A mechanism is provided for enhancing the sensitivity of an ion-sensitive semiconductor device by creating a second gate coupled to a sense plate that can improve the amount of charge brought to the ion-sensitive semiconductor device conductivity modulated region (e.g., a channel region of an ISFET). This is accomplished by utilizing a buried dielectric layer associated with the ion-sensitive semiconductor device conductivity modulated region as the second gate dielectric. The buried dielectric layer is coupled to the sense plate using an isolated well region as a conductor that is coupled to metal layers extending to the sense plate. Some embodiments further use the buried dielectric layer as the sole gate dielectric for the semiconductor device, thereby allowing the traditional gate dielectric region to be coupled to a protection diode. This protection diode then protects the gate dielectric from plasma induced damage and electrostatic discharge.

Field
This disclosure relates generally to ion sensing semiconductor devices, and more specifically, to a mechanism for enhancing sensitivity of ion sensing devices made using silicon on insulator techniques.
Related Art
Ion Sensitive Field Effect Transistors (ISFETs) are often used to sense a concentration of a target ion or molecule in an electrolytic solution. In early ISFET designs, the fluid being sensed was often in intimate contact with the gate dielectric, or separated from the gate dielectric by an ion-sensitive membrane. More current ISFET structures are made using CMOS process flows to create relatively low-cost devices with improved manufacturability. A typical CMOS ISFET includes a sense plate and a CMOS transistor, which includes a floating gate that is coupled to the sense plate. As is typical with a CMOS transistor, the gate is electrically isolated from the transistor channel through a gate dielectric.
In order to measure the ionic concentration, the sense plate interacts with the solution, either directly or through an ion-sensitive material formed on the sense plate, where a reaction can take place between the sense plate material and the ions. Dimensions of the sense plate are typically on the order of 100 square microns. The larger the sense plate area, the higher the sensitivity of the device. But the sense plate is a significant contributor to the size of an ISFET device, and thus larger sense plate areas increase the size of the ISFET device.
In addition, during fabrication of a typical CMOS ISFET, once the gate dielectric is formed, it is susceptible to damage, particularly plasma-induced damage from fabrication processes in which plasmas are present (e.g., during formation of metal layers coupled to the ISFET gate). These processes include, for example, plasma etching, plasma deposition, and the like. Even after fabrication, the gate dielectric may be susceptible to damage from electrostatic discharge (ESD) events or other situations in which the breakdown voltage of the gate dielectric is exceeded.
There is therefore a need for improved ISFET devices that provide enhanced sensitivity to ionic concentration without increasing the dimensions of the sense plate, and which also have decreased susceptibility to plasma-induced damage and electrostatic discharge.
The use of the same reference symbols in different drawings indicates identical items unless otherwise noted. The figures are not necessarily drawn to scale.

Enhanced sensitivity ion sensing devices


System and method for charging or discharging one or more batteries. For example, a battery management system for charging or discharging one or more batteries includes: a first transistor including a first transistor terminal, a second transistor terminal, and a third transistor terminal, the second transistor terminal being configured to receive a first drive signal; a second transistor including a fourth transistor terminal, a fifth transistor terminal, and a sixth transistor terminal, the fifth transistor terminal being configured to receive a second drive signal; a burst mode detector configured to receive the first drive signal and generate a burst-mode detection signal based at least in part on the first drive signal; and a drive signal generator configured to receive the burst-mode detection signal and generate the first drive signal and the second drive signal based at least in part on the burst-mode detection signal.

Certain embodiments of the present invention are directed to integrated circuits. More particularly, some embodiments of the invention provide systems and methods for low current detection. Merely by way of example, certain embodiments of the invention have been applied to charging and/or discharging of batteries. But it would be recognized that the invention has a much broader range of applicability.
A battery management system is widely used for managing one or more lithium-ion batteries. Often, the battery management system needs to detect the charging current or the discharging current of a lithium-ion battery. When the charging current falls below a predetermined threshold (e.g., an exit threshold current), the battery management system usually determines the battery to be fully charged, and when the discharging current falls below the predetermined threshold (e.g., the exit threshold current), the battery management system often determines the load (e.g., a mobile phone) to be full or the load (e.g., a mobile phone) to be pulled out.
In some examples, for battery charging, when the battery is full, the charging current reduces to a very small magnitude (e.g., zero) that is below the predetermined threshold (e.g., the exit threshold current). The battery management system (e.g., a battery management chip) needs to detect the battery being full and then terminate the charging process in order to protect the battery from certain adverse effects of excessive charging. In certain examples, for battery discharging, when the load is full or the load is pulled out, the discharging current reduces to a very small magnitude (e.g., zero) that is below the predetermined threshold (e.g., the exit threshold current). The battery management system (e.g., a battery management chip) needs to detect the load being full or pulled out and then terminate the discharging process in order to prevent the battery management system itself from further consuming the battery power. To detect whether the charging current or the discharging current drops below the predetermined threshold (e.g., the exit threshold current), an external sense resistor and/or an internal sense field effect transistor (FET) often are used.
FIG. 1 is a simplified diagram showing a conventional battery charging system. The battery charging system 100 includes a battery management system 110, an inductor 120, a resistor 130, a battery 140, a power supply 190. The battery management system 110 (e.g., a chip) includes terminals 150, 152, 154, 156 and 158 (e.g., pins). Additionally, the battery management system 110 (e.g., a chip) includes a voltage sensing circuit 112, a logic controller and gate driver 114, and transistors 116 and 118. The logic controller and gate driver 214 generates the gate drive signals 162 and 164, which are received by the transistors 116 and 118 respectively. The power supply 190 provides an input voltage to the terminal 154, and the battery 140 (e.g., a lithium-ion battery) is charged between the terminals 156 and 158 through at least the inductor 120 and the resistor 130. For example, each of the transistors 116 and 118 includes a drain terminal, a gate terminal, and a source terminal. As an example, the battery 140 includes a terminal 142 connected to the inductor 120, and the battery 140 also includes a terminal 144 connected to the terminal 158 and biased to a ground voltage.
As shown in FIG. 1, the resistor 130 is external to the battery management system 110 (e.g., a chip). To reduce the power consumption of the resistor 130, the resistance value of the resistor 130 usually is set to be very small, in the range of 10 mat. As an example, the exit threshold current often is set in the range of 50 mA to 100 mA, so the voltage sensing circuit 112 needs to detect a voltage that is less than 1 mV in magnitude. In order to accurately detect such a small voltage, the voltage sensing circuit 112 usually adopts a special structure with chopping mechanism, and/or uses electronic components with large sizes. For example, each of the transistors 116 and 118 is an NMOS transistor. As an example, the drain terminal of the transistor 116 receives an input voltage 192 from the power supply 190 through the terminal 154.
FIG. 2 is a simplified diagram showing another conventional battery charging system. The battery charging system 200 includes a battery management system 210, an inductor 220, a battery 240, and a power supply 290. The battery management system 210 (e.g., a chip) includes terminals 254, 256 and 258 (e.g., pins). Additionally, the battery management system 210 (e.g., a chip) includes a current sensing circuit 212, a logic controller and gate driver 214, and transistors 116, 118 and 260. The logic controller and gate driver 214 generates a gate drive signal 262, which is received by the transistors 260 and 216, and the logic controller and gate driver 214 also generates a gate drive signal 264, which is received by the transistor 218. The power supply 290 provides an input voltage to the terminal 254, and the battery 240 (e.g., a lithium-ion battery) is charged between the terminals 256 and 258 through at least the inductor 220. For example, each of the transistors 216 and 218 includes a drain terminal, a gate terminal, and a source terminal. As an example, the battery 240 includes a terminal 242 connected to the inductor 220, and the battery 240 also includes a terminal 244 connected to the terminal 258 and biased to a ground voltage.
As shown in FIG. 2, the transistor 260 (e.g., a field-effect transistor) serves as a sense transistor, external to the battery management system 210 (e.g., a chip). The current flowing through the transistor 260 is equal to the current flowing through the transistor 216 divided by N, where N is a positive integer. Often, N is selected to be a large integer (e.g., an integer ranging from 1,000 to 10,000) in order to make the current flowing through the transistor 260 small under the full load condition when the current flowing though the transistor 216 is large. The current flowing through the transistor 260 is detected by the current sensing circuit 212, but the current detection accuracy of the battery charging system 200 is limited.
Hence it is highly desirable to improve the techniques related to detecting a charging current and/or a discharging current of a lithium-ion battery.

Systems and methods for low current detection

On-Bright Electronics (Shanghai) Co., Ltd.


A dynamic random access memory circuit is provided, having at least one write bit line, at least one read bit line, a capacitive storage device, a write access device operatively coupled to the capacitive storage device and the at least one write bit line, a sense amplifier operatively coupled to the at least one read bit line and configured to generate an output signal, a refresh bypass device operatively associated with the sense amplifier and the at least one write bit line so as to selectively pass the output signal to the at least one write bit line, and a write-read bypass device operatively coupled to the at least one write bit line and the at least one read bit line and configured to selectively pass a write signal from a write bit line signal point along the at least one write bit line to a read bit line signal point along the at least one read bit line for output to a data output. the output signal is selectively passed to the at least one write bit line. The write signal is selectively passed from the write bit line signal point along the at least one write bit line to the read bit line signal point along the at least one read bit line for output to the data output.

In dynamic random access memory (DRAM) cells, such as the 1T1C cell, the 3T (or 3T1C) gain cell, and the gated diode cells, 0- and 1-data are stored as electric charges in various storage elements, such as a stack capacitor, trench capacitor, transistor gate capacitor, and gated diode. The stored charges can only remain in the storage element for a finite amount of time, as there are leakage paths from the storage node, which holds the charges, to the neighboring nodes. Typical leakage paths are the source-drain path of the write device under sub-threshold leakage, the tunneling leakage through the storage element oxide and the gate oxide of the write device and the read device (as in the case for the 3T, 3T1C, 3T1D and 2T1D cells, for example), and the storage node to silicon body leakage via the junction leakage of the write device.
Traditionally, in order to hold the data for a longer or an indefinite amount of time, the stored charges are periodically "refreshed" in accordance with the "retention time" of the memory. Refreshing of the memory cells is typically carried out by allocating some predetermined time (memory cycles) to reading data from each cell and writing the same data back to the cell. During refreshing of the memory cells, the memory array that contains the cells being refreshed is suspended from the normal read and write operations, thereby reducing the availability of the memory array for normal read and write operations and, hence, potentially reducing the overall system performance. The more often the memory array needs to be refreshed (i.e., the shorter the retention time), the lower the availability of the memory array for normal operations and potentially the lower the overall system performance.
For commodity-type 1T1C DRAM, the refresh interval (which is required to be less than the smallest retention time) for a wordline address is typically 128 ms, with a 20 ns DRAM cycle time. Therefore, in a memory system that has 8 arrays and 512 rows per array (for a total of 4096 words), the refreshing time for the system is 20*4096 ns=80 μs. The percentage of time required for refreshing the memory is 0.06% (80 μs/128000 μs), which is a relatively small penalty for most applications.
The device variability of semiconductor technology has become a major issue as the minimum feature size approaches the physical limits. This leads to the instability of, for example, 6T SRAM cells, which limits the scaling of the cells. Dynamic memory is being considered as a potential alternative for high speed embedded cache in order to attain better density and to address the stability issues facing the 6T SRAM cells (which have been traditionally used in the area). For high speed dynamic cache memory, the refresh interval is smaller (for example, about 10-348 μs) due to the smaller cell retention time associated with the logic-based embedded DRAM technology (with a 2 ns refresh cycle time, for example). Therefore, for example, in a memory system that has 8 arrays and 128 rows per array (for a total of 1024 rows), the refreshing time is 2048 ns (2 ns*1024 rows). Assuming an exemplary refresh interval of 20 μs, the percentage of time required for refreshing the high speed memory is 10% (2048 rows/35200 ns). Assuming a typical L2 cache miss ratio of 5% using conventional 6T SRAM, the exemplary 10% cache utilization for refreshing the dynamic cells will significantly impact the cache performance.
For a given high speed dynamic memory cell with a certain retention time, it would be beneficial to improve the refreshing scheme by hiding the refresh cycles for read operations, write operations, or both, in order to make either the read operation, the write operation, or both operations more highly available. That is, if a refresh cycle were "hidden," it would not prevent the carrying out of a read or write operation, as the case may be, during the "hidden" refresh.

International Business Machines Corporation


The thienylazolylalkoxyethanamines (I) where R1 is a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom or a lower alkyl radical; R2, R3 and R4 represent, independently, a hydrogen atom or a lower alkyl radical; and Az represents a five-member nitrogenated hetercyclic aromatic group, N-methyl-substituted, that contains from one to three nitrogen atoms. They have analgesic activity in mammals, including humans. The compounds (I) can be obtained, for example, by reaction of a derivative of hydroxy-thienylazol (IV) with a derivative of a suitable N-(ethyl)amine. The compounds (IV) are useful intermediates in the synthesis of the compounds (I). The compounds (I) have an application in human and/or veterinary medicine.

In our patent application EP 289380 we have described different derivatives of phenylpyrazolylcarbinols, of general formula (II)
in which R1 represents a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group; R2 represents an aminoalkyl radical and Het represents an azol.
We have now discovered that substituting a benzene ring for a thiopheno ring gives rise to new compounds of general formula (I) that show some interesting biological properties. These properties make the new compounds particularly useful for use in human and/or veterinary therapy. The compounds object of this patent are useful as agents with analgesic activity.

Thienylazolylalkoxyethanamines, their preparation and their application as medicaments


An object of the invention is to achieve a high intensity, a compact structure, a cost reduction and a heat radiation of a liquid crystal panel, in a projection type video display apparatus employing a combination of LED light sources and a light pipe. The light pipe is formed in a hollow type so as to be utilized as a cooling wind path. Further, a permeable or reflective baffle plate is provided within the light pipe. Further, the light pipe is formed by coating a mirror on an inner surface of an optical case integrally formed by fixing optical parts. Further, a dichroic mirror is arranged in an LED light source outgoing surface.

The present invention relates to a projection type video display apparatus employing a video display element such as a transmission type liquid crystal, a reflection type liquid crystal, a digital micromirror device (DMD) constituted by a micro mirror or the like.
There has been known a projection type video display apparatus such as a liquid crystal projector or the like which applies a light from a light source to a video display element such as a liquid crystal panel or the like, and enlarges and projects an image on the liquid crystal panel. In recent years, in accordance with a high intensity of a light emitting diode (hereinafter, refer briefly to "LED"), there has been considered to apply the LED as a light source of the projection type graphic image display apparatus by effectively utilizing a high color purity, a long service life and a good lighting property thereof.
As a new aspect at a time of applying the LED light source to the projection type video display apparatus, for example, one transmission type liquid crystal panel is used, and three LED forming the light source are used in correspondence to three elementary colors. Further, a color display can be achieved by synchronizing a motion of the liquid crystal panel and a sequential lighting of three color LED. This structure is disclosed in JP-A-2003-329978.


A countersink assembly including a countersink sleeve body with a distal cutting edge, a longitudinal bore to receive and secured to a drill bit, and a flute extending from the distal cutting edge. A depth stop collar having a longitudinal bore is disposed on and secured to the countersink sleeve body. In an example embodiment, the longitudinal bore of the depth stop collar includes at least one passage for chip egress. In addition or in the alternative, the flute includes a flat surface and a part cylindrical surface extending from the distal cutting edge along the length of the flute at an angle to the longitudinal bore of the countersink sleeve body so as to present a slight down-cut spiral.

Drill countersinks are known in the art for receiving and holding a drill bit. An example prior art countersink is illustrated in FIG. 9. The countersink tool 10 includes a proximal end 12 with a shank 14 and a distal end 16 with a cutting edge 18. The shank 14 includes an annular groove 20 for connection with an automatic or "quick-release" coupling of a drill chuck to a holder (not shown). The shank 14 is of any suitable shape for rotatably engagement with a power source, using either a male or female coupling.
The countersink tool 10 includes a longitudinal bore 22 extending from the cutting edge 18. The bore 22 is adapted to receive a drill bit 24 therein having a diameter corresponding to that of the bore. The countersink tool 10 includes a body 27 having an outer wall 28 with a flute 26 formed at the distal end 16, which includes the cutting edge 18. The drill bit is held in place within the bore 22 by a set screw 30 which extends through the body 27 to engage the drill bit 24. Loosening the set screw 30, releases the drill bit 24 to adjust the length of the bit 24 extending from the distal end of the bore 22, and tightening the set screw 30 secures the drill bit within the bore 22 relative to body 27.
The illustrated countersink tool 10 is a single stage countersink with a single flute. Two stage countersinks are also known in the art for forming a counterbore having two diameters. Countersinks with more than one flute and/or set screws are also known in the art. Also illustrated is an adjustable stop collar 42 or depth stop attached to body 27 of the countersink tool 10. The depth stop 42 is placed upon the fluted portion of the countersink 10 to prevent an operator from drilling a counter bore too deep with the countersink tool 10. The conventional depth stop 42 is a simple ring having an inner diameter corresponding to the outer diameter of body 28. The depth stop collar 42 includes a workpiece engagement surface 43 and a set screw 44 to secure the collar in place along the length of the body 27 of the countersink tool 10. Loosening the set screw 44 releases the stop collar 42 to permit an operator to adjust its position along the length of the countersink tool 10 and tightening the set screw 44 secures the collar in place relative to the body 27. Thus, the depth of counter bore is adjustable in two ways, by adjusting the length of the drill bit extending from the bore 22 with the countersink set screw 30, and by adjusting the position of the stop collar 42 along the length of the countersink tool 10 with the depth stop collar set screw 44, thus fixing a counter bore depth D between the work engagement surface 43 of the stop collar 42 and the cutting edge 18 of the body 27 of the countersink tool 10.


A system and method of plasma processing includes a plasma chamber including a substrate support and an upper electrode opposite the substrate support, the upper electrode having a plurality of concentric temperature control zones and a controller coupled to the plasma chamber.

The present invention relates generally to plasma processing methods and systems and more particularly, to methods and systems for having dual temperature zones on an upper electrode in a plasma chamber.
FIG. 1A is side view a typical plasma chamber 100. The typical plasma chamber 100 has a single showerhead type upper electrode 102, a substrate support 140 for supporting a substrate 130 as the substrate is being processed by a plasma 150.
FIG. 1B is a more detailed view of a typical upper electrode in the plasma chamber 100. Typically, the showerhead type upper electrode 102 includes several layers 104, 110, 120, 125. A surface layer 104 includes an exposed plasma surface 104A and multiple outlet ports 106. The exposed plasma surface 104A is the surface of the surface layer that is exposed to the plasma 150. The outlet ports are substantially evenly distributed across the plasma chamber 100 so as to maintain a uniform distribution of the process gases.
Behind the surface layer 104, is a gas distribution layer 110. The gas distribution layer 110 includes multiple gas passages 112, 114 to distribute the process gases evenly to the ports 106 across the surface layer 104. The multiple gas passages 112, 114 are coupled to one or more external process gas sources, not shown. A great amount of effort is placed in detail in the design of the multiple gas passages 112, 114 so to ensure that the multiple gas passages evenly distribute the process gases to each of the outlet ports 106 and therefore evenly throughout the plasma chamber 100.
Behind the gas distribution layer 110 is a temperature control layer 120. The temperature control layer 120 includes elements 122. Elements 122 can heat or cool the temperature control layer 120, as desired, to control the temperature of the upper electrode 102. The temperature of the upper electrode 102 is controlled as one aspect of controlling the plasma processing occurring in the plasma chamber 100. A great amount of effort is placed in the detailed design of the temperature control layer 120 so as to maintain a uniform temperature across the surface layer 104.
Unfortunately, for various reasons, the plasma processing is not always uniform across the center to edge of the substrate 130. In view of the foregoing, what is needed is a system and method of manipulating the plasma processing from the center to the edge along of the substrate 130.

Dual zone temperature control of upper electrodes


A printer includes a head, an electrode, a moving unit, a voltage application circuit, and a controller. The head has an ejection surface having a nozzle. The head is configured to eject liquid from the nozzle. The moving unit is configured to move at least one of the electrode or the head. The voltage application circuit is configured to apply a certain voltage between the head and the electrode. The controller is configured to: drive the moving unit such that the ejection surface faces the electrode; drive the voltage application circuit to apply the certain voltage between the head and the electrode; compare a level of an output signal input to the controller from the electrode with a particular threshold; and based on the comparison result, determine that liquid is present between the ejection surface and the electrode.

In a known printer, a controller determines whether liquid has been ejected from respective nozzles of a head. More specifically, in response to receiving a liquid ejection instruction from the controller, the head attempts to eject liquid from the respective nozzles toward an electrode. The controller determines, based on changes in voltage at the electrode, whether liquid has been ejected from the respective nozzles.

Printer and method for detecting abnormal event in printer


A device for hardening a core mass containing sand contained within a foundry core forming tool includes a mixing device in communication with the foundry core forming tool for introducing a flow of a carrier gas stream enriched by catalyst vapor into the core mass containing sand; a first runnings system including a catalyst receiver tank containing catalyst, a first runnings pipe in communication with the catalyst receiver tank and the mixing device, a pump provided in the first runnings pipe for pumping catalyst from the catalyst receiver tank through the first runnings pipe, valve device provided in the first runnings pipe for dispensing catalyst into the mixing device, and a flow meter provided in the first running pipe between the pump and the valve device; a compressed air source in communication with the mixing device for providing a carrier gas stream comprised of air thereto; and programmed control device for controlling the valve device of the first runnings system and the compressed air source; wherein the valve device provided in the first runnings pipe may be temporarily utilized as a return pipe to the receiver tank by signal from the programmed control device so that pressure equalization in the first runnings system is obtained. The above device is useful for hardening a foundry core within a core forming tool of a core shooter by providing the core forming tool with such a device.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a device for hardening a foundry core from a mass containing sand in which the mass for hardening in the core form-tool is exposed to a gas stream enriched by a catalyst and, if necessary, subsequently to a compressed-air stream, with a mixing stage connectable ahead of the core form-tool for generating a catalyst vapor-carrier gas mixture which is in a flow connection with a catalyst receiver tank as well as with a program-controlled compressed-air source, by way of program-controlled valve means, pump means and flow meters.
2. Description of the Related Art
Such devices are well known; they allow for example, the so-called cold box casting process in which two components of an artificial resin system are added to the core sand which subsequently harden together with the sand as soon as an amine, for example an alkyl amine or a methyl formate, is added as a catalyst. In this, one component could, for example, be a polyester resin, a polyether or any artificial resin of liquid consistency with reactive hydroxyl groups; the second component is in every case an organic isocyanate. The two components are thoroughly mixed with the molding sand and then formed. Various attempts have been made to then catalyze the reaction and to render handling and use, in particular of the amines reliable.
Thus it has been well known for quite some time to push a mixture of tertiary alkyl amine and air through the isocyanate resin-sand mixture whereby this amine-air mixture is heated to a temperature of 30-50.degree. C. in order to vaporize all amine droplets.
However, the known processes have the common disadvantage in that the hardening process takes a considerable time. For example, mold release of the core-sand mixture in the form-tool often takes only a fraction of a second on a core shooter; by contrast, subsequent gasification for hardening the core needs to be maintained for several seconds. Naturally, as a result, gasification is enormously costly.
In order to reduce gasification time or hardening time, as a rule, it became customary to add an overdose of amines, with the danger of renewed liquification of the binders occurring thus reducing the possible final strength of the core to approx. 80 to 85%.
Later, a further process became known in which dispenser pumps are to be used between the catalyst source and the mixing station for carrier gas and catalyst, in order to be able to dispense the catalyst better. However, here too, this can only bring about an unsatisfactory result because the pressure conditions in the first runnings of the catalyst are at first absolutely indifferent with each dispensing action.
Subsequently, somewhat better results were achieved in that both the catalyst vapor-carrier gas mixture and the compressed air are each stored temporarily in a dispensing container, and from these dispensing containers they are then shot into a core, in sudden consecutive blasts, whereby the compressed air is stored with a larger volume and heated to a higher temperature than is the case with the catalyst vapor-carrier gas mixture.
However, technical expenditure for these measures is enormous and plants of this kind allow few variables.
It has therefore been proposed that for the production of the catalyst vapor-carrier gas mixture the catalyst be added in liquid form to a jet ahead of the heating stage, whereby its exit jet, influenced by an additional atomizing gas streaming through the jet, disintegrates.
However, such equipment allows only gasification with very inaccurate dispensing.
It is thus the object of the present invention to create a device of the type mentioned above which allows the most optimal dispensing of the required catalyst with the shortest gasification time, and at the same time the use of the most varied processes with the most varied parameters, such as subsequent pressure stages or proportional pressure increase, different quantities of catalyst gas and time discretion for the charging of carrier gas or compressed air.

Device for hardening foundry cores and use thereof


A check valve formed from a body having inlet and outlet interior chambers with the outlet chamber functioning as a diffuser when assisting in the arrest of reverse water flow. A seat base is positioned between the inlet and outlet chambers with a tubular sleeve for housing a stem having a lip positioned along one end and a threaded opposite end secured within the inlet chamber. A spring fits around the stem and a sphere is secured to the threaded end of the stem for engaging the seat base. Movement of the sphere away from the inlet chamber allows dry polymer to pass when the spring is compressed. Upon loss of force capable of moving the sphere away from the inlet chamber, relaxation of the spring allows the sphere to engage the seat base with an attached grommet before water can flow backwards into the interior chamber.

Currently existing check valves are suitable for a variety of applications. A conventional check valve is used to control fluid flow through a hose or pipe. More specifically, a conventional check valve allows for flow in one direction while preventing flow in the opposite direction. As the fluid enters the check valve in the direction of desired flow with enough pressure to overcome the check valve closure mechanism, a ball, disc or flapper closure element is displaced from a normally closed position. Displacement of the closure element from its normally closed position allows fluid to pass through the check valve. When the pressure of the fluid is less than the pressure required to overcome the check valve closure mechanism, the check valve closure element remains in the closed position. While the check valve closure element is in the closed position, flow in both the forward and reverse directions is prevented. A conventional spring-loaded ball, disc, or flapper check valve works well with particulate free fluids. When a conventional check valve is used with fluids containing particulates, the particulates can gather around the closure element and inhibit proper sealing. Without proper sealing, flow in the reverse direction becomes possible, thus defeating the purpose of the check valve.
Malfunction of the check valve could lead to undesired reversal of flow direction. Various attempts to address the use of check valves with dry material or the like particulates have been made. For example, a flapper check valve contains a spring-loaded plate that allows fluid flow in one direction while preventing fluid flow in the opposite direction. The flapper hinged along one edge allows the flapper to close with a diminishing side edge in order to prevent flow in the direction opposite to the desired direction of flow. While each of the closure elements have benefits, all known check valves can still malfunction as there is no provision to guarantee unperturbed function of the closure element seat.
A particular problem to be addressed is the flow of dry material, namely non-hydrated super absorbent polymers, through a flow path directed into an accelerated water stream. As the water stream is accelerated through an eductor, the ensuing pressure drop in the water stream causes a pressure drop in the polymer flow path. The aforementioned polymer flow path pressure drop draws polymer into the water stream. Upon abrupt downstream closure of the water stream flow path, pressurized water attempts to enter the polymer flow path. Closure of the polymer flow path prior to water entry is paramount to preventing premature hydration of the polymer and the resulting clogging of the polymer flow path. Therefore, it is critical to prevent reverse flow in the polymer flow path.

Check valve for use with super absorbent polymer


A facsimile device includes an automatic receiving function, in which, after the facsimile device is connected to a line, users can store a match pattern suitable for the connected line. At the stage of production of this facsimile device, no match pattern for an automatic receive mode is stored in this facsimile device, or alternatively, several match patterns corresponding to ringing signals employed in several countries are stored independent of destinations of the facsimile device. This facsimile device includes a characteristic setting mode. In this characteristic setting mode, this facsimile device detects a ringing signal from the line connected thereto and determines characteristic values of the detected ringing signal. The facsimile device sets the determined characteristic values in a match pattern employed in practice for determining whether or not there is a ring to call the facsimile device in the automatic receive mode. Thus, even if installed in any of a plurality of countries, or connected to a PBX that outputs an extraordinary ringing signal, this facsimile device can perform the automatic receiving function.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to facsimile devices and, more particularly, to a facsimile device having an automatic receiving function.
2. Description of the Background Art
Facsimile devices serve as still-picture transmit/receive apparatus for transmitting/receiving via telephone lines a picture signal obtained by decomposing characters, figures, photographs, etc. into a plurality of small pixels by scanning and are in wide use. The facsimile devices are connected with each other via telephone lines through a switchboard. When one of the two facsimile devices connected via telephone lines through the switchboard transmits a picture signal to the other device, the one facsimile device supplies a signal indicating a request-to-send as an output to the switchboard. In response to this applied signal, the switchboard transmits a signal for ringing the bell of a telephone for general use (hereinafter referred to as ringing signal) to the other facsimile device. The facsimile device is connected with the telephone for general use, so that the bell of the connected telephone rings in response to the ringing signal from the switchboard.
There are two or more types of facsimile devices: one has both an automatic receive mode, in which the facsimile device can automatically receive a picture signal in response to a ringing signal from the switchboard, and a manual receive mode, in which the facsimile device is set to be able to receive a picture signal by manual operation of users responding to a ring of the bell of a telephone connected to the device; and the other has only the manual receive mode.
FIG. 6 is a schematic block diagram showing general structure of a conventional facsimile device having an automatic receiving function. With reference to FIG. 6, a controller 100 includes a main controller 110, an image memory controller 120, an image memory 130, a sensor circuit 140, a panel controller 150, a mechanism/record controller 160, a read processor 180, a transmission controller 4, and a ringing signal detecting circuit 5.
An operation panel 8b includes a keying switch, by which users perform mode setting of this facsimile device, starting of transmission/reception and the like, and a display panel for displaying various information for the users' operation. A network control unit (hereinafter referred to as NCU) 2 serves as an interface for coupling lines 1 and the facsimile device. A modem 3 has a function of receiving a picture signal transmitted via lines 1 through NCU 2 and then demodulating the received picture signal in the form of a signal that can be processed in controller 100, i.e., a digital signal, and a function of modulating a picture signal to be transmitted in a signal form that is suitable for transmission via lines 1. An original feeding system 210 serves to feed originals such as paper, on which characters and figures or designs to be transferred are drawn, and photographs into the facsimile device. A lighting system 190 is supplied with power from a lighting circuit 170, to light up the original fed into the facsimile device by original feeding system 210. Reflected light from the original, caused by this lighting up, enters in a read optical system 200. Read optical system 200 includes an image sensor formed such as of CCD (Charge-Coupled Device) image sensing devices. The reflected light from the original forms an optical image of the figures or designs on the original onto a light receiving surface of the image sensor. Thus, read optical system 200 supplies as an output an analog picture signal of one picture frame corresponding to the figures or designs on the original. A recording system 210 serves to print the figures or designs, corresponding to the picture signal received by the facsimile device, on record paper and then to transmit the printed record paper outside the facsimile device. In general, original feeding system 210 includes various sensors for detecting positions of the original, or the like. Similarly, recording system 220 includes sensors for detecting positions of the record paper, or the like.
Sensor circuit 140 supplies information based on output signals of the sensors included in the original feeding system 210 and recording system 220 to main controller 110. Panel controller 150 detects a key entry into operation panel 8b and supplies the detected key entry to main controller 110, and also changes displays on operation panel 8b in response to an instruction from main controller 110. Read processor 180 serves to subject a picture signal in analog form, supplied as an output from read optical system 200, to a predetermined correction processing. Image memory controller 120 serves to convert the picture signal subjected to the correction processing by read processor 180 into image data of a predetermined form and to supply the image data to image memory 130. Image memory 130 stores the image data supplied by image memory controller 120. Image memory controller 120 further reads the image data from image memory 130 and converts the read image data into a picture signal of the original form, to supply the converted signal to main controller 110 and transmission controller 4. Mechanism/record controller 160 controls mechanical operations such as of original feeding system 210 and recording system 220, so that the travelling of the original and record paper, the density of printing onto the record paper, etc. may be appropriate.
In transmission, since a picture signal of the original is supplied as an output from read optical system 200, image data corresponding to this picture signal is once stored in image memory 130, then read and applied to image memory controller 120. Transmission controller 4 provides a processing for transmission (encoding processing) to the picture signal supplied by image memory controller 120 and then applies the processed picture signal to modem 3. Main controller 110 carries out a control for this operation of transmission controller 4 in response to the picture signal supplied as an output from image memory controller 120. As a result, a picture signal corresponding to the figures or designs on the original is transmitted via modem 3 and NCU 2 onto lines 1.
In reception, since a picture signal is supplied as an input to NCU 2 via lines 1, transmission controller 4 provides an opposite processing (decoding) from the foregoing processing for transmission to a picture signal demodulated by modem 3. The picture signal processed by transmission controller 4 is applied to image memory controller 120. Accordingly, image data corresponding to the picture signal received by this facsimile device is stored in image memory 130. The image data stored in image memory 130 at this time is restored to the original picture signal by image memory controller 120 and the restored signal is applied to main controller 110. Main controller 110 controls mechanism/record controller 160 in response to the picture signal supplied by image memory controller 120 at this time so that figures or designs corresponding to the received picture signal may be printed on record paper in recording system 220.
Main controller 110 controls, in practice, the operation of all function portions included in controller 100, and a power supply circuit 230. Power supply circuit 230 is controlled by main controller 110 so as to convert an alternating voltage applied from a power supply for commercial use into a predetermined direct current voltage and to apply the converted voltage to an internal circuit of the facsimile device including controller 100.
In order that the facsimile device becomes the above-described receiving state, a ringing signal from a switchboard (not shown) must be applied via lines 1 to NCU 2. FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a general waveform of this ringing signal.
With reference to FIG. 9, this ringing signal has a definite frequency fc, a duration Tc and a rest period Tb. The conventional facsimile device having automatic receiving function stores in advance the characteristics of a ringing signal (frequency, duration, rest period, etc.) employed for lines connected with this facsimile device. When a signal having the same characteristics as those already stored in the device is supplied as an input, the facsimile device determines that there is a ringing, and thus performs a facsimile receiving operation.
That is, referring to FIG. 6, main controller 110 is constituted, in general, by a CPU (Central Processing Unit) including a memory. Patterns of the characteristics of the ringing signal employed for the lines are fixedly stored in this memory in advance.
A ringing signal transmitted from the switchboard is applied via NCU 2 to ringing signal detecting circuit 5.
FIG. 7 is a circuit diagram showing one example of ringing signal detecting circuit 5 employed in the conventional facsimile device having automatic receiving function. FIG. 8 is a diagram showing signal waveforms appearing in the circuit shown in FIG. 7. It is assumed, for example, that a ringing signal having a waveform shown in FIG. 8 (a) is supplied as an input to this ringing signal detecting circuit. This supplied ringing signal is an alternate current signal of 75 V, 16 Hz, which is superimposed on DC48V, a direct current voltage of line 1. A condenser 41 serves to block a direct current component of DC48V of a voltage signal applied via line 1 and to extract only an alternate current component of 16 Hz shown in FIG. 8 (b). The alternate current component extracted by condenser 41 is subjected to half-wave rectification by diodes 42 and 43. This causes a signal having a waveform shown in FIG. 8 (c) to be applied to a light emitting diode 441 in a photocoupler 44. A light receiving transistor 442 in photocoupler 41 is rendered conductive in response to light emitted from light emitting diode 441, to apply an output voltage of a reference voltage source 46 to an amplifying/inverting circuit 45. Therefore, the signal subjected to the half-wave rectification by diodes 42 and 43 is applied through photocoupler 44 to amplifying/inverting circuit 45. Amplifying/inverting circuit 45 includes two NPN transistors 451 and 452 in Darlington connection. These transistors 451 and 452 invert an input signal to be applied amplifying/inverting circuit 45 and then provide a rectangular wave of 16 Hz as shown in FIG. 8 (d) to an output terminal of amplifying/inverting circuit 45.
Referring to FIG. 6 again, main controller 110 determines the characteristics of a ringing signal (frequency, duration, rest period, etc.) in response to the signal having the rectangular wave detected from ringing signal detecting circuit 5 as described above. When the pattern of the determined characteristics is identical to that of the ringing signal already stored in the memory of main controller 110, main controller 110 determines that there is a ringing and then initiates a series of control operations for receiving a picture signal.
As described above, the conventional facsimile device should fixedly store, in advance, the characteristic pattern of a ringing signal on the lines connected with the facsimile device (hereinafter referred to as a match pattern). The ringing signal shown in FIG. 8 (a) is employed in public telecommunication lines in Japan. The characteristics of ringing signals are different for each country. FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of ringing signals having different characteristics employed in different countries. As shown in this diagram, the characteristics of the ringing signals vary in different countries. Thus, an individual match pattern, corresponding to each area where each facsimile device is installed, should be stored in a memory of a CPU or the like in each facsimile device, in the manufacture of the facsimile devices. Thus, the facsimile devices must be manufactured individually for their installation destinations. Therefore, the conventional facsimile device is disadvantageous with respect to its low production efficiency.
In addition, facsimile devices are not only connected directly to such public telecommunication lines but also to private branch exchanges (hereinafter referred to as PBX). For example, when a plurality of telecommunication devices share one public telecommunication line in a company and the like, an employed PBX is connected via the public line to a switchboard in a telecomunnication station, but via separate lines to those telecommunication devices. When a ringing signal is transmitted from the switchboard in the station onto the public line, the PBX transmits a ringing signal to any of the of telecommunication devices in response to the transmission of the ringing signal to the public line. Therefore, a match pattern corresponding to the ringing signal of the PBX must be stored in advance in a facsimile device connected to the PBX. There are, however, numerous types of ringing signals of the PBXs depending on the type of the PBXs or the like. Thus, it is very difficult as a practical matter to manufacture the facsimile devices having automatic receiving function separately according to different types of the PBXs connected with the devices. Moreover, the PBXs has been increasingly improved recently. Thus, there are some ringing signals of the PBXs that cannot be known to manufacturers these days. Therefore, there is another problem that a match pattern to be stored in advance in a facsimile device cannot be determined.

Facsimile device and automatic receiving method thereof


A motion based communications system having an animated device, which is controlled locally or over a network connection, and which uses motion to convey information to a user. The information can relate to a predefined system events, such as printer status changes, e-mail status, system errors or communications. Further, it can represent remote individuals in a chat room, or when playing games. Computer games can use it to represent a remote or local human or software opponent. Voice recognition software allows commands or data to be input to the system via the device. Multiple devices can be used for multiple remotely located users. A universal base unit allows characters to be replaceably attached to, and controlled by, the base unit. Different characters can be substituted for different games, etc. The device may be software controlled by any application program via a standard application program interface.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to computer input output (I/O) devices. In particular, it relates to a three-dimensional multimedia input output device for communication between a user and a computer. The device is three-dimensional, has motion capability, has audio output and input capability, and can be programmed to perform specific functions or entertainment activities related to communications between a computer and a user.
2. Background
Computers have become so prolific in modern society that they now may be considered to be almost in the category of common appliances. Not only does a substantial portion of the population have at least one computer, but also many individuals have several. Likewise, it is very difficult for most businesses to function without at least one computer. While most computers vary slightly from one another, they all tend to share similar methods of communicating between the computer and the user.
In a conventional computer system, output data is presented to a user primarily via a display screen and a printer. In addition, most operating systems which control computers use a variety of audio output signals of one kind or alert a user as to a specific condition such as the arrival of email, printer malfunctions, disk errors, etc. Likewise, attempts to allow users to communicate with computers by inputting voice commands and data has now reached the point where voice input can now be effectively used. Other mechanical devices, such as a keyboard and a mouse also allow users to enter data. These communication methods allow users to enter data in a variety of manners. However, they do little to increase the enjoyment of using a computer, especially for young people and children. It would be desirable to have a method of interaction with computers that allows individuals to receive output data from a computer, and input data into a computer, which provides a more "human-like" experience for the user, and which may provide the user with some amusement and entertainment at the same time.
One application which most computer users take advantage of is the ability to communicate via email. In an effort to make email more efficient, a variety of methods have been used to notify the user when an email is received. For example, one system uses a small icon that appears on the computer screen to notify the user that email has arrived. Alternatively, audio alarms can also be used to notify the user. In the event that the user is not paying careful attention to the computer display screen, the notice icon may be easily missed. Likewise, if the user steps away from the computer momentarily, an audible alarm may be missed. It would be desirable to have a method of notifying the user when email arrives which would be difficult for the user to miss and which would remain present for the user in the event the user steps away from the computer.
Another application commonly used by users on networks such as the Internet is the use of the computer to carry on conversations via chat rooms. This type of conversation typically is carried on in the form of text messages that are typed into the computer by the user, and which are displayed on a remote computer used by another user. This type of communication can be enjoyable, but it lacks the visual stimulus associated with interacting with another individual in person. It would be desirable to have a method of simulating the presence of others when engaging in activities such as online chats.
Another application has been the development of games in which an individual competes against a software opponent either in a local computer or across a network. As was the case, discussed above in regard to online chat rooms, it may be desirable to have an opponent as a physical presence rather than just an image on a display screen when playing a game against the computer.
Another computer application that has recently become especially popular is the use of games in which players can compete against one another from remote locations using sophisticated networks, such as the Internet. When individuals play games with one another in a non-computer environment, whether they are playing two player games or multi-player games, they typically have the benefit of enjoying reactions from their opponents during the course of play. Unfortunately, a disadvantage associated with computerized network's versions of games, which were heretofore played by individuals in the presence of one another, is that the individual players often find the games too impersonal because of the absence of the physical presence of their opponents. It would be desirable to have a method of simulating the presence of friends and opponents when playing games across computer networks.
While the prior art has provided numerous devices and methods for communicating between a computer and a computer user, it has failed to provide a method of communicating via multimedia data paths which use not only conventional methods of communication such as voice, but also use motion, such that in addition to moving data, also provides a more human feel to enhance the user's experience.

Interactive three-dimensional multimedia I/O device for a computer


An active microwave antenna device includes a two-port micropatch antenna which receives signals having a first circular polarization and transmits signals of opposite circular polarization. The device includes an integrated active circuit for amplifying and, optionally, filtering the signal. An array of such devices can be formed on a single substrate, each device being an independent active antenna, thus eliminating the need for RF or IF feed networks between the devices. Such arrays are believed to be particularly suitable for spatial power combining, rapid beam scanning, microwave imaging, frequency-polarization selective processes, and other related applications. The arrays may be either reflective or transmissive.

Microstrip and micropatch microwave antenna elements are known in the art. They generally consist of a conductive or semiconductive material applied to a dielectric substrate by known techniques, such as sputtering, vapour deposition, and masking techniques. An element is active if, through an active circuit, for example an MMIC, it amplifies a received or transmitted signal.
The integration of antennas and active circuits is of great interest for: quasi-optical, spatial power combining, phased arrays; spatial frequency and polarization sensitive surfaces; and direct receiving arrays for microwave and sub-millimeter waves. In addition, there is great interest in using planar active arrays for microwave/millimeter wave imaging systems and radiometers in applications such as remote sensing, environmental studies, radio cameras, and radio astronomy.
For many practical applications, a number of discrete elements, up to several thousand, are applied to a substrate to form a phased antenna array. Generally, prior art phased arrays require complex feed networks for RF or IF signals. These networks can be highly lossy, bulky and expensive to design and produce.
Such feed networks are generally provided by microstrip transmission lines interconnecting the elements to a common feed. The networks are generally symmetrical patterns of transmission lines designed to feed signals in phase to or from the antenna elements. Therefore, beyond the complexity and attendant expense of providing such RF and IF feed networks, the failure of single transmission line or element can lead to catastrophic failure of the array by cutting the received or transmitted power from the array by up to half. For this reason, power combining in space using quasi-optical techniques with no feed network has emerged as an attractive alternative. This is especially useful at millimeter and sub-millimeter wavelengths where the feed networks are typically complicated, bulky, and lossy.
Various radiating array architectures have been proposed for output power combination. R. M. Weikle II et al., "Planar MESFET grid oscillator using gate feedback," IEEE Trans. Microwave Theory Tech., vol. MTT-40, pp. 1997-2003, 1992, and J. Birkeland et al., "A 16 element quasi-optical FET oscillator power combining array with external injection locking," IEEE Trans. Microwave Theory Tech., vol MTT-40, pp. 475-481, 1992 describe the use of number of sets of solid state oscillators as a power combining array. J. B. Hacker et al., "A 100 element planar Schottky diode grid mixer," IEEE Trans. Microwave Theory Tech., vol. MTT-40, pp. 557-562, 1992, discloses mixers forming a power combining array. J. A. Benet et al., "Spatial power combining for millimeter wave solid state amplifiers," 1993 IEEE MTT-S Int. Microwave Symp. Digest, Atlanta, pp. 619-622, and M. Kim et al., "A 100-element HBT grid amplifier" 1993 IEEE MTT-S Int. Symp. Digest, Atlanta, pp. 615-618, 1993 describes sets of amplifiers, each set integrated only with its own planar patch, radiating into space. The structures described in Benet et al. and Kim et al., respectively, are related to reflecting and transmitting amplifier surfaces. However, they are limited to the reflection and transmission of linearly polarized waves.
Active receiving, or transmitting, array architectures composed of active elements are also reported in the literature. Examples of such array architectures are described in W. Chew et al., "Printed circuit antennas with integrated FET detectors for millimeter-wave quasi optics", IEEE Trans. Microwave Theory Tech., vol. MTT-37, pp. 593-597, 1989; S. Weinreb, "Monolithic integrated circuit imaging radiometers," 1991 IEEE MTT-S Int Microwave Symp. Digest, Boston, pp. 405-408; K. Uehara et al., "Lens-coupled imaging arrays for the millimeter- and submillimeter-wave regions," IEEE Trans. Microwave Theory Tech., vol. MTT-40, pp. 806-811, 1992; and G. S. Dow et al., "W-band MMIC direct detection receiver for passive imaging system," 1993 IEEE MTT-S Int. Microwave Symp. Digest, Atlanta, pp. 163-166, 1993.
There are several drawbacks to the above designs. Generally, they tend to be expensive, and, therefore, unsuited to price sensitive commercial applications. It is necessary to custom design the elements and arrays for each application. And, in particular for oscillator power combining techniques, they are not suitable where amplification is required. Moreover, separate arrays are generally required for receiving and transmitting.

Active micropatch antenna device and array system


A foldable mower includes a telescoping flail conditioning system. The telescoping flail conditioning system includes a first tube having a first set of tines, a second tube having a second set of tines, and a first arrangement of corresponding slots extending through at least a portion of the first tube and configured to permit the second set of tines to extend substantially radially out of the first tube upon at least a portion of the second tube being positioned within the first tube.

Agricultural machines are used in a wide range of areas. Many of these areas include natural obstructions such as trees, roadways, hills, and/or waterways that prevent use of an agricultural machine greater than a predetermined width.
In U.S. Pat. No. 7,543,433, to Hironimus, which is incorporated by reference in its entirety, an agricultural machine having a frontal working mower and lateral working mowers is shown. The lateral working mowers are capable of being vertically and hydraulically positioned along the machine to permit passage through narrow regions during a transport operational mode. The machine suffers from the drawback that a powerful hydraulic arm is required to raise the mower. Raising and/or lowering of the mower can damage the mower by jostling, bouncing, and/or improperly orienting component parts. For example, discs, tines, motors, and/or gear boxes can be damaged by raising and/or lowering of a mower. Alternatively, additional supports must be implemented into the mower to prevent such damage. Such additional supports can add weight to the system, thereby reducing efficiency, and adding additional manufacturing costs.
What is needed is an agricultural machine and method of operating an agricultural machine operable over a wide range of areas that does not require a powerful hydraulic arm for transport operation for vertical lifting, and does not suffer from the drawbacks of known machines and methods.

Telescoping flail mower and method of operation


A system, method, and computer program product are provided for validating a graphics processor design. In operation, a test image is identified. Additionally, a reference image is automatically selected from a set of reference images. Furthermore, a graphics processor design is validated using the test image and the selected reference image.

Graphics processor validation typically involves testing whether a graphics processor design is valid and/or meets certain requirements. For example, such validation may involve the comparison of a test image with a reference image selected from a set of reference images. Such reference image selection is typically manual in nature and is a function of various combinations of selected parameters that are relevant to a particular test. In use, proper design of the graphics processor may thus been ascertained based on the results of the foregoing comparison involving a number of the test and reference images. While such testing is feasible for a small number of images, it can become challenging when dealing with a large set of reference images, etc.
There is thus a need for addressing these and/or other issues associated with the prior art.

System, method, and computer program product for validating a graphics processor design


It has been determined that antisense therapy which reduces the expression of TRPM-2 provides therapeutic benefits in the treatment of cancer, particularly prostate and renal cell cancers. Addition of antisense TRPM-2 ODN to prostatic tumor cells in vivo is effective for delaying the onset of androgen independence, thus prostate cancer can be treated by initiating androgen-withdrawal to induce apoptotic cell death of prostatic tumor cells in an individual, and administering a composition effective to inhibit expression of TRPM-2 by the tumor cells. Combined use of antisense TRPM-2 and taxanes synergistically enhances cytotoxic chemosensitivity of androgen-independent prostate cancer and in human Renal cell cancer. Radiation sensitivity is also enhanced when cells expressing TRPM-2 are treated with antisense TRPM-2 ODN. Thus, the antisense TRPM-2 ODNs can be used to enhance hormone sensitivity, chemosensitivity and radiation sensitivity of a variety of cancer types in which expression of TRPM-2 has been observed.

This application relates to antisense treatments for cancer making use of an antisense oligonucleotide that binds to testosterone-repressed prostate message-2 (TRPM-2).
Prostate cancer is the most common cancer that affects men, and the second leading cause of cancer deaths in men in the Western world. Because prostate cancer is an androgen-sensitive tumor, androgen withdrawal, for example via castration, is utilized in some therapeutic regimens for patients with advanced prostate cancer. Androgen withdrawal leads to extensive apoptosis in the prostate tumor, and hence to a regression of the disease. However, castration-induced apoptosis is not complete, and a progression of surviving tumor cells to androgen-independence ultimately occurs. This progression is the main obstacle to improving survival and quality of life, and efforts have therefore been made to target androgen-independent cells. These efforts have focused on non-hormonal therapies targeted against androgen-independent tumor cells (Yagoda et al., Cancer 71 (Supp. 3): 1098-1109 (1993); Oh et al., J. Urol. 60: 1220-1229 (1998)), however, so far no non-hormonal agent has improved survival. Alternative approaches are therefore indicated.
It has been observed that numerous proteins are expressed in increased amounts by prostate tumor cells following androgen withdrawal. At least some of these proteins are assumed to be associated with the observed apoptotic cell death which is observed upon androgen withdrawal. (Raffo et al., Cancer Res.: 4448-4445 (1995); Krajewska et al., Am. J. Pathol. 148: 1567-1576 (1996); McDonnell et al., Cancer Res. 52: 6940-6944 (1992)). The functions of many of the proteins, however, is not clearly understood. TRPM-2 (also known as sulfated glycoprotein-2 (SGP-2) or clusterin) is within this latter category.
TRPM-2 is a ubiquitous protein, with a diverse range of proposed activities. In prostate epithelial cell, expression of TRPM-2 increases immediately following castration, reaching peak levels in rat prostate cells at 3 to 4 days post castration, coincident with the onset of massive cell death. These results have led some researchers to the conclusion that TRPM-2 is a marker for cell death, and a promoter of apoptosis. On the other hand, the observation that Sertoli cells and some epithelial cells express high levels of TRPM-2 without increased levels of cell death, raises questions as to whether this conclusion is correct.
Sensibar et al., Cancer Research 55: 2431-2437 (1995) reported on in vitro experiments performed to more clearly elucidate the role of TRPM-2 in prostatic cell death. They utilized LNCaP cells transfected with a gene encoding TRPM-2 and observed whether expression of this protein altered the effects of tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα), to which LNCaP cells are very sensitive, with cell death normally occurring within about 12 hours. Treatment of the transfected LNCaP cells with TNFα was shown to result in a transient increase in TRPM-2 levels for a period of a few hours, but these levels had dissipated by the time DNA fragmentation preceeding cell death was observed. Using an antisense molecule corresponding to the bases 1-21 of the TRPM-2 sequence, but not other TRPM-2 antisense oligonucleotides, resulted in a substantial reduction in expression of TRPM-2, and an increase in apoptotic cell death in LNCaP cells exposed to TNFα. This led Sensibar et al. to the hypothesis that overexpression of TRPM-2 could protect cells from the cytotoxic effect of TNF, and that TRPM-2 depletion is responsible for the onset of cell death, although the mechanism of action remains unclear.
While Sensibar et al. provides information about the possible role of TRPM-2, it nevertheless discloses results from only a model system in which expression of TRPM-2 is based on a transfected gene. Furthermore, expression levels of TRPM-2 is very low or absent in LNCaP cells grown in other labs. The situation which results in vivo when prostate tumor cells are subjected to androgen withdrawal is far more complex, with numerous proteins changing expression levels as a result. Thus, it is not possible from the Sensibar et al. data to predict whether TRPM-2 would perform the same function when present in combination with other proteins, or whether changes in levels of TRPM-2 following androgen withdrawal in vivo could provide any therapeutic benefits. Indeed, the fact that TRPM-2 is expressed in substantial quantities in prostatic tumor cells at various stages following androgen withdrawal, including stages where significant apoptotic cell death is occurring suggests that role of TRPM-2 in vivo may be more complicated. Thus, while the art provides data concerning certain aspects of apoptotic cell death in prostatic tumor cells, it offers neither a teaching or a suggestion of a methodology to provide a delay in the onset of androgen-independence.
It is an object of the present invention to provide such a method.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide therapeutic antisense molecules for delaying the onset of androgen independence in prostatic tumor cells.
It is an additional object of the present invention to provide a method for enhancing the chemosensitivity or radiation sensitivity of cancer cells from a cancer that expresses TRPM-2.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide therapeutic antisense molecules for inhibiting expression of TRPM-2.


An automatic wheel alignment system for aligning the wheels of an automotive vehicle includes head units adapted for coupling to the wheels of the automotive vehicle and a hand held module. The wheel units provide angle information related to the alignment of the wheels of the automotive vehicle. The hand held module is coupled to the wheel alignment units and provides information to an operator through a liquid crystal display. The hand held module includes a controller and memory means. A keypad input is provided for receiving an input from the operator. The liquid crystal display includes an liquid crystal display matrix for forming an image. A contrast control means is coupled to the liquid crystal display and provides a contrast signal to the liquid crystal display.

The present invention relates to an automatic wheel alignment measurement system. In particular, the invention relates to a hand held wheel alignment system.
Proper alignment of the wheels of an automotive vehicle is important for both proper handling of the vehicle, as well as proper tire wear. The wheel alignment parameters which are measured and adjusted in order to achieve proper wheel alignment are camber, caster, steering axis inclination (SAI) and toe angle.
Camber is defined as the angle which the wheel makes with respect to a vertical plane when looking at the wheel from either the front or rear of the automobile. Any wheel of an automobile can have camber.
Caster is angle which the steering axis of a steerable wheel (typically one of the front wheels) makes with respect to a vertical plane which perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the automobile.
Steering axis inclination (SAI) is the inclination of the steering axis with respect to a vertical plane which is parallel to the longitudinal direction of the automobile.
Toe was originally defined as the difference in the distance between the front edges of two opposite wheels and the distance between the rear edges of the same two wheels. Toe can also be defined in terms of a angular relationship of the plane of a wheel (perpendicular to its turning axis) relative to a predetermined longitudinal vehicle axis. When the forwardmost portions of a pair of adjacent wheels are closer together than the rear portions of those wheels, they are commonly referred to as in a "toe-in" condition. When the rear portions of wheels are closer together than the front portions, the condition is commonly referred to as "toe-out."
Camber is a tire wearing angle and also affects handling of the automobile Caster and SAI do not affect tire wear but are important for directional control. Toe is a tire wearing angle and also affects the position of the steering wheel required to maintain travel of the automobile along a straight line.
Caster, Camber, and SAI are typically measured using head units coupled to the wheels of an automobile and attached to a hand held module. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,594,789 by Marino et al describes an automatic wheel alignment system and is incorporated herein by reference.
Prior art automatic wheel alignment systems typically require a console which is set apart from the automobile. This console typically weighs several hundred pounds and stands four to six feet high and two to four feet wide. Often, it is difficult for an operator to view the console while simultaneously adjusting camber, caster, SAI, and toe of the wheel.
There is a continuing need for an automatic wheel alignment system which is convenient to use and provides an improved user interface.

Bear Automotive Service Equipment Company


The present invention intends to provide a solid preparation which contains an insulin sensitizer and an active ingredient other than an insulin sensitizer, and exhibits dissolution behavior of an insulin sensitizer similar to that of an insulin sensitizer from “a solid preparation containing only an insulin sensitizer as an active ingredient”. The solid preparation comprises “a part containing coated particles in which the particles containing an insulin sensitizer are coated with lactose or a sugar alcohol” and “a part containing an active ingredient other than an insulin sensitizer”.

The following preparations containing an insulin sensitizer such as thiazolidinediones and an active ingredient other than an insulin sensitizer have been reported:
1) a solid preparation comprising an insulin sensitizer, an insulin secretagogue and a surfactant (see WO 2005/041962);
2) a unit-dose pharmaceutical composition for treating non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus, which comprises a combination of glimepiride and a thiazolidinedione insulin sensitizer, and provides a simultaneous release of each drug at rates similar to those obtained with separate administration of immediate release dosage forms of glimepiride and a thiazolidinedione (see US 2004/0147564 A);
3) a pharmaceutical composition comprising an insulin sensitizer, another antidiabetic agent and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, wherein the composition is arranged to provide a modified release of at least one of the insulin sensitizer and the other antidiabetic agent (see WO 00/28989);
4) a solid preparation which comprises particles containing an insulin sensitizer and particles containing a HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor (see WO 2004/108161);
5) a solid preparation which comprises (1) a layer containing an insulin sensitizer, and (2) a layer containing (a) an active ingredient other than an insulin sensitizer, (b) crystalline cellulose having an average particle diameter of 5 to 25 μm, (c) crystalline cellulose having an average particle diameter of 30 to 100 μm and (d) polyvinylpyrrolidone K-90 (see WO 2005/099760);
6) a pharmaceutical composition which comprises an insulin sensitivity enhancer in combination with one or more other antidiabetics whose functional mechanism differs from that of the insulin sensitivity enhancer (see EP 749751 A);
7) a pharmaceutical composition which comprises an insulin sensitizer, an insulin secretagogue and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier (see WO 98/57649);
8) a pharmaceutical composition comprising an insulin sensitizer, a sub-maximal amount of an insulin secretagogue and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier (see WO 99/03476);
9) a composition comprising a sulfonylurea antidiabetic agent and a glitazone antidiabetic agent in amounts exhibiting a synergistic effect (see WO 98/36755);
10) a process for producing a coated preparation, comprising coating with a dispersion of pioglitazone hydrochloride in an organic solvent containing a coating base soluble in an organic solvent (see WO 2004/006921);
11) a process for producing a coated preparation, comprising coating with an aqueous dispersion of pioglitazone hydrochloride containing a coating base having low viscosity (see WO 2004/067001); and
12) a solid preparation having hardness of 100 to 400 N, and a phase in which an insulin sensitizer and an active ingredient other than an insulin sensitizer are uniformly dispersed (see WO 2004/030700).


Various exemplary embodiments relate to an integrated optical device including: a semiconductor waveguide on a substrate; a dielectric waveguide on a substrate optically coupled to the semiconductor waveguide; and a germanium device on the semiconductor waveguide optically coupled to the semiconductor waveguide.

Great advances are being made in the optical processing of optical signals. This is leading to the development of optical circuits. Such optical circuits include different optical devices that are used to transmit, receive and process optical signals. Therefore, optical waveguides having low loss and other desirable characteristics may be used to connect different optical devices.

Monolithic integration of dielectric waveguides and germanium-based devices


A method of forming high strength glass fibers in a refractory-lined glass meter, products made there from and batch compositions suited for use in the method are disclosed. The glass composition for use in the method of the present invention is up to about 64-75 weight percent SiO2, 16-24 weight percent Al2O3, 8-12 weight percent MgO and 0.25-3 weight percent R2O, where R2O equals the sum of Li2O and Na2O, has a fiberizing temperature less than about 2650° F., and a ΔT of at least 80° F. By using oxide-based refractory-lined furnaces the cost of production of glass fibers is substantially reduced in comparison with the cost of fibers produced using a platinum-lined melting furnace. High strength composite articles including the high strength glass fibers are also disclosed.

Fiberglass reinforced composite materials have been available for use in marine and aerospace materials for some time. Other fiber materials such as carbon and aramid fibers are available for use, although at substantially higher cost. The articles of the present invention may use any known manufacturing method, including compression molding, laminating, spray up, hand laying, prefabricated lay-up (prepreg), compression molding, vacuum bag molding, pressure bag molding, press molding, transfer molding, vacuum assisted resin transfer molding, pultrusion molding, filament winding, casting, autoclave molding, centrifugal casting resin transfer and continuous casting. The properties of the composite are controlled by the fibers and the resin, and synergy between the two, that produces material properties unavailable from the individual materials.
A number of resins are useful in the manufacture of composite articles including polyester resin, vinylester resin and epoxy resin. Polyester resin is suitable for a number of situations. Vinylester resin has lower viscosity pressure and more flexible postcure than polyester resin and is typically more resistant to degradation. Epoxy resin is typically transparent when cured. Epoxy resin is a polyether resin formed by the polymerization bisphenol A, bisphenol F, bisphenol C, and compounds of similar structure with epichlorohydrin resulting in the formation of the reactive oxirane linkage. Epoxy resins may react with a variety of curing agents, including amines, anhydrides, mercaptans, polyesters to form an infusable solid. The reaction is a condensation reaction typically does not create by-products. Cured epoxy resins have high strength, and low shrinkage during curing. They are used as coatings, adhesives, castings, composites, or foam. Epoxy resins are also desirable for use in high strength applications as a structural matrix material or as a structural glue. Phenolics are thermosetting resins formed by the condensation of phenol, or of a phenol derivative, with an aldehyde, typically a formaldehyde. Phenolics are used chiefly in the manufacture of paints and plastics. Other specific high strength modulus resins include bismaleimide, poly-amide, vinyl ester phenolic, ethylene-acrylate or methacrylate copolymers, high strength medium modulus thermoplastics such as an ionomer (i.e. crosslinked ethylene-methyl acrylate or methyl methacrylate copolymer), polycarbonate, polyurethane, nylon, aramid, modified epoxies.
The most common high strength glass composition for making continuous glass fiber strands is "S-Glass." S-Glass is a family of glasses composed primarily of the oxides of magnesium, aluminum, and silicon with a chemical composition that produces glass fibers having a higher mechanical strength than E-Glass fibers. A commonly used member of the S-Glass family is known as S2-Glass. S2-Glass includes approximately 65 weight % SiO2, 25 weight % Al2O3, and 10 weight % MgO. S-glass has a composition that was originally designed to be used in high-strength applications such as ballistic armor.
R-Glass is a family of glasses that are composed primarily of the oxides of silicon, aluminum, magnesium, and calcium with a chemical composition that produces glass fibers with a higher mechanical strength than E-Glass fibers. R-Glass has a composition that contains approximately 58-60 weight % SiO2, 23.5-25.5 weight % Al2O3, 14-17 weight % CaO plus MgO, 0% B2O3, 0% F2 and less than 2 weight % miscellaneous components. R-Glass contains more alumina and silica than E-Glass and requires higher melting and processing temperatures during fiber forming. Typically, the melting and processing temperatures for R-Glass are at least 160° C. higher than those for E-Glass. This increase in processing temperature typically requires the use of a high-cost platinum-lined melter. In addition, the close proximity of the liquidus temperature to the forming temperature in R-Glass requires that the glass be fiberized at a higher temperature than E-Glass.
Tables IA-IE set forth the compositions for a number of conventional high-strength glass compositions.
TABLE I-AChineseRUSSIANHighCONTINUOUSNITTOBO "T"StrengthROVING MAGNESIUMNITTOBO "T"Glass FabricConstituentglassALUMINOSILICATEGlass Fabric "B"(Yarn) "C"SiO255.0855.8164.5864.64CaO0.330.380.440.40Al2O325.2223.7824.4424.57B2O31.850.030.03MgO15.9615.089.959.92Na2O0.120.0630.080.09Fluorine0.030.0340.037TiO20.0232.330.0190.018Fe2O31.10.3880.1870.180K2O0.0390.560.0070.010ZrO20.0070.15Cr2O30.0110.0030.003Li2O1.63CeO2
TABLE I-BNittoNittoVetrotex SaintBosekiBosekiNitto Boseki TEGobain SR GlassPolotskA&PNT6030Glass RST-Stratifils SR CGSTEKLOVOLOKNOConstituentYarnYarn220PA-535CS250 P109High Strength GlassSiO265.5164.6064.2063.9058.64CaO0.440.580.630.260.61Al2O324.0624.6025.1024.4025.41B2O30.04MgO9.739.909.9010.0014.18Na2O0.040.060.0200.0390.05Fluorine0.070.02TiO20.0160.0000.0000.2100.624Fe2O30.0670.0790.0830.5200.253K2O0.0200.0200.0200.5400.35ZrO20.079Cr2O30.00100.0010.023Li2OCeO2
TABLE I-CChinese HighChinese HighStrength YarnStrength GlassZentron S-2SOLAIS GlassAdvanced GlassConstituent(8 micron)RovingGlass RovingSampleYarns R GlassSiO255.2255.4964.7464.8158.46CaO0.730.290.140.559.39Al2O324.4224.8824.7024.5124.55B2O33.463.520.020.04MgO12.4612.2810.249.355.91Na2O0.1040.060.170.160.079Fluorine0.070.020.054TiO20.320.360.0150.040.196Fe2O30.9800.9300.0450.2380.400K2O0.2400.1500.0050.030.67ZrO2Cr2O30.00500.0070.005Li2O0.590.63CeO21.231.25
TABLE I-DAdvancedIVG VertexGlass YarnsCulimetaIVG Vertex B96IVG VertexOutside #1 GlassConstituentS GlassRoving675 YarnGlass RovingRovingSiO264.6159.3758.3458.5858.12CaO0.170.270.310.300.31Al2O324.8425.4923.8124.2624.09B2O30.040.05MgO10.1113.4714.9915.0215.36Na2O0.1180.0240.050.020.03Fluorine0.030.040.040.04TiO20.0110.5301.3800.670.91Fe2O30.0420.3740.3330.3360.303K2O0.480.420.280.29ZrO20.1520.1290.1650.157Cr2O30.00500.01200.01000.01200.0120Li2OCeO2
TABLE I-EIVG VertexRH CG250Outside #2P109 GlassConstituentGlass RovingFiber StrandSiO258.6958.54CaO0.299.35Al2O324.325.39B2O3MgO15.066.15Na2O0.030.10Fluorine0.040.16TiO20.640.008Fe2O30.3310.069K2O0.360.14ZrO20.1870.006Cr2O30.0130Li2OCeO2
Both R-Glass and S-Glass are produced by melting the constituents of the compositions in a platinum-lined melting container. The costs of forming R-Glass and S-Glass fibers are dramatically higher than E-Glass fibers due to the cost of producing the fibers in such melters. Thus, there is a need in the art for methods of forming glass compositions useful in the formation of high performance glass fibers from a direct-melt process in a refractory-lined furnace and products formed there from.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Method of manufacturing S-glass fibers in a direct melt operation and products formed there from


A 6-axis road simulator test system is disclosed which allows for dynamic simulation of vehicles on road surfaces in a controlled environment for development or production testing conditions. The system turns the vehicle wheels, or provides resistance to turning of the wheels while subjecting each of the vehicle's wheel in up to 6-axis of displacement, based on road profile simulation.

Heretofore, methods for simulating an effective road profile in the testing of an automotive vehicle typically relied on a spindle-coupled road simulator. Spindle-coupled road simulators typically define a flat surface road plane in a multiple coordinate reference system to represent an effective road profile. These simulators often couple shakers and vertical actuators directly to the spindle of the vehicle. The spindle is excited over a predetermined range of motion to simulate the road. As spindle coupled actuators neglect the effects of tire loading on vehicle dynamics, they often are not effective in the simulation of certain driving conditions.
Another commonly used vehicle test apparatus includes an articulated running flat belt platform moveable so as to contact the tire, the flat tire contact plane defines a coordinate reference system to represent the effective road profile. It is known to apply actuating forces in a vertical direction to simulate road conditions. The use of these vertical forces does not, however, completely simulate extreme driving conditions.
While the above recited systems represent a significant advance in the vehicle simulation art, further advances are needed to overcome the above described problems.


An apparatus for producing EUV light, including: a plate with pluralities of through-bores; at least one power system; and a plurality of discharge plasma devices disposed in the through-bores. Each device includes: a respective plasma electrode forming at least part of a respective plasma-producing region; a respective magnetic core embedded in the plate and aligned with the respective plasma electrode in a radial direction and configured to create a respective magnetic field within the respective plasma-producing region; and a respective feed system arranged to supply an ionizable material to the respective plasma-producing region. The power system is configured to supply electrical power to the plasma electrodes to create respective electric fields in the respective plasma-producing regions. The combination of the respective electric field and the respective magnetic fields is arranged to create respective plasma from the ionizable material, the respective plasma creating respective EUV light.

It is known to use discharge plasma produced sources to generate extreme ultra-violet (EUV) light for use in lithography systems. Reticle inspection system light source requirements are different than source requirements for lithography systems. As a result, for technical and economic cost reasons, typical EUV light sources for lithography systems do not meet the inspection light source requirements for reticle inspection systems. From a technical point, the brightness of EUV lithography discharge plasma produced sources do not have the brightness or size required for reticle inspection systems. Also, the repetition rates for individual discharge plasma produced sources are too low for use in reticle inspection systems.
It also is known to use a single discharge plasma produced source per light source system. Therefore, to increase EUV light output, it is necessary to install multiple light source systems, increasing the overall footprint of a system in which the multiple light sources are installed.

Apparatus and method for multiplexed multiple discharge plasma produced sources


A vehicle steering wheel has an integrated vehicle occupant restraining system comprised of a gas generator with a bracing section and a gas bag with a inlet opening, an edge portion of the inlet opening constituting a holding section. The vehicle steering wheel comprises a hub and a steering wheel body with a gas bag cover which is an integral part of the steering wheel body. A bracing surface is formed on the hub and a holding surface is formed on the steering wheel body. The holding section of the gas bag and the bracing section of the gas generator are clamped between the holding surface of the steering wheel body and the bracing surface of the hub by bracing the hub against a steering wheel body.

The present invention relates to a vehicle steering wheel with an integrated vehicle occupant restraint system. p An inflatable restraint system generally comprises a gas generator and a gas bag with an inlet opening. The function of such a restraint system resides in limiting forward displacement of the driver in relation to the vehicle following an accident. For this purpose the gas bag is converted, in a situation in which it is needed, from a folded inactive state into a deployed active state by gas under pressure, which is furnished by a gas generator.
Conventionally the gas bag is inserted into the vehicle's steering wheel from the side facing the driver. This involves firstly mounting the steering wheel on the associated steering shaft; then the gas bag and possibly the gas generator are inserted into the steering wheel and secured therein. Finally a gas bag cover is placed on top, which protects the gas bag and only frees same on activation of the vehicle occupant restraining system.

Vehicle steering wheel with an integrated vehicle occupant restraint system


An apparatus for preventing the formation of beer stones and a gas-induced phenomenon, in which foamy beer spurts out of a draught beer container, is disposed in a pipe between the draught beer container and a draught beer dispensing apparatus so as to prevent the gas-induced phenomenon from occurring when the beer is discharged from the draught beer container to the draught beer dispensing apparatus, and to remove and prevent the formation of beer stones deposited on the inner surface of the pipe, between the draught beer container and the draught beer dispensing apparatus, or on the inner surface of the draught beer dispensing apparatus.

In general, a pipe of a beer drawing device is connected to a completely sealed beer barrel and a cock valve provided in the beer drawing device is manipulated before draft beer is provided to the consumer in a beer glass. Sometimes, a cooling device is further attached to the pipe of the beer drawing device as necessary.
However, when beer in a beer barrel flows out through the beer drawing device, beer stones are deposited in the pipe or on the inside of the beer drawing device.
Such beer stones become causes of deteriorating the beer to spoil its taste and contaminating the beer. Conventionally, chemicals were injected or wash water was pressure-injected to remove the beer stones, but not only is there a decrease in the beer stone removal efficiency over time but also there is a problem that most beer stone removing chemicals should not be ingested by humans.
Meanwhile, when the beer drawing device is first opened to receive the first glass of beer after the beer barrel is connected to the beer drawing device, beer spurts out bubbling with a noise of "pung" due to carbon dioxide gas fed from the beer barrel. Such a phenomenon is called a beer spurting phenomenon induced by gas. Such a phenomenon occurs not only when the first glass of beer is filled but also when the last glass of beer is filled from the beer barrel. This is because carbon dioxide gas is discharged out of the beer drawing device together with beer remaining in the beer barrel.
Such a gas spurting phenomenon is not only very bothersome to the user but also it is not good hygienically as spurting draft beer spatters in all directions.
To prevent such a gas spurting phenomenon, the beer and carbon dioxide gas that were in the beer drawing device and the pipe should be artificially discharged, with the beer barrel and the beer drawing device being separated from each other, when exchanging the beer barrel.
However, a considerable quantity of draft beer is lost in the process of discharging the remaining beer and carbon dioxide gas, and not only much time is required for exchanging the beer barrel, but also there is a problem that the beer barrel exchange work is very cumbersome.

Apparatus for preventing beer stone formation and gas-induced foamy beer-spurting phenomenon