An inverted aerosol dispensing device is disclosed comprising an aerosol container extending between a top portion and a bottom portion for containing an aerosol product and an aerosol propellant therein. An aerosol valve is located at the bottom portion of the aerosol container. The aerosol valve has a valve stem for displacing the aerosol valve from a biased closed position to an open position to discharge the aerosol product from the valve stem. An undercap is secured to the bottom portion of the aerosol container for supporting the aerosol container on a supporting surface. An actuator is movably mounted relative to the undercap for moving the valve stem upon displacement of the actuator for discharging the aerosol product from the valve stem in a generally downwardly direction through the undercap. The invention is particularly useful in the dispensing of viscous aerosol products.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to aerosol dispensing devices and more particularly to an improved aerosol dispensing device for discharging an aerosol product in a generally downwardly direction.
2. Description of the Prior Art
An aerosol dispensing device comprises an aerosol valve located internal an aerosol container. The aerosol valve is biased into a closed position. A valve stem cooperates with the aerosol valve for opening the aerosol valve. An actuator engages with the valve stem to open the aerosol valve for dispensing an aerosol product from the aerosol container. The aerosol product is dispensed from the aerosol valve through a spray nozzle.
Various types of actuators have been utilized by the prior art for actuating an aerosol dispensing device. The first and the most basic type of actuator for an aerosol dispensing device is an actuator button that is affixed to the valve stem. A depression of the actuator button depresses the valve stem to open the aerosol valve for dispensing the aerosol product from the aerosol container. A protective cap is utilized for engaging with a rim of the aerosol container for inhibiting accidental actuating of the aerosol button.
The second type of actuator for an aerosol dispensing device is an aerosol overcap. The aerosol overcap replaces the conventional protective cap and includes an actuator for actuating the aerosol valve of the aerosol dispensing device. The aerosol overcap comprises a base engagable with the rim of the aerosol container for mounting the overcap to the aerosol container. The aerosol over cap includes an actuator pivotably mounted to the overcap base and engaging with the valve stem. The movement of the actuator of the aerosol overcap causes a depression of the valve stem to open the aerosol valve for dispensing the aerosol product from the aerosol container.
A third type of actuator for actuating an aerosol dispensing device is a trigger device. In this third type of actuators, a base is mounted either to the container rim or the mounting cup rim for supporting a trigger. The trigger is engagable with the valve stem. A movement of the trigger from an extended position to a protracted position depresses the valve stem to open the aerosol valve for dispensing the aerosol product from the aerosol container. The following United States Patents represent some of the trigger devices for dispensing the aerosol product from the aerosol container.
Aerosol dispenser devices traditionally dispense lower viscosity aerosol products such as hair spray, paint, deodorant, and the like in a spray form. The spray nozzle and aerosol valve is traditionally located on the top of the aerosol container for dispensing the aerosol products through the spray nozzle in an upright position.
Typically, high viscosity aerosol products like shaving gels as well as foaming aerosol products such as shave cream are stored in an upright position and are dispensed in an upright to horizontal position. Other high viscosity foaming aerosol products such as hair mousse and rug cleaner are stored in an upright position but are dispensed in an inverted position.
The high viscosity foaming aerosol products that are dispensed in an inverted position are not designed to dispense in an upright position. If these foaming aerosol products are actuated in a upright oriented position, only the aerosol propellant would escape from the aerosol container and the aerosol product would remain in the aerosol container. This loss of the aerosol propellant may deplete the aerosol propellant prior to the complete dispensing of the aerosol product from the aerosol container.
U.S. Pat. No. 1,265,177 to Coleman discloses a receptacle including a cylindrical body having an outwardly flaring supporting flange fixed to its lower end. A bottom wall is secured in the cylindrical body above the point of connection of the flange. The flange is provided with an observation opening in one side thereof. A valve casing is connected to the bottom wall and depending therefrom. A rotary valve member is mounted in the casing to control the discharge of the contents of the receptacle. The valve has a stem rotatably supported in the flange.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,765,959 to Elliott discloses a dispensing receptacle for cans of pressurized material of the type having a tiltable valve controlling spout. The can containing receptacle has an open bottom and an open top and a closure for the top. Means hold a can in the container with the dispensing spout extending through the open bottom. The means includes shoulders in the receptacle and a spring between the closure and the bottom of the can biasing the can against the shoulders. The can is telescoped within the receptacle. Laterally movable means extends through the side wall of the receptacle for engaging and tilting the tiltable valve controlling spout. The last mentioned means comprises a stem removably abutting the spout. Spring means biases the stem outwardly of the receptacle. A push bottom on the outer end of the stem moves the stem inwardly to tilt the spout.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,272,392 discloses a dispensing package for materials under pressure comprising a container having a material under pressure therein. Valve means is mounted on the container for dispensing said material on the operation thereof. The valve means includes a projecting stem portion movable relative to said container for operating said valve means and having a passage therein for passing said material. Actuating means is operable to move said stem portion relative to said container for operating said valve means. The actuating means comprises a part connected to said stem portion. The part has means therein cooperating with the passage in said stem portion for communicating the latter outwardly of said dispensing package. The part is movable relative to said container on the application thereagainst of pressure applied from a position predeterminately located relative to said container in a direction substantially transverse to the axis of said stem portion for operating said valve means.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,759,431 to Vos discloses a pressurized package of the class that includes a container for receiving a product. Propellant means in the container discharges the product from the container. A dispensing assembly is mounted on the container characterized by an actuating lever. The actuating lever shifts to displace a flexible resilient valve body member from a position in which its discharge orifice-containing surface is in scaled engagement at least partially effected by the internal container pressure with a valve cap to a position in which it is aligned with an exit opening of the overcap.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,979,163 discloses a cleaning and scrubbing tool having a cleaning head and aerosol can handle in which a suitably operational scrub pad is supported by head bracket extension in free cleaning liquid passing relation, interlocked with portions of the pad by localized deflection of the extension, suitably by locally heating or solvating the extension to deflectable condition within the pad interior.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,416,398 discloses a plural spray rate aerosol assembly for use with an aerosol container having a plural spray rate valve. The assembly comprises an actuator button having a terminal orifice connected through a valve stem to the plural spray rate valve for enabling a first discharge rate of the aerosol product from the terminal orifice upon opening the valve in a first position and for enabling a second discharge rate of the aerosol product from the terminal orifice upon opening the valve in a second position. An overcap is rotatably secured to the aerosol container and includes a finger actuator movably mounted relative to the overcap. A non-symmetrical aperture is disposed in either the actuator button or the finger actuator for cooperation with a non-symmetrical element in the other of the actuator button and the finger actuator. The non-symmetrical element is inhibited from entering the non-symmetrical aperture for transferring the finger movement of the operator to open the valve in the first position upon a first selected orientation of the finger actuator relative to the actuator button. The non-symmetrical element enters the non-symmetrical aperture for transferring the finger movement of the operator to open the valve in the second position upon a second selected orientation of the finger actuator relative to the actuator button.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,385,272 to Aoun discloses a hand held, free standing, bottom dispensing dispenser, generally made of plastic, for the dispensing of thick liquids such as lotions, shampoos and processed foodstuff, having a resiliently walled reservoir that sits atop a stand that offers fulcrum for a mechanical linkage. The linkage has a top portion engaged to the reservoir side wall allowing the user""s hand to grasp and manipulate the linkage while grasping and manipulating the reservoir. A bottom portion is coupled to dispensing valve disposed and adapted to open and close a discharge element affixed to an outlet in the bottom end of the reservoir. Thus, when hand pressure is applied to the linkage top portion at the same time the reservoir is squeezed and the motion transmitted by the linkage to the dispensing valve opens the latter to dispense a portion of the content. When pressure is relieved, the resilient reservoir side wall rebounds back to its initial shape and, the reservoir side wall being engaged to the linkage moves the latter back to its initial position. Thus while causing the dispensing valve to gradually close, the reservoir side wall outward movement induces in the reservoir an air flow that draws the fluid in the discharge element in therewith. The dispenser content is always located in the lower part of the reservoir near its aperture, ready to be dispensed therefore making possible the dispensing of virtually all the content.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,957,336 to Radassao et al. discloses a viscous fluid dispenser is provided including an upper extent constructed from a flexible material and having a top face and a peripheral side wall with an inverted frustoconical configuration defining a lower peripheral edge. Further provided is a lower extent constructed from a rigid material and having a planar bottom face coupled with respect to the lower peripheral edge of the upper extent. The bottom face of the lower extent has at least one bore formed therein. Next provided is a lid hingably coupled to the lower extent for selectively closing the bore.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,010,042 to Boucher et al. discloses a base end dispensing container, especially suitable for dispensing viscous flowable liquid consumable products is disclosed. The container includes an elongated, squeezable, container having an inner chamber for holding the viscous flowable liquid consumable products. A base dispensing valve, a top end valve operating mechanism and an attached support structure support the container in an upright position a distance front a surface upon which the container is placed. The base end dispensing valve includes a sloping container floor terminating at a substantially flat section, upon which a rotationally operable valve gate rests. The substantially flat floor section of the container includes at least one dispensing opening intermediate the interior chamber of the container and the outside of the container. The valve gate is selectively operated between an open and shut position by the top end valve operating mechanism via a valve driven shaft which connects the valve operating mechanism with the rotationally operable valve gate.
U.S. Pat. No. D293,213 discloses a design patent for an aerosol overcap physically located on an top portion of the aerosol container for discharging an aerosol product in a conventional upright manner.
One recently designed aerosol dispenser is stored in an inverted position whereat the overcap, spray nozzle and the aerosol valve are located on the bottom of the aerosol container. Although this aerosol dispenser is stored in an inverted position, the aerosol container is turned upright to dispense the aerosol product from the aerosol container.
Therefore it is an object of the present invention to provide an inverted aerosol dispensing device which provides a significant advancement for the aerosol industry.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an inverted aerosol dispensing device which incorporates an undercap mounted to a bottom portion of the aerosol container for storing the inverted aerosol dispensing device in an inverted position.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an inverted aerosol dispensing device which is capable of dispensing viscous aerosol product in downward direction.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an inverted aerosol dispensing device that incorporates a wide base of undercap to provide a more stable base for storage relative to a conventional overcap mounted to a top portion of the aerosol container.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an inverted aerosol dispensing device which incorporates a one-piece undercap and actuator assembly.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an inverted aerosol dispensing device wherein the actuator may be molded in a single molding process with an undercap with an integral hinge for pivotable mounting the actuator relative to the aerosol container.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an inverted aerosol dispensing device which incorporates an actuator having a lower actuation force relative to a conventional aerosol dispensing device.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an inverted aerosol dispensing device which is easier to dispense an aerosol product into the hand of a user relative to a conventional aerosol dispensing device.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an inverted aerosol dispensing device which is suitable for use with plastic containers.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an inverted aerosol dispensing device incorporating an ergonomically designed container and undercap suitable for use by an operator with wet hands.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an inverted aerosol dispensing device that is actuated with a squeezing motion.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an inverted aerosol dispensing device which is economical to manufacture and is economical to install on the aerosol dispensing device.
The foregoing has outlined some of the more pertinent objects of the present invention. These objects should be construed as being merely illustrative of some of the more prominent features and applications of the invention. Many other beneficial results can be obtained by applying the disclosed invention in a different manner or modifying the invention with in the scope of the invention. Accordingly other objects in a full understanding of the invention may be had by referring to the summary of the invention and the detailed description describing the preferred embodiment of the invention.
A specific embodiment of the present invention is shown in the attached drawings. For the purpose of summarizing the invention, the invention relates to an inverted aerosol dispensing device comprising an aerosol container extending between a top portion and a bottom portion for containing an aerosol product and an aerosol propellant therein. An aerosol valve is located at the bottom portion of the aerosol container. The aerosol valve has a valve stem for displacing the aerosol valve from a biased closed position to an open position to discharge the aerosol product from the valve stem. An undercap is secured to the bottom portion of the aerosol container for supporting the aerosol container on a supporting surface. An actuator is movably mounted relative to the undercap for moving the valve stem upon displacement of the actuator for discharging the aerosol product from the valve stem in a generally downward direction through the undercap.
In a more specific example of the invention, the top portion of the aerosol container is a closed top portion. The aerosol container defines a container rim for supporting an aerosol mounting cup to secure the aerosol valve to the aerosol container. The aerosol valve is located at the bottom portion of the aerosol container with the aerosol valve being located internal the aerosol container with the valve stem extending from the aerosol container.
In one example of the invention, the aerosol valve is a tilt valve wherein a tilting of the valve stem displaces the aerosol valve from the biased closed position to the open position. In another example of the invention, the aerosol valve is a vertical action valve wherein a vertical movement of the valve stem displaces the aerosol valve from the biased closed position to the open position.
In still another example of the invention, the actuator is pivotably mounted to the aerosol container for moving the valve stem upon pivoting of the actuator. The undercap is secured to the bottom portion of the aerosol container with the actuator being pivotably mounted to the undercap for moving the valve stem upon pivoting of the actuator. The actuator may be integrally connected to the undercap through an hinge integrally molded as a one-piece plastic unit with the undercap. In a further example of the invention, the actuator is slidably mounted relative to the aerosol container for moving the valve stem upon sliding of the actuator.
In still another example of the invention, the inverted aerosol dispensing device includes a valve button having a terminal orifice secured to the valve stem. The actuator moves the valve button upon displacement of the actuator for moving the valve stem to direct the aerosol product through the valve stem to be discharged from the terminal orifice of the valve button in a generally downward direction. An aperture may be defined in the undercap. The valve stem direct the aerosol product in a generally downward direction through the aperture defined in the undercap.
The foregoing has outlined rather broadly the more pertinent and important features of the present invention in order that the detailed description that follows may be better understood so that the present contribution to the art can be more fully appreciated. Additional features of the invention will be described hereinafter which form the subject matter of the invention. It should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the conception and the specific embodiments disclosed may be readily utilized as a basis for modifying or designing other structures for carrying out the same purposes of the present invention. It should also be realized by those skilled in the art that such equivalent constructions do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Seaquist Perfect Dispensing Foreign, Inc.


An electro-chemical sensor comprises a bismuth nano-wire array. The sensor is used to detect incipient corrosion under paint. It is particularly useful in admiralty and marine applications such as for detecting incipient metal oxidation such as rusting and for monitoring the progress of metal oxidation on ship hulls and tanks. It is also useful in the automobile industry for quantifying surface quality in preparation for painting.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to an electro-chemical sensor such as a corrosion sensor including an array of bismuth nano-wires extending through a chemically inert, non-conductive membrane.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
Methods have been developed that for the fabrication of bismuth nano-wire arrays. Bismuth nano-wire arrays have been grown by electro-deposition on a nano-porous template. Nano-pores are formed in the template by controlled bombardment with swift heavy ions to produce ion tracks. The ion tracks are etched to the desired nano-diameter. The templates have been used to produce arrays of parallel nano-wires that are up to 10 micrometers in length. Etching of the template is controlled so that wires are produced with single nanometer to micron diameters. Density of nano-wires in the array can be varied from about 104 wires/mm2 to 107 wires/mm2.
Nano-porous templates have been fabricated from glass, mica, alumina and polycarbonate polymer. Commercially available nano-porous materials that can be used for templates include porous aluminum oxide (Anopore®), ion-track-etched polycarbonate (Nuclepore®) and ion-track-etched mica.
Detection of corrosion on ship hulls and tanks is of continuing interest in the marine and the admiralty. It is known that paint is not entirely effective in preventing rust from forming on a hull or tank in a corrosive sea water environment. Rust can occur under the paint, undetected prior to forming a blister. Prior to blistering rusting goes on undetected. After blistering, when time permits, the paint is removed and the surface inspected. Pre-blistering paint removal is not usually done on ship hulls and tanks. Also, the quality of any visual inspection is dependent on the thoroughness of the paint removal. It would be desirable to detect insipient rusting under the paint, before blistering and damage occurs. An apparatus for detecting insipient rusting would not achieve wide acceptance if it interfered with the hydrodynamic stream line of the ship hull or added to the acoustic signature of a naval vessel.
Inventors have discovered that the challenge of detecting insipient rusting can be solved by a new electro-chemical sensor.

Electrochemical sensor with nano-wire array

The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy


A spin MOS field effect transistor includes a source electrode and a drain electrode each having a structure obtained by stacking an impurity diffusion layer, a (001)-oriented MgO layer and a Heusler alloy. The impurity diffusion layer is formed in a surface region of a semiconductor layer. The (001)-oriented MgO layer is formed on the impurity diffusion layer. The Heusler alloy is formed on the MgO layer.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a semiconductor device using a stack having a Heusler alloy, e.g., a spin MOS field effect transistor using the stack having a Heusler alloy as the source/drain, magnetic memory, and tunneling magnetoresistive head (TMR head) using the stack.
2. Description of the Related Art
Recently, a magnetic memory (magnetic random access memory [MRAM]) using a tunneling magnetoresistive (TMR) effect element having a sandwiched structure including a ferromagnetic material/insulator/ferromagnetic material as a memory element has been proposed. This device is used as a memory by fixing spins in one ferromagnetic material layer (a pinned magnetic layer or a fixed layer), and controlling those in the other ferromagnetic material layer (a free magnetic layer), thereby changing the resistance between the two layers in the sandwiched structure. The resistance is low when the spins in the pinned magnetic layer and free magnetic layer are parallel, and high when they are antiparallel. The magnetoresistive change ratio (TMR ratio) as an index of this spin efficiency was a few 10% at room temperature a few years ago, but has reached 500% in recent years. This increases the possibility of the device not only as an MRAM but also as various spin devices. As an example, a spin MOS field effect transistor (spin MOSFET) has been proposed. The spin MOSFET is obtained by adding the degree of freedom of spins to carriers by combining a ferromagnetic material with the conventional MOSFET.
It is important to increase the TMR ratio in order to implement a high-efficiency magnetic memory or spin MOSFET. To this end, it is necessary to use a ferromagnetic material having a high spin polarization ratio (P). When a half-metallic material in which P=100% is used, the TMR ratio is presumably infinite from the Julliere's law. Candidates of a room-temperature, half-metal material are CrO2, Fe3O4, and a Heusler alloy. Recently, Co-based Heusler alloys have achieved high TMR ratios, so spin devices using these alloys are expected. A Heusler alloy is a general term for intermetallic compounds having a chemical composition indicated by X2YZ where X is a Co-, Ni-, or Cu-based transition metal element or noble metal element in the periodic table, Y is an Mn-, V-, or Ti-based transition metal, and Z is a main group element of groups III to V.
To achieve a high TMR ratio by using a Heusler alloy, however, regular epitaxial growth of the crystal structure is indispensable when forming a stacked structure (e.g., N. Tezuka, et al., J. Appl. Phys. 99(2006)08T314), and highly crystallized Heusler alloys are necessary in the spin device. Especially when using a Heusler alloy in the spin MOSFET, a technique of epitaxially growing a Heusler alloy on a semiconductor layer is indispensable.
Also, as prior art relevant to the present invention, a technique capable of forming a (001)-oriented MgO layer on an amorphous layer is disclosed (e.g., S. Yuasa, et al., Appl. Phys. Lett. 87(2005)242503).

Spin MOS field effect transistor and tunneling magnetoresistive effect element using stack having Heusler alloy


A free space optics communication apparatus which can perform stable communication is disclosed. The free space optics communication apparatus has a plurality of light-emitting units each emitting a light beam which forms a generally elliptical irradiation pattern. The plurality of light-emitting units are set such that irradiation patterns of beams from at least two of the plurality of light-emitting units partially overlap at a light-receiving unit of the other apparatus. Further the width of a combined irradiation pattern formed by combining the light beams is 1.5 times or more larger than a width in a shorter diameter direction of an irradiation pattern of a light beam from one light-emitting unit.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a free space optics communication apparatus and a free space optics communication system which use light beams to perform communication with another apparatus installed at a remote location.
2. Description of Related Art
In a free space optics communication apparatus of the type described above, even a single light source can transmit a light signal. However, a plurality of light sources are used in many cases to increase transmission power in order to seek resistance to attenuation due to rain or fog in consideration of the function of propagating the light signal through the free space.
FIG. 5A shows a front view and a side view of a free space optics communication apparatus 40 which has a plurality of light sources. In FIG. 5A, reference numerals 43a to 43d show light sources, and reference numerals 41a to 41d show transmission optical systems which condense light emitted from the light sources 43a to 43d, respectively, and including information to be transmitted, form the light into beams, and send the beams toward another apparatus (not shown).
Reference numeral 42 shows a reception optical system. Light from another apparatus is condensed through the reception optical system 42 to a light signal detection element 44 such as an APD and a Pin-Photodiode to receive the light signal.
For the light sources 43a to 43d, a semiconductor laser is often used since it enables fast modulation, high output power, easy coupling of output light to an optical system, and the like.
As shown in FIG. 6, an irradiation pattern 61 of a semiconductor laser (a semiconductor laser diode chip) 60 has a generally elliptical shape in which Gaussian intensity distributions 61a and 61b are included in a longer diameter (the major axis) direction and a shorter diameter (the minor axis) direction, respectively. The Gaussian intensity distribution 61b in the shorter diameter direction is more compressed than the Gaussian intensity distribution 61a in the longer diameter direction.
In the free space optics communication apparatus 40 which uses a plurality of the semiconductor lasers as the light sources 43a to 43d, the transmission optical systems 41a to 41d have optical axes set in parallel with one another to allow another apparatus at a remote location to efficiently receive all light beams. As a result, as shown in FIG. 5B, the irradiation patterns of the respective light beams at a light-receiving unit of the other apparatus overlap one another for the most part with the centers of the patterns separated from one another corresponding to the spacings between the optical axes of the transmission optical systems 41a to 41d.
When a combined irradiation pattern of the plurality of light beams at the light-receiving unit of the other apparatus has a generally elliptical shape as shown in FIG. 5B, the pattern has a smaller width in a shorter diameter direction.
Especially when swinging due to wind pressure or vibrations, distortion due to temperature changes, or angle variations due to changes over time occur in a building or a base on which the free space optics communication apparatus is installed, the light beam from the apparatus is likely to arrive at the light-receiving unit of the other apparatus with a shift or a deviation in a shorter diameter direction. Thus, the light-receiving unit receives a reduced amount of light or, in a worse case, no light, so that stable communication is difficult to achieve.

Free space optics communication apparatus and free space optics communication system


Multicompartment water-soluble unit dose articles and methods of making them.

Water-soluble unit dose articles are preferred by consumers. Such articles comprise water-soluble films defining internal compartments, and treatment compositions, such as detergent compositions, are contained within the compartments. Most preferred are 'superposed' water-soluble unit dose articles, in which at least a first compartment is arranged above another compartment. Such superposed unit dose articles are preferred by consumers due to their compacted shape.
It is possible to make superposed unit dose articles using 1 single water-soluble film. Such unit dose articles are described in WO2018129124. They have benefit of using less water-soluble film during manufacture as there is less trimmed excess film. Without wishing to be bound by theory, such unit dose articles are made by multiple folding of the single water-soluble film upon itself to create at least 3 layers of film. A first compartment is defined between the first and second layer, and then a second compartment between the second and third layer, meaning the first and second compartments are separated by one film layer and three layers of film are sealed together in the seal area. Alternatively, a first composition is defined between a first and a second film layer to create a first compartment, and a second composition is defined between a third and a fourth film layer to create a second compartment. The superposed unit dose article is hence created through folding the first compartment over the second compartment, meaning the first and second compartments are separated by two layers of film and four layers of film are sealed together in the seal area. Further variations of this folding process could yield multi-compartment layer pouches, each compartment separated from each other by at least one film layer, and at least 3 film layers being sealed together within the seal area.
However, an issue encountered with single film unit dose articles is the fact that some regions of the unit dose article require 3 or more film layers to be sealed together. An issue is that 3 or more film layer seal regions can experience dissolution challenges in water due to the presence of higher concentration of film. This can result in undissolved film residue in the wash liquor which can stick to fabrics or articles being washed.
Therefore, there is a need in the art for a superposed multi-compartment water-soluble unit dose article comprising a single water-soluble film that is folded upon itself and that exhibits reduced instances of undissolved film residue.
It was surprisingly found that superposed multi-compartment water-soluble unit dose articles comprising a single water-soluble film comprising a polyvinyl alcohol based copolymer having at least one anionic monomer unit provided such benefit.

Water-soluble unit dose article comprising a water-soluble film comprising a polyvinyl alcohol polymer comprising an anionic monomer unit


Proposed are a storage system and a data recovery method capable of guaranteeing data recovery processing at a service level sought by a user. This storage system and data recovery method uses one or more data recovery candidate points and specifies a section containing the journal and the replication of write data, checks a redundancy relation of a write range in the volume of write data written from host into the volume contained in the journal regarding one or more the journals in the section, and executes redundancy elimination processing of merging a plurality of the replications of write data or a plurality of the journals into a single replication of write data or a single journal based on the check result.

The present invention generally relates to a storage system and a data recovery method, and in particular relates to backup and recovery technology of data.
Storage systems that store data of enterprise information systems have conventionally played the role of protecting data. From the needs of data protection and the like, in the field of storage systems, there have been proposed a replication function and a CDP (Continuous Data Protection) function of creating a replication of operation data without stopping the enterprise information system and instantaneously recovering operation data from such replication when a disaster or an operation error occurs.
The replication function is a function where the storage system, upon receiving a replication command from the host computer, copies data stored in a volume to be replicated at that time (hereinafter referred to as the "target volume") to another volume, and thereby creates a replication of the target volume. As a result of periodically executing the replication function, it is possible to discretely acquire the replication of the target volume. The point that can be recovered with the replication function is the point in time when the storage system creates a replication of the target volume.
The CDP function is a function where, when used simultaneously with the replication function, recovery to numerous points from few replications is enabled (for instance, refer to the specification of US Patent Application No. 2005/0028022A1; "Patent Document 1").
In actuality, with the CDP function, when a storage system receives write request is received from the host computer, it creates a journal from the various types of control information (write destination address of write data and data length of write data) contained in the write request and the write data, and stores this journal. Subsequently, upon recovery, the storage system sequentially overwrites the write data contained in the journal to the replication of the target volume (hereinafter referred to as the "base volume") acquired with the replication function (hereinafter referred to as the "journal application").
According to this kind of CDP function, by selecting the journal to be applied to the replication of the target operation data, it is possible to recover the contents of the target volume other than the time the replication of the target volume was acquired.
In order to recover data at a point in time when the software running on the host computer is in a resting state, a point referred to as a recovery point to become the reference for recovering data is created. Here, after the host computer enters the software in a resting state, it issues a recovery point creation request to the storage system notifying a certain point in time as the recovery point.
Incidentally, by creating a special journal, the storage system that received the recovery point creation request is able to differentiate the journals created before the issue of the recovery point creation request and the journals created after the issue of the recovery point creation request. When the storage system thereafter receives a recovery request to the recovery point from the host computer, it recovers data of the recovery point by sequentially applying journals, up to the recovery point from the oldest journal, to the base volume.


An apparatus for driving an intra-aorta balloon pump is comprised of an isolator having a housing in which a first chamber and a second chamber are defined by a membrane, a positive pressure source which is in fluid communication with the first chamber via a first timing valve, a negative pressure source which is in fluid communication with the first chamber via a second timing valve, a space defined between the second chamber and the intra-aorta balloon pump and containing an amount of operating fluid, a tank for storing therein the operating fluid, an inlet valve interposed between the tank and the space, an exhaust valve interposed between the space and the atmospheric pressure, a sensor for measuring the pressure in the space, and a controller to be operated in such a manner that the first timing valve and the second timing valve are opened and closed alternately in order to establish an alternate supply of the positive and negative pressures to the first chamber and each time-duration during which the first timing valve is opened is set to be decreased gradually with the passing of time.

The present invention relates to an apparatus for driving an intra-aorta balloon pump which is designed to expand and contract the intra-aorta balloon pump by alternately supplying positive and negative pressures thereto.
In general, it is preferable that the volume of the expansion of an intra-aorta balloon pump should be changed in accordance with the degree of recovery of the living heart. In order to meet with this requirement, an improved device has been provided which is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,796,606 for example. In this device, the expansion of intra-aorta balloon pump can be changed on the basis of a difference between the pressure in the balloon pump and the blood pressure of the patient.
However, in this conventional device, once the expansion of the intra-aorta balloon pump has been changed, the resulting expansion can't be changed furthermore so long as the device is in operation. In other words, while the device is running, the pressure change in or the expansion degree of the intra-aorta balloon pump is constant. Thus, it is difficult to establish a precise change of the expansion degree of the intra-aorta balloon pump in accordance with the recovery of the patient.

Apparatus for driving intra-aorta balloon pump


Systems and methods may provide for receiving runtime input from one or more unlock interfaces of a device and selecting a level of access with regard to the device from a plurality of levels of access based on the runtime input. The selected level of access may have an associated security policy, wherein an authentication of the runtime input may be conducted based on the associated security policy. In one example, one or more cryptographic keys are used to place the device in an unlocked state with regard to the selected level of access if the authentication is successful. If the authentication is unsuccessful, on the other hand, the device may be maintained in a locked state with regard to the selected level of access.

Embodiments generally relate to computing device security. More particularly, embodiments relate to allowing varied device access based on different levels of unlocking mechanisms.
Certain conventional computing devices may be either locked with no applications or data being accessible or unlocked with all applications and data being fully accessible. Thus, if a user shares the device with another individual, the other individual may have access to sensitive content once the device is unlocked by the user. While certain "containerization" applications may enable data to be secured through additional passwords, etc., after the device has been unlocked, such applications may tend to be static in nature and difficult to use in device sharing scenarios.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Allowing varied device access based on different levels of unlocking mechanisms


A radar including a plurality of antenna arrays (B, . . . , J), for example linear arrays, the reception of electromagnetic waves being coherent for each antenna element in each array. The extraction of target signals from sidelobe signals according to the invention is obtained by comparing the signals received by the various arrays. A statistical processing allows to eliminate the responses corresponding to the array sidelobes. The invention is mainly applicable to radars including a plurality of linear lacunary antenna arrays with an isotropic disposition in space.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method for extracting targets from a radar signal and a radar capable of implementing this method.
2. Summary of the Invention
The method for extracting targets according to the present invention is mainly applicable to a new type of antenna array described hereinafter. The method according to the present invention is applicable to an antenna, or to a set of antennas, comprising a plurality of antenna arrays; each array exhibits array sidelobes that may disturb the reception of signals. The array sidelobes come, for example, from the fact that sparse arrays are used. The method according to the present invention is applicable to any radar antenna comprising a plurality of antenna arrays, each array having array sidelobes oriented in fixed and/or known directions, the pointing direction of the array sidelobes being different for the various arrays.
The processing according to the present invention requires a synchronous and coherent reception by all the receiving antenna elements of the various arrays.
The processing according to the present invention comprises performing the comparison of the signals received by the various arrays. Thus it is possible to determine statistically whether an echo corresponds to a real target or to an array sidelobe. In the extraction of target information according to the present invention, no information is lost at the time of the summation of the energies from a plurality of arrays.
An object of the present invention is a method for extracting target information from a radar signal, comprising the following steps:
reception of a radar signal by a plurality of sparse antenna arrays, each array having array sidelobes fixed in azimuth; PA1 comparison of the signals received by said arrays; and PA1 decision making for the elimination of the signal or signals detected by certain arrays and absent in other arrays, these signals being capable of corresponding to array sidelobes.

Method and apparatus for extracting target information from a radar signal


In a network management system for managing a network unit from an agent, an internal memory is included in the network unit to store current managed data signals while an agent internal memory is included in the agent to transcribe the current managed data signals from the network unit to the agent by a polling processing unit of the agent. The polling processing unit can acquire the current managed data signals from a zone of the internal memory at a time when the network unit is polled by accessing the zone of the internal memory. Alternatively, an alarm data signal which is representative of a detail of a fault is transferred from the network unit to the agent through an interface which is included in each of the network unit and the agent and which is used in common to transmission of managned data signals. Both the interfaces are connected to each other through a transmission path. An alarm signal indicative of occurrence of the fault is transmitted from the network unit to the agent through an interruption line and the common interface which is included in each of the network unit and the agent.

This invention relates to a network system which includes a managing unit and a managed unit which is managed by the managing unit and which may be therefore called a network management system. It is to be noted throughout the instant specification that the managed unit is practically a communication package (simply called a package) which is located in a slot formed within a housing and which will be often referred to as a network unit and that the managing unit may be practically an agent. At any rate, the agent is located between the manager and the communication package, namely, the network unit and is operable to execute a management operation instead of the manager.
A conventional network system of the type described includes an agent connected to a manager and a plurality of network units communicable with the agent. In order to carry out management operation, a command is issued from the agent to each of the network unit while a response is sent from each of the network units to the agent in response to the command. With this structure, each of the network units must have an interface which can interpret the command, collect a data signal to be managed (namely, a managed data signal), and form a response format. Therefore, the interface is intricate in structure.
In addition, the agent carries out polling operation to each of the network units to acquire the managed data signals from the network units by delivering a specified command to each network unit. The managed data signals are sent back to the agent as the responses.
Herein, it is to be noted that a restricted amount of the managed data signal alone is extracted each time when the single polling operation is carried out. Accordingly, the polling operation should be repeated again and again to extract a great deal of the managed data signals from the network unit. This degrades a transmission efficiency.
Alternatively, a proposal has been made about a network system or a network management system which is described in Japanese Unexamined Publication No. Hei 5-204811, namely, 204811/1993, and which has an agent and a network unit. Such a network system proposed is effective to quickly transmit an alarm signal from the network unit to the agent when a fault takes place in each of the network units. In addition, it is also possible to quickly collect the alarm signal from each network unit and to transfer the alarm signal to the manager.
For this purpose, each of the agent and the network unit includes a connection oriented communication interface and a connectionless communication interface. In addition, the connection oriented communication interface and the connectionless communication interface of the agent are communicable with those of the network unit, respectively. With this structure, the connection oriented communication interfaces in the agent and the network unit are used for communication which is triggered by the agent and which is made, for example, to acquire data signals of the network unit by the agent. On the other hand, the connectionless communication interfaces in the agent and the network unit are used for communication which is triggered-by the network unit and which is made, for example, to urgently or emergently transmit the alarm signal from the network unit to the agent. Thus, emergent communication can be carried out between the network unit and the agent by the use of the connectionless communication interfaces.
Herein, it should be considered in connection with the above-referenced network system that occurrence of an emergent event, such as occurrence of a fault, must finally be reported to the manager which is connected to the agent. However, two different kinds of the interfaces should be prepared in the above-referenced network system in the manager, the agent, and the network unit. This brings about complexity of the network system. In addition, each of the connectionless communication interfaces has a low reliability, as mentioned in the referenced Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication and acknowledgement should be made each time when communication is carried out through the connectionless communication interfaces.
In general, managed data signals acquired by the managing unit are preferably classified so as to effectively manage the managed data signals. However, no consideration is made at all about different attributes of the managed data signals.
Moreover, it is preferable that the alarm signal is quickly transmitted through the agent to the manager, regardless of a load imposed on the agent. However, the transmission of the alarm signal-is practically delayed as the load imposed on the agent becomes heavy.

Network system capable of managing a network unit from an agent


The present invention provides a genetic testing system that ensures complete traceability of animals and food products and involves a method of uniquely identifying animals for data collection, records management and retrieval purposes involving a novel method of genetic analysis using individual DNA fingerprinting of parentage of individual animal to effectively provide for full traceability of animals from birth to consumption.

The present invention relates to a method of uniquely identifying animals for data collection, records management and retrieval purposes in an accurate and cost-effective manner. Animal identification and registry has been an area of increasing concern over recent years. Generally speaking, animal identification and registry involves collecting data for each animal throughout its entire life cycle such that individual characteristics and the history of the animal can be tracked. This data may include, but is not necessarily limited to, date and place of birth, ancestry, sex, geographic movement, health and treatment history, and other production records. The livestock and food processing industries, in particular, have been heavily involved in this area in an effort to increase productivity and profitability in livestock management, as well as develop a strategy for identifying, tracing and managing the risks in the area of food safety and infectious disease outbreaks in livestock. Health and safety considerations demand that the origins of food products should be transparent. In addition, consumers now demand and some countries now require that the origins of meat products should be traceable so that quality assurance audits and monitoring procedures can be effectively and reliably carried out. A paper-based recording or tracking system would be sufficient to trace meat products back to the system or farm of origin. Nevertheless, papers may be lost, labels deteriorate on storage in a freezer and recording errors are made. The claimed system has the advantage that if a result is doubted or controversial, the samples in question can be retested by an independent third party. A significant challenge exists, however, in that there is currently no uniform system for identifying and tracing animals with sufficient specificity. Instead, a multitude of animal identification and registry conventions have evolved over time which vary widely depending upon such factors as the geographic location of the livestock operation and/or the manufacturer of the particular animal tracking system. One example is the lack of uniformity based on geographic location that is evident in the United States wherein each state determines its own animal identification scheme for livestock farms located within the state. Another example is, at present, various methods and combinations of methods are used in an attempt to ensure the identity and source of meat products through batch or consignment basis whereby batch/consignment numbers are applied to the batches/consignments from the source, through the slaughter process to the consumer. However, these examples demonstrate how current methods are time consuming, cumbersome and require considerable resources from farmers, processors and government or other agencies. Thus, this lack of uniformity is problematic in that it becomes increasingly difficult to trace back information concerning a specific animal. The usefulness of the collected data is thus compromised thereby undercutting such goals of the industry as increasing productivity and tracing the animal through its entire life cycle. It also increases the time required to trace back human exposure and potential issues of food safety while limiting the spread of infectious diseases which in certain circumstances, can lead to additional exposure to preventable health risks for humans and the spread of confinable diseases for animals which in turn could lead to the disposal of large numbers of animals. Managing the risk is clearly associated with data collection and information management systems that a well run animal operation should already have in place.
The capability to identify and track food products through the food chain at the retail level back to the farm or production system of origin is becoming a required process to address human safety issues. The importance of a system to trace food products is illustrated by many recent examples including problems with residues in fruit and vegetables, dioxin in poultry and E. coli 0157 contamination and bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) in beef products. It is also increasingly a requirement from retailers in order to guarantee the wholesomeness of the food product to their customers. It can be seen that presently and in the future there is an increasing requirement to verify the quality of products. The present invention fulfills this long-standing need and desire in the art.
As genetic and genomic research expands its influence to food production there is a requirement to maintain the integrity of the chain so that the benefits of selecting specific genotypes are taken through the chain to the point where the benefit can be exploited. Today, it is possible to select for specific alleles of genes in cattle and pigs that result in meat with improved meat or eating quality as judged by the processor and consumer. Thus, it is likely that these alleles/genes will be specified and that members of the chain will require confirmation that resulting claims can be verified. There is presently a need to positively identify the genetics that are said to be part of a program or package formulated to deliver specific carcass characteristics and meat quality attributes.
It is currently possible to put in place such a traceability system using paper or electronic passports that will trace an individual animal from birth to slaughter and link to tags or other forms of animal identification such as retinal imaging. However, these systems can be subject to fraud, although technology is being developed to link the two components (passport and animal) together. Nonetheless, these processes and the technology available today can only follow the carcass to the breaking table; the point where the animal is split up into primal cuts, joints etc. Once these primals are distributed to the different boning tables, product identity and the passport is lost at least from an individual carcass perspective. Lots or batches can still be contained although a clear separation is difficult to maintain between these lots and is subject to error and this adds significantly to the cost of production. In addition, the dissemination of the product to other plants for further processing also increases the problem.
There is a need to develop genetic data in a cumulative, comprehensive, and dynamic system of database management to thereby enhance the health predictability, and longevity of animals. The claimed system has the distinct advantage of using DNA information to trace meat products to the system or farm of origin. In the present invention a method of using DNA markers is presented as a means to identifying individual animals by obtaining genotypes of all prospective parents as references to be entered into a database and then comparing genotypes of offspring samples to this database to identify the prospective parents for each offspring. Similarly, parentage analysis using DNA markers can be used in a system to identify the source of carcasses and individual cuts of meat (offspring) to a specific farm (parents). The present invention is less costly than existing DNA tracing systems based on identity as the present invention does not have to keep samples of all slaughter animals, nor DNA fingerprint all slaughter animals. In the future, if cloning is ever used in the farming industry, the claimed system would also be effective provided that the given clones were unique to a particular system/farm.
For the foregoing reasons, there is a need for a system which traces animals through an efficient and cost-effective DNA marker method. The method of the present invention comprises the first step of providing a unique universal identification system for animals, such as pigs, that enables the identification and management to track food products through the food chain.
Accordingly, a primary objective of the invention is a method of genetic analysis using DNA fingerprinting to provide full traceability for the animal production chain whereby the collection of parentage samples is required and the collection of samples of the offspring groups provides for a necessary database for future use.
Another objective of the invention is the health profiling of an animal that determines characteristics of that animal through parentage DNA profiling.
A further objective of the invention is health profiling of an animal that comprises genetic data of animals enabling health assessment data of animals thereby to permit an analysis predicting health, disease, and disorder probabilities.
Yet another objective of the invention is a method for utilizing the genetic data of animals to provide a universal database enabling a traceability system for the entire production chain.
The method and means of accomplishing each of the above objectives will become apparent from the detailed description of the invention which follows. Additional objectives and advantages of the invention will also be set forth in part in the detailed description and in part will be obvious from the examples, or may be learned by the practice of the invention. The objectives and advantages of the invention will be obtained by means of the instrumentalities and combinations, particularly pointed out in the claims of the invention.


A method and a system for communicating data in a telecommunication network (3) in which the available capacity is not uniformly distributed is disclosed. The system comprises a controller (2) for tracking the locations of a mobile station (1) moving in the telecommunication network (3), and for scheduling the data communication to or from the mobile station in accordance with the available capacity of the network.

According to cellular network systems, the entire area of coverage is divided into contiguous or overlapping cells having a size up to several kilometers depending on the anticipated traffic load. Each cell comprises a base station with a certain communication capacity or throughput capacity. Neighbouring cells use different frequencies, although cells that are further apart can use the same frequencies as they are not hindered by each other due to the relatively low power of all the transmitting stations used. Alternatively, some radio technologies like CDMA (Code Division Multiple Access) systems can use the same frequency in neighbouring or overlapping cells.
Different types of cells can be handled in the same geographical environment in a limited bandwidth. For example, there may be two different overlapping cell layers in one geographical region, which layers consist of micro cells and macro cells, respectively.
When a mobile station (MS) moves in such a cellular network while communicating via this network, handovers between cells in an area of the network have to take place. Moreover, while moving in the cellular network, the mobile station may move to a congested area consisting of at least one congested cell. In congested areas, however, the Quality of Service (QoS) offered to the mobile station may have to be reduced.
The WO 98 35514 A relates to a communication system which has the capability to transmit at high data rates and the ability to allocate the forward link resource to the users whenever requested, based on the availability of the resource. According this system, since voice communication cannot tolerate extensive delay, priority should be given to transmission of voice data over transmission of any data traffic. Moreover, since the amount of voice activity at any given moment is unpredictable, in the WO 98 35514 A it is suggested to continuously monitor the forward link and to dynamically adjust the data transmission so that the forward link capacity is not exceeded. Since the user may be in soft handoff between multiple cells, it is proposed to assign the data transmission based on the forward link capacity of each of the cells participating in the soft handoff.
Furthermore, the WO 98 45966 A is concerned with a method and an apparatus for scheduling data transmissions, in which a channel scheduler determines the maximum scheduling transmission rate for high speed data transmission. The maximum scheduled transmission rate is assigned at each scheduling period according to the availability of the reverse link capacity.


Disclosed herein is an apparatus for manufacturing a secondary battery by performing insert injection molding with respect to a portion of a battery cell while the battery cell is located in a mold, wherein the apparatus comprises a pair of upper and lower molds, at which are formed shapes corresponding to the battery cell, the upper and lower molds are provided at the inside surfaces thereof with elastic members, and the elastic members are constructed in a structure in which the elastic members support a cell body of the battery cell and isolate a non-molding region from a molding region while the battery cell is mounted in the upper and lower molds. The secondary battery manufacturing apparatus according to the present invention has the effect of preventing a battery case from being damaged due to the contact between the battery case and the mold when the mold is brought into tight contact with the cell body of the battery cell during insert injection molding to form a molding member at a specific region of the secondary battery, and effectively preventing a material for insert injection molding, which is injected into the molding region, from being injected into the non-molding region.

Recently, a secondary battery, which can be charged and discharged, has been widely used as an energy source for wireless mobile devices. Also, the secondary battery has attracted considerable attention as a power source for electric vehicles (EV) and hybrid electric vehicles (HEV), which have been developed to solve problems, such as air pollution, caused by existing gasoline and diesel vehicles using fossil fuel.
Small-sized mobile devices use one or several small-sized cells for each device. On the other hand, medium- or large-sized devices, such as vehicles, use a medium- or large-sized battery pack having a plurality of battery cells electrically connected with each other because high output and large capacity is necessary for the medium- or large-sized devices.
Preferably, the medium- or large-sized battery pack is manufactured with small size and small weight if possible. For this reason, a rectangular battery or a pouch-shaped battery, which can be stacked with high integration and has a small weight to capacity ratio, is usually used as a battery cell of the medium- or large-sized battery pack. Especially, much interest is currently generated in the pouch-shaped battery, which uses an aluminum laminate sheet as a battery case.
FIG. 1 is a perspective view typically illustrating a conventional representative pouch-shaped battery. The pouch-shaped battery 10 shown in FIG. 1 is constructed in a structure in which two electrode leads 11 and 12 protrude from the upper end and the lower end of a battery cell 13, respectively, while the electrode leads 11 and 12 are opposite to each other. A battery case 14 comprises upper and lower battery case parts. That is, the battery case 14 is a two-unit case. An electrode assembly (not shown) is received in a receiving part 15, which is defined between the upper and lower battery case parts of the battery case 14. The opposite sides 14a and upper and lower ends 14b and 14c, which are contact regions of the upper and lower battery case parts of the battery case 14, are bonded to each other, whereby the pouch-shaped battery 10 is manufactured. The battery case 14 is constructed in a laminate structure of a resin layer/a metal film layer/a resin layer. Consequently, it is possible to bond the opposite sides 14a and upper and lower ends 14b and 14c of the upper and lower battery case parts of the battery case 14, which are in contact with each other, to each other by applying heat and pressure to the opposite sides 14a and upper and lower ends 14b and 14c of the upper and lower battery case parts of the battery case 14 so as to weld the resin layers to each other. According to circumstances, the opposite sides 14a and upper and lower ends 14b and 14c of the upper and lower battery case parts of the battery case 14 may be bonded to each other using a bonding agent. For the opposite sides 14a of the battery case 14, the same resin layers of the upper and lower battery case parts of the battery case 14 are in direct contact with each other, whereby uniform sealing at the opposite sides 14a of the battery case 14 is accomplished by welding. For the upper and lower ends 14b and 14c of the battery case 14, on the other hand, the electrode leads 11 and 12 protrude from the upper and lower ends 14b and 14c of the battery case 14. For this reason, the upper and lower ends 14b and 14c of the upper and lower battery case parts of the battery case 14 are thermally welded to each other, while a film-shaped sealing member 16 is interposed between the electrode leads 11 and 12 and the battery case 14, in consideration of the thickness of the electrode leads 11 and 12 and the difference in material between the electrode leads 11 and 12 and the battery case 14, so as to increase sealability.
In the pouch-shaped battery 10, however, the battery cell 13 repeatedly expands and contracts during the charge and the discharge of the pouch-shaped battery 10. As a result, the thermally welded regions of the upper and lower ends 14b and 14c, especially the opposite sides 14a, of the upper and lower battery case parts of the battery case 14, are easily separated from each other. Furthermore, the mechanical strength of the battery case 14 is low. In order to solve this problem, there have been proposed a method of applying an epoxy resin or a silicon resin to the outside sealing region of the battery case 14, and a method of mounting batteries in additional members having sufficient mechanical strength, respectively, and stacking the additional members one on another.
However, the above-mentioned methods do not provide high sealing force. Furthermore, when the above-mentioned methods are used, the total weight and the total size of the battery pack are increased, and the assembly process of the battery pack is very complicated.
In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, there has been proposed a secondary battery comprising an electrode assembly for charging and discharging mounted in a battery case including a metal layer and a resin layer, wherein a molding part having a predetermined thickness is at least partially formed at the outside of the battery case, which is disclosed in Korean Patent Application No. 2005-0047765, which has been filed in the name of the applicant of the present patent application. When the secondary battery is a thin-type battery, such as a pouch-shaped battery, the molding part increases the mechanical strength of the battery case, and further increases the sealing force at the sealing region. Furthermore, the molding part provides a stable stacking structure when a plurality of secondary batteries are stacked one on another so as to manufacture a medium- or large-sized battery pack.
In some small-sized secondary batteries as well as the above-described secondary battery, a cap assembly, such as a protection circuit, is integrally formed at the battery cell by insert injection molding. During the insert injection molding, a molding member is formed at a part or the entirety of the battery cell. At this time, the battery cell is brought into contact with a mold. However, the battery case of the battery may be damaged due to such contact. According to circumstances, short circuits may occur.
For example, when a molding member is formed at a specific region of the battery cell, it is necessary that the remaining parts of the battery cell be brought into tight contact with the mold, whereby injection of a material for insert injection molding (e.g., a molten material) is prevented. To this end, the mold and the corresponding region of the battery cell must be brought into tight contact with each other with a high sealing force. During this procedure, however, the battery case may be damaged. The damage to the battery case causes leakage of an electrolyte from the battery cell. Especially in a medium- or large-sized battery pack, in which a plurality of unit cells are stacked one on another, this may cause a serious accident.

Apparatus for manufacturing secondary battery


A temperature control device for heating or cooling a battery has a cooling apparatus (5) and an electric heating apparatus (10). To simplify the temperature control of batteries, in particular of high-voltage batteries or traction batteries, the electric heating apparatus (10) is combined in one component with a highly thermally conductive material (20).

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a temperature control device having a cooling apparatus for cooling a battery and an electric heating apparatus for heating a battery. The invention also relates to a battery, in particular to a high-voltage battery or traction battery, having a multiplicity of such temperature control devices.
2. Description of the Related Art
Published US Patent Application Pub. No. US 2011/0318628 A1 discloses a cooling apparatus for a battery that has a first region with air cooling, a separate second region with liquid cooling, and a third region with an electric heating apparatus. U.S. Pat. No. 5,158,841 discloses a high-temperature storage battery with thermal insulation and direct or indirect cooling apparatuses and heating elements arranged in the thermal insulation to cool and heat storage cells.
The object of the invention is to simplify the temperature control of batteries, in particular of high-voltage batteries or traction batteries.

Dr. Ing h.c.F. Porsche Aktiengesellschaft


A Shabbat bulb and a related method is provided allowing control of illumination without electrical intervention by a person observing strictures of Shabbat orthodox Jewish law. The bulb includes a housing covering an electrically operated light source. A blackout mechanism is attached to but easily separable from the housing and has no operating connection with electrical circuitry. The mechanism includes a disc having at least one disc aperture through which light from the light source is transmitted; and an arm projecting radially outward from the disc. Manual movement of the arm from an open position to a closed position respectively allows full or totally no illumination to exit the bulb via the disc.

Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a light emitting device which allows control of the illumination without electrical intervention by a person observing Shabbat (Sabbath) orthodox Jewish law. More specifically, full illumination can be adjusted outwardly by a purely mechanical manipulation without touching the power or light source of the device.
The Related Art
Shabbat observant Jews may not turn on or off electrical switches or electrical devices and appliances from sundown Friday until after sunset on the following Saturday. This prohibition often forces a Shabbat observant family to leave some lights on during this period. These lights can be disturbing to some family members, most particularly those wishing to retire and go to sleep.
Automatic electric timers are widely used by these families to control the period of illumination. Among the disadvantages of the electric timers is that they need to be set up prior to Shabbat and that they cannot be adjusted during that day without violating religious prohibitions.
Currently there is a commercial light fixture for sale known as the KOSHER LAMP distributed by the Kosher Innovations Company and described in US Patent Publication Application No. 2005/0036322A1 titled "Lamp", invented by Samuel C. Veffer, and filed Jul. 28, 2004. Therein is described a standalone lighting fixture that accepts a standard incandescent or CFL bulb or fluorescent device that remains on at all times. Light is released or blocked from entering a space or room by manually rotating a cylinder cover having a single small opening. The cylinder cover with opening revolves around the bulb or device for control of illumination.
There are several disadvantages to the KOSHER LAMP product. Firstly, the product is not bright enough for certain applications because only a small portion of light exits from the small opening in a limited projection. This constraint engenders eye strain on users of the lamp when reading because of the lack of brightness. Secondly, the KOSHER LAMP architecture consigns placement on a flat table top and cannot easily be adapted to a wall or ceiling. The product is simply not suitable for multiple mounting positions. Finally, the product has limited light beam coverage with difficulty in placing light simultaneously in many directions. The present invention overcomes the aforementioned drawbacks and provides many other advantages.
Other documents which may have relevance to the present invention include U.S. Pat. No. 2,841,695 (Bentsen). Therein described is a night light fitted with a shading shield mechanically adjustable via a manual control knob outside a housing for the night light.
Another document is US Patent Application Publication No. 2013/0128493 A1 (Osaki et al). Therein is described an illumination device employing a semiconductor light emitting element or diode (LED), a variable color fluorescent-substance unit and, cooperating therewith, a dimming unit. Neither structural features nor purpose of the dimming unit are directed at achieving a total blackout.
A still further document is U.S. Pat. No. 7,736,025 (Hofmann et al). Described therein is a device including an illumination source and a mechanical dimming device, the latter being an array of partially overlapping blades covering an optical passageway.
Finally, U.S. Pat. No. 3,830,562 (McGrann et al) reports a slit lamp for an ophthalmological instrument. Among features of the lamp is a single knob for varying slit width to adjust light intensity.


A method and system for creating a custom-fit orthopedic cast comprises obtaining at least one measurements taken from at least one image of a body part, selecting a template cast, modifying the template cast according to the measurements taken from the at least one image to generate a custom cast model and rendering a custom cast based on the custom cast model.

Estimates show 6-6.5 million people in the United States annually are in need of a cast for injured limbs. Current casting systems ("traditional casts/casting systems") are made of plaster of Paris or fiberglass and have been around for over 160 years and 50 years, respectively. They are bulky, uncomfortable, unhygienic, and archaic.
Most broken bones and other limb injuries are casted for support during the healing process. The cast immobilizes the limb to allow the bone fracture to heal itself in proper position. Casts must be worn for a period of time which can span from several days to several months, depending on the severity of the injury. Problems with rigid casts and splints include inconsistent construction, limitations in customized sizing of the rigid cast or splint to a specific patient's anatomy, irritability to the patient's skin, limited waterproof or water resistant options, and limited breathability.
Traditional casts are heavy, uncomfortable, and subject to molding and degradation by water and sweat. Mildew and bacteria thrive in such an environment and can create an unpleasant odor. When a patient wears a cast or splint, the size of their limb may change due to atrophy, swelling, or reduced swelling. The patient's limb may also change due to healing of the skin around the injury, or as the result of being enclosed in a traditional cast or splint for extended periods of time.
The cast usually comprises of layers of fabric, cotton padding tape wrapped around the limb, and plaster of Paris or fiberglass. The fiberglass cast is lighter, somewhat air permeable, and more durable than the plaster cast. However, the fabric and cotton padding against the skin underneath a fiberglass cast may become wet, just as in the plaster cast. Imperfect application of a cast can result in multiple complications including skin breakdown, discomfort, emergency room visits, compartment syndromes, loss of fixation or fracture reduction, need for surgical intervention, nerve injury, and vascular injury.
Current solutions for custom cast manufacturing are insufficient. Certain solutions require scanning with custom equipment and then outsourcing cast manufacturing, causing unnecessary delays.
It would be advantageous to design, produce and deploy a custom-fit cast that overcomes the deficiencies of conventional casts. Accordingly, the methods and systems disclosed herein are intended to address these issues, by introducing new methods and systems for creating custom-fit casts as disclosed herein.

Method of producing a custom-fit orthopedic immobilization device


Disclosed herein is provided an evaporator/calciner in which hazardous materials, such as radioactive liquids, are converted into chemically stable, solid forms by evaporating, drying and calcination within a single vessel, that can then be sealed and used for long term storage.

Highly radioactive liquid wastes are produced during isotope production processes. Even relatively dilute liquid radioactive wastes remain hazardous. Because of the large volume of aqueous waste produced, the handling, transportation and storage of such liquid radioactive waste remains problematic.
It would be desirable to convert solutions of hazardous material, such as radioactive liquids, into chemically stable, solid forms by evaporating solvent, removing adventitious or included solvent and thermally decomposing solute components within a vessel that, upon closure, is suitable for subsequent handling and storage. Volume reduction and waste immobilization are central to strategies for safely managing such hazards.
Solvent evaporation can, for example, be achieved in open vats, boilers, thin film evaporators, wiped film evaporators and rotary evaporators. However, such systems do not take a solution directly to a stable solid or chemical form. In such systems, the evaporation chamber is typically used repeatedly and is not adapted for subsequent processing and disposal. In addition, the cost and complexity of such fixed installations make them generally suitable only for processing relatively large volumes of waste solutions. Rotary calciners for large scale operations have been developed for similar applications but are not readily adapted to simple systems operating on a small scale. Calcination systems based on fluidized beds do not provide for containment of hazardous materials and require a separation process for recovery of the final product. Furnaces can be used for calcining materials inside refractory metal or ceramic containers, but are not readily modified to accommodate continuous feed of liquid wastes or to meet containment requirements for hazardous materials.
McGinnis, et al., "Development and Operation of a Unique Conversion/Solidification Process for Highly Radioactive and Fissile Uranium", Nucl. Technol. 77, 210-219, (1987), describe a process in which waste solution is fed continuously into a heated vessel, but evaporation is from a bulk volume of liquid rather than a relatively small volume of solution distributed through a long channel.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,144,186 describes a process in which waste solution is denitrated, spray dried, and calcined prior to mixing with glass forming components to generate a solidified waste form.
There remains a need, therefore, for an apparatus and method for converting solutions of hazardous liquid materials, such as radioactive liquids, into chemically stable and solid forms; that is suitable for small scale operations; hot cell operations using remote-handling manipulators; rigorous containment of hazardous, fissile, or highly radioactive materials; and for combining evaporation, drying and thermal decomposition operations in a continuous process within a single vessel that is suitable for subsequent handling, storage, inspection and verification and disposal.
This background information is provided for the purpose of making known information believed by the applicant to be of possible relevance to the present invention. No admission is necessarily intended, nor should be construed, that any of the preceding information constitutes prior art against the present invention.


A capacitor whose electrical properties can be stable under a variety of different conditions is provided. The solid electrolyte of the capacitor is formed from a combination of an in situ polymerized conductive polymer and a hydroxy-functional nonionic polymer. One benefit of such an in situ polymerized conductive polymer is that it does not require the use of polymeric counterions (e.g., polystyrenesulfonic anion) to compensate for charge, as with conventional particle dispersions, which tend to result in ionic polarization and instable electrical properties, particularly at the low temperatures noted above. Further, it is believed that hydroxy-functional nonionic polymers can improve the degree of contact between the polymer and the surface of the internal dielectric, which unexpectedly increases the capacitance performance and reduces ESR.

Solid electrolytic capacitors (e.g., tantalum capacitors) are typically made by pressing a metal powder (e.g., tantalum) around a metal lead wire, sintering the pressed part, anodizing the sintered anode, and thereafter applying a solid electrolyte. Intrinsically conductive polymers are often employed as the solid electrolyte due to their advantageous low equivalent series resistance ("ESR") and "non-burning/non-ignition" failure mode. Recently, conductive polymer slurries that contain a complex of poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) and polystyrenesulfonic acid ("PEDT:PSS complex") have been employed as a solid electrolyte material due to their ability to handle high voltages, such as experienced during a fast switch on or operational current spike. While some benefits have been achieved, one problem with polymer slurry-based capacitors is that their capacitance is highly temperature dependent. For example, the capacitance tends to drop significantly at low temperatures (e.g., −55° C.), which can prevent the use of such capacitors in cold temperature environments, such as often experienced in aerospace or military applications.
As such, a need currently exists for a solid electrolytic capacitor having improved stability at a wide variety of different temperatures.

Temperature stable solid electrolytic capacitor


A robot manipulator having a vision system for viewing and identifying a known part. The vision system includes a computer and a camera with known viewing geometry and optics to view the part. The method of viewing and identifying the part comprises the following steps. First, a template of the known part is stored in the computer. Secondly, the relative position of the camera in relation to the part is determined and stored. Thirdly, the part is viewed through the camera and a distorted image of the part is captured. Fourthly, the stored relative position information of the camera in relation to the part and the known viewing geometry and optics of the camera are used to convert the distorted image into a true image of the part which removes any distortions from the distorted image. Fifthly, the true edges of the true image of the part are determined. Lastly, the true edges of the part are compared to the template to allow the computer to identify the part such that the robot may accurately perform a desired operation on the part.

1) Technical Field
The subject invention relates to a robot manipulator having a vision system for viewing and identifying a part.
2) Description of the Prior Art
Robot manipulators are well known in the art and are frequently used in many industrial applications. Vision systems are utilized on certain types of robots for assisting the robot in recognizing a location and orientation of a part and identifying the shape of the part. These vision systems typically include a camera and a computer. The identification is typically accomplished by comparing the image of the part with an image on a stored template. Once the part is matched with the template, the relative location, orientation, and size of the part can then be determined. After the location and identification of the part are known, the robot may proceed with a preprogrammed operation, such as gripping and moving the part.
The identification and location of a part and its profile and/or features can be a difficult process. Prior art systems do not take into account the effects of image distortion and perspective variation when the part shifts and/or rotates on a viewing surface. In other words, a camera can skew and distort the image of the part, especially when the part rotates into different orientations. Many prior art systems use a template comparison based on gray scale normalized correlation to determine the location of the part.
Gray scale normalized correlation is a process which takes each pixel or point of a template and compares it with each pixel or point of the actual part being viewed. Using gray scale normalized correlation, however, is computationally expensive and sometimes computationally prohibitive. Gray scale normalized correlation is even more expensive in a situation where the orientation of the object can change. For example, if a 64xc3x9764 image is compared to a 16xc3x9716 template, then at least 1 million pixel comparing operations would have to be performed to compare the image to the template. This operation is expensive and can take an appreciable amount of time to perform.
Accordingly, there is a need for a vision system which can operate on a distorted image of the part to provide identification and location information without using computationally expensive algorithms.
A method of viewing and identifying a known part for a robot manipulator using a vision system having a computer and a camera with known viewing geometry and optics to view the part. The method comprises the steps of: storing a template of the known part in the computer with identification parameters to identify the part; determining the relative position of the camera in relation to the part; storing the relative position information of the camera in relation to the part; viewing the part through the camera and creating a distorted image of the part resulting from the relative position of the camera and the viewing geometry and optics of the camera; using the stored relative position information of the camera in relation to the part and the known viewing geometry and optics of the camera to convert the distorted image into a true image of the part which removes any distortions from the distorted image; determining the true parameters of the true image of the part; and comparing the true parameters of the true image of the part to the identification parameters of the stored template to allow the computer to identify the part such that the robot may accurately perform a desired operation on the part.
Accordingly, the subject invention provides a vision system which eliminates any distortions and perspective effects from an imaged picture of the part before the picture of the part is compared to the template. By removing the distortions before performing the remaining calculations, the true image of the part is determined and identified by a relatively inexpensive means.

Method of viewing and identifying a part for a robot manipulator


An ergonomically designed forearm and wrist support device (10) including a wrist support unit (11) and a forearm support unit (12) arranged in a generally L-shaped configuration wherein each of the support units (11) (12) comprises an elongated generally rectangular housing member (20) (20xe2x80x2) having a base element (21) (21xe2x80x2) and a cover element (22) (22xe2x80x2) provided with a plurality of apertures (23) (23xe2x80x2) dimensioned to receive a plurality of roller balls (28) (28xe2x80x2) (28xe2x80x3) arranged in a particular pattern to provide support to a user""s wrist and forearm while manipulating a computer mouse.

Not applicable.
Not applicable.
Not applicable.
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to the field of ergonomic supports for computer users in general and in particular to an ergonomic roller device that specifically supports the user""s wrist and forearm while operating a computer mouse.
2. Description of Related Art
As can be seen by reference to the following U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,467,950; 6,135,399; 5,445,349; and 5,990,870, the prior art is replete with myriad and diverse computer oriented support devices for a user""s hand and wrist.
While all of the aforementioned prior art constructions are more than adequate for the basic purpose and function for which they have been specifically designed, they are uniformly deficient with respect to their failure to provide a simple, efficient, and practical support device that focuses specifically in supporting a computer user""s wrist and forearm in an ergonomic fashion.
While it is indisputable that a computer user""s wrist should be ergonomically supported either during typing or maneuvering a mouse, the prior art has failed to recognize that the computer operator""s forearm is used extensively in the manipulation of the mouse to access different areas of a computer monitor.
As a consequence of the foregoing situation, there has existed a longstanding need among computer users for a new and improved ergonomically designed wrist and forearm support device; and, the provision of such a construction is the stated objective of the present invention.
Briefly stated, the ergonomically designed forearm and wrist support device that forms the basis of the present invention comprises in general a wrist support unit and a forearm support unit which are aligned in a generally L-shaped configuration.
As will be explained in greater detail further on in the specification, both the wrist support unit and the forearm support unit include generally elongated rectangular housing members and wherein each of the housing members includes a base element and a cover element provided with a plurality of apertures dimensioned to receive a plurality of roller balls rotatably suspended within the respective housing members by an internal framework member.
In addition, each of the support units has a particular array and/or alignment of roller balls including both small and large diameter roller balls which are provided to ergonomically support different portions of a computer user""s wrist and forearm while manipulating a computer mouse.

Ergonomic forearm and wrist support device