The disclosure relates generally novel sulfur containing glycerol mono-ester derivatives and methods useful for treating gram positive, gram negative, fungal and envelope viral infections in a patient.

Microbial and viral infections continue to be important problems, including the microbial development of antibiotic resistance. It is therefore crucial that effective new therapeutic and/or prophylactic antimicrobial agents that are both inexpensive and logistically simple to deliver to appropriate subjects continue to be developed.
Glycerol monolaureate (GML) has been shown extensively to have antimicrobial activity against a plethora of organisms (see for example in Table 1 within Schlievert and Peterson in PLoS ONE; July 2012, 7, e40350) excerpted below.
TABLE 1Spectrum of antibacterial activity of GML (From Schlievert 2012).Average BactericidalGram orConcen-Other OxygenStrainstrationBacteriumStainToleranceTested(mg/ml)Staphylococcus aureusPositiveAerobe54300Streptococcus pyogenesPositiveAerotolerant430AnaerobeStreptococcusPositiveAerotolerant330agalactiaeAnaerobeGroup C StreptococcusPositiveAerotolerant130AnaerobeGroup F StreptococcusPositiveAerotolerant120AnaerobeGroup G StreptococcusPositiveAerotolerant150AnaerobeStreptococcus suisPositiveAerotolerant150AnaerobeStreptococcus sanguinisPositiveAerotolerant150AnaerobeStreptococcusPositiveAerotolerant210pneumoniae SerotypeAnaerobeIIIEnterococcus faecalisPositiveAerotolerant110AnaerobeListeria monocytogenesPositiveAerobe150Bacillus anthracisPositiveAerobe150SterneBacillus cereusPositiveAerobe150PeptostreptococcusPositiveAnaerobe11speciesClostridium perfringensPositiveAnaerobe11Neisseria gonorrhoeaeNegativeAerobe120Haemophilus influenzaNegativeAerobe250Non-typableGardnerella vaginalisNegativeAerobe210Campylobacter jejuniNegativeAerobe11BordetellaNegativeAerobe11bronchisepticaPseudomonasNegativeAerobe1Not aeruginosaSusceptibleBurkholderiaNegativeAerobe1500cenocepaciaPasteurella multocidaNegativeAerobe1500PrevotellaNegativeAnaerobe150melaninogenicaBacteroides fragilisNegativeAnaerobe250Fusobacterium speciesNegativeAnaerobe150Escherichia coliNegativeAerobe1Not SusceptibleSalmonella MinnesotaNegativeAerobe1Not SusceptibleEnterobacter aerogenesNegativeAerobe1Not SusceptibleProteus vulgarisNegativeAerobe1Not SusceptibleShigella sonneiNegativeAerobe1Not SusceptibleKlebsiella pneumoniaeNegativeAerobe1Not SusceptibleMycobacterium phleiAcid FastAerobe1100MycobacteriumAcid FastAerobe1100tuberculosisMycoplasma hominisCell WallAerobe11deficient
While GML can treat Clostridium difficile and Bacillus (Schlievert et al., MSphere November/December 2018 Volume 3 Issue 6 e00597-18), as well as kill all envelope virus (Patrick M. Schlievert et al.; ANTIMICROBIAL AGENTS AND CHEMOTHERAPY, December 2008, p. 4448-4454), a more recent paper (Welch, Jennifer L. et al; mBio: 2020 May 5; 11(3):e00686-20.) reports that GML is not effective against Escherichia coli (E. coli).
Drug-resistant infections are the cause of hundreds of thousands of deaths every year. There exists a need for new antibiotics that are able to kill drug-resistant bacteria.

Antimicrobial and antiviral sulfur containing glycerol monoester derivatives


A cryogenic system is described for boring a small-diameter hole through various materials including rock, soil and stone. It employs a valveless technique in a borehead [3000] where cryogenic fluid [7] fills at least one pulsejet [3100] which has proximal [3001] and distal [3003] ends. The cryogenic fluid [7] is frozen into a plug [8] near the distal end [3003], acting as a valve. Cryogenic fluid [7] just distal to the frozen plug [8] is rapidly heated by thermal units [3510, 3530] causing it to become a rapidly-expanding gas bubble. The rapidly-expanding gas bubble forces any liquid [7] distal to the expanding gas out of the distal end [3003] of each pulsejet [3100] causing it to impact the material [I]. Rapidly repeating this process causes the system to bore a hole through the material [I].

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a valveless cryogenic system for boring through materials.
2. Discussion of Related Art
There currently are prior art boring devices and other machinery which are designed to drill through materials, such as rock and earth. Many of these employ mechanical rotary drills. Which require strong structures to anchor the drill and counter the rotational forces.
Other drills exist which employ forcing a high pressure liquid at the material to bore through it. These require a great deal of pressure to be passed to the cutting end of the drill.
Since many of the materials being bored are brittle, prior art cryogenic drills have been used. These use high pressure (but not as high as the liquid cutting drills) to force cryogenic liquid at a brittle object, freezing it and impacting it with the cryogenic liquid. The frozen material is more brittle and fractures when impacted by the cryogenic liquid.
Since these apply high pressure to the cutting tip, which may be some distance away, it has structural requirements not only to contain the pressure and pass it to the tip, but also to keep the cryogen cool. These tend to make the drill bulky and hard to manage.
In addition, these require a valved system to intermittently allow and stop the fluid to create a stream of pulsed liquid slugs which impact the target.
These valves are acting under extreme conditions and tend to freeze and fail.
Currently, there is a need for a low pressure drilling device which is more effective than prior art devices.


A semiconductor fabrication process has been developed in which both DRAM and logic device structures are integrated on a single silicon chip. The process features combining process steps for both device types, while using only a single level of polysilicon for both a high capacity DRAM cell, as well as for a CMOS logic cell. The high capacity DRAM cell is composed of an overlying polysilicon storage gate structure, a thin dielectric layer, and an underlying doped semiconductor regions.

(1) Field of the Invention
This invention relates to fabrication methods used for semiconductor devices, and more specifically a process used to integrate logic and memory devices on a single semiconductor chip.
(2) Description of Prior Art
Advanced semiconductor chips, now being manufactured in industry, are composed of logic or memory devices. Logic devices are used to process information or data, while memory devices are used for data storage. These two types of devices can be found in almost all computers, however they are usually found on specific chips, reserved for either logic or memory applications. In systems in which logic and memory devices are packaged separately, data signals between the two may have to pass through several levels of packaging, which can result in undesirable propagation delays. In addition the manufacturing costs for fabricating wafers producing only logic chips, and wafers with only memory chips, are greater than if both logic and memory applications can be incorporated on the same chip. Therefore for performance and cost reasons the semiconductor industry has been motivated to produce a semiconductor chip with both the desired logic and memory requirements.
The efforts displayed by the semiconductor industry, in attempting to incorporate both logic and memory requirements on a single semiconductor chip have been increasing. Examples of this have been Takemoto, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,066,602, as well as by Vora, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,340,762. These inventions have addressed incorporating bipolar devices and complimentary metal oxide semiconductor, (CMOS), devices, on a single semiconductor chip. However a process for incorporating dynamic random access memory, (DRAM), devices, with logic devices, basically CMOS technology, using a static random access memory, (SRAM), design, has not been evident. This invention will describe a novel fabrication process that allows the memory DRAM devices to be built simultaneously with logic CMOS devices.

Logic and single level polysilicon DRAM devices fabricated on the same semiconductor chip

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.


A radar detection method may include: transmitting a first radar signal in a field of view and receiving a second radar signal originated from reflections of the first radar signal in the field of view; generating a detection profile by processing the first and second radar signals, the detection profile representing intensities of the second radar signal as a function of positions in the field of view; and analyzing the detection profile to identify targets in the field of view. Analyzing the detection profile may include: using a first mode of analysis, with lower sensitivity, for first cycles, wherein the first mode of analysis is configured to detect a target entering the field of view; using a second mode of analysis, with higher sensitivity, for second cycles following the first cycles, wherein the second mode of analysis is configured to detect stay of the target in the field of view.

Radar detection can detect objects in an environment by transmitting radar signals in a given field of view, and then receiving and analyzing the signal reflected from the objects. One radar application is industrial safety, i.e. monitoring personnel entering a potentially hazardous area, for example due to the operation of a machine, to stop its operation or at least warn of the hazard.
In one exemplary prior art mode of transmission and analysis, known as FMCW (Frequency Modulated Continuous Wave), signal generation occurs with frequency up and/or down ramps. The reflected signal is collected by the same transceiver designed for transmission, which detects a constant frequency difference between the transmitted signal and the received signal, due to the time delay required for the signal to reach the target and return to the transceiver.
Fourier analysis, applied on a mix of the transmitted signal and the received signal, e.g. a product thereof, can accurately identify this frequency difference, by assigning a distance from the transceiver to each harmonic component of the signal, which leads to identify targets based on the positions from which a significant portion of the signal comes.
Since the detection profile obtained with Fourier analysis, which correlates positions and signal amplitudes, contains a stable contribution from the stationary objects in the environment, the targets to be detected are signaled after the signal portion from stationary objects, estimated in a background profile, is removed from the detection profile.
In the most common background profile calculation techniques, the background profile is constantly updated for the radar to learn variations in the stationary scenario and store them in the background. One object introduced into the environment and remaining still for a given time will eventually be neglected as it will be deemed part of the stationary scenario. Updating may be carried out by using a moving average of a given number of previous detection profiles.
EP 0547686 shows an example of analysis of data collected by a radar, based on complex differences from a background (or "clutter") map, for identifying targets in aviation with low radial speeds with respect to the radar.
DE 102014222486 describes a radar control on the presence of living beings in an environment where an inductive recharge for an electric vehicle is conducted. Two detection modes are alternated, one of which, more sensitive, is designed to also detect vital signs such as breathing. To this end, a detection profile is obtained with known techniques, associating to each position in the field of view the corresponding signal intensity. For each relevant peak, intensities of successive cycles are collected. This time shape of the peak intensity is further Fourier transformed for detecting harmonic components between 0.2 and 0.6 Hz, which is the typical breathing rhythm.

Radar detection systems and methods for detecting permanence of slow targets


An improved watering system for a Christmas tree which is mounted for sale or displayed in a commercial stand which defines a water retaining basin, the system being remotely located relative to the tree, and which system employs a water resistant container disguised as a Christmas gift, with a vessel to be filled with water removably disposed inside of the container. The vessel and optionally the container each having a water level indicator.

This application relates to commercial Christmas tree stands and a remote watering system for the trees sold therein.
Christmas trees are sold at commercial lots generally in a bundt cake pan configured tree stand that basically defines a basin for water retention. That is, the holder is a basin generally having a flat base and an integrated upstanding circular sidewall. An upstanding metal pointed peg upon which the tree trunk is impaled is centrally disposed in the base. The transition from the base to the sidewall may be a relatively large radius or a mere chamfer curve of a small extension.
There have been prior art attempts to provide remote watering systems to avoid the drying out of the trees to thus reduce the potential fire danger of the Christmas tree. These prior art units were located in a patent search. Thus applicant is cognizant of the following patents:
Specifically this invention is an improvement to the remote watering system of the Copenhaver patent. While these and other patents may relate to the use of a remote watering system for an in-use tree watering system, there are indeed significant benefits to be obtained over the prior art from the system of this invention.
The big problem with the Copenhaver waterer is that it requires the use of a specific tree holder. We on the other hand have adapted what we have found to be the most commercially used tree stand for use with a remote watering system, which remote waterer is an improvement of the remote waterer of Copenhaver. Here too, there is no need to crawl under the tree to determine the water level in the stand. Here too a Christmas present type camouflage system for the water source is employed.
In order to accomplish our desired goals, we have provided a tree stand for the support of a Christmas tree in an upright position, in conjunction with an improved remote watering system which comprises a storage container having a water vessel disposed therein, the storage container being disguised as a Christmas present. Water can run through tubing in the vessel, through an aperture in the storage container, to the stand which has a grommeted aperture therein for receipt of the tubing. The tubing can be hidden on the floor, by a rug, cloth or other covering. A sight system is provided in the storage container and the water vessel for determining the water level in the vessel and the water level of the stand.
It is a first object of this invention to provide an improved Christmas tree watering system.
It is a second object to provide a tree watering system that advises the user when the water source for the Christmas tree needs replenishment.
It is a third object to provide a remote watering system that does not require a change in tree stands from that employed by the tree vendor.
It is another object to provide an easy to use and easy to store low cost remote watering system for Xmas trees that can be used year after year.
Other objects of the invention will in part be obvious and will in part appear hereinafter.
The invention accordingly comprises the device possessing the features properties and the relation of components which are exemplified in the following detailed disclosure and the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the appended claims.
For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the invention reference should be made to the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.


A method for performing anastomosis between a graft vessel and a target vessel with an integrated anastomosis tool may include actuating at least one control on the integrated anastomosis tool to create an opening in the target vessel and complete an anastomosis with the target vessel. Another method for performing anastomosis may include creating an opening in intact tissue of the target vessel with an integrated anastomosis tool; and deploying an anastomosis device with the integrated anastomosis tool. The anastomosis may be performed with an anastomosis device, such as an anastomosis device having a deployable section detachable from a discard section.

Anastomosis is a procedure where two separate tubular or hollow organs are surgically grafted together to form an intercommunication between them. Vascular anastomosis involves creating an anastomosis between blood vessels to create or restore blood flow. The vascular anastomosis procedure is routinely performed during the treatment of a variety of conditions, including coronary artery disease (CAD), neurovascular disease, diseases of the great and peripheral vessels, organ transplantation, traumatic injury and other vascular abnormalities. When a patient suffers from CAD, an occlusion or stenosis in a coronary artery restricts blood flow to the heart muscle. To treat CAD, the area where the occlusion occurs is bypassed to reroute blood flow by placing a graft vessel (in the form of a harvested artery or vein, prosthesis, allograft or xenograft) between two target vessels: the aorta or other supply of arterial blood, and the coronary artery. Placement of the graft vessel bypasses the blocked coronary artery, circumventing the occlusion and restoring adequate blood flow to the heart muscle. This treatment is known as a coronary artery bypass graft procedure (CABG). A CABG procedure can be performed on a stopped heart, where the patient has been placed on a heart-lung machine, or on a beating heart. Access to the thoracic cavity for a CABG procedure can be provided by sawing the sternum and opening the chest, or by creating one or more small openings in the thoracic cavity. Anastomosis may be performed by hand-suturing the graft vessels together or by utilizing an anastomosis device.
Regardless of the type of CABG procedure that is performed, or the type of anastomosis performed, an opening is made in the aorta or other artery at the proximal anastomosis site to allow blood to flow into the graft vessel. Typically, an incision is made in the aorta with a scalpel. A distal end of an aortic punch is inserted into the incision, then actuated to cut a larger opening in the aorta. While the combination of the scalpel and the aortic punch is commonly used to form an opening in the aorta, there are drawbacks. This is a problematic approach that does not provide reliable hemostasis during beating heart surgery, and has the potential to allow the location of the incision to become lost. Further, after the aortic punch creates an opening in the aorta, blood will flow out of that opening. Further, the aortic punch is just one tool of a multiple-tool system for creating an opening in the aorta. At least one additional tool is needed for attaching a graft vessel to a target vessel. The use of multiple tools adds steps, time and complexity to the CABG procedure.


A collapsible easel with foldable legs adapted to support a display device comprising a combination display panel and folded legs. In one embodiment, a three-leg assembly is pivotally connected to the display panel. The portions of each leg are connected by a linearly flexible strap. The linearly flexible strap allows the upper and lower portion of each leg to be pulled in opposite directions relative to each upper and lower portion of each leg, enabling one portion of each leg to be folded over the other portion. In another embodiment of the easel, a channel is connected to each of at least three legs and the channels allow the legs to be individually nested in contact with the rear side of the display panel. Each front leg is connected to the rear leg by a hinge assembly that comprises two struts pivotally connected near a center of the hinge assembly.

The presentation of graphics, charts, and written materials for teaching and for business conferences and other meetings has evolved significantly over the years. The present invention relates generally to portable display modules, and more particularly to a display easel for a flip chart or other visual aid having a collapsible leg assembly with foldable legs for easier transportation and storage.
The traditional artist's easel often takes the form of a tripod-like frame adapted to hold a canvas at a proper angle for an artist's convenience. Over the years, the easel has evolved into an all-purpose support with various leg assemblies for various types of removable and replaceable displays.
Flip chart presentations, for example, are frequently made in boardrooms, conference rooms, and other meeting places. As a result, an easel designed to hold flip charts or other visual aids must be easily portable, and storable between various locations and various uses. Furthermore, the typical easel is not well suited for easy, compact transport and storage.
From a user's perspective, the ease of assembly, use, and operation, as well as the ability to transport and store the easel are important points of consideration. It is preferable to have an easel wherein the legs are individually foldable to reduce the easel to a compact size for transportation and storage. It is also preferable to have an easel that may be removably connected to other equipment to further facilitate efficient transportation and/or storage. Additionally, it is preferable that the entire easel does not occupy an inordinate amount of space while being stored.
For the foregoing reasons, there is a need for an easy to use collapsible easel with individual foldable legs.
Various designs for easels and presentation devices are disclosed in the prior art. U.S. Pat. No. 5,518,217 entitled "Stackable Presentation Board With Collapsible Legs and Pad Holder" discloses a presentation board with legs collapsible into a rear surface of the body of the presentation board. U.S. Pat. No. 6,889,952 entitled "Multi-Position Presentation Easel" discloses a portable easel having a frame and a display panel movably coupled to the frame. U.S. Pat. No. 6,179,266 entitled "Collapsible Easel" discloses a collapsible easel having three elongated telescoping legs. None of the disclosures in these patents teach or suggest a portable easel having individual collapsible, foldable legs or an apparatus for connecting the easel to other equipment during transport and storage.

Easel for supporting a flip chart or other display device with collapsible foldable legs


A receiver is provided which can perform normal reception even under strict environments such as multi-path environments. A frequency offset detector detects a frequency offset amount in accordance with a phrase reference symbol. The detected frequency offset value is integrated by an integrated by an integrator. The integrated value is compared by a comparator with a predetermined threshold value range. If the integrated value output from the integrator is the threshold value range, a frequency offset value amount detected by another frequency offset detector in accordance with a phase difference of a delay xe2x80x94detection output is selected by a switch circuit. If the integrated value is not in the threshold value range, the frequency offset value detected by the frequency offset detector is selected by the switch circuit. In accordance with each selected frequency offset value, automatic frequency control of the receiver is performed.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a receiver for receiving digital audio broadcasting signals, and more particularly to a receiver equipped with a demodulator for demodulating a signal modulated through orthogonal frequency division multiplex (hereinafter described also as OFDM).
2. Description of the Related Art
EP-A-0 606941 and M. Lusie et al.: xe2x80x9cCarrier Frequency Acquisition and Tracking for OFDM Systemsxe2x80x9d, IEEE Translation on Communication, Vol.44 No.11, November 1996 disclose a conventional demodulator for demodulating a signal modulated through OFDM. In such conventional demodulator shown in FIG. 2, an OFDM-modulated reception signal is supplied to an input terminal, frequency-converted by a mixer 1, and A/D converted by an A/D converter 2. The A/D converted reception signal is converted into I/Q data of a baseband by an I/Q detector (orthogonal detector) 3, which I/Q data is supplied to a fast Fourier transform circuit (hereinafter described as an FFT circuit) 4. The FFT circuit 4 Fourier-transforms and converts the input time domain signal into a frequency domain signal. An output from the FFT circuit 4 is supplied to a delay/detection unit 6 and to a frequency offset detector 40. The delay/detection unit 6 detects the input signal through one-symbol delay and outputs the demodulated data via an output terminal.
The frequency offset detector 40 detects a frequency offset amount in accordance with a phase reference symbol contained in the input signal. The detected frequency offset amount is D/A converted by a D/A converter 41 and supplied to a voltage controlled oscillator 9 which functions as a local oscillator. In accordance with the detected and D/A converted frequency offset amount, the oscillation frequency of the voltage controlled oscillator 9 is controlled to correct a frequency shift, so that the output of the voltage controlled oscillator 9 with the frequency shift being corrected, is supplied to the mixer 1 for the frequency conversion.
The conventional receiver described above is, however, associated with some problem that normal signal reception may become unable under multi-path reception environments, because of a large amount of a detected frequency offset.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a receiver capable of normal signal reception even under severe reception environments such as multi-path reception environments.
According to one aspect of the present invention, a receiver with a demodulator which A/D converts a reception signal, discrete-Fourier-transforms the A/D converted signal, and delay-detects the discrete-Fourier-transformed data, is provided which comprises: first frequency offset detecting means for detecting a frequency offset value of an input signal to the demodulator in accordance with a phase reference symbol contained in the discrete-Fourier-transformed data; second frequency offset detecting means for detecting a frequency offset value of the input signal to the demodulator in accordance with a phase difference of the delay-detected signal; an integrator for integrating the frequency offset value detected by the first frequency offset detecting means; and selecting means for comparing an output of the integrator with a predetermined first range of threshold values, selecting the frequency offset value detected by the second frequency offset detecting means if the output of the integrator is in the first threshold value range, and selecting the frequency offset value detected by the first frequency offset detecting means if the output of the integrator is not in the first threshold value range, wherein automatic frequency control is performed in accordance with the frequency offset value selected by the selecting means.
According to the receiver of this invention, the frequency offset value detected by the first frequency offset detecting means and integrated by the integrator is compared with the first threshold value range. If an output of the integrator is in the first threshold value range, the frequency offset value detected by the second frequency offset detecting means is selected, whereas if the output of the integrator is not in the first threshold value range, the frequency offset value detected by the first frequency offset detecting means is selected. In accordance with each selected frequency offset value, the automatic frequency control is performed.
The receiver of this invention further comprises: comparing means for comparing a predetermined second range of threshold values with the frequency offset value detected by the first frequency offset detecting means; and loading means for loading a predetermined value in the integrator if it is judged from a comparison by the comparing means that the frequency offset value detected by the first frequency offset detecting means is in the second threshold value range and if the selecting means selects the frequency offset value detected by the first frequency offset detecting means.
In the case of the receiver of the invention provided with the loading means, if the frequency offset value detected by the first frequency offset detecting means is in the second threshold value range and the frequency offset value detected by the first frequency detecting means is selected for automatic frequency control, then the frequency offset value detected by the first frequency detecting means can be switched at once to the frequency offset value detected by the second frequency detecting means. Therefore, frequent switching can be avoided which may otherwise be caused by external disturbances.
The receiver of this invention further comprises: comparing means for comparing a predetermined third range of threshold values narrower than the second threshold value range, with the frequency offset value detected by the first frequency offset detecting means; and clearing means for clearing the integrator if it is judged from a comparison by the comparing means that the frequency offset value detected by the first frequency offset detecting means continues in the second threshold value range during a predetermined period.
In the case of the receiver of the invention provided with the clearing means, automatic frequency control can be maintained by the frequency offset value detected by the second frequency offset detecting means, even if instantaneous noises are generated. Therefore, the automatic frequency control will not be switched by instantaneous noises to the frequency offset value detected by the first frequency offset detecting means.


A cutting fluid filtration device attached to a machine tool has the function of backwashing a filter for filtering impurities in a cutting fluid when the filter is clogged. Whether or not the filter is clogged is determined by integrating the time during which the liquid level of the cutting fluid in a clean fluid tank falls below a lower-limit position by means of a sensor configured to detect the height of the liquid level of the cutting fluid. When a preset reference value is exceeded by the resulting integrated value, it is determined that the filter is clogged.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a machine tool with a cutting fluid filtration device, and more particularly, to a machine tool provided with a cutting fluid filtration device which has function of cleaning a filter used to remove chips and sludge mixed in a cutting fluid and capable of accurately detecting clogging of the filter at low cost.
2. Description of the Related Art
A cutting fluid filtration device used in a machine tool is provided with a filter configured to remove impurities, such as chips and sludge, which are produced during machining and mixed in a cutting fluid, thereby adversely affecting the performance and reliability of the machine tool. This filter is cleaned in order to maintain its decontamination performance and extend its life. In cleaning the filter, the cutting fluid sometimes may be passed in the direction opposite to its flowing direction for normal use so that backwashing can be performed to remove chips and sludge adhering to the filter. Cutting fluid filtration devices having the function of performing filter cleaning based on such backwashing are disclosed in Japanese Patent Applications Laid-Open Nos. 2006-272474, 2006-255833 and 2001-252847.
The following is a description of an outline of the backwashing operation disclosed in the above-described patent documents.
First, the backwashing filter and inflow- and outflow-side ducts of a filter container are closed so that the cutting fluid remaining in the filter and the filter container can not flow out. Then, compressed air is introduced into the filter container in the direction opposite to the direction of normal flow of the cutting fluid, and a discharge valve in a discharge duct in the filter container is opened. Thereupon, the cutting fluid pressurized by the compressed air flows in the opened discharge duct after passing through the filter. Impurities, such as chips and sludge, adhering to the filter are removed by means of this flow of the cutting fluid.
A prior art example of the cutting fluid filtration device having the filter cleaning function to remove chips and sludge adhering to the filter by backwashing (disclosed in the above-described patent documents) will be described with reference to FIG. 13.
A cutting fluid filtration device 1 is controlled by a controller (not shown). The controller actuates the filtration device 1, and drives a filter pump 11 to draw up a cutting fluid 19 containing chips through a duct 20 and introduce the cutting fluid filtered by a filter into a machine tool body 70 through a filter container 13. The filter (not shown) for removing the chips from the cutting fluid is attached to the inside of the filter container 13.
As the cutting fluid 19 containing chips and stored in a tank 10 continues to be decontaminated, the amount of chips adhering to the filter in the filter container 13 gradually increases. A differential pressure between inflow- and outflow-side ducts 21 and 22 of the filter is detected by a differential-pressure switch 14, and backwashing is started when a predetermined value is exceeded by the detected differential pressure.
In the backwashing operation, the drive of the filter pump 11 is first stopped so that the drawing of the cutting fluid 19 containing chips from the tank 10 is interrupted. In this state, the inflow- and outflow-side ducts 21 and 22 of the filter container 13 are closed by an inflow valve 12 and an outflow valve 18, respectively. Thereupon, the cutting fluid remaining in the filter container 13 cannot flow out into the tank 10 and the machine tool body 70.
Subsequently, an air supply valve 17 connected to an air source 16 is opened, and compressed air is introduced into the filter container 13 in the direction opposite to the direction of normal flow of the cutting fluid. Then, the air supply valve 17 connected to the air source 16 is closed, and a discharge valve 15 connected to the filter container 13 is opened. In this state, the cutting fluid pressurized by the compressed air passes through the filter in the filter container 13 in the direction opposite to the direction of normal flow of the cutting fluid, and then returns to the tank 10 through the discharge valve 15 in a duct 23. Chips and sludge adhering to the filter are removed by means of this flow of the cutting fluid. Further, the differential-pressure switch 14 may be replaced with a pressure sensor or flow sensor.
In the backwashing operation of FIG. 13 disclosed in the foregoing patent documents, whether or not to perform the backwashing is determined by a measured value obtained by the differential-pressure switch 14 (or pressure sensor). Since the switch or sensor of this type is expensive, however, this operation leaves a room for improvement in cost. This also applies to the case where a flow sensor is used.
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2000-61774 discloses a technique in which filter clogging is detected by detecting the change of electric current of a pump for supplying a cutting fluid to a filter. The electric current change of the pump used in this detection technique is such that the electric current value also changes depending on the variation of the viscosity of the cutting fluid and the degree of degradation of the pump. It is difficult, therefore, to accurately detect the filter clogging with a change of the electric current value attributable to clogging distinguished from that caused by some other factor than clogging.
Further, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-66425 discloses a technique in which the time of cutting fluid supply to a clean fluid tank is measured so that an abnormality can be identified and the timing of filter replacement and the like can be informed when a predetermined preset time is exceeded by the time required for the supply. According to this technique, an abnormality is identified by the cutting fluid supply time. If the detection is performed during machining operation of the machine tool using a large amount of cutting fluid, however, accurate abnormality identification sometimes cannot be achieved due to reduction of the cutting fluid in the clean fluid tank used during the machining.

Machine tool with cutting fluid filtration device


A utilization detector detects when equipment undergoes at least one of a sudden motion or a slowly changing motion. In response to detecting sudden or slowly changing motion of the equipment, the utilization detector causes a production hour meter to accumulate time over which such motion is occurring. In response to detecting an absence of sudden or slowly changing motion of the equipment, the utilization detector causes an idle hour meter to accumulate time over which motion is not occurring. The utilization detector includes an off delay timer for maintaining the production hour meter accumulating time for a predetermined interval after the utilization detector detects the termination of sudden or slowly changing motion. When the production hour meter is accumulating time, the idle hour meter is not accumulating time and vice versa.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to material handling vehicles and, more specifically, to detectors for measuring the utilization of such vehicles.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Material handling vehicles, such as bulldozers, excavators, on-highway trucks, wheel loaders and forklifts, currently make use of an engine hour meter to determine the vehicle's utilization, age, value and maintenance schedules. The engine hour meter measures the number of hours the engine has been running and is used in material handling vehicles in much the same manner as an odometer is used in automobiles. The engine hour meter for material handling vehicles and the odometer for automobiles both provide a frame of reference from which to appraise the vehicle's age, value, utilization and maintenance intervals. The engine hour meter is usually triggered to begin timing by way of the engine oil pressure sensor or the engine's alternator.
Maintenance activities, such as oil changes, filter replacement and machine greasing, are usually scheduled according to the number of hours on the engine hour meter. The age of material handling vehicles as well as their components, such as transmissions, torque converters, final drives, tires, undercarriages and engines, are measured according to the vehicle's engine hours. Knowing the number of hours the engine has been running allows an owner to know which components should be replaced or rebuilt. The engine hour reading also provides the owner with a general idea of what the material handling vehicle is worth on the open market. Those machines with high engine hours are deemed to have less value than those with low engine hours.
Most manufacturers of material handling vehicles provide warranties which are based on a certain number of engine hours or a certain period of time, whichever comes first. It is important for owners of new material handling vehicles to monitor their engine hours closely so as to determine whether or not repairs are covered under warranty. The manufacturer is interested in knowing the engine hour reading should there be an early failure of a component since the engine hour reading will give an indication of the wear on the component at the time of failure.
Material handling vehicles are capital items which are generally expensive to purchase and operate. Equipment costs are monitored closely by equipment owners. When calculating equipment costs, the total cost of the equipment is referenced to the engine hour reading so as to arrive at a unit value of dollars per engine hour. Although knowing the total cost is important, it is meaningless unless it can be compared to a time interval, which in the material handling industry is the engine hour. An equipment's cost per engine hour is an industry standard of measure against which material handling vehicles of the same size, class and product family are compared.
Many earthmoving operations use engine hours to determine an equipment operator's productive use of the equipment. The difference between the scheduled hours of operation (the start and end of a shift) and the engine hours clocked on the equipment during the shift provides management with a number against which to judge how effectively the equipment is being utilized.
As indicated above, the role of engine hours in material handling vehicles is regarded as one of the fundamental standards of measurement by those engaged in material handling applications. A problem with using the engine hour meter is that it is limited to recording whether an engine is on or off. Thus, an engine hour meter measures the utilization of the engine, but does not measure the utilization of the material handling vehicle as a whole. The engine hour meter cannot distinguish between the time when a material handling vehicle is idling and the time when a material handling vehicle is in productive use. For those operations where the material handling vehicle sits and idles for a large portion of the time, the use of the engine hour meter to determine the material handling vehicle's utilization, age, value and maintenance schedules would be misleading and costly. Routine maintenance involving oil changes, greasing and filter changes is done unnecessarily on material handling vehicles which spend most of their time idling. Although the engine oil needs to be changed according to the engine hours, the changing of the oil in the transmission and final drives, the greasing of the various joints and the changing of various filters need not be done as often as the engine oil. However, since the only available measure of equipment usage is the engine hour meter, time and money are wasted on performing unnecessary routine maintenance.
Measuring the wear of components based on engine hours can be misleading if the material handling vehicle spends considerable time at rest with the engine idling. Material handling vehicles which spend most of their time idling would be expected to have longer life on their components versus those having less idle time. Should the owner decide to rebuild or replace his components before an anticipated failure based on engine hours, the owner would be replacing or rebuilding components before it was necessary and thereby increasing costs unnecessarily.
A concern that is often voiced by owners of material handling vehicles, as well as manufacturers of material handling vehicles, is that it is difficult to compare component life for material handling vehicles with identical engine hours. A mining truck may wear its tires out in 3,000 engine hours and another mining truck may wear its tires out in 7,000 engine hours. One of the primary factors affecting this difference is the equipment utilization. The truck that wore out its tires in 3,000 engine hours spent most of its time being utilized in productive work while the truck with 7,000 engine hours spent a large portion of its time resting with the engine idling. The engine hour meter is limited in its ability to estimate the wear of major components on material handling vehicles since it does not measure the use of the vehicle as a whole.
Since engine hours are based on the engine running and not on the use of the material handling vehicle, the hourly costs associated with operating the equipment can fluctuate dramatically based on whether or not the equipment spends large periods of time at rest with the engine idling. It is difficult to create and maintain budgets for material handling vehicles when the equipment cost attributed to an hour of engine use can fluctuate as in the case of the tires used in the above example.
The greater the use that owners of material handling vehicles can obtain from their equipment fleet, the greater will be their production in terms of material moved per hour and the lower will be their overall costs. If the material handling vehicle spends most of its time at rest with the engine idling, then its production is low and its costs are high. The high costs are due to fixed costs (loan payments, insurance payments and operator salaries), variable costs (fuel consumption, routine maintenance and repairs) and opportunity costs (the loss of revenues by not having the equipment fleet producing at its maximum potential). The engine hour meter is not able to indicate whether or not the equipment is being utilized versus sitting at rest with the engine idling.
When a used material handling vehicle is sold, the engine hour reading is one of the principal determinants of the equipment's value. For those operations where the material handling vehicle sat at rest with its engine idling for considerable periods of time, the seller would like the potential purchaser to be aware that although the engine hour reading may be high, the machine was not worked hard and spent most of its time idling. The engine hour meter does not allow the purchaser to distinguish between idle hours and "utilization" hours. Consequently, the seller is forced to sell the used material handling vehicle based on its engine hours which do not necessarily reflect the equipment's actual value.
The only way that a material handling vehicle can typically be put to productive use is through an operator. It is the operator who is ultimately responsible for using the equipment. The engine hour meter cannot monitor the operator's use of the equipment since it only monitors that the engine is running. Many operations use the engine hour meter to monitor their operators. At the end of each shift the operator turns in a sheet showing the hours he worked (start of shift to end of shift) and the hours that the engine was running (engine hours accumulated during shift). If the engine hours are unusually low when compared to the scheduled hours, the operator will be held accountable. The limitation of this method of monitoring operators is that an operator can take a long break and leave his equipment idling. This is especially true on night shifts where there may not be a shift foreman on duty and the unsupervised equipment operators could take extended breaks as long as the engines on their material handling vehicles are running. The engine hour meter cannot monitor the operator's productive interaction with the machine.
Manufacturers of material handling vehicles have made great strides in placing sensors on their products to monitor various aspects of their equipment, such as velocity, engine speed and engine temperature. However, to date, there have been no sensors placed on material handling vehicles to monitor that the operator is in fact utilizing the equipment. There have been several efforts by earthmoving equipment manufacturers and after-market manufacturers to place sensors on mining trucks and wheel loaders to measure and monitor their productivity in terms of payload weights and cycle times where production is defined by the weight or volume of material moved in a unit of time, such as tons per engine hour. Since the aim of these efforts is to monitor and measure production, such systems have remained primarily in the domain of earthmoving trucks and wheel loaders where it is possible to measure the weight of payloads. Other types of material handling vehicles such as excavators, bulldozers, draglines, pavers and forklifts, however, have been ignored since their productive capabilities in terms of weight or volume of material moved per unit of time are not amenable to monitoring by sensors. Concern over the amount and rate of production in terms of weight or volume of material moved per unit of time is limiting because only a small number of material handling vehicle families, primarily trucks and wheel loaders, can be measured in this fashion.
Operator incentive programs are often designed around production. For example, a truck operator may be paid a bonus for each additional truck load of material over twenty truck loads of material during his shift. The limitation to production-oriented incentive programs is that they are dependent on the physical geometry of the job layout, which is rarely consistent. Within a given day, week or month, the haul roads may change such that on one day the truck operator is running on a short haul road and therefore able to achieve "bonus loads", but on the next day the truck operator may be required to run on a long haul road and not be able to achieve "bonus loads". Because production in terms of weight, volume or truck loads of material moved per unit of time can fluctuate each day through no fault of the operator, such production oriented incentive programs are not an accurate reflection of an operator's performance. Additionally, such production incentive programs cannot be used for operators of forklifts, bulldozers or excavators since the productive capabilities of these material handling vehicles are difficult if not impossible to continuously measure. Consequently, incentive programs for equipment operators are a hotly debated subject since there is currently no standard of measure which can be applied to various types of material handling vehicles and which directly measures the equipment operator's productive interaction with the equipment.
When a material handling vehicle is being used for productive purposes, it exhibits some form of motion within a certain time interval. Examples of productive use of material handling vehicles are a mining truck carrying a load of material to a dump site, a bulldozer pushing a load of dirt, a forklift carrying a box in a warehouse and a mining truck waiting for the second load of material from a hydraulic shovel. Because productive activities are defined as occurring within a predetermined time interval, even a mining truck waiting for another load of material from a hydraulic shovel is still in productive use even though it is idling between loads. For example, if the hydraulic shovel places a bucket load of material onto the mining truck every forty seconds, then every forty seconds the mining truck will experience a "jolt" when the hydraulic shovel dumps the material from its bucket into the bed of the mining truck. In this example, the previously mentioned time interval would be forty seconds. If the truck experiences no motion for a period longer than forty seconds, however, then it is not being used productively for the total "motionless" period minus forty seconds. All productive activities are characterized by motion occurring within a certain time interval. Consequently, measuring the time that a material handling vehicle is in motion is a measurement of the time that a material handling vehicle is in a state of production. Making a distinction between production (weight or volume of material moved per unit of time) and the state of being in production (utilization of the material handling vehicle) adds an entirely new dimension to the measurement of the productive activities of a material handling vehicle and provides a base against which all material handling vehicles can be measured and compared.
The engine hour meter measures the time an engine is running. An hour of engine use is a combination of the time the equipment is at rest with the engine idling and the time the equipment is in productive use. Consequently, engine hours equal idling hours plus production hours. If the engine hours and the idling hours are known, the production hours can be calculated by subtracting the idling hours from the engine hours. Likewise, if the engine hours and the production hours are known, the idling hours can be calculated by subtracting the production hours from the engine hours. The key is to distinguish between when a material handling vehicle is at rest with the engine idling and when a material handling vehicle is in a state of production. The hours that a material handling vehicle spends in production and the hours that a material handling vehicle spends at rest with the engine idling comprise what is referred to herein as equipment utilization. Production hours are a measure of the material handling vehicle's productive utilization. Idling hours are a measure of the material handling vehicle's non-productive utilization where the material handling vehicle is being utilized but in a non-productive way.
It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to monitor the state of motion of material handling vehicles and to accumulate the time spent in a state of motion on a time accumulator, such as an hour meter and to accumulate the time spent at rest with the engine idling on another time accumulator, such as an hour meter.
It is an object of the present invention to make use of a motion detection apparatus that can distinguish between actual vehicle productive utilization and vehicle vibration caused by engine vibration. The motion detection system is designed in such a way that when attached to a material handling vehicle, the motion detection system can sense motion independently of any of the vehicle's moving parts or fluids, such as transmission, engine, final drives, tires, oil flow or fuel flow.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a utilization detector that is portable, self-contained and isolated from harsh material handling environments and that can easily be placed on any vehicle, new or old.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a utilization detector that is usable on all material handling vehicles regardless of the family, class or model of vehicle.
Still further objects and advantages will become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon reading and understanding the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment.

5550 Old William Penn Hwy., Apartment A-8


This invention relates to compounds which are agonists of the progesterone receptor which have the general structure:

This invention relates to compounds which are agonists of the progesterone receptor, their preparation and utility.
Intracellular receptors (IR) form a class of structurally related gene regulators known as "ligand dependent transcription factors" (R. M. Evans, Science, 240, 889, 1988). The steroid receptor family is a subset of the IR family, including progesterone receptor (PR), estrogen receptor (ER), androgen receptor (AR), glucocorticoid receptor (GR), and mineralocorticoid receptor (MR).
The natural hormone, or ligand, for the PR is the steroid progesterone, but synthetic compounds, such as medroxyprogesterone acetate or levonorgestrel, have been made which also serve as ligands. Once a ligand is present in the fluid surrounding a cell, it passes through the membrane via passive diffusion, and binds to the IR to create a receptor/ligand complex. This complex binds to specific gene promoters present in the cell's DNA. Once bound to the DNA the complex modulates the production of mRNA and protein encoded by that gene.
A compound that binds to an IR and mimics the action of the natural hormone is termed an agonist, whilst a compound which inhibits the effect of the hormone is an antagonist.
PR agonists (natural and synthetic) are known to play an important role in the health of women. PR agonists are used in birth control formulations, typically in the presence of an ER agonist, alternatively they may be used in conjunction with a PR antagonist. ER agonists are used to treat the symptoms of menopause, but have been associated with a proliferative effect on the uterus which can lead to an increased risk of uterine cancers. Co-administration of a PR agonist reduces/ablates that risk.
Jones, et al, described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,688,810 the PR antagonist dihydroquinoline A.

Jones, et al, described the enol ether B (U.S. Pat. No. 5,693,646) as a PR ligand.

Jones, et al, described compound C (U.S. Pat. No. 5,696,127) as a PR ligand.

Zhi, et al, described lactones D, E and F as PR antagonists (J. Med. Chem., 41, 291, 1998).

Zhi, et al, described the ether G as a PR antagonist (J. Med. Chem., 41, 291, 1998).

Combs, et al., disclosed the amide H as a ligand for the PR (J. Med. Chem., 38, 4880, 1995).

Perlman, et. al., described the vitamin D analog I as a PR ligand (Tet. Letters, 35, 2295, 1994).

Hamann, et al, described the PR antagonist J (Ann. N.Y. Acad. Sci., 761, 383, 1995).

Chen, et al, described the PR antagonist K (Chen, et al, POI-37, 16th Int. Cong. Het. Chem., Montana, 1997).
Kurihari, et. al., described the PR ligand L (J. Antibiotics, 50, 360, 1997).
Kuhla, et al, taught the oxindole M as a cardiotonic (WO 86/03749).
Weber, described the oxindole N for cardiovascular indications (WO 91/06545).
Fischer, et al, claim a preparation for making compounds which include the generic structure O (U.S. Pat. No. 5,453,516).
R=variousSingh, et al, described the PDE III inhibitor P (J. Med. Chem., 37, 248, 1994).
Andreani, et al, described the cytotoxic agent Q (Acta. Pharm. Nord., 2, 407, 1990).
Binder, et al, described structure R which is an intermediate for preparing COX II inhibitors (WO 97/13767).
Walsh (A. H. Robins) described the oxindole S as an intermediate (U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,440,785, 4,670,566).
Bohm, et al, claim the oxindole T as cardiovascular agents (WO 91/06545).
Bohm, et al, include the generic structure U (WO 91/04974).
JP 63112584 A contains the generic structure V:
Boar, et al, described the dioxolane W as an intermediate for preparation of acetylcholinesterase inhibitors (WO 93/12085 A1).
Kende, et al, described methodology for preparing 3,3-substituted oxindoles, e.g. X, that was utilized in the present invention (Synth. Commun., 12, 1, 1982).

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Abstract: wherein:    R1, R2, R3, R4, R5 and Q1 are as defined herein, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, as well as methods of using these compounds to induce contraception or treat progesterone-related carcinomas and adenocarcinomas.


Millimeter scale three dimensional antenna structures and methods for fabricating such structures are disclosed. According to one method, a first substantially planar die having a first antenna structure is placed on a first surface. A second substantially planar die having at least one conductive element is placed on a second surface that forms an oblique angle with the first surface. The first and second dies are mechanically coupled to each other such that the first die and the first antenna structure extend at the oblique angle to the second die.

In applications, such as biological sensor implants and mobile communications devices, it is desirable to have antennas that work equally well in all directions, regardless of the orientation of the antenna. For some applications, millimeter scale antenna structures suitable for use at frequencies of 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, and 60 GHz are desirable. Planar antennas of millimeter scale can be formed on a substrate. However, to achieve orientation-independent omnidirectionality, three dimensional antenna structures are desirable. Another reason that three dimensional antenna structures are desirable is to reduce the effects of interference from integrated circuits located on a substrate near an antenna structure.
One possible method of fabricating millimeter scale three dimensional antennas is to form the antennas on a flexible planar substrate and then bend the substrate to form a three dimensional antenna structure. One problem with this approach is that flexible substrates have a minimum bending radius of much larger than one millimeter and can thus not easily be used to form three dimensional antenna structures.
Accordingly, there exists a need for methods for forming millimeter scale three dimensional antenna structures and antenna structures formed using such methods.

Millimeter scale three-dimensional antenna structures and methods for fabricating same


A reception apparatus of a time division multiple access (TDMA) system for performing intermittent reception by a reception period of a time slot and a non-reception period of a predetermined number of time slots which follow the reception period and in which reception is suspended includes a symbol clock controller configured to perform symbol synchronization at a timing at which a synchronous word included in the reception period after the non-reception period, and correct a symbol clock frequency of a symbol clock based on a number of time slots and a symbol count value during a previous reception period and the non-reception period following the previous reception period; and a reception period controller configured to correct, after detection of the synchronous word, a reception termination timing of the reception period in which the synchronous word is detected based on the symbol clock with the corrected symbol clock frequency.

In a wireless communication terminal (hereinafter, also referred to as a mobile station) that performs intermittent reception, a technique of synchronizing a symbol clock of a mobile station with a symbol clock of a base station has been known.
For example, Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 08-307304 discloses a technique of a mobile communication terminal in which power consumption is reduced to a low level in a standby mode and reception performance is improved.
In the technique described in Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 08-307304, a length of a period for detecting a unique word in a next slot is set in accordance with deviation of a timing to detect the unique word. However, since a length of a reception period in a slot in which synchronization deviation is detected and corrected is inappropriate, it may be difficult to demodulate data of the slot in which the synchronization deviation is detected.

Receiving apparatus, correction method and non-transitory storage medium


A method of inducing tip screenout during a frac-packing treatment comprising injecting a proppant slurry into a subterranean formation, wherein the proppant slurry comprises a proppant material, a fracturing fluid, and degradable particulates and wherein the degradable particulates physically interact with themselves and with the proppant material to aid in inducing tip screenout. A method of preparing a proppant slurry for inducing tip screenout during a frac-packing treatment, comprising blending a proppant material with a fracturing fluid and degradable particulates wherein the degradable particulates physically interact with themselves and with the proppant material to aid in inducing tip screenout. A proppant slurry for inducing tip screenout during a frac-packing treatment, comprising a proppant material, a fracturing fluid, and degradable particulates wherein the degradable particulates physically interact with themselves and with the proppant material to aid in inducing tip screenout.

The present invention relates to methods and compositions for use in subterranean frac-packing treatments. More particularly, the present invention relates to methods and compositions for inducing tip screenouts in frac-packing treatments.
Subterranean formations, such as hydrocarbon-producing wells, are often stimulated using hydraulic fracturing treatments. In a hydraulic fracturing treatment, a viscous fracturing fluid is injected into a subterranean formation at a rate and pressure sufficient to causethe formation to break down and produce one or more fractures. Particulate solids, such as graded sand, suspended in a portion of the fracturing fluid are then deposited into the fracture when the fracturing fluid is converted to a thin film to be returned to the surface. These particulate solids, or "proppant," serve to prevent the fractures from fully closing so that conductive channels are formed through which produced hydrocarbons can flow.
It is often desirable to maximize the length of the fractures created by hydraulic fracturing treatments, so that the surface area of the fractures, and therefore the area serviced by the well, may be maximized. However, in certain frac-packing treatments, particularly in weakly-consolidated, highly-permeable sand formations, it may be more desirable to form short, wide fractures that feature high fracture conductivities. One way of creating such short, wide fractures is with a tip screenout.
In a tip screenout, the growth of the fracture length is arrested when the proppant concentration at the tip of the fracture becomes highly concentrated, typically due to fluid leak-off into the surrounding formation. The concentrated proppant slurry plugs the fracture and prevents additional lengthening of the fracture. Any additional pumping of the proppant slurry beyond this point causes the fracture to widen or balloon and packs the existing fracture length with additional proppant. This results in a relatively short, wide fracture having both a high fracture conductivity and a high proppant concentration.
Design features typically employed in situations in which a tip screenout is desired often involve methods of ensuring that fluid leak-off is high relative to the rate and amount of proppant injection. This can be achieved in a number of ways, including, but not limited to, using a small amount of pad fluid to initiate the fracture, using little or no fluid loss additive, using high proppant concentrations earlier in the treatment, pumping more slowly during the fracturing operation, or some combination thereof. However, even using such methods, pressure transients collected by downhole pressure gauges during frac-packing treatments indicate that tip screenouts often do not occur when and where desired or intended. Instead, the fluid at the tip of the fracture often remains mobile, the fracture tip continues to grow throughout the treatment, and the desired proppant concentration in the fracture is not reached. Because of this, the desired high fracture conductivity may not be obtained.

Methods and compositions for inducing tip screenouts in frac-packing operations


To provide an optical connector that enables the reduction in the number of parts and can be easily attached to an optical cable, a concave portion 18 for a ferrule is formed in a plug housing 6, and a ferrule 3 is inserted from the side of a collar portion 10 into the concave portion 18 for a ferrule. A hook portion 28 for a ferrule is provided in a protruding condition inside the plug housing 6. The collar portion 10 is guided by the hook portion 28 for a ferrule, which has been elastically deformed, and moves toward a bottom surface 26 of the concave portion 18 for a ferrule. Where the collar portion 10 reaches a space between the bottom surface 26 and the hook portion 28 for a ferrule, the hook portion 28 for a ferrule is elastically restored. Therefore, even if the collar portion 10 tries to move toward an opening 24 of the concave portion 18 for a ferrule, the collar portion is locked by the hook portion 28 for a ferrule and the movement is inhibited. Thus, in the plug-type optical connector 1, the ferrule 3 can be positioned by inserting into the plug housing 6 and moving.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an optical connector that can be used when abutting and connecting optical fibers exposed from optical cables, and to a method for assembling the optical connector.
2. Related Background Art
A conventional optical connector is known that comprises, for example as described in Patent Document 1, a ferrule having a body portion (cylindrical body) and a collar portion (collar member), a stop ring that holds a rear end portion of the collar portion, a plug frame that holds a distal end portion of the collar portion, and a housing (plug housing) that covers the plug frame. In the conventional optical connector, the ferrule is positioned inside the optical connector by sandwiching the collar portion between the stop ring and the plug frame.
[Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 11-305075.

Optical connector and method for assembling optical connector


A new Helleborus plant particularly distinguished by abundant, pink inflorescences, a compact and mounded plant habit and a vigorous growth habit, is disclosed.

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar botanically known as Helleborus L., and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name 'BLT02'. The new cultivar originated from a hybridization made in March 2002 in Kilmeston, Alresford, Hampshire, United Kingdom. The female parent was the Helleborus niger plant Potters Wheel strain (unpatented), while the male parent was an unnamed plant of Helleborus×sternii Blackthorn group (unpatented). The seeds produced by the hybridization were sown in a greenhouse in Kilmeston in the United Kingdom in June 2002. A single plant selection was chosen for further evaluation and for asexual propagation in the February 2004 in Kilmeston in the United Kingdom.
'BLT02' was subsequently asexually propagated by in vitro propagation in Aalsmeer, The Netherlands for four and one-half years. The present invention has been found to retain its distinctive characteristics through successive asexual propagations.
Plant Breeder's Rights for this cultivar were applied for in Europe on Dec. 4, 2008. 'BLT02' has not been made publicly available more than one year prior to filing of this application.


The present invention relates to a capacitive-measurement device for touch-sensitive and/or contactless interfaces, including at least one capacitive-measurement electrode and electrode-switching unit capable of electrically connecting the at least one electrode, either to a capacitive-measurement unit or to a guard potential, the at least one capacitive-measurement electrode and the electrode-switching unit being provided on a single detection surface according to a technique for manufacturing planar electronic components. The invention also relates to an apparatus implementing the device.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a capacitive measurement device for producing touch-sensitive and contactless human-machine interfaces, which allows an optimal integration of a large number of measurement electrodes on a detection surface. The field of the invention is more particularly but is non-limitatively that of touch-sensitive and contactless human-machine interfaces.
2. Description of the Related Art
Many devices used for communication and for work use a touch-sensitive or contactless command interface such as a pad or a screen. This type of interface can be found for example in mobile telephones, smartphones, computers with touch-sensitive screens, pads, PCs, mouse devices, touch pads and widescreens etc.
These interfaces frequently use capacitive technologies. The touch surface is equipped with conductive electrodes connected to electronic means which make it possible to measure the variation of the capacitances appearing between the electrodes and the object to be detected in order to carry out a command.
It is possible to provide transparent electrodes which make it possible to superimpose an interface onto a display screen, for example of a smartphone.
Most of these interfaces are touch-sensitive, that is they can detect contact between one or more command object(s) (usually the fingers) and the surface of the interface. Gestural or contactless interfaces are increasingly being developed which are capable of detecting command objects which are further from the interface, without contact with the surface.
The capacitive techniques currently implemented in touch-sensitive interfaces most frequently use two layers of conductive electrodes in the form of rows and columns. The electronics measure the coupling capacitances existing between these rows and columns. When a finger is very close to the active surface, the coupling capacitances close to the finger are altered and the electronics can thus locate the 2D position (XY) in the plane of the active surface.
These technologies, often called "mutual capacitance", make it possible to detect the presence and the position of the finger through a thin dielectric. They have the advantage of enabling a very good resolution in the location in the plane (XY) of the touch surface of one or more fingers. With appropriate processing software, it is also possible to manage a large number of fingers if the surface of the interface is large enough.
However, these techniques have the drawback of generating on principle large leakage capacitances at the level of the measurement electrodes and of the electronics. In fact the detection of a finger is achieved by measuring the variation in the coupling capacitance created between each row and column of which one is the emitter of an electrical signal and the other is a receiver of the signal to be detected. This signal is proportional to the capacitance between the row and column selected. When a finger is very close to the intersection of the row and column in question, the coupling capacitance is reduced and the finger is detected.
These coupling capacitances, which can be significant even in the absence of the object to be detected, can also drift over time due to ageing, deformation of the materials, or the effect of the variation of the surrounding temperature. These variations can degrade the sensitivity of the electrodes, or can even trigger commands in an untimely manner. This is one of the reasons why these technologies can only detect contact with the finger and not its approach because it is necessary to create a large variation in the capacitance to enable the electric circuit to detect the variation which must be much larger than the drifts to avoid any [capacitance] artefact.
Techniques are also known which make it possible to measure the absolute capacitance which appears between the electrodes and an object to be detected. These techniques are often called "self capacitance". Document FR 2 756 048 by Rozière is known for example, which discloses a method of capacitive measurement which makes it possible to measure the capacitance and the distance between a plurality of independent electrodes and a nearby object.
This technology uses a guard in order to eliminate all stray capacitance. All the electrodes have the same potential and there is therefore no coupling capacitance between the electrodes that is capable of degrading the capacitance measurement.
This technology is well suited to touch-sensitive and contactless interfaces such as capacitive pads and transparent touchpads and/or small 3D screens, such as the pads of portable computers or the small screens of smartphones. On the other hand, when the pad or the screen is of greater size, the number of electrodes necessary to cover the entire touch surface is too large to be managed by a miniature electronic circuit. And above all, the surface at the periphery of the touch surface and between the electrodes which is necessary for the passage of the tracks connecting the electrodes to the electronics also becomes very significant.
With this technique it is possible to use electrodes in the form of rows and columns in order to minimize interconnection problems. This row-column structure, in which rows and columns are used as independent electrodes, makes contactless or gestural measurement over long distances possible (detection of a finger several centimeters away) but another problem appears when more than one object is to be detected. In fact, it is necessary to scan each row and each column which produces a measurement for virtual objects called ghosts. These ghosts prevent a number of objects from being located absolutely on the touch surface.
The purpose of the present invention is to propose a capacitive measurement device for touch-sensitive and/or contactless interfaces which makes it possible to implement a high number of capacitive measurement electrodes on a detection surface while limiting interconnection problems of these electrodes with the measurement electronics.

Switched-electrode capacitive-measurement device for touch-sensitive and contactless interfaces


An adjustable vehicle control pedal comprises a first arm having a first end rotatable along a plane between first and second positions. The first end defines a first through opening extending nonparallel to the plane. A second arm has a first end defining a second through opening extending nonparallel to a long dimension of the second arm. The second arm is repositionable in relation to the first arm among a plurality of positions in which the first and second through openings are in substantially coaxial adjacent registration with one another. An insert is receivable through the first and second through openings in each of the plurality of positions to lock the second arm against rotation in relation to the first arm along the plane. A position sensor is responsive to movement of the first arm between the first and second positions.

1. Field of Invention
The invention relates to motor vehicle parts and accessories, and more particularly, to control pedals useful in controlling operation of a throttle, brake, or clutch of a motor vehicle.
2. Description of the Related Art
In motor vehicles, foot-controlled pedals are employed as continuously variable controllers for operation of the throttle, brake, and/or clutch of the motor vehicle. A motor vehicle pedal typically consists of a lever arm having a first end rotatably secured to a controller comprising one or more suitable mechanical linkages, gears, cables, or other such devices for translating rotational movement of the lever arm into operative engagement of the associated throttle, brake, or clutch. An opposite second end of the lever arm typically extends to a location inside the cab of the motor vehicle, near the front end of the driver's side floorboard, where it may be readily accessed by a driver of the motor vehicle. In most designs of motor vehicle pedals, a foot pad is disposed at the second end of the lever arm to provide a bearing surface for the driver's foot, such that downward and/or forward force from the driver's foot operates to rotate the lever arm from an at-rest position toward the floor or front wall of the cab of the motor vehicle, thereby providing the rotational movement for operation of the associated control for the throttle, brake, or clutch. Often, the lever arm is spring-biased toward the at-rest position, such that release of the foot pad by the driver allows the lever arm to return to the at-rest position, thereby disengaging the associated control for the throttle, brake, or clutch.
Motor vehicle pedals typically include mounting means for securing the pedal in position in a motor vehicle. Such mounting means are typically provided on or about the pedal controller, to which the lever arm is rotatably secured. Furthermore, most motor vehicles include specific mounting locations along the interior of the motor vehicle to which a motor vehicle pedal must be secured in a specific orientation within the motor vehicle.
In order for a pedal to be capable of exhibiting sufficient range of rotational movement for operation of an associated throttle, brake, or clutch control, the pedal must be mounted such that, when the pedal is in the at-rest position, the second end of the lever arm extends outwardly from the front wall of the motor vehicle's cab and terminates upwardly from the floor of the motor vehicle such that sufficient space is provided to accommodate rotation of the lever arm. However, if the second end of the pedal extends outwardly too far from the front wall of the cab, or if the foot pad is positioned too high or too low in relation to the floor, operation of the pedal may be difficult or uncomfortable. Thus, for a given motor vehicle, the overall permissible shape, length, configuration, and angle of extension of a lever arm of a motor vehicle pedal in relation to the pedal controller is often constrained by the dimensional limitations of the interior of the motor vehicle, as well as the specific location provided for mounting the pedal controller within the motor vehicle.
In providing aftermarket or replacement motor vehicle pedals, difficulty arises in that, for the reasons discussed above, different configurations of motor vehicle interiors call for motor vehicle pedals having different configurations of overall shape, length, and angle of extension of the lever arm of the pedal in relation to the pedal controller. Traditionally, this difficulty has been overcome by providing a variety of different designs of motor vehicle pedals incorporating a variety of different shapes, lengths, and/or angles of extension of the lever arm of the pedal in relation to the pedal controller. However, when selecting among such different pedal designs, additional difficulty arises in ensuring proper selection of a motor vehicle pedal design for a given motor vehicle, which will enable proper mounting of the pedal within the vehicle and a proper "fit" of the lever arm and foot pad at a desirable location within the motor vehicle interior.
In light of the above, a motor vehicle pedal which may be adjusted to accommodate a variety of motor vehicle interiors and a variety of mounting positions within a motor vehicle interior is desired.


Multiple virtual source locations may be defined for a volume within which audio objects can move. A set-up process for rendering audio data may involve receiving reproduction speaker location data and pre-computing gain values for each of the virtual sources according to the reproduction speaker location data and each virtual source location. The gain values may be stored and used during “run time,” during which audio reproduction data are rendered for the speakers of the reproduction environment. During run time, for each audio object, contributions from virtual source locations within an area or volume defined by the audio object position data and the audio object size data may be computed. A set of gain values for each output channel of the reproduction environment may be computed based, at least in part, on the computed contributions. Each output channel may correspond to at least one reproduction speaker of the reproduction environment.

Since the introduction of sound with film in 1927, there has been a steady evolution of technology used to capture the artistic intent of the motion picture sound track and to replay it in a cinema environment. In the 1930s, synchronized sound on disc gave way to variable area sound on film, which was further improved in the 1940s with theatrical acoustic considerations and improved loudspeaker design, along with early introduction of multi-track recording and steerable replay (using control tones to move sounds). In the 1950s and 1960s, magnetic striping of film allowed multi-channel playback in theatre, introducing surround channels and up to five screen channels in premium theatres.
In the 1970s Dolby introduced noise reduction, both in post-production and on film, along with a cost-effective means of encoding and distributing mixes with 3 screen channels and a mono surround channel. The quality of cinema sound was further improved in the 1980s with Dolby Spectral Recording (SR) noise reduction and certification programs such as THX. Dolby brought digital sound to the cinema during the 1990s with a 5.1 channel format that provides discrete left, center and right screen channels, left and right surround arrays and a subwoofer channel for low-frequency effects. Dolby Surround 7.1, introduced in 2010, increased the number of surround channels by splitting the existing left and right surround channels into four "zones."
As the number of channels increases and the loudspeaker layout transitions from a planar two-dimensional (2D) array to a three-dimensional (3D) array including elevation, the tasks of authoring and rendering sounds are becoming increasingly complex. Improved methods and devices would be desirable.

Methods and apparatus for rendering audio objects

Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation


A computer screen for a personal computer according to the present invention includes a main screen, one or more retractable sub-displays, and one or more retractable arms. The main screen has a main display and a docking space disposed behind the main display. The retractable sub-displays are adapted to be pushed in into and pulled out from the docking space of the main screen. The retractable arms, disposed in the docking space of the main display, are for holding the retractable sub-displays, for pulling in the retractable sub-displays into the docking space, for pushing out the retractable sub-displays from the docking space. The retractable arms are adapted to be tilted and twisted to accommodate the sight line of the viewers behind the main display.

The present invention relates to a computer screen for a personal computer.
More particularly, this invention relates to a computer screen that deploys sub-displays other than a main display.
Also, the invention relates to a computer screen that enables the sub-displays to be tilted to and fro and to rotate, even to flip for a viewer behind the main display.
Computers are changing the face of the world not mentioning the life style of every single person. Thanks to the dramatic speed of development of the integrated circuit, computers crammed with a remarkable computing power and vast memory can be found casually on desks at home and work place.
One of the trends in personal computer community is larger and larger display commensurate to the increased computing power. Since the CPU can process a vast amount of information quickly and the memory and the hard disks can store and retrieve that vast amount of information easily, the computers must show the user more and more information somehow.
There are many ways to increase the display area: paging, virtual screen, simply larger display.
The portability is a key factor for the laptops and notebook computers, in which the choice of the measures for a larger display area cannot help being limited.
The present invention provides an easy and convenient solution to the problem.
Accordingly, a need for a computer screen with a larger display area has been present for a long time considering the drastic change of computing environment. This invention is directed to solve these problems and satisfy the long-felt need.


A pressure measuring device for measuring and/or monitoring the pressure of a measured medium. The pressure measuring device includes a sensor housing and a measurement transmitter, wherein assigned to the sensor housing is a pressure measuring cell with a pressure sensitive measuring element. Assigned to the pressure measuring cell is a temperature sensor, and assigned to the measurement transmitter is a control/evaluation unit. In order to increase the measurement accuracy of the pressure measuring device, it is provided, that the control/evaluation unit, in the case of an abrupt change of the temperature registered by the temperature sensor, ascertains, or provides, a step response, wherein the step response has a sensor-type-specific, settling time, and the control/evaluation unit, on the basis of the ascertained, or provided, step response, references the corresponding time-dependent integral temperature of the pressure measuring cell, in order to eliminate, or to compensate, the temperature influence on the pressure measurement signal provided by the measuring element.

Known pressure measuring devices ascertain pressure of a measured medium in a container either by means of a capacitive or a piezoresistive pressure measuring cell with a correspondingly designed measuring bridge, or with a correspondingly designed measuring element, either of which is usually an integral part of a chip. In both embodiments, the measurement signal representing pressure is also dependent on temperature. In order to eliminate the temperature influence on the measured value and so to reach a desired high accuracy of measurement, it is necessary to compensate the disturbing variable 'temperature' in a suitable manner.
From the state of the art, known solutions propose to compensate the disturbance 'temperature' either analogy via a corresponding compensation circuit or digitally via a characteristic curve examination in the case of different selected temperature levels in the working range of the pressure measuring device. An analog compensation circuit is disclosed, for example, in German Patent DE 35 03 489 A1. The digital compensation uses an algorithm, which enables removal of a measurement error arising due to a temperature change by calculation at the pressure measuring device. A known algorithm is based, for example, on the method of least squares, or linear regression.
Applied is also the following algorithm: On the basis of comparison of measured values, provided via the measuring bridge, with corresponding reference values, via a mathematical model with an equation system of nth order, coefficients for minimizing the characteristic curve error and temperature error are ascertained. The coefficients are then stored in a sensor electronics assigned to the pressure measuring cell, or the pressure sensor. Alternatively, for this, also a grid of known points can be stored, wherein, between these known points, an interpolation is performed. The coefficients are likewise stored in a memory of sensor electronics.
The earlier described methods for compensating the temperature effect in the case of pressure measuring devices is not without problem in all applications: Thus e.g. the characteristic curve examination for ascertaining the temperature dependent correction values occurs always at a point in time, when the pressure measuring cell is 'warmed through', when, thus, all mechanical components of the pressure measuring cell, especially the housing platform, the measuring flanges and the pressure transfer medium, after an abrupt temperature change, are in an 'equilibrated' steady state and, thus, at the same constant temperature.
These methods cannot handle all measuring situations arising in practice, an example being the case of a pressure measuring device, which ascertains temperature, for example, at the measuring element, which—as already mentioned above—is, in many cases, an integral part of a chip, which is in contact with the measuring membrane. In many cases, the measuring membrane is isolated from the measured medium by at least one pressure transfer means. Known compensation models compensate the temperature influence nevertheless on the basis of the temperature registered at the measuring element. At times, this can cause a relatively large measurement error.
The problem, which can result from this situation, is made clear by the following example: If the surrounding temperature changes abruptly, then the temperature of the pressure measuring cell changes internally significantly slower than the currently measured temperature at the measuring element. This shows itself especially when the chip with the integrated temperature sensor is arranged outside the actual housing of the pressure measuring cell, or the solid platform, such as is the case for the pressure measuring cell schematically illustrated in FIG. 2.
If the surrounding temperature changes, now, for example, from 20° C. to 70° C., then the temperature sensor at the measuring element, or on the chip, displays relatively rapidly the 70° C., which reigns in the surroundings. In contrast, such temperature reaches the mechanical components of the pressure measuring cell only after a significantly longer time, namely when the pressure measuring cell has 'warmed through'. If the known compensation method is employed, then, over a period of time of approximately two hours, the temperature compensation will be performed on the basis of a temperature value, which is too high. As a result thereof, the pressure measuring device delivers during this time span a pressure measurement value burdened with a relatively large measurement error.
Other problematic cases of application occurring in practice are set forth, by way of example, as follows:    Case 1: At a relative, absolute or difference, pressure measuring device, a change, especially an abrupt change, occurs in the surrounding temperature.
In this case, primarily the temperature of the measurement transmitter, which contains the electronic components of the pressure measuring device, changes. Examples of this case are temperature changes as a result of change of solar radiation or as a result of movement of a missile. Also installation of the pressure measuring device in the vicinity of the measured medium has a large influence, moreover, when the device is temporarily exposed e.g. to the radiative heat from open, firing hatches or during metal tapping in foundries.    Case 2: At a difference pressure measuring device, the temperature, in the case of an abrupt change of temperature of the measured medium, changes in both pressure measuring chambers almost simultaneously. Examples of this case are fill-level measurements at containers with variable temperature of the measured medium, e.g. the filling of a hot liquid into a container residing earlier at room temperature. This situation can occur, in among other ways, in the context of cleaning cycles or in the case of flow measurements with orifices where the measured media have a variable temperature.    Case 3: At a relative, absolute or difference, pressure measuring device, the temperature of the measured medium changes unilaterally. An example of this is fill level measurement in a container having a unilateral flange mount—here, thus, the reference side is open. This situation can occur, for example, in the case of pressure measurement in an open container.


A printshop management scheduling routine and system which provide optimum scheduling of printer jobs on a network. The scheduling routine utilizes the total complex of printers available at local location and/or remote locations to allocate and complete printer jobs based on a plurality of criteria, including requested completion time for the project. If requested completion time does not allow printing of the print job by a sole printer, the print job is allocated to a plurality of available printers, each printing a portion of the complete print job.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a printshop management scheduling routine which provides optimum scheduling of printer jobs on a network. The scheduling routine utilizes the total complex of printers available at local areas and/or remote locations to allocate and complete printer jobs based on a plurality of criteria.
2. Description of Related Art
U.S. Pat. No. 4,839,829 to Freedman discloses an automated printing control system for printing of a work. The system comprises a first terminal adapted for use by a requester to request work to be printed and to receive information concerning parameters for the printing of the work. A second terminal is adapted for use by a printing facility for receiving information concerning the printing of the work. A computer is in communication with the first and second terminals and interacts with both concerning pricing and administration. Parameters such as what type of work is to be printed, format, size, quantity, etc. are input through the first terminal. All of the parameters are used by the computer to develop cost information using pricing strategies based on available printing equipment or facilities. The requester then receives information regarding the pricing, timing, etc. and is given the opportunity to select a particular printing facility to complete the job. Once the facility is selected, the computer authorizes proceeding with printing of the job.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,128,878 to Gore discloses a remote plotting system in which a plot server computer is programmed to receive plot requests in a common spooling area sent from other workstations in a network, performing rasterization of data, and scheduling resulting plots to the first available plotter based on a round robin scheduling scheme.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,476,486, 4,521,805 and 4,527,885, all to Ayata et al., disclose an image recording system which utilizes a plurality of recording units within a recording apparatus. If more than one copy is requested, the copy job is divided among the available recording units to provide parallel printing. According to another aspect, each recording unit can be of a different type, i.e., a high speed black and white copier and a color copier.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,587,532 to Asano discloses a recording apparatus having a plurality of recording units. If more than one copy is requested, the copy job is divided among the available recording units to provide parallel printing.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,597,071 to Jones discloses a diverse input system for electrostatically reproducing and recording information.
Xerox Disclosure Journal, Vol. 16, No. 6, November 1991, Pgs. 381-383, discloses integration of a slower color printer with a higher speed black only printer to output collated job sets of black only copy sheets with color inserts at a rate at or near the full normal high speed copying rate of the high speed black only printer.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,123,089 to Beilinski et al. discloses an apparatus and protocol for a local area network. The network comprises a plurality of computers connected to a corresponding plurality of network controllers. In turn, each network controller is coupled to a corresponding I/O device such as a printer, plotter or modem.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,947,345 to Paradise et al. discloses a queue management system for a multi-function copier, printer and facsimile machine. Queue management between copying, printing and facsimile jobs is accomplished on a strict FIFO order or a modified FIFO order in which facsimile jobs are deferred.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,130,806 to Reed et al. discloses an electronic reprographic printing system that allows sending of messages with print jobs from remote user workstations to a central machine. The messages can be displayed on a User Interface.