A drive wheel steering system for a lawnmower has a handle bar assembly that is pivotal about a vertical axis to provide directional control of the mower and rotatable about a horizontal axis to provide speed control of the mower. A control bar is operable to set a desired forward speed of the mower via engagement of a cam and the linkage assembly providing directional and speed control for the mower.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates generally to vehicle steering systems. In particular, the present invention relates to an improved drive wheel steering system for a lawnmower.
2. Related Art
Two basic types of steering systems are used for tractor-type power lawnmowers. The first type of steering system is a conventional vehicle steering system wherein a first set of wheels, mounted either at the front or the rear of the mower frame, are turned in unison through a steering wheel mechanism, while a second set of wheels are driven by a traction system. The traction system is powered by an engine to allow the mower to propel itself over the ground. The drive wheels may include a differential device to prevent wheel skid during turns.
The second type of steering system, which the present invention involves, is referred to as drive wheel steering, whereby two drive wheels are on fixed axles and do not turn about a vertical axis. A set of caster wheels, often mounted at the front of the mower frame, are not driven or steered, but are able to rotate about vertical axes during operation of the mower. Turning is achieved in these systems by rotating the two drive wheels at different speeds or in different directions for a very sharp turn, or even a zero turn radius wherein the mower actually turns about the mid-point of the drive wheel axis. In drive wheel steering systems, the mower becomes much more maneuverable than conventional vehicle steering, and slow mowing speeds are conducive to this improved maneuverability.
Hydraulically powered drive wheel systems typically include a separate variable displacement hydraulic pump for each of the two drive wheels. These variable displacement pumps are typically of the axial piston type which include a tiltable swash plate that can vary the pump discharge rate from a zero flow, also referred to as neutral, up to a maximum flow in a forward direction or up to a maximum flow in a reverse direction. This variable flow rate takes the place of a transmission and a clutch. While conventional steering is easily accommodated by a steering wheel through a mechanical linkage, drive wheel steering systems, wherein flow rates to the wheel motors control the turning, are more difficult to adapt to a conventional steering wheel.
Drive wheel steering type mowers have typically been controlled by a pair of side-by-side levers which move forward and aft from a neutral position to achieve steering. A primary disadvantage of this type of steering system is that in either an acceleration or deceleration condition, the momentum of the operator and his arms on the control levers have a tendency to apply a reverse input control to the system. For example, when the operator pulls the two control levers aft in attempting to decelerate the mower, the forward momentum of the driver tends to move the levers in the reverse direction. This problem can be particularly pronounced when operating a walk-behind lawnmower, because the operator has no stationary point of reference on the mower to use for stabilization. Various stabilizing bars have been proposed for attachment at the rear of walk-behind mowers that provide the operator with a surface on which to lean. However, the use of stabilizing bars generally tend to restrict the operator's freedom of hand movement behind the mower. Moreover, these stabilizer bars are of limited utility because the bars are intended merely as rest for the operators palms, rather than providing a positive gripping surface.
Other conventional drive wheel steering mowers have been controlled by a pair of side-by-side levers that each include a "pistol grip" type handle control. Using such a system, the operator controls the speed of the left and right drive wheels by manually manipulating the left and right pistol grip controls, respectively. The use of pistol grip controls, however, presents several problems. Repeatedly compressing and releasing the pistol grip controls during operation of the mower quickly proves tiresome, leaving the operator's hands sore and fatigued. Further, because the operator must keep a relatively loose grip on the levers in order to manipulate the pistol grips, mowers that incorporate pistol grip style steering systems are difficult to turn and keep steady. Moreover, it takes a significant amount of time to become comfortable and adept with the physical movements required to operate pistol grip style steering systems.
Drive wheel steering systems have also been devised that utilize a single lever for controlling both the speed and turning function of lawnmowers. However, such systems are generally complex, requiring one set of linkages to control the turning function and a second, separate set of linkages to control the speed of the mower. The turning function linkages of such systems are usually connected to the bottom of the steering column. This presents another disadvantage, particularly when used on walk-behind mowers. Connecting linkages to the bottom of the steering column requires that the steering column extend downward to a point close to the pumps. Thus, the steering column restricts the area underneath the steering lever in which the operator is permitted to move when walking behind the mower.
A need therefore exists for an improved drive wheel steering system for a lawnmower that overcomes the shortcomings found in the prior art.

Drive wheel steering system for lawnmower


A three-dimensional model displaying method of displaying on a display screen a three-dimensional model expressed in a computer in the field of CAD or CAM. The quadrangular patches of the upper interface of a three-dimensional model is approximated with rectangular regions along the x-axis and y-axis of a two-dimensional coordinate system on the display screen. Accordingly, it is unnecessary to perform the operation of painting quadrangles irregular in configuration, and therefore the patch painting process can be achieved at high speed and with high accuracy.

This invention relates to a three-dimensional model displaying method of displaying on a display screen a three-dimensional model expressed in a computer in the field of CAD or CAM.
Recently, computer graphics have remarkably advanced with improvement of hardware and software in computer technique. A technique for describing a three-dimensional model (three-dimensional model) as well as a two-dimensional model (planar model) has advanced from a wire frame method in which only the contour of an object is drawn to a solid method in which the surface of an object is described.
The display of a three-dimensional model with shading image has been disclosed in detail by the publications "Principles of Interactive Computer Graphics", "W.H. Newman & R.F. Sproull, McGRAW-HILL 1981", "Fundamentals of Interactive Computer Graphics", and "J.D. Foley & A. VAN DAM, Addison Wesley, 1982". In this connection, a method is generally employed in which the surface of a three-dimensional model is divided (or sampled) into triangular patches, quadrangular patches or polygonal patches, of which a value normal to each path is obtained by using the outer products of the sides thereof. The color of the patch is determined according to the normal, and the triangular, rectangular or polygonal region projected on the screen is painted in the color thus determined. The method will be described with reference to the ordinary case where the surface is divided into quadrangular patches. First, the surface of a three-dimensional model is divided into a number of quadrangular patches, and the normal vector of each quadrangular patch is obtained. Thereafter, the luminance of the patch is obtained according to the normal vector. The four vertexes P.sub.i,j, P.sub.i+1,j, P.sub.i+1,j+1 and P.sub.i,j+1 of the quadrangular patch are coordinate- transformed into four points Q.sub.i,j, Q.sub.i+1,j, Q.sub.i+1,j+1, and Q.sub.i,j+1 in a two-dimensional coordinate system on the display screen, respectively. Thereafter, the region defined by the four points Q.sub.i,j, Q.sub.i+1,j, Q.sub.i+1,j+1, and Q.sub.i,j+1 is painted with predetermined color and luminance. The above-described operation is carried out for all of the quadrangular patches forming the surface of the three-dimensional model, thus displaying the latter with shading image. Removal of the hidden surface can be achieved by controlling the quadrangular patch processing sequence.
The conventional three-dimensional model describing method as described above suffers from the following difficulties: In order to display a three-dimensional model with shading image, it is necessary to paint each quadrangular patch whose sides form different angles with the coordinate axes on the display screen. Therefore, in the case where the number of sampling points (or the number of quadrangular patches) is large, a heavy load is applied to the computer, and accordingly the processing speed is lowered.
The processing speed may be increased by decreasing the number of times of painting; i.e., by reducing the number of sampling points. However, this will induce another difficulty that the description of the three-dimensional model is lower in accuracy.

Three dimensional model describing method


A composite film, comprising a base film and an adhesive layer on one or both sides of the base film, the composite film having a thickness of T (.mu.m), the base film having an edge tearing strength of R (kg/20mm), the adhesive layer having a total thickness of A, the base film having a thickness of B, T being related to R by a numerical formula R>0.6T-8 when T.ltoreq.60, or by a numerical formula R.gtoreq.28 when T>60, and A/B being 0.5 to 1.4.

(a) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a composite film which has excellent punching capability and is useful as a bonding element for semiconductor packaging.
(b) Description of Related Art
In semiconductor packaging, a bonding element which is a composite film produced by coating one or both sides of a base film with adhesives is used for bonding chips to lead frames to form LOC (lead on chip) or COL (chip on lead) structures or window-tub structures, or for bonding inner leads to heat spreaders to form composite lead frames with heat sinks attached. The bonding element is generally applied to the lead frames by punching out the bonding element from the composite film over the lead frames and pressing the bonding elements to required parts of the lead frames. However, the yield rate of the resulting lead frames with composite film attached is low since flashes are frequently formed at the punched edges of the composite film.

Composite film and lead frame with composite film attached


Methods and systems are presented for diagnosing a breach of an evaporative emissions system. The methods and systems include repurposing a resonator as a vacuum reservoir to reduce a pressure of an evaporative emissions system so that it may be determined if there is or is not a breach of the evaporative emissions system.

A vehicle may include a fuel tank for storing liquid fuel. The fuel tank may supply fuel injectors with liquid fuel. Some of the liquid fuel that is sent to the fuel injectors may be heated via heat that is generated by an engine and it may be returned to the fuel tank. The heated fuel may tend to vaporize more easily such that some fuel that is returned to the fuel tank may take the form of vapors in the fuel tank. In addition, fuel vapors may form in a vehicle's fuel tank due to ambient temperature increasing and sloshing of fuel as the vehicle moves to its destination. The vehicle may include an evaporative emissions system for trapping vapors within the vehicle. The evaporative emissions system may be sealed except for a passage that leads to an engine intake manifold and a passage that leads to atmosphere. These two passages may be selectively sealed to prevent fuel vapors from escaping to atmosphere. However, it may be possible for a breach to develop in the evaporative emission system. For example, a hose may become loose or a portion of the evaporative emissions system may be punctured due to an object striking the evaporative emissions system. One way to determine if the evaporative emissions system is breached may be to pump fuel vapors or air from the evaporative emissions system while the engine of the vehicle is stopped and determine if pressure within the evaporative emissions system increases over time. However, the pump may increase cost of the evaporative emissions system substantially. Therefore, it may be desirable to provide a way of diagnosing whether or not an evaporative emissions system is breached without a costly pump.
The inventor herein has recognized the above-mentioned issue and have developed a method for diagnosing an evaporative emissions system, comprising: reducing a pressure within a evaporative emissions system while an engine of a vehicle is off via opening a canister purge valve to pneumatically couple a resonator to a carbon filled canister.
By pneumatically coupling a resonator to a carbon filled canister, it may be possible to provide the technical result of reducing cost of diagnosing an evaporative emissions system. In particular, vacuum that is generated by an internal combustion engine may be stored in a resonator. The vacuum that is stored may later be applied to diagnosing operation of evaporative emissions system for breaches. Consequently, it may be possible to diagnose the evaporative emissions system when an engine of a vehicle is not running without the cost of an electrically driven vacuum pump.
The present description may provide several advantages. In particular, the approach may reduce cost of an evaporative emissions system. Additionally, the approach may be applied when an engine is not running during a diurnal cycle as may be prescribed by regulating entities. Further, the approach may also utilize a single differential pressure sensor to further reduce system cost.
The above advantages and other advantages, and features of the present description will be readily apparent from the following Detailed Description when taken alone or in connection with the accompanying drawings.
It should be understood that the summary above is provided to introduce in simplified form a selection of concepts that are further described in the detailed description. It is not meant to identify key or essential features of the claimed subject matter, the scope of which is defined uniquely by the claims that follow the detailed description. Furthermore, the claimed subject matter is not limited to implementations that solve any disadvantages noted above or in any part of this disclosure.

Method and system for diagnosing an evaporative emissions system


A device control model provides an integrated set of addressing, naming, discovery and description processes that enables automatic, dynamic and ad-hoc self-setup by devices to interoperate with other devices on a network. This permits a computing device when introduced into a network to automatically configure so as to connect and interact with other computing devices available on the network, without a user installation experience and without downloading driver software or persisting a configuration setup for connecting and interacting with such other computing devices. Upon completing interaction with such other devices, the computing device automatically releases the setup for such other devices so as to avoid persistent device configurations that might create a configuration maintenance and management burden.

The cost of computing and networking technologies have fallen to the point where computing and networking capabilities can be built into the design of many electronic devices in the home, the office and public places. The combination of inexpensive and reliable shared networking media with a new class of small computing devices has created an opportunity for new functionality based mainly on the connectivity among these devices. This connectivity can be used to remotely control devices, to move digital data in the form of audio, video and still images between devices, to share information among devices and with the unconstrained World Wide Web of the Internet (hereafter "Web") and to exchange structured and secure digital data to support things like electronic commerce. The connectivity also enables many new applications for computing devices, such as proximity-based usage scenarios where devices interact based at least in part on geographical or other notions of proximity. A prevalent feature of these connectivity scenarios is to provide remote access and control of connected devices and services from another device with user interface capabilities (e.g., a universal remote controller, handheld computer or digital assistant, cell phones, and the like). These developments are occurring at the same time as more people are becoming connected to the Internet and as connectivity solutions are falling in price and increasing in speed. These trends are leading towards a world of ubiquitous and pervasive networked computing, where all types of devices are able to effortlessly and seamlessly interconnect and interact.
In the above ubiquitous and pervasive networked computing scenarios, the devices desirably can interoperate on an ad hoc peer-to-peer networking connectivity basis. Such a peer networking connectivity model enables any networked device to initiate a communication with any other networked device, without having established a prior relationship or maintaining a persistent relationship between the devices. This peer networking connectivity also allows multiple devices to establish one or more connections with a single device, and it allows for a device to be capable of both initiating and accepting connections to/from other devices.
The prevalent model for device connectivity, however, has been that of host-peripheral connectivity, typified by the personal computer and its many peripheral devices (e.g., data storage drives, user input devices, displays, printers, scanners, etc.) connected via various buses (e.g., PCI, VESA, AGP, Microchannel, ISA, EISA, USB), ports (e.g., serial, parallel), and connectors (e.g., PS/2 connector). This host-peripheral connectivity model is characterized in that the host and peripherals typically have persistent relationships and stable configurations. This persistent relationship is created, by example, through a set-up and configuration process through which appropriate driver software is installed by a user or administrator onto the host for use in controlling the peripheral, and updating the host's configuration to include peripheral device settings. Such persistent configured relationships with a user installation/configuration experience are generally inappropriate to the ubiquitous and pervasive computing environment where portable and mobile devices desirably can instantly connect and interact with other computing devices in their environment without having established prior or persistent relationships.
More specifically, two common computing networks where many of these small, network-capable computing devices are expected to be used include the home and small office. Such networks are commonly not actively managed by experienced administrators. In fact, due to the lack of networking experience of a large majority of the users of these networks, lengthy, complex and/or involved user installation and setup experiences pose a significant impediment to adoption and penetration of such networks and devices into homes and small offices.
Further, the establishment of persistent relationships with other devices in the configuration of these small, network-capable computing devices is inappropriate to many usage scenarios. For example, portable computing devices (such as a handheld computer or digital assistant, cell phones, and the like) may be used to access information (such as transportation departure/arrival times, store locations, etc.) from other devices on networks in public places (such as malls and airports). Not only would a user installation/configuration experience upon each such use pose an inconvenience, but the establishment of persistent configuration information poses configuration management issues and consumes device resources. As another example, devices (such as printers, scanners, monitors and etc.) on an office or home network may interact with many portable computing devices (such as the laptops, cameras, and other equipment of the mobile professional) that are introduced into its network. Again, in device connectivity models requiring establishing persistent device relationship configurations, such one-time and occasional relationships between these devices would results in configuration instability requiring management and maintenance of ever-changing persistent device configurations. Due to the time and cost (or lack of) active administration of these devices, any requirement to manage and maintain changing persistent device configurations on networked devices is undesirable.
Accordingly, there is a need for a device connectivity model that supports ad hoc peer networking among computing devices with preferably zero user installation or configuration experience and without persistent device configuration.
In accordance with a technology described herein, a device connectivity and control model provides an integrated set of addressing, naming, discovery and description processes (herein also termed "self-bootstrapping") that enables automatic, dynamic and ad-hoc self-setup by devices to interoperate with other devices on a network. This permits a computing device when introduced into a network to automatically configure so as to connect and interact with other computing devices available on the network, without a user installation experience and without downloading driver software or persisting a configuration setup for connecting and interacting with such other computing devices. Upon completing interaction with such other devices, the computing device automatically releases the setup for such other devices so as to avoid persistent device configurations that might create a configuration maintenance and management burden.
The illustrated self-bootstrapping includes an integrated set of techniques organized as stacked layers, including addressing, naming, discovery, and description. In basic network addressing, a computing device introduced into a network obtains a valid address. In addition, the addressing layer of the illustrated self-bootstrapping supports assigning an address to the introduced computing device by an address server on a network if such server is available, as well as automatic self-assigning an address so as to avoid conflict with existing devices' addresses on the network where no address server is available.
In the naming layer, the illustrated self-bootstrapping includes techniques for also resolving names that identify devices, such that names that are user-friendly or more amenable to human recall and use. These naming techniques can include a name server that serves to convert a device name to its address for use in establishing a connection to the device. The techniques further enable the introduced computing device to locate such a name server without a priori knowledge of the name server's address. When assigned an address by the address server, the address server also provides the name server's address to the introduced computing device, permitting the introduced computing device to access the name server for resolving device names. On the other hand, where a name server is not available on a network, the naming techniques further include support for the introduced device to broadcast a query for a named device.
In the discovery layer, the illustrated self-bootstrapping includes techniques for discovering other devices on the network without first having their address or name, such as by type of device. The introduced computing device broadcasts a discovery request specifying a desired device type or capability. Other devices on the network monitor for such broadcast discovery requests, and respond to discovery requests that specify their device type. This enables the introduced computing device to find other devices on the network of a desired type or having a desired capability without a priori possessing an address or name of those devices. In addition, the introduced computing device announces its own presence to other devices on the network.
In the description layer, the illustrated self-bootstrapping includes techniques for devices to provide descriptions of their operational functions and services and protocols for invoking such operational functions and services. Using these techniques, the introduced computing device upon establishing a connection to another device through addressing, naming and/or discovery can then obtain descriptive information detailing how to interact with the other device so as to control its operational functions and services.
Additional features and advantages will be made apparent from the following detailed description of the illustrated embodiment which proceeds with reference to the accompanying drawings.

XML-based language description for controlled devices


Molecular sieve agglomerates exhibiting reduced pore mouth blockage and decreased diffusivity resistance to the internal sieve pores result from coating, prior to addition of a binding agent to the sieve, the molecular sieve particles with an organic polymer, fixing the polymer to the sieve surface so that it exhibits no migratory tendencies and subsequently removing the coating by combustion during calcination of the formed agglomerate. Such agglomerates showed enhanced activity and selectivity in typical refining processes such as dewaxing and fluid catalytic cracking. The molecular sieve agglomerates also may be employed in other hydrocarbon conversion processes such as hydrocracking, dehydrocyclization, isomerization, hydrofining, reforming, and dealkylation.

This application relates to agglomerates of fine particles of molecular sieve material. For the purpose of this application, "agglomerates" are formed catalyst or adsorbent such as extrudates, pills, tablets, beads, spheres, and so on. More particularly, this application relates to agglomeration of individual particles of molecular sieves where the individual particles are held together by binding agents, especially where at least the major component of the binding agent is an inorganic oxide such as alumina or silica. The invention within provides a solution to the problem of pore blockage of molecular sieves by the aforesaid binding agents.
The remarkable properties of molecular sieves have been successfully utilized for several decades. For most industrial applications the discrete particles of molecular sieve materials are too small to be used directly, hence are agglomerated into larger particles which may be more efficaciously used as, for example, adsorbents, catalysts, and so forth. These agglomerates are formed by mixing small particles of molecular sieves with a binding agent (binder) where alumina and silica are examples of commonly used binders. The agglomerates consist of a multiplicity of small particles dispersed in a binder and often containing adjuncts, such as plasticizers, burnout agents, and extrusion agents, for example.
Molecular sieves are characterized by an internal pore structure which is responsible for their ability to perform size and shape separations and which also serves as a microreactor of molecular size. For optimum separation properties it is apparent that access to these pores needs to be unimpeded. In many cases optimum catalytic properties also require unimpeded access to these pores. Ingress to and egress from the pores are certainly a necessary prerequisite for reactions to occur in the pores; there can be no catalytic activity arising from the pore structure as a reaction zone when the reactant has no access to the reaction zone, and there will be no measurable reaction unless the product can leave the reaction zone so as to permit access to further reactant molecules. In the context of catalytic properties, the reaction rate and selectivity (where more than one reaction may occur) will be influenced by the transport of reactant into and product out of the reaction zone within the pores of a molecular sieve.
It should be clear from the foregoing that the transport properties of resulting molecular sieve agglomerates are a major concern when binding small particles of molecular sieves. Unfortunately, commonly used binders tend to reduce pore access to varying degrees by blocking the mouth of pores, and such pore blockage may significantly adversely affect adsorbent and/or catalytic activity of the resulting agglomerate by impeding the transport of substances between the pore interior and the external medium.
We have found a means of reducing pore mouth blockage while not adversely affecting the binding of small particles by coating the latter with certain organic polymers prior to the binding stage. Molecular sieves have been coated with organic polymers previously but for the distinctly different purpose of reducing attrition. For example, the patentee in U.S. Pat. No. 4,319,928 faced the problem of the disintegration of zeolitic adsorbents upon their continued use in aqueous streams with attendant silicon contamination of the product stream. The patentee solved this problem by coating the agglomerates with cellulose esters. It may be mentioned in passing that the patentee coated the dispersion of the molecular sieves in the binder, i.e., what the patentee coated was previously used as the finished bound adsorbent whereas in the invention to be described it is the individual particles of the molecular sieve which are coated prior to forming agglomerates with the binder. The scope of protective coatings for zeolites was reviewed by the patentees of 4,822,492 who substituted latexes for inorganic oxides as a binder for crystalline molecular sieves in order to alleviate problems of deterioration of zeolitic agglomerates through attrition when used in an aqueous medium. The patentees believed their protective coating minimized additional pore blockage of molecular sieves.
Since coating molecular sieves previously has been recognized to contribute to pore blockage, it is paradoxical that we have alleviated pore blockage in our invention by deliberately coating small particles of molecular sieve. However, we coat molecular sieves for a different purpose, at a different stage of product manufacture, and with different materials than are used in the prior art. Conceptually, the method of our invention coats the surface of a molecular sieve via a multiplicity of mechanisms. When the coated molecular sieve particles are mixed with a binder and subsequently agglomerated, the coating prevents (or more properly, reduces) the interaction between the binder and molecular sieve surface which causes pore blockage, although the coating itself at this stage results in substantial additional pore blockage. After the agglomerate is formed the surface coating is then removed by calcination leaving voids immediately around the molecular sieve particle. The resulting formed agglomerates have substantially less pore blockage than agglomerates formed without the interim coating, and since air calcination effectively removes the organic coating there remains no vestige of a "foreign" material which might influence the properties of the molecular sieve. This procedure and the resulting material is portrayed, albeit somewhat fancifully, in FIG. 1.

Hydrocarbon conversion processes with molecular sieve agglomerates having improved transport properties


A cover of a joint part between an engine and transmission is provided. Preferred cover systems of the invention include a transmission-side vertical wall for closing a tool insertion space; and an oil pan mounting part at an opposing side of the transmission-side vertical wall that fits with the transmission-side of an engine oil pan. Preferred cover systems of the invention can at least substantially preclude exterior impurities from entering into the transmission and effectively insulate noise and vibration of the transmission from being transmitted to the exterior or the engine.

A flywheel located on the rear of an engine such as used in automobiles typically couples with a drive plate attached to a torque-converter to transmit engine power to the transmission.
However, in order to couple the drive plate and torque-converter, a space is required to insert a tool used to couple the drive plate and torque-converter between the transmission case and engine.
That space for inserting a tool however can be problematic. For example, the tool insertion space can provide access for impurities to enter the transmission as well as for noise and vibrations from the transmission to be communicated outwardly from the engine.
The information disclosed in this Background of the Invention section is only for enhancement of understanding of the background of the invention and should not be taken as an acknowledgement or any form of suggestion that this information forms the prior art that is already known to a person skilled in the art.

Cover for joint part between engine and transmission


A closed system suction catheter assembly has an aspirating catheter with a radially-projecting portion or flanges at its distal end. The catheter extends through a patient connecting member which is internally shaped to cooporate with the projection on the catheter so that, when the catheter is pulled proximally to its full extent, the projections seal within the patient connecting member.

This invention relates to suction catheter assemblies.
The invention is more particularly concerned with closed system suction catheter assemblies of the kind having an aspirating catheter enclosed within a protective, flexible sleeve and which can be advanced through a coupling at one end of the assembly. The coupling has one port connected to a tracheal tube and two further side ports by which ventilation of the patient can take place. In use, the machine, proximal end of the catheter is connected to a suction source via a valve. Secretions that build up on the inside of the tracheal tube, the trachea and bronchi can be periodically removed by opening the valve and advancing the catheter through the coupling and down the tracheal tube. The coupling enables ventilation of the patient to continue while suctioning takes place.
One problem with this kind of assembly is that air from the ventilation system can be forced back into the sleeve causing it to inflate. This is undesirable and can make subsequent use of the assembly more difficult.
Although a sliding seal can be provided in the coupling with the outside of the catheter, this does not provide a total air seal; attempts to improve the seal by making it a tighter fit tend to cause an indentation in the catheter especially when it is stored for prolonged periods. One way of preventing the accumulation of air in the sleeve is to provide a small vent that allows air to escape to atmosphere. This, however, is not desirable because it can allow the escape of contaminated material from the assembly onto the user.
Examples of catheter assemblies having an aspirating catheter which is contained within a sleeve and which can be pushed through a sliding seal on a coupling are described in several patents, such as U.S. Pat. No. 3,991,752 to Radford; U.S. Pat. No. 4,569,344 to Palmer; U.S. Pat. No. 4,638,539 to Palmer; U.S. Pat. No. 4,696,296 to Palmer; U.S. Pat. No. 4,825,859 to Lambert; U.S. Pat. No. 4,834,726 to Lambert; U.S. Pat. No. 4,836,199 to Palmer; U.S. Pat. No. 4,838,255 to Lambert; U.S. Pat. No. 4,872,579 to Palmer; U.S. Pat. No. 4,938,741 to Lambert; U.S. Pat. No. 4,967,743 to Lambert; U.S. Pat. No. 4,981,466 to Lambert; U.S. Pat. No. 5,025,806 to Palmer; U.S. Pat. No. 5,029,580 to Radford; U.S. Pat. No. 5,060,646 to Page; U.S. Pat. No. 5,065,754 to Jensen; U.S. Pat. No. 5,073,164 to Hollister; and GB 2207736 to Hollister. Suction catheter assemblies of this kind are also available from Smiths Industries Medical Systems Inc under the trade mark STERICATH and from Ballard Medical Products Inc under the trade mark TRACHCARE.


A new sutera plant particularly distinguished by having large blue flowers is disclosed.

The present invention comprises a new and distinct variety of sutera, botanically known as Sutera grandiflora, and hereinafter referred to by the variety name 'KLESG14831'. 'KLESG14831' originated from a controlled cross between the proprietary female sutera variety 'SG-2009-0077' (unpatented) and proprietary male sutera variety 'SG-1985-Scopia GVM' (unpatented).
In August of 2010, the two sutera parental lines, 'SG-2009-0077' and 'SG-1985-Scopia GVM' were crossed in Nairobi, Kenya, and seeds were obtained. The seeds were sown and plants were grown for evaluation in Stuttgart, Germany. A plant line was selected in May 2011, which had a blue flower color and subsequently named 'KLESG14831'. In May 2011, 'KLESG14831' was first vegetatively propagated by vegetative cuttings in Stuttgart, Germany. 'KLESG14831' was found to reproduce true to type in successive generations of asexual propagation via vegetative cuttings and in-vitro propagation in Stuttgart, Germany.


Aspects of the present disclosure relate to filtration systems and methods for production of biologically-produced products, which may include pharmaceutical and/or protein products. Certain biomanufacturing systems described herein comprise a bioreactor (e.g., a perfusion bioreactor, a chemostat) and a filter probe comprising a filter bundle comprising a plurality of hollow fibers (e.g., longitudinally aligned hollow fibers). According to some embodiments, a center-to-center distance between any two hollow fibers within the fiber bundle at one or more points along a length of the fiber bundle is relatively large (e.g., greater than or equal to an average outer diameter of the hollow fibers of the fiber bundle, greater than or equal to 1.1 times a minimum diameter of the two hollow fibers). In some embodiments, the hollow fibers within the fiber bundle are arranged in an array (e.g., a hexagonal, linear, annular, or square array).

Biologically-produced products, including therapeutic drugs produced by biological organisms, have revolutionized the pharmaceutical industry. Biological organisms are an attractive source of therapeutic drugs because they are often capable of producing molecules that would be challenging, if not impossible, to synthesize chemically. For example, some biological organisms can be engineered to produce complex proteins, such as antibodies and signaling proteins, which can be used to treat or prevent diseases ranging from cancer to rheumatoid arthritis.
Certain methods of manufacturing biologically-produced products involve substantially continuously-operated bioreactors (e.g., perfusion bioreactors, chemostats). Under substantially continuous operation of a bioreactor, a portion of the contents of the bioreactor may be pumped out of the bioreactor through one or more filters. However, conventional filters may adversely affect the biological health of cells, may be ineffective in filtering high-density cell cultures, and/or may be susceptible to membrane fouling. Accordingly, improved filtration systems for continuously-operated bioreactors are needed.

Filtration systems and methods for manufacturing biologically-produced products


The present invention provides systems and methods to operate a PC as an alarm clock. An IC is provided to monitor the power status of PC and generate an alarm clock event at a preselected time. The alarm clock event includes a variety of operations, for example, powering on or off the PC system or controlling an AM/FM or TV module.

Conventional PC systems may include a hardware/software built-in alarm clock system using the Real Time Clock (RTC). The RTC is controlled by the OS. The latest Operating Systems (e.g. Microsoft Windows®) allow the user to setup up a wakeup interrupt from the RTC alarm to power on the system. However, this approach requires a very complicated design. For example, a separated power plane on the system board is required to allow the chipset to receive the RTC wakeup interrupt signal when the rest of the system is powered off. On the other hand, to setup the clock requires the complete system boot up process and use the complicated Operating System to do a simple setup. Also, there is no indicator on the system to tell the current time or that the alarm is turned on.

Auxiliary alarm clock system for a personal computer


Method and apparatus to simplify the process of adding a loader to a tractor after the manufacturing process. A pair of mounting brackets, one on each side of the tractor, each comprises a front piece and a rear piece. The rear piece is affixed to the tractor during the manufacturing process and the front piece, including a bearing surface for a transverse support axis of a loader, is selectively affixed to the respective rear piece and tractor when a decision to incorporate a loader is taken.

The present invention relates generally to tractors and front loaders, and more particularly to a bracket for attaching a front loader to a tractor.
It is common practice for tractors to include loaders to which a large variety of attachments can be connected to provide a wide range of applications in the agricultural, industrial and construction fields. Such loaders are usually mounted on the front end of a tractor and generally include a bracket, acting as the interface between the tractor and the loader, a loader frame assembly, boom arms pivotally mounted to the frame, an attachment mounted across the forward ends of the boom arms, tilt cylinders coupled between the attachment and the boom arms, and a lift cylinder or cylinders coupled between the frame assembly and the boom arms. An exemplary structure of this general type loader/tractor/bracket is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,895,199 to Baumert, III et al.
The normal commercial practice for providing a tractor with a loader to an end customer is to build the tractor and ship it to a local dealer where the bracket and loader are then affixed to the tractor prior to delivery. Alternatively, in the case of a later decision, this process may occur in the field after purchase and use of the tractor by the customer. The problems associated with dealer installation of the loader are significant in the practical world. For instance, dealer installation in most cases requires extensive removal of tractor components to complete, and thus takes considerable time. Time is money. Additionally, dealer installation requires clamping/friction loads on the joint between the front and rear pieces. It is preferable that the loading on the bolts be in tension and compression. Dealer installation also requires periodic hardware torque checks to maintain integrity.
It would be of significant advantage to develop a simple, yet reliable mounting bracket that reduces or eliminates the above-described problems and difficulties.

Method and apparatus for mounting a front loader to a tractor


Methods and apparatus for performing registration on behalf of a session associated with a mobile node are disclosed. The mobile node composes a registration request including a NAI identifying a userID and a sub-NAI that uniquely identifies a session associated with the NAI. The mobile node then sends the registration request. When the Home Agent authenticates the mobile node, the Home Agent returns an IP address associated with the session. The NAI and sub-NAI may then be mapped to this IP address in a mobility binding table associated with the Home Agent as well as a visitor table associated with the Foreign Agent to which the mobile node has roamed.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to Mobile IP network technology. More particularly, the present invention relates to enabling multiple sessions or services for separate devices or applications associated with a single mobile node.
2. Description of the Related Art
Mobile IP is a protocol which allows laptop computers or other mobile computer units (referred to as "Mobile Nodes" herein) to roam between various sub-networks at various locations—while maintaining internet and/or WAN connectivity. Without Mobile IP or related protocol, a Mobile Node would be unable to stay connected while roaming through various sub-networks. This is because the IP address required for any node to communicate over the internet is location specific. Each IP address has a field that specifies the particular sub-network on which the node resides. If a user desires to take a computer which is normally attached to one node and roam with it so that it passes through different sub-networks, it cannot use its home base IP address. As a result, a business person traveling across the country cannot merely roam with his or her computer across geographically disparate network segments or wireless nodes while remaining connected over the internet. This is not an acceptable state-of-affairs in the age of portable computational devices.
To address this problem, the Mobile IP protocol has been developed and implemented. An implementation of Mobile IP is described in RFC 2002 of the Network Working Group, C. Perkins, Ed., October 1996. Mobile IP is also described in the text "Mobile IP Unplugged" by J. Solomon, Prentice Hall. Both of these references are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties and for all purposes.
The Mobile IP process and environment are illustrated in FIG. 1. As shown there, a Mobile IP environment 2 includes the internet (or a WAN) 4 over which a Mobile Node 6 can communicate remotely via mediation by a Home Agent 8 and a Foreign Agent 10. Typically, the Home Agent and Foreign Agent are routers or other network connection devices performing appropriate Mobile IP functions as implemented by software, hardware, and/or firmware. A particular Mobile Node (e.g., a laptop computer) plugged into its home network segment connects with the internet through its designated Home Agent. When the Mobile Node roams, it communicates via the internet through an available Foreign Agent. Presumably, there are many Foreign Agents available at geographically disparate locations to allow wide spread internet connection via the Mobile IP protocol. Note that it is also possible for the Mobile Node to register directly with its Home Agent.
As shown in FIG. 1, Mobile Node 6 normally resides on (or is "based at") a network segment 12 which allows its network entities to communicate over the internet 4 through Home Agent 8 (an appropriately configured router denoted R2). Note that Home Agent 8 need not directly connect to the internet. For example, as shown in FIG. 1, it may be connected through another router (a router R1 in this case). Router R1 may, in turn, connect one or more other routers (e.g., a router R3) with the internet.
Now, suppose that Mobile Node 6 is removed from its home base network segment 12 and roams to a remote network segment 14. Network segment 14 may include various other nodes such as a PC 16. The nodes on network segment 14 communicate with the internet through a router which doubles as Foreign Agent 10. Mobile Node 6 may identify Foreign Agent 10 through various solicitations and advertisements which form part of the Mobile IP protocol. When Mobile Node 6 engages with network segment 14, Foreign Agent 10 relays a registration request to Home Agent 8 (as indicated by the dotted line "Registration"). The Home and Foreign Agents may then negotiate the conditions of the Mobile Node's attachment to Foreign Agent 10. For example, the attachment may be limited to a period of time, such as two hours. When the negotiation is successfully completed, Home Agent 8 updates an internal "mobility binding table" which specifies the care-of address (e.g., a collocated care-of address or the Foreign Agent's IP address) in association with the identity of Mobile Node 6. Further, the Foreign Agent 10 updates an internal "visitor table" which specifies the Mobile Node address, Home Agent address, etc. In effect, the Mobile Node's home base IP address (associated with segment 12) has been shifted to the Foreign Agent's IP address (associated with segment 14).
Now, suppose that Mobile Node 6 wishes to send a message to a corresponding node 18 from its new location. An output message from the Mobile Node is then packetized and forwarded through Foreign Agent 10 over the internet 4 and to corresponding node 18 (as indicated by the dotted line "packet from MN") according to a standard internet protocol. If corresponding node 18 wishes to send a message to Mobile Node—whether in reply to a message from the Mobile Node or for any other reason—it addresses that message to the IP address of Mobile Node 6 on sub-network 12. The packets of that message are then forwarded over the internet 4 and to router R1 and ultimately to Home Agent 8 as indicated by the dotted line ("packet to MN(1)"). From its mobility binding table, Home Agent 8 recognizes that Mobile Node 6 is no longer attached to network segment 12. It then encapsulates the packets from corresponding node 18 (which are addressed to Mobile Node 6 on network segment 12) according to a Mobile IP protocol and forwards these encapsulated packets to a "care of" address for Mobile Node 6 as shown by the dotted line ("packet to MN(2)"). The care-of address may be, for example, the IP address of Foreign Agent 10. Foreign Agent 10 then strips the encapsulation and forwards the message to Mobile Node 6 on sub-network 14. The packet forwarding mechanism implemented by the Home and Foreign Agents is often referred to as "tunneling."
As described above, the mobile node's IP address (i.e., Home Address) is typically used to identify the mobile node. Thus, when messages are sent to a mobile node, they are sent to that mobile node's IP address. However, in order to enhance the interoperability of roaming and tunneling services, it is desirable to have a standardized method for identifying users. Such a standardized method is proposed in RFC 2486 of the Network Working Group, January 1999, which proposes syntax for the Network Access Identifier (NAI), the userID submitted by a client during Point to Point Protocol (PPP) authentication. Thus, when a client is authenticated based upon the NAI, an IP address may be allocated for use by the client.
When a client is static within a single network, an IP address may be assigned in most cases based solely on the NAI. In addition, as described in Internet Draft "http://search.ietf.org/internet-drafts/draft-ietf-mobileipi-mn-nai-07.txt," submitted by the Mobile IP Working Group, Jan. 12, 2000, it has been proposed that the NAI be used to identify a mobile node in order for an IP address (i.e., Home Address) to be assigned. However, this technique is inappropriate in those instances when the client is a mobile node that wishes to roam among different networks. More particularly, when an IP address is assigned by a network access server (NAS), this IP address is assigned based upon the dial in port from a pool of addresses associated with a particular network and therefore the assigned IP address cannot be used within the additional networks to which the mobile node roams. In addition, since the IP address is mapped to the NAI, a problem occurs when more than one node or application wishes to roam using the same mobile node 6 and therefore the same NAI. In other words, when multiple nodes or applications are authenticated based upon the same NAI, a single IP address will be allocated for two different sessions (e.g., devices or applications). Accordingly, mobility cannot be enabled in two different devices or applications based upon the same NAI.
In view of the above, it would be desirable if a mechanism for enabling services to multiple sessions (e.g., devices or applications) via a single or multiple mobile nodes could be established. Moreover, it would be preferable if the sessions could be authenticated using the NAI associated with the mobile node through which the sessions are enabled.

Enabling services for multiple sessions using a single mobile node


A disposable diaper that includes a cover member and a body fluid absorbent member attached to an inner side of the cover member. The absorbent member is composed of a liquid-pervious topsheet, a backsheet and an absorbent core member disposed therebetween. The absorbent member is formed on a side adjacent the backsheet with at least one first groove concaved in a direction from the backsheet toward the topsheet.

This invention relates to a disposable diaper for absorption and containment of excrement.
Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 1996-280739A describes a disposable diaper comprising a pants-shaped outer sheet and an absorbent panel attached to an inner surface of the outer sheet. The absorbent panel longitudinally extends across a crotch region of the outer sheet into front and rear waist regions. This absorbent panel comprises a liquid-pervious sheet, a liquid-impervious sheet and an absorbent member disposed between these two sheets. When this disposable diaper is worn by a wearer, the outer sheet which is elastically stretchable in a direction surrounding the wearer's waist region causes the absorbent panel to fit close to the wearer's body.
Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 1996-38546A describes a pants-type disposable diaper provided on an inner side of the pants with an absorbent pad structure which longitudinally extends across a crotch region of the pants into front and rear waist regions. This absorbent pad structure comprises a liquid-pervious topsheet, a liquid-impervious backsheet and an absorbent member disposed between these two sheets. When this diaper is worn, elastically stretchable side sheets provided on the pants cause the absorbent pad structure to fit close to the wearer's body.
In diapers that generally comprise a pants-type cover member and a body fluid absorbent member attached to an inner side of the cover member, like those described in the above Publications, the absorbent member has a liquid-pervious topsheet intended to be fit to a wearer's skin, a backsheet opposed to the topsheet and an absorbent core disposed between these two sheets wherein the backsheet is covered with the pants-type cover member. When such a diaper is worn, the pants-type cover member is pressed against the backsheet of the absorbent member which is thereby pressed against a wearer's skin. In this manner, the backsheet of the absorbent member is covered with the relatively thick pants-type cover member, so air permeability of the diaper may be reduced even if an air permeable and liquid-impervious sheet is used as the backsheet. As a result, the wearer's skin against which this absorbent member is pressed may suffer from an uncomfortable stuffiness. Such a problem may occur not only with a pants-type cover member but also with an open-type cover member.


Novel metabolites of wortmannin and wortmannin analogs and their use in inhibiting PI-3 kinase activity in mammals and the treatment and prevention of cancer or tumor formation in a subject are described herein.

The present disclosure relates to wortmannin analogs and metabolites thereof, and has application to methods of using these derivatives to inhibit phosphotidylinositol-3-kinase (PI-3-kinase) activity and to treat certain malignant tumors.
The PI-3 kinases are a family of related enzymes that are capable of phosphorylating the 3 position hydroxyl group of the inositol ring of phosphatidylinositol. They are linked to a diverse list of cellular functions, including cell growth, proliferation, differentiation, motility, survival and intracellular trafficking. Many of these functions relate to the ability of the PI-3 kinases to activate the protein kinase B (Akt). Genetic and pharmacological inactivation of the p110δ isoform of the PI-3 kinase has revealed this enzyme to be important for the function of T cells, B cell, mast cells and neutrophils. Hence, p110δ is considered to be a promising target for drugs that aim to prevent or treat inflammation and autoimmunity and transplant rejection. Recent evidence has shown that the gene encoding the p110α isoform of the PI-3 kinase is mutated in a range of human cancers. For example, mutation of p110α which leads to over-expression of the kinase is found in human lung cancer. PI-3 kinase activity is also found to be elevated in ovarian, head and neck, urinary tract, colon and cervical cancers. Further, a phosphate (PtdIns(3,4,5)P3) which antagonizes PI-3 kinase activity is absent or mutated in a variety of human cancers, including advanced prostate, endometrial, renal, glial, melanoma, and small cell lung cancers. Thus, inhibition of PI-3 kinase activity may provide a potential target for treatment of certain human cancers.
Wortmannin is a naturally occurring compound isolated from culture broths of the fungus Penicillium wortmannin that has the basic structure shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,480,906, which is incorporated herein by reference. Wortmannin irreversibly inhibits PI-3-kinase through covalent interaction with a specific lysine on the kinase: Lys802 of the ATP binding pocket of the catalytic site of the p110α isoform or Lys883 of the p110δ isoform. Most isoforms of PI-3 kinase, such as p110α, p110β, p110δ and p110γ for example, are inhibited equally by wortmannin. Wortmannin demonstrates liver and hematologic toxicity, however, and is a biologically unstable molecule. Samples stored as aqueous solutions at either 37° C. or 0° C. at neutral pH are subject to decomposition by hydrolytic opening of the furan ring. It has been shown that the electrophilicity of the furan ring is central to the inhibitory activity of wortmannin. The irreversible inhibition of PI-3-kinase occurs by formation of an enamine following the attack of the active lysine of the kinase on the furan ring at position (C(20) of wortmannin. Thus, decomposition of wortmannin may interfere with its inhibitory activity on PI-3 kinases.
Analogs of wortmannin that display improved biological stability and reduced systemic toxicity may provide improved treatment for cancer and act as anti-tumor agents. Accordingly, what is needed are analogs of wortmannin and metabolites thereof that display increased biological stability and reduced toxicity.

Metabolites of wortmannin analogs and methods of using the same

Arizona Board of Regents, acting on behalf of The University of Arizona


According to one embodiment of the invention, a method for enhancing multiple feature lithography is provided. The method includes generating a plurality of maps each associated with a particular one of a plurality of circuit features. Each map maps an illumination field comprising a plurality of point sources and indicates, in terms of a process metric and for each point source, a level of feature quality that will result from using the each point source to image the each circuit feature. The method also includes identifying, based on the maps, a group of one or more of the point sources that, if used to image the circuit features onto a target surface, will result in an overall feature quality level equal to or greater than a predetermined quality threshold.

Miniaturization is a challenge for manufacturers of electronic products. To build smaller electronic products, the components of the electronic products may also require miniaturization. Thus, manufacturers of electronic components, such as integrated circuit (IC) chips, are under constant pressure to increase the density of features in a given area of a chip.
In an attempt to fabricate smaller chips having more features, manufacturers have kept reducing the wavelength of the light and increased the numerical aperture of the projection optics used to image the circuit features on a wafer. Optical proximity corrections and phase shifting techniques have been widely adopted in mask pattern generation to improve resolution. With critical dimensions of some features now significantly less than half of a wavelength and the currently used numerical aperture being close to one, further miniaturization may become increasingly difficult.

Optimization of multiple feature lithography


A lightweight, portable transporter for carrying a person having anti-hypothermia structures and an absorbent body is provided. The transporter has a backing substrate, an absorbent body, a gripping device, and anti-hypothermia structures, such as material segments or covers that reduce loss of body heat of the person being carried on the transporter. A method of using the transporter is provided.

1. Field of Invention
The present disclosure is a lightweight, absorbent transporter that is portable and disposable and, most preferably, has an anti-hypothermia structure to reduce the loss of the person's body heat during transport. The transporter provides sufficient strength, durability, and insulation to support the weight of an injured soldier or patient and reduce the risk of hypothermia. Methods of using such a transporter are also provided.
2. Description of the Related Art
Pieces of heavy cloth, such as canvas or similar materials, and leather attached to wood or metal poles have long been used as litters and stretchers for transporting injured soldiers and patients in emergency situations. For purposes of this application, "litters" and "stretchers" are used interchangeably to indicate a transport device to carry injured soldiers or patients. In medical settings, litters and stretchers are used to transport patients from the site of injury to a medical care facility, or to a vehicle, such as an ambulance or helicopter, that will take the injured patient to a medical care facility. Litters can also be used to for shorter transport needs, such as transfers from a stationary bed or cot to another area within the medical center.
Hypothermia, or loss of body heat, can be a problem when transporting injured soldiers or patients. Conventional litters that are made of a piece of strong cloth (such as canvas) or leather stretched between poles, provide no top cover on the person being transported to prevent loss of body heat, nor is the litter material able to sufficiently reduce additional loss of body heat from the underside of the patient's body through the litter itself. Significant body heat still can be lost on a conventional stretcher even when blankets are placed on the patient, because the blankets are not connected to or secured to the transporter. Hypothermia is a particular concern when transporting injured soldiers or patients in cold environments, or in windy, wet conditions, but hypothermia can also cause significant morbidity, and even mortality, in response to loss of blood from injury or the body's normal physiological responses to severe injury.
Another problem with conventional litters is that such litters, when large and strong enough to support and carry an injured soldier or patient, are too heavy and difficult to be carried by one soldier. Conventional litters with material stretched between two poles must be lifted for transport, and can not be dragged along the terrain by a single person since the injured soldier and gear are too heavy to effect transport, especially in battlefield conditions.
In addition, blood or body fluids, such as urine, feces or emesis, from an injured soldier or patient will contaminate the stretcher and thus infect the injured soldier or patient or any other person placed on the stretcher. Also, blood and/or body fluids that contact conventional stretchers can make the top surface of the stretcher slippery, increasing the risk that the person may shift or even fall off of the litter during transport, particularly during transport in rugged terrain or under battlefield conditions. Thus, in such instances, the stretcher-bearers must move slowly to avoid causing further injury, thereby exposing the patient to environmental conditions or even battlefield hazards for a longer time.
Transportation vehicles that take the injured soldier or patient to a medical care facility, such as by helicopter, boat, or automobile, may expose the injured soldier or patient to forceful winds because of the movement of the vehicle. In such conditions, placing a soldier or patient on a litter and tucking a blanket around the patient does not provide a reliable way to secure the patient and keep him warm, since the blanket may loosen or even fall because of the wind generated by the vehicle's movement. In addition, if the patient is bleeding or has an open wound, infectious material may be transferred to the other injury sites, to the transport carriers, or even to other soldiers or patients being transported in the same vehicle.
Therefore, there exists a need for a lightweight, portable transporter that has an anti-hypothermia structure to reduce the loss of the person's body heat during transport, and can absorb blood or other body fluids from the person being carried. In addition, the transporter should be foldable to reduce size for efficient storage and shipping before use.


The device comprises conventionally a plug (2) for the electrical supply of a heater element (14) to bring about the heating and evaporation, by way of a flat wick (10), of an active substance contained in a main receptacle (5). The novelty lies in the fact that said container (5) is heat-formed and defines a triangular configuration reservoir (6) with a flat extension (7) that accommodates the flat “Y”-shaped wick (10) in which the ends of its divergent arms (11) are engaged in recesses (9) in the mouth of the active substance reservoir (6), said wick (10) being pressed by an impermeable strip (12) which is heat-sealed to the body of the reservoir (6), so that the heater element (14) positioned facing the front end of the extension (7) brings about the warming of the wick (10) and the corresponding evaporation of the active substance, which will issue by way of a hole (16) in the impermeable strip (12) to be diffused in the environment. In the plug-in position the device remains with the container (5) of the wick (10) in the vertical position, and in direct contact of this with the active substance contained in the reservoir (6).

The technology, which consists of making use of a porous wick to supply an area where there is a heating means for the evaporation of the active substance stored in a container, is already known, as are commercial appliances or devices for diffusing active substances by means of a cylindrical wick contained in a bottle produced by means of blown injection and wherein the cylindrical wick which protrudes to the exterior of the bottle is warmed with an electrically-operated heating element, bringing about the heating, evaporation and, therefore, the diffusion of the active substance to the environment.
Appliances and devices of this type are used for releasing not only aromatic active substances to the environment, but also for releasing active substances intended to be used as repellents or as compounds for eliminating insects, etc.
To be specific, we may mention appliances described in patents held by the same applicant, such as WO 02/28442; WO 98/58692; EP 0689766 A1 and WO 98/57674.
In all those documents the wick in contact with the active substance has a cylindrical configuration, which means that the heater also has to have a cylindrical geometry.
However, the patent now abandoned EP 0722742 A2 describes a device of the type referred to wherein the wick is flat and is associated with a heat-formed container, though with limitations as regards efficacy of evaporation and a complication in respect of the final sealing of the product, as it is done on two different surfaces, so in practice sealing is assured by the use of two heat-formed receptacles, one inside the other.

Electrical device for the release of active substances


A quality of service parameter associated with message traffic transmitted from a smart items infrastructure through a middleware message routing engine to one or more enterprise applications is monitored. In response to the monitored quality of service parameter, a number of parallel message processors that route messages from the plurality of smart items to the message routing engine is controlled.

Smart item technologies may include, for example, radio-frequency identification (RFID) systems, embedded systems, sensor motes, and/or smart item networks, and may be used, for example, to provide business software applications with fast access to real-world data. For example, smart item technologies may be used support the detection, reading, or writing of RFID tags, as well as to support communication with, and control of, wireless smart item networks and embedded systems. In many instances, smart items may include devices that have local processing power, memory, and/or communication capabilities, and that are capable of providing data about the device and its properties, or information about a current state or environment of the smart item devices. Accordingly, some such devices may be used in the execution of service components of backend or underlying enterprise applications, and, in particular, may do so in a collaborative way, e.g., by forming mobile ad-hoc networks to collect, process, or transmit data.
Examples of smart item devices include RFID tags, which may be passive or active, and which may be attached to a real-world object and used to provide product or handling information related to the object. Other examples of smart item devices includes transceivers, for example, various sensors, such as, environmental sensors (e.g., a temperature, humidity, or vibration sensor), which, as just referenced, may be capable of communicating to form one or more smart item networks. For example, sensors within a sensor network may send messages autonomously without being triggered to send a message. These and other types of smart item devices also may include embedded systems, which may refer generally to any system in which a special-purpose processor and/or program is included, and/or in which the system is encapsulated in the device being controlled.
Through automatic real-time object tracking, smart item technology may provide businesses with accurate and timely data about business operations, and also may help streamline and automate the business operations. Accordingly, cost reductions and additional business benefits (e.g., increased asset visibility, improved responsiveness, and extended business opportunities) may be obtained.
In some scenarios, data received from smart items may be received from a large number of smart items and provided to a number of different backend or underlying enterprise applications that can use the data for a variety of different analyses, functions, and business processes. Each backend application may require the receipt of messages in different incompatible formats, which may pose challenges when a large number of smart items messages are received and provided to the different backend applications.

Method and system to adaptively manage the quality of service of interactions between smart item networks and enterprise applications


An electrode is disclosed having a coating on part of the electrode, e.g., a front face, comprising the oxides of tin, antimony, at least one platinum group metal and at least one valve metal. Another part of the electrode, such as a back face, has a coating comprising the oxides of at least one valve metal and at least one platinum group metal. The electrode can be generally plate-shaped and most desirably has at least one chamfered corner. The electrode is particularly useful in a cell wherein brine electrolyte is electrolyzed to prepare a disinfectant solution containing hypochlorite. The disinfectant solution can be especially serviceable, such as in maritime application, for treating water, e.g., freshwater as represented by desalinated water.

Currently, such as in shipboard use, bromine cartridges are used for water disinfection. The bromine cartridge system is expensive to operate, has low reliability and maintainability. It has been found to be impractical to disinfect water over a wide range of conditions, and produces a hazardous waste product.
Another system used for shipboard water disinfection is batch chlorination with calcium hypochlorite. The batch chlorination method presents numerous safety hazards since the calcium hypochlorite is corrosive, has a limited shelf life, and can cause injury to personnel or damage to equipment if handled incorrectly. It also presents the potential hazard of causing fires and explosions if it comes in contact with any organic, combustible materials.
It would, therefore, be desirable to have a system that includes an electrolytic cell which can generate hypochlorite solution. The cell can assist in providing improved effectiveness of disinfection at reduced cost.

Electrode and electrolytic cell containing same


A method and apparatus for generating a Value Bearing Indicium (VBI) for on-line ticketing applications. A VBI may be generated by hashing user information to create a message digest that is used to create a digital signature. The digital signature is combined with the user information to create a VBI that can be validated by a variety of stand-alone or on-line methods. An on-line ticketing application using the VBI is described.

Value-bearing indicia (VBI) are used in a variety of transactions where a holder of a VBI is entitled to receive goods or services. The holder of the VBI surrenders the VBI in exchange for receiving the goods or services. Typical examples of transactions using VBI are using postage stamps to mail packages, using a ticket to gain access to board an airplane, and using traveler's checks to pay for goods and services.
Transactions involving VBI comprise at least two steps, a user purchases a VBI from an issuing entity such as a postage vendor or airline and then the user redeems the VBI at the time the user wants to take delivery of an item from the issuing entity or use a service provided by the issuing entity. Purchasing the VBI may require a secure method allowing the user to purchase a valid VBI from the issuing entity.
An example of purchasing a VBI from an issuing entity is the purchase of metered postage from the a postage vendor. A significant percentage of the United States Postal Service (USPS) revenue is from metered postage. Metered postage is generated by utilizing postage meters that print special marks, also known as postal indicia, on mail pieces. Generally, printing postage can be carried out by using mechanical postage meters or computer-based systems.
With respect to computer-based postage processing systems, the USPS under the Information-Based Indicia Program (IBIP) has published specifications for IBIP postage meters that identify a special purpose hardware device, known as a Postal Security Device (PSD) that is generally located at a user's site. The PSD, in conjunction with the user's personal computer and printer, may function as the IBIP postage meter. The USPS has published a number of documents describing the PSD specifications, the indicia specifications and other related and relevant information.
A significant drawback of existing hardware-based systems is that a new PSD must be locally provided to each new user, which involves significant cost. Furthermore, if the additional PSD breaks down, service calls must be made to the user location. In light of the drawbacks in hardware-based postage metering systems, a software-based system has been developed that does not require specialized hardware for each user. The software-based system meets the IBIP specifications for a PSD, using a centralized server-based implementation of PSDs and includes a database for all users' information. The software-based system, however, has brought about new challenges.
The software-based system should be able to handle secure communications between users and the database. In a hardware-based system, security is generally handled by the local hardware piece, that is unique to each user and includes a cryptographic module that encrypts that user's information.
Another example of purchasing a VBI from an issuing entity is the purchase of a ticket to access a service such as an airline flight. Typically, a user buys a ticket directly from an airline or indirectly through a ticketing agency. The user specifies a flight and the airline or ticketing agency generates the ticket. The ticket generation process reserves a seat for the user and creates a ticket that is given to the user.
A significant drawback of existing ticketing systems is that the user may need to take physical possession of the ticket before it can be used. Physical receipt of the ticket usually requires that the airline or ticket agency mail the ticket to the user. Alternatively, the user may accept receipt of the ticket at a location prior to redeeming the ticket when boarding the specified flight.
Therefore, a software based on-line ticketing system is needed that is capable of issuing a ticket directly to the user so that the user can print the ticket for themselves. Furthermore, the issued ticket must be capable of being validated when the user redeems the ticket.


An automotive headlight system and an adaptive automotive headlight system with instant compensation control are provided. The automotive headlight system includes a light source, a total internal reflection prism, a digital reflecting element, a freeform lens, and a multi-curve-reflector. The total internal reflection prism is used for redirecting and reflecting light beams from the light source. The digital reflecting element is controlled to switch to a plurality of states with regard to reflected light beams from the total internal reflection prism then compensation patterns will be promptly given during different states. The freeform lens is used for controlling directions of the light beams from the digital reflecting element. The multi-curve-reflector has a plurality of radii of curvature for reflecting the light beams from the freeform lens. As the automotive headlight system merely uses optical refractive and reflecting elements so that the number of components and cost is greatly reduced as compared with the prior art. Furthermore, the most important is that this invention proposes a new design and instant and personalized compensation solution to reduce more driver's risks.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an automotive headlight system and an adaptive automotive headlight system with instant control and compensation system, and more particular to an automotive headlight system and an adaptive automotive headlight system with instant control to compensating user's human vision by utilizing special optical components
2. Description of the Related Art
The adaptive automotive headlight system of the present invention focus on systematic safety, high efficiency and power consumption with assistance of instant control and compensation system, and more particularly in individual user's human vision compensation utilizing special optical components or other relative devices.
Definitely, this present invention will significantly reduce risks caused by fast turnaround, glare or discomfort generated by the projected illumination of automotive headlight during on road vehicles coming at the opposite direction. Conventional automotive headlight can illuminate only the ground right in front of a vehicle at a fixed manner, and has a constant brightness without consideration of individual driver's driving position, human vision characteristic and other factors. Therefore, when the vehicle turns, the driver cannot clearly see the road conditions such as dark curve. Thus, the driver cannot handle the vehicle well according to the curve, then automotive is prone to run risks of traffic accidents.
Conventionally, an advanced automotive headlight system is introduced to get rid of above disadvantages. When a vehicle is moving, headlamps of the advanced automotive headlight system can rotate according to the vehicle speed and steering angle promptly, such that the projection angle can be adjusted to illuminate the curve during driving. However, the conventional advanced automotive headlight system is handled and controlled by mechanical system, which works with mechanical connections and actuations. Therefore, the disadvantages of the conventional advanced headlight system are given that not only too many complex components, large volume, complicated to assemble, resulting in a high manufacturing cost but also lack of instant compensation function specially designed different driver's human vision characteristic, driving position and pupil of eyes etc.
Therefore, the present invention proposes a new design and instant and personalized compensation solution to reduce more risks and cost compared to the conventional mechanical model.

Automotive headlight system and adaptive automotive headlight system with instant control and compensation

National Kaohsiung First University of Science and Technology


A method for transferring a substrate includes moving first and second substrate holding sections opposite each other, moving a first substrate stage holding the substrate so as to be disposed between the first and second substrate holding sections, delivering the substrate from the first substrate stage to the first and second substrate holding sections by releasing the holding of the substrate by the first substrate stage and holding the substrate by the first and second substrate holding sections, moving the first and second substrate holding sections from a first substrate taking-over position to a second substrate taking-over position, moving a second substrate stage so as to be disposed in the interval between the first and second substrate holding sections at the second substrate taking-over position, and delivering the substrate to the second substrate stage by releasing the substrate and holding the substrate by the second substrate stage.

I. Technical Field
The present invention relates to a method for transferring substrates including glass substrates such as a liquid-crystal display substrate (LCD substrate) or a plasma display substrate (PDP substrate), and a component mounting equipment for mounting components including electronic components such as IC chips or various semiconductor devices onto these types of substrate.
II. Description of the Related Art
An example of a conventional component mounting equipment is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication No. 2001-228452. Referring to FIG. 20, a reference numeral "1" denotes a substrate stage for holding a substrate 2. Suction holes (not illustrated) are formed in the substrate stage 1 which is a rigid body and a lower side of the substrate 2 is held by suction force acting through the suction holes. Further, a reference numeral "3" denotes a substrate transfer apparatus that transfers the substrate 2 and delivers the substrate 2 to and from the substrate stage 1. The substrate transfer apparatus 3 has a pair of support arms 4A and 4B which extend in a direction orthogonal to a direction of transferring of substrate 1 indicated by an arrow "A1". These support arms 4A and 4B have suction pads 5 for holding the lower side of the substrate 2. The substrate stage 1 moves the substrate 2 transferred from the substrate transfer apparatus 3 at a substrate taking-over potion shown in the figure to a working section which is not illustrated (Refer to an arrow "A2"). In the working sections, various mounting operations such as supply of a binding material to the substrate 2, pre-press bonding of components, and final-press bonding of these components are executed. Further, the substrate stage 1 moves from the working section to the substrate taking-over position and places the substrate 2 onto the substrate transfer apparatus 3 (Refer to an arrow "A3"). Such component mounting equipment is also disclosed in International Publication WO01/58233.
Recently, the substrates to which mounting operations are carried out by such component mounting equipments have tended to increase in size. For example, the size of the substrate is approximately on the order of 13 to 15 inches for notebook-type PC displays, 17 to 21 inches for monitor displays, and 15 to 20 inches for television displays.
In the case of the component mounting equipment shown in FIG. 20, as indicated by the arrows "A2" and "A3", either when the substrate stage 1 moves from the working section to the substrate taking-over position or when the substrate stage 1 moves from the substrate taking-over position to the working section, the substrate stage 1 needs to move not only along the transfer direction "A1" of the substrate but also in a direction orthogonal to the transfer direction "A1" for avoiding interference with the support arms 4A and 4B. Due to that movements in these two directions are required, efficient delivery of the substrate between the substrate stage and the substrate transfer apparatus at the substrate taking-over position can not be achieved. Particularly, it is difficult to efficiently move the above-mentioned large size substrate in these two directions.
Further, the necessity of that the substrate stage moves in the direction orthogonal to the transfer direction "A1" of the substrate for delivering the substrate to the substrate transfer apparatus requires increasing the dimensions of the component mounting equipment in the orthogonal direction (the dimension in a depth direction) in order to secure a moving area. The increased dimension in the depth direction increases time necessary for transferring the substrate within the component mounting equipment and also decreases maintenanceability of the component mounting equipment. Particularly, when the substrate is large as mentioned above, the increase in size of the component mounting equipment for securing the moving area is significant.
Furthermore, large warpage can be readily generated for the large size substrate comparing with a small substrate. When the substrate 2 transferred from the substrate transfer apparatus 3 to the substrate stage 1 is warped and has decreased flatness, a positional shift of the substrate 2 is readily produced upon delivery of the substrate 2. The positional shift of the substrate during the delivery can lower operational accuracy at the working section. For example, the positional shift of the substrate during delivery can lower accuracy of mounting position when the pre-press bonding is executed. Further, the warped substrate causes air leakage which extends time necessary for the suction force to rise to an efficient value, resulting in tact loss.


In order to improve a laser system comprising several laser radiation sources, each of which generates laser radiation which is coupled into a first end of a respective optical single-mode fiber, wherein all optical single-mode fibers form a fiber bundle and have second ends lying at a fiber bundle end, the laser radiation exiting from the second ends and thereby forming a total laser radiation field, and further comprising an optical transformation means which transforms the total laser radiation field onto an object, such that a focal point with a highest possible power per area and per solid angle can be generated therewith, it is proposed that the optical transformation means comprise a collimating element which collimates the laser radiation exiting divergently from each individual second end of the single-mode fibers and forms a collimated radiation bundle therefrom, and that the optical transformation means comprise a focusing element which images the collimated radiation bundle as a whole onto a focal point.

The invention relates to a laser system comprising several laser radiation sources, each of which generates laser radiation which is coupled into a first end of a respective optical single-mode fiber, wherein all optical single-mode fibers form a fiber bundle and have second ends lying at a fiber bundle end, the laser radiation exiting from the second ends, thereby forming a total laser radiation field, and further comprising an optical transformation means which transforms the total laser radiation field onto an object.
Such laser systems are known, for example, from WO 94/17575 or WO 94/17576.
In these known laser systems, the optical transformation means is an optical imaging means which images the second ends of the single-mode fibers into an imaging plane onto an object.
The problem herein is that the single-mode fibers have a core and a sheathing and, therefore, the spacings between the individual cores from which the laser radiation finally exits are large. If, as described in the publications mentioned hereinabove, an optical imaging means is used as optical transformation means, with this optical imaging means only the locations at which the laser radiation exits at the fiber bundle end can be transformed onto the image plane as points likewise lying alongside one another.
The obtainable power density is, therefore, limited and so the advantage of these known solutions, namely that of generating a highest possible laser power by a plurality of individual laser radiation sources and uniting their laser radiation to a total laser radiation field, cannot be exploited to the full extent.
The object of the invention is, therefore, to so improve a laser system of the generic kind that a focal point with a highest possible brightness, i.e., power per area and per solid angle, can be generated therewith.

Deutsche Forschungsanstalt fuer Luftund Raumfahrt e.V.

Universitaet Stuttgart Institut fuer Strahlwerkqeuge


Saponin extracts containing at least 93% QS-21 main peak and 0.25-3% 2018 component by UV absorbance at 214 nm, methods for making said extracts, their use as vaccine adjuvants and related aspects.

Adjuvants are included in vaccines to improve humoral and cellular immune responses, particularly in the case of poorly immunogenic subunit vaccines. Similar to natural infections by pathogens, adjuvants rely on the activation of the innate immune system to promote long-lasting adaptive immunity.
The Adjuvant System 01 (AS01) is a liposome-based adjuvant which contains two immunostimulants, 3-O-desacyl-4′-monophosphoryl lipid A (3D-MPL) and QS-21 (Garcon and Van Mechelen, 2011; Didierlaurent et al., 2017). 3D-MPL is a non-toxic derivative of the lipopolysaccharide from Salmonella minnesota which is a TLR4 agonist) and QS-21 is a natural saponin extract from the bark of the South American tree Quillaja saponaria Molina (Kensil et al., 1991; Ragupathi et al., 2011). AS01 is included in the recently developed vaccines for malaria (RTS,S-Mosquirix®) and Herpes zoster (HZ/su-Shingrix®), and in multiple candidate vaccines in development against pathogens such as human immunodeficiency virus and Mycobacterium tuberculosis.
AS01 injection results in rapid and transient activation of innate immunity in animal models. Neutrophils and monocytes are rapidly recruited to the draining lymph node (dLN) upon immunization. Moreover, AS01 induces recruitment and activation of MHCIIhigh dendritic cells (DC), which are necessary for T cell activation (Didierlaurent A. M. et al., 2014). Some data are also available on the mechanism of action of the components of AS01. 3D-MPL signals via TLR4, stimulating NF-κB transcriptional activity and cytokine production and directly activates antigen-presenting cells (APCs) both in humans and in mice (De Becker et al., 2000; Ismaili et al., 2002; Martin et al., 2003; Mata-Haro et al., 2007). QS-21 promotes high antigen-specific antibody responses and CD8+ T-cell responses in mice (Kensil and Kammer, 1998; Newman et al., 1992; Soltysik et al., 1995) and antigen-specific antibody responses in humans (Livingston et al., 1994). Because of its physical properties, it is thought that QS-21 might act as a danger signal in vivo (Lambrecht et al., 2009; Li et al., 2008). Although QS-21 has been shown to activate ASC-NLRP3 inflammasome and subsequent IL-1β/IL-18 release (Marty-Roix, R. et al., 2016), the exact molecular pathways involved in the adjuvant effect of saponins have yet to be clearly defined.
As with any component of a product which is approved as a human medicament, production of QS-21 requires the use of approved manufacturing processes and careful control of final composition to ensure that it meets the required specification. Modification of existing processes requires costly and time consuming re-validation, yet deviations from specification also result in waste. There is a continuing need for robust methods for the manufacture of QS-21 and for QS-21 material of defined composition.


A floor support structure of a vehicle comprises a floor extending in the vehicle width direction so as to allow occupants sitting side by side in the vehicle width direction to put their feet thereon. The floor includes a plane surface part and separating a vehicle interior from a vehicle exterior, a body for supporting each of front and rear end portions of the floor in the forward and rearward direction of the vehicle and each of left and right end portions of the floor in the vehicle width direction, and a floor stay making contact with a lower surface in or around the middle in the vehicle width direction of the floor so as to support the floor. The floor stay comprises a plurality of main stays and a sub-stay.

Field
The present invention relates to a floor support structure of a vehicle.
Description of the Related Art
A floor support structure of a vehicle is disclosed in patent reference 1 (Japanese Patent No. 4,132,746), for example. This floor support structure includes a support member extending from a vehicle body frame, a first wire rod frame extending from a distal end portion of the support member to the vehicle body frame, the first frame being suspended from the vehicle body frame by a second wire rod frame, and a foot board covering the first frame and the support member. The foot board covers the first wire rod frame and the support member so as to distribute a load to these members, so that each of component members can be prevented from plastic deformation under a load from the ground and can provide flexibility.
However, displacement in the vehicle width direction of the first frame and the second frame is not able to be restrained by the structure disclosed in the patent reference 1.
Moreover, it is required that a stay is added in an intermediate portion of the first frame and both ends of the second frame are connected to the vehicle body frame and the first frame, respectively. However, this incurs complication of manufacturing and assembling and so is undesirable.
For this reason, a structure is needed which is able to easily suppress the displacement in each of the forward and rearward direction of the vehicle and the vehicle width direction with respect to each of the component members.