A mount extending the reach of a shallow water anchoring system, which includes a block mounting device with two open-ended and spaced-apart longitudinally-extending bores each having at least two smaller threaded bores with interior ends that are in communication with the longitudinal bores. Preferably, the smaller threaded bores are spaced apart and aligned in a row, and also have perpendicular orientation to the longitudinal bore. The extendable anchoring pole of a shallow water anchoring system is secured within one of the longitudinal bores via fasteners, while an independent rod longer than the anchoring pole is secured via fasteners within the other longitudinal bore, wherein the independent rod can be vertically deployed into a sea bottom adjacent to a boat at water depths exceeding the anchoring system's intended reach. A small stabilizer block with similar bores spaced apart from the mount further stabilizes the pole and independent rod during anchoring use.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is in the technical field of devices or accessories used with shallow water boat anchoring systems to extend their reach into deeper water than was originally intended for the anchoring system, more specifically to a generally rectangular block mounting device having two spaced-apart and open-ended longitudinally-extending bores which are substantially parallel to one another and preferably have a smooth interior, one of which is typically larger in diameter than the other, although not limited thereto. Both longitudinal bores extend completely through the length of the device. The block mounting device also preferably has at least two small threaded fastener bores in communication with each longitudinal bore that are offset longitudinally from the threaded fastener bores in communication with the adjacent longitudinal bore to provide sufficient room for easy hand-manipulation of the fasteners secured therein, with the small threaded bores associated with each longitudinal bore in the most preferred embodiments of the present invention also having perpendicular orientation to the longitudinal bore with which it is connected, and being further positioned in a row having substantially parallel orientation to the associated longitudinal bore. For user convenience and not a critical feature of the invention, both of the rows of small threaded fastener bores are most commonly located on the same side of the block mounting device. The small threaded fastener bores in both rows are also open-ended, with an interior end that is in communication with the longitudinal bore adjacent-most to it, thus allowing each of the interior ends of fasteners tightened in one of the rows to come in contact with a rod or pole (hereinafter "independent rod" without any intent of limitation) inserted through the longitudinal bore to place that independent rod in a secure fixed position relative to the block mounting device. The second row of open-ended small threaded fastener bores and the fasteners tightened therein, are used to secure the extendable anchoring pole of a shallow water anchoring system within the other longitudinal bore of the block mounting device to place the bock mounting device In a fixed position relative to the shallow water anchoring system. Typically when the diameter dimensions of the longitudinal bores are not the same size, the larger bore is used with the extendable anchoring pole of the shallow water anchoring system, but not limited thereto. The resulting adjacent positioning of the independent rod and the extendable anchoring pole allows the shallow water anchoring system to support the present invention block mounting device to which the independent rod is secured, without any permanent alteration or modification to the shallow water anchoring system or the boat to which the anchoring system is attached, and further allows repeated vertical deployment and retraction of the independent rod as needed. Thus, when a boat supporting a shallow water anchoring system has the block mounting device secured to its extendable anchoring pole and an independent rod is also supported by the same block mounting device in substantially parallel orientation to the extendable anchoring pole, and the boat then moves into water several feet beyond the intended reach of the shallow water anchoring system, the independent rod can be quickly and easily extended for insertion into the sea bottom by simply loosening and refastening the fasteners securing it to the block mounting device. No tools are required. Although not limited thereto, easily hand-manipulated thumb screws are preferably used with the present invention block mounting device to fix it to the extendable anchoring pole, as well as fix the independent rod to the block mounting device. Non-corroding threaded inserts (hereinafter referred to 'helicoils' without any intent of limitation) are also preferably positioned within each small fastener bore in the block mounting device to turn each into a threaded bore with reduced thread wear that provides the secure non-slip gripping needed to maintain fasteners in fixed positioning relative to the independent rod and the extendable anchoring pole of a shallow water anchoring system after repeated deployment and retraction of the independent rod. Furthermore, a smaller stabilizer block may be used with the present invention block mounting device for additional stabilization of the independent rod and the extendable anchoring pole during their transport and use, with the smaller stabilizer block also preferably having two spaced-apart, open-ended, and non-threaded bores therethrough that are similar in diameter to the longitudinal bores in the block mounting device, as well as one smaller open-ended and threaded fastener bore having an interior end in communication with one of the small stabilizer block's non-threaded bores.
2. Description of Related Art
People using boats in shallow water for fishing cannot use conventional anchors that are dragged across the sea bottom until they become securely engaged with bottom sediments or underwater rock formations, as their deployment makes noise that scares away fish. Also, the dragging typically creates environmental damage that disturbs fish habitat. In addition, anchors that are dragged do not always provide a quick, solid, and secure engagement with the sea bottom and may need to be repositioned multiple times until satisfactory engagement is achieved. Furthermore, each time repositioning of a dragged anchor occurs, more fish are scared away and more of the sea bottom becomes disturbed. To overcome these disadvantages and environmental disruption, many fishermen now use shallow water anchors that insert one or more rods or probes into the sea bottom, such as the inventions disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,971,548 to Kuenzel (2011) and U.S. Pat. No. 6,041,730 to Oliverio (2000). Both can be quickly deployed, are less invasive of the sea bottom than a dragged anchor, and can be quickly deployed and removed. However, an important disadvantage of shallow water anchoring systems is that they inherently have a limited reach. Should a shallow water anchor typically reach a depth of approximately eight feet, and the boat connected to it moves temporarily and unexpectedly into water having a depth of ten feet or more, then the shallow water anchoring system becomes ineffective. The present invention block mounting device is designed to overcome this deficiency and secure an independent rod directly to the extendable anchoring pole of a shallow water anchoring system (typically one attached to a boat's transom, but not limited thereto), with the independent rod mounted in a position substantially parallel to that of the extendable anchoring pole, so that the independent rod can be silently inserted into the sea bottom close to the boat supporting it even when the sea bottom is several feet lower than the maximum reach of the extendable anchoring pole of the shallow water anchoring system secured to the boat. The independent rod used with the present invention will not drag across the sea bottom, or rip up sea grass during its deployment or retraction. In addition, the rod can be secured in, lowered/deployed within, and removed from, one of the longitudinal bores in the present invention block mounting device in seconds, and such temporary attachment to the block mounting device does not permanently alter or modify in any way the shallow water anchoring system, the independent rod, or the boat. Furthermore, attachment of the present invention block mounting device helps to add stability to the neck of the extendable anchoring pole in the shallow water anchoring system when the boat to which it is attached travels on a trailer. Additional stability is also provided when an optional small stabilizer block is used with the independent rod and the extendable anchoring pole at a spaced-apart distance below the present invention block mounting device. The small stabilizer block's structure includes two spaced-apart, open-ended, and non-threaded bores extending completely through it which are comparable in diameter to the longitudinal bores of the block mounting device, as well as one open-ended and smaller threaded fastener bore in communication with one of the larger non-threaded bores, thus allowing secure and fixed connection of the small stabilizer block to the extendable anchoring pole of a shallow water anchoring system with a single fastener, while an independent rod inserted through the other large non-threaded bore remains freely movable within that bore.
The invention thought to be closest to the present invention is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 8,104,418 to Thompson (2012) which discloses an adjustable boat anchoring system. However, many differences exist between the Thompson invention and the present invention. The Thompson invention has a pair of anchoring fixtures each having a base and a tube carried by the base, which extends across its associated base. One such anchoring fixture is mounted on the peripheral edge of the boat, with the second anchoring fixture mounted on the exterior of the boat's transom. Poles received in Thompson anchoring fixtures can be adjustably positioned to engage the sea bottom immediately adjacent to the boat. In contrast, the present invention teaches a block mounting device that attaches to the extendable pole of a shallow water anchoring system to secure an independent rod that can be deployed to allow the shallow water anchoring system to reach water depths at least several feet lower than originally intended, thereby providing secure anchoring in bays and other coastal or inter-coastal water where varying sea bottom depths are frequently encountered. Furthermore, the present invention block mounting device is secured to the extendable anchoring pole of a shallow water anchoring system, and not to the boat's hull, and does not permanently modify or alter any portion of the shallow water anchoring system or the boat. Also, it has two spaced-apart longitudinal bores that are oriented substantially parallel to one another within one block mounting device, and it does not use two tubes each with a separate base independently mounted to different portions of a boat. Thus, no invention is known with the same features as the present invention, or the same structure, or one that provides the same benefits and advantages to a user.

Mount providing extension to a shallow water anchoring system


A stacked array magnifier (SAM) forms a magnified, demagnified or unit image of an object. The SAM includes one or more non-refractive lenslet arrays and one or more refractive lenslet arrays to form a plurality of lenslet channels. Each lenslet channel has at least one refractive lenslet and at least one non-refractive lenslet. SAMs are combined and tiled to form a scaleable display of flat panel displays. Multiple SAMs are used to increase magnification selectively. Hybrid lenslet arrays of the invention are also useable for optical processing and non-imaging applications.

Imagery is presented in many forms. In the classical optical camera, for example, light energy from an object scene is focused through glass optics onto a film formatted image plane where light sensitive film records the scene. Typically, the film format corresponds to "35 mm" film, which translates to maximum linear dimensions of 36.3 mm (horizontal) by 24.2 mm (vertical), or a vertical-to-horizontal ratio of 3:2.
In the electronic age, the classical film-formatted camera is being quickly replaced by the solid-state camera utilizing charge coupled devices such as the "CCD" array. Typically, the CCD array is formatted to conveniently correlate with the computer display screen, which has a horizontal-to-vertical aspect ratio of 4:3. In this manner, the CCD array and computer display are matched on a pixel-to-pixel basis.
However, regardless of the high quality image presented by the classical film-formatted camera, its optics and housing are unsuitable for application with the CCD array. Accordingly, as users convert to digital cameras, their older film-formatted cameras shall become obsolete. Not only will the typical user have to buy a new camera, i.e., the digital camera, she will discard or retire the film-formatted camera, creating both cost and waste.
It is, accordingly, one object of the invention to provide apparatus and methods for adapting film-formatted cameras to solid state devices such as the CCD array in a compact and useful manner. A corollary object of the invention is to provide reimaging methods to achieve selected magnification and/or demagnification for each of the tangential and sagittal axes.
The prior art is known to have created optical systems for relaying and magnifying or demagnifying optical images by way of an optical system such as a relay lens. Specifically, in the prior art, it is known that a relay lens can be used to relay one image plane to another image plane at a selected magnification (or demagnification) ratio. However, such an arrangement is unwieldy and would generally double the size of the classical camera, making the approach non-practical as a solution to the above-described problem. Further, it is very difficult, and thus costly, to simultaneously provide selected magnifications for both of the tangential and sagittal axes. By way of example, it is known that an astigmatic optical element provides such a bifurcated magnification; however, this element requires additional aspheric processing, adding cost, time and complexity to the manufacturing process.
The problems discussed above are symptomatic of a wide range of display problems and inconveniences experienced today. In the electronic and medical world, for example, imagery is often displayed on a television (TV), a computer display, the liquid crystal display (LCD), the cathode ray tube (CRT), light-emitting diode arrays, and back projection systems. It is often desirable, however, to illustrate the electronic display in a different format such as to a wider audience on a large format display. In the prior art, for example, complex projection systems are sometimes used to relay a smaller electronic display onto a large, reflective surface such as a white wall or a projection screen. However, it is widely understood that projection display systems are large in size, expensive, and heavy; and they inefficiently consume large amounts of electrical power. They are also generally limited to use in darkened areas due to low luminance output and poor efficiency.
An electronic display that is generally defined as a Flat Panel Display (FPD) has other difficulties that are not adequately addressed in the prior art, such as limitations in luminance and angular view. The active matrix thin film transistor liquid crystal display (AM-TFT LCD), the passive LCD, the field emission display (FED), and other FPDs (such as plasma displays and electroluminescent displays) each have characteristic angular fields due to inherent construction, polarizing filters and fore- and back-light characteristics (if required). One example of the angular limitations inherent in a FPD is readily seen in observing a portable computer screen from different angles: the portable FPD is barely visible, if at all, from viewing angles greater than about forty-five degrees from the normal to the screen surface.
The angular and luminance limitations associated with viewing a FPD are thus significant. Most observers prefer to view an image that is highly uniform in luminance over a wide field angle. This further compounds the difficulty in converting the FPD to a large format display. In addition, daylight viewing and the suppression of glare often necessitate additional screens or intermediate optics between the FPD and the observer, adding other costs and complexity. In certain applications, the prior art has attempted, without great success or efficiency, to improve the field of view of the FPD through the addition of diffractive spatial filters placed adjacent to the FPD screen.
There is the need, therefore, of enhancing the performance of the FPD. It is, accordingly, an object of the invention to provide apparatus and methods for enhancing the luminance and field of view of the FPD. A further object of the invention is to provide systems for converting the FPD to a large format display with improved luminance and field of view.
Highly commercial electronic displays have still other difficulties. For example, very large commercial advertising and stadium-sized matrix displays are assembled using tiles of bulbs, CRTs, light emitting diodes (LEDs), or LCD panels. Not only are these systems limited in resolution, color (note, e.g., that LEDs are typically one color) and general optical performance, they are expensive, costing in the neighborhood of $100,000 per square meter. They additionally have low reliability standards and few specifications or limitations on weight, power consumption and efficiency.
It is, accordingly, an object of the invention to provide a system which transforms the image presented by an electronic display--such as the LCD, the CRT, the FPD, phosphor displays, an array of LEDs, a computer screen, and a pixelated object--into a reformatted image with enhanced or modified features, such as with selected magnification, astigmatism, distortion, optical correction, optical processing, and Fourier content.
Another object of the invention is to provide apparatus and methods for magnifying or demagnifying an image of an object with a compact and substantially monolithic optical system.
Still another object of the invention is to provide methods of manufacturing and constructing combinations of lenslet arrays to achieve magnification or demagnification selectively.
Yet another object of the invention is to provide optical correlating apparatus and methods for conveniently achieving Fourier processing of an electromagnetic field.
These and other objects will become apparent in the description which follows.


A fuel cell system that employs a start-up heater. The heater is coupled to a cold plate that warms a stack coolant during system start-up. A heater circuit measures the voltage at the output of the fuel cell stack and across the heater and the current through the fuel cell stack and through the heater. The heater circuit controls the amount heat that the heater generates by the measured voltage and current and the available power at the output of the fuel cell stack. In one embodiment, the heater includes field effect transistors (FETs) and planar resistors directly mounted to the cold plate. The FETs operate in their linear mode, allowing only the amount of current, which is required at a given voltage, to produce the power needed from the stack.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to a start-up heater for a fuel cell system and, more particularly, to a start-up heater for a fuel cell system, where the heater is coupled to a cold plate that warms the cooling fluid and fuel cell stack at system start-up.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
Hydrogen is a very attractive fuel because it is clean and can be used to efficiently produce electricity in a fuel cell. The automotive industry expends significant resources in the development of hydrogen fuel cells as a source of power for vehicles. Such vehicles would be more efficient and generate fewer emissions than today's vehicles employing internal combustion engines.
A hydrogen fuel cell is an electrochemical device that includes an anode and a cathode with an electrolyte therebetween. The anode receives hydrogen gas and the cathode receives oxygen or air. The hydrogen gas is disassociated in the anode, typically by a catalyst, to generate free hydrogen protons and electrons. The hydrogen protons pass through the electrolyte to the cathode. The hydrogen protons react with the oxygen and the electrons in the cathode, typically by a catalyst, to generate water. The electrons from the anode cannot pass through the electrolyte, and thus are directed through a load to perform work before being sent to the cathode. The work acts to operate the vehicle.
Proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFC) are a popular fuel cell for vehicles. The PEMFC generally includes a solid polymer electrolyte proton conducting membrane, such as a perfluorinated acid membrane. The anode and cathode typically include finely divided catalytic particles, usually platinum (Pt), supported on carbon particles and mixed with an ionomer. The combination of the anode, cathode and membrane define a membrane electrode assembly (MEA). MEAs are relatively expensive to manufacture and require certain conditions for effective operation. These conditions include proper water management and humidification, and control of catalyst poisoning constituents, such as carbon monoxide (CO).
Many fuel cells are typically combined in a fuel cell stack to generate the desired power. For example, a typical fuel cell stack for a vehicle may have two hundred stacked fuel cells. The fuel cell stack receives a cathode input gas as a flow of air, typically forced through the stack by a compressor. Not all of the oxygen in the air is consumed by the stack and some of the air is output as a cathode exhaust gas that may include water as a stack by-product. The fuel cell stack also receives an anode hydrogen input gas that flows into the anode side of the stack.
The membranes in the fuel cell stack must have a certain wetness or humidity level for proper stack operation. When the fuel cell system is turned off in a sub-zero temperature environment, any remaining water within the stack generally freezes. When the fuel cell system is turned back on, it will not be able to immediately generate the desired output power because the water in the stack is frozen and the stack is so far below its operating temperature. Therefore, starting a fuel cell system from sub-zero temperatures is a significant problem in a fuel cell system design.
Currently, it is known to selectively switch the output of the fuel cell stack to a resistor bank that operates as a temporary load during system start-up. The stack will gradually increase its operating temperature through the stack inefficiencies, i.e., the plate-to-plate resistances, over time as the fuel cell operates and the output power is being dumped to the resistor bank. However, this process takes a relatively long time, and thus improvements to fuel cell system start-up at sub-zero temperatures are needed.


Systems and methods for specifying extended configuration descriptor information in a Universal Serial Bus (USB) device are described. In one aspect, an extended configuration descriptor is provided in firmware of a USB device. The extended configuration descriptor includes a set of non-standard class codes. Responsive to receiving a host-specific device request, the USB device communicates the extended configuration descriptor to a requestor.

The Universal Serial Bus (USB) is a cable bus that supports data exchange between a host computer and a wide range of simultaneously accessible peripheral devices. The attached peripheral devices share USB bandwidth through a host-scheduled, token-based protocol. The bus allows peripherals to be attached, configured, used, and detached while the host and other peripherals are in operation.
The USB is defined by a specification that is approved by a committee of industry representatives. The specification covers all aspects of USB operation, including electrical, mechanical, and communications characteristics. To be called a USB device, a peripheral must conform to this very exacting specification.
USB device information is typically stored in so-called "descriptors" or request codes—data structures formatted as specified by the USB specification. Descriptors are used in a USB system to define "device requests" from a host to a peripheral device. A device request is a data structure that is conveyed in a "control transfer" from the host to the peripheral device. A control transfer contains the following fields:                bmRequestType—a mask field indicating (a) the direction of data transfer in a subsequent phase of the control transfer; (b) a request type (standard, class, vendor, or reserved); and (c) a recipient (device, interface, endpoint, or other). The primary types of requests specified in the "request type" field are the "standard" and "vendor" types, which will be discussed below.        bRequest—a request code indicating one of a plurality of different commands to which the device is responsive.        wValue—a field that varies according to the request specified by bRequest.        wIndex—a field that varies according to request; typically used to pass an index or offset as part of the specified request.        wLength—number of bytes to transfer if there is a subsequent data stage.
All USB devices are supposed to support and respond to "standard" requests—referred to herein as "USB-specific" requests. In USB-specific requests, the request type portion of the bmRequestType field contains a predefined value indicative of the "standard" request type.
Each different USB-specific request has a pre-assigned USB-specific request code, defined in the USB specification. This is the value used in the bRequest field of the device request, to differentiate between different USB-specific requests. For each USB-specific request code, the USB specification sets forth the meanings of wValue and wIndex, as well as the format of any returned data.
USB devices can optionally support "vendor" requests—referred to herein as "device-specific" requests. In a device-specific request, the request type portion of the bmRequestType field contains a predefined value to indicate a "vendor" request type. In the case of device-specific requests, the USB specification does not assign request codes, define the meanings of wValue and wIndex, or define the format of returned data. Rather, each device has nearly complete control over the meaning, functionality, and data format of device-specific requests. Specifically, the device can define its own requests and assign device-specified request codes to them. This allows devices to implement their own device requests for use by host computers, and provides tremendous flexibility for manufacturers of peripherals.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Specifying extended configuration descriptor information in a USB device


A system and related devices and methods facilitating orchestration of page composition based on performance of one or more portions of the page are disclosed herein. An exemplary system may comprise a first device and a second device. An exemplary method may comprise providing to a client device, a first portion of a requested page while waiting for one or more service calls required to render a second portion to return, and after a time at which the one or more service calls required to render the second portion return, providing the client device with the second portion, the one or more service calls required to render the second portion having a higher latency than any service calls required to render the first portion.

Conventional display methods generally require consumer-specific information to be retrieved and then utilized in the generation of the content of a web page, or alternatively, a web page may be generated without personalization, thereby limiting the use of consumer-specific information or sacrificing time. In this regard, areas for improving current systems have been identified. Through applied effort, ingenuity, and innovation, solutions to improve such systems have been realized and are described in connection with embodiments of the present invention.

System, apparatus, and method for page composition


A method and apparatus for drug dissolution testing may include an overflow vessel with an overflow outlet port at a predetermined height from a bottom of the overflow vessel, a first water bath submerging the overflow vessel and configured to keep a temperature of the overflow vessel at a first predetermined temperature, a pressurized vessel containing a dissolution medium, a second water bath submerging the pressurized vessel and configured to keep the dissolution medium at a second predetermined temperature, a dissolution medium path with an output end connected in fluid communication with the flow cell and an input end attached in fluid communication to the pressurized vessel, where the dissolution medium path may transfer the dissolution medium from the pressurized vessel into the flow cell, a collection vessel connected to the overflow outlet port of the flow cell, and a third water bath submerging the collection vessel and configured to keep the collection vessel at a third predetermined temperature.

Dissolution testing is among several important testing procedures that a pharmaceutical product should undergo to gain qualitative and quantitative approval. Dissolution testing may be utilized as either a quality control tool to monitor and ensure batch-to-batch conformity of oral dosage forms or a drug development tool to predict in-vivo performance of a pharmaceutical product. Dissolution tests are utilized as substitutes for human studies. Analytical data obtained from drug dissolution tests may be used to test or monitor the efficacy of a pharmaceutical product without the need for performing in-vivo tests.
The dissolution testing involves putting a dosage form in contact with a dissolution medium to allow a targeted chemical contained in the dosage form to dissolve in the dissolution medium and form a sample solution. Sample solutions that are collected from the dissolution tests may then be analyzed by analysis methods such as ultraviolet-visible spectrophotometry (UV-Vis) or high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC).
Evaluating the dissolution performance of drugs that are sensitive to environmental conditions is one of the challenges in controlled drug delivery systems. Many sensitive drugs such as proteins and peptides can be degraded in the dissolution media in a short time. Thus, in sustained-release drug delivery systems (SRDDS), evaluating the dissolution and rate of release under human physiological conditions (37° C.) and for long periods (up to several months) may be time-consuming and expensive due to the instability and sensitivity of these drugs to physiological conditions. This means that when the existing pharmacopoeia dissolution test apparatuses are used to perform the dissolution tests for SRDDSs that contain temperature-sensitive drugs, the frequency of the sampling needs to be high and the test time needs to be short. Besides, the samples should immediately be prepared for analysis after sampling. For example, if in a SRDDS, the stability of a pharmaceutical molecule in the dissolution medium at a temperature of approximately 37° C. is 2 hours, the test time for the pharmaceutical molecule should be less than 2 hours. In this case, since the dissolution test for this group of products is usually evaluated for 24 hours, sampling, sample preparation, and sample analysis should be performed more than 12 times within 24 hours. Thus, if a 3-month release time is needed for such a system, then, the number of sampling, sample preparation, and analyses for a drug product will be more than 1080 times. Performing this number of tests for just one pharmaceutical product requires a great deal of time, energy, and cost.
There is, therefore, a need for reducing the number of required tests to a reasonable amount by stabilizing temperature-sensitive drugs under the above-mentioned conditions. Consequently, there is a need for development of dissolution test systems and methods that may allow for maximizing the stability of the sensitive drugs.

IRAN POLYMER AND PETROCHEMICAL INSTITUTE


A developer material includes base particles that contain at least a binder resin and a colorant, and an external additive that covers the surface of the base particles. The developer material has a mean volume particle diameter in the range of 3.9-6.1 μm, and includes pulverized base particles of an external additive. The external additive has a mean particle diameter in the range of 30-110 nm, the external additive being in an amount in the range of 1.0-3.0 weight parts based on 100 weight parts of the base particles. The external additive covers a surface of the base particles, a surface area of the base particles being covered with said external additive, the surface area being in the range of 30.6-58.6% of a total surface area of the base particles.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a developer material, a developer cartridge, image forming device, and an image forming apparatus.
2. Description of the Related Art
A conventional electrophotographic printer uses a toner that contains at least a resin, a colorant, and a toner release agent. For improving image quality, the ratio of the amount of the toner release agent to that of the colorant is selected to be in the range of 0.3 to 10.
Recently, office automation places strong demands on printer outputs with high resolution at high speed. The toner release agent in the toner may cause filming in high resolution and high speed printing.

Developer material, developer material cartridge, image forming device, and image forming apparatus


In a cylinder block manufacturing method, first and second dies and a liner support are provided to form a liner overcast configuration. The first and second dies are positioned with respect to the liner support and a dummy cylinder liner made of an aluminum alloy such that the first die contacts a pressing section of a first axial end of the liner support and a first axially facing end of the dummy cylinder liner, and the second die contacts a second axial end of the liner support and a second axially facing end of the dummy cylinder liner. The first and second dies are preheated to a prescribed temperature with the dummy cylinder liner positioned on the liner support by injecting molten aluminum alloy into a cylinder block molding cavity to form a dummy cylinder block with the dummy cylinder liner casted in the dummy cylinder block.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a cylinder block manufacturing method, a dummy cylinder liner, and a dummy cylinder liner manufacturing method.
2. Background Information
There is an existing cylinder block manufacturing method for manufacturing an aluminum alloy cylinder block having a cast-in iron-based cylinder liner (e.g., International Patent Publication No. WO2005/003540). In the cylinder block manufacturing method presented in International Patent Publication No. WO2005/003540, a cavity is formed between an end face of a deck surface side of a cylinder liner and a movable die and molten aluminum alloy is injected into the cavity. The entire cylinder liner, including the end face on the deck surface side thereof, is covered by the molten aluminum alloy material. This method serves to manufacture a so-called "overcasting type" cylinder block. When manufacturing a cylinder block, it is necessary to include a preheating step to heat the dies to a prescribed temperature in order to achieve good circulation of the molten metal. When manufacturing an aluminum alloy cylinder block having a cast-in iron-based cylinder liner, recycling of material used in the dummy cylinder block cast in the preheating step becomes a problem. In other words, in order to re-melt the dummy cylinder block as recycled material, it is necessary to remove the iron-based cylinder liner from the aluminum alloy dummy cylinder block. In order to avoid the step of removing the iron-based cylinder liner, the idea of using an aluminum alloy cylinder liner in the preheating step has been proposed (e.g., Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 04-9261).

Cylinder block manufacturing method, dummy cylinder liner, and dummy cylinder liner casting method


Bactericidal substrates and methods of functionalizing the surface of substrates with quaternary ammonium and quaternary phosphonium groups using non-equilibrium RF plasmas are provided. The methods include the step of treating the surface of a substrate with a plasma to create surface active sites. Some methods include the step of reacting the surface active sites with linker molecules, which are then reacted with quaternary ammonium precursor molecules to provide a substrate surface functionalized with quaternary ammonium precursor groups. Other methods react the surface active sites with polymer precursor molecules under plasma conditions to form a covalently-bound polymer layer having reactive sites. The polymer reactive sites are reacted with quaternary phosphonium precursor molecules to provide a substrate surface functionalized with quaternary phosphonium groups. Also provided are bactericidal substrates having immobilized, covalently-bound quaternary ammonium or quaternary phosphonium groups.

Concern about microbial contamination of surfaces is widespread, especially in the medical and food industries. Conventional antibacterial agents, including solids, liquids, and gaseous disinfectants based on low molecular weight compounds, suffer from residual toxicity that can lead to equally serious medical and environmental problems. Polymeric antimicrobial materials are non-volatile, more chemically stable, and less likely to permeate skin than their low molecular weight counterparts. Incorporation of antibacterial macromolecules into hydrogels or rubbers, however, does not eliminate residual toxicity behavior. Therefore, covalent attachment of compounds with antibacterial functionalities, such as quaternary ammonium and quaternary phosphonium groups, onto inert polymer surfaces is desirable.
The bactericidal activity of low and high molecular weight antimicrobial agents having quaternary ammonium and quaternary phosphonium groups has been demonstrated. (See S. Tan, G. Li, J. Shen, Y. Liu, M. Zong, J. Appl. Polym. Sci., 77, 1869, (2000); E. R. Kenawy, and G. Wnek, Prog. Polym. Sci., submitted 2002; Y. Chen, X, Wang, B. Li, Series of water-insoluble polymeric quaternary phosphonium salt used for bactericides, U.S. Pat. No. 6,261,538 B1, issued Jul. 17, 2001; C. J. Bradaric-Baus, Y. Zhou, Phosphonium salts and methods for their preparation, International Publication Number: WO 2004/094438 A1, E. R. Kenawy, J. Appl. Polym. Sci., 82, 1364, (2001); E. R. Kenawy and F. I. Abdel, A. R, El-Shansboury, and M. H. El-Newehy, J. Controlled Release, 50,145, (1998); W. K. Whitekettle, G. J. Tafel, Control of protozoa and protozoan cysts that harbor legionella, U.S. Pat. No. 6,579,859, issued Jun. 17, 2003; M. A. Marchisio, P. Bianciardi, T. Longo, P. Ferruti, E. Ranucci, and M. G. Neri, A comparison between the hemolytic and antibacterial activities of new quaternary ammonium polymers, J. Biomater. Sci. Polymer Edn, 6, 533-539 (1994).)
Others have studied the antibacterial activity of polymers having quaternary ammonium and quaternary phosphonium groups. In one study, novel quaternary ammonium polymers were prepared by alkylation of tertiary amino precursors. The antibacterial and hemolytic activities of the polymers were compared with the properties of low molecular weight quaternary ammonium salts. Some of the polymers demonstrated antibacterial activity comparable to the low molecular weight quaternary ammonium compounds but exhibited significantly less or virtually absent hemolytic behavior. (See M. A. Marchisio, P. Bianciardi, T. Longo, P. Ferruti, E. Ranucci, and M. G. Neri, A comparison between the hemolytic and antibacterial activities of new quaternary ammonium polymers, J. Biomater. Sci. Polymer Edn, 6, 533-539 (1994).)
In another study, copolymers synthesized from 2-chloroethyl vinyl ether (CEVE) and methyl methacrylate (MMA), 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA), or vinylbenzyl chloride (VBC) were quaternarized using triethylamine, triphenylphosphine or tributylphosphine and the antibacterial activity of the resulting polycationic biocides was evaluated. (See E. R. Kenawy and Y. A. G. Mahmoud, Synthesis and antimicrobial activity of some linear copolymers with quaternary ammonium and phosphonium groups, Macromol. Biosci. 3, 107-16, (2003).) The phosphonium-containing biocides were more effective against bacteria than the ammonium-containing copolymers. In addition, the antibacterial activity was found to increase as the number of phosphonium units in the copolymer increased. The increase in charge density may facilitate the incorporation of the biocide into bacteria cells, leading to potassium ion leakage and, eventually, cell death.
In another study, the copolymer poly(glycidyl methacrylate-co-2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) was functionalized with chloromethyl groups using chloroacetyl chloride and subsequently converted to a quaternary ammonium or quaternary phosphonium salt. (See E. R. Kenawy, F. I. Abdel-Hay, A B D El-Raheem, R. El-Shanshoury, and M. H. El-Newehy, Biologically active polymers. V. Synthesis and antimicrobial activity of modified poly(glycidyl methacrylate-co-2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) derivatives with quaternary ammonium and phosphonium salts, J. Polym. Sci, Part A: Polymer Chemistry, 40, 2384-2393, (2002).) The antibacterial activity of the resulting polycations was evaluated against gram-negative bacteria (Escherichia coli, Pseudonomas aeruginosa, Shigella sp., and Salmonella typhae), gram-positive bacteria (Bacillus subtilus and B. cereus) and fungus (Trichophyton rubrum). All of the copolymers exhibited high antibacterial activity but the quaternary phosphonium salt synthesized from tributylphosphine was the most effective against both gram negative and positive bacteria and the fungus T. rubrum.
Others have used wet-chemistry techniques to functionalize surfaces with quaternary ammonium and quaternary phosphonium containing compounds. In one study, poly(4-vinyl-N-alkylpyridinum bromide) was covalently attached to glass slides and the antibacterial properties evaluated. (See J. C. Tiller, C. J. Liao, K. Lewis, and A. M. Klibanov, Designing surfaces that kill bacteria on contact, PNAS, 98, 5981-5985, (2001).) Amino glass slides were functionalized by either acylation with acryloyl chloride, graft copolymerization with 4-vinylpyridine, and N-hexylation with hexyl bromide, or by the attachment of partially N-hexylated poly(4-vinylpyridine). The modified surfaces killed more than 90% of S. aureus cells deposited onto the surface of the slides and more than 99% of deposited S. epidermidis, P. aeruginosa, and E. coli cells in a dry state. The antibacterial activity of the surface-bound polycations was thought to be due to the disruption of the outer cell membranes of bacteria and/or penetration of the inner cell membranes followed by leakage of cellular contents.
In another study, wet-chemical techniques were used to graft quaternary phosphonium salts onto macromolecular supports. (See A. Popa, C. M. Davidescu, R. Trif, Gh. Ilia, S. Iliescu, and Gh. Dehelean, Study of quaternary 'onium' salts grafted on polymers: antibacterial activity of quaternary phosphonium salts grafted on 'gel-type' styrene-divinylbenzene copolymers, Reactive and Functional Polymers, 55, 151-158, (2003).) Various alkyl phosphine derivatives were used to quaternize the support copolymer including triethyl, tributyl, tripropyl, triphenyl, methyldiphenyl, dimethylphenyl, ethyldiphenyl, and diethylphenyl phosphine compounds. All of the modified supports exhibited antibacterial activity against S. aureus, E. coli and P. aeruginosa, although the bactericidal efficiencies depended upon the nature of the alkyl groups connected to the phosphonium ions. Surfaces functionalized with the ethylphosphonium compounds showed the strongest antibacterial activity.
Another study demonstrated that polyethylene slides nanocoated with silica and subsequently derivatized with long-chain poly(vinyl-N-hexylpyridinium) become permanently bactericidal. (See J. Lin, J. C. Tiller, S. B. Lee., K. Lewis, A. M. Klibanov, Insights into bactericidal action of surface-attached poly(vinyl-N-hexylpyridinium) chains, Biotechnology Letters, 24, 801-805, (2002).) The modified polyethylene surfaces were able to kill 90-99% of both airborne and waterborne wild-type and antibiotic-resistant strains of the human pathogen Staphylococcus aureus.
Finally, a recent review of antibacterial and bacterium adsorbing macromolecules emphasized the importance of polymeric biocides for the development of novel surfaces that kill bacteria on contact. (See T. Tashiro, Antibacterial and bacterium adsorbing macromolecules, Macromol. Mater. Eng, 286, 63-87, (2001).) The article describes the immobilization and antibacterial activity of iodine, quaternary ammonium salts, antibiotics, and other antibacterial groups to macromolecular substrates. The synthesis of polycationic polymers with quaternary ammonium salts, biguanide groups, quaternary pyridium salts, sulphonium salts, phosphonium salts, and other antibacterial groups are also discussed. The use of bacterium adsorbing macromolecules based on poly(4-vinylpyridine-co-divinylbenzene), crosslinked poly(3- and 4-chloromethylated styrene-g-amine), and poly(glycidyl methacrylate-g-amine) as well as filters and microporous membranes coated with quaternized poly(4-vinylpyridine-co-styrene) as disinfectants are also evaluated.
Although the prior art describes the use of wet-chemistry techniques to synthesize bactericidal polymers and to immobilize the polymers on the surface of substrates, the use of non-equilibrium, radio frequency (RF) plasmas to functionalize a wide variety of substrates with quaternary ammonium and quaternary phosphonium groups has not yet been accomplished.

Plasma-enhanced functionalization of substrate surfaces with quaternary ammonium and quaternary phosphonium groups


Techniques are described for adaptive sampling qualification for extinction ration control. The techniques may be implemented in a laser driver assembly which includes a laser driver and a sampling loop configured to facilitate sampling of photodiode current produced by a monitor photodiode (MPD) of an optical transmitter assembly. The sampling loop comprises a low pass filter with reset, a digital-to-analog converter (DAC), and a comparator. The filter receives transmit (Tx) data provided to the laser driver and generates an output corresponding to a number of consecutive bits of a first type received in the transmit (Tx) data. The filter resets the output when a bit of a second type is received. The digital-to-analog converter (DAC) outputs a threshold signal. The comparator compares the output from the low pass filter and the threshold signal, and outputs a signal indicating when the photodiode current is to be sampled.

Optical transmitters employ laser drivers to drive solid state laser diodes for optical transmission of data over fiber optic lines. These devices are capable of high data rates and, accordingly, are finding ever increasing application in data communications. Solid state lasers, however, have various characteristics that must be accounted for in such applications. One such characteristic is that, at least for high data rates, solid state lasers are not operated between on and off conditions because of the time it takes for the laser, when fully off, to get back into a lasing condition. Accordingly, for high data rates, such lasers are commonly operated between a high optical power level as one data state and a much lower power level for the second data state. For purposes of discussion herein, it is assumed that the high optical power level will represent a logic "1" and the low optical power level will represent a logic "0." The ratio of optical power levels, P.sub.1 for the high optical power level and P.sub.0 for the low optical power level, is referred to as the extinction ratio (P.sub.1/P.sub.0). Normally, the user of the laser driver, i.e., the manufacturer of the optical transmitter, desires to set and control the extinction ratio and the average power. Optical transmitters also typically include a monitor photodiode (MPD) which receives a part of the light emitted by the transmitting laser diode to provide a measure of the optical power levels of the transmitting laser diode. However, such monitor diodes and their associated circuitry do not have the high frequency capabilities of the transmitting diode and, accordingly, have real limitations with respect to what the monitor diode can accomplish.

Adaptive sampling qualification for extinction ratio control


A brush seal device for sealing a high pressure area from a low pressure area. The brush seal device comprises a plurality of bristles arranged annularly. An annular back plate is positioned concentric to and on the low pressure side of the bristles, the back plate having a recess adapted to delay contact of the bristles with the back plate upon application of the pressure across the brush seal device. A flexible annular front plate is positioned adjacent to and concentric with the bristles on the high pressure side of the bristles. This combination of elements helps to reduce uneven wear of the bristles in a brush seal device and, therefore, helps to prolong the life of such a seal.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to brush seals for sealing high pressure fluid areas from low pressure fluid areas, the sealed fluid being a gas or a liquid.
2. Description of the Related Art
Over the last decade, brush seals have emerged as a very promising technology for sealing high pressure areas from low pressure areas, such as those found in gas turbine engines.
Typically, brush seals inhibit flow of a gas (or liquid) in a stream along a shaft. The gas (or liquid) is sealed, for example, within a machine housing which has a system pressure. The outside area of the machine housing, toward which the gas (or liquid) will tend to leak, has a discharge pressure. The system pressure is greater than the discharge pressure, creating a lateral pressure differential. The system pressure side of the brush seal is referred to as the high pressure side, while the discharge pressure side of the brush seal is referred to as the low pressure side.
Conventional brush seals usually include an annular retaining plate, an annular back plate, and a plurality of flexible bristles secured between the annular retaining plate and the annular back plate. The plurality of flexible bristles, otherwise called a bristle pack, extend inwardly from bristle roots at an outer peripheral edge to free ends or tips. The tips of the plurality of flexible bristles run near to or contact the shaft to seal the system pressure from the discharge pressure.
As described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,401,036 (the '036 patent), conventional brush seals exhibit "hysteresis" and "pressure stiffening" effects, which tend to adversely affect the seal performance and life. These effects are considerably attenuated, if not eliminated, by incorporating a "recessed back plate" described in the '036 patent.
A difficulty with the "recessed back plate" brush seal, however, is that it has a tendency to wear unevenly. The flexible bristles on the system pressure side tend to wear to a greater extent than the bristles on the discharge pressure side of the seal for reasons described in detail below. The present invention substantially overcomes this difficulty in the prior art.


A motor driving circuit capable of controlling a motor speed by a current controlled method using negative impedance is constituted by a constant-current circuit, a reference voltage generating circuit, a comparator circuit, an output driving circuit, a symmetric current circuit, and a switching circuit. The reference voltage generating circuit outputs a voltage of a value derived from addition of a reference voltage and a voltage proportional to a value of a current flowing to a motor. The comparator circuit compares a voltage outputted from the reference voltage generating circuit and a voltage at an output terminal. The output driving circuit amplifies an output of the comparator circuit. The symmetric current circuit amplifies the output from the output driving circuit. The switching circuit performs switching of connections of one of transistors in the symmetric current circuit between the input of the reference voltage generating circuit and the output terminal, and can release the motor from a normal state of operation upon starting the motor. Thus, it is possible to achieve sufficient torque during the starting operation of the motor.

1. Field of the Invention
The Present invention relates to a motor driving circuit, and more Particularly to a current controlled type motor driving circuit in which the starting characteristics of a speed control circuit are improved by the control of negative impedance.
2. Description of the Related Art
A conventional motor driving circuit of the kind to which the present invention relates is, as shown in FIG. 1, one in which the motor speed Is controlled by a current controlled method using negative impedance. As shown in FIG. 1, in the conventional motor driving circuit, a power supply source Vcc is connected to one input terminal of the motor 10 to be controlled and an output terminal 11 of a control circuit 13 is connected the other input terminal thereof; the power supply source Vcc is also connected to one end of a resistor R; the other end of the resistor R is connected to one end of a variable resistor R.sub.1 and also to a reference voltage input terminal 12 of the control circuit 13; and the other end of the variable resistor R.sub.1 is connected to the output terminal 11 of the control circuit 13 and also the other input terminal of the motor 10.
The potential difference across the two input terminals of the motor 10 is controlled so as to be made equal to a voltage which is the sum of a voltage drop V.sub.R developed across the register R and a reference voltage produced by a reference voltage generating circuit provided in the control circuit 13. The voltage drop V.sub.R can be accounted for by the product of a resistance R and a current which is the sum of the current I.sub.1 flowing into the control circuit 13 and a current I.sub.2 of a value resulting from the division of the reference voltage produced by the reference voltage generating circuit provided in the control circuit 13 by the resistor R.sub.1. That is, the control circuit 13 detects changes in a counterelectromotive force of the motor due to changes in the rotation number caused by the load changes on the motor 10 and compares the detected changes with the reference voltages. The difference thus obtained causes the value of the current flowing to the reference voltage input terminal 12 to be changed and the voltage drop V.sub.R to be changed. Thus, the potential difference across the two terminals of the motor 10 changes correspondingly with the load changes and the number of revolutions of the motor 10 is kept constant.
If the load on the motor 10 increases, the current I.sub.M which flows to the motor increases and also the current I.sub.1 which flows to the control circuit 13 correspondingly increases. This results in an increase in the voltage drop V.sub.R at the resistor R as the potential difference across the two terminals of the motor 10 increases. Thus, the motor 10 can attain a rotation torque that is sufficiently strong to overcome the increase in the load torque and can rotate steadily.
Now, the details of a conventional motor driving circuit are explained. FIG. 2 is a circuit diagram showing a conventional motor driving circuit of a type in which negative impedance is used to control a current which in turn controls the speed of a motor. The conventional motor driving circuit shown in FIG. 2 is constituted by a control circuit 23 blocked in dashed lines, a resistor R and a variable resistor R.sub.1. The control circuit 23 is constituted by a constant-current circuit 24, a reference voltage generating circuit 25, a comparator circuit 26, an output driving circuit 27, and a symmetric current circuit 28. The symmetric current circuit 28 is constituted by a transistor Q.sub.1 and a transistor Q.sub.2.
The reference voltage produced by the reference voltage generating circuit 25 and the voltage drop across the resistor R connected to the reference voltage input terminal 22 are summed together to give a reference voltage potential Va. The comparator circuit 26 compares this potential Va with the output terminal potential Vb which is a voltage at the output terminal 21 of the control circuit 23. The output of the comparator circuit 26 is inputted to and amplified at the output driving circuit 27. The output of the output driving circuit 27 is then inputted to the symmetric current circuit 28. The symmetric current circuit 28 is formed by a current mirror circuit constituted by the transistor Q.sub.1 and Q.sub.2.
First, the operation of the motor under normal conditions, that is, in the state in which the motor rotation is under control, is explained. At the comparator circuit 26, the reference voltage potential Va and the output terminal potential Vb are compared and the obtained result is inputted to one of the input terminals of the motor 20 through the output driving circuit 27 and the symmetric current circuit 28 and is also inputted to the comparator circuit 27 as the output terminal potential Vb. Thus, the comparator circuit 26, the output driving circuit 27 and the symmetric current circuit 28 constitute a closed loop circuit, which maintains a constant potential difference across the two input terminals of the motor 20 and keeps the rotation of the motor 20 constant.
FIGS. 3A, 3B and 3C are explanatory diagrams showing the relationship between potentials at various points in the motor driving circuit shown in FIG. 2. FIG. 3A shows the relationship between potentials at various points in the control circuit 23 when the load on the motor 20 is light. In this condition, the symmetric current circuit 28 causes the current Ic proportional to the current I.sub.M flowing to the motor to flow to the resistor R through the reference voltage input terminal 22 of the control circuit 23, thereby balancing the reference voltage potential Va and the output terminal potential Vb which are the potentials at the two input terminals of the comparator circuit 26. In FIGS. 3A, 3B and 3C, Ra.I.sub.M indicates a voltage drop due to the internal resistance Ra of the motor 20; Ea indicates the counterelectromotive force of the motor 20; Ic.R is the voltage drop at the resistor R when the current in the resistor R is set to a value equivalent to the current in the internal resistor Ra of the motor 20; (Icc+Is+I.sub.2)R indicates a voltage drop across the resistor R due to the currents which flow from the reference voltage input terminal 22 to the constant-current circuit 24, the voltage reference circuit 25 and the variable resistor R1; and Vr indicates a reference voltage outputted from the reference voltage generating circuit 25.
FIG. 3B shows the relationship between potentials at various points in the control circuit 23 when the load on the motor 20 is heavy. In this situation, although the current I.sub.M flowing to the motor increases with an increase in the voltage drop Ra.I.sub.M across the internal resistance Ra of the motor 20, the resistor R is proportional to the internal resistance Ra of the motor 20 and the voltage drop across the resistor R also increases. Consequently, as the load on the motor 20 becomes heavier, the control circuit 23 detects the current flowing to the motor thereby increasing the voltage drop across the resistor R and also increasing the potential difference across the two terminals of the motor 20. In this way, the rotation of the motor 20 is kept constant irrespective of the magnitude of the load on the motor.
FIG. 3C shows the relationship between potentials at various points in the control circuit 23 at the starting of the motor 20. Generally, in a DC motor such as the motor 20, the counterelectromotive force gently increases from zero during the starting of the motor so that, at the starting moment, the counterelectromotive force and current I.sub.M are zero with the transistor Q.sub.2 being OFF and the output terminal 21 outputting a voltage substantially equal to the power source voltage Vcc. The voltage produced at the output terminal 21 becomes the output terminal potential Vb which is an input voltage applied to one input terminal of the comparator circuit 26. On the other hand, the reference voltage Va which is an input voltage applied to the other input terminal of the comparator circuit 26 becomes lower than the input terminal potential Vb due to the function of the reference voltage generating circuit 25.
As explained above, during the starting of the motor 20, since the reference voltage potential Va becomes {Vcc-(V.sub.R +Vr)} with the output terminal potential Vb being about the same as the power source voltage Vcc, the difference between the reference voltage potential Va and the output terminal potential Vb becomes large. Due to such an increase in the potential differences between the reference voltage potential Va and the output terminal potential Vb, the transistor Q.sub.2 in the symmetric current circuit 28 becomes conductive and, thus, the motor 20 starts rotating due to the current which flows from the collector to the emitter of the transistor Q.sub.2.
On the other hand, during the maximum driving state of the transistor Q.sub.2, the potential V.sub.1 at the reference voltage input terminal 22 drops to V.sub.1min which is determined by the circuit configuration of the control circuit 23. Consequently, since the current I.sub.M flowing to the motor upon starting is proportional to a portion of the current flowing to the control circuit 23, the maximum value I.sub.1max of the total current I.sub.1 flowing through the resistor R and the maximum value Ic.sub.max of the current Ic flowing to the collector of the transistor Q.sub.1 may thus be expressed by the following Equations 1 and 2, respectively. EQU I.sub.1max =(Vcc-V.sub.1min)/R=Icc+Ic.sub.max +Is (1) EQU Ic.sub.max =(Vcc-V.sub.1min)/R (2)
Here, since I.sub.1max >>I2, Ic.sub.max >>Icc+Is, and I.sub.M =K.Ic, the starting current of the motor may be expressed by the following Equation 3: EQU I.sub.Mmax =K. (Vcc-V.sub.1min)/R (3)
Here, the current Ic flowing to the collector of the transistor Q.sub.1 is of a value proportional to the current I.sub.M flowing to the motor which is the current flowing to the collector of the transistor Q.sub.2.
As described above and shown in FIG. 3C, during the starting of the motor 20, the reference voltage potential Va applied to the comparator circuit 26 becomes lower than the output terminal potential Vb also applied to the comparator circuit 26.
In the conventional motor driving circuit described above, one of the problems is that, since the starting current characteristics of the motor are determined by the configuration of the motor driving circuit, sufficient starting torque cannot be obtained during the starting operation of the motor. This is a problem to be solved by the invention, in the conventional motor driving circuit.

Driving circuit for direct-current (DC) motor


Disclosed are an X-ray computed tomographic imaging apparatus and a method for same. The X-ray computed tomographic imaging apparatus of the present invention comprises: a tomograph which radiates light onto an object being imaged by tomography, and detects the light passing through the object being imaged by tomography; a magnification rate determining unit which determines the magnification rate of an image of the object being imaged by tomography using the hardware property of the tomograph and/or the size of an input voxel; and a magnification rate controller which moves the tomography in accordance with the determined magnification rate, thereby obtaining images having a high resolution.

Generally, an X-ray CT imaging apparatus includes an X-ray tube that radiates X-rays onto an object, a detector that detects X-rays having been transmitted through the object, a rotating mechanism unit that rotates with the X-ray tube and the detector mounted thereon, and a computer device that reconstructs data obtained by the detector into image information.
Such a typical X-ray CT imaging apparatus having the above configuration captures tomograms of the object while the rotating mechanism unit rotates around the object. The CT imaging of the object is performed at regular fine angles, and pieces of X-ray projection data obtained when imaging is performed at regular fine angles are reconstructed into sectional image information about the object using mathematical operations such as an iterative reconstruction technique, a back-projection reconstruction technique, or a filtered back-projection reconstruction technique.
In particular, dental CT is a device for obtaining transmitted information while an X-ray tube and an X-ray detector, which are respectively aligned on the left and right sides of an object, rotate in parallel with a ground surface so as to professionally diagnose only specific regions such as the head, neck, jaw and teeth of a patient in dental and oral clinics.
In the case where a specific region of a patient is imaged using dental CT, if images are captured at a fixed magnification ratio regardless of the region to be imaged, the quality of the reconstructed images of the CT may be deteriorated.

X-ray computed tomographic imaging apparatus and method for same


Test equipment provides interrupt capability to automatic testing as a means of actively controlling temperature of the device under test. A processor coupled to memory is responsive to computer-executable instructions contained in the memory. A test socket is coupled to a device under test and coupled to the processor. The processor is configured to interrupt an application pattern running on the device under test. In response to interrupting the application pattern, the processor is configured to cause a control pattern to run on the device under test and then cause the application pattern to restart running from the point of interruption on the device under test.

Exemplary embodiments relate to thermal management, and more specifically, to thermal management of chips during testing.
Thermal management of microprocessors during the class testing plays a particular role in reducing cost while increasing yield and performance. As the performance of an integrated circuit (IC) is highly dependent on the temperature of the device, it is important to control the device temperature, commonly referred to as the junction temperature during device class testing because this is the step where device performance is gauged at the component level. Research has shown that any increase in temperature during this test step may reduce the speed of the device (e.g., its clock speed) by as much as 0.15% per degree Celsius and decrease the yield of the fastest processors. The final test also determines general characteristics, such as whether a device is defective or meets minimum functional performance specification. The issue in class testing is to maintain temperature around a set point even as device power changes. Thermal management is required for functional verification of the integrated circuit, e.g., microprocessor across its complete temperature application specification. Thermal management is also required to maintain mechanical alignment with all coupling techniques.

International Business Machines Corporation


Included are systems and methods for advanced wagering. Some embodiments may include determining a desired wagering event for placing a wager, providing a user interface that includes a wager field for a user to indicate a wager and a payout field for the user to enter a desired payout that is based on the wager, calculating a wager amount to achieve the desired payout, and providing the wager amount to the user.

1. Field
Embodiments provided herein generally relate to systems and methods for advanced wagering, and particularly to a wagering platform for providing betting strategy to accomplish desired winnings.
2. Technical Background
As wagering on different events has become more accepted, new avenues for placing wagers have become available. As an example, many online wagering companies (advance deposit wagering providers) now provide options for receiving an advance payment that the online player utilizes to place online wagers. If the player loses a wager, the wagered amount is removed from the advance payment. If the player wins a wager, the winnings are deposited into the advance account. The player may withdraw funds from the advance account at his/her discretion.
While these online wagering websites have provided players with a convenient mechanism for wagering on events, the structure for placing those wagers is often difficult for a player to navigate. As an example, if a player wishes to place an Exacta bet, he/she has to manually calculate how much the wager will cost and may have no idea of the expected payout, even when provided with the odds of a given combination.

Systems and methods for advanced wagering


A retractable brush structure is attached to a cylindrical rigid rod which in the closed position passes through a channel in an endoscope. After the closed brush passes through the endoscope, the brush is opened and moves transversely to the tissue in order to remove cells from an area under examination. The brush is closed and withdrawn from the endoscope and sample tissue is removed from said brush for examination after it is withdrawn from the endoscope.

The present invention is directed to a method and apparatus for obtaining transepithelial specimens of body surfaces using a non-lacerating technique. Specifically, the invention is directed to retractable tools such as a brush, used with endoscopes, for sampling squamous epithelium from lesions found from the nose to the throat and in similar body tissues. The invention is also directed to an improved apparatus for non-lacerational testing of lesions that involve the epithelium of the nasopharynx, hypopharynx, pharynx, trachea, larynx, and the upper esophagus.
Cancers of the oral cavity and pharynx are a major cause of death from cancer in the U.S., exceeding the U.S. death rates for cervical cancer, malignant melanoma and Hodgkin""s disease. According to the American Cancer Society""s Department of Epidemiology and Surveillance, an estimated 30,750 new cases of oral cancer were diagnosed in the U.S. during 1997, a figure which accounts for 2% to 4% of all cancers diagnosed annually.
Despite advances in surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy, the mortality rate of oral cancer has not improved in the last 20 years. Ultimately, 50% of patients die from their malignancy, and 8,440 U.S. deaths were predicted for 1997. There are several reasons for the high mortality rate from oral cancer, but undoubtedly, the most significant factor is delayed diagnosis. Studies have demonstrated that the survival and cure rate increase dramatically when oral cancer is detected at an early stage. For example, the 5-year survival rate for patients with localized disease approximates 79% compared to 19% for those with distant metastases. Unfortunately, approximately two thirds of patients at time of diagnosis have advanced disease, and over 50% display evidence of spread to regional lymph nodes and distant metastases.
Delay in the diagnosis of oral and pharynx cancer is often the result of the limited diagnostic tools available in the prior art. The dentist or physician who detects such a lesion which is not clearly suggestive of a precancer or cancer clinically, and who is limited to the prior art tools and methods, is faced with a quandary. Approximately 5-10% of adult patients seen in a typical dental practice exhibit some type of oral lesion, yet only a small proportion (approximately 0.5% to 1%) are precancerous or cancerous. These oral lesions are commonly evidenced as a white or reddish patch, ulceration, plaque or nodule in the oral cavity. The overwhelming majority of these lesions are relatively harmless; however, the multitude of poorly defined lesions in the oral cavity can be confounding to the clinician. A diverse group of oral lesions may be easily confused with malignancy, and conversely, malignancy may be mistaken for a benign lesion. Benign tumors, reactive processes, traumatic lesions, oral manifestations or systemic diseases, inflammatory oral disorders, and bacterial, viral and fungal infections all display similar oral features thereby impeding establishment of an accurate clinical diagnosis.
The only reliable means currently available in the prior art to determine if a suspect oral lesion is pre-cancerous or cancerous, is to incise or excise (i.e. lacerate) the lesion surgically with either a scalpel or a laser so that a histological section of the removed tissue can be prepared for microscopic evaluation. Histology can be generally defined as the microscopic inspection or other testing of a cross section of tissue. This prior art form of oral surgical biopsy is generally performed by a surgeon, and is often inconvenient, painful, and expensive.
Since the majority of oral abnormalities detected clinically prove benign when tested microscopically, and given the limitations of biopsy, including cost, inconvenience, pain and potential for complications, relatively few oral lesions are subjected to biopsy. It is primarily for this reason that only oral lesions with clinical features strongly suggestive of cancer or precancer are referred for biopsy as described in the prior art. As a result, many patients with ominous, but visually less suggestive lesions are allowed to progress to advanced oral cancer, with their condition undiagnosed and untreated.
The oral epithelium is substantially identical to the epithelium of the nasopharynx, hypopharynx, pharynx, trachea, larynx, and the upper esophagus. As a result, otolaryngology currently suffers from the effects of the same diagnostic dilemma which affects dentistry, i.e. the inability to clinically distinguish between common benign-appearing lesions and identically appearing pre-cancerous and early cancerous lesions. Thus, the only two cancers in the U.S. which have not improved in mortality in the last thirty years are oral cancer and laryngeal cancer.
In many environments including those identified above, endoscopes are used to examine interior parts of the body which are inaccessible to ordinary visual observation. Observation of these inner parts with an endoscope is for purposes of locating pathological areas, trying to identify them using the endoscopic visual instrument and determining how to diagnose and treat such visualized areas.
Potential abnormalities in various portions of the body may be apparent to a visual observer because of certain lesions appearing at the visualized tissue in the organ or area being observed.
Common, benign-appearing nose and throat lesions are usually noticed by the otolaryngologist during a routine, office examination of the throat which is typically conducted using a type of endoscope, known as a flexible nasopharyngoscope. This thin optical tube is easily threaded from the patent""s nose into the throat and requires only a local anesthetic sprayed into the nose. This routine office procedure is performed by the average otolaryngologist many times each day.
The diagnostic dilemma for the otolaryngologist that is posed by the identical appearance of benign and pre-cancerous lesions is actually more acute than it is for the dentist. Although invasive and therefore avoided, a scalpel biopsy of the oral cavity is typically performed as an office procedure. Only local anesthetic is required, and bleeding from a scalpel biopsy of the oral cavity does not pose any aspiration danger. In contrast, a scalpel biopsy in many areas of the throat cannot be performed as an office procedure. This is because a scalpel biopsy in many areas of the throat may result in potentially dangerous aspiration of blood if the procedure is not performed under general anesthesia.
Referral of the patient for an operating room procedure requiring general anesthesia is both expensive and intrusive, and may expose the patient to other risks such as anesthesia and infection risk. The otolaryngologist is therefore hesitant to scalpel biopsy most benign-appearing throat lesions although they may represent the most treatable stage of a pre-cancer or cancer.
In many body sites, but not the oral cavity, a technique known as cytology is commonly utilized as an alternative to performing a lacerating biopsy and histological evaluation. In these body sites, pre-cancerous and cancerous cells or cell clusters tend to spontaneously exfoliate, or xe2x80x9cslough offxe2x80x9d from the surface of the epithelium. These cells or cell clusters are then collected and examined under the microscope for evidence of disease.
Since prior art cytology is directed towards the microscopic examination of spontaneously exfoliated cells, obtaining the cellular sample is generally a simple, non-invasive, and painless procedure. Exfoliated or shed cells can often be obtained directly from the body fluid which is contiguous with the epithelium. Urine can thus be examined for evidence of bladder cancer, and sputum for lung cancer. Alternatively, exfoliated or shed cells may be obtained by gently scraping or brushing the surface of a mucus membrane epithelium to remove the surrounding mucus using a spatula or soft brush. This is the basis for the well known procedure known as the Pap smear used to detect early stage cervical cancer.
Because of the ease by which a cellular sample can be obtained from these body sites, prior-art cytology is typically utilized to screen asymptomatic populations for the presence of early stage disease. In the cervical Pap smear, for example, the entire surface area of the cervical regions where cancer generally occurs is gently scraped or brushed to collect and test the mucus from those regions. Abrasion of the underlying cervical epithelium is undesired, as it can cause bleeding and discomfort to the patient. This procedure is thus typically performed when no particular part of the cervix appears diseased, and when no suspect lesion is visible.
The design of prior art cytology sampling instruments reflects their use to sweep up cells which were spontaneously exfoliated and present on the superficial epithelial surface. Since prior-art cytology brushes need only to gently remove surface material, they are designed of various soft materials which can collect the cervical mucous with minimal abrasion to the underlying epithelium. These cytology sampling instruments therefore either have soft bristles, soft flexible fimbriated or fringed ends, or even, as in the case of the cotton swab or spatula, no bristles at all.
Examples of prior art cytological sampling tools include the wooden, metal or plastic spatula. According to the traditional method of Pap smear sampling, the spatula is placed onto the surface of the cervix and lightly depressed or scraped across the surface of the cervix to pick up exfoliated cells.
Further examples of prior art cytological sampling tools include the Cytobrush(copyright); a device which uses soft and tapered bristles to sample shed cells from the cervical canal. U.S. Pat. No. 4,759,376, which allegedly covers this product, likewise describes a conical tapered soft bristle brush (a mascara brush shape) which is placed into the cervical canal and rotated for endocervical sampling. U.S. Pat. No. 4,759,376 teaches that the bristles xe2x80x9care to be relatively soft such as that of a soft toothbrush to more readily bend and avoid damaging the tissues.xe2x80x9d By way of further example, physicians have long used the common swab, commercially known as the Q-Tip(copyright), to perform endocervical sampling.
Other prior art cytological sampling tools designed to obtain a cytological sample from the cervix may combine both endocervical and exocervical sampling regions into one device. These devices swab the surface of mucous-covered tissue by soft brushing the mucous layer of the endocervix and exocervix at the same time, thereby collecting the cells contained in the mucous layer tissue of those surfaces. These devices include the Unimar(copyright)-Cervex Brush(trademark), a brush that has a contoured flat comb-like head with a single layer of flexible plastic bristles (similar to a flat paint brush having only one row of bristles) in which the center bristles are longer than the bristles on the ends. According to the method of use for the device, the center bristles are inserted into the cervical canal until the lateral bristles bend against the exocervix. The device is then removed and the cells are swabbed across a microscope slide similar to painting with a paintbrush.
Similarly, the Bayne Pap Brush(trademark), which Medical Dynamics, Inc. represents is covered by U.S. Pat. No. 4,762,133, contains a center arm, made of soft DuPont bristles, running horizontal to the cervical canal and a second arm of soft bristles at ninety degrees to the first arm, creating an L-shape. The center arm is placed within the cervical canal and then rotated. Upon rotation, the soft bristles of the second arm automatically sweep the surface of the exocervix in a circular motion thereby sampling the exocervix along with the endocervix.
Although cytology has been adopted for use in several other body sites, it has not been found useful to test questionable lesions of the oral areas. This is in large part due to the fact that the prior art devices and methods used to obtain a cellular sample for cytology are unsatisfactory when used to sample lesions of the oral and nasal areas and areas containing similar epithelia. Unlike the uterine cervix, questionable lesions of the oral cavity and similar epithelia may be typically coated with multiple layers of keratinized cells. This xe2x80x9ckeratin layerxe2x80x9d forms a relatively hard xe2x80x9cskin-likexe2x80x9d coating over the surface of the lesion and may thus hide the abnormal cells lying underneath it and prevent their exfoliation from the surface.
As noted above, the design of prior art cytology sampling instruments reflect their use in tissues where spontaneously exfoliated abnormal cells are commonly present on the surface of an area of epithelium that harbors disease. These cytology sampling instruments therefore either have soft bristles, soft flexible fimbriated ends, or even no bristles at all. Since prior-art cytology brushes only need to gently remove surface material, they are designed of various soft materials which can collect the cervical mucous with minimal abrasion to the underlying epithelium.
While abnormal cells can spontaneously exfoliate to the epithelial surface and be gently removed by prior art instruments in the uterine cervix and other similar tissues, in many oral cavity lesions the abnormal cells never reach the surface because they are blocked by the keratin layer. This limitation is a major cause of the high false negative rate of prior art cytological testing to detect lesions of the oral cavity. That is, a large proportion of oral lesions found to be positive using lacerating biopsy and histology are found to be negative using cytology. In one major study, this false negative rate was found to be as high as 30%.
It is largely due to this lack of correlation between histology and prior art oral cytology that there is currently no significant use of oral cytology in the United States or elsewhere to test questionable oral lesions. Since it is well known that dangerous, truly cancerous oral lesions may commonly be reported as xe2x80x9cnegativexe2x80x9d using prior art cytologic sampling techniques, prior art cytologic techniques offer little as a reliable diagnostic alternative to the lacerating biopsy and histology.
An object of the present invention to provide an apparatus and method for sampling epithelial cells from the anatomy without the pain or injury of lacerational biopsies.
Another object of this invention is to provide a brush biopsy device conveniently used with endoscopes so as to effectively sample tissue in a questionable area without needing a lacerational technique.
A further object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for sampling epithelial tissue in the nasopharynx, hypopharynx, pharynx, trachea, larynx, and the upper esophagus.
Still another object of this invention includes utilizing such a brush technique for use with endoscopic examination in any area in which sampling of questionable tissue through non-lacerational techniques provide an enhanced medical procedure as contrasted with current lacerational techniques employed.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a non-lacerating apparatus which may readily sample cells from all levels of a surface epithelial lesion, including the basal, intermediate and superficial layers of the lesion.
Other objects and advantages and features this invention will become more apparent from the following description.
In accordance with the present invention, an apparatus is provided for sampling all types of epithelium, particularly squamous epithelium, from lesions found in the nasopharynx, hypopharynx, pharynx, trachea, larynx, and the upper esophagus. Further, in accordance with the invention, an improved method is provided for testing questionable lesions found in the epithelium of the nasopharynx, hypopharynx, pharynx, trachea, larynx, and the upper esophagus and other body tissues. The method invented involves exerting sufficient pressure in the lesion area with a surface or edge capable of dislodging cells in and under a keratinized layer.
For purposes of this patent application, the prior art scalpel procedure is defined as lacerational, whereas the novel invention herein is non-lacerational and therefore minimally invasive. To the extent that an abrasive brush has characteristics that may cause minor discomfort and/or bleeding, there is substantial difference between the prior art scalpel trauma and the minimal trauma associated with the present invention.
The above and other objects are accomplished by providing a channel in the longitude interior of an endoscope through which a retractable brush may pass. The brush is formed so as to be closed as it passes through the endoscope and is opened after passing through the endoscope when in the appropriate location. The brush is capable of being rotated and moved against the tissue so as to remove suspect tissue, and the brush is then closed and withdrawn from the endoscope. The tissue collected by the brush is then ultimately examined for potential cancerous or pre-cancerous conditions in accordance with well known cell examination techniques.
Focal sampling of questionable lesions of the nose and throat areas and of similar epithelia is provided using a stiff-bristled brush. By rubbing harder than normal cytological sampling and using a stiff device which penetrates epithelium, one can reach to the basement membrane without lacerating. As opposed to the prior art, use of the device allows cell sampling which can readily and consistently produce a trans-epithelial cytologic sample. That is, by utilizing the invention disclosed herein, cells can readily and consistently be obtained from all levels of the epithelium (basal, intermediate and superficial) of a suspect lesion, thus overcoming the limitation in the prior art of abnormal epithelial cells being inaccessible to cytology for a variety of reasons, including because they are covered by a keratin layer. The resulting cellular sample functionally approximates the cellular sample of a lacerating biopsy device but is obtained with the ease of a stiff brush sweeping and without discomfort to the patient. The subject invention therefore makes practical the routine testing of questionable lesions of the nasopharynx, hypopharynx, pharynx, trachea, larynx, and the upper esophagus, thus allowing early detection and treatment of cancer and pre-cancer of those areas.
While the preferred embodiment has been described with respect to a brush, the present invention generally describes a method and apparatus for obtaining transepithelial specimens of a body surface. The invention relates to a non-lacerational method and apparatus to obtain such a specimen. The reason one seeks to obtain a transepithelial sample is because suspect cells appear at the superficial layer of the epithelium originate at the basal layer within the tissue. With respect to the nasopharynx, hypopharynx, pharynx, trachea, larynx, and the upper esophagus, basal cells originate in the general area of the basement membrane separating the epithelial tissue from the tissue below the membrane known as the submucosa. In determining whether or not a patient has a precancerous or cancerous condition, it is important to reach down to the basement membrane and slightly therebelow because metastases may be suspected depending on the cellular architecture existing at just below or at the basement membrane through to the superficial layer.
The structure of the brush and bristles including the stiffness thereof as well as the shape of the bristle tips contribute to the effectiveness of the brushing or scrubbing action in retrieving cells from the transepithelial layers. The shape of the bristle tips is determined by the bristle cutting process. The bristle tips, preferably, have scraping edges. The tips of the brush and the brush itself may be considered as an assemblage of penetrating edges.

Retractable brush for use with endoscope for brush biopsy


A port catheter for introducing a fluid into a hollow organ of a human or animal body includes a port unit implantable into the human or animal body, which port unit includes an interior chamber, to which the fluid to be introduced into the hollow organ of the human or animal body can be supplied. The port catheter further includes a tube connected to the port unit, which tube includes an inner channel through which fluid can be conducted into the hollow organ. The port catheter further includes a grip piece connected to the port unit and removable from it, for the manipulation of the port unit during the implantation of the port catheter into the human or animal body.

a) Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a port catheter for introducing a fluid into a hollow organ of a human or animal body, with a port unit implantable into the human or animal body, which port unit includes an interior chamber, to which can be supplied the fluid to be introduced into the hollow organ of the human or animal body, and a tube connected to the port unit, which tube comprises an inner channel through which the fluid can be conducted into the hollow organ.
b) Description of Related Prior Art
Port catheters serve for introducing fluids, for example for drug therapy, into hollow organs of the human or animal body. In this way, for example in chemotherapy, drugs are introduced directly into the blood circulation. Apart from the introduction of fluids into blood vessels, fluids can also be introduced using port catheters into the gastrointestinal tract, the bladder and other hollow organs.
Port catheters conventionally have a cup-shaped port unit with a chamber closed by a silicon diaphragm and a tube connected to the port unit. By piercing the silicon diaphragm the fluid to be introduced into the hollow organ is injected into the chamber of the port unit and reaches the hollow organ through the inner channel of the tube disposed with its delivery end in the hollow organ. The port unit is conventionally implanted subcutaneously.
A conventional surgical procedure for implanting the port catheter is the Seldinger technique. In this technique a needle with a sleeve disposed thereon is advanced into the hollow organ, in particular the blood vessel. After the inner needle has been pulled out, the tube with its delivery end directed ahead can be slid through the sleeve into the hollow organ until the delivery end has reached the desired site. The sleeve is subsequently removed. For this purpose the sleeve can be torn open longitudinally along a tear line and consequently can be separated from the tube. The tube is subsequently brought to the desired length and placed onto a connection piece of the port unit. The port unit is inserted into the prepared skin pocket and fixed in position on the fascia by suturing.
A disadvantageous step in this surgical procedure is the shortening of the tube to the correct length and the subsequent joining together with the connection piece of the port unit. During this joining no air bubbles are allowed to enter the tube. The delivery end of the tube in the hollow organ must, as much as possible, not become displaced. In addition, the shortening of the tube and the joining together of the shortened tube with the connection piece requires intensive manipulation of the parts of the port catheter. Each contact of the port catheter by the surgeon or each contact of the port catheter with the skin of the patient more or less impairs the sterility of the port catheter, which entails a corresponding infection risk through the implanted port catheter.
DE 8 437 873 U1 discloses a port catheter in which the length of the tube connecting to the port unit is implemented such that it is variable. For this purpose the tube can be partially disposed in the cup-shaped port unit and be drawn out of the connection piece of the port unit to the desired length. In another embodiment the tube is wound about a reel rotatably disposed in a port housing and can be pulled out of the port housing in the desired length. While through this implementation a simplification of the required manipulation during the surgery can be attained, through the required manipulation on the port catheter there yet is the risk of impairing the sterility.

A.M.I. Agency for Medical Innovations GmbH