections via different networks using different RATs is how QoS enforcement is handled across the different networks operated by the same network operator. When supporting simultaneous connections to 4G and 5G networks, it is not clear how the QoS is reconciled or managed across two systems with different QoS models.


A method for backing up data, that includes making a detection, by a volatile storage firmware, that data communication to a volatile storage component is degraded, initiating a direct memory access (DMA) engine to copy the data from the volatile storage component to a non-volatile storage device, and in response to initiating copying of the data, initiating a shutdown of the volatile storage component.

Devices and/or components of devices are often capable of performing certain functionalities that other devices and/or components are not configured to perform and/or are not capable of performing. In such scenarios, it may be desirable to adapt one or more systems to enhance the functionalities of devices and/or components that cannot perform the one or more functionalities.

Systems and methods for backing up volatile storage devices


A warning device for bicycle mainly includes a magnetic and a coil mechanism. The magnetic mechanism includes a magnetic element assembly, a mounting module, and a holding module movably connected to the mounting module for holding the magnetic element assembly therein. The coil mechanism includes a housing, a coil assembly, a rectifier unit, a plurality of light-emitting elements, and a connecting module. The coil assembly, the rectifier unit, and the light-emitting elements are electrically connected to one another and then received in the housing. The mounting module of the magnetic mechanism is fixedly mounted on a fixed part of a bicycle close to a wheel thereof, and the connecting module of the coil module is fixedly connected to two spokes of the wheel, such that the magnetic element assembly and the coil assembly are located at corresponding radial positions relative to the wheel.

The currently available bicycles are designed for pedaling with less effort, carrying about conveniently, and occupying less space to meet the demands in exercise and leisure activities, and are therefore particularly welcome by office workers who are too busy to have no time to take exercise. However, it is not safe to ride a bicycle in the night or at a dark place. Thus, there have been developed light-emitting elements or reflective units as a warning device for bicycles to reduce accidents while beautify the bicycles.
Taiwanese invention patent application No. 092214918 entitled "Warning Device for Bicycle" filed by the same applicant on Aug. 18, 2003 discloses a warning device that includes a fixed mechanism (11) with magnets (12) being fixedly mounted on a bicycle frame (22), and a fixing plate (13) fixedly mounted on a wheel rim (21). A coil (14) is screwed to the fixing plate (13) using screwing elements (16) made of a soft steel material. When the wheel rim (21) rotates, the coil (14) is brought to pass the magnets (12) and electromagnetically induced to produce induction current for driving light-emitting elements (18) to emit light.
In brief, the warning device for bicycle disclosed in the above-mentioned Taiwanese invention patent application utilizes the electromagnetic induction of the coil on the fixing plate (13) mounted on the rotating wheel rim by the magnets (12) of the fixed mechanism (11) fixedly mounted on the bicycle frame (22) to produce induced current for driving light-emitting elements (18).
Although the above-structured warning device for bicycle provides good warning function and could be easily assembled to and disassembled from the bicycle to attract consumers and enable reduced packing and transporting costs, it is still desired to develop a further improved warning device for bicycle.