An electric or electronic animal trap with a CPU-controlled, rearming, multiple killing plate configuration and automatically resetting interruptible beam sensor for triggering a high voltage cycle. A high-voltage output circuit is connected to killing plates which are activated with a high-voltage pulse train when a pest interrupts the beam signal, such as an infrared beam signal generated by an infrared transmitter to an infrared receiver. The trap is preferably configured to automatically rearm if the IR beam signal is no longer interrupted after the killing cycle. If the IR beam signal is still blocked after the killing cycle, however, the trap enters a standby mode indicating trap servicing is required to remove the dead rodent from the trap.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to electric or electronic animal traps, and relates more particularly to an animal trap adapted to catch and electrocute a targeted animal, and also to rearm in the event the continuing presence of the animal is not detected upon completion of a killing cycle.
Although the concepts of the instant invention are equally applicable to traps for animals of any size, devices of this type are primarily utilized in connection with the trapping and killing of rats and the description will, therefore, focus on this application.
2. Description of the Related Art
A number of animal traps have been developed which include structural devices to trap an animal and prevent its escape, along with electric or electronic components which act to kill the trapped animal.
One such device is found in U.S. Pat. No. 6,609,328 ("the '328 patent", which is hereby expressly incorporated herein by reference as if fully set forth in its entirety. The trap disclosed in the '326 patent electrocutes the animal while also providing a visual indicator signaling when the trap has initiated a kill cycle and thereafter requires servicing to remove an electrocuted animal.
Other trap designs that have relied upon electrocution and effectively prevented pest-escape in the prior art are set forth in U.S. Pat. No. 6,735,899 ("the '899 patent"), which is hereby expressly incorporated herein by reference as if fully set forth in its entirety. The electronic traps disclosed in the '899 patent utilize at least two fixed barriers or diverter members that are positioned between the opening of the trap and a pair of spaced charge plates electrically connected to a voltage source. The barriers reduce the risk of escape so that, when the trap enters the standby mode after trap activation through contact of the pest with the pair of plates, the trap is more likely to have been effective in killing and retaining the dead pest.
Even with the structures intended to prevent escape, larger vermin such as rats may not have been killed and may have escaped. As a result, since the standby mode indicates the presence of a dead pest, because it was in fact initiated by a false trigger, wasted effort is expended by exterminator personnel or other users in servicing and resetting a trap which is, in fact, already empty.
Hence, a trap having three killing plates for greater killing power has been developed as described in U.S. Pat. No. 7,219,466 ("the '466 patent"), also assigned to the present assignee. The disclosure of the '466 patent is also hereby expressly incorporated by reference as if fully set forth herein in its entirety. The trap disclosed in the '466 patent application electrocutes the animal by activating a pair of spaced killing plates, with the first plate being electrically coupled to a third plate that is brought to the voltage level of the first plate approximately 1 msec after circuit activation. The killing circuit is activated when a pest of known impedance is sensed across the pair of plates. The use of three plates both increases electrocution capability and decreases the likelihood of pest escape once the trap has been activated.
The trap of the '466 patent also uses the sensing of a known impedance across the pair of plates after the killing cycle to determine whether the pest is still present and, in the absence thereof, automatically rearms itself without requiring human intervention. If a dead rat is present, however, the trap enters the standby mode and provides a visual indicator that trap servicing is required.
Because the '466 patent relies upon detecting impedance across the plates within a range which is representative of a rat, the trap may not detect undesired pests which fall outside this range. Further, if the rat is present but is not in contact with both plates, as when the animal sits up on its haunches to investigate the roof area of the trap, its presence will not be detected. Since detection of a resistance value across the plates is also used after trap activation to determine whether or not to automatically reset, should there be any failure to detect a killed rodent due to the rat's positioning after death, i.e., the rat's body is not in solid contact with one of the plates, the trap would nonetheless reset. This would be undesirable because rats are known to avoid other dead rats so that the trap would be ineffective in capturing a second rat. In addition, the trap could "hide" the dead carcass for an extended period, exposing the surrounding area to the resulting decay and bacteria growth, since the trap would not provide the visual indicator that a dead animal is contained therein and trap service is required.
Therefore, a need exists for a trap that combines an electronic circuit having high voltage to provide killing power effective to terminate rats, with a detection mechanism that is able to detect the presence of any pest. Preferably, the trap will also rearm the trap without human intervention in the event of pest escape.

Rearming electronic animal trap with infrared sensor and multiple-killing-plate configuration


A linear voltage regulator includes a first transistor, a feedback circuit, and a control circuit. The first transistor includes a first terminal coupled to an input terminal of the regulator, a second terminal coupled to an output terminal of the regulator, and a control terminal. The first transistor is configured to provide a load current to the output terminal at a desired voltage level based on a control signal on the control terminal. The feedback circuit is coupled to the output terminal and is configured to generate a feedback signal based on an actual voltage level at the output terminal. The control circuit is configured to provide, based on the feedback signal, the control signal at a level to substantially maintain an output voltage at the output terminal at the desired voltage level. An operating current of the control circuit is configured to increase, by a limited amount, responsive to a transient increase in the load current.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a linear voltage regulator and, more particularly, to improving efficiency of a linear voltage regulator that employs an adaptive biasing circuit.
2. Description of the Related Art
As is well known, a linear voltage regulator is a device that is designed to receive an input voltage and provide a substantially constant output voltage at a desired level for a range of output load currents. In a typical application, an output voltage provided by a linear voltage regulator is used as a power supply voltage for other circuits, whose load current may vary over time with substantially instantaneous transitions from one current level to another current level. For example, a linear voltage regulator may supply power to one or more digital circuits of a device, e.g., a cellular telephone, a computer system, etc., whose digital circuits may or may not be functional at any given time. Thus, load currents for such devices can be relatively high in one clock cycle and relatively low in a next clock cycle. As digital circuits are designed to operate at higher frequencies, transitions between clock cycles become faster and transition times between different load current levels decrease.
A low-dropout (LDO) voltage regulator is a linear voltage regulator that maintains output voltage regulation even when an input voltage at an input terminal of the regulator is only marginally greater than a desired output voltage at an output terminal of the regulator. A relatively low-dropout voltage allows an LDO voltage regulator to operate over a wider range of input voltage levels and extends battery life in battery-powered systems, such as portable electronic devices and laptop computer systems. For example, as a battery voltage of a device gradually decreases during usage, an LDO voltage regulator facilitates operation of the device at lower battery voltages, which extends battery life between charging cycles. In an LDO voltage regulator, a power transistor is connected in series between an input terminal and an output terminal of the regulator. During operation of the regulator, the power transistor provides load current to the output terminal of the regulator. In high-speed applications, conventional LDO voltage regulators have traditionally employed a relatively high operating current to facilitate driving the power transistor at an acceptable speed. Unfortunately, LDO voltage regulators that operate using relatively high operating currents are inefficient from a current efficiency stand-point. Moreover, when employed in battery-powered systems, conventional LDO voltage regulators may substantially reduce battery life due to relatively high operating currents.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,522,111 (hereinafter "the '111 patent") discloses a low-dropout (LDO) voltage regulator. To address fast transients in load current, the LDO voltage regulator of the '111 patent also employs an adaptive biasing circuit that provides an unlimited additional operating current, that tracks the load current, in response to an increase in the load current. With reference to FIG. 1 an LDO voltage regulator 100 is illustrated that employs a steady-state biasing circuit 104, which provides a steady-state operating current, and an unlimited adaptive biasing circuit 102, which provides an unlimited additional operating current according to the '111 patent. The steady-state biasing circuit 104 includes a current source I1 and a current mirror, which includes transistors M1 and M2. The transistor M1 conducts a sourced current (supplied by the current source I1) and the transistor M2 conducts the steady-state operating current, whose level is substantially the same as or a multiple of the sourced current depending on relative geometries of the transistors M1 and M2.
The unlimited adaptive biasing circuit 102 allows for a reduction in steady-state operating current for the regulator 100, while providing an unlimited additional operating current for transient load conditions. In operation, an error amplifier A1, based on comparisons of a reference voltage (VREF) and a feedback voltage (VFB), drives a power transistor M6 to achieve a desired output voltage (VOUT) substantially independent of load current (IL), over a load current range. In operation, when the load current increases substantially instantaneously from a relatively small value to a relatively large value, the output voltage at the output terminal of the regulator 100 drops unless the power transistor M6 conducts more load current and/or load capacitor (CL) supplies the instantaneous load current required.
In this application, the regulator 100 provides load regulation (i.e., an ability to maintain a substantially constant output voltage level under changing load conditions) by providing an indication of a load condition change to the error amplifier A1, via the feedback voltage (provided by a resistive divider including resistors R1 and R2). The error amplifier A1 drives the power transistor M6 harder when the output voltage is below a desired level. Conversely, the error amplifier A1 controls the power transistor M6 to decrease output voltage when the output voltage is above a desired level. To improve transient response time of the LDO voltage regulator 100 to changing load conditions, the unlimited adaptive biasing circuit 102 temporarily increases an operating current of the error amplifier A1 to facilitate faster charging (or discharging) of a gate capacitance of the power transistor M6. The unlimited adaptive biasing circuit 102 includes a current mirror, which includes transistors M3 and M4, and a sense transistor M5. The sense transistor M5 conducts a sensed current that is a sub-multiple of the output load current conducted by the power transistor M6. The transistor M4 conducts the sensed current and the transistor M3 conducts an unlimited additional operating current, whose level is substantially the same as or a multiple of the sensed current, depending on relative geometries of the transistors M3 and M4.
Implementing the unlimited adaptive biasing circuit 102 within the regulator 100 allows a designer to decrease steady-state operating current of the error amplifier A1, while still providing satisfactory transient performance for the regulator 100 during load current transients. As such, the regulator 100 is generally more efficient than conventional LDO voltage regulators that do not employ an unlimited adaptive biasing circuit. However, the regulator 100 provides an unlimited additional operating current, which is based on and tracks the load current. As such, the unlimited adaptive biasing circuit 102 may increase operating currents to unnecessary levels during transients in the load current, thus, decreasing the efficiency of the regulator 100.
What is needed is a linear voltage regulator that provides acceptable transient response while utilizing a limited additional operating current.
In the following detailed description of exemplary embodiments of the invention, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration specific exemplary embodiments in which the invention may be practiced.

Technique for improving efficiency of a linear voltage regulator


This computer data protection method of the present invention requires a user to enter a correct password for modifying any data. If wrong passwords are typed, this method forbids modification of any program modules. Further, if any program module is detected having unauthenticated modification, that program module is deleted and an original image of that program module is loaded to recover normal operation of the operation system. Additionally, a common password is also provided in the protection method. Some special function can use this common password to pass the detection of this method to perform any modification.

With the popularity of computer and the progress of the network technology, computers have been closely involved in human daily life. For example, people can use computer to record various digital data. Even people can use the duplicating machine of the computer to reproduce the same digital data in a digital recording media.
Most computers are connected to networks like the Internet, intranets, and telecommunication networks. In other words, networks have become an unavoidable tool in life. However, a network also exposes users thereof to various attacks. For example, data on the network can be destroyed, changed, or copied by hackers. When the hacker gets the data, he can employ the reproduction function to reproduce the data and even sell the data. There are many transferring and copy preventing technology developed to avoid security data is spread. However, these new safeguarding approaches have failed due to market acceptance issues.
On the other hand, since the computers have bigger amount of data, and is more frequently interacted with networks, the problem of computer virus is also more and more serious. Once a computer virus invades, at least the inconvenience of daily life or work is caused, and more severely, the life or property loss is likely to be caused.
Typically, a firewall system is used to filter information and control access and an anti-virus program is used to block computer viruses from network or other hacker. There are two types of firewall systems, software firewall systems and hardware firewall systems. These firewall systems allow a system administrator to set certain safety conditions. For example, the firewall systems can be configured so that data packets from unknown addresses are filtered out, or some transmission ports of certain protocols are closed. However, all these approaches only focus on stopping first stage hacker attacks. Once the hacker satisfies a safety condition, the hacker can enter the network and do as he or she pleases. Hackers often try to break a security system by repeatedly testing passwords. Current firewall systems fail to detect and respond properly to this sort of early stage hackers in the early stage and respond properly. Once a hacker breaks the firewall system, the hacker also destroys all hacking data at the same time. In the other hand, simple attempt to test passwords for login cannot bring the hacker to legal resolution because the hacker does not do anything bad yet. Therefore, there are needs for improving the network security systems nowadays.
On the other hand, Most of the anti-virus programs are designed by analyzing the patterns of various virus codes; storing the patterns into a database used for scanning and detecting viruses. The virus technology is changed with each passing day, wherein the method for virus propagation is evolved from attachment in execution files in early days to attachment in e-mails, so that the database storing the virus codes is bigger and bigger. It can be imagined that when the database become enormous later, each scanning time will be very long, and the computer normal operation will be seriously effected. Under this vicious circle, even if the computer's hardware and software have stronger function, the efficacy thereof cannot be substantially promoted due to computer viruses, and users may be held back against the over-complicated system aforementioned.
Further, users also need to renew the virus database, or the anti-virus programs cannot be used to guard the computer security. Although some computer users may be interested in computer security and are willing to follow the related information timely, yet more computer users may be totally uninterested therein and do not have time to renew the anti-virus programs.
Hence, it is a very important task regarding how to develop a guarding computer security system and method to avoid the attack from hacker and resolve the computer virus problems. Additionally, there are needs for inhibiting the unauthorized digital media is reproduced.


The invention provides a beverage preparation system (1) for the preparation of hot and cold beverages, which system comprises a hot beverage ingredient cartridge (2′), a cold beverage ingredient cartridge (2), and a beverage preparation device (4) adapted to prepare hot and cold beverages. According to the invention, the beverage preparation device (4) comprises a water dispensing manifold (10) for directing hot water and cold water to a dispensing location, the water dispensing manifold (10) comprising a feed lace (11), a cold water conduit (14) and a hot water conduit (16) that ends in a port (20) provided in a wall of the cold water conduit (14). The hot water conduit (16) has a cross section that is smaller than the cross section of the feed lance (11), such that a flow of hot water fed from the hot water conduit (16) into the feed lance (11) via the port (20) passes through part of the cold water conduit (14) and through the feed lance (11) without contacting them.

The present invention relates to a beverage preparation system for the preparation of hot and cold beverages, and more in particular, to improvements in beverage preparation devices of such systems, which beverage preparation devices are adapted to selectively dispense hot beverages and cold beverages while utilizing flavouring ingredients including carbonated and non-carbonated water.
Beverage preparation devices have been in use for a long time. However, most preparation devices provide either hot or cold beverages, but not both. Other machines dispense only one type of hot or one type of cold beverage. Thus, for dispensing hot and cold beverages or for providing multiple types of beverage, two or more preparation devices are required, which in turn requires a significant area to set up these devices. Typically, these preparation devices are set up on kitchen counters in homes and in coffee corners in offices, where set up areas are limited.
In addition, it is noted that prior art beverage preparation devices for dispensing hot and cold beverages or utilizing flavouring ingredients typically comprise multiple dedicated dispensing outlets to prevent dispensing of hot beverages from influencing the temperature of a subsequently dispensed cold beverage and vice versa or to prevent residue of a previously dispensed beverage to mix with a subsequently dispensed beverage. The multiple dispensing outlets provide the preparation device with a wide dispensing area, and makes correctly positioning a beverage container for receiving the chosen beverage by the consumer a critical factor.
In order to satisfy the desires of consumers, it is necessary to supply a preparation device for multiple types of beverages, e.g. coffee, hot chocolate, and cold drinks, both carbonated and non-carbonated.
Examples of disposable cartridge based beverage preparation systems are for example disclosed in WO2007/114685, US2015/0125586, WO2016/081477, and WO2016081480, which are incorporated by reference herein.
The present invention relates to a system and to a disposable cartridge filled with a single serve portion of a liquid ingredient to be combined with a base liquid for the preparation of a liquid product, e.g. a liquid food product suitable for human consumption, e.g. a beverage concentrate to be combined with water, e.g. carbonated water, for the preparation of a beverage.
It is a primary object of the invention to provide a beverage preparation system in which the above mentioned drawbacks are eliminated altogether or occur in a greatly reduced extent. In particular, it is an object of this invention to provide an improved beverage preparation device which will selectively dispense hot and cold beverages produced from hot water and/or carbonated water.
It is a further object of this invention to provide a beverage preparation system comprising a compact beverage preparation device capable of alternatingly dispensing hot and cold beverages at the same dispensing location, with minimal variations in the temperature of the hot beverages and the cold beverages dispensed.
It is still another object of this invention to provide a beverage preparation device which is simple in construction and of reduced cost.
It is still another object of this invention to provide a beverage preparation device adapted to selectively dispense hot beverages and cold beverages while utilizing flavouring ingredients including carbonated and non-carbonated water, which beverage preparation device has a small footprint.

System and method for the preparation of hot and cold beverages


A quick-connect fitting for a convertible cargo handling assembly may comprise a fixed portion and a coupling component. The fixed portion may be secured to an aircraft frame structure. The coupling component may be coupled to a removable cargo handling component. The coupling component may be configured to rotate relative to the fixed portion.

Aircraft cargo handling systems are generally configured either for containerized cargo, often referred to as unit load devices (ULDs), or for bulk cargo. Current aircraft cargo handling systems do not provide flexibility to easily transition between containerized handling systems and bulk handling systems. For example, current cargo handling systems may have hardware associated with containerized systems (e.g., guide rails and power drive units) permanently mounted to the aircraft. The permanently mounted hardware adds unnecessary weight, takes up space, and can cause snags, or other interferences, when loading bulk cargo. Additionally, cargo handling systems, which do not permanently attach the hardware, tend to utilize track fittings for hardware attachment. These track fitting are susceptible to foreign object debris and may create uneven surfaces that can cause snags, or other interferences, when loading bulk cargo.

Quick-connect fittings for convertible cargo handling assemblies


Embodiments disclose a method and computer program products for automatically generating a list of search criteria to be used by the computing system when searching captured data frames for one or more resulting data frames having a specific protocol field. The method includes an act of accessing a specific protocol field from one of the captured data frames and an act of accessing protocol definitions. The captured data frame is then interpreted using the protocol definitions to generate a list of additional protocol field and value pairs to use for searching the captured data frames. Finally, the specific protocol field and the list of additional protocol field and value pairs are used to automatically identify the one or more resulting data frames having the specific protocol field.

Computer and data communications networks continue to proliferate due to declining costs, increasing performance of computer and networking equipment, and increasing demand for communication bandwidth. Communications networks—including wide area networks ("WANs") and local area networks ("LANs")—allow increased productivity and utilization of distributed computers or stations through the sharing of resources, the transfer of voice and data, and the processing of voice, data and related information at the most efficient locations. Moreover, as organizations have recognized the economic benefits of using communications networks, network applications such as electronic mail, voice and data transfer, host access, and shared and distributed databases are increasingly used as a means to increase user productivity. This increased demand, together with the growing number of distributed computing resources, has resulted in a rapid expansion of the number of installed networks.
As the demand for networks has grown, network technology has grown to include many different physical configurations. Examples include Ethernet, Token Ring, Fiber Distributed Data Interface ("FDDI"), Fibre Channel, and InfiniBand networks. These and the many other types of networks that have been developed typically utilize different cabling systems, different bandwidths and typically transmit data at different speeds. In addition, each of the different network types have different sets of standards, referred to as protocols, which set forth the rules for accessing the network and for communicating among the resources on the network.
However, many of the network types have similar characteristics. For the most part, digital data are usually transmitted over a network medium via frames (also referred to as "data frames" or "data packets") that can be of a fixed or a variable length. Typically, data frames have headers and footers on the two ends of the frame, and a data portion disposed in the middle. The specific layout of these data frames is typically specified by the "physical layer protocol" of the network being used. For example, the Ethernet physical layer protocol specifies that the structure of a data frame include a preamble field, a six-byte destination address field, a six-byte source address field, a two-byte type field, a data field having a variable size (46-1,500 bytes), and a four-byte error checking field. Other physical layer protocols will specify similar types of frame layouts.
As is well known, transmissions from one network connected device to another device are typically passed through a hierarchy of protocol layers. Each layer in one network connected device essentially carries on a conversation with a corresponding layer in another network connected device with which the communication is taking place and in accordance with a protocol defining the rules of communication.
For example, one well-known protocol standard is the Open Systems Interconnection (OSI) Model. OSI defines a seven-layer protocol model, which is widely used to describe and define how various vendors' products communicate. In that model, the highest network layer is the Application Layer. It is the level through which user applications access network services. The next layer is the Presentation Layer which translates data from the Application Layer into an intermediate format and provides data encryption and compression services. The next layer is referred to as the Session Layer, which allows two applications on different network connected devices to communicate by establishing a dialog control between the two devices that regulates which side transmits, when each side transmits, and for how long. The next layer, the Transport Layer, is responsible for error recognition and recovery, repackaging of long messages into small packages of information, and providing an acknowledgement of receipt. The next layer is the Network Layer, which addresses messages, determines the route along the network from the source to the destination computer, and manages traffic problems, such as switching, routing and controlling the congestion of data transmissions.
It is the next layer, referred to as the Data Link Layer, which packages raw bits into the logical structured data packets or data frames, referred to above. This would correspond, for example, to the Ethernet physical layer protocol noted above. This layer then sends the data frame from one network connected device to another. The lowest layer in the hierarchal model is the Physical Layer, which is responsible for transmitting bits from one network connected device to another by regulating the transmission of a stream of bits over a physical medium. This layer defines how the cable is attached to the network interface card within the network connected device and what transmission techniques are used to send data over the cable.
Thus, as a message is passed down through each of these respective layers, each layer may add protocol information to the message. Thus, the "data" present within the data payload of the data frame at the Data Link Layer (e.g., the Ethernet data frame) typically comprises a protocol stack comprised of multiple message packets. Each message packet has its own protocol format, and it may in turn be embedded within the data payload of another higher layer message, also having a different protocol.
As communication networks have increased in number and complexity, the networks have become more likely to develop a variety of problems, which are in turn more and more difficult to diagnose and solve. For example, network performance can suffer due to a variety of causes, such as the transmission of unnecessarily small frames of information, inefficient or incorrect routing of information, improper network configuration and superfluous network traffic, to name just a few. Such problems are compounded by the fact that many networks are continually changing and evolving due to growth, reconfiguration and introduction of new network typologies and protocols as well as new interconnection devices and software applications.
Consequently, diagnostic equipment, commonly referred to as "network protocol analyzers," have been developed for capturing, analyzing, and displaying information about data frames that are transmitted over a network. Typically, protocol analyzers are designed to identify, analyze and resolve interoperability and performance problems in different networks typologies and protocols. For example, the equipment enables users to perform a wide variety of network analysis tasks, such as counting errors, filtering frames, generating traffic and triggering alarms.
To do so, a protocol analyzer typically has the capability to capture all of the physical layer data frames (packets) generated by other stations (nodes) on the network. The analyzer is then designed to evaluate the contents of each data frame and, preferably, display the contents along with a meaningful description, and preferably in the sequence in which they were captured from the network. The analysis data that can be displayed with each captured data frame can include a variety of information, including the time at which the packet was captured, the length of the packet, packet address information for one or more protocol layers, and a set of protocol decodes at each layer that the protocol analyzer is capable of decoding.
Typically, the number of data frames captured by the network analyzer is quite large, sometimes numbering in the millions and billions. To help analyze all this data, various capture viewing software tools have been developed to aid the user. A typical usage of the capture viewing software tools is to search for a specific protocol field value in all the frames of a capture. For example, in a capture of SCSI traffic over Fibre Channel, it is typical to isolate all the frames for a specific LUN (SCSI Logical Unit Number) value.
One common software tool simply searches for a specific protocol field at a fixed byte offset location in all the captured data frames. For example, if a user desired to search for a LUN field value of 0x0000 at byte offset 28, the user would input this into the software as a search field. The software would then cause all the captured data frames to be searched for the value of 0x0000 at byte offset 28 whether the data frames were SCSI Command frames or not. The returned values typically would include many false positives as any data frame with the value of 0x0000 at byte offset 28 would be returned, even if the frames did not contain a LUN value. Accordingly, this method is very fast, but not very accurate.
Another common software tool decodes every data frame one-by-one and isolates only those data frames with the desired field. For example, if a user desired to search for a LUN field value of 0x0000, the user would input this into the software as a search field. The software would then cause every data frame to be searched one-by-one. Only those data frames with a LUN field value of 0x0000 would be returned. However, searching each and every data frame may take hours for a large number of frames. Accordingly, this method is very accurate, but also very slow.

Smart match search method for captured data frames


An apparatus includes a source and a detector. The source is operable to transmit light. The detector is operable to receive at least a portion of the light transmitted by the source. The source and the detector can be positioned on a nail of a digit such that the light enters the nail through an entrance region. The light further exits the nail through an exit region. The entrance region is defined by a lateral portion of the nail. The light is directed to interact with at least one analyte.

Non-invasive measurement of body chemistry holds significant promise for a broad segment of the population, such as for example, diabetics. Also included are individuals and medical professionals interested in non-invasively monitoring other organic and/or inorganic compounds as they relate to natural functioning physiology or disease states of the body. More than 200 million people worldwide and approximately 23.7 million Americans are suffering with diabetes. In America diabetics are advised to have blood drawn as often as five to seven times per day to adequately monitor their insulin treatments. Understandably, patients in any situation of which a blood analyte test is required do not enjoy having their blood drawn but this is critical in the daily testing required by diabetics. This inconvenience may lead to a lack of testing and therefore a lack of compliance with disease treatments further enhancing the spread and/or progression of a disease such as but not limited to diabetes. For instance, in other scenarios, it may be necessary for an individual to monitor other analytes such as urea, cholesterol, triglycerides, total protein, albumin, hemoglobin, hematocrit, bilirubin, or any other suitable analyte. Furthermore, other analytes may be of interest depending on the individual situations of the patient.
The current clinically accepted method of analyzing blood chemistry involves removing a blood sample by puncturing the skin with a needle. The sample is then tested for one of a number of compounds contained within the blood that provides information about a physiological condition or function. For diabetics, the tests are performed on disposable test strips which create a large financial obligation for patients over their lifetime. Beyond the immediate pain and discomfort many diabetics show reluctance to test for concern over the possibility of infection, discomfort, cultural pressure and generalized patient fear.
While a variety of analyte testers have been made and used, it is believed that no one prior to the inventor(s) has made or used an invention as described herein.
The drawings are not intended to be limiting in any way, and it is contemplated that various embodiments of the invention may be carried out in a variety of other ways, including those not necessarily depicted in the drawings. The accompanying drawings incorporated in and forming a part of the specification illustrate several aspects of the present invention, and together with the description serve to explain the principles of the invention; it being understood, however, that this invention is not limited to the precise arrangements shown.

Device and method for measuring an analyte under the nail


A battery package for a thin battery includes a flexible base film that covers and encloses the battery and a flexible layer of an inorganic material such as silicon nitride, aluminum nitride or aluminum oxide deposited on the base film to encapsulate and seal the battery. The base film is formed of a flexible polymer material such as polyester that may be attached to the battery using a heat activated adhesive. The layer of inorganic material is deposited on the base film utilizing a low temperature CVD deposition process either before or after the base film is attached to the battery.

Advancements in semiconductor technology have led to the production of large scale integrated circuits which have brought about a revolution in the electronics industry. Microelectronic components are now widely used in the production of a variety of electronic devices (i.e. computers, calculators, watches). Development of such miniature electronic instruments has demanded the evolution of batteries as miniature power supplies. This new generation of batteries must produce higher energy per unit volume and superior discharge characteristics as compared to traditional batteries.
Miniature batteries based on aqueous, non-aqueous and solid electrolytes are manufactured as power sources for microelectronic and portable electronic equipment. As an example, thin solid state batteries are often constructed with an anode formed of solid lithium and a cathode constructed of a solid electrolyte. The lithium is typically in the form of a thin lithium foil. Other types of metal foil are also utilized to form the anode (i.e. nickel). This type of battery has a long shelf life and operates efficiently over a wide temperature range.
An important design consideration in the manufacture of thin batteries is the packaging arrangement for sealing the active components of the battery. Thin batteries are typically assembled in a controlled environment and then sealed with some type of a case structure. Typically the cases are formed of a welded metal enclosure. A case may also be constructed as a foil pouch.
In general, the case must hermetically seal the active components of the battery from corrosive agents, such as moisture and oxygen, in the operating environment of the battery. Lithium foil in particular, and most metal foils commonly used in thin batteries in general, cannot survive more than a few hours or days in a high permeability or wet environment. For this reason, metal cases for batteries are typically formed using glass-to-metal or ceramic-to-metal seals. Foil pouch cases are typically assembled using sealed metal/polymer laminates.
These types of battery packaging arrangements are relatively expensive because the materials are expensive and the manufacturing requirements for forming the packages are complicated. In addition, battery cases or packages constructed with metal or metal/polymer laminates may be heavy and exhibit high electrical conductivity. A battery with a high metal mass and high conductivity may produce interference when utilized in radio frequency transmitter or receiver devices. Moreover, metal battery packages cannot be constructed with curved or irregular surface geometries. Finally, these types of metal battery packages may not satisfy the permeability and chemical resistance requirements of some demanding applications (i.e. high temperature and corrosive environments).
There is then, a need in the art for a thin battery packaging arrangement that overcomes the aforementioned limitations of prior art battery packaging arrangements. Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a battery package for thin batteries that is inexpensive and easy to manufacture yet offers a high level of protection for the internal components of the battery. It is a further object of the present invention to provide a battery package for thin batteries that is light weight and flexible and which is formed of a nonconductive highly impermeable material. It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a battery package for thin batteries that may be formed with a curved surface geometry. It is a further object of the present invention to provide a novel method for manufacturing a battery package in which a flexible base film is constructed to cover the battery and a flexible layer of an inorganic material such as silicon nitride, aluminum nitride, or aluminum oxide is deposited on the base film to encapsulate and seal the assembly.

Battery package and method using flexible polymer films having a deposited layer of an inorganic material


A process for forming a diamond gas phase synthesized coating film which is easily controlled and affords a high quality, good adhesion strength diamond film includes a step of forming a mixed layer of a plasma spraying material and diamond by simultaneously conducting plasma injection by a plasma spraying, a first torch and plasma CVD by a CVD plasma, second torch to thereby form a mixed layer on the substrate. The first and second torches are structurally distinct and have respective, separately and selectively controlled plasma generation operating conditions.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a coating technique, and more specifically, to a coating technique for a gas phase synthesized diamond film.
Diamond is the hardest material in the world, has a Vicker's hardness of 10,000 and a high Young's modulus and heat conductivity, and a superior wear resistance and chemical stability, and these superior properties of diamond lead to hopes for various applications thereof as a bulk material or as a coating material. For example, a diamond film could be applied as a wear resistant coating, as a speaker diaphragm, and as a transparent coating for an optical component.
2. Description of the Related Art
The synthesizing of diamond under high temperatures and high pressures, and recently, by a gas phase chemical reaction process (CVD), has long been studied.
For example, a technique for a chemical vapor deposition of a diamond film by a plasma CVD of CH.sub.4 gas diluted with H.sub.2 has been proposed. In this process, due to the plasma in the plasma CVD, the H.sub.2 is excited and activated H atoms are produced, which remove the amorphous carbon and carbon deposits other than diamond, leaving only the diamond, and thus enable the growth of a diamond CVD film.
Nevertheless, a gas phase synthesized diamond film in general has a very low adhesion strength, and although attempts have been made to increase the nuclei forming density of diamond and provide carbides and other intermediate layers, to thus improve the adhesion strength, good results have not been obtained.
The present inventors further developed the DC plasma jet CVD process for a high speed gas phase synthesis of diamond (see Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 64-33096), and proposed a process for forming a plasma sprayed film including diamond by supplying metal and ceramic powder into the plasma during the synthesis of diamond in the DC plasma jet CVD process (Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2-22471). In this process, an intermediate layer composed of a plasma spraying material and diamond is formed between the plasma sprayed film and the diamond film, and a high adhesion strength is thus obtained.
FIG. 8 shows an apparatus for the production of a coating film formed of a mixed layer of a plasma spraying material and diamond in accordance with the above process.
The anode 1 surrounds the cathode 2, to thereby form a gas passage 3 for the synthesizing gas, etc. Further, a DC power source 4 is connected between the anode 1 and the cathode 2 and a plasma forming gas, such as a mixed gas of H.sub.2 gas and CH.sub.4 gas, is supplied to the gas passage 3 for the synthesis of diamond. When a DC voltage is applied across the anode 1 and the cathode 2, to produce a DC discharge, a plasma is formed. In FIG. 8, a nozzle 5 for supplying the powder is formed at the tip of the anode 1, and a carrier gas 6 including the plasma spraying powder is supplied from the nozzle 5. The plasma spraying powder is melted in the plasma, is deposited on the surface of the substrate 7, and is solidified to plasma a flame sprayed film.
When Ar or another inert gas is supplied to the gas passage 3 and plasma spraying powder is supplied from the nozzle 5, it is possible to form a plasma sprayed film on the substrate. If powder is not supplied from the nozzle 5 but a diamond synthesis gas is supplied to the gas passage 3, then it is possible to form a diamond film on the substrate. Further, if a diamond synthesis gas is supplied to the gas passage 3 and plasma spraying powder is supplied to the nozzle 5, then the plasma spraying and synthesis of the diamond gas phase are conducted simultaneously, and thus it is possible to form a mixed film of a plasma spraying material and diamond on the substrate.
For example, first a plasma sprayed film 8 comprised of the same material as the substrate, or a material having a good affinity therewith, is formed on the substrate 7, a mixed film 9 of the plasma spraying material and diamond is formed thereover, and a diamond gas phase synthesized film 10 then formed as a top film thereover.
In such a laminated structure, even if, for example, the substrate 7 and diamond film 10 have vastly different thermal expansion coefficients, a diamond film 10 can be formed on the substrate 7 with a good adhesion strength.
Nevertheless, in the conventional process explained above with reference to FIG. 8, the following problems arise:
(1) It is difficult to separately control the conditions for the plasma spraying and diamond synthesis. PA1 (2) During the formation of the mixed layer, the plasma spraying powder is melted in a plasma mainly composed of hydrogen, and thus is adversely affected by the hydrogen. PA1 (3) Since a DC arc discharge is used, the electrode material becomes mixed in the film. PA1 (4) Since a DC arc discharge is used, the discharge is not stable. PA1 (5) The speed of the formation of the diamond film is relatively slow and it is difficult to supply fine amounts of the plasma spraying powder in accordance with same.
A solution to these problems is required.

Process for forming a mixed layer of a plasma sprayed material and diamond


Disclosed is a high temperature fuel cell power generation system that includes a high temperature fuel cell having an anode inlet and exhaust, and a cathode inlet and exhaust. The system also includes a gas separation means operable to recover hydrogen gas from the anode exhaust and to provide at least a portion of such hydrogen gas for recycle to the anode inlet. The system further includes energy recovery means operable to recover energy from the fuel cell exhaust gases and to provide at least a portion of such recovered energy to drive mechanical loads associated with the operation of the gas separation means, wherein a portion of the recovered hydrogen gas is provided for export from the generation system as hydrogen fuel.

Fuel cells provide an environmentally friendly source of electrical current. One type of high temperature fuel cell used for generating electrical power, particularly envisaged for larger scale stationary power generation, is the molten carbonate fuel cell (MCFC). The MCFC includes an anode channel for receiving a flow of hydrogen gas (or a fuel gas which reacts in the anode channel to generate hydrogen by steam reforming and water gas shift reactions), a cathode channel for receiving a flow of oxygen gas, and a porous matrix containing a molten carbonate electrolyte which separates the anode channel from the cathode channel. Oxygen and carbon dioxide in the cathode channel react to form carbonate ions, which cross the electrolyte to react with hydrogen in the anode channel to generate a flow of electrons. As the hydrogen is consumed, carbon monoxide is shifted by steam to generate additional hydrogen. Carbon dioxide and water vapor are produced in the anode channel by oxidation of fuel components, and by reduction of carbonate ions from the electrolyte. Typical operating temperature of molten carbonate fuel cells is about 650° C.
Another type of high temperature fuel cell is the solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC). The SOFC includes an anode channel for receiving a flow of hydrogen gas (or a fuel gas which reacts in the anode channel to generate hydrogen by steam reforming and water gas shift reactions), a cathode channel for receiving a flow of oxygen gas, and a solid electrolyte which is a ceramic membrane conductive to oxygen ions and separates the anode channel from the cathode channel. Oxygen in the cathode channel dissociates to oxygen ions, which cross the electrolyte to react with hydrogen in the anode channel to generate a flow of electrons. As the hydrogen is consumed, carbon monoxide may be oxidized directly or may be shifted by steam to generate additional hydrogen. Carbon dioxide and water vapor are produced in the anode channel by oxidation of fuel components. Typical operating temperature of solid oxide fuel cells is about 500° to about 1000° C.
Except in the rare instance that hydrogen (e.g. recovered from refinery or chemical process off-gases, or else generated from renewable energy by electrolysis of water) is directly available as fuel, hydrogen must be generated from fossil fuels by an appropriate fuel processing system. For stationary power generation, it is preferred to generate hydrogen from natural gas by steam reforming or partial oxidation to produce "syngas" comprising a mixture of hydrogen, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, steam and some unreacted methane. As hydrogen is consumed in the fuel cell anode channel, much of the carbon monoxide reacts with steam by water gas shift to generate more hydrogen and more carbon dioxide. Other carbonaceous feedstocks (e.g. heavier hydrocarbons, coal, or biomass) may also be reacted with oxygen and steam to generate syngas by partial oxidation, gasification or autothermal reforming. The fuel cell may also be operated on hydrogen or syngas that has been generated externally.
A great advantage of MCFC and SOFC systems is that their high operating temperature facilitates close thermal integration between the fuel cell and the fuel processing system. The high temperature also allows the elimination of noble metal catalysts required by lower temperature fuel cells.
Prior art MCFC systems have serious limitations associated with their high temperature operation, and with their inherent need to supply carbon dioxide to the cathode while removing it from the anode. Prior art SOFC systems face even more challenging temperature regimes, and are disadvantaged by the degradation of cell voltages at very high temperatures under conventional operating conditions.
The lower heat of combustion of a fuel usefully defines the energy (enthalpy change of the reaction) that may be generated by oxidizing that fuel. The electrochemical energy that can be generated by an ideal fuel cell is however the free energy change of the reaction, which is smaller than the enthalpy change. The difference between the enthalpy change and the free energy change is the product of the entropy change of the reaction multiplied by the absolute temperature. This difference widens at higher temperatures, so higher temperature fuel cells inherently convert a lower fraction of the fuel energy to electrical power at high efficiency, while a larger fraction of the fuel energy is available only as heat which must be converted to electrical power by a thermodynamic bottoming cycle (e.g. steam or gas turbine plant) at lower efficiency.
Accumulation of reforming reaction products (carbon dioxide and steam) on the fuel cell anode opposes the electrochemical reaction, so that the free energy is reduced. Higher partial pressure of oxygen and carbon dioxide over the cathode, and higher partial pressure of hydrogen over the anode, drive the reaction forward so that the free energy is increased. Unfortunately, the reaction depletes the oxygen and carbon dioxide in the cathode channel and depletes hydrogen in the anode channel while rapidly increasing the backpressure of carbon dioxide in the anode channel. Hence the free energy change is reduced, directly reducing the cell voltage of the fuel stack. This degrades the electrical efficiency of the system, while increasing the heat that must be converted at already lower efficiency by the thermal bottoming cycle.
The free energy change is simply the product of the electromotive force ("E") of the cell and the charge transferred per mole by the reaction ("2F"), where the factor of two reflects the valency of the carbonate ion. The following Nernst relation for a MCFC expresses the above described sensitivity of the electromotive force to the partial pressures of the electrochemical reactants in the anode and cathode channels, where the standard electromotive force ("Eo") is referred to all components at standard conditions and with water as vapor.
  E  =            E      o        -                  RT                  2                    F                                  ln                          [                                                    P                                  H2O                                                        (                    anode                    )                                                              ·                              P                                  CO2                                                        (                    anode                    )                                                                                P                                  H2                                                        (                    anode                    )                                                              ·                              P                                  O2                                                        (                    cathode                    )                                                  0.5                            ·                              P                                  CO2                                                        (                    cathode                    )                                                                                ]
Prior art MCFC systems do not provide any satisfactory solution for this problem which gravely compromises attainable overall efficiency. Despite repeated attempts to devise an effective technology and method to maximize reactant concentrations, and minimize product accumulation in both the anode and cathode circuits that would be compatible with MCFC operating conditions, no such attempt has been adequately successful.
The accepted method for supplying carbon dioxide to the MCFC cathode has been to burn a fraction of the anode exhaust gas (including unreacted hydrogen and other fuel components) to provide carbon dioxide mixed with steam and nitrogen to be mixed with additional air providing oxygen to the cathode. This approach has serious limitations. Even more of the original fuel value is unavailable for relatively efficient electrochemical power generation, in view of additional combustion whose heat can only be absorbed usefully by the thermal bottoming cycle. Also, the oxygen/nitrogen ratio of the cathode gas is even more dilute than ambient air, further reducing cell voltage and hence transferring more power generation load less efficiently onto the thermal bottoming plant.
The following Nernst relation for a SOFC expresses the sensitivity of the electromotive force to the partial pressures of the electrochemical reactants in the anode and cathode channels, with the simplifying assumption that CO is converted by the water gas shift reaction. This sensitivity is of course greatest at the highest working temperatures of SOFC.
  E  =            E      o        -                  RT                  2                    F                                  ln                          [                                    P                              H2O                                                  (                  anode                  )                                                                                P                                  H2                                                        (                    anode                    )                                                              ·                              P                                  O2                                                        (                    cathode                    )                                                  0.5                                              ]
Pressure swing adsorption (PSA) systems are one possibility for providing fuel gases to a fuel cell. PSA systems and vacuum pressure swing adsorption systems (VPSA) separate gas fractions from a gas mixture by coordinating pressure cycling and flow reversals over an adsorber or adsorbent bed which preferentially adsorbs a more readily adsorbed gas component relative to a less readily adsorbed gas component of the mixture. The total pressure of the gas mixture in the adsorber is elevated while the gas mixture is flowing through the adsorber from a first end to a second end thereof, and is reduced while the gas mixture is flowing through the adsorbent from the second end back to the first end. As the PSA cycle is repeated, the less readily adsorbed component is concentrated adjacent the second end of the adsorber, while the more readily adsorbed component is concentrated adjacent the first end of the adsorber. As a result, a "light" product (a gas fraction depleted in the more readily adsorbed component and enriched in the less readily adsorbed component) is delivered from the second end of the adsorber, and a "heavy" product (a gas fraction enriched in the more strongly adsorbed component) is exhausted from the first end of the adsorber.
However, the conventional system for implementing pressure swing adsorption or vacuum pressure swing adsorption uses two or more stationary adsorbers in parallel, with multiple two-way directional valves at each end of each adsorber to connect the adsorbers in alternating sequence to pressure sources and sinks. This system is often cumbersome and expensive to implement due to the large size of the adsorbers and the complexity of the valving required. The valves would not be capable of operation at MCFC working temperatures. Further, the conventional PSA system makes inefficient use of applied energy because of irreversible gas expansion steps as adsorbers are cyclically pressurized and depressurized within the PSA process. Conventional PSA systems are bulky and heavy because of their low cycle frequency and consequent large adsorbent inventory. In addition, prior art PSA and adsorbent technology may not be capable of operation at such high temperature.
Combined cycle power plants with a gas turbine cycle integrated with a fuel cell system have been disclosed. In addition, commonly-assigned PCT Published International Patent Application No. WO 00/16425 provides examples of how PSA units may be integrated with gas turbine power plants, or with fuel cell power plants having a gas turbine auxiliary engine.
A further shortcoming of high temperature fuel cell power plant systems known in the prior art is the inability of such previously known systems to provide means for effective mitigation of "greenhouse" gas and other environmentally deleterious gas emissions resulting from fossil-fuel derived power generation.


A heat transfer pad includes a pad inlet port for feeding a heat transfer fluid to the pad, a pad outlet port for discharging the heat transfer fluid from the pad and a bladder having an internal flowpath for the heat transfer fluid which extends from the pad inlet port to the pad outlet port. The internal flowpath is divided into a first flow channel and a second flow channel through which first and second flow streams of the heat transfer fluid, respectively, flow between the pad inlet and outlet ports. A first flow restrictor is positioned downstream in the first flow channel and a second flow restrictor is correspondingly positioned downstream in the second flow channel and the flow restrictors are configured to create substantial back pressures in the first and second flow channels, respectively.

Bodily injuries and ailments are commonly treated by applying a non-ambient temperature material to the affected region of the body. For example, a low temperature material, typically applied in the form of cold water, ice or a cold pack, may advantageously inhibit swelling in the region of the injury. A high temperature material, typically applied in the form of hot water, a hot pack or an active heating element, may advantageously reduce pain and promote healing. A number of splint devices are known in the art for applying non-ambient temperature materials to injured or otherwise ailing regions of the body as evidenced by U.S. Pat. No. 3,548,819 to Davis et al; U.S. Pat. No. 3,901,225 to Sconce; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,706,658 to Cronin. One disadvantage of such devices is that the low temperature materials become warmer as they remain in contact with the body and the body transfers heat to the low temperature materials. Conversely, high temperature materials become cooler as they transfer heat to the body. This disadvantage can be remedied by periodically replacing the non-ambient temperature materials. However, constant replenishment of these materials is cumbersome and inconvenient, and results in periodic treatment temperature fluctuations.
In response to this problem, a number of systems have been developed for continuously circulating a cooling fluid from a low temperature reservoir to a desired body location. Such systems are typified by U.S. Pat. No. 2,726,658 to Chessey; U.S. Pat. No. 3,683,902 to Artemenko et al; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,962,761 to Golden. These fluid circulation systems in general are relatively complex, rendering them costly to manufacture and maintain, as well as difficult to operate. Accordingly, the systems are not practical for widespread use.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,241,951 to Mason et al. incorporated herein by reference discloses a therapeutic treatment system which rectifies the shortcomings of the above-referenced fluid circulation systems. The therapeutic treatment system of U.S. Pat. No. 5,241,951 is relatively simple, rendering it less costly to manufacture and maintain and enabling greater ease of operation than the prior systems. The therapeutic treatment system of U.S. Pat. No. 5,241,951 is operated by circulating a non-ambient temperature heat transfer fluid through a heat transfer pad. Specific examples of heat transfer pads having utility in the therapeutic treatment system of U.S. Pat. No. 5,241,951 are disclosed in commonly-owned U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,417,720; 5,662,695; D.348,106 and D.345,609 all to Mason et al. and all of which are incorporated herein by reference.
The present invention recognizes the need for improved performance of the heat transfer pad in a non-ambient temperature therapy system such as those described above. Accordingly, it is generally an object of the present invention to provide a non-ambient temperature therapy system having a heat transfer pad exhibiting improved performance. This object and others are achieved in accordance with the invention described hereafter.

Heat transfer pad having localized treatment zones


A biomedical haemostatic powder dispenser (1) by which individual doses of powdered medication that are stored in respective chambers of a rotatable carousel (22) are fluidized for delivery to a targeted treatment site (e.g., a wound in order to stop bleeding). In particular, a squeeze handle (7) is activated (i.e., depressed) so as to cause a blast of gas under pressure to be applied from a gas reservoir (30) to a particular one of the powder-filled chambers of the medication carousel so that a single measured dose of medication is entrained and delivered to the patient. At the same time that the squeeze handle is activated, the medication carousel is rotated so that a different powder-filled chamber is moved within a fluid path between the gas reservoir and an outlet nozzle tube (10) of the dispenser and a kit for dispensing a powder.

At times, it becomes necessary to deliver a powdered medication to a patient undergoing treatment. By way of example, such a powdered medication may be especially useful to create a cushion patch and/or to suppress bleeding at a tissue wound site.
When the powdered medication is stored in a single container, it is often difficult for a healthcare worker to accurately measure the precise dosage to be administered. Consequently, the patient may receive an excess or too little of the medication. Thus, the delivery process may be inconsistent and not easily repeatable. Moreover, a large supply of powdered medication stored in a single container over a long period of time may result in settling and stratification of the powder.
Some devices have been disclosed that are adapted for delivery of material stored in individual cartridges, each cartridge having a single dose of the material to be delivered. The device disclosed in European patent application EP 1 550 713 comprises a multi-cartridge holder arranged cylindrically in the device. However, such device is adapted for delivering genetic material of a very small size into living tissue. Indeed, the powdered material that is to be delivered with such a device is of a size ranging from 0.2 μm to 3 μm, which is thus far away from the specifications of powdered medication, wherein the powder is generally of a size of dozens or hundreds of micrometers. The structure and operation of such device is thus not adapted for delivering powdered medication.
Difficulty may also arise when attempting to accurately deliver a precise dose of powdered medication where the tissue site is not easily accessible, such as in the case when a laparoscopic delivery technique will be employed. Accordingly, it would be desirable to have access to a dispenser by which a precise dose of powdered medication can be accurately and repeatedly delivered to a tissue site requiring treatment.


Non-traumatic immobilization (restrain) stress causes rapid degranulation of rat dura mast cells, as shown both by light and electron microscopy. These morphologic findings were accompanied by elevation of rat mast cell protease cerebrospinal fluid. Mast cell activation due to stress was abolished in animals that had been treated neonatally with capsaicin, indicating that neuropeptides in sensory nerve endings are involved in this response. Complete inhibition was also achieved by pretreating the animals intraperitoneally with antiserum to corticotropin releasing hormone (CRH). Mast cells in the dura were localized close to nerve processes containing substance P, but no CRH-fibers were identified even though these were found close to mast cells elsewhere in the brain, i.e., in the median eminence. This is the first time that stress is shown to activate intracranial mast cells, apparently through the sequential actions of CRH and one or more sensory neuropeptides such as Substance P. These findings suggest that therapy of neuroinflammatory disorders such as stress-induced migraine headaches, can be achieved with blockers of the physiological actions of CRH or inhibitors of CRH production or secretion.

Migraine headaches are known to produce the most intense headaches reported. The pathophysiology of migraine headaches involve vasoconstriction and vasodilation. A variety of stress stimuli, including intense light, noise, anxiety, exertion, extremes of temperature, hormones, exhaustion, infection and trauma result in constriction of extracranial blood vessels. The vasoconstriction is followed by reflexive or sequential vasodilation, which subsequently spreads to intracranial vessels. It is during this latter phase that the patient feels the intense, throbbing headache characteristic of migraines. Increased levels of norepinephrine, serotonin, histamine, and the neuropeptides bradykinin and substance P, in addition to products of tissue anoxia, are considered to be the main endogenous pain producing molecules, accompanied by direct sensory nerve stimulation because of the stretching that accompanies vasoconstriction and dilation.
Mast cells, normal components of connective tissues, are thought to play an important role in the development of migraine headaches (see, e.g., Theoharides, U.S. Pat. No. 5,250,529). Each mast cell contains as many as 500 secretory granules, each storing over 20 different kinds of biochemicals, including histamine, neuropeptide kinins, prostagandims PGP.sub.2, PGD.sub.4, leukotriene C.sub.4, and serotonin which are vasoconstrictive, as well as vasodilatory, vasoactive intestinal polypeptide, tumor necrosis factor and nitric oxide. Degranulation of mast cells, which is defined herein as the release of any or all biochemicals from secretory granules to the local tissue area or circulation, for whatever reason in whatever sequence, occurs in response to interaction of various agents with specific mast cell surface receptors or other binding proteins. The best known of these receptors is the one for immunoglobulin E (IgE). There is also evidence that neurotransmitters such as acetylcholine and neuropeptides, released from neurons, and female sex hormones (estradiol) may also trigger mast cell degranulation through specific receptors, especially in response to stress. Other known triggers include viruses, bacterial toxins, drugs such as aspirin, morphine and curare, radiological contrast media, extremes of temperature, solar radiation, etc. A method of alleviating or preventing a migraine headache comprising the administration of a direct mast cell degranulation blocking agent during the prodromal phase of the migraine and in the absence of an analgesic is the subject of the aforementioned U.S. Pat. No. 5,250,529.
Stress is long known to activate the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and can affect illness, especially autoimmune and neuroinflammatory syndromes. These effects may be mediated both through psychoneuroimmune and neuroendocrine-immune interactions which contribute to inflammation and inflammatory diseases. Stress precipitates or worsens certain neuroinflammatory conditions such as migraines (Theoharides, Prospect. Biol. Med., 26:672 (1983)), and interstitial cystitis (Sant et al., Urol. Clin. North Amer., 21:41-53, (1994)), both of which have been associated with mast cell activation. Mast cells are necessary for the development of allergic and late phase reactions, but may be involved in inflammation as they release numerous cytokines (Galli, N. Eng. J. Med., 328:257 (1993)). Mast cells have also been found in close apposition to neurons and, as noted above, are activated by neuropeptides, as well as by antidromic nerve stimulation in the dura. Moreover, mast cell secretion of histamine occurs after repetitive exposure to odors, after Pavlovian conditioning and in response to isolation stress (Bugajski et al., Agents Actions, 41:C75-76 (1994)). These findings have raised speculations that mast cells may be involved in neuroimmunoendocrine physiology (Stead et al., in Burger et al., eds. Cell to Cell Interaction, Karger, Basel, 1990, pp 170-187) and pathology (Theoharides, Life Sci., 46:607 (1990)).
It is, therefore, an object of this invention to describe the biochemical and anatomical link between stress and the development of migraine headaches, and to provide pharmaceutical means for disrupting this link.

Treatment of stress-induced migraine headache with a corticotropin releasing hormone blocker


A backlight module includes a frame structure, a heat sink, a light source and a light guiding plate. The frame structure includes a cover unit that defines an airgap therein. The heat sink is located below the airgap of the cover unit. The light source directly contacts the heat sink. The light guiding plate is disposed to correspond in position to the light source for receiving light emitted from the light source. The heat sink is located between the light guiding plate and the cover unit.

Backlight modules are commonly utilized in various flat screen displays. A backlight module usually includes a light source, a back plate and a light guiding plate. As the structure of the display becomes ever thinner, the light source generates heat that tends to cause bending of the back plate.
The most common solution presently is adding a heat sink to help conduct and dissipate the heat. However, such design does not dissipate heat efficiently enough to prevent the back plate from bending cause by the heat.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Backlight module and display device having the same


First and second elastic holding members are installed symmetrically with each other on the front face of the escutcheon for receiving the front panel of the car-mounted audio system. The first and second elastic holding members have respectively first and second elastic members projected on the escutcheon. First and second holding rods are respectively formed at top parts of the elastic members. First and second engagement recesses are formed on both side faces of the front panel at corresponding positions to the first and second holding rods. By an operation for pushing the front panel onto the escutcheon, the first and second elastic members are hooked in the first and second engagement recesses while the first and second elastic members have elastic restoring forces working toward each other, and thereby the front panel is mounted onto the escutcheon.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a panel detaching apparatus for a car-mounted audio system, and more particularly, to a panel detaching apparatus for a car-mounted audio system capable of detaching a panel installed in a front face of the car-mounted audio system from the car-mounted audio system body for preventing the car-mounted audio system from being stolen.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Recently developed audio devices are generally compact. Especially, audio devices installed in a car or the like must be compact and thin due to the space limitations. The panel installed in the front side of the audio device comprises a liquid crystal display (hereinafter, referred as LCD) to display information about the operation of the audio device, function knobs to indicate the operation, a recording medium inserting slot, and the like. When a driver leaves his or her car installed with the car audio having the panel, and to insure that the audio equipments cannot be used without the panel if stolen to thereby discourage possible theft by detaching the panel from the escutcheon, several devices have been proposed.
In the appended figures, FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a conventional panel detaching apparatus for a car-mounted audio system.
An escutcheon 10 for receiving a front panel 20 is formed at the front of car audio system body.
First engagement holes or recesses 24 are formed at one side part of the front panel 20. A hook assembly 50 for hooking the side part of the front panel 20 is installed in corresponding position of a back face of the escutcheon 10. The front panel is received in the escutcheon 10.
The hook assembly 50 has a longitudinal shaft 52 of which both ends are fixed at one side wall of the escutcheon 10 so that the hook assembly 50 can be rotatable on its longitudinal shaft 52. The hook assembly 50 has a rotating piece 58 and first hooked projectors 54 integrally extended from the longitudinal shaft 52. When the rotating piece 58 is pressed by an ejecting knob 60, the hook assembly 50 is rotated integrally with the rotating piece 58, and then the first hooked projectors 54 are rotated to be released from the first engagement holes 24 of the front panel 20. A restoring spring 56 installed on the top of the hook assembly 50 serves to restore the hook assembly 50 so that the first hooked projectors 54 return to hook the first engagement holes 24.
At the other side part of the escutcheon 10 is formed a hinge member 40. Second top and bottom projectors 41, 42 project downwardly on the top part of the hinge member 40 and upwardly on the bottom part of the hinge member 40. An insertion groove 12 is formed at a central face of the other side part of the escutcheon 10. A second longitudinal hooking groove 26 is installed in the corresponding side part of the front panel 20 such that the second longitudinal hooking groove 26 can be caught by the second projectors 42 projecting on the top and bottom parts of the hinge member 40. An insertion projecting part 22 is installed in the corresponding side part of the front panel such that the insertion projecting part 22 can be inserted into the insertion groove 12.
An elastic member 30 is installed on the desired position of the front face of the escutcheon 10 for elastically pushing the front panel 20.
Hereinafter, an operation of the conventional panel detaching apparatus for a car-mounted audio system will be described.
In order to mount the front panel 20 onto the escutcheon 10, an operator catches the second projectors 42 of the hinge member 40 of the escutcheon 10 with the second longitudinal hooking groove 26, and he inserts the insertion projecting part 22 of the front panel 20 into the insertion groove 12. Thereby, one side of the front panel 20 and one side of the escutcheon 10 are connected with each other.
Thereafter, he pushes the front panel 20 toward the escutcheon 10, and the front panel 20 is turned toward the escutcheon 10 about the rotating axis of the hinge member until the first hooked projector 54 fastens the first engagement holes 24.
When the front panel 20 has been mounted at the escutcheon 10, An elastic member 30 installed on the front face of the escutcheon 10 elastically keeps pushing the front panel 20.
In this state, it becomes possible to operate the car-mounted audio system by pressing plural operation knobs installed at the front panel 20.
In order to detach the front panel 20 from the escutcheon 10, an operator presses the ejecting knob 60 installed in the front face of the escutcheon 10, and the rotating piece 58 of the hook assembly 50 is rotated, and then the first hooked projectors 54 are rotated to be released from the first engagement holes 24 of the front panel 20.
Due to the elastic member 30 which is installed on the front face of the escutcheon 10 and elastically keeps pushing the front panel 20, the front panel 20 is rotated about the hinge member 40. Thus, the first engagement holes 24 of the rotated front panel 20 are released from the first hooked projectors 54 of the escutcheon 10.
In this way, the front panel 20 is detached from the escutcheon 10.
According to the conventional panel detaching apparatus for car-mounted audio system, in order to mount the front panel 20 onto the escutcheon 10, an operator must catch the second projectors 42 of the hinge member 40 of the escutcheon 10 with the second longitudinal hooking groove 26, and he must insert the insertion projecting part 22 of the front panel 20 into the insertion groove 12, and thereby one side of the front panel 20 and one side of the escutcheon 10 are connected with each other. Thereafter, he must have the front panel 20 to be rotated toward the escutcheon 10 about the rotating axis of the hinge member until the first hooked projector 54 fastens the first engagement holes 24.
Accordingly, since the operator of the car-mounted audio system must go through the above mentioned order to mount the front panel 20 onto the escutcheon 10, the method for mounting the front panel onto escutcheon is somewhat difficult.

Panel detaching apparatus for car-mounted audio system


A handheld stylus having an elongated housing, a writing and drawing implement disposed within the housing and including a tip extending through an opening at an end of the housing where ultrasonic waves radiate therefrom and are used for determining a position of the stylus; and at least one ultrasonic transducer disposed within the housing. The transducer may be a cylindrical piezoelectric transducer having a holder and a cylindrical piezoelectric film spanning between at least two spaced apart cylindrical surfaces of the holder, or a flat transducer having a diaphragm, and a piezoelectric material disposed on a surface of the diaphragm.

Communications between an ultrasonic transducer mounted or positioned on a movable stylus (such as a movable pen) and other remotely located transducers (for example, transducers fixed at remote positions from the stylus) make it possible to determine the position of the pen and ultimately to reproduce information associated with stylus movement. The digital information associated with the stylus position might be used for drawings, maps, or pictorial illustrations, as well as for e-mail, sending of facsimiles, document creations, document and file creation reproduction (in combination with a word processor), or input devices for computer games, for example.
It is known that a piezoelectric film (e.g. PVDF film) wrapped around a cylindrical surface may be configured as an ultrasonic acoustic transducer. In the case where the transducer in U.S. Pat. No. 6,239,535 entitled "Omni-directional Ultrasound Transducer Apparatus" issued May 29, 2001 having a controlled frequency response operates as a transmitter, an acoustic wave is excited by an applied voltage and radiated in a radial direction. In the case of a receiver, radial waves incident onto the ultrasonic device are received and converted to voltage signals. The basic principle of operation of such transducers is that the film length in the molecular chain direction (i.e. machined direction) varies by applied voltage (or length variation by applied force induces voltage). The film in the machined direction is curved to form a cylinder so that the radius varies by an applied voltage to excite an acoustic wave. In the case of a receiver, an incoming acoustic pressure induces a change of radius and length in the arcuated direction to generate a voltage signal. Such a device is disclosed in commonly assigned U.S. Pat. No. 6,239,535 issued to Toda, et al. and incorporated herein by reference. In the case of a transmitter, an AC signal applied to the film electrodes causes a corresponding acoustic wave to be emitted from the transducer.
The main acoustic beam direction of the above mentioned device is perpendicular to the axis of the cylinder on which the piezoelectric film is wrapped. In the case of an ultrasonic pen or stylus, the cylindrical ultrasonic transducer is mounted or positioned on a movable stylus such as a movable pen and other remotely located transducers (for example, transducers fixed at remote positions from the stylus) receive signals emanating from the mounted transducer as the stylus moves, making it possible (via triangulation, for example) to determine the position of the pen and ultimately to reproduce information associated with stylus movement. The position of the cylindrical film should be slightly higher than the tip of the pen because the height of the cylinder is typically 3–5 millimeters (mm) for a 80 KHz design and doubles for a 40 KHz design. The ultrasonic wave radiates from the center of the cylinder and the center of radiation is several millimeters above the pen tip. When the position of the pen tip is fixed on a point of the writing surface and the angle of pen is varied, the effective position of the cylindrical transducer moves, and false information is transmitted because the system is designed to detect the absolute position of the transducer. Therefore, during writing or using of the pen, a person has to hold the pen at an exact, constant angle in order for the system to work as designed with maximum accuracy. Moreover, such transducers have been typically mounted externally on the pen, which causes additional problems for both the user, who must hold the stylus, and for the signal detection/transmission circuitry. Structures disposed about the outer surface of the stylus in a ring-like manner and placement of the structure at or substantially near the location of the stylus tip interfere with the user's ability to adequately grasp or hold the stylus. In addition, such location operates as an obstruction to the user's viewing of the information as it is being written. Accordingly, a need exists to provide an improved transducer apparatus mountable within a stylus for transmitting acoustic signals.
It is to be understood that these drawings are solely for purposes of illustrating the concepts of the invention and are not intended as a level of the limits of the invention. It will be appreciated that the same reference numerals, possibly supplemented with reference characters where appropriate, have been used throughout to identify corresponding parts.

Handheld device having ultrasonic transducer for axial transmission of acoustic signals


A method for making a plate-like fiber-reinforced product to be used as building or packing material, the method comprising: placing fibers on a lower laminate; applying a binding agent on the fibers so that the fibers are surrounded by the binding agent; transferring the fibers with binding agent between the lower laminate and an upper laminate between lower and upper rotating pressing plates; allowing the binding agent to foam up, expand and harden between the upper and lower pressing plates. A manufacturing apparatus and a plate-like product are also indicated.

The invention relates to a method and an apparatus for making a plate-like fibre-reinforced composite product to be used as building or packing material. The invention also relates to a similar plate-like fibre reinforced composite product.
More particularly, the invention relates to a method for making a plate-like fibre-reinforced composite product to be used as building or packing material, the method comprising: placing fibres on a lower laminate, applying a foaming hardening binding agent in liquid form on the fibres so that the fibres are surrounded by the binding agent, transferring the fibres with binding agent between the lower laminate and an upper laminate between lower and upper pressing plates arranged to rotate endlessly on the upper, respectively the lower, side of the fibres with the binding agent so that the fibres with the binding agent are transferred by means of the rotation speed of the pressing plates, and allowing the binding agent to foam up, expand and harden between the upper and lower pressing plates
More particularly, the present invention also relates to an apparatus for making a plate-like fibre-reinforced composite product to be used as building or packing material, the apparatus comprising an inlet end for receiving fibres surrounded by binding agent, an outlet end for providing the plate-like fibre-reinforced composite product manufactured in the apparatus, an upper endlessly rotating belt comprising a plurality of upper pressing plates, which controlled by at least two elongated control elements extending in the longitudinal direction of the apparatus are arranged to move on an upper end-less track, and a lower endlessly rotating belt comprising a plurality of lower pressing plates, which controlled by at least two elongated control elements extending in the longitudinal direction of the apparatus are arranged to move on a lower endless track, whereby the upper pressing plates within an area of the upper endless track are arranged on a first substantially flat plane and the lower pressing plates within an area of the lower endless track are arranged on a second substantially flat plane, which is parallel to the first flat plane, whereby the upper and lower pressing plates within the area are arranged to transfer the fibres surrounded by the binding agent between them, feed means for feeding an upper laminate and a lower laminate in said area, the upper laminate is arranged to be supported in said area against the upper pressing plates and to move at the same speed as the upper pressing plates, and the lower laminate is arranged to be supported in said area against the lower pressing plates and to move at the same speed as the lower pressing plates,
More precisely, the present invention further relates to a plate-like fibre-reinforced composite product comprising fibres surrounded by a binding agent to be used as building or packing material.
Fibre-reinforced plate-like composite products to be used as building or packing material are known in the art. They may be provided with a protective cover, which in some cases simultaneously provide the product with a more pleasant appearance.
The problem with known fibre-reinforced composite products is that the manufacture thereof is complicated. They are also easily affected by moisture and variation in temperature, which may result in that the form of the products changes. The manufacturing methods, which are known in this connection, require considerable capital investments as well as an extensive production volume. In addition, the final product, i.e. the fibre-reinforced composite product, is subjected to excessive moisture fluctuation. An example of a known method for making fibre-reinforced composite products, such as chipboards, is the manufacture using a double belt press. The double belt press is a huge apparatus in which high-pressures, typically about 30 bar, and high temperatures, typically ranging between 150 and 200 degrees Celsius, are used. The investment costs as well as the operating costs of such an apparatus are considerable. In addition, the apparatus requires a lot of space.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,089,189 discloses a method and an apparatus for making plate-like composite products. The method and apparatus are complicated and they do not allow manufacturing economically profitably a thicker composite product that is suitable to be used as building or packing material.

Method and apparatus for making plate-like fiber-reinforced products


A digital-imaging based system reads graphical indicia, including code symbols, on objects such as, but not limited to, code symbol menus by the user pointing his or her finger at the particular code symbol on the code symbol menu to be read, while digital images of the code symbol menu and the pointing finger are automatically captured, buffered and processed.

Field
The present disclosure relates to digital imaging systems having a mode of intelligently processing digital images of one-dimensional (1D) and two-dimensional (2D) bar code symbols, to perform advanced system functions and meet demanding end-user application requirements particularly at point of sale (POS) environments.
Brief Description of the State of the Art
There is a growing need to scan bar code menus in various application environments.
For example, the use of bar code menus can be found in the receiving area of a supermarket. There, soda vendors provide a sheet/menu of product bar codes which the receiver must scan to enter a product into inventory. Each bar code must be scanned individually, and often not, all the bar codes on the sheet need to be scanned.
Typically, laser based bar code scanners generate a narrow plane of light which helps the user point to and aim at the bar code of interest on a bar code menu. However, digital imaging based products typically capture an entire page of bar codes on the menu, within a single digital image, making it uncertain which bar code(s) should be scanned for application at hand, based on the intentions of the user.
Currently, the only solution to this problem is to analyze a narrow region of interest (ROI) within the center of captured digital image of the bar code menu. Typically, this is achieved using a targeting scheme which assists the user to center the bar code of interest within the center of the field of view of the digital imager. This technique requires coordination of the narrow light beam with the bar code intended to be read, which can be difficult and time consuming when multiple bar codes must be read from same bar code menu.
Thus, there is a great need in the art for an improved method of and apparatus for reading bar code symbols on objects, such as bar code symbol menus, using digital image capture and processing techniques which avoid the shortcomings and drawbacks of prior art apparatus and methodologies.


Embodiments of the invention include systems and methods that enable the association and aggregation of consumer data gathered from online and offline sources. In particular, several embodiments are directed to linking consumer data in a data source controlled by an entity (e.g., such as a company's CRM (customer relationship management) database) to offline data sources such as demographic data, and/or online data sources such as online interaction data. The linking may be based on several identifiers (IDs) associated with the data sources. The systems and methods disclosed herein thus facilitate the association of these disparate data sources and enable various entities to better tailor interactions with the consumers. In other embodiments, a shared cookie data management system and method is disclosed. The shared cookie serves as a vehicle through which entities can selectively share consumer information with other entities in a system with uniform format and technical infrastructure.

1. Field
This disclosure relates in general to computer data processing, and in particular to computing systems and methods for coalescing and sharing of consumer data.
2. Description of the Related Art
Content providers often customize their content to consumers. For example, internet websites often customize content in order to increase their conversion rate, which measures the percentage of visitors taking affirmative actions to further engage the sites, such as by signing up for accounts or making purchases. As another example, many content providers implement an account login system that requests demographic information from consumers when they sign up, and uses such information to tailor content to the consumers. An e-commerce site may, for example, display different products based on the visitor's age and gender in order to increase sales. Similarly, on-line advertising networks may customize advertisements based on insights gained from tracking cookies stored on visitors' computers that monitor their browsing histories. The tailoring of content such as advertisements could lead to increased sales.

Systems and methods for processing consumer information for targeted marketing applications


A new and distinct variety of plum tree which has been denominated varietally as `Sir George` which is distinguished by producing uniformly large fruit of a semi-globular form, which has a distinct flavor and which is mature for harvesting and shipment approximately the fourth week of July.

The present invention relates to a new and novel variety of plum tree (Prunus salicina), which will hereinafter be denominated varietally as the `Sir George` plum tree, and more particularly to a plum tree which produces a firm, uniformly large fruit having a distinct flavor, and which is mature for commercially harvesting and shipment approximately the last week of July under the ecological conditions prevailing in the San Joaquin Valley of Central California.
The commercial appeal of a given variety of tree fruit may be based upon one or more attributes. Characteristically, commercially successful tree fruit possess noteworthy attributes in several significant categories: flavor, keeping quality, size, shape and skin coloration. The relative importance of these categories are readily evident. However, in reality, the very nature of the evaluation in several key areas renders an overall evaluation of a selected variety, in most cases, somewhat subjective to some degree. Thus, for example, the appeal of the flavor of a given tree fruit may largely be dependent upon personal preferences.
As a consequence, distinctive attributes in the more objective categories such as size, shape and skin coloration are often very important to the commercial success of tree fruit. In this regard, typically the larger the size of the fruit, the greater the commercial appeal. The same may be said of tree fruit having a uniformly distinctive shape and an intense skin coloration. As a general matter, it is unusual to find a variety of tree fruit possessing exemplary attributes in a number of these more objective categories.