A latching device to be used with a cement squeeze packer and a stinger is disclosed. The latching device enables an operator at the surface of an oil or gas well to open and close the squeeze packer valve without the risk of pulling the stinger out of the packer. The latch assembly is installed on the stinger assembly and is provided with a plurality of radially flexible fingers that engage the uphole end of the packer mandrel. Preferably, a series of ribs on both the latch and the uphole end of the mandrel are engaged when the stinger assembly descends into the hole and the stinger enters the packer. These ribs prevent the stinger from coming out of the packer until a predetermined tensile force is applied.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to squeeze cementing of oil or gas wells and, more specifically to a latching device between tubing and the squeeze packer assembly used for cementing an oil or gas well.
2. Description of the Related Art
Cementing is the term used for the process of placing a slurry, usually formed by combining a cementitious material with a liquid, into the annulus between the outside of the casing in the hole and the wall of the hole. Placement of cement is usually done by pumping. Squeeze cementing is the most common type of remedial (secondary) cementing. The process involves applying hydraulic pressure to force or squeeze a cement slurry in contact with a formation, either in open hole or through perforations in the casing or liner.
In many conditions a cement slurry may be applied to water, oil or gas bearing portions of a producing zone to eliminate excessive water or gas without sealing off the oil. This process is especially beneficial in correcting producing well defects. In addition, squeeze cementing may be used when an oil-producing zone is to be isolated from an adjacent gas zone, and the gas/oil ratio can usually be improved to help increase oil production. Additionally, water sands can be squeezed off below the oil sand to help improve water/oil ratios. Independent water zones can be squeezed to eliminate water intrusion. Further, a casing leak may be repaired by squeezing cement through the leak.
Additional applications of squeeze cementing include sealing low pressure zones that imbibe oil, gas or drilling fluids, overcoming channeling or insufficient annular fillup behind the casing, and protecting against fluid migration into a producing zone. Additionally, squeeze cementing is sometimes employed to seal off perforations or plug a depleted open hole producing zone. This helps prevent fluid migration to and from the abandoned zone.
The most effective methods of squeeze cementing, and the most widely applicable, are the packer method and the hesitation squeeze method. In the packer method, the interval to be squeezed is isolated from the surface by a packer run and set on tubing. Many types of packers are available, each designed for specific well conditions. Either retrievable or permanent (drillable) packers can be used. To isolate the section below the perforations to be squeezed, a drillable or retrievable bridge plug may be placed below the perforations. The upper perforations are then squeezed and the remaining slurry reversed out.
The hesitation method involves the placement of cement in a single stage, but divides the placement into alternate pumping/waiting periods. This hesitation practice utilizes controlled fluid loss properties of the slurry to build filter cake nodes against the formation and inside the perforations while the parent slurry remains in a fluid state in the casing.
Equipment commonly employed in squeeze cementing includes high pressure pumps, drillable type squeeze packers and bridge plugs, and retrievable type squeeze packers and bridge plugs. Bridge plugs provide a pressure and fluid boundary between sections of casing. Multiple zones can be isolated individually for the desired treating or testing procedures.
Squeeze packers are designed to provide pressure or fluid control for remedial cementing operations. The squeeze packer tool may be used in conjunction with the work string tubular. Typically, a valve built in the squeeze packer tool helps hold cement in place by providing downhole pressure control. In addition to this control feature, the squeeze packer tool may be designed to be removed from the well by the use of common oil well drilling equipment and practices.
An example of a squeeze packer assembly is the "EZ DRILL SV.RTM.", which is a drillable squeeze packer available from Halliburton in various tool and casing size configurations Squeeze Packer from Halliburton Services of Duncan, Okla. Fluid movement through the EZ DRILL SV.RTM. Squeeze Packer is controlled with a pressure balanced sliding valve which is operated by axial reciprocation of the tubing. The valve may be opened or closed, if desired, before and after squeeze cementing. Fluid movement through the valve will not affect the valve's position. When the valve is in the closed position, the packer is sealed against fluid or gas movement in either direction. When the valve is in the open position, fluid may be pumped through the packer or pressure may be relieved from below it. An unrestricted flow passage is provided through side ports in the packer tool.
The EZ DRILL SV.RTM. Squeeze Packer may be set on tubing (drill pipe), electrical wire line or sand line. The packer may be converted for use as a bridge plug (no fluid movement in either direction through the tool) before running in the hole.
Thus, a squeeze packer assembly may be inserted downhole and the stinger end of the tubular inserted to open and close the valve in the packer as desired. However, when the stinger is pulled from the packer to close the valve, there is a risk that the stinger may be pulled completely out of the packer. This is a serious problem because the axial displacement of the tubular at the top of the hole may not correspond to the axial displacement where the stinger connects with the squeeze packer valve. One of the problems resulting from pulling the stinger out of the squeeze packer is the risk of cement leaking out which potentially could cement the tubing in the hole.
Therefore, a device is needed to prevent inadvertently pulling the stinger end of the tubular completely out of the squeeze packer. Attempts have been made to design a snap-in/snap-out type latch that provides a surface indication of the stinger being landed in the squeeze packer, giving assurance that the sleeve valve is open, or the stinger being removed from the packer, indicating the sleeve valve is closed. Such devices are intended to provide the operator with a positive indication that the control valve of the packer is in the closed or open position while the stinger remains locked in the retainer of the packer during testing of the tubing. One example of such a device is the snap-latch stinger subs available from Baker Service Tools. However, such latches have the disadvantage that internal mechanisms were required in the squeeze packer itself. The latch mechanism required modification to provide engagement members (such as teeth) on the inside of the mandrel, or engagement members on the stinger assembly itself. These modifications were disadvantages because they could not be easily applied to existing equipment.


A beauty instrument with mask includes a flexible mask and a controller. The flexible mask includes a first flexible layer, a second flexible layer, a plurality of functional layers located between the first flexible layer and the second flexible layer, and a plurality of electrodes electrically connected with the plurality of functional layers. The functional layer includes a graphene layer. The flexible mask is electrically coupled with the controller via the plurality of electrodes.

As the living standards being improved, demands for beauty are becoming greater. As such, products of beauty flexible masks and beauty instruments are popular, especially the beauty instruments. Beauty instruments which can produce micro-currents to stimulate human faces are favored by consumers. Existing beauty instruments are hand-held beauty instruments require users to operate the beauty instruments in front of a mirror. This makes the hand-held beauty instruments inconvenient to use.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Beijing FUNATE Innovation Technology Co., LTD.


The present invention provides a composite material including a substrate layer, a knit porous layer intermixed within the substrate material, and a thermoplastic layer disposed upon the porous layer. The porous layer is at least partially disposed within the thermoplastic layer. The present invention also provides a method for forming the composite material including the steps of: providing a substrate layer, providing a porous layer disposed on the substrate layer, providing a thermoplastic layer disposed on the porous layer, applying pressure and vacuum to mechanically interlock the thermoplastic layer with the porous layer; and bonding the porous layer to the substrate layer.

The statements in this section merely provide background information related to the present disclosure and may not constitute prior art.
While not limited in any way to food processing equipment, the present invention was conceived in part to meet a need in the industry. Heretofore, food processing equipment has largely been manufactured from stainless steel due to its known strength and relative durability. It has been discovered that at least certain pieces of stainless steel food processing equipment, particularly those involved in high temperature and vibration environments, tend to be susceptible to stress cracking over time. Further, the cleaning of such food processing equipment manufactured from stainless steel is unnecessarily labor intensive, often requiring at least two people.
In contrast, the composite material of the present invention is resistant to stress cracking, is relatively easy to clean, and tends to be lightweight (generally at least 50% lighter than all stainless steel embodiments). Further perceived advantages include less sticking of food components, reduced noise associated with the product, and speedy assembly and disassembly times, among a host of other advantages.

Composite laminate and method of producing a composite laminate


An ankle brace designed to be worn under the shoe has a first bladder which is filled with the high viscosity gel resistant to rapid deformation to apply pressure to the ankle and conform to its shape to provide support to the ankle. A second bladder inflatable with air is juxtaposed the first bladder to provide a uniform compressive force upon the bladder filled with the gel. A canvas ankle brace holds a pair of air and gel bladders along each of its sidewalls and is wrapped about the lower extremity and snugly fit thereto. Once the brace is in position, air is introduced into the second bladder to press the first bladder against the ankle and to conform to the shape thereof. Broad elastic straps may be secured to the lower rear of the brace to extend over the front of the ankle and the instep in a cruciate configuration. The outer ends of the straps are secured to lines which extend through openings in the outer casing of the brace, and D-rings secured to the ends of the lines permit the tensioning of the elastic straps by threading shoe laces through the rings and tightening the laces.

Ankle braces are generally used to apply pressure to the ankle to prevent movement thereof after sustaining an injury. A constraint upon the application of such pressure is that it must generally restrict inversion and eversion (lateral) movement of the ankle while allowing the normal walking flexion of the ankle to occur.
In prior art attempts to construct an ankle brace which performs in accordance with the above constraint, inflatable air bladders have been used for developing the required pressure. For example, described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,811,434 (the '434 patent) is an inflatable splint having a flexible inflatable body portion to one side of which is joined a panel of flexible sheet material. The panel forms an open-ended sleeve with the body portion to admit a limb or the like and to enable the splint to be positioned. After the splint is properly positioned, the body portion is inflated. FIG. 7 of the '434 patent illustrates the use of the above-describe splint as an ankle brace.
A limitation and disadvantage of the inflatable spirnt described in the 434 patent is that when used on an ankle brace as shown therein inversion and eversion of the ankle is not adequately restrained since the inflatable body portion is designed to apply pressure against the shin and top of the foot thereby causing a tightening of the sheet material. At the ankle, the sheet material would only exhibit a minimal compressive force or pressure on the ankle due to the lateral tension between the body portion and sheet material. The further disadvantage and limitation of the above described splint is that it would resist normal walking flexion, which is desirable to promote healing, as the inflatable body portion would tend to straighten itself causing extension of the ankle. Also, the inflatable body portion would not be capable of being worn under a shoe, since the shoe would likely prevent proper inflation of the body portion under the shoe.
Another prior art ankle brace is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,280,489 (the '489 patent). The brace of the '489 patent has a generally U-shaped stirrup having a base portion and a pair of opposed sidewall portions. An air inflatable liner is attached to the interior of each side wall and is dimensioned to extend coextensively therewith. The sidewall portions snugly fit about the lower leg above the ankle. Inflation of each liner applies pressure to the ankle.
A disadvantage and limitation of the device described in the '489 patent is that the use of air or any gaseous medium to provide the pressure on the ankle does not adequately prevent inversion or eversion of the ankle. For example, a sudden localized pressure applied to the air inflated liner is not resisted. The liner will be locally compressed causing the air to migrate to another portion of the liner to equalize the air pressure on the inner surface of the liner. Therefore, the air inflatable liner may not adequately restrain a sudden inversion or eversion of the ankle but may cause the stirrup to shift in position under such sudden and localized forces.
High viscosity gels are known to be highly resistive to sudden localized forces. These gels have found useful applications in ski boots. For example, see U.S. Pat. No. 3,237,319. Generally, a bladder is attached to an interior wall of the ski boot, the wall of the ski boot necessarily being extremely rigid The gel may be introduced into the bladder before or after the foot is placed in the boot. The gel, when the boot is tightened, will cause momentary discomfort but will gradually flow to conform to the shape of the ankle giving a high degree of comfort and support. Since the wall of the ski boot is rigid, the bladder will remain conformed to the ankle. During skiing, forces which may normally cause sudden inversion or eversion of the ankle are resisted because the high viscosity of the gel and its resistance to rapid deformation.
Although gel filled bladders are relatively advantageous in restraining inversion and eversion of the ankle when used within a ski boot, there are many problems and difficulties which arise when such bladders are to be substituted for the air filled liners of the above described ankle braces. Since it is highly desirable that such ankle braces be worn under clothing and especially shoes, the ankle brace must be relatively thin and flexible as opposed to the rigid wall of the ski boot. Since the high viscosity gel will gradually conform to the shape by which it is constrained, the gel bladder, if used in the prior art ankle braces will assume a shape that equalizes pressure the gel exerts across the inner surface of the bladder. For example, a shoe may cause the gel to evacuate partially from the bladder between the shoe and the ankle. Generally, the slow migration of the gel may cause the bladder to assume a shape which no longer supports the ankle against sudden inversion or eversion.
Attention is also directed to G. W. Johnson U.S. Pat. No. 4,628,945 in which an inflatable bladder is filled with foam and forms padding within a pair of rigid plastic members. In this regard, it may be noted general)y that braces of the type shown in the Johnson 945 and '489 patents, with stiff outer plastic members, are intended for use with incomplete or stable fractures, in some cases after partial mending, and for serious sprains, such as Grade III sprains. In addition, the engagement provided by the air bladder padding, even with a foam filler, is not as stable as might be desired, and is not compatible with hot and/or cold therapy.
J. W. Sconce U.S. Pat. No. 3,901,225 is also of interest in showing a rectangular or trapezoidal assembly forming a cast for immobilizing a fracture, using various hot or cold materials, with no mention of gel. Air inflation for immobilization and for forcing ice water or the like into contact with the fractured limb is provided.
The Spence U.S. Pat. No. 3,548,420 is also noted as disclosing simple gel pad structures and indicating the possibility of using gel pads with a "Milwaukee Brace", without disclosing any applicable structural arrangements.


A system and method for creating a controlling device. In response to a user specifying one or more operating criteria for the controlling device, the system selects executable instructions from a library of executable instructions and command code sets from a library of command code sets that are to be stored in the memory of the controlling device. In addition, the system uses the criteria to suggest command key/command code mappings for use within the controlling device. The user may interact with the system to modify the selected executable instructions, command code sets, and command key/command code mappings. When stored in the memory of the controlling device, the executable instructions are to be used to perform various operations and functions within the controlling device and the command codes are to be transmitted from the controlling device to command the operation of controllable devices in response to activation of one or more of the command keys.

This invention relates generally to controlling devices and, more particularly, relates to a system and method for creating a controlling device such as a universal remote control.
Controlling devices are known in the art. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,689,353 discloses a universal remote control which can be coupled via coded signals with a receiver built into various types of consumer appliances. In this manner, the universal remote control can be used to transmit a command code signal to the consumer appliances to control the operation of the consumer appliance(s) that are adapted to respond to the command code signal.
For controlling the operation of the different types of consumer appliances, a command code library is stored in the memory of the controlling device. As will be appreciated, a command code library is required since different consumer appliances and/or consumer appliances manufactured by different manufacturers typically have different coding formats by which the command codes are transmitted. Within the command code library, the command codes that are transmitted using a common coding format (i.e., commands for commanding the operations of a given type of consumer appliance of a given consumer appliance manufacturer) are grouped into a command code set.
It is also known in the art to store executable instructions in the memory of a controlling device for use in controlling the operation and features of the controlling device. By way of example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,959,751 and 6,014,092 disclose a universal remote control having executable instructions that allow a user to assign one or more command codes to a selected key. In accordance with this described feature, activation of the selected key will cause the controlling device to transmit to the consumer appliances the command code(s) that have been assigned to the selected key.
Presently, creating a controlling device is a time consuming and, therefore, costly endeavor. In this regard, creating a controlling device requires the manual selection of the command codes and programming of the executable instructions that are to be stored in the memory of the controlling device. It is also requires that the layout of the intended keyboard for the controlling device be manually created keeping in mind the proposed command code library and features to be supported by the controlling device. Manually performing these tasks suffers the disadvantage of failing to create a controlling device that adequately balances the needs of an end user against the development cost of the controlling device.

System and method for creating a controlling device


While an application is still running and using a resource that the application has already allocated, real-time capture is used to allow for a minimal overhead, quick turnaround solution for debugging and performance analysis. Application programming interface interception can be used to construct a database of resource usage that can then be mined for dependencies.

The content of a single frame in a modern graphics application continues to expand as graphics processing units (GPUs) increase in capability. This can lead to errors and performance problems that are difficult to analyze in real time while the application renders the final image. The use of multiple rendering targets, composited to construct the final image, only contributes to the difficulty of debugging and performance tuning.
Many solutions exist whereby a frame is captured for analysis after the application has exited. The main issue with these solutions is the turnaround time for modifications is excessive for efficient problem detection and solving. Also, such methods can consume excessive resources for storage of the frame information until the analysis is performed.

Debugging and perfomance analysis of applications


A method of determining the concentration of a quinolone in an aqueous solution comprising reacting the quinolone with an iron salt under conditions and for a time period sufficient to form a color change in the aqueous solution and comparing the resulting color change to an appropriate standard, and optionally comprising the further step of adjusting the pH of the aqueous quinolone solution to a value of less than about 7.0 prior to reacting the aqueous solution with an iron salt, as well as a test kit useful for carrying out such a method.

Quinolones are a class of compounds that are useful as broad spectrum antibiotics, especially for serious systemic infections. Quinolone antibiotics are used to treat infections in both humans and animals. For example, ciprofloxacin, a fluoroquinolone, is indicated for the treatment of urinary tract infections, lower respiratory infections, skin and skin suture infections, and bone and joint infections.
In many human and veterinary applications, quinolones may be administered in an aqueous solution. For example, colibacillosis in poultry can be treated by using a stock solution of sarafloxacin, subsequently diluted in the animals' drinking water via a "proportioner". Chickens require a dosage of 20 ppm of sarafloxacin in water, while turkeys require a dosage of 30 ppm. If the stock solution is not properly diluted by the proportioner, the animals may not receive the proper therapeutic dose of the quinolone antibiotic.
Quinolones in solution can be detected and their concentration determined by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). However, HPLC is difficult, time consuming, and requires skilled personnel to conduct the assays and interpret the results. HPLC is particularly burdensome when tests must be conducted outside of the analytical laboratory setting, such as on farms.
A more useful approach would be to have a method for determining the concentration of quinolones that is not as complicated and time consuming as HPLC, and that could be used outside of the analytical laboratory. In this way, adjustments in dosages can be accomplished quickly without having to wait overnight or days for results to be returned from the analytical laboratory, at which time the disease condition being treated may have worsened.


A method, apparatus and computer program product are provided to facilitate ProSe operation. In the context of a method, a mobile terminal is camped on to a second cell that does not proximity-based services (ProSe), while in a state in which context information not stored by a network. The method also determines whether signals are received from a first cell that does support ProSe and that satisfy a predefined condition, such as a predefined strength of the signals from the first cell, a predefined reliability metric, an allowed transmit power or a time for which one or more parameters will remain effective. In an instance in which the predefined condition is satisfied, the method also includes receiving discovery messages from a mobile terminal camped in the first cell, while being camped in the second cell.

ProSe permits mobile terminals to transmit radio signals directly to and receive radio signals directly from other mobile terminals in proximity thereto. Thus, ProSe includes, for example, device-to-device (D2D) communications. The transmission of radio signals directly between mobile terminals during ProSe operation may be performed under network control, such as in instances in which the radio signals are within the licensed spectrum of a network operator. Alternatively, in instances in which public safety messages are transmitted utilizing a dedicated public safety spectrum, the transmission of radio signals directly between mobile terminals in accordance with ProSe operation may be performed autonomously without network control.
ProSe may operate in any one of a plurality of states, such as an RRC_Idle state, an RRC_Connected state or a hybrid RRC state or sub-state (both of which are referenced as a hybrid RRC herein) that is designed for ProSe purposes and that may include characteristics of both the RRC_Idle state and the RRC_Connected state. For example, in both the RRC_Idle state and the hybrid RRC state, the network, such as an Evolved Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) Terrestrial Radio Access Network (E-UTRAN), may not create and store context for the mobile terminal, while in the RRC_Connected state the network may create and store context for the mobile terminal. Additionally, the mobile terminal may be synchronized with the network in both the RRC_Connected state and the hybrid RRC state even though the mobile terminal is not synchronized with the network in the RRC_Idle state.
In order to perform ProSe under network control, the network operator and, as such, the cell upon which the mobile terminal is camped must support ProSe operation since, among other reasons, ProSe discovery resources may be allocated on a per cell basis by the network, such as the E-UTRAN. The network may provide the radio resources to the ProSe-capable mobile terminals, such as by session information block (SIB) signaling. Thus, while in the RRC_Idle state or in the hybrid RRC state in which no context information for the mobile terminal is stored by the network, a mobile terminal that is camped in a cell that supports ProSe by providing the necessary radio resources may be able to transmit and receive ProSe discovery messages so as to commence ProSe operation, such as D2D communication, with another mobile terminal.
In an instance in which a mobile terminal that is utilizing ProSe is operating in a state in which the network does not maintain context information for the mobile terminal, such as the RRC_Idle state or the hybrid RRC state, the mobile terminal may perform cell re-selection to a cell that does not provide or support ProSe services. As such, the mobile terminal may be unable to continue ProSe operation following cell re-selection. In this regard, the mobile terminal may be unable to both transmit and receive discovery messages or participate in D2D communication in the cell that does not support ProSe services. Thus, the mobile terminal may be unable to rely upon continued ProSe operation in an instance in which the mobile terminal re-selects to another cell.

Method and apparatus for supporting proximity-based services


Integrated systems, apparatus, software, and methods for performing biochemical analysis, including DNA sequencing, genomic screening, purification of nucleic acids and other biological components and drug screening are provided. Microfluidic devices, systems and methods for using these devices and systems for performing a wide variety of fluid operations are provided. The devices and systems of are used in performing fluid operations which require a large number of iterative, successive or parallel fluid manipulations, in a microscale, or sealed and readily automated format.

Manipulating fluidic reagents and assessing the results of reagent interactions are central to chemical and biological science. Manipulations include mixing fluidic reagents, assaying products resulting from such mixtures, and separation or purification of products or reagents and the like. Assessing the results of reagent interactions can include autoradiography, spectroscopy, microscopy, photography, mass spectrometry, nuclear magnetic resonance and many other techniques for observing and recording the results of mixing reagents. A single experiment can involve literally hundreds of fluidic manipulations, product separations, result recording processes and data compilation and integration steps. Fluidic manipulations are performed using a wide variety of laboratory equipment, including various fluid heating devices, fluidic mixing devices, centrifugation equipment, molecule purification apparatus, chromatographic machinery, gel electrophoretic equipment and the like. The effects of mixing fluidic reagents are typically assessed by additional equipment relating to detection, visualization or recording of an event to be assayed, such as spectrophotometers, autoradiographic equipment, microscopes, gel scanners, computers and the like.
Because analysis of even simple chemical, biochemical, or biological phenomena requires many different types of laboratory equipment, the modem laboratory is complex, large and expensive. In addition, because so many different types of equipment are used in even conceptually simple experiments such as DNA sequencing, it has not generally been practical to integrate different types of equipment to improve automation. The need for a laboratory worker to physically perform many aspects of laboratory science imposes sharp limits on the number of experiments which a laboratory can perform, and increases the undesirable exposure of laboratory workers to toxic or radioactive reagents. In addition, results are often analyzed manually, with the selection of subsequent experiments related to initial experiments requiring consideration by a laboratory worker, severely limiting the throughput of even repetitive experimentation.
In an attempt to increase laboratory throughput and to decrease exposure of laboratory workers to reagents, various strategies have been performed. For example, robotic introduction of fluids onto microtiter plates is commonly performed to speed mixing of reagents and to enhance experimental throughput. More recently, microscale devices for high throughput mixing and assaying of small fluid volumes have been developed. For example, U.S. Ser No. 08/761,575 (now U.S. Pat. No. 6,046,056) entitled "High Throughput Screening Assay Systems in Microscale Fluidic Devices" by Parce et al. provides pioneering technology related to microscale fluidic devices, especially including electrokinetic devices. The devices are generally suitable for assays relating to the interaction of biological and chemical species, including enzymes and substrates, ligands and ligand binders, receptors and ligands, antibodies and antibody ligands, as well as many other assays. Because the devices provide the ability to mix fluidic reagents and assay mixing results in a single continuous process, and because minute amounts of reagents can be assayed, these microscale devices represent a fundamental advance for laboratory science.
In the electrokinetic microscale devices provided by Parce et al. above, an appropriate fluid is flowed into a microchannel etched in a substrate having functional groups present at the surface. The groups ionize when the surface is contacted with an aqueous solution. For example, where the surface of the channel includes hydroxyl functional groups at the surface, e.g., as in glass substrates, protons can leave the surface of the channel and enter the fluid. Under such conditions, the surface possesses a net negative charge, whereas the fluid will possess an excess of protons, or positive charge, particularly localized near the interface between the channel surface and the fluid. By applying an electric field along the length of the channel, cations will flow toward the negative electrode. Movement of the sheath of positively charged species in the fluid pulls the solvent with them.
One time consuming process is titration of biological and biochemical assay components into the dynamic range of an assay. For example, because enzyme activities vary from lot to lot, it is necessary to perform a titration of enzyme and substrate concentrations to determine optimum reaction conditions. Similarly, diagnostic assays require titration of unknown concentrations of components so that the assay can be performed using appropriate concentrations of components. Thus, even before performing a typical diagnostic assay, several normalization steps need to be performed with assay components.
Another labor intensive laboratory process is the selection of lead compounds in drug screening assays. Various approaches to screening for lead compounds are reviewed by Janda (1994) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 91(10779–10785); Blondelle (1995) Trends Anal. Chem 14:83–91; Chen et al. (1995) Angl. Chem. Int. Engl. 34:953–960; Ecker et al. (1995) Bio/Technology 13:351–360; Gordon et al. (1994) J. Med. Chem. 37:1385–1401 and Gallop et al. (1994) J. Med. Chem. 37:1233–1251. Improvements in screening have been developed by combining one or more steps in the screening process, e.g., affinity capillary electrophoresis-mass spectrometry for combinatorial library screening (Chu et al. (1996) J. Am. Chem. Soc. 118:7827–7835). However, these high-throughput screening methods do not provide an integrated way of selecting a second assay or screen based upon the results of a first assay or screen. Thus, results from one assay are not automatically used to focus subsequent experimentation and experimental design still requires a large input of labor by the user.
Another particularly labor intensive biochemical series of laboratory fluidic manipulations is nucleic acid sequencing. Efficient DNA sequencing technology is central to the development of the biotechnology industry and basic biological research. Improvements in the efficiency and speed of DNA sequencing are needed to keep pace with the demands for DNA sequence information. The Human Genome Project, for example, has set a goal of dramatically increasing the efficiency, cost-effectiveness and throughput of DNA sequencing techniques. See, e.g., Collins, and Galas (1993) Science 262:43–46.
Most DNA sequencing today is carried out by chain termination methods of DNA sequencing. The most popular chain termination methods of DNA sequencing are variants of the dideoxynucleotide mediated chain termination method of Sanger. See, Sanger et al. (1977) Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci., USA 74:5463–5467. For a simple introduction to dideoxy sequencing, see, Current Protocols in Molecular Biology, F. M. Ausubel et al., eds., Current Protocols, a joint venture between Greene Publishing Associates, Inc. and John Wiley & Sons, Inc., (Supplement 37, current through 1997) (Ausubel), Chapter 7. Four color sequencing is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,171,534. Thousands of laboratories employ dideoxynucleotide chain termination techniques. Commercial kits containing the reagents most typically used for these methods of DNA sequencing are available and widely used.
In addition to the Sanger methods of chain termination, new PCR exonuclease digestion methods have also been proposed for DNA sequencing. Direct sequencing of PCR generated amplicons by selectively incorporating boronated nuclease resistant nucleotides into the amplicons during PCR and digestion of the amplicons with a nuclease to produce sized template fragments has been proposed (Porter et al. (1997) Nucleic Acids Research 25(8):1611–1617). In the methods, 4 PCR reactions on a template are performed, in each of which one of the nucleotide triphosphates in the PCR reaction mixture is partially substituted with a 2′ deoxynucleoside 5′-α[P-borano]-triphosphate. The boronated nucleotide is stochastically incorporated into PCR products at varying positions along the PCR amplicon in a nested set of PCR fragments of the template. An exonuclease which is blocked by incorporated boronated nucleotides is used to cleave the PCR amplicons. The cleaved amplicons are then separated by size using polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, providing the sequence of the amplicon. An advantage of this method is that it requires fewer biochemical manipulations than performing standard Sanger-style sequencing of PCR amplicons.
Other sequencing methods which reduce the number of steps necessary for template preparation and primer selection have been developed. One proposed variation on sequencing technology involves the use of modular primers for use in PCR and DNA sequencing. For example, Ulanovsky and co-workers have described the mechanism of the modular primer effect (Beskin et al. (1995) Nucleic Acids Research 23(15):2881–2885) in which short primers of 5–6 nucleotides can specifically prime a template-dependent polymerase enzyme for template dependent nucleic acid synthesis. A modified version of the use of the modular primer strategy, in which small nucleotide primers are specifically elongated for use in PCR to amplify and sequence template nucleic acids has also been described. The procedure is referred to as DNA sequencing using differential extension with nucleotide subsets (DENS). See, Raja et al. (1997) Nucleic Acids Research 25(4):800–805.
In addition to enzymatic and other chain termination sequencing methods, sequencing by hybridization to complementary oligonucleotides has been proposed, e.g., in U.S. Pat. No. 5,202,231, to Drmanac et al. and, e.g., in Drmanac et al. (1989) Genomics 4:114–128. Chemical degradation sequencing methods are also well known and still in use; see, Maxam and Gilbert (1980) in Grossman and Moldave (eds.) Academic Press, New York, Methods in Enzymology 65:499–560.
Improvements in methods for generating sequencing templates have also been developed. DNA sequencing typically involves three steps: i) making suitable templates for the regions to be sequenced; ii) running sequencing reactions for electrophoresis and iii) assessing the results of the reaction. The latter steps are sometimes automated by use of large and very expensive workstations and autosequencers. The first step often requires careful experimental design and laborious DNA manipulation such as the construction of nested deletion mutants. See, Griffin, H. G. and Griffin, A. M. (1993) DNA sequencing protocols, Humana Press, New Jersey. Alternatively, random "shot-gun" sequencing methods, are sometimes used to make templates, in which randomly selected sub clones, which may or may not have overlapping sequence information, are randomly sequenced. The sequences of the sub clones are compiled to produce an ordered sequence. This procedures eliminates complicated DNA manipulations; however, the method is inherently inefficient because many recombinant clones must be sequenced due to the random nature of the procedure. Because of the labor intensive nature of sequencing, the repetitive sequencing of many individual clones dramatically reduces the throughput of these sequencing systems.
Recently, Hagiwara and Curtis (1996) Nucleic Acids Research 24(12):2460–2461 developed a "long distance sequencer" PCR protocol for generating overlapping nucleic acids from very large clones to facilitate sequencing, and methods of amplifying and tagging the overlapping nucleic acids into suitable sequencing templates. The methods can be used in conjunction with shotgun sequencing techniques to improve the efficiency of shotgun methods.
Although improvements in robotic manipulation of fluidic reagents and miniaturization of laboratory equipment have been made, and although particular biochemical processes such as DNA sequencing and drug screening are very well developed, there still exists a need for additional techniques and apparatus for mixing and assaying fluidic reagents, for integration of such systems and for reduction of the number of manipulations required to perform biochemical manipulations such as drug screening and DNA sequencing. Ideally, these new apparatus would be useful with, and compatible to, established biochemical protocols. This invention provides these and many other features.


An optical fiber connector (100) includes a first insulative housing (1), a door (2) assembled in the first housing and an elastic piece (3) with one end retained in the first housing and the other end elastically abutting against the door. The first housing defines a top face (10), a front face (11) connecting with the top face and a pair of sidewalls (13). The first housing further defines a receiving cavity (111) opening through the front face thereof, and each sidewall defines a recess (112) opening through the top face and the inner surface of the receiving cavity near an opening of the receiving cavity. The door is movably assembled at the opening of the receiving cavity and defines a pair of shafts (22) received in the recesses. Each recess integrally defines a protrusion (113) over the shaft therein, so as to prevent the shafts from breaking off the recesses.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an fiber optic connector, and particularly to an fiber optic connector having a door for preventing entering of dust and vapor.
2. Description of the Related Art
Chinese Patent Issued Number 2674470Y discloses an fiber optic connector having a door for preventing entering of dust. The fiber optic connector includes an insulative housing having an optical element, an elastic door and a shell. The housing defines a receiving cavity for receiving a mating connector opening through a mating face thereof, an opening running through a top wall and a pair of sidewalls vertical to the top wall. Each sidewall defines a recess in the upper portion of the inner surface. A pair of bosses of the elastic door is retained in the recesses. An elastic piece extends from the front end of the shell and elastically abuts against the door, so that the door is positioned in the front opening of the receiving cavity without insertion of a mating connector, and the door pivots towards the receiving cavity when a mating connector is inserted. Since the recess opens upwards, the door might break off the housing.
Japanese Unexamined Patent No. 6-331859 discloses another fiber optic connector. The door pivots in a pair of holes of the housing. It's difficult to assembly the door on the housing.
Hence, a new design which can prevent the door from breaking off the housing is provided.


The present invention provides for crystalline Form B1 of N-(3-carboxyl-1-oxopropyl)-(4S)-(p-phenylphenyl-methyl)-4-amino-2R-methyl butanoic acid ethyl ester sodium salt, crystalline Form B2 of N-(3-carboxyl-1-oxopropyl)-(4S)-(p-phenylphenylmethyl)-4-amino-2R-methyl butanoic acid ethyl ester sodium salt, a novel process for the preparation of crystalline Form B of N-(3-carboxyl-1-oxopropyl)-(4S)-(p-phenylphenylmethyl)-4-amino-2R-methyl butanoic acid ethyl ester sodium salt.

ENTRESTO÷ is a combination of sacubitril, a neprilysin inhibitor, and valsartan, an angiotensin II receptor blocker, indicated to reduce the risk of cardiovascular death and 10 hospitalization for heart failure in patients with chronic heart failure (NY HA Class II-IV) and reduced ejection fraction.
Sacubitril sodium is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,217,996 A along with methods for preparation of Sacubitril sodium.
Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, 1995, 38 (10), pp 1689-1700 discloses the process for preparation of Sacubitril sodium.
CN105503638A discloses process of preparation of Sacubitril sodium using ethanol and tetrahydrofuran (1:1) mixed solvent.
CN105693543 discloses various salts of Sacubitril like Sacubitril potassium, magnesium Sacubitril, Sacubitril t-butylamine salt, Sacubitril ethanolamine salt, Sacubitril piperazine, Sacubitril calcium salt, Sacubitril tromethamine salt, Sacubitril triethanolamine salt. This patent application also discloses Sacubitril magnesium amorphous of X-ray powder diffraction pattern.
CN105837464 A discloses various crystalline forms of Sacubitril sodium such as Form A, Form B, Form C and Form D along with amorphous form.
This Chinese patent application discloses Sacubitril sodium of crystal line Form A which is characterized by X-ray powder diffraction pattern (using Cu—K radiation) the characteristic diffraction peaks corresponding 2::values are 6.0 ě 0.2 é, 6.6 ě 0.2 é, 9.0 ě 0.2 é, 12.2 ě 0.2 é, 13.2 ě 0.2 é, 15.1 ě 0.2 é, 17.1 ě 0.2 é, 17.8 ě 0.2 é, 18.3 ě 0.2 é, 19.2 ě, 0.2 é, 19.7 ě 0.2 é, 20.2 ě 0.2 é, 20.8 ě 0.2 é, 21.4 ě 0.2 é, 21.6 ě 0.2 é, 22.6 ě 0.2 é, 26.7 ě, 0.2 é.
This Chinese patent application discloses Sacubitril sodium of crystalline Form B which is characterized by X-ray powder diffraction pattern (using Cu—K radiation) the characteristic diffraction peaks corresponding 2::values are 6.1 ě 0.2 é, 7.1 ě, 0.2 é, 7.7 ě 0.2 é, 11.8 ě 0.2 é, 12.3 ě 0.2 é, 12.6 ě 0.2 é, 13.6 ě 0.2 é, 15.4 ě 0.2 é, 16.4 ě 0.2 é, 19.9 ě 0.2 é, 20.1 ě 0.2 é, 23.7 ě 0.2 é, 24.0 ě 0.2 é, 24.8 ě 0.2 é, 25.9 ě 0.2 é, 26.2 ě 0.2 é.
This Chinese patent application discloses Sacubitril sodium of crystalline Form C which is characterized by X-ray powder diffraction pattern (using Cu—K radiation) the characteristic diffraction peaks corresponding 2::values are 6.3 ě 0.2 é, 7.3 ě 0.2 é, 12.7 ě 0.2 é, 14.7 ě 0.2 é, 15.9 ě 0.2 é, 18.5 ě 0.2 é, 19.2 ě 0.2 é, 22.4 ě 0.2 é, 22.7 ě 0.2 é, 23.6 ě 0.2 {acute over ( )}, 27.0 ě 0.2 é.
This Chinese patent application discloses Sacubitril sodium of crystal line Form D which is characterized by X-ray powder diffraction pattern (using Cu—K radiation) the characteristic diffraction peaks corresponding 2::values are value 6.3 ě 0.2 é, 7.3 ě 0.2 é, 12.0 ě 0.2 é, 12.8 ě 0.2 é, 16.6 ě 0.2 é, 17.0 ě 0.2 é, 18.5 ě 0.2 é, 20.0 ě 0.2 é, 21.7 ě 0.2, 22.5 ě 0.2 ě, 23.9 ě, 0.2 é, 26.3 ě 0.2 é, 27.1 ě 0.2 é.
PCT Publication No. WO2016074651A1 discloses various crystalline Sacubitril amine salts. This PCT publication discloses the crystalline salt of Sacubitril with cyclohexyl amine, the characteristic diffraction peaks corresponding 2::values are 7.4, 15.0, 18.0, 19.9, 21.6 (éě 0.2é2:), the crystalline salt of Sacubitril with isopropyl amine, the characteristic diffraction peaks corresponding 2::values are 3.1, 9.5, 12.6, 18.5, 24.6 (é ě 0.2é 2:), the crystalline salt of Sacubitril with isopropyl amine, the characteristic diffraction peaks corresponding 2::values are 8.0, 9.8, 16.1, 17.8, 20.2 (éě 0.262:).
PCT Publication No. WO2016074651A1 discloses various crystalline and semicrystalline forms of Sacubitril calcium salt. This PCT discloses the crystalline form I of crystalline Sacubitril calcium salt with characteristic diffraction peaks corresponding 2::values are 3.6, 6.4, 8.4, 10.8, 14.5, 17.7, 20.6 and 22.5 (ě 0.262:). This PCT discloses the crystalline form II of crystalline Sacubitril calcium salt with characteristic diffraction peaks 1 h corresponding 2::values are 3.2, 7.4, 11.4, 12.9, 16.2, 18.7, 22.5, 23.7 and 27.1(é ě 0.2é 2:).
This PCT discloses the semicrystalline form III of the calcium salt of Sacubitril with characteristic diffraction peaks corresponding 2::values are 4.0 and 4.7 ě 0.2é. This PCT discloses the semicrystalline form IV of the calcium salt of Sacubitril with characteristic diffraction peaks corresponding 2::values are 4.6; 6.4 and 14.3 ě 0.2. This PCT publication also discloses the comparative stability study of crystalline Sacubitril calcium salt and crystal line Sacubitril I sodium salt T his study shows a sample of the calcium salt of Sacubitril I (form I) upon exposing to the temperature of 80éC at 0% relative humidity (R H) and 75% R H for 3 days. The crystalline state of the calcium salt of Sacubitril did not change during this time period. The same experiment was also conducted with the sodium salt of Sacubitril, which exhibited a high rate of polymorph instability and at 75% RH the sample became completely amorphous (see Table 1).
TABLE 1Stability of solid forms of sacubitril saltsResult after loading of theResult after loading of thesampleX-ray powder analysissample at 80° C./0% RHsample at 80° C./75% RHcalcium salt of sacubitrilCrystalline sample (form I)Crystalline sample(form I)ICrystalline sample(form I)Isodium salt of sacubitrilSemicrystalline phaseSemicrystalline phaseAmorphous sample
Thus there is a need to develop stable crystalline polymorphs of Sacubitril sodium, with the process involving be simple and cost-effective.
PCT Publication No. WO 2007056546 A1 discloses crystalline Valsartan disodium salt, but does not disclose any analytical data or process for preparation of the same;
PCT Publication No. WO 200206253 A1 discloses amorphous and crystalline Valsartan disodium salt; Example 5 of the publication discloses a process for the preparation of the Valsartan disodium salt involving dissolving the valsartan in ethanol, mixing with 2 N sodium hydroxide solution and concentrating by evaporation, and the residue is evaporated a with each of ethanol and ethyl acetate. The white residue is stirred in hot acetonitrile and filtered by suction at room temperature. Drying in a high vacuum at 80éC, overnight yields (S)—N-(1-carboxy-2-methyl-prop-1-yl)-N-pentanoyl-N-[2′-(1 Htetrazol-5-yl)-biphenyl-4-ylmethyl]-amine disodium salt as a white powder. Melting point from 260éC, brownish discolouration at 295éC. There is no reference provided for the nature of the product whether it is amorphous or crystalline.
Example 11 of the same PCT publication No. WO 200206253 discloses a process for the preparation of the Hydrate of valsartan disodium salt (2.4 ě 1.0 mole H2O). A solution was valsartan in isopropanol was added 2N sodium hydroxide solution dropwise at ca. 25éC. The clear solution (pH 7.2) was concentrated under vacuum at ca.40éC. The amorphous residue of the disodium salt was suspended in 100 ml of isopropanol, and water was removed by concentrating under vacuum once more at ca. 40éC and degassing. The amorphous residue was suspended in 75 ml of acetone and 2 ml of water at ca. 40éC. At ca. 25-30éC, 200 ml of tert.-butyl methyl ether were added, whereby constituents that were initially smeary were gradually transformed into a crystalline suspension. After stirring, over night at ca. 25éC, the suspension was cooled to 10éC and after ca. 1 hour was filtered by suction whilst excluding atmospheric moisture. Washed with 20 ml of tert.-butyl methylether. The moist filter cake was dried over night at ca. 30 mbar and at 30éC. A colourless, slightly hygroscopic crystal powder was obtained. There is no X RD diffractogram provided but 2::values with intensity are provided as below.
2θIntensity4.7strong9.1strong13.3weak13.7weak15.6medium16.4medium17.2medium17.9medium18.7medium19.6medium21.3medium21.9medium22.8strong24.0weak24.9weak25.5weak26.5medium26.8weak27.3weak27.8weak28.6weak29.4weak29.9medium
The above process as described is laborious and also not cost effective. Also as disclosed in the example 11 the crystalline valsartan disodium hydrate is hygroscopic and hence might not be stable and shelf life would get affected. Thus there is a need to develop stable crystalline polymorphs of valsartan disodium, with the process involving be simple and cost-effective.
A U.S. Pat. No. 8,877,938 B2 discloses Trisodium [3-((1S,3R)-1-biphenyl-4-ylmethyl-3-ethoxycarbonyl-1-butylcarbamoyl) propionate-(S)-3→methyl-2→(pentanoyl{2↓-(tetrazol-5-ylate)biphenyl-4→ylmethyl}amino)butyrate] hemipentahydrate in crystalline form.
EP Patent application no. 2340828 discloses the Trisodium [3-((1S,3R)-1-biphenyl-4-ylmethyl-3-ethoxycarbonyl-1-butylcarbamoyl) propionate-(S)-3→methyl-2→(pentanoyl{2↓-(tetrazol-5-ylate)biphenyl-4→yl methyl}amino)butyrate] in amorphous form.
CN 105461647 application discloses sodium [3-((1S,3R)-1-biphenyl-4-ylmethyl-3-ethoxycarbonyl-1-butylcarbamoyl) propionate-(S)-3→methyl-2→(pentanoyl{2↓-(tetrazol-5-ylate)biphenyl-4-ylmethyl}amino)butyrate] in,  and ∴amorphous form.
PCT Publication No. WO 2007056546 A1 discloses amorphous sacubitril valsartan trisodium and various processes for preparation thereof.
The above process as described is laborious and also not cost effective. Thus there is a need to develop stable amorphous form of sacubitril valsartan trisodium, with the process involving be simple and cost-effective.

Amorphous Trisodium Sacubitril Valsartan and process for its preparation


A device for separately packaging two components, for mixing them together, and for dispensing the resulting mixture includes a two-compartment receptacle, a removable plug for separating the compartments during storage of the components until first use, a dispenser endpiece defining an outlet channel for the mixture, closure suitable for closing the outlet channel during storage of the components, and a drive member that is axially displaceable to drive relative displacement of the endpiece and the closure so as to open the outlet channel. The drive member also displaces the plug so as to put the compartments into communication with each other. The plug is connected to the drive member by a coupling member enabling the plug to be entrained over at least a portion of the axial displacement of the drive member so as to establish communication between the compartments.

Numerous devices are already known for separately storing two components which are to be mixed extemporaneously on first use.
German utility model (Gebranchsmuster) G 8624488.4 discloses a device having one of its compartments constituted by a flask presenting an externally threaded neck at its top end, while its other compartment is formed by a tubular portion engaged inside said neck, closed at its bottom end by a removable plug, and provided at its top end with a dispensing endpiece defining an outlet channel that is closed by a closure cap. The plug is held by friction in said tubular portion and bears axially at its periphery against a shoulder formed at the base of said neck. A closure rod extends the plug upwards and engages in said outlet channel so long as the plug bears against said shoulder. This makes it possible to prevent the component contained in the tubular portion being distributed before it has been mixed with the component present in the flask. The tubular portion is secured to an external skirt in screw engagement on the thread of the neck and making it possible, when rotated in the unscrewing direction, to raise the tubular portion inside the neck. After the tubular portion has travelled over a predetermined upward stroke, the plug which is held axially by the shoulder formed at the base of the neck ceases to be held thereby, and drops into the flask, thus enabling the component contained in the tubular portion to mix with the component contained in the flask. That known device does not provide entire satisfaction, in particular because it is difficult to fill the tubular portion. Specifically, it is not possible to insert a substance via the dispensing endpiece when the plug is engaged in the tubular portion since the closure rod then closes the outlet channel. It is therefore necessary to fill the tubular portion before the plug has been put into place therein, and in that known device the threaded neck of the flask is made removable for that purpose. In addition, the tubular portion is filled with the dispensing endpiece pointing downwards, and closed by the closure cap. When the substance is in powder form, it can fill the outlet channel and subsequently interfere with putting the plug into place by preventing the closure rod being inserted in the outlet channel. When the substance is a liquid, traces of the liquid can remain in the outlet channel and that is disadvantageous when the substance is an irritant since the user can be exposed to the substance on unscrewing the closure cap.

Device for separately storing two components, for mixing them, and for dispensing the mixture


A recording head recovery system includes a recording head, a cleaning liquid tank for storing cleaning liquid, a cleaning liquid supplying path which connects together the cleaning liquid tank and the recording head, a liquid supply mechanism which is provided in the cleaning liquid supplying path, and a controller. The controller performs recording head recovery operation including cleaning liquid supplying operation for supplying the cleaning liquid from liquid supplying openings of the recording head, wiping operation for wiping an ink ejection face of the recording head while a wiper retains the cleaning liquid, and backflow operation for controlling the liquid supply mechanism to make the cleaning liquid in the cleaning liquid supplying path to flow from the cleaning liquid supplying openings to the cleaning liquid tank.

As recording apparatuses such as facsimile machines, copiers, and printers, ink-jet recording apparatuses, which form images by ejecting ink, are widely used for their ability to form high-definition images.
In such ink-jet recording apparatuses, fine ink droplets (hereinafter, referred to as mist) which are ejected together with ink droplets for image recording, and splashed mist which is generated when ink droplets attach to the recording medium, attach to and solidify on an ink ejection face of a recording head. As mist on the ink ejection face gradually increases and covers the ink ejection openings, it causes, for example, degraded straightness of the ink trajectory (curved flight) or ejection failure, and leads to degraded printing performance of the recording head.
To avoid that, in one known ink-jet recording apparatus, for cleaning the ink ejection face of the recording head, a plurality of cleaning liquid supplying openings are provided in a part of the ink ejection face outside an ink ejection region (upstream in the direction of wiping by a wiper) in which a plurality of ink ejection openings are open. In such an ink-jet recording apparatus, after the cleaning liquid is supplied from the cleaning liquid supplying openings, the wiper can be moved along the ink ejection face starting outward of the cleaning liquid supplying openings so that the wiper wipes the ink ejection face while holding the cleaning liquid. In this way, recovery operation for the recording head is performed.
An ink-jet recording apparatus provided with a plurality of cleaning liquid supplying openings on the ink ejection face of the recording head is disclosed, for example, in Patent Document 1 identified below.

Recording head recovery system, ink-jet recording apparatus therewith, and recording head recovery method


Disclosed herein is a liquid crystal display device which is capable of reducing the number of data drive integrated circuits (ICs) to curtail a production cost. The liquid crystal display device includes a plurality of pixel cells formed respectively in areas defined by a plurality of gate lines and a plurality of data lines, a first unit pixel including at least three of the pixel cells, the at least three pixel cells being connected to different ones of the data lines, and a second unit pixel including at least three of the pixel cells other than the at least three pixel cells of the first unit pixel, the at least three pixel cells of the second unit pixel being connected respectively to the different data lines to which the at least three pixel cells of the first unit pixel are connected, wherein the first and second unit pixels are arranged in a direction of the data lines and connected to different ones of the gate lines. A plurality of adjacent pixel cells expressing the same colors or different colors on horizontal lines, among the pixel cells, are connected in common to the same data lines.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a liquid crystal display device, and more particularly, to a liquid crystal display device which is capable of reducing the number of data drive integrated circuits (ICs) to curtail a production cost.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
In recent informationized society, displays are visual information transfer media, whose importance is emphasized than ever. Various flat panel displays have been developed.
These flat panel displays may be, for example, a liquid crystal display (LCD), field emission display (FED), plasma display panel (PDP), electroluminescence (EL) display, organic light emitting diode (OLED), and the like.
The liquid crystal display, among the flat panel displays, is on a trend of being applied within a wider range owing to its characteristics of lightness, thinness, low power consumption driving, etc. According to such a trend, the liquid crystal display has been used in a portable computer such as a notebook personal computer (PC), an office automation device, an audio/video device, an indoor/outdoor advertisement display device, etc., and been rapidly advanced toward a larger size and higher resolution owing to recent security of mass production technologies and recent results of research and development.
In general, a liquid crystal display device is adapted to adjust light transmittance of liquid crystal cells according to a video signal so as to display an image. This liquid crystal display device basically includes a liquid crystal display panel including liquid crystal cells arranged between two glass substrates in matrix form for displaying an image, a backlight unit for emitting light to the liquid crystal display panel, and a driving circuit for supplying a drive signal to drive the liquid crystal display panel.
FIG. 1 schematically shows the configuration of a conventional liquid crystal display device.
Referring to FIG. 1, the conventional liquid crystal display device, denoted by reference numeral 1, includes a liquid crystal display panel 10 including pixel areas formed respectively in areas defined by a plurality of gate lines GL1 to GLm and a plurality of data lines DL1 to DLn, a gate driver 30 for sequentially supplying a gate drive signal to the gate lines GL1 to GLm, a data driver 20 for supplying video data Red, Green and Blue inputted thereto to the data lines DL1 to DLn synchronously with the gate drive signal, and a timing controller 40 for converting and arranging external video data R, G and B and supplying the resulting video data to the data driver 20, and controlling the driving of the gate driver 30 and data driver 20.
Although not shown, the liquid crystal display device further includes a backlight unit for emitting light to the liquid crystal display panel 10, an inverter for applying a voltage and current to the backlight unit, a reference gamma voltage generator for generating a reference gamma voltage and supplying it to the data driver 20, and a voltage generator for generating a drive voltage to drive each component and supplying a common voltage Vcom to a common electrode of the liquid crystal display panel 10.
The liquid crystal display panel 10 includes a transistor array substrate and a color filter array substrate bonded to face each other, a spacer for keeping a cell gap between the two array substrates constant, and a liquid crystal filled in a space provided by the spacer.
The liquid crystal display panel 10 further includes thin film transistors (TFTs) formed respectively in pixel areas defined by the m gate lines GL1 to GLm and the n data lines DL1 to DLn, and pixel cells connected respectively to the TFTs.
Each TFT supplies an analog video data signal from a corresponding one of the data lines DL1 to DLn to a corresponding one of the pixel cells in response to a gate drive signal from a corresponding one of the gate lines GL1 to GLm.
Each pixel cell can be equivalently expressed as a liquid crystal capacitor Clc because it is provided with a common electrode facing via the liquid crystal, and a pixel electrode connected to the corresponding TFT. This pixel cell includes a storage capacitor Cst for maintaining an analog video data signal charged on the liquid crystal capacitor Clc until the next analog video data signal is charged thereon. The common voltage Vcom is supplied to the common electrode of the pixel cell.
Each TFT has a gate electrode connected to a corresponding one of the gate lines GL1 to GLm, a source electrode connected to a corresponding one of the data lines DL1 to DLn, and a drain electrode connected to the pixel electrode of the corresponding pixel cell.
On the color filter array substrate of the liquid crystal display panel 10, red (R), green (G) and blue (B) color filters are vertically striped and formed in matrix form.
The timing controller 40 arranges video data R, G and B inputted from a digital video card on a frame-by-frame basis and supplies the arranged video data to the data driver 20.
Also, the timing controller 40 generates a data control signal DCS and a gate control signal GCS using a dot clock DCLK, a data enable signal DE, and horizontal and vertical synchronous signals Hsync and Vsync externally inputted thereto, and applies the generated data control signal DCS and gate control signal GCS respectively to the data and gate drivers 20 and 30 to control the driving timings thereof.
Here, the data control signal DCS includes a source shift clock SSC, source start pulse SSP, polarity control signal POL and source output enable signal SOE, and the gate control signal GCS includes a gate start pulse GSP, gate shift clock GSC and gate output enable signal GOE.
The gate driver 30 includes a shift register for sequentially generating a gate drive signal (gate scan pulse) in response to the gate control signal GCS from the timing controller 40.
This gate driver 30 sequentially applies the gate drive signal to the gate lines GL1 to GLm in response to the gate control signal GCS from the timing controller 40, so as to turn on the TFTs connected respectively to the gate lines GL1 to GLm. At this time, the gate driver 30 determines a high-level voltage and low-level voltage of the gate drive signal depending on a gate high voltage VGH and gate low voltage VGL inputted thereto.
The data driver 20 supplies analog video data signals to the data lines DL1 to DLn at intervals at which the gate drive signal is supplied, in response to the data control signal DCS supplied from the timing controller 40. At this time, the data driver 20 inverts the polarities of the analog video data signals to be supplied to the data lines DL1 to DLn in response to the polarity control signal POL.
In the above-mentioned conventional liquid crystal display device, red (R), green (G) and blue (B) color filters formed in the liquid crystal display panel are vertically striped and three horizontally adjacent red (R), green (G) and blue (B) color pixels are combined to constitute one unit pixel. As a result, the liquid crystal display device needs 3×n data lines DL and 1×m gate lines to express m×n resolution.
A large number of data drive ICs are required to supply video data to the 3×n data lines DL. However, the data drive ICs are costly, resulting in an increase in manufacturing cost of the liquid crystal display device.


Models that employ both measurable engine parameters as well as predictable engine parameters may be used to determine when a thermostat is malfunctioning before the thermostat malfunction results in an engine breakdown. Particular models may be used to provide an estimated coolant temperature and an estimated thermostat position. The estimated coolant temperature can be compared to an actual measured engine coolant temperature. The estimated thermostat position can be evaluated with respect to what the thermostat position should be given a particular engine coolant temperature. In some cases, comparison between a healthy model and a faulty model may be used to ascertain thermostat health.

A variety of internal combustion engines employ cooling systems in which a liquid engine coolant is pumped under pressure through the engine and a corresponding radiator in order to remove excess heat from the engine and keep the engine within a normal operating temperature range. Many such cooling systems employ a fan that can be turned on and off as appropriate in order to better control how much heat is being removed from the engine coolant flowing through the radiator. Cooling systems may employ a thermostat in order to control when engine coolant flows through the radiator and when engine coolant does not flow through the radiator. When an engine is below its normal operating temperature range, such as during a cold start, the thermostat may remain closed in order to allow the engine to warm up and more quickly reach its normal operating temperature range. As the engine coolant temperature approaches its normal operating temperature range, the thermostat will start to open, thereby allowing coolant flow through the radiator to enable cooling the engine.
Many thermostats are mechanical devices that can get stuck at an inappropriate thermostat position, particularly as thermostats age and/or become corroded. A thermostat that is stuck in an open or partially open position when coolant temperatures would otherwise indicate that the thermostat should be fully closed will cause the engine to run cooler than its normal operating temperature range. This can cause the engine to run inefficiently, burning more fuel, which results in additional pollutants, plug fouling and the like. Accordingly, there is a desire for the engine to reach its normal operating temperature as quickly as possible. A thermostat that is stuck in a closed or partially closed position can easily cause the engine to overheat as coolant evaporates. If carried to an extreme, overheating can also cause substantial engine damage and may cause a driver and/or passengers to become stranded.
Accordingly, there is a desire for methods and systems for determining when a thermostat is not working properly and to achieve early warning of possible problems.


The present invention relates to radioelectronics and can find application in developing signal frequency discriminators. According to the invention, the filter comprises a piezoelectric-crystal plate 1 made of La--Ga silicate, two pairs of overlap exciting electrodes 2, 3 and 4, 5, and leads 6. There were selected experimentally in the proposed filter such a ratio between the length of the electrodes along the axis of acoustical coupling, the area of the electrodes, and the wafer thickness that makes it possible to extend the filter frequency range towards higher frequencies. The proposed filter construction provides for a higher temperature stability of the filter average frequency in a wide range of above-zero temperatures, and a reduced level of side passbands.

Known in the present state of the art is a monolithic filter on a crystalline plate from La--Ga silicate (LGS) made on a straight XY-cut. Relative dimensions of the exciting electrodes are in this case as follows: ##EQU1## where Lx is the electrode dimension along electric axis X, m;
Lz is the electrode dimension along electric axis Z, m; PA1 Lz is the thickness of the piezoelectric-crystal plate, m. PA1 (cf. the textbook "Monolithic filters and resonators on a new Ga--La silicate piezoelectric". In: Electronic engineering. Series "Radioelectronic parts and components", Issue 2 (63), 1986, p.83 (in Russian). PA1 Lz is the width of exciting electrodes along Z axis, m; PA1 H is the thickness of the piezoelectric-crystal plate, m; PA1 (cf. SU, A, #1,780,147, IPC H03H 9/56, 1990). PA1 H is the thickness of the piezoelectric-crystal plate, m; PA1 S is the area of the exciting electrodes, m.sup.2.
A disadvantage inherent in the known filter resides in a relatively low value of a medium-passband frequency of the filter passband which is not in excess of 20 MHz, this being due to unoptimally selected dimensions of the electrodes with respect x to thickness of the piezoelectric-crystal plate.
One more prior-art monolithic crystal filter is known to comprise at least two acoustically coupled resonators, either of which is established by two overlap exciting electrodes situated on the major faces of a piezoelectric La--Ga silicate wafer of the YXl/.+-..beta..degree. cut, the axis of acoustical coupling therebetween is arranged along the length of the piezoelectric-crystal plate. An angle between the normal to the major wafer face and its mechanical axis Y is selected to be 1.degree. 50'.+-.1.degree., and the length and width of rectangular-shaped exciting electrodes are selected, respectively, from the following relations: ##EQU2## where Lx is the length of exciting electrodes along X axis, m;
A disadvantage of the known filter is a relatively low value of a medium-passband frequency of the filter passband which is not in excess of 20 MHz, this being due to the fact that preselected ratio between the length and width of exciting electrodes, and the thickness of the piezoelectric-crystal plate makes it impossible to realize a technologically small interelectrode gap which is liable to decrease significantly with a frequency raise and with the aforementioned dimensional relations of electrodes; In addition, with a frequency raise discrimination of the filter decreases due to an increase in the level and number of side passbands. Moreover, the aforesaid angle between the normal to the face of the major piezoelectric-crystal plate and its mechanical axis Y equal to 1.degree. 50'.+-.1.degree., fails to provide high temperature stability of the filter medium passband frequency in a wide range of above-zero temperatures.


A method for fabricating a semiconductor device including: forming a silicon layer on an upper face of a nitride semiconductor layer including a channel layer of a FET; thermally treating the nitride semiconductor layer in the process of forming the silicon layer or after the process of forming the silicon layer; and forming an insulating layer on an upper face of the silicon layer after the process of forming the silicon layer.

(i) Technical Field
The present invention relates to a method for fabricating a semiconductor device.
(ii) Related Art
There is a case where a semiconductor device such as a FET (Field Effect Transistor) like a HEMT (High Electron Mobility Transistor) using a nitride semiconductor such as GaN (gallium nitride) is used as an output amplifier for high frequency. Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2009-200306 (hereinafter referred to as Document 1) discloses an invention of forming SiN (silicon nitride) layers having different refractive index and removing impurity on a surface of a semiconductor layer.

Method for fabricating semiconductor device

SUMITOMO ELECTRIC DEVICE INNOVATIONS, INC.


A fluid pump includes a plunger that is movable to pressurize fluid drawn from an inlet into a compression chamber. The plunger is substantially axially movable in a cylinder. Fluid pressurized in the compression chamber is discharged through an outlet. The inlet and the outlet define a fluid passage therebetween. A solenoid valve communicates and blocks the fluid passage to control fluid discharged through the outlet. A solenoid valve support supports the solenoid valve. At least one of the inlet, the outlet, and the solenoid valve support is formed of a ferrous material integrally with the cylinder by monoblock casting.

According to U.S. Pat. No. 5,603,303 (JP-A-8-14140), a high pressure pump includes a cylinder that movably accommodates a plunger for pressurizing fuel in a compression chamber.
As referred to an example depicted in FIG. 26, a high pressure pump 500 includes a plunger 510, which is movable in a cylinder 520, and a solenoid valve (control valve) 550, which is sustained by a solenoid valve support 560. The high pressure pump 500 is mounted to an external member such as an engine head cover via a flange 570. The high pressure pump 500 further includes an inlet 530, an outlet 540. In this structure, the cylinder 520, the inlet 530, the outlet 540, the solenoid valve support 560, and the flange 570 are separate from each other, and are assembled with each other.
As referred to an example depicted in FIG. 27, a high pressure pump 580 includes a cylinder 584, through which the plunger 510 is movable, the inlet 530, the outlet 540, the solenoid valve support 560, and the flange 570. These components of the high pressure pump 580 are separate from each other, and are assembled to each other.
The high pressure pump 500, 580 includes a large number of components. Consequently, an assembling work of the high pressure pump is complicated. In addition, a large number of sealing members are necessary for sealing components, which are connected with each other, for restricting fuel from leaking.

Fluid pump having plunger and method of monoblock casting for housing of the same


Multi-site cardiac pacing systems for providing pacing to multiple sites in a patient""s heart, e.g., in a single heart chamber or in right and left heart chambers, while avoiding inappropriate responses to double sensing of an evoked depolarization conducted between the sites. A conditional refractory period and further post-event time periods, e.g. a conventional refractory period, are started upon a sense event or pacing pulse sensed at or delivered to a first pace/sense site. A sense event detected at another sense site that occurs during the conditional refractory period is characterized as a conditional refractory event, and it restarts shortened post-event time periods and terminates the conditional refractory period. The restarted post-event time periods are reduced in length by the elapsed time between the starting and termination of the conditional refractory period. The undue prolongation of the post-event period due to a sense event resulting from sensing of delayed propagation of a depolarization between the spaced apart pace/sense sites is avoided. However, the full length post-event time periods are restarted if a sense event is then detected during the previously restarted post-event time periods. Multi-site single heart chamber pacemaker and right and left heart chamber pacemaker embodiments of the invention are disclosed. In an atrial synchronous, bi-ventricular pacemaker embodiment, the undue prolongation of the post-event period due to a ventricular event sense event resulting from sensing of delayed propagation of a single ventricular depolarization between the left and right ventricles is avoided, and legitimate atrial sense event signals occurring thereafter are not characterized as refractory and are able to restart the AV delay.

Reference is hereby made to the following, commonly assigned, co-pending, U.S. Patent Applications which disclose common subject matter:
Ser. No.09/290,967 filed on Apr. 13, 1999 for DUAL-CHAMBER PACEMAKER WITH OPTIMIZED PVARP FOLLOWING A PVC filed in the names of R. Betzold et al.; Ser. No. 09/067,729 filed Apr. 28, 1998 for MULTIPLE CHANNEL, SEQUENTIAL, CARDIAC PACING SYSTEMS filed in the names of C. Struble et al.; Ser. No. 09/439,569 filed on even date herewith for CARDIAC PACING SYSTEM DELIVERING MULTI-SITE PACING IN A PREDETERMINED SEQUENCE TRIGGERED BY A SENSE EVENT in the names of C. Yerich et al.; Ser. No. 09/439,565 filed on even date herewith for BI-CHAMBER CARDIAC PACING SYSTEM EMPLOYING UNIPOLAR LEFT HEART CHAMBER LEAD IN COMBINATION WITH BIPOLAR RIGHT HEART CHAMBER LEAD in the names of B. Blow et al.; Ser. No. 09/439,078 filed on even date herewith for MULTI-SITE CARDIAC PACING SYSTEM HAVING TRIGGER PACE WINDOW in the names of C. Juran et al.; Ser. No. 09/439,568 filed on even date herewith for RECHARGE CIRCUITRY FOR MULTI-SITE STIMULATION OF BODY TISSUE filed in the names of B. Blow et al.; and Ser. No. 09/439,243 filed on even date herewith for AV SYNCHRONOUS CARDIAC PACING SYSTEM DELIVERING MULTI-SITE VENTRICULAR PACING TRIGGERED BY A VENTRICULAR SENSE EVENT DURING THE AV DELAY in the names of C. Yerich et al.
The present invention pertains to multi-site cardiac pacing systems for pacing first and second sites of a patient""s heart, particularly right and left heart chambers, e.g., the right and left ventricles, and operable in selected pacing modes while avoiding inappropriate responses to double sensing of an evoked depolarization conducted between the sites.
In diseased hearts having conduction defects and in congestive heart failure (CHF), cardiac depolarizations that naturally occur in one upper or lower heart chamber are not conducted in a timely fashion either within the heart chamber or to the other upper or lower heart chamber. In such cases, the right and left heart chambers do not contract in optimum synchrony with each other, and cardiac output suffers due to the conduction defects. In addition, spontaneous depolarizations of the left atrium or left ventricle occur at ectopic foci in these left heart chambers, and the natural activation sequence is grossly disturbed. In such cases, cardiac output deteriorates because the contractions of the right and left heart chambers are not synchronized sufficiently to eject blood therefrom. Furthermore, significant conduction disturbances between the right and left atria can result in left atrial flutter or fibrillation.
It has been proposed that various conduction disturbances involving both bradycardia and tachycardia of a heart chamber could benefit from pacing pulses applied at multiple electrode sites positioned in or about a single heart chamber or in the right and left heart chambers in synchrony with a depolarization which has been sensed at at least one of the electrode sites. It is believed that cardiac output can be significantly improved when left and right chamber synchrony is restored, particularly in patients suffering from dilated cardiomyopathy and CHF.
A number of proposals have been advanced for providing pacing therapies to alleviate these conditions and restore synchronous depolarization and contraction of a single heart chamber or right and left, upper and lower, heart chambers as described in detail in commonly assigned U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,403,356, 5,797,970 and 5,902,324 and in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,720,768 and 5,792,203 all incorporated herein by reference. The proposals appearing in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,937,226, 4,088,140, 4,548,203, 4,458,677, 4,332,259 are summarized in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,928,688 and 5,674,259, all incorporated herein by reference. The advantages of providing sensing at pace/sense electrodes located in both the right and left heart chambers is addressed in the ""688 and ""259 patents, as well as in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,354,497, 5,174,289, 5,267,560, 5,514,161, and 5,584,867, also all incorporated herein by reference.
The medical literature also discloses a number of approaches of providing bi-atrial and/or bi-ventricular pacing as set forth in: Daubert et al., xe2x80x9cPermanent Dual Atrium Pacing in Major Intra-atrial Conduction Blocks: A Four Years Experiencexe2x80x9d, PACE (Vol. 16, Part II, NASPE Abstract 141, p.885, April 1993); Daubert et al., xe2x80x9cPermanent Left Ventricular Pacing With Transvenous Leads Inserted Into The Coronary Veinsxe2x80x9d, PACE (Vol. 21, Part II, pp. 239-245, Jan. 1998); Cazeau et al., xe2x80x9cFour Chamber Pacing in Dilated Cardiomyopathyxe2x80x9d, PACE (Vol. 17, Part II, pp. 1974-1979, November 1994); and Daubert et al., xe2x80x9cRenewal of Permanent Left Atrial Pacing via the Coronary Sinusxe2x80x9d, PACE (Vol. 15, Part II, NASPE Abstract 255, p. 572, April 1992), all incorporated herein by reference.
Problems surface in implementing multi-site pacing in a single heart chamber or in right and left heart chamber pacing within the contexts of conventional timing and control systems for characterizing and responding to sense event signals generated by sense amplifiers coupled to spaced apart pace/sense electrodes. Inappropriate responses can be triggered by depolarizations conducted between the separated pace/sense electrode sites and sensed by sense amplifiers coupled to those pace/sense electrodes which upset the timing of delivery of subsequent pacing pulses. In right and left heart pacing systems, pacing and sensing problems arise when right-to-left or left-to-right conduction delays vary depending on right and left ventricle pace/sense electrode placement, transient conditions of the heart, and chronic CHF.
In modern cardiac pacemakers, it is common to define certain blanking and refractory periods commenced after delivery of a pacing pulse and sensing of a depolarization wave traversing the pace/sense electrode. The input terminals of the sense amplifier are effectively uncoupled from the pace/sense electrodes during the blanking periods following delivery of a pacing pulse. The blanking periods are shorter than refractory periods which are started after both sense events and delivery of pacing pulses.
Sense events detected by a sense amplifier following time-out of a blanking period and during timing out of its refractory periods are characterized as xe2x80x9crefractory sense eventsxe2x80x9d, and sense events occurring after time-out of the refractory periods are characterized as xe2x80x9cnon-refractory sense eventsxe2x80x9d. Non-refractory sense events trigger restarting pacing escape intervals or the AV delay in AV synchronous pacemakers. Refractory sense events restart various post-event time periods including refractory periods as described further below to avoid inappropriate tracking of repetitive noise signals that are mistakenly detected as sense events.
A delivered pacing pulse xe2x80x9ccapturesxe2x80x9d the heart if its delivery to a pace/sense electrode causes or xe2x80x9cevokesxe2x80x9d a myocardial contraction and depolarization wave that is conducted away from that pace/sense electrode site. The depolarization wave and accompanying contraction can be delayed in diseased hearts such that the depolarization wave can be sensed by a sense amplifier coupled to another pace/sense electrode at another site spaced from the paced pace/sense electrode site. The evoked depolarization wave can reach the non-paced pace/sense electrodes after time-out of the post-pace blanking period of the sense amplifier and be sensed during a post-event time period, e.g., a refractory period and be mistakenly characterized as a refractory sense event. The delayed sensing in one or the other of the paced sites can also occur if the pacing pulse delivered at that site fails to capture the heart. The mistakenly characterized refractory sense event restarts post-event blanking and refractory periods. The restarting of these post-event time periods can interfere with the sensing or proper characterization of subsequent true spontaneous depolarizations and disrupt delivery of pacing pulses.
In bi-chamber (bi-atrial or bi-ventricular) pacemakers, pacing pulses are delivered to one or the other or both of the right and left heart chambers upon expiration of a pacing escape interval. The escape interval is restarted upon delivery of a pacing pulse or upon a non-refractory sense event. Post-event time periods are started upon delivery of a pacing pulse or upon a refractory or non-refractory sense event. The delayed right-to-left or left-to-right conduction of an evoked depolarization resulting from delivery of a pacing pulse to the right or left heart chamber, respectively, and capture of that heart chamber traverses the non-paced pace/sense electrode after a delay that enables it to be sensed and mistakenly characterized as a refractory sense event Similarly, the delayed right-to-left or left-to-right conduction of a spontaneous depolarization occurring first in the right or left heart chamber, respectively, traverses the second pace/sense electrode after a delay that enables it to be sensed again and mistakenly characterized the second time as a refractory sense. Here also, a second restarting of post-event time periods due to a mistakenly characterized refractory sense event can result in the failure to respond appropriately to the next true, spontaneous sense event in either of the right and left heart chambers. Thus, the timing of delivery of bi-atrial or bi-ventricular pacing pulses can also be disrupted.
Similar problems arise in AV sequential, bi-atrial and/or bi-ventricular pacing systems of the types described above. A V-A pacing escape interval is typically restarted by one of the following events: delivery of a ventricular pacing pulse at the time-out of an AV delay; a spontaneous, non-refractory, ventricular sense event sensed in one ventricle before the time-out of the AV delay; or a spontaneous, non-refractory, ventricular sense event sensed in one ventricle before the time-out of the V-A escape interval. A set of post-ventricular event timers are started upon each such event and time out post-ventricular event periods, e.g. atrial and ventricular blanking periods and refractory periods and the URI. The post-ventricular event timers start at least one post-ventricular event period that affects the treatment of an atrial sense event occurring during its time-out. For example, an atrial sense event occurring during the time-out of a post-ventricular atrial refractory period (PVARP) can be ignored for purposes of resetting the V-A escape interval and starting the AV delay. The PVARP is typically programmable and can be set to prevent any response to an atrial sense event that may be caused by sensing of the antegrade conduction of the spontaneous or evoked ventricular depolarization through the atria and to the atrial pace/sense electrodes.
The PVARP, VRP (Ventricular Refractory Period) and URI interval are restarted each time that a ventricular pacing pulse is delivered and whenever a refractory or non-refractory ventricular sense event occurs. It is important to note that the hearts of patients in CHF frequently exhibit wide QRS complexes and prolonged conduction delays of up to 200 msec between electrodes implanted in relation to the right and left ventricles. This prolonged delay results in the possibility of sensing right and left ventricular sense events caused by the same spontaneous ventricular depolarization at times that are so separated that the second ventricular sense event restarts the post-event time periods, particularly the PVARP, that were started upon the earlier ventricular sense event of the same depolarization. The restarting of the PVARP can cause a true atrial sense event to be mistakenly characterized as a refractory atrial sense event which cannot terminate the V-A escape interval and restart the AV delay. This can cause loss of atrial and ventricular synchronization and effectively reduces the atrial rate that can be tracked. The restarting of the URI can lead to the extension of the AV delay, and the restarting of the VRP can cause a true ventricular depolarization to be characterized as a refractory ventricular sense event.
Similar timing problems may occur if triggered pacing pulses are delivered at multiple sites in a single heart chamber, and other timing issues occur with restarting of pacing escape intervals in any of the above described situations. These problems and how we address them are described within.
The present invention is therefore directed to providing multi-site pacing in a single heart chamber or right and left heart chamber pacing methods and systems that avoid prolonging post-event timing periods that cause pacing to be inhibited or to revert to asynchronous pacing because of a delayed conduction of a single depolarization between sense sites in the same or the right and left heart chambers.
In accordance with the invention, the delivery of a pacing pulse at the time-out of a preceding pacing escape interval or a non-refractory right or left chamber sense event during the pacing escape interval restarts the pacing escape interval, typical post-pace or post-sense time periods, and a conditional refractory period. The conditional refractory period is set to embrace the delayed conduction time of an abnormally conducted depolarization between spaced apart sense sites in the same or the right and left heart chambers.
A sense event that occurs during the conditional refractory period is treated as a refractory sense event and extends, e.g., by restarting, the post-sense periods except for the conditional refractory period. But, the restarted post-sense time periods are adjusted in relation to the time of occurrence of the refractory sense event within the conditional refractory period. The restarted post-sense time periods are preferably shortened by the elapsed time of the conditional refractory period. The shortened post-sense periods enable appropriate response to noise if further sense events occur during time-out of the restarted post-sense periods but are not so prolonged as to prevent legitimate sense events from restarting the pacing escape interval.
The present invention is preferably implemented in pacing systems for pacing and sensing at spaced apart pace/sense electrode sites in a single heart chamber or pacing and sensing at pace/sense electrode sites in right and left heart chambers to provide bi-atrial and/or bi-ventricular pacing.
The present invention has a number of advantages flowing from negating the extension of the post-event time periods in response to a sense event occurring within the conditional refractory period. A principal advantage is that a subsequent true sense event occurring after the time-out of the post-event time periods will not be characterized as a refractory sense event as it would have been if the post-event time periods were restarted for their full length. However, the post-event time periods are restarted for their full lengths if a second sense event occurs during their time-out, on the assumption that the closely timed first and second refractory sense events represent noise.
Other advantages include the ability to accumulate data related to the occurrences of refractory sense events during the conditional refractory period and closely following its time-out for diagnostic purposes. The occurrences of refractory sense events and their timing within the conditional refractory period and outside the conditional refractory period can be retained in in Implantable Pulse Generator (IPG) memory for retrieval and analysis at a later time or may be used by on-board algorithms to adjust pacing and sensing parameters. For example, the data may be useful in determining that loss of capture has occurred when a pacing pulse is followed by a refractory sense event within the conditional refractory period. The pacing pulse energy can be increased either automatically or by a physician upon reviewing the retrieved data. Or, the conditional refractory period may be automatically extended or extended by the physician upon reviewing the data if refractory sense events following a non-refractory sense event tend to first occur just after the end of the conditional refractory period.
The present invention is preferably implemented into an external or implantable pulse generator and lead system selectively employing right and left heart, atrial and/or ventricular leads. The preferred embodiment is implemented in an architecture that allows wide programming flexibility for operating in AV synchronous modes with right and left ventricular pacing or in atrial or ventricular only modes for providing only right and left atrial or ventricular pacing. The AV synchronous embodiments may be implemented into an IPG or external pulse generator and lead system providing right and left ventricular pacing and sensing and either both right and left atrial pacing or just right or left atrial pacing and sensing. Alternatively, the invention can be implemented in IPGs or external pulse generators and lead systems having hard wired connections and operating modes that are not as programmable.

Multi-site cardiac pacing system having conditional refractory period


An engine, electric machine and battery of a vehicle are operated, in certain examples, such that a state of charge of the battery is generally maintained while the real-time fuel consumption is estimated and minimized by the use of route segmentation and a predictive average power calculation.

A Hybrid Electric Vehicle (HEV) operates by buffering fuel energy by using the internal combustion engine to turn a generator; the electricity generated is stored in a battery. HEV systems can also recover kinetic energy by using the momentum of the vehicle to turn the generator; the electricity generated is then stored in a battery. Fuel is the predominate source of energy in an HEV system. Plug-in Electric Hybrid Vehicles (PHEVs) are an extension of existing hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) with added energy flexibility. A PHEV utilizes a larger capacity battery pack than a standard HEV and the PHEV has two sources of energy, fuel and electricity from the electric utility grid.
An objective of the HEV control system is to minimize energy operational costs and emissions without compromising the vehicle drivability and system constraints. A standard Energy Management Control (EMC) strategy is traditionally designed to operate the HEV in electric drive mode in which the vehicle is operating only the electric motor to maximize the battery power output in blended operation mode, which is when the vehicle is operating both the engine and the electric motor.