A tiltrotor rotor hub comprises first and second configurations of yokes arranged in two parallel and axially offset planes, each having an equal number of two or more yokes substantially equally spaced about a mast, wherein a portion of each yoke overlaps with a portion of each azimuthally adjacent yoke. Another tiltrotor rotor hub is selectively positionable for operation in helicopter/airplane/transition modes and comprises substantially parallel and axially offset first and second planes, each containing a plurality of blade yokes arranged about a central axis and a portion of each yoke overlaps with a portion of each azimuthally adjacent yoke. Another tiltrotor rotor hub is coupled to a tiltrotor mast and comprises a stacked arrangement of blade yokes wherein a portion of each yoke overlaps with a portion of each azimuthally adjacent yoke, and a plurality of mounting components coupling each yoke to the overlapping azimuthally adjacent yoke.

Rotor hubs are used to mount the rotor blades of tiltrotor aircraft in predetermined geometric configurations, and also serve to oppose centrifugal forces acting to pull the spinning blades away from a centerline of rotation. Generally, hubs having a radially compact arrangement about the centerline of rotation experience lower relative loads, as the moment arm between system forces and the center of rotation is reduced. Lower loads allow components and other structure to be leaner, resulting in reduced system weight. Additionally, compact hub designs may have lower drag coefficients due to having smaller profiles. However, the extent of compact radial packaging may be limited by physical interferences between components, especially in systems having multiple spinning elements. In such systems, hub components may be arranged at a radius from the centerline of rotation sufficient to provide circumferential space to physically accommodate each spinning element and its given range of motion in a given plane, thereby limiting the compactness of the design.
In addition, rotor blade diameter on tiltrotor aircraft often results from a design compromise between desired vehicle performance in "helicopter mode" (primarily vertical takeoff/landing, hover, and low speed flight) and "airplane mode" (primarily high speed forward flight). Generally speaking, larger diameter rotors offer favorable performance in helicopter mode, but may degrade performance in airplane mode, and vice versa. Improvements in rotor efficiency in helicopter mode may provide for a smaller diameter rotor to be used, thereby potentially improving performance in airplane mode, resulting in overall improved vehicle performance.

Offset stacked yoke hub for tiltrotor aircraft


Disclosed is a windshield wiper reservoir system for cleaning a windshield of a vehicle. The reservoir system includes a first reservoir, a second reservoir, a motor system, and a plurality of wiper tubes coupled to the motor system. The first reservoir is configured to store a wiper fluid and the second reservoir is configured to store a de-icing fluid. The motor system is configured to drive at least one of the wiper fluid from the first reservoir and the de-icing fluid from the second reservoir. Each of the plurality of wiper tubes includes a spray head. Further, the each of the plurality of wiper tubes is configured to receive the at least one of the wiper fluid and the de-icing fluid. Furthermore, the spray head is configured to spray the at least one of the wiper fluid and the de-icing fluid onto the windshield of the vehicle.

A windshield of a vehicle mainly protects the vehicle's occupants from wind, temperature extremes, flying debris such as dust, insects, and rocks, and the like. Environmental elements, such as dust and dirt, may settle on the windshield, forming a layer that adversely affects the visibility of a driver of the vehicle. The windshield requires regular cleaning to maintain the driver's visibility. Windshield wipers (also referred to as windscreen wipers) are typically used in vehicles for cleaning and wiping windshields of vehicles. The windshield wipers clean (i.e., wipe) the windshield to prevent build-up of the layer that adversely affects the visibility of the driver. Generally, a windshield wiper is designed to include an arm pivoted at one end, and with the other end of the arm having a rubber blade attached thereto. The arm is configured to have the rubber blade that makes sweeping motions on the windshield for wiping of the windshield of the vehicle. The vehicle usually also features controls to provide the driver of the vehicle with a capability of controlling motion of the arm of the windshield wiper.
In addition to the windshield wiper and arm-motion control switches, a vehicle usually includes a reservoir for storing a fluid medium such as water or a liquid soap. Further, a motorized connection is provided for driving the fluid medium from the reservoir towards vents mounted either beneath the windshields or beneath the rubber blades. The vents are configured to facilitate spraying of the fluid medium on the windshield. The motorized connection is further designed to drive the fluid medium with substantial force, thereby spraying the fluid medium from the vents onto the windshield. The sweeping motion of the rubber blade of the windshield wiper sweeps the fluid medium across the windshield, thereby cleaning the environmental elements such as dirt and debris accumulated on the windshield.
During severe weather conditions, such as a snowfall, environmental elements such as ice or frost build up quickly on the windshield of the vehicle. Frost and ice build-up on the windshield of the vehicle reduces ability of the windshield wipers to clean the windshield. In such cases, a person traveling in the vehicle may have to manually scrape away the frost or ice build-up using a scraping tool, before proceeding to use the vehicle. Neglecting the build-up of the environmental elements on the windshield may reduce the visibility for driving the vehicle. Driving in reduced visibility may result in a serious safety hazard. Further, use of the scrapping tool for manually scraping the frost or the ice build-up may damage the windshield.
Typical solutions such as spraying a pre-heated fluid medium onto the windshield for removing accumulated frost or ice build-up consume a substantial amount of time before improving the visibility for driving the vehicle. Also, removing the accumulated frost or ice build-up using such typical solutions may leave an opaque layer on the windshield, further degrading visibility of the driver of the vehicle.
Based on the foregoing, there exists a need for cleaning a windshield of a vehicle, to prevent build-up of the environmental elements on the windshield, for improving visibility of a driver of the vehicle. There also exists a need for precluding manual scrapping for removing the build-up of the environmental elements on the windshield of the vehicle. Further, there exists a need for preventing build-up of environmental elements on the windshield of the vehicle in a time-efficient and low-cost manner.


A battery cell arrangement having a battery cell which is in the form of a film cell and includes a flat cell body with two end faces, a flexible cell rim surrounding the cell body, and two contact sections arranged on a rim side of the battery cell. The battery cell arrangement further has a frame arrangement which includes a first frame element and a second frame element which frames the cell body on all sides on the rim. At least one vent opening is provided on a side of the frame arrangement which faces away from the end faces of the cell body, in order to allow fluid, in particular gas, to emerge from the battery cell arrangement in the event of damage.

Film cells such as battery cells do not have a solid housing, but the components of the battery cell which are required to store electrical energy are surrounded by a robust film which forms a cell rim, like a fold, on the narrow faces of the cell body. Because there is no solid housing, the battery cell has a certain amount of flexibility, making it easier to use in a physical space which is often confined. Furthermore, film cells such as these—also referred to as pouch cells—are reliable and are comparatively cost-effective. However, the battery cell must be fixed by a device to make them robust.
In many application fields, a plurality of battery cell arrangements of the type mentioned initially are combined to form an energy store. By way of example, energy stores such as these are used in hybrid or electrical vehicles. In order to save space, the battery cell arrangements are arranged packed as tightly as possible, for example by being stacked. The spatially tight arrangement of the battery cell arrangements places stringent requirements on the components which support the battery cells, in particular with respect to the battery cells being fixed in a compact manner, and at the same time reliably. It is also necessary to ensure that, for example in the event of damage to the battery cell, battery cell arrangements or other components which are arranged adjacent are not damaged, or are damaged as little as possible.


A method for preparing a laminate including pressing a heater against the upper and lower surfaces of a veneer during which an inner portion of the veneer in the thickness direction is dried to the smallest extend then the surfaces so that a water content of the inner portion is kept higher than that of the surfaces, dividing the veneer in terms of its thickness into two counter veneers, placing a ligneous board between the counter veneers using an adhesive so that the surfaces resulting from the diving are disposed as outer surfaces, and pressing a heater against the outer surfaces to effect bonding of the counter veneers and the ligneous board. The period of time for pressing the heater against the upper and lower surfaces of the veneer is such that the surfaces and a region in a vicinity thereof, against which the heaters have been pressed, are dried to a water content of between about 5% and about 20% while the inner portion of the veneer in the thickness direction is dried to a water content higher than the fiber saturation point at which contraction begins.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method for preparing a laminate such as a plywood or an LVL (laminated veneer lumber). The method uses veneers to prepare a laminate substantially free from warp.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The applicant of the present application has previously proposed a method for preparing a laminate that undergoes only a little or no substantial warp, which comprises symmetrically laminating via an adhesive two veneers having substantially the same grains with respect to the center line in the thickness direction of the laminate to be prepared (Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 185402/1990).
According to this method, if tensile or compressive forces are caused due to extension or contraction of the veneers themselves during or after the preparation thereof or contraction by curing of the adhesive, the tensile or compressive forces are symmetrically balanced with respect to the center line in the direction of the thickness of the laminate. Accordingly, if veneers made of a wood of a kind which undergoes considerable warp or the like by drying (for example, Radiata Pine) are used, a laminate which undergoes only a little warp.
In the above preparation method, an undried veneer is divided in its thickness direction with a divider such as a blade to obtain two veneers having substantially the same grains (hereinafter referred to as counter veneers), and the counter veneers are dried to water contents of 5 to 15% which are suitable for bonding, and the dried counter veneers are superposed on another ligneous board as a center in a manner as described above, and the resultant is heat-pressed by means of a hot press to complete bonding. However, the method has the following problems.
When a veneer made of a wood of a kind which undergoes considerable warp or the like by drying is used, dried counter veneers can be prevented from being appropriately transferred to a predetermined place due to occurrence of warp or the like. Further, it is difficult to manually or mechanically superpose the counter veneers in the above-mentioned symmetrical relationship with precision. These lead to problems of lowered yield and impaired quality of the product. To overcome the problems, it has been attempted that undried counter veneers are superposed, without being dried after the division, on another ligneous board as a center via an adhesive and the resultant is heat-pressed. However, if the counter veneers have high water contents, bonding failure is caused. Accordingly, a satisfactory laminate cannot be obtained.


A delay circuit comprises a plurality of delay buffers each including two or more serially connected delay units, each of the delay units being capable of variably controlling a delay amount; a variable control voltage generator circuit configured to supply, to a first delay unit included in each of the plurality of delay buffers, a variable control voltage provided to control the delay amount of the first delay unit; and a fixed control voltage generator circuit configured to supply, to a second delay unit included in each of the plurality of delay buffers, a fixed control voltage among a plurality of fixed control voltages for controlling the delay amount of the second delay unit. The plurality of delay buffers are connected in series and an input signal propagates through the plurality of serially connected delay buffers.

A delay locked loop circuit (DLL: Delay Locked Loop) generates a multi-phase clock synchronized in phase with an input clock. The DLL includes: a delay circuit capable of variably controlling a delay time which is a propagation time of the input clock; a phase comparator which compares the phase of a propagation clock propagated through the delay circuit with the phase of the input clock, to output a signal corresponding to the phase difference; a charge pump which generates either a charge current or a discharge current according to the output of the phase comparator; and a capacitor which is charged or discharged by the current of the charge pump. The voltage of the capacitor is fed back to the delay circuit as a control voltage for the delay circuit.
In the DLL, when synchronized in phase, a propagation clock propagated through the delay circuit is delayed for one period (360°) from the input clock. Therefore, N delay buffers constituting the delay circuit generates multi-phase clocks of which phases are 1 to N-times of 360°/N of the input clock, respectively.
In the patent literatures of Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. Hei-10 (1998)-79663 and Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 2002-43934, descriptions are given on the DLL. Also, a description is given on the PLL in the patent literature Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 2003-179470.
As described above, in the DLL, the delay circuit delays the input clock for one period thereof. Therefore, the delay amount of the delay circuit is needed to be differentiated when the input clock frequency differs.
However, there is a demand that a high-speed transmission system using the DLL be operable through a wide range of a transmission rate to be compatible, from a legacy low-speed transmission system of around Gbps to a high-speed transmission system of several Gbps. Therefore, the delay circuit in the DLL is also demanded to be compatible with a wide frequency range.

Delay circuit, delay locked loop circuit including delay circuit and processor including delay locked loop circuit


Methods for preparing nanoscale reactions using nucleic acids or proteins are presented. Nucleic acids are captured saturably, yet reversibly, on the internal surface of the reaction chamber, typically a capillary. Excess nucleic acid is removed and the reaction is performed directly within the capillary. Proteins are captured specifically and saturably on the modified inner surface of the reaction chamber, typically a capillary. Excess protein is removed and the reaction is performed directly within the capillary. Devices for effecting the methods of the invention and a system designed advantageously to utilize the methods for high throughput reactions involving nucleic acids or proteins are also provided.

The original goal of the federally-funded Human Genome Project had been to complete the sequence of the human genome at ten-fold coverage by the year 2005. With dramatic acceleration in pace, a partial draft has recently been presented. Rather than decreasing the need for rapid, inexpensive DNA sequencing, however, this feat has spurred the need for rapid, inexpensive sequencing of nucleic acids. Completion of the draft human genome sequence has also spurred a need for methods and apparatus for analyzing directly the complex collection of genome-encoded proteins, collectively termed the proteome.
With respect to DNA sequence needs, there is growing interest in sequencing the genomes of non-human organisms, including bacteria, plants and animals.
More importantly, the burgeoning fields of molecular pathology and pharmacogenomics will require the resequencing of multiple genes from individual patients. Molecular pathology relates to the diagnosis, and often formulation of a prognosis, for human diseases by identifying mutations in particular genes. Pharmacogenomics refers to understanding how allelic differences that exist in all human populations affect the therapeutic response, and susceptibility to side effects, of individuals to drugs.
As the need to sequence genes from individual patients grows, so will the demand for point of care sequencing capability. There will need to be a shift from large, centralized, high throughput DNA sequencing facilities that only exist at well-funded academic research centers and genomics companies to small, less complicated, middle-throughput gene sequencing systems that can be installed in the majority of hospitals and clinics. This shift in the market for DNA sequencing technologies will put a premium on reducing the cost of reagents and making the sample processing steps as simple and seamless as possible.
In the late 1970s, Sanger et al. developed an enzymatic chain termination method for DNA sequence analysis that produces a nested set of DNA fragments with a common starting point and random terminations at every nucleotide throughout the sequence. Lloyd Smith, Lee Hood, and others modified the Sanger method to use four fluorescent labels in sequencing reactions enabling single lane separations. This resulted in the creation of the first automated DNA sequencers, which used polyacrylamide slab gels for separations. More recently, fluorescent energy-transfer dyes have been used to make dye sets that enhance signals by 2- to 10-fold and simplify the optical configuration.
Automated fluorescent capillary array electrophoresis (CAE) DNA sequencers appear to be the consensus technology to replace slab gels. Capillary gel electrophoresis speeds up the separation of sequencing products and has the potential to dramatically decrease sample volume requirements. The 96-channel capillary electrophoresis instrument, MegaBACE™, which is commercially available from Amersham Biosciences, Inc. (Sunnyvale, Calif.), uses a laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) confocal fluorescence scanner to detect up to an average of about 625 bases per capillary (Phred 20 window) in 90 minute runs with cycle times of two hours. Confocal spatial filtering results in a higher signal-to-noise ratio because superfluous reflections and fluorescence from surrounding materials are eliminated before signal detection at the photomultiplier tube (PMT). Accordingly, sensitivity at the level of subattomoles per sequencing band is attainable. Confocal imaging is also particularly important in microchip analysis systems using capillary electrophoresis, where the background fluorescence of a glass or plastic microchip may be much higher than that of fused silica capillaries. Capillary array electrophoresis systems will solve many of the initial throughput needs of the genomic community for DNA analysis. However, present methods for low volume sample preparation still present a significant barrier to increased throughput and reduced cost.
While fluorescent DNA sequencers are improving the throughput of DNA sequence acquisition, they have also moved the throughput bottleneck from sequence acquisition back towards sample preparation. In response, rapid methods for preparing sequencing templates and for transposon-facilitated DNA sequencing have been developed, as have magnetic bead capture methods that eliminate centrifugation. Thermophilic Archae DNA polymerases have been screened and genetically engineered to improve fidelity, ensure stability at high temperatures, extend lengths, and alter affinities for dideoxynucleotides and fluorescent analogs. These improvements have resulted in lower reagent costs, simpler sample preparation, higher data accuracy, and increased read lengths.
The sequencing community has also developed higher throughput methods for preparing DNA templates, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) reactions, and DNA sequencing reactions. Sample preparation has been increasingly multiplexed and automated using 96- and 384-well microtiter, multi-channel pipettors, and laboratory robotic workstations. In general, these workstations mimic the manipulations that a technician would perform and have minimum working volumes of about a microliter, although stand-alone multi-channel pipettors are being used to manipulate smaller volumes.
A typical full-scale sample preparation method for DNA shotgun sequencing on capillary systems begins by lysing phage plaques or bacterial colonies to isolate subcloned DNA. Under some circumstances it may be desirable to PCR-amplify the subcloned DNA insert to exponentially increase its concentration in the sample. Next, exonuclease I (ExoI) and arctic shrimp alkaline phosphatase (SAP) are added to perform an enzymatic cleanup reaction to remove primer and excess dNTPs that interfere with cycle sequencing. ExoI is used to degrade the single-stranded primers to dNMPs without digesting double-stranded products. SAP converts dNTPs to dNPs and reduces the dNTP concentration from 200 μM, as used for the PCR reaction, to less than 0.1 μM for use with fluorescent sequencing. The reaction is performed at 37° C. and then heated to 65° C. irreversibly denature the ExoI and SAP.
Because PCR amplification can produce excess template DNA for cycle sequencing, the ExoI/SAP treated PCR sample can be diluted five-fold before cycle sequencing. This reduces the concentration of contaminants into a range that causes less interference with capillary electrophoresis analysis. Cycle sequencing reagents are added, typically with fluorescently labeled dye primers or terminators and the reaction is thermal cycled to drive linear amplification of labeled fragments. Finally, after cycling, the samples are post-processed, typically by ethanol precipitation or spin filtration, resuspended in formamide, another denaturant, or water, and the sample is electrokinetically injected into the capillary electrophoresis system.
This workflow has resulted in a dramatic improvement in the performance of the MegaBACE™ system, and similar work flows currently appear to be the methods of choice for other capillary electrophoresis systems as well. Using actual samples from single plaques and colonies of human genomic random subclones or Expressed Sequence Tags (ESTs), this workflow with linear polyacrylamide as a separation matrix has improved the success rate of samples over 200 base pairs from about 60% to 85–90%, and has improved the average read length from about 400 to greater than 600 bases. Furthermore, this method has proven to be quite robust.
While the above sample preparation methods have greatly increased throughout, the cost of reagents remains a major component of the cost of sequencing. Capillary electrophoresis requires only subattomoles of sample, but presently samples are prepared in the picomole range. Reducing the reaction volume will therefore reduce the cost of DNA sequencing and still provide enough material for analysis. However, substantial reductions in reaction volume can only be achieved if satisfactory methods can be developed for manipulating and reacting samples and reagents. Ideally, such a method would be automated and configured to produce multiple samples at one time. Moreover, it would be desirable to integrate such a method as a module capable of interfacing with additional components, such as capillary electrophoresis and a detector for separation and analysis.
Several devices have been designed to aid in the automation of sample preparation. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,720,923 describes a system in which small cycling reactions take place in tubes with diameters as small as 1 mm. The tubes are subsequently exposed to thermal cycles produced by thermal blocks to effect the desired reaction. Multiple samples may be processed in a single tube by drawing in small amounts of sample, each of which are separated in the tube by a liquid which will not combine with the sample. Fluid moves through the tubes by means of a pump. These features are incorporated into a system which automatically cleans the tubes, moves sample trays having sample containing wells, and brings the tubes into contact with the wells in the sample trays.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,785,926 discloses a system for transporting small volumes of sample. In this system, at least one capillary tube is used to transport small amounts of sample. A precision linear actuator connected to a computer controlled motor acts as a pneumatic piston to aliquot and dispense liquid using the tube. The sample amount is monitored by an optical sensor that detects the presence of liquid within the capillary segment. The system includes a fluid station containing liquids to be deposited and a positioning device for positioning the transport capillary.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,897,842 discloses a system for automated sample preparation using thermal cycling. In this system a reaction mixture is pumped into a capillary tube. One end of the tube is sealed using pressure from an associated pump while the other end is sealed by pressing the tube against a barrier. The pump also serves to move fluid within the tube. Once the ends are sealed, the tube is exposed to thermal cycles. In this system a robotic transfer device moves the tubes between the sample preparation station where the pump loads the components of the reaction mixture into the tubes and the thermal cycling station.
In the systems discussed above, it is necessary to first mix together a sample, such as DNA template for sequencing, and reagents, prior to introducing the mixture into a reaction chamber. This intermediate mixing step inevitably requires additional reagent and sample handling steps that results in wastage. For example, if separate micropipets are used to dispense sample and reagent into a mixing chamber, small amounts of sample and reagent will be retained in the respective pipets, and reaction mixture will be retained in the mixing chamber. In a high throughput system the cost of this wastage and providing new or properly cleaned pipets and mixing chambers rapidly mounts. Extent of wastage is often exacerbated by the need to dispense relatively large volumes of liquids containing reaction components at low concentration as a strategy to compensate for inaccuracies in dispensing low volumes of higher concentration liquids. Usually, after the reaction mixture is formed, only a small proportion is required for analysis, and the remainder is discarded.
Thus, there exists a need for means by which a biological sample to be analyzed could be introduced into a reaction chamber without the need to first mix the sample with the reagents necessary to effect the reaction.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,846,727 discloses affinity-capture methods wherein template DNA is immobilized inside a glass capillary tube that serves as a reaction chamber for thermal cycling. The capillary is first prepared by immobilizing biotin molecules to the inner surface of the capillary, followed by charging the column with avidin or streptavidin which binds tightly the biotin. Template DNA to be sequenced is covalently linked to a biotin moiety by PCR, and is then exposed to the avidin inside the capillary. This results in immobilization of the template to the capillary wall through a biotin-avidin-biotin linkage. After unbound template is washed away, sequencing reagent is added, and the contents of the capillary are subjected thermal cycling to activate the sequencing reaction. In this manner it is unnecessary to mix template DNA with sequencing reagent prior to loading the capillary.
However, the method just described requires that biotin be linked to the template DNA by PCR, necessitating setting up and carrying out a reaction even before the sequencing reaction. This requisite preliminary step adds to the time and cost associated with acquiring the sequence data. Furthermore, the immobilization of the DNA is effectively irreversible because the biotin-avidin linkage is so strong it can only be broken using agents that denature avidin, a treatment that would also denature any other protein components in a reaction. As a result the template DNA must stay bound to the inner surface of the capillary. Because the DNA is not free in solution, additional time is required for reaction components to diffuse to the walls where they can interact with the DNA. Furthermore, when it is desired to recycle the capillary, it is necessary to remove the template DNA via denaturation of the avidin, washing and then recharging of the avidin in the capillary, all of which add to time and reagent costs.
Thus, there is continued need in the art for methods to introduce molecules into reaction chambers without an initial sample-reagent mixing step, without the need to attach an affinity capture moiety to all the molecules in the sample, and wherein template immobilization is reversible. In this way reagent costs would be minimized and processing speed maximized.
Capillary array electrophoresis systems and capillary electrophoresis microchip analytical systems can detect subattomoles of DNA sequencing reaction products. This extraordinary sensitivity comes at the cost of reduced tolerance, compared to slab gels, for deviations from the ideal amount of template DNA in the sequencing reactions. For example, if there is too little template DNA in the sequencing reaction, there will be poor yield of fluorescently labeled primer extension products. This results in weak signal strength when the reaction products are scanned by the laser. This prevents the software that analyzes the chromatogram from adequately performing spectral separation, resulting in shorter than average sequence read lengths; the reaction will have to be repeated or the sequence information will be lost.
Too much template DNA causes problems as well, due to overloading of the capillary. While there is adequate yield of fluorescently labeled reaction product, if the template is in excess, it competes with sequencing products for entry into the capillary during electrokinetic injection. The presence of the large template DNA molecules can result in an overall reduction, or sudden drop in capillary current, which can manifest itself in a variety of ways. overloading can cause weak signal strength, late appearance of interpretable fluorescence intensity peaks in the chromatogram, and poor resolution of the reaction products because the fluorescence emission is broad and diffuse. All these effects lead to shorter reads and lower sequencing data quality.
The problem of overloading is typically solved by either diluting the sequencing reaction, or carefully titrating the amount of template DNA introduced into the sequencing reaction. While both these solutions are simple in principle, the former requires repeating the analysis of the reaction, and the latter is difficult to implement using conventional means in a high-throughput system. These means include detecting, and comparing to standard concentration curves, the quantity of fluorescent dye that binds DNA in a sample, or measuring the absorbance of ultraviolet light at 260 nm wavelength, which can be converted into an absolute measure of DNA concentration. Thus, there is continued need in the art for methods to titrate the quantity of template DNA for sequencing reactions to be analyzed using high-throughput capillary electrophoresis systems, where minimizing cost and maximizing speed are crucial.
There is an additional need for an automated system that is able to perform small-scale thermal cycling reactions in a highly parallel manner. The system should allow for rapid preparation of cycling reactions with minimal consumption of reagents. The combination of reducing the amount of reagents required for a reaction and reducing the time required for a reaction will greatly reduce the overall cost of preparation of cycling reactions.
With respect to proteomics, analysis of the proteome requires separation, quantification and identification of large protein collections.
Typically, such analysis is achieved by a combination of different techniques, such as 2-D electrophoresis separation, followed by enzymatic digestion and identification by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry (2D PAGE-MALDI/MS) or by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (2D PAGE-ESI/MS). Another common approach is LC/LC-MS/MS, i.e., proteins are digested, separated by strong cation exchange liquid chromatography and reversed phase liquid chromatography (LC/LC), and then identified by tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS). Current limitations include the requirement for extensive sample preparation prior to proteolytic digestion, analyte loss, and low reaction efficiencies at low protein concentrations.
In an alternative, methods and apparatus have been developed that permit both partial purification and mass spectal identification using a single derivatived laser desorption probe. See, e.g., U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,225,047, 6,124,137, 5,719,060. Such methods, however, require specialized equipment and familiarity with mass spectrometers.
There is, therefore, a continued need in the art for an automated system that is able to perform small-scale proteomic reactions in a highly parallel manner. The system should allow for rapid preparation of enzymatic reactions with minimal consumption of reagents. The combination of reducing the amount of reagents required for a reaction and reducing the time required for a reaction will greatly reduce the overall cost of preparation of proteomic reactions while a highly parallel system will improve throughput.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Methods and apparatus for performing submicroliter reactions with nucleic acids or proteins


A grinding liquid trough arrangement for a grinding machine having a grindstone, wherein said grinding liquid trough arrangement comprises: a trough for grinding liquid formed by a trough wall, wherein the trough is configured to be arranged at a grinding machine having a grindstone such that the trough encloses a portion of a grindstone, wherein, the trough wall comprises at least one metal element which is attractable to magnets, and that,                the grinding liquid trough arrangement comprises at least one magnetic element which is configured to be detachable attached to an external side of the trough wall by means of magnetic attraction between the magnetic element and the metal element.

Grinding or sharpening of edged tools, such as handheld knives or wood working tools such as plane irons, wood chisels or spoke shave blades may be performed in a bench type grinding machine comprising a motor driven rotational grindstone. During sharpening, the edged tool is held with a correct angle in contact with the grindstone and is moved across the grindstone by an operator until sufficiently sharpened. To cool the edged tool during sharpening, the grindstone is wetted with grinding liquid. For this purpose the grinding machine comprises a trough for the grinding liquid, typically water, arranged underneath the grindstone.
A problem related grinding machines of the aforementioned type is to handle the small steel particles that are ground from the blade during sharpening. These particles accumulate in the grinding liquid during grinding and may as a consequence therefore slowly be incorporated into the surface of the grindstone over time.
This problem has been addressed in the past.
EP2883655A1 shows a grinding machine of the bench which is provided with a grinding jig for holding a knife in proper position against the grindstone during grinding. To collect steel particles ground from the edge of the knife, the grinding jig comprises a magnet.
Attempts have also been made remove steel particles from the grinding liquid by incorporating a magnet in the trough for grinding liquid. However, while this solution has proven useful it is often found cumbersome and time consuming to clean the grinding liquid trough from steel particles after use of the grinding machine.
Thus, it is an object of the present disclosure to provide a grinding liquid trough arrangement for a grinding machine which solves or at least mitigates one of the aforementioned problems. In particular it is an object of the present disclosure to provide a grinding liquid trough arrangement for a grinding machine which allows for simple cleaning of the trough for grinding liquid. Moreover, it is an object of the present disclosure to provide a grinding liquid trough arrangement for a grinding machine which allows for complete and through cleaning of the grinding liquid trough with a minimum of manual labor.


Crankcase lubricant compositions for use in automobile or truck engines comprise a major amount of a lubricating oil, added copper present in oil-soluble form, at least 2 ppm of molybdenum present in oil-soluble form, and a total of from 0.05 to 2 mass % of one or more oil-soluble aromatic amines. The specified additives provide a highly effective antioxidant system.

Limited oil resources and rapidly increasing crude oil prices have created a need for lubricants with longer useful lives. Also, longer intervals between crankcase oil changes will reduce the volume of used oil for disposal. For these and other reasons, the efficiency and useful lives of oil-based lubricants, particularly crankcase lubricants, must be improved.
Oxidation of the oil component in the lubricant substantially shortens its useful life. Oxidation yields corrosive acids and an undesirable increase in viscosity. While high quality basestocks tend to be relatively resistant to oxidation, contaminants (e.g., iron) and common additives can greatly accelerate oxidation. Inclusion of detergents (e.g. calcium or magnesium detergents) and dispersants (e.g. polyamine or polyester derivatives of alkenyl succinic acids or anhydrides) is desirable for oil performance, but these additives accelerate oxidation to such an extent that oxidation is a major cause of reduced useful life.
With depletion of high quality basestock oil reserves, resort to lower quality basestocks has become necessary. These lower quality basestocks have a greater tendency to oxidize than do higher quality basestocks.
If the life of a crankcase lubricant is to be maximized, oxidation must be minimized. Over the years various oxidation inhibitors, or antioxidants, have been proposed. Examples of antioxidants which have been proposed for use in crankcase lubricants include zinc dihydrocarbyl dithiophosphates which are primarily used as antiwear agents but also act as antioxidants, aromatic amines (e.g. alkylated phenylamines and phenyl-.alpha.-naphthylamines), hindered phenols, alkaline earth metal salts or sulfurized alkyl phenols in which the alkyl groups have 5 to 12 carbon atoms (e.g., calcium nonylphenyl sulfide and barium octylphenyl sulfide), phosphosulfurized or sulfurized hydrocarbons, and oil soluble copper compounds.
Some of the above mentioned antioxidants are very effective. Thus, European Patent No. 24 146 B teaches lubricating compositions comprising a major amount of lubricating oil, from 1 to 10 wt % of certain ashless dispersants or from 0.3 to 10 wt % of certain nitrogen- or ester- containing polymeric viscosity index improver dispersants, or mixtures of dispersants and viscosity index improver dispersants; 0.01 to 5 wt % of zinc dihydrocarbyl dithiophosphate (ZDDP); and 5 to 500 parts per million (ppm) by weight of added copper in the form of oil-soluble copper compound. The patent notes that the inexpensive copper antioxidants are effective at low concentrations and therefore do not add much to the products cost. In the amounts employed, the copper compounds do not interfere with the performance of other components of the lubricating system. In many instances, completely satisfactory results are obtained when the copper compound is the sole antioxidant in addition to ZDDP. Alternatively, the patent teaches that for particularly severe conditions where a supplementary antioxidant may be desirable, the amount of supplementary antioxidant required is small, often far less than the amount required in the absence of the copper compound. Supplementary antioxidants mentioned include phenols, hindered phenols, bis-phenols, sulfurized phenols, catechol, alkylated catechols, sulfurized alkyl catechols, diphenylamine, alkylated diphenylamines, phenyl-l-naphthylamine and its alkylated derivatives, alkyl borates, aryl borates, alkyl phosphates, aryl phosphites, aryl phosphates, O,O,S-trialkyl dithiophosphates, O,O,S-triaryl dithiophosphates, and O,O,S-trisubstituted dithiophosphates containing both alkyl and aryl groups.
A specific copper-containing lubricant described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,705,641 comprises (A) a basestock and (3) a copper salt and a molybdenum salt wherein the total concentration of the copper and molybdenum metal or metal ions in solution ranges between about 0.006 and about 0.5 wt % of the basestock (60 to 5000 ppm by weight). The stated preferred concentration of copper and molybdenum ranges from about 0.009 to about 0.1 wt % of the basestock (90 to 1000 ppm by weight).
EP 280,579 A and EP 280,580 A each mention in comparative Example 4 lubricating compositions containing copper oleate and molybdenum oleate.
Despite the beneficial effect of using soluble copper described in EP 24,146 B, the antioxidant literature contains many suggestions that copper should be avoided. For example, an antioxidant system comprising in association (a) a particular sulfur-containing molybdenum complex and (b) an aromatic amine is described in UK patent 2,097,422. The recited sulfur containing molybdenum complex is prepared by reacting an acidic molybdenum compound with a basic nitrogen-containing substance and a sulfur source. Preferably the reaction is carried out in the presence of a polar promoter. Example 10 describes a test for oxidation stability wherein copper is used as an oxidation catalyst.
Another patent teaching that copper is an oxidation catalyst is EP 404,650 A. That application discloses oil-soluble overbased additives comprising an alkali or alkaline earth metal carbonate in combination with a substantially hydrocarbon insoluble organic molybdenum derivative. The application states that the molybdenum derivative is solubilized during the overbasing reaction, perhaps by incorporating the derivative into the micelles of the metal carbonate colloid. The molybdenum complex may be a molybdenum-amine complex formed by reacting an acidic molybdenum compound with an amine, e.g. a primary aliphatic amine. Also taught are oxygen containing molybdenum complexes formed by reacting a molybdenum compound with an oxygen containing compound, e.g. a glycol. Example 16 describes a TFOUT (thin film oxygen uptake test) using a naphthenate of lead, copper, iron, manganese and tin as catalyst.
Despite the breadth of the antioxidant literature, highly effective antioxidants for lubricating compositions, particularly crankcase lubricants, in which the proportion of metal containing antioxidants can, if desired, be kept low, are still needed.

Lubricating compositions with improved antioxidancy comprising added copper, a molybdenum containing compound, aromatic amine and ZDDP


One embodiment of the writing instrument described herein comprises a pen-like device containing three accelerometers and three gyroscopes. Data from these sensors are processed via an Euler transform. Prior to using the writing instrument, the user holds the writing instrument in multiple predefined positions and sensor readings are taken. The sensor readings are mapped to the corresponding predefined positions. In addition, the sensor readings are compared to expected sensor readings to compensate for environmental variations such as altitude or temperature as well as for the possible tilt of a writing surface. The sensor readings are interpolated to map sensor readings other than those at the predefined positions to other writing instrument positions. When the user writes with the writing instrument, sensor outputs are used to track the writing instrument to define strokes made by the user. The data describing the strokes may be stored or processed to accomplish a variety of tasks including faxing a message, recording information, etc.

The present invention relates to tracking the position of a writing instrument, and more specifically, to calibrating a system that tracks the position of writing instrument.
In the prior art, a number of input devices exist that allow a user to provide input to a computer or similar device. Typically, these input devices (i.e., a mouse, a touch sensitive screen or pad) are physically connected to the computer and do not allow a user to simply write the input as he or she would with a writing instrument such as a pen or a pencil. For some activities, such as sending a facsimile (faxing) or making an entry in an appointment book, it would be simpler for a user to write out a message or entry as he or she would with a writing instrument that is not physically connected to the computer rather than use prior art input devices to create a message for faxing or to enter an appointment.
In order to provide the user with a writing instrument as an input device, a system for tracking position(s) of a writing instrument must be provided. This system monitors movements of the writing instrument and converts these movements into a representation of the user input. The better the tracking system, the more accurately the user input is received. However, because the writing instrument may be used in many different environments where conditions such as altitude and temperature vary, the tracking system to track the position of the writing instrument may not perform accurately, resulting in the receipt of incorrect input. Therefore, it is desirable to calibrate the writing instrument for the environment in which the writing instrument is used.
A method and apparatus for calibrating a system that tracks the position of a writing instrument is disclosed. Multiple sensors generate outputs based on a position of the writing instrument. Sensor readings are obtained for multiple predefined positions of the writing instrument. A mapping of sensor outputs to writing instrument positions is generated based on the sensor readings at the predefined positions.

Calibration of a system for tracking a writing instrument with multiple sensors


A DC/DC converter according to the present invention includes first and second transformers, each including a primary winding and a secondary winding, the primary winding including first and second windings, a first diode connected to both ends of a series circuit including the DC power supply, a first switch, and the first winding of the first transformer, a second diode connected to both ends of a series circuit including the DC power supply, a second switch, and the first winding of the second transformer, a first series circuit connected to both ends of the first diode, the first series circuit including the second winding of the first transformer and a smoothing capacitor, a second series circuit connected to both ends of the second diode, the second series circuit including the second winding of the second transformer and the smoothing capacitor, a reactor connected to both ends of a series circuit including the secondary winding of the first transformer and the secondary winding of the second transformer, and a control circuit which turns on and off the first and second switches with a phase difference of half a cycle.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to DC/DC converters with a high step-down ratio, and particularly to technologies for downsizing the same.
2. Description of the Related Art
FIG. 1 is a circuit configuration diagram of a conventional DC/DC converter. This DC/DC converter is described in JP2000-308337 A. The DC/DC converter shown in FIG. 1 is a converter for large output current and low output voltage (a converter for a CPU, for example). In order to improve the response and allow a large electric current to flow, two converters are connected in parallel in the DC/DC converter, the converters operating with a 180° phase shift.
A diode D1 is connected to both ends of a DC power supply Vdc1 through a switch Q1 comprised of a MOSFET or the like. A diode D2 is connected to both ends of the DC power supply Vdc1 through a switch Q2 comprised of a MOSFET or the like. A series circuit including a reactor L1 and a smoothing capacitor C1 is connected to both ends of the diode D1. A series circuit including a reactor L2 and the smoothing capacitor C1 is connected to both ends of the diode D2. A load RL is connected across the smoothing capacitor C1.
The switch Q1, the diode D1, and the reactor L1 constitute a first converter. The switch Q2, the diode D2, and the reactor L2 constitute a second converter.
A control circuit 100 causes the high-frequency switching operation of the switches Q1 and Q2 with a 180° phase shift (half a cycle).
Next, an operation of the conventional DC/DC converter thus configured will be described with reference to a timing chart of signals shown in FIG. 2.
At a time t30, once the switch Q1 is turned on by a Q1 control signal Q1g from the control circuit 100, an electric current flows through a path from a positive side of the DC power supply Vdc1, to the switch Q1, to the reactor L1, to the smoothing capacitor C1, and then to a negative side of the DC power supply Vdc1. Accordingly, an electric current Q1i in the switch Q1 linearly increases. At the same time, an electric current L1i in the reactor L1 also linearly increases.
At a time t31, once the switch Q1 is turned off by the Q1 control signal Q1g from the control circuit 100, the electric current Q1i in the switch Q1 rapidly becomes zero. At this time, the energy stored in the reactor L1 causes an electric current to flow through a path from the reactor L1, to the smoothing capacitor C1, to the diode D1, and then to the reactor L1. Accordingly, the energy is supplied to the load RL via the smoothing capacitor C1. The electric current L1i in the reactor L1 also decreases from its peak value with a gradient corresponding to the difference value between the input voltage and the output voltage.
At a time t32, once the switch Q2 is turned on by a Q2 control signal Q2g from the control circuit 100, an electric current Q2i in the switch Q2 linearly increases. At the same time, an electric current L2i in the reactor L2 also linearly increases.
At a time t33, once the switch Q2 is turned off by the Q2 control signal Q2g from the control circuit 100, the electric current Q2i in the switch Q2 rapidly becomes zero. At this time, the energy stored in the reactor L2 causes an electric current to flow through a path from the reactor L2, to the smoothing capacitor C1, to the diode D2, and then to the reactor L2. Accordingly, the energy is supplied to the load RL via the smoothing capacitor C1. The electric current L2i in the reactor L2 also decreases from its peak value with a gradient corresponding to the difference value between the input voltage and the output voltage. The operation carried out at a time t34 is similar to that carried out at the time t30.
However, the DC/DC converter shown in FIG. 1 requires two reactors L1 and L2. In addition, if a perfect symmetry between the two converters inclusive of the circuit wiring cannot be maintained, the electric currents in these converters cannot be balanced, and the uneven loss will be caused. Moreover, a correction circuit or the like, which carries out correction in order that the electric currents in the converters are balanced, becomes necessary, which has resulted in a disadvantage that the circuit becomes complicated.


Acquisition of three-dimensional image-guided localized proton spectroscopy (.sup.1 H-MRS) in the human brain is achieved on a standard clinical imager with a hybrid of chemical shift imaging (CSI) and transverse Hadamard spectroscopic imaging (HSI). 16.times.16.times.4 arrays of 3.5 and 1 ml voxels were obtained in 27 minutes. The spatially-selective HSI 90.degree. pulses were incorporated naturally into a PRESS double spin-echo sequence to subdivide the VOI into 4 partitions along its short axis. Two-dimensional CSI is performed along the other long axes. Because the hybrid excites the spins in the entire VOI, a .sqroot.N signal-to-noise-ratio (SNR) gain per given examination time is realized compared to sequentially interleaving N two-dimensional slices. A twofold gain in sensitivity is demonstrated in the brain for N=4.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a magnetic resonance imaging technique for obtaining three-dimensional images of an image slice, and more particularly, to a three-dimensional spectroscopic imaging technique which is a hybrid of one-dimensional Hadamard spectroscopic imaging and two-dimensional chemical shift imaging that allows all slices in the field of view to be simultaneously acquired.
2. Description of the Prior Art
As described by Moonen, et al. in an article entitled "Proton Spectroscopic Imaging of Human Brain," J. Magn. Reson., Vol. 98, pp. 556-575 (1992), by Shungu, et al. in an article entitled "Sensitivity and Localization Enhancement in Multinuclear in vivo NMR Spectroscopy by Outer Volume Presaturation," Magn. Reson. Med., Vol. 30, pp. 661-671 (1993), and by Duyn, et al. in an article entitled "Multisection Proton MR Spectroscopic Imaging of the Brain," Radiology, Vol. 188, pp. 277-282 (1993), proton MR studies of organs such as the human brain require suppression of the subcutaneous lipids and bone marrow signals so that they do not contaminate the much smaller brain metabolite signals. This is done most effectively by outer volume suppression (OVS) combined with selective-excitation of the volume of interest (VOI). As described in the for-mentioned Moonen, et al. and Duyn, et al. articles, as well as by Alger, et al. in an article entitled "Absolute Quantitation of Short TE Brain .sup.1 H MR Spectra and Spectroscopic Imaging Data," J. Comput. Assist. Tomogr., Vol. 17, pp. 191-199 (1993), by Posse, et al. in an article entitled "Short Echo Time Proton MR Spectroscopic Imaging," J. Comput. Assist. Tomogr., Vol. 17, pp. 1-14 (1993), and by Duyn, et al. in an article entitled "Fast Proton Spectroscopic Imaging of Human Brain Using Multiple Spin Echoes," Magn. Reson. Med., Vol 30, pp. 409-414 (1993), finer localization within that volume is achieved with two-dimensional chemical shift imaging. As described in the above-mentioned articles, OVS favors a VOI within an axial or paraxial slice so the fat at the rim can easily be saturated by spatially-selective RF pulses. For these pulses to contain the skull's curvature when imaging the brain, the slice must be thin (a few centimeters), ruling out the use of chemical shift imaging in that direction. Therefore, to localize, a one voxel thick slice is excited and two-dimensional chemical shift imaging is performed in its plane. Three-dimensional coverage is achieved by sequentially interleaving N (usually four) single-slices.
In particular, as shown in prior art FIG. 1, the prior art proton (.sup.1 H) NMR spectroscopy (.sup.1 H-MRS) in the human brain, for example, comprises selective excitation of a single, thin slice (in an axial plane) as shown in step A1, followed by localization of a two-dimensional array of voxels within the plane of that slice with two-dimensional chemical shift imaging (CSI) (step B1). This process is then repeated for each slice (steps A2, B2, A3, B3, A4, and B4). This approach is dictated by the need to suppress the undesirable fat signals of skull bone, skin, and various other subcutaneous lipids at the edges of the slice.
On the other hand, if localization of a larger volume is desired, several slices (usually 4, but sometimes more) may be acquired in an interleaved fashion as shown in FIG. 2(a). However, because of the nature of interleaving, each of the N slices is sampled for only a fraction (1/N) of the cycle time required to complete a cycle of sampling all slices and is idle for the rest ((N-1)/N) of the time. Because the acquisition time of each slice is comparable with the transverse relaxation time of protons, P.sub.2 (.about.1 second), if N=4 slices are to be sampled, each slice will be "revisited" for only 1 second of every 4 second cycle, with a resulting relative signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of 1/N.sup.1/2.
In particular, the problem with slice-interleaving is that because the T.sub.2 s of in vivo .sup.1 H cerebral metabolites are long (Frahm, et al. in an article entitled "Localized Proton NMR Spectroscopy in Different Regions of the Human Brain in vivo. Relaxation Times and Concentration of Cerebral Metabolites," Magn. Reson. Med., Vol. 11, pp. 47-63 (1989), and Toft, et al. in an article entitled "T.sub.1, T.sub.2 and Concentrations of Brain Metabolites in Neonates and Adolescents Estimated with H-1 MR Spectroscopy," J. Magn. Reson. Imag., Vol. 4, pp. 1-5 (1994) found the T.sub.2 s to be 100-500 ms), the free induction decay (FID) from the i.sup.th slice must be acquired for T.sub.acq. (i).apprxeq.1 second. This brings the recycle time, TR, to ##EQU1## seconds, which is inefficient in SNR/unit-time, since it has been shown in the afore-mentioned Frahm, et al. And Toft, et al. articles, as well as in an article by J. S. Waugh entitled "Sensitivity in Fourier Transform NMR Spectroscopy of Slowly Relaxing Systems," J. Mol. Spec., Vol. 35, pp. 298-305 (1970), and in an article by R. R. Ernst entitled "Sensitivity Enhancement in Magnetic Resonance," Adv. in Magn. Reson., Vol. 2, pp. 1-135 (1966), that the T.sub.1 s of .sup.1 H brain metabolites, 1-1.5 seconds, are significantly shorter. Consequently, good voxel SNR in a 4 slice-interleaved experiment requires approximately 45 minutes of acquisition.
It is desired to substantially reduce the signal acquisition time for such spectroscopic imaging so as to decrease the discomfort to the patient without sacrificing SNR. In addition, it is desired that the resulting images exhibit improved localization and improved fat suppression. The present invention has been designed to meet these needs.

Three-dimensional localized proton NMR spectroscopy using a hybrid of one-dimensional hadamard with two-dimensional chemical shift imaging

The Trustees of the University of Pennsylvania


A flexible flat cable (10) is adapted for mating with a complementary connector (70). The flexible flat cable (10) includes a number of conductors (20) parallelly disposed, an insulation jacket (30) covering said conductors (20); and an insert portion (40) form at one end of the flexible flat cable (10) with the conductors (20) exposed outside the insert portion (40); a chamfer (201) is formed on the end of the conductors (20) located in the insert portion (40).

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to a flexible flat cable (FFC), and more particularly to a flexible flat cable easily inserted into and pulled out from the complementary connector.
2. Description of Related Art
Flexible Flat Cable (FFC) used as a signal transmission component has advantages of arbitrary deflection, high-speed signal transmission, etc. It has been widely used in many electrical products and can directly engage with and disengage from the complementary connector. JP Public Patent No. 2003-036907 disclosed a kind of technology that a flexible flat cable (FFC) can directly insert into and pull out from corresponding complementary connector. The conductors of the insert portion of the FFC directly electrically contact with the terminals received in the complementary connector, meeting the signal transmission between the FFC and the complementary connector. Whereas, some issues would appear as the implementations disclosed in the above public patent. When exerting greater insertion force to make the FFC engage with the complementary connector, the flat conductors of the insert portion and the terminals received in the complementary connector has relatively large contact area, thus, the friction there between is relatively increased, thus, the conductors get greater counterforce by the terminals, so the conductors would be easily turnovered or broken when insertion. As a result, normal electric connection would not be achieved between the FFC and the complementary connector, and as the conductors of the insert portion of the FFC are turnovered or broken, the FFC could not be used again, thus causing great losses. So we need an improved FFC to overcome the shortage of the existing technology.

Flexible flat cable with improved easy structures for engagement/disengagement


A cosmetic preparation dispenser is provided that has a resilient tab formed on the lower end of the innerbody that presses against the cam sleeve to provide a desirable swivel drag, and which tab is prevented from undesirable deformation that reduces the swivel torque by providing a relaxation zone in the cam sleeve where the tab can recall its original shape. The relaxation zone is preferably a thin walled section of the cam sleeve that is formed by the combination of a flat outer wall and a circular inner wall, which thin walled section is deformable by pressure from the tab when the tab is seated against the thin walled section. The tab presses against the cam sleeve which causes the cam sleeve to move up a bevelled shoulder to enhance swivel drag between the cam sleeve and a retaining lip on the innerbody. The bevelled shoulder also engages the cam sleeve when force is applied to the elevator.

Conventional propel/repel lipstick dispensers typically have an outer helical cam track sleeve and a longitudinal track innerbody rotatable inside the cam sleeve to axially propel and retract an elevator cup with a lug or lugs that track in the cam track and in the longitudinal track.
It is known in the art to provide cosmetic dispensers such as lipstick cases with a desirable frictional drag "feel" to the consumer operator when the dispenser is operated to extend or retract the cosmetic stick. It is desirable in providing such a feel that the swivel torque needed to rotate the components to dispense the lipstick remain nearly constant, regardless of whether the dispenser is nearly full or exhausted of the cosmetic. The swivel torque should be significant enough to impart a firm feel to the dispenser. Looseness, uneven drag, or inconsistency of torque can be interpreted by the consumer as indicating an inferior quality product.
The prior art has attempted to provide the desired firmness and consistency of swivel torque by a number of devices. U.S. Pat. No. 4,750,501 to Ackermann et al. is an example of one type of cosmetic applicator wherein an objective is to impart an even drag and swivel torque during operation. In other prior art devices, two lugs or tabs are provided on the elevator cup to press against the innerbody or the cam sleeve to provide frictional interference therebetween; in other devices ribs have been provided on the innerbody that frictionally fit against the elevator cup. However, these prior art devices have generally suffered from inconsistent swivel torque along the travel of the elevator cup as it moves from the extended to the retracted position. This problem arises because the effective inner diameter of the innerbody can vary along its length and thereby vary the swivel torque in an undesirable manner. The dispenser can therefore tend to feel looser when the cup is at one end and tighter when the cup is at the other end.
In yet other prior art devices, two lugs or tabs are provided on the innerbody to press against the cam sleeve to provide frictional interference between the two rotating elements of the dispenser. Such a device is shown for example in U.S. Pat. No. 5,186,560, issued Feb. 16, 1993 to Holloway, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference, as well as in U.S. Pat. No. 5,186,561 issued Feb. 16, 1993 to Ackermann and Holloway, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference. It has been found that over long periods of time the resilient flex tabs can sometimes lose their frictional engagement with the cam sleeve. This is believed to be due to the use of a plastic material to form the innerbody. The plastic experiences "cold flow" from the force of the flex tab against the cam sleeve, so that the flex tab is eventually bent out of position. The bent flex tab will have a substantially reduced frictional engagement with the cam sleeve.
Another problem found in certain prior art dispensers is the problem of pomade back-off. Pomade back-off occurs when a consumer is using a lipstick dispenser and the force of applying the lipstick to the consumer's lips pushes the pomade and elevator cup down the helical tracks of the dispenser. Pomade back-off is generally prevented when the pomade is fully extended by providing horizontal locking tracks at the upper end of the inner body longitudinal tracks. However, if the consumer does not fully extend the pomade (as can often occur when a new lipstick is being used), the locking tracks are unavailing since the elevator cup is not extended sufficiently to engage in the locking tracks. Pomade back-off is most noticeable in single turn dispensers (in which the cam tracks extend around 360 degrees of the dispenser) which have relatively higher cam angles, so that pressure on the elevator cup tends to move the cup and pomade back down the cam and innerbody tracks. This problem is less acute in higher turn dispensers such as double or triple turn dispensers. However, for the convenience of a consumer, a single turn dispenser is preferable as it is easier and more elegant to use.

Cosmetic dispenser with long lasting swivel drag effect


A hands-free voice communication apparatus with integrated speakerphone and earpiece is described. The speakerphone includes a loudspeaker and zero, one or multiple microphones. The earpiece includes a small loudspeaker, one or more microphones, a wireless module, and a digital signal processing (DSP) module. The hands-free device support hands-free voice communication via the speakerphone or the earpiece. The earpiece is functional when removed from the speakerphone case and may be used for voice communication with privacy. When the earpiece is placed back in the speakerphone case, the speakerphone is functional and may be used for voice communication with convenience. The DSP module performs digital signal processing for both the earpiece and the speakerphone, e.g., using different sets of parameters. The speakerphone may be a standalone device or may be part of a communication device. The wireless module communicates with the communication device, which provide end-to-end communication with a far-end user.

The present invention relates generally to communication, and more specifically to a hands-free voice communication apparatus.
Hands-free voice communication devices are commonly used for many applications such as speakerphone, hands-free car kit, teleconferencing system, cellular phone, hands-free voice recognition device, and so on, and in various environments such as car, home, office, hotel, and so on. A hands-free device allows a near-end user to speak into one or more microphones placed at some distance away from the near-end user and to listen to sound from a far-end user via a loudspeaker also placed away from the near-end user. Hands-free devices are thus convenient and comfortable to use, and are also safer to use than hands-on or handheld devices in certain situations, e.g., when driving a car.
A hands-free device typically supports hands-free voice communication via a speakerphone that includes a loudspeaker and one or more microphones. When the hands-free device is small in size, the close proximity of the loudspeaker to the microphones can cause some major problems. For example, when a speech signal from the far-end user is outputted from the loudspeaker, a portion of this speech signal may be reflected back to the microphones and transmitted back to the far-end user. This acoustic disturbance is referred to as echo. In general, users are annoyed by hearing their own voice delayed, for example, by the path of the system. In certain instances, acoustic shock or howling may be caused by the speakerphone becoming unstable due to the microphones picking up reflections of the acoustic signal emitted by the loudspeaker.
Hands-free devices are described in various literatures including U.S. Patent Application Serial Nos. US 2003/0157973 and US 2004/0033820. Application Serial No. US 2003/0157973 describes installing an earpiece inside a cellular phone and using a switch to select between the cellular phone and the earpiece. US 2003/0157973 does not describe a speakerphone feature for the cellular phone. Application Serial No. US 2004/0033820 describes a handset that communicates via infrared with a hands-free kit having an earpiece. However, US 2004/0033820 does not address integration of a speakerphone.
As can be seen, a hands-free voice communication device that can effectively provide hands-free communication is highly desirable.

Hands-free voice communication apparatus with integrated speakerphone and earpiece


A vehicle rack system (10) removably connectable to a vehicle (22) has horizontal top members forming a circumference therebetween having sufficient size to accommodate a cooler (20) therein. The vehicle rack system (10) further has horizontal bottom members forming a circumference therebetween having sufficient size to accommodate the cooler (20) therein. The vehicle rack system (10) further has a vertical rod holders having a vertical rod holder slotted ends positioned at an upper distal end is securely fastened to a the horizontal top members and to the horizontal bottom members. The vehicle rack system (10) further comprises a vertical front rod holder receivers securely fastened to a front end of the horizontal top members and to a front end of the horizontal bottom members. The vehicle rack system (10) further comprises a left vehicle connector (18L) is securely fastened to a left end of the front horizontal bottom member (12FBT) and the rear horizontal bottom member (12RBT). The left vehicle connector (18L) comprises a left vehicle connector tab (18LA) is removably fastenable to the vehicle left tow bracket (22L). The rear horizontal bottom member (12RBT) comprises a right vehicle connector tab (18RA) which is removably fastenable to the vehicle right tow bracket (22R).

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a vehicle rack system. More particularly, the present invention relates to a vehicle rack system having removable rotatable fishing rod holders and sufficient size to accommodate a cooler therein.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Vehicle rack systems are novel in the art. Previous systems have a simple platform upon which a cooler can be strapped thereto. In addition, there are rod holders generally made of PVC pipe which persons strap or fasten onto a vehicle's bumper. These systems are very crude in design, lack structural integrity as well as versatile functionality as described and claimed in the present invention.
Numerous innovations for vehicle rack system have been provided in the prior art that are described as follows. Even though these innovations may be suitable for the specific individual purposes to which they address, they differ from the present invention as hereinafter contrasted.
In U.S. Pat. No. 5,484,092, titled Vehicle Storage Box with Double Secured Compartments, invented by Dale S. Cheney, a truck storage box comprising a rectangular box arranged for mounting in a standard pickup truck bed to extend thereacross and includes an two independent storage compartments, a first larger storage compartment and a second smaller storage compartment which is locked within the interior of the first storage compartment. The structures are preferably formed of steel, or like materials. The second storage compartment is particularly adapted for holding elongated, flat articles such as tools, guns, fishing rods or other appropriate items. In some instances, the second storage compartment is hinged to the interior of the lid of the larger storage compartment and the second storage compartment can be accessed only when the first storage compartment is opened and when the second storage compartment is unlocked.
In U.S. Pat. No. D364,374, titled ATV Rod Carrier, invented by Larry E. Elliott, the ornamental design for the ATV rod carrier is as shown and described.
In U.S. Pat. No. 5,340,135, titled Hand Truck for Fishing Equipment, invented by Johnnie V. Womberly, a hand truck for fishing equipment includes various modifications providing for the removable carriage of a variety of equipment and tackle associated with the sport of fishing. The hand truck includes one or more tubes attached to the side(s) of the frame side member(s), providing for the insertion of the butt(s) or handle(s) of fishing rod(s) therein, thus keeping the center of the truck clear and precluding obstructing the user of the truck with any fishing rod(s) carried thereon. The central portion of the truck includes a hook providing support of the handle of a bait bucket or the like therefrom. The lower platform or shelf of the truck provides for the carriage of an ice chest or cooler and a tackle box thereon. Laterally disposed tiedowns are secured to the truck frame for securing such large articles to the truck. The truck provides not only for the transport of such equipment, but may also serve as a seat with back rest when the user reaches his/her desired fishing site, by removing the tackle box from the truck and using the ice chest as a seat and the truck frame as a back support.
In U.S. Pat. No. 5,310,103, titled Vehicle Truck Lid Mounted Accessory Carrier Case Assembly, invented by Melvin W. Weber and Robert L. Olson, an accessory carrier case assembly mountable on a support structure, such as the underside of a vehicle trunk lid, includes an elongated case having a latchable bottom tray and top lid. The bottom tray and top lid are padded with a foam material. The bottom tray has an interior structure defining different compartments for various items of fishing equipment. The top lid and bottom tray have sufficient interior space for accommodating fishing rods therein. The accessory carrier case assembly also includes an arrangement of rigid mounting brackets, flexible holding straps, and flexible hook and lop releasable fastening strips for supporting the carrier case on the underside of the trunk lid. The releasable fastening strips are applied respectively on the holding straps and on either the top lid or bottom tray of the carrier case for releasably supporting the carrier case from the underside of the trunk lid.
The above described patented inventions differ from the present invention because they lack one or more of the following features as a left vertical rear rod holder, a left vertical middle rod holder, a left vertical front rod holder receiver having a fishing rod holder insertable therein, a right vertical rear rod holder, a right vertical middle rod holder, a right vertical front rod holder receiver having a fishing rod holder insertable therein, an upper "box" constructed from a left horizontal top member connected to a right horizontal top member connected to a front horizontal top member connected to a rear horizontal top member, and a lower "box" constructed from a left horizontal bottom member connected to a right horizontal bottom member connected to a front horizontal bottom member connected to a rear horizontal bottom member.
Numerous innovations for vehicle rack system have been provided in the prior art that are adapted to be used. Even though these innovations may be suitable for the specific individual purposes to which they address, they would not be suitable for the purposes of the present invention as heretofore described.


Process for the preparation of malted cereals, wherein the steeping step includes one or more wetting stages at a temperature between 5 and 30° C. preferably between 10 and 20° C., until the material has a moisture content between 20 and 60% by weight, preferably between 38 and 47%, wherein after a germination period between 2 and 7 days, preferably between 3 to 6 days at a temperature between 10 and 30° C., preferably between 14 and 18° C., the steeped and germinated cereals are preferably kilned by increasing the temperature to values between 40 and 150° C. until the material has a moisture content between 2 and 15% by weight, and wherein one or more microbial cultures selected from the group consisting of one or more bacteria and/or one of more activated spores are added in one or more times during the process.

Cereals, such as barley, wheat, rye, corn, oats, rice, millet triticale, and sorghum, are used for the production of beverages. In most cases, they have been subjected to a malting process to take advantage of their increased enzymatic potential.
In traditional malting processes, the moisture content of cereals is raised either by immersion(s) and/or spraying(s), and the resulting high-moisture content cereal is allowed to germinate. After reaching the proper physiological condition, it is preferably submitted to (a) drying step(s). In what follows, the term steeping refers to the increase in moisture level, while the term germination is used in the way it is in plant physiology. The drying operations are referred to as kilning and the term malting involves all operations needed to convert barley (or other cereals) to barley malts (or other cereal malts).
The quality of the malt obtained is, to a large extent, determined by the presence of plant endogenous enzymes generated during the melting process. For instance, with cereals like barley used as a raw material for the malt production, the variety, the composition of the microbial flora and the environmental factors, such as agricultural practice, influence the quality of the malt. During cultivation and storage, cereals are contaminated with bacteria and fungi. In the malting plant, neither the air, the water, nor the equipment are sterile, and the conditions of humidity, pH and temperature favor the growth of the microbial populations. To improve the quality of malted cereals, such as barley, enzymes have been added to the malted cereal.
The variable cereal quality and the lack of means to make up for deficiencies during the malting process result in variability in malt quality and enzymatic activity. In many instances, this has to do with an imbalance of specific enzymatic potential and insufficient cell wall degradation. Apart from this, problems with microbial safety can occur. As a consequence of the defects in malt, quality problems occur in the production of beer, such as a poor filtration of the wort.


A motor drive device is disclosed having an input-side gear through which rotation of a stepping motor is transferred to a reel with a predetermined speed reduction ratio, the reel driven by the stepping motor via the input-side gear and is formed in one-piece construction with the input-side gear, and a rotary shaft support section that rotatably supports the reel. The rotary shaft support section has one end formed with a wall portion in a direction perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of the rotary shaft support section and the other end provided with a press section by which the rotatably supported reel is pressed toward the wall portion.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a motor drive device including a motor as a drive source for a reel with a plurality of symbols.
2. Description of the Related Art
Heretofore, in the related motor drive device for a gaming machine, such as a slot machine, comprises a support shaft which is inserted into a central path of a reel. The reel is formed in one-piece construction with a gear through which rotational torque being generated by a stepping motor is transferred to the reel. By the rotational torque, the reel is rotated around a center of the support shaft. According to the related motor drive device having the above mentioned structure, the gear indirectly transfers rotational torque of the stepping motor to the reel, and the motor drive device enables the stepping motor to bear load greater than that of a direct-drive type motor drive device (see, for instance, related art: Japanese Patent Application Laid Open Publication No. 10-71240) in which a drive shaft of the stepping motor is directly pressed and fitted to a central path of the reel.
Meanwhile, to rotate the support shaft inside the central path, a slight clearance between the inner peripheral of the central path of the reel and the outer peripheral of the support shaft is provided, i. e., the diameter of the central path of the reel should be greater than the diameter of the support shaft. Hence, the reel shakes leftward or rightward as viewed from a player (hereinafter, referred to as "a reel shaking") during start-up or stop operation of the motor commensurate to the increase in dimension of the clearance. As used herein, the term "the reel shakings" refers to movements in that the reel shakes in a direction as shown by an arrow AR1 in FIG. 5.
The present invention has been completed to address the above issue and has an object to provide a motor drive device that is able to minimize the reel shakings of a reel during start-up or stop operations of the reel.


An icing protection system comprises a fuel cell, an evaporative cooling system, a thermal deicing device, a control unit and a device for measuring the pressure in the evaporative cooling system. The evaporative cooling system is in thermal contact with the fuel cell and with the thermal deicing device in order to conduct heat from the fuel cell to the thermal deicing device. The control unit controls the electrical power demanded from the evaporatively cooled fuel cell in dependence on a deviation of the pressure measured by the pressure measuring device from a predetermined NOMINAL pressure. In this way, an energetically very efficient and very well controllable icing protection system is made available that can be operated without bleed air supplied by engines or electrical energy provided by engine generators.

It is known to carry out the deicing of surfaces prone to icing with the aid of heated air that originates, for example, from main engines or from an auxiliary power unit (Auxiliary Power Unit, APU) and is usually routed through a deicing valve, a throttling element and a piccolo tube that is respectively situated in the interior of the wing nose or slats (slats). The hot engine bleed air escapes through the openings of the piccolo tube and flows directly along an underside or inner side of a surface prone to icing, to which it transfers part of its thermal energy. Due to the high energy content of the hot bleed air obtained from the main engines, an internal wing deicing system of an aircraft realized in accordance with the prior art can only be utilized in-flight because material overheating of the wing structure may easily occur on the ground due to the lack of relative wind.
EP 1 935 783 B1 and EP 1 116 656 B1 disclose thermal deicing devices and methods by means of hot air. US 20080105217 A1 discloses a thermal deicing system that operates with water-saturated, heated air while U.S. Pat. No. 6,848,656 B2 proposes to remove molten ice with an air current acting thereupon. DE 10 2008 019 146 A1 proposes to heat air that originates, for example, from a passenger cabin by means of a fuel cell and to route this heated air into regions of the aircraft to be deiced. DE 10 2006 002 882 B4 and DE 10 2004 058 430 B4 mention the thermal wing deicing by means of the waste air flow from a fuel cell or fuel cell waste gas, respectively. With respect to an evaporatively cooled fuel cell system, EP 2 225 789 B1 describes the advantages of the heat transfer by means of a change in state of aggregation in comparison with the heat transfer by means of hot air. EP 1 973 780 B1 proposes to counteract material damages due to overheating by improving the heat transmission due to an increase of the air turbulence on the wing nose. EP 1 793 013 B1 proposes to prevent material overheating by means of a mixing chamber.
Despite the high energy content of the bleed air obtained, for example, from main engines, the heat transfer is limited by the comparatively low heat transfer coefficient of air such that the deicing still cannot always be precisely controlled and is predominantly ensured by excess bleed air. In this case, excess bleed air that contains energy irreversibly escapes into the surroundings together with part of the energy generated by means of fuel.
In the development of modern commercial aircraft, there is a general trend to realize ecologically responsible solutions for minimizing the environmental consequences of industrial processes and products over their entire life cycle and to further reduce the costs. Future aircraft should be more economical, quieter and cleaner than today's commercial aircraft.

Icing protection system for an aircraft and method for operating an icing protection system


A process for coating a tungsten carbide base material substrate with CVD diamond film includes carburization and gas-assisted vaporization of cobalt from the surface with simultaneous recrystallization of surface grains of tungsten carbide to change their stoichiometry for improved adherence.. Also disclosed is a WC-Co cutting tool having a relatively fine WC grain size and coated with adherent CVD diamond.

Several properties of diamond, such as its hardness and thermal conductivity, make it highly desirable for use as a coating or thin-film applied to articles whose life is limited by excessive wear, such as cutting tools. However, because diamond is a brittle material, in the form of a monolith it does not have the toughness of other traditional cutting tool materials, such as tungsten carbide or PDC (polycrystalline diamond compact). Toughness is especially important to the performance of cutting tool materials in environments where impulsive or high impact forces may be involved, for example in interrupted cutting. The use of diamond as a thin-film, or coating, takes advantage of the wear resistant properties of the thin-film while also taking advantage of the bulk properties (toughness) of an underlying substrate base material. However, in order to reduce this goal to practice, the adhesion strength of the diamond film to the underlying substrate must allow the thin-film and substrate to operate as a "composite" system. This may be particularly challenging for some base materials due to thermal expansion mismatch between the film and substrate which gives rise to very large residual stresses. In addition, the chemical composition of some base materials can impair or prevent the formation of strong bonds between the film and substrate. Ignoring these effects can lead to very weak bonding and may result in delamination of the film or coating from the base material of the substrate during use.
One of the most important base materials for various kinds of flat and rotary cutting tools is cemented carbide, such as tungsten carbide (WC) ceramic particles sintered in a matrix of cobalt (Co) binder. The utility of this class of materials is based upon the combination of a hard, abrasive phase (WC grains) which is cemented or bonded by a metal, ductile phase (Co binder). While the metal binder phase gives the cemented carbide toughness, it is this constituent which is primarily responsible for the difficulties encountered in establishing adhesion to CVD diamond films. Under typical conditions of CVD diamond synthesis, the binder phase of cemented carbides, which is commonly cobalt, but may also be iron or nickel, may interact with the gaseous CVD diamond growth species and catalyze the formation of graphitic material instead of or in addition to diamond. The formation of a graphitic layer on the substrate results in poor adhesion between the film and substrate. In addition, during the chemical vapor deposition of diamond films, the binder phase may dissolve the diamond substrate interface, thereby reducing the interfacial contact area between the film and substrate to degrade mechanical bonding. Finally, the mismatch in thermal expansion between the diamond film and substrate typically results in large residual stresses in the diamond film following deposition which further challenges the interface integrity.
Early efforts to improve the adhesion of diamond films to WC-Co materials led researchers to remove cobalt from the surface of WC-Co materials using several techniques. In U.S. Pat. No. 4,731,296, Kikuchi et al. discuss the formation of an "etch layer" with reduced cobalt concentration extending to between 0.1 to 1.0 micrometers (micrometers) into a WC-Co based substrate with 1-4 wt % (weight percent) Co. This method encourages the nucleation and growth of diamond films without the preferential deposition of graphite. However, methods based on the chemical removal of the binder phase have several drawbacks which can influence the utility of the diamond coated article. Removal of the binder phase to a depth which is greater than the general size dimension of the free surface grains results in the formation of an embrittled layer at the surface of the WC-Co article. In the presence of an applied stress, such as the residual stresses imposed on the diamond film following deposition or those encountered during use of the article, failure of the interface by loss of WC grain cohesion or by crack extension in this embrittled area results in delamination. On the other hand, removal of the binder phase to a depth which is less than the general size dimension of the free surface WC grains usually results in interaction between the diamond and binder phase unless a physical barrier to diffusion across the interface is created. Furthermore, these approaches do not have a means of producing a mechanically tough, interfacial crack deflection mechanism which is necessary to provide the interfacial fracture toughness required for the abrasive applications of metal cutting.
Other researchers have recognized that a physical barrier or so-called "diffusion barrier" to diamond/binder interaction may improve adhesion by preventing interaction between the binder phase and the diamond film. Proper selection of such a layer may also reduce residual stresses between the diamond film and the underlying substrate by selection of an interlayer material having a coefficient of thermal expansion with a value between those of the film and underlying substrate. However, the interlayer approach is not preferred because it is complicated, expensive, and does not result in the increase in interfacial toughness which other techniques achieve.
The U.S. Pat. No. 5,415, 674 issued to Feistritzer et al. discloses a technique to vaporize and re-crystallize surface WC grains. This process is a significant improvement over methods which produce a sub-surface binder-depleted region. However, this process is carried out at a temperature too low for rapid grain growth of the free surface WC grains. There is no discussion of the important details of free surface chemical composition or structural features of the free surface of the WC-Co which are necessary for adhesion of the diamond film under abrasive conditions as described above.
The U.S. Pat. No. 5,100,703 issued to Saijo discloses a process for treating WC-Co having a binder phase of 4 wt % (weight percent) or less by using a decarburizing gas comprised of oxygen and hydrogen between a temperature of 500 and 1200 C. (centigrade). While decarburization of the free surface WC grains promotes re-carburization during CVD diamond deposition and thus promotes chemical bonding between the diamond film and substrate, the method disclosed in this patent results in a free surface in which the WC grains are smaller than the WC grains in the bulk. This process therefore does not contain the crack deflection or interfacial toughening mechanism essential for highly abrasive applications.
The U.S. Pat. No. 5,648,119 issued to Grab et al. discloses the formation of a roughened substrate to improve the "mechanical component of adhesion". However, the excessive roughness of the surface described limits the utility of the diamond-coated article by resulting also in a rough surface for the diamond coating.
There is a need for a process for coating a cemented carbide article with a strongly adherent diamond film by which both the mechanical and chemical components of bonding are optimized, while at the same time the structural characteristics of the interface are designed to maximize crack deflection phenomena.

Composite article with adherent CVD diamond coating and method of making