The present invention relates to melting plate candles which employ heat conductive elements to distribute heat from a burning flame at a wick to a support plate for a solid fuel and to the body of said solid fuel, so as to more rapidly liquify the solid fuel, such as paraffin wax, and to more uniformly and intensely heat such fuels to increase the efficiency of consumption thereof and to more rapidly release volatile materials contained within said fuels. The heat conductive support plate is configured so as to have a capillary lobe upon the surface thereof, which cooperatively engages a wick holder comprising a preferably consumable wick and heat conductive fins which conduct heat from a flame upon said wick to said support plate, said wick holder further engaging said solid fuel, and said support plate being configured so as to cause the flow of liquified fuel to the wick holder. The fuel may be provided in various forms, configured to cooperatively engage said wick holder and support plate, and may comprise various volatile materials. The capillary lobe, in conjunction with the wick holder, causes rapid and complete flow of the liquefied fuel to said wick.

The present invention relates to means to provide an improved fuel burning element, such as a candle or lamp, which consumes fuel more efficiently while presenting an improved means for distribution of volatile materials, while also providing an improved degree of safety while burning, and a candle holder which requires little or no cleaning to remove wax residue. The candles or lamps of the present invention comprise a solid fuel element located on a melting plate, a preferably consumable wick, and heat conductive means in the wick holder to transfer heat from the burning fuel, i.e. the flame, to the remaining fuel, thereby assuring its more rapid and complete melting, and both control and uniformity of the temperature of the melted pool of fuel. The melting plate incorporates a capillary lobe which cooperatively engages either or both of the wick holder and the fuel element in such a manner as to assure exact placement of both at the best position on the melting plate, while creating a capillary effect to feed melted fuel to the wick for efficient consumption. Such a configuration has been found to provide improved means to control the transfer of heat generated by a candle flame, and to provide an improved degree of safety for the burning of candles, such as votive candles. Specifically, the preferred embodiment of the present invention comprises the use of a capillary lobe at or near the center of the melting plate of a melting plate candle, said capillary lobe cooperatively engaging a complimentarily shaped wick holder having a heat conductive fin. By virtue of this combination of capillary lobe and cooperative wick holder, applicants have provided a candle in which the flame of the candle remains essentially at the same height, relative to the surface upon which the candle holder is placed.
Ordinary candles comprise a vertical, self-supporting body or column of wax, with a substantially horizontal top and a central longitudinal wick which extends through and above the wax. The exposed portion of the wick above the solid wax is lighted by a flame, and the heat generated by the flame melts a small volume of the wax at the top of the candle, adjacent the wick, establishing a puddle or reservoir of molten wax to serve as fuel for the flame on the wick, and to release any volatile actives present therein. The capillary attraction of the molten wax and the wick, which is generally a structure of closely related fibers, causes the molten wax to travel through the wick to the flame, by which it is consumed. As the wax is consumed in this manner, the body of wax diminishes and the top surface thereof progressively lowers. The upper portion of the wick, extending above the lowering wax, is generally consumed by the flame. The flame in such a candle remains in the same position relative to height, from the start to the end of the burn, at which time all of the wax has been consumed.
Also well known are such candles as votive candles and tea lights. For purpose of discussion, tea lights shall be considered to be relatively small candles in which a body of paraffin is located in a container, having a wick centrally disposed, while votive candles shall be considered to be candles of similar size provided without a container. At the lower end of the wick is typically found a wick clip having a flat horizontal bottom surface, which functions to retain the wick in its perpendicular position, even as the paraffin is melted and liquified by the heat of the flame. In most such votive candles and tea lights, the wick is a cotton material saturated with paraffin, and burns with the paraffin, thus being consumable. In such candles, or lights or warmers employing the same, the visible flame moves lower, or closer to the bottom surface of the container as the fuel and wick are consumed, down to the level of the bottom of the wick. Further, after consumption of all of the wax above this point in the unit, the container (of the tea light), the unburned wax, and the wick clip remain to be disposed of by the consumer. As a safety consideration in such candles, the wick is normally crimped or terminated at a point about 0.25 inches above the bottom of the wax, so as to cause the flame to extinguish above the bottom of the container, and to thus prevent the heat of the flame from reaching the surface upon which the candle is positioned, preventing damage to such surface, and reducing the likelihood of igniting possible contaminants such as burnt matchsticks remaining at the bottom of the candle, or carbonaceous remains of the consumable wick. Such an arrangement also has the detriment of leaving a small volume of unburned wax in the bottom of the container when the flame extinguishes.
Similarly, liquid fuel lamps are known in which a wick is supported with one end suspended in a reservoir of liquid fuel, such as lamp oil. By capillary action, the liquid fuel rises through the wick to the upper end thereof, where it is subjected to consumption by a flame. As fuel is consumed by the flame, additional fuel rises through the wick by capillary action to feed and maintain the flame. Permanent, or non-consumable, wicks are most frequently employed for this type of lamp.
In U.S. Pat. No. 4,557,687, Schirneker teaches a fuel element comprising a shell-like elongated housing in which a supply of fuel may be placed, with a non-consumable wick immersed in the fuel supply with its upper portion protruding from the top of the housing. When the fuel is a solid fuel, such as paraffin, the wick must conduct heat into the housing of the fuel in the area of the immersed wick to thereby melt the solid fuel so as to provide sufficient amounts of molten paraffin to be drawn up in the wick. Such conductivity may be obtained by means of a piece of metal embedded in the wick. The purpose of the fuel element is to provide a simulated log for a fireplace which does not require a chimney.
Neil, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,206,500, teaches a candle having a metal stiffener which fits within the wick. The stiffener is supported by a flat base portion large enough to render the wick free-standing by supporting the weight of the nonconsumable wick.
In U.S. Pat. No. 3,741,711, Bryant teaches a composite decorative candle formed of clear, undyed and unpigmented candle wax in any appropriate candle shape, provided with a centrally recessed glass cylinder into which a replaceable small candle may be placed. Thus, the decorative outer candle may have a refill unit, such as a votive candle or tea light, placed therein to provide indefinite reusability. If the outer candle body comprises surface ornamentation, a luminescent glow through the candle body results when the inner candle is burned, and the outer candle is not consumed.
U.S. Pat. No.3,910,753, of Lee, discloses a wax burner comprising a vessel having a heat conducting metal heat sink surrounding and supporting a wick which projects upwardly, and has a heat conductive metal core means conducting heat into the heat sink, which acts as a wax melting surface. The wax burner may be fueled by paraffin wax or other suitable solid fuel, which may be added to the melting surface as required. The burner may constitute one or more units. In Lee, however, the fuel is neither supported nor contained by the heat sink, which is configured much like a spool, with upper and lower flanges, or upper and lower flat horizontal surfaces. The upper flange or upper surface acts as a heating surface, while the lower flange serves as a base for the heat sink, engaging the bottom surface of the burner vessel. Slots in the vertical surface of the heat sink provide means for the wax, melted by the heat sink, to flow from the exterior surface thereof to the internally located wick. Since the wick structure of the patent includes a metal core and a heat conductive metal sleeve about the wick, the wick structure is an integral portion of the heat sink of the burner assembly, is non-consumable, and requires priming with wax prior to its first use. In use, solid wax is added to the heating surface, and replenished as necessary, or the entire vessel may be filled with wax. It is to be noted that the vessel itself is not used to conduct heat to the fuel, but only to contain it, and that a separate heat transfer system, i.e. the heat sink structure, which is independent of and distinct from the heat radiated by the flame itself, is utilized to achieve burning of the wax fuel. Even with this added heat transfer mechanism to assist in melting of the fuel, complete utilization of all of the fuel in the vessel is unachievable, even when the burner is permitted to burn to self-extinction, in view of the relative positioning of the lower flange and the wax conducting means of the heat sink (i.e. slots in the vertical surface thereof, above the lower flange).
In U.S. Pat. No. 2,713,256, Oesterle et al teach a votive candle having a wick extending downward in the bottom of the candle into a tapered central body projection, where said wick engages an adapter inserted into a cup provided to hold the votive. The adapter is provided with means to support the wick of the candle until the candle has completely burnt out, thereby leaving no wax or wick residue in the cup, enabling a new candle to be inserted into the cup without removal of the adapter. The adapter does not function to provide a more even or uniform burning of the candle, but merely to provide a proper positioning of the votive candle. When placed over the adapter, and the upwardly directed tube thereof, the flame on the wick comes into contact with a wicking material retained in the base of the tube, so as to ignite such wicking and assure that all of the melted wax is burned, thus leaving a clean cup containing no remains of the previous candle when a new candle is put in place.
European Patent Application EP 1 054 054 A1, published Nov. 22, 2000, teaches a candle having a wick holder assembly for candles to be used on a supporting surface, wherein the wick holder provides enhanced control over heat transfer form the flame to the supporting surface upon which the candle rests. In this patent, the object of the wick holder assembly is to dissipate heat from the flame away from the support surface, essentially the opposite of the goal of the present invention.
A number of additional patents teach the use of heat conductive elements to liquify solid fuel for consumption at a wick, or to dispense an element such as a fragrance or insect control material. These include U.S. Pat. No. 5,078,591 of Despres; U.S. Pat. No. 4,755,135 of Kwok; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,425,633 of Cole; as well as PCT Application WO 89/06141, assigned to Lamplight Farms, Inc. In addition, numerous patents teach various modifications of candles, but fail to teach the combination set forth in the present invention.
The present invention provides a candle or lamp device capable of rapidly and completely melting a solid fuel to form a large liquid pool, thereby improving distribution of any volatile materials present in the fuel, and ensuring efficient and complete utilization of all of the fuel provided, while providing increased safety and convenient refilling. Further, the concept of the present invention offers highly decorative as well as functional candles and lamps, which may utilize a variety of gel and solid fuels, with the significant advantages of permitting rapid and convenient replacement of one fuel element by another at the whim of the consumer, without the need to clean or scrape the container in which said candle is utilized to remove a body of unburned fuel after the fuel element has been consumed.


Roughly described, signal propagation delay values are estimated for a plurality of interconnects in a circuit design. For each interconnect, the propagation delay value(s) are estimated in dependence upon a preliminary approximate determination of whether the signal propagation delay is dominated more by an interconnect capacitance term or by an interconnect capacitance and resistance product term. If it is dominated more by the interconnect capacitance term, then the parameter values used for a minimum propagation delay calculation are obtained assuming a smallest capacitance process variation case and the parameter values used for a maximum propagation delay calculation are obtained assuming a largest capacitance process variation case. If the signal propagation delay is dominated more by the interconnect capacitance and resistance product term, then the opposite assumptions are made. Preferably the approximate determination is made by comparing Rint to k*Rd.

The present invention relates to integrated circuit simulation technology, and more particularly to analysis of the timing of signal propagation.
Because of the long time required and the large expense involved for fabricating test versions of integrated circuits, it has become commonplace to simulate the operation of circuit designs as thoroughly as possible before fabricating a prototype. In this way corrections can be made before the time and expense of prototype fabrication is incurred. One parameter that is typically tested in these simulations is the propagation delay, from the output of a source node to the input of a destination node. Typically it is required that the propagation time must be short enough such that when added to the setup time requirement of the destination node, a signal asserted at the source node will reach the destination node soon enough to be stable when required by the destination node. The propagation time also must be long enough such that when added to the hold time requirement of the destination node, the release of a signal at the source node will not reach the destination node too early.
Process variations in semiconductor manufacturing have become critical factors to consider for circuit designs, especially as the device feature size shrinks into nanometer scale. Product yield is at increasing risk unless process variations and their impacts are properly modeled in the simulations. One area of process variations concerns metal interconnects. It has been found that the metal wire cross-section (height and width), as well as the spacing between adjacent metal lines, may vary by more than 10% from location to location on a single wafer and from wafer to wafer, leading to more than 20% fluctuation in resistance (R) and capacitance (C) relative to their nominal values. The values of R and C for an interconnect largely determine the signal propagation time from a source node to a destination node, so the uncertainty in R and C results in uncertainty in the propagation time. A product therefore may fail in timing if the large uncertainty in R and C is not properly taken into account when calculating propagation delays.
The uncertainties in resistance and capacitance can be taken into account during simulations by ensuring that the maximum propagation time in a particular interconnect is short enough such that when added to the setup time requirement of the destination node, a signal asserted at the source node will reach the destination node soon enough to be stable when required by the destination node; and that the minimum propagation time in the interconnect is long enough such that the release of a signal at the source node will not reach the destination node before the hold time requirement of the destination node expires. Thus it becomes important to know the minimum and maximum possible propagation times for each interconnect under study. One cannot determine these absolutely, of course, because there will always be a small possibility of particular set of conditions in which signals propagate slightly faster or slightly more slowly. Usually some practical definition of "minimum" and "maximum" is adopted.
One common method for determining the minimum and maximum propagation times for an interconnect is to assume that the whole design is either under the "best case" or "worst case" for capacitance (C), or for the product of resistance and capacitance (RC). This practice may give rise to misleading results for two reasons. First, R and C variations are often correlated: a particular interconnect that turns out on fabrication to exhibit better capacitance performance, also tends to exhibit worse resistance performance, and vice-versa. Second, the circuit responses to variations in R or C often depend on the driving strength of the source and the R and C values themselves.
For instance, propagation delays are sometimes assumed to be shortest when the C value is the smallest. But a variation in which C is smallest is often the same variation that exhibits the largest value for R, which typically would be assumed to yield the longest propagation delay. One therefore cannot generalize that a device in which a particular interconnect has a capacitance at the small end of the range of possible capacitances, or a resistance*capacitance product at the small end of the range of possible such products, yields the shortest propagation delays. Nor can one generalize that a device in which a particular interconnect has a capacitance at the large end of the range of possible capacitances, or a resistance*capacitance product at the high end of the range of possible products, yields the longest propagation delay for the particular interconnect. Furthermore, it can be seen that if the entire design is analyzed using "best case" capacitances, conditions may be such that one individual interconnect may exhibit the shortest propagation delay while another individual interconnect may exhibit the longest propagation delay. If the two interconnects happen to be in the same delay path (e.g. in a chain of several drivers interconnected by metal wires), one would not be able to assert whether the overall path delay is the shortest or longest. Consequently, one does not know whether the delay path satisfies the timing requirements for the design to meet product specifications.
Therefore, there is a need to assess the effects on interconnect signal propagation delay caused by different process variations, more accurately than is possible using existing methods.

Method for determining best and worst cases for interconnects in timing analysis


An exemplary display device (2) includes a display module (25), a base (21), and a pivot mechanism (23) for pivoting the display module to the base. The pivot mechanism includes a frame portion (232) fixed to the display module and a pivot axle (231) fixed to the base. The frame portion is pivoted on the pivot axle. Because the frame portion fixed with the display module is pivoted on the pivot axle fixed on the base, the display module can be rotated around the base. Moreover, the pivot mechanism is compactly disposed where the display module connects with the base. Therefore the overall configuration of the display device is compact.

Display devices have been widely applied to various electronic equipment in which messages or pictures need to be displayed, such as notebook computers and personal computers. Because a typical display device has an optimal viewing angle, it is desirable that the display device can be inclined forward or backward to attain the optimal viewing angle for any particular user.
Referring to FIG. 9, a conventional display device 1 includes a base 11, a pivot mechanism 12, and a display module 13. The base 11 includes a pair of symmetrical first supporting stands 110, each of which has a lock axle 111 for pivoting the display module 13 to the first supporting stands 110. The pivot mechanism 12 includes a first pin 120, a bolt 121, a supporting shelf 123, and a second supporting stand 124. The supporting shelf 123 has a hole 125. The supporting shelf 123 is pivoted on the second supporting stand 124 by means of engagement of the first pin 120 in the hole 125. The display module 13 has a second pin 130. The bolt 121 is pivotably attached with the second pin 130 through the supporting shelf 123.
Referring also to FIG. 10, when the bolt 121 is rotated by a user, the pivot junction of the bolt 121 and the second pin 130 pushes the second pin 130 forward. Simultaneously, the supporting shelf 123 is slightly rotated about the first pin 120 and thus the second supporting stand 124. Accordingly, the display module 13 is rotated forward about the lock axle 111. When the bolt 121 is rotated and screwed into the supporting shelf 123, the display module 13 is rotated forward. When the bolt 121 is screwed out from the supporting shelf 123, the display module 13 is rotated backward.
However, the display module 13 is rotated about the base 11 by means of manually rotating the bolt 121, which is in an unduly laborious and inconvenient operation. Moreover, because the pivot mechanism 12 is a separate assembly located outside the display device 1, a total volume occupied by the display device 1 is in effect increased.
Therefore, a new display device that can overcome the above-described problems is desired.


A condition handover cancellation method and a communication equipment are provided. A CHO cancellation method applied to a source network side device includes: sending a CHO request to at least one target network side device; and sending a CHO cancellation message to the target network side device and/or a terminal side device.

In a condition handover (condition handover, CHO) scenario of the 5th generation mobile communication technology (5th-Generation, 5G) system, as shown in FIG. 1, a source base station can report a CHO request to a target base station according to a measurement report of a user equipment (User Equipment, UE), and the target base station will feed back a confirmation for the CHO request. After the source base station receives the CHO response, the source base station can send a CHO command to the UE. The CHO command includes the conditions under which the UE can perform a CHO to the target base station. If the UE determines that the measurement conditions meet the CHO condition, the CHO is triggered, synchronization and random access channel (Random Access Channel, RACH) messages are sent to the target base station, and a CHO confirmation message is sent to the target base station. The target base station sends a CHO completion message to the source base station, then the CHO is completed.
However, the prior art has not yet specified how to cancel the CHO after the source base station initiates the CHO request.

Condition handover cancellation method and communication equipment


A liquid crystal compound of Formula (I) is provided.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a liquid crystal compound, and more particularly to a liquid crystal compound containing piperazine.
2. Description of the Related Art
Liquid crystals possess dielectric and optical anisotropy, superior molecule alignment and fluidity. When stimulated by light, heat, of an electric field or magnetic field, molecule alignments of liquid crystals are easily altered to form contrast or specific optical effects. A display fabricated thereby possesses a light weight, portability, fine size and low power consumption. Thus, recently, liquid crystals have become a popular display medium for various portable electric and information products, such as digital watches, calculator and automotive instrument panels, twisted nematic (TN) LCDs, super twisted nematic (STN) LCDs, notebook computers, optical grating of components of projectors and memory cells of printers.
An ideal liquid crystal material possesses superior chemical properties, for example, a wide nematic liquid crystal phase, a low melting point, low fusion heat, physicochemical stability and achromatization, and simultaneously possess superior physical properties, for example, high dielectric anisotropy (Δ∈) and high birefringence (Δn) properties.

Liquid crystal compounds and liquid crystal compositions comprising the same

Abstract: In Formula (I), Y1, Y2 and Y3 are, independently, hydrogen, halogen, cyano or thiocyano, and R is C1-12 alkyl or C1-12 alkoxy, preferably C3-6 alkyl. The liquid crystal compound is colorless. The invention also provides a liquid crystal composition including the liquid crystal compound.

Industrial Technology Research Institute


The present invention relates to a fiber reinforced nylon composition, wherein the composition includes (A) 25 to 75 parts by weight of a polyarylamide resin, (B) 25 to 75 parts by weight of a reinforcing fiber having a cross-sectional aspect ratio of 1.5 or more, and (C) an impact modifier, and the impact modifier is included in an amount of 1 to 10 parts by weight based on 100 parts by weight of a mixture of the polyarylamide resin and the reinforced fiber. According to the present invention, the fiber reinforced nylonresin composition may exhibit minimal or no warpage, can have excellent fluidity and impact resistance, and can provide high whiteness and a glossy-coating due to minimal or no surface change after dipping in boiling water.

Nylon-based resins include engineering resins widely used as materials for interior and exterior components of automobiles. However, nylon-based resins can absorb moisture and thus can lack dimensional stability and can warp. An inorganic modifier such as glass fiber can be added to nylon resins to overcome these problems. Fiber reinforced nylon resins can be widely used for applications requiring excellent mechanical strength and heat resistance, such as structural materials, automobile interior and exterior materials, and the like.
However, adding an inorganic modifier can deteriorate impact resistance. Accordingly, there have been recent attempts to improve the high moisture absorption properties of conventional nylon by adding a modified nylon having a benzene ring in the main chain, and to improve the impact strength of a mixture of nylon and an inorganic modifier by further adding an impact modifier. Nevertheless, adding the modified nylon may not sufficiently improve moisture absorptiveness and further can cause dimensional instability and warpage. In addition, adding the modified nylon may not overcome the problems of decreased mechanical strength even when an impact modifier is added.
In addition, when nylon resin is reinforced with an inorganic modifier such as glass fiber, a large amount of inorganic impact modifier is typically used to provide high whiteness due to the intrinsic color of resin. Accordingly, the glass fiber is shortened or the surface of the glass fiber is scratched due to friction between the inorganic impact modifier and the glass fiber reinforcing material, so the impact resistance and impact strength are decreased. Due to the intrinsic characteristics of the resin, this can also generate a phenomenon in which the surface of the resin becomes rougher after dipping in boiling water, which can reduce its usefulness in applications requiring a glossy surface.


The present invention concerns a color reversible photographic product In particular, the present invention concerns a new photographic product which has a increase in the exposure latitude of one of the silver halide emulsion layers with which a dye-forming coupler is associated without changing the chromatic balance. This increase in the exposure latitude makes it possible to improve the details of the dye image.

In conventional color photography, photographic products contain three superimposed units of silver halide emulsion layers, one for forming a latent image corresponding to an exposure to blue light (blue-sensitive), one for forming a latent image corresponding to an exposure to green and one for forming a latent image corresponding to an exposure to red light.
During photographic treatment, the developing agent reduces the silver ions of each latent image. The resulting oxidized developing agent, then reacts in each unit with a dye-forming coupler in order to produce images in yellow, magenta and cyan dyes respectively from the recordings in blue, green and yellow. This produces negative dye images.
The reversible photographic products which make it possible to obtain positive images comprise the same three superimposed units of silver halide emulsion layers, each of these units containing respectively a yellow, magenta and cyan dye-forming coupler. After exposure, these reversible photographic products are subjected to a first black and white development (development of the latent image), and then to a step of chemical reversal or fogging exposure, which makes it possible to make the silver halides which were not initially exposed developable. After reversal, the photographic product is treated in a color development bath in the presence of couplers, generally contained in the photographic product.
Color photographic products are evaluated on the basis of sensitometric curves indicating the colored density of each of the yellow, magenta and cyan components as a function of luminance, that is to say the intensity of exposure. In order to achieve a good chromatic balance it is very important to obtain similar characteristic curves for the three sensitive layers, that is to say of the same form and superimposed. Indeed, when these curves are not similar, this causes a dominant or poor color rendition. When the characteristic curves of each of the sensitive layers are superimposed, an exposure of the photographic product in white light must give a neutral total density value, which corresponds to a neutral gray tone.
In order to reproduce detail in the image it is also important to use photographic products with a wide exposure latitude. The exposure latitude is a measurement of the suitability of a photographic product for recording the differences in exposure intensity and for representing them through differences in density. For a given range of exposure intensities, the more there are smaller differences in image density reproduced, the more details there are in the color image.
It is known that the exposure latitude of a photographic product can be increased by modifying the silver halide photographic emulsions. For example, it is known that the size dispersity of an emulsion can be increased in order to increase the rendition of details.
It is also known that a layer of silver halide emulsions can be chromatized over more than one region of the light spectrum in order to improve the reproduction of the colors of the image. For example, patent EP 304297 describes a photographic product comprising a layer of silver halide emulsions which is chromatized in two regions of the light spectrum in order to increase the exposure latitude.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,946,765 describes a color photographic paper which comprises a first and second layer of silver halide emulsion, each of these layers being sensitized in a different region of the light spectrum and containing a particular dye-forming coupler. In order to improve the exposure latitude of the product, this patent discloses the introduction into the product, between the two layers of emulsions, of an intermediate layer which is not sensitive to light and which contains a non-diffusible colorless coupler forming during development a complementary dye with the main sensitivity of the second silver halide emulsion layer.
All these modifications of the photographic product which tend to change its exposure latitude also change the form of the sensitometric curves of each of the light-sensitive layers and consequently impair the superimposability of the curves. By increasing the exposure latitude using these techniques, the chromatic balance is changed.


The invention discloses methods for the generation of chimaeric human-non-human antibodies and chimaeric antibody chains, antibodies and antibody chains so produced, and derivatives thereof including fully humanised antibodies; compositions comprising said antibodies, antibody chains and derivatives, as well as cells, non-human mammals and vectors, suitable for use in said methods.

The present invention relates inter alia to non-human animals and cells that are engineered to contain exogenous DNA, such as human immunoglobulin gene DNA, their use in medicine and the study of disease, methods for production of non-human animals and cells, and antibodies and antibody chains produced by such animals and derivatives thereof.


An annular co-extrusion die for extruding multi-layer tubular plastic film has inner die members stacked one upon another and having radially outwardly extending surfaces forming radially outwardly extending helical passages between respective pairs of inner die members. An annular outer die member surrounds the stacked inner die members and forms a longitudinally extending annular passage therebetween for conveying plastic material from the radially outwardly extending helical passages to an annular extrusion orifice. A lower inner die member has a first feed passage extending from a lower surface thereof to a substantially horizontal upper surface thereof at a position spaced from a central longitudinal axis of the longitudinally extending annular passage, the substantially horizontal upper surface having a first groove extending from the upper end of the first feed passage to the longitudinal axis. An upper inner die member immediately above the lower inner die member has a substantially horizontal lower surface engaged with the substantially horizontal upper surface of the lower inner die member, the substantially horizontal lower surface having a second groove extending from the upper end of the first feed passage to the longitudinal axis and forming a second fed passage with the first groove. The upper inner die member has a third feed passage extending substantially vertically upwardly from the lower substantially horizontal surface thereof at the longitudinal axis and in communication with the second feed passage. At least one fourth feed passage in the upper inner die member extends from an upper end of the third feed passage to the helical passages between the upper and lower inner die members.

Many different kinds of multi-layer plastic film are required for present day purposes. However, it is not possible to satisfactorily produce such different kinds of multi-layer plastic film with one kind of die. For example, the annular co-extrusion die described and claimed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,690,972 (Planeta et al.) issued Nov. 25, 1997, the contents of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference, is very useful because such a die is easy to take apart and clean and also has a relatively low wetted surface area compared to other dies of similar size.
However, the die described in the above patent is not as suitable as is currently desired for producing multi-layer tubular film which includes at least one layer of material which has poor flow characteristics. It is therefore an object of this invention to provide an annular co-extrusion die which has a similar versatility as the die described in the above patent, but which is especially suitable for producing tubular multi-layer film with at least one layer of material with poor flow characteristics.


An infusion control system having a flexible, collapsible infusion container. The container can be compressed between rollers or plate so at to pressurize the container. Such a system allows for rapid pressure response rates without the need of venting devices or air filtering. The may also include an irrigation flow sensor. The sensor may be placed in the control console or in the infusion handpiece. Irrigation flow measurements provided by the sensor allows the control system to vary irrigation pressure and/or flow, aspiration pressure and/or flow and power supplied to the handpiece more accurately than sensors that monitor aspiration flow.

This invention relates generally to the field of cataract surgery and more particularly to an infusion control system for a phacoemulsification handpiece.
The human eye in its simplest terms functions to provide vision by transmitting light through a clear outer portion called the cornea, and focusing the image by way of the lens onto the retina. The quality of the focused image depends on many factors including the size and shape of the eye, and the transparency of the cornea and lens.
When age or disease causes the lens to become less transparent, vision deteriorates because of the diminished light which can be transmitted to the retina. This deficiency in the lens of the eye is medically known as a cataract. An accepted treatment for this condition is surgical removal of the lens and replacement of the lens function by an artificial intraocular lens (IOL).
In the United States, the majority of cataractous lenses are removed by a surgical technique called phacoemulsification. During this procedure, a thin phacoemulsification cutting tip is inserted into the diseased lens and vibrated ultrasonically. The vibrating cutting tip liquefies or emulsifies the lens so that the lens may be aspirated out of the eye. The diseased lens, once removed, is replaced by an artificial lens.
A typical ultrasonic surgical device suitable for ophthalmic procedures consists of an ultrasonically driven handpiece, an attached cutting tip, and irrigating sleeve and an electronic control console. The handpiece assembly is attached to the control console by an electric cable and flexible tubings. Through the electric cable, the console varies the power level transmitted by the handpiece to the attached cutting tip and the flexible tubings supply irrigation fluid to and draw aspiration fluid from the eye through the handpiece assembly.
The operative part of the handpiece is a centrally located, hollow resonating bar or horn directly attached to a set of piezoelectric crystals. The crystals supply the required ultrasonic vibration needed to drive both the horn and the attached cutting tip during phacoemulsification and are controlled by the console. The crystal/horn assembly is suspended within the hollow body or shell of the handpiece by flexible mountings. The handpiece body terminates in a reduced diameter portion or nosecone at the body""s distal end. The nosecone is externally threaded to accept the irrigation sleeve. Likewise, the horn bore is internally threaded at its distal end to receive the external threads of the cutting tip. The irrigation sleeve also has an internally threaded bore that is screwed onto the external threads of the nosecone. The cutting tip is adjusted so that the tip projects only a predetermined amount past the open end of the irrigating sleeve. Ultrasonic handpieces and cutting tips are more fully described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,589,363; 4,223,676; 4,246,902; 4,493,694; 4,515,583; 4,589,415; 4,609,368; 4,869,715; 4,922,902; 4,989,583; 5,154,694 and 5,359,996, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.
In use, the ends of the cutting tip and irrigating sleeve are inserted into a small incision of predetermined width in the cornea, sclera, or other location. The cutting tip is ultrasonically vibrated along its longitudinal axis within the irrigating sleeve by the crystal-driven ultrasonic horn, thereby emulsifying the selected tissue in situ. The hollow bore of the cutting tip communicates with the bore in the horn that in turn communicates with the aspiration line from the handpiece to the console. A reduced pressure or vacuum source in the console draws or aspirates the emulsified tissue from the eye through the open end of the cutting tip, the cutting tip and horn bores and the aspiration line and into a collection device. The aspiration of emulsified tissue is aided by a saline flushing solution or irrigant that is injected into the surgical site through the small annular gap between the inside surface of the irrigating sleeve and the cutting tip.
The preferred surgical technique is to make the incision into the anterior chamber of the eye as small as possible in order to reduce the risk of induced astigmatism. These small incisions result in very tight wounds that squeeze the irrigating sleeve tightly against the vibrating tip. Friction between the irrigating sleeve and the vibrating tip generates heat, but the risk of the tip overheating and causing a burn to the tissue is reduces by the cooling effect of the aspirated fluid flowing inside the tip. When the tip becomes occluded with tissue, this aspiration flow can be reduced or eliminated, allowing the tip to heat up.
Prior art devices have used sensors that detect large rises in aspiration vacuum, and predict occlusions based on vacuum rise. Based on this sensed occlusion, power to the handpiece may be reduced and/or irrigation and aspiration flows can be increased. See U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,591,127, 5,700,240 and 5,766,146 (Barwick, Jr., et al.), the entire contents of which being incorporated herein by reference. Increased vacuum levels in the aspiration line, however, do not necessarily indicate that the flow of cooling fluid around the tip has been cut off. Even with the tightest incisions, some irrigating fluid will leak out between the wound and the outside of the irrigating sleeve. The wound leakage also provides additional cooling flow to the incision site, and measuring rises in aspiration vacuum alone does not necessarily indicate that a potential for a corneal burn exists. Therefore, power to the handpiece may be interrupted prematurely.
Prior art devices have also used gravity fed methods or pressurized gas sources for controlling surgical infusion pressure and flow. Gravity feed infusion methods, such as those illustrated in FIG. 8, provide a pressure and flow based on the height of a column of liquid. The higher the column, the greater the pressure and flow. The lower the column, the lower the pressure and flow. The surgeon controls the column height by raising or lowering the infusion bottle. Pressurized gas sources, such as those illustrated in FIG. 9, control the infusion pressure by increasing or decreasing the pressure inside the infusion bottle. The bottle is suspended at a constant height and a gas pressure pump is connected to the bottle. See U.S. Pat. Nos. 4, 813,927, 4,900,301, 5,032,111 and 5,047,009(Morris, et al.), the entire contents of which being incorporated herein by reference. Gravity feed methods have limitations on pressure response rates due to the requirements of raising and lowering the infusion bottle. Pressurized gas methods improve on the response rates but require cumbersome venting snorkel devices that complicate the surgical setup. Both methods require filtering of air or gas into the bottle to prevent contamination which is added cost and complexity
Therefore, a need continues to exist for an infusion source for a surgical applications that utilizes a better method of infusion pressure and flow.
The present invention improves upon the prior art by providing an infusion system having a flexible, collapsible infusion container. The container can be compressed between rollers or plate so as to pressurize the container. Such a system allows for rapid pressure response rates without the need of venting devices or air filtering. The may also include an irrigation flow sensor. The sensor may be placed in the control console or in the infusion handpiece. Irrigation flow measurements provided by the sensor allows the control system to vary irrigation pressure and/or flow, aspiration pressure and/or flow and power supplied to the handpiece more accurately than sensors that monitor aspiration flow.
Accordingly, one objective of the present invention is to provide a surgical console control system.
Another objective of the present invention is to provide a surgical console control system having irrigation flow sensing capability.
Another objective of the present invention is to provide a surgical console control system that provides more accurate control of the handpiece operating parameters.
Another objective of the present invention is to provide a surgical console control system that provides more accurate control of the infusion operating parameters.
Another objective of the present invention is to provide a surgical console control system that provides more accurate control of the aspiration operating parameters.
Another objective of the present invention is to provide faster and more accurate control of infusion pressure and flow.
Another objective of the present invention is to provide a method of infusion flow measurement without the need of external devices.
These and other advantages and objectives of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description and claims that follow.


Oxygen-independent cholesterol-converting enzyme obtainable from Actinomycetes or Basidiomycetes which utilizes artificial electron acceptors as well as a method and reagent for the determination of (total) cholesterol using the enzyme.

Field of the Invention
The invention concerns an oxygen-independent cholesterol-converting enzyme, a process for its isolation from particular microorganisms as well as the use of the enzyme to determine cholesterol.
The quantitative determination of cholesterol in blood with the aid of enzymatic tests has for a long time been a proven method in clinical chemistry (Flegg 1973, Richmond 1973). A cholesterol oxidase is usually used as the enzyme which catalyses the oxidation of cholesterol (5-cholesten-3-.beta.-ol) to 4-cholesten-3-one and H.sub.2 O.sub.2. ##EQU1##
In this case oxygen serves as an electron acceptor. The provision of this enzyme on an industrial scale from microorganisms of the Schizophyllum, Streptoverticillium, Brevibacterium, Nocardia, Rhodococcus or streptomyces classes (Noma & Nakayama 1976, EP 0560 983; Liu et al. 1980, Ishizaki 1989, Halpern 1981, Aihara et al. 1986, Fujishiro et al. 1990, EP 0452 112) is established.
However, the oxygen dependency of cholesterol oxidase is a major disadvantage and the main reason for test inaccuracies. It often causes problems in calibrating the test since the dependency on oxygen partial pressure results in an altitude dependency as well as in a temperature dependency of the test.
In addition the quantitative determination of cholesterol from blood with the aid of cholesterol oxidases by means of a coupled colour reaction is susceptible to interference due to the H.sub.2 O.sub.2 that is formed: H.sub.2 O.sub.2 is removed from the reaction equilibrium due to its high reactivity with for example bilirubin or drugs.
An oxygen-independent cholesterol-converting enzyme, i.e. a NAD- or NADP-dependent cholesterol dehydrogenase which is obtainable from an anaerobic microorganism (Eubacterium sp.) or from liver tissue of warm-blooded animals, is described in DE 2649749. The major disadvantage of the enzyme described in this application is that the enzyme also has to be isolated under an inert gas atmosphere. A scale-up of the process and the provision of the said enzyme on a larger scale is not feasible. Moreover, the enzyme requires NAD(P) as a cofactor so that an additional reaction step (enzymatic or chemical) is necessary for colour formation. This usually results in an increase in costs and a higher susceptibility to interference. Appropriate NAD(P)-independent dehydrogenases have been previously known only for other substrates such as for example glucose or glycerol (Duine 1991, Ameyama et al. 1985, Ameyama 1982, EP 0354 441, Ameyama et al. 1981, EP 0 120 440).

Microbial cholesterol dehydrogenase, process for its production and use


A stabilized spore-forming viable microorganism composition comprising in admixture at least a carbohydrate component from cereals or bulbs and spore-forming viable microorganisms belonging to genus Bacillus. Examples of cereals are maize, rice, wheat, barley, rye, oats and soybeans. Examples of bulbs are tuberous roots, tubers or corms. That component can also be a polysaccharide, e.g. starch. At least over 0.01 part by weight of the carbohydrate component is used per one part by weight of microorganisms. A process for production of the composition comprises drying a carbohydrate component from cereals or bulbs and spore-forming viable microorganisms belonging to genus Bacillus in admixture in a non-toxic aqueous medium.

A viable microorganism composition is needed for addition to mixed feed in order to increase growth and improve feed efficiency of livestock by maintaining a balance of intestinal microbial flora which plays an important role in nutritional actions such as the metabolism of nutrients and the synthesis of vitamins. Viable microorganism compositions can be effective only if they reach the digestive tract, and hence stability in storage feed and stability under acid and alkaline conditions and under heating are essential. Spore-forming viable microorganisms belonging to genus Bacillus are preferably used for that purpose.
Pellet-type feed has a number of advantages: for example, each pellet is a complete feed unit with homogenized feed components. The availability of nutrients in the feed is increased. The palatability of the feed is improved. Body weight gain and feed efficiency are improved. The feed is less bulky and so is easy to handle. Feeding time and labor can be saved, and the waste of feed by blowing off in the wind and spilling is minimized. As a result of these advantages pellet-type feed is quite popular. Since the pellets are manufactured by formulating previously pulverized feed components and pelleting with pressure and steam by means of a pellet-mill, even the relatively heat stable spore-forming microorganisms such as genus Bacillus are partially destroyed and lose viability due to the effects of steam heating, generated heat, pressure and water content; and hence there is the disadvantage that a large proportion of the viable microorganisms is lost.

Process for producing a stabilized store-forming viable microorganisms preparation containing Bacillus cereus


An inserter for treating glaucoma can comprise a housing, a needle, a plunger, a slider component, and a drive component. The drive component is disposed within a cavity of the housing and rotatable within the cavity to result in movement along a longitudinal axis of the inserter to the needle and the plunger upon rotation of the drive component. The slider component is coupled to the housing and slidable along an elongate groove of the drive component such that movement of the slider component along the axis rotates the drive component within the housing.

Field of the Inventions
The present disclosure generally relates to devices and methods of implanting an intraocular shunt into an eye.
Description of the Related Art
Glaucoma is a disease in which the optic nerve is damaged, leading to progressive, irreversible loss of vision. It is typically associated with increased pressure of the fluid (i.e., aqueous humor) in the eye. Untreated glaucoma leads to permanent damage of the optic nerve and resultant visual field loss, which can progress to blindness. Once lost, this damaged visual field cannot be recovered. Glaucoma is the second leading cause of blindness in the world, affecting 1 in 200 people under the age of fifty, and 1 in 10 over the age of eighty for a total of approximately 70 million people worldwide.
The importance of lowering intraocular pressure (IOP) in delaying glaucomatous progression has been well documented. When drug therapy fails, or is not tolerated, surgical intervention is warranted. Surgical filtration methods for lowering intraocular pressure by creating a fluid flow-path between the anterior chamber and an area of lower pressure have been described. Intraocular shunts can be positioned in the eye to drain fluid from the anterior chamber to locations such as the sub-Tenon's space, the subconjunctival space, the episcleral vein, the suprachoroidal space, Schlemm's canal, and the intrascleral space.
Positioning of an intraocular shunt to drain fluid into the intrascleral space is promising because it avoids contact with the conjunctiva and the supra-choroidal space. Avoiding contact with the conjunctiva and supra-choroid is important because it reduces irritation, inflammation and tissue reaction that can lead to fibrosis and reduce the outflow potential of the subconjunctival and suprachoroidal space. The conjunctiva itself plays a critical role in glaucoma filtration surgery. A less irritated and healthy conjunctiva allows drainage channels to form and less opportunity for inflammation and scar tissue formation. intrascleral shunt placement safeguards the integrity of the conjunctiva and choroid, but may provide only limited outflow pathways that may affect the long term TOP lowering efficacy.


In a method of making a shaped fiber, a stream of fiberizable material is provided with an original shape and a void fraction from 20% to 80%. The void fraction can be provided by forming a hollow stream, a porous stream or a significantly shaped stream. The stream of fiberizable material has a soft portion at which the shape of the stream can be changed. Preferably the stream is provided by discharging molten fiberizable material through a first tube located in an orifice in a wall of a container, and introducing gas through a second tube into the interior of the molten material. The fiber stream is contacted to change the shape of the stream at the soft portion, preferably by applying torsion downstream from the soft portion. Torsion can be applied by contacting the fiber stream with a first surface moving in a direction generally transverse to the longitudinal axis of the stream. Preferably the fiber stream is also contacted with a second surface disposed on the opposite side of the stream from the first surface. The stream is cooled to make a fiber having a final shape different from the original shape, and preferably to make a fiber having a screw-type surface structure.

The production of continuous glass fibers by mechanically drawing molten streams of glass from orifices in the bottom wall of a feeder or bushing is well known. It is also known to make hollow glass fibers using this process. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,846,864 to Huey discloses a tip assembly for use in a bushing for the production of hollow glass fibers by a continuous process. The hollow glass fibers have more surface area for the same amount of glass, and as a result they can be more effective in thermal and acoustical insulation products.
Glass fibers are also used as reinforcements in composite materials. When a fiber reinforced composite material is subjected to stress, some of the stress is transferred from the matrix of the composite material to the stronger fibers. As a result, the composite material has greater strength than an unreinforced matrix. To effectively transfer the stress, there must be a strong bond between the fibers and the matrix. Fibers which are perfectly shaped and have a smooth surface depend on the interaction between the surface and the matrix for this bonding. Such fibers when untreated usually lack a sufficient surface interaction to form a strong bond with a matrix. Consequently, the surface of the fibers is coated with a size composition containing a coupling agent to produce a better bond between the fibers and matrix. This sizing treatment increases the cost and complexity of the manufacturing process. Also, it is difficult to coat the fibers uniformly with the size composition. When the coating is not uniform, the bond between the fibers and the matrix is weaker. Therefore, it would be desirable to provide a method for making fibers which does not depend on the coupling agent of a sizing treatment to provide a strong bond with the matrix of a composite material. The method must be practical so that the fibers can be manufactured on a commercially acceptable basis.

Owens Corning Fiberglas Technology, Inc.


An optical modulation element, in which a pixel surrounding a ferroelectric liquid crystal layer and an column shaped orientation layer is formed between a pair of electrodes. The orientation layer is formed by a high-molecular polymer in which an ultrafine granular conductive substance may be dispersed. External voltage applied across the electrodes in response to gradation signals performs gradation drivings.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an optical modulation element for displaying gradation. More particularly, the invention relates to a liquid crystal element for displaying gradation using a liquid crystal having at least two stable states such as a ferroelectric liquid crystal.
2. Related Background Art
In the conventional liquid crystal television panel using an active matrix driving system, thin film transistors (TFT) are arranged in matrix for each of the pixels, and gate-on pulses are applied to the TFT to provide an on state between the source and drain of the TFT. Then, image signals are applied from the source and accumulated in a capacitor. In response to the accumulated image signals, the liquid crystal (twisted nematic: TN-liquid crystal, for example) is driven and at the same time, gradation is displayed by modulating the voltage of the image signals.
However, an active matrix driving television panel using a TN liquid crystal of the kind or an STN (supertwisted nematic) liquid crystal is as slow as several hundreds milliseconds in its response speed. Therefore, there is a problem to be encountered in using it for television driving of the ED or HD (high vision) for which future developments are anticipated.
Also, the ferroelectric liquid crystal (FLC) is being developed aggressively as a liquid crystal having spontaneous polarization for the purpose of using as a display element, light bulb, and others because of the higher responsiveness, memory capability, along with other advantages of this liquid crystal. Targets for the best use of the above-mentioned advantages include the optical shutter array, high-precision display element driven by a simple matrix, light bulb for high-density recording combined with a photoconductor, and potentially an active matrix driving animated image display using the thin film transistor (TFT) and others. The characteristics thereof are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,840,462, Proceeding of the SID, VOL. 30/2, 1989 [Ferroelectric Liquid Crystal Video Display] and others, for example.
Nevertheless, there are various difficult problems to be solved before the implementation of a gradation display using the FLC. Particularly, for the cells using the FLC, a passivation film is used for the prevention of the short circuit, which generates an inverse field. This inverse field produces an adverse effect on the gradation display.


In an inkjet printer, a cap part for receiving ink from a head unit during maintenance includes a liquid receiving part and an exhaust part disposed laterally to the liquid receiving part. In the liquid receiving part, a second liquid receiving chamber is disposed further from the exhaust part than is a first liquid receiving part. A second flow path is disposed below the first liquid receiving chamber without passing through the first liquid receiving chamber. In the exhaust part, a first fan part is connected to the first liquid receiving chamber, and a second fan part is connected to the second liquid receiving chamber through the second flow path. Accordingly, it is possible to appropriately exhaust a gas contained within the second liquid receiving chamber, independently of the first liquid receiving chamber. Consequently, a mist in the liquid receiving part can be discharged efficiently.

Conventionally, inkjet printers have been used to print an image onto printing paper by ejecting fine droplets of ink from a plurality of outlets of a head unit toward the printing paper while moving the printing paper relative to the head unit.
As one method for inkjet printers to resolve clogging or the like of the outlets of a head unit, purging is known in which pressure is applied to a flow path of ink in the head unit so as to push the ink out of the outlets. In order to prevent an increase in the viscosity of ink due to evaporation of moisture in the ink, for example, spitting in which ink droplets are ejected periodically is also carried out during standby before printing. Purging and spitting are generally conducted while the head unit vertically opposes a cap part disposed under the head part, and the ink ejected from the head unit is received by the cap part.
In an image recording apparatus disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2007-136989, an evacuation pump is actuated during maintenance of a recording head while the nozzle surface of the recording head is capped with an evacuation cap, so that ink is evacuated out of nozzles.
Incidentally, in the case where the aforementioned purging or spitting is performed, a spatter of ink that has collided with the bottom surface of the liquid receiving part of the cap part may be transformed into a mist, or a mist may be generated from flying ink droplets. Such an ink mist, if left as it is, may adhere to an ejection surface of the head unit in which the outlets are provided, or may be diffused into the inkjet printer. In view of this, an evacuation mechanism such as a fan is provided laterally to the liquid receiving part so that the ink mist is evacuated through the space between the ejection surface of the head unit and the bottom surface of the liquid receiving part and discharged to the outside.
However, in the case of a large inkjet printer in which the head unit and the liquid receiving part are also large, if an ink mist is sucked using a fan attached to one side surface of the liquid receiving part, the ink mist may be hardly sucked at positions distanced from the fan, although the ink mist can be sucked in the vicinity of the fan. In order to efficiently suck an ink mist in the entire liquid receiving part, it is conceivable to provide fans on other side surfaces of the liquid receiving part, but disposing fans on multiple side surfaces of the liquid receiving part is difficult because the head unit has a large number of pipes and wires connected thereto. Even if fans could be disposed on multiple side surfaces of the liquid receiving part, this in turn increases the size of the inkjet printer.


A valve closer for a valve installed in a flow line of a flammable liquid or other hazardous flowable material which is normally open with the closer of the present invention automatically moving the valve to closed position by turning the valve one-quarter of a turn when a fusible link is rendered inoperative when subjected to predetermined high temperature conditions which may occur in the event of a fire. The fusible link, when rendered inoperative, will release a pivotal latch that is engaged with and will release a spring biased actuating member that will rotate the valve stem one-quarter turn to close the valve and interrupt the flow of material through the flow line in which the valve is installed. The valve stem is provided with a cam in the form of a generally circular flange rigid therewith having an arcuate recess with one edge of the recess being engaged by an offset portion of the spring biased actuating member with the construction of the recess and offset portion of the actuating member limiting the rotational movement of the cam, valve stem and valve to one-quarter turn.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a valve closer in which the valve is installed in a flow line of a flammable liquid or other hazardous flowable material which is normally open with the closer of the present invention automatically moving the valve to closed position by turning the valve one-quarter of a turn when a fusible link is rendered inoperative when subjected to predetermined high temperature conditions which may occur in the event of a fire. The fusible link, when rendered inoperative, will release a pivotal latch that is engaged with and will release a spring biased actuating member that will rotate the valve stem one-quarter turn to close the valve and interrupt the flow of material through the flow line in which the valve is installed. The valve stem is provided with a cam in the form of a generally circular flange rigid therewith having an arcuate recess with one edge of the recess being engaged by an offset portion of the spring biased actuating member with the construction of the recess and offset portion of the actuating member limiting the rotational movement of the cam, valve stem and valve to one-quarter turn.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Fire control valve structures which release a normally open valve for movement to a closed position to interrupt flow of flammable material through a flow line are generally well known. Examples of such devices are found in prior U.S. Pat. No. 4,890,635 issued Jan. 2, 1990 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,004,003 issued Apr. 2, 1991 in which I am the inventor. The prior patents cited in the above patents also relate to this field of endeavor. However, the prior art does not include the structural arrangement in which the valve is rotated one-quarter turn by the use of the structure disclosed in this application.


A semiconductor integrated circuit device has a plurality of CMOS-type base cells arranged on a semiconductor substrate and m wiring layers, and gate array type logic cells are composed of the base cells and the wiring layers. Wiring within and between the logic cells is constituted by using only upper n (n<m) wiring layers. It becomes possible to shorten a development period and reduce a development cost when a gate array type semiconductor integrated circuit device becomes large in scale.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to a semiconductor integrated circuit device and a method of producing the same. More particularly, the present invention relates to a configuration of logic cells of a CMOS-type gate array and a method of producing functional blocks by using the logic cells.
2. Related Background Art
In recent years, semiconductor integrated circuit devices (hereinafter, referred to as an "LSI") have tended toward higher integration and higher performance along with a finer process. This causes the development cost and development period of an LSI to increase. Under such circumstances, an LSI including gate array cells is suitable for the shortening of a development period and the reduction in cost or the flexible production, and finds wide applications, because such a method of producing an LSI can be designed with only wiring patterns by using CAD or the like.
Hereinafter, the configuration of a conventional gate array LSI will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 9 is a sectional view showing a layout of conventional gate array cells. Reference numerals 940A and 940B denote CMOS-type base cells, respectively. Reference numeral 980 denotes N-channel transistor regions or P-channel transistor regions in the base cells 940A and 940B, and reference numeral 990 denotes gates. Wiring patterns are formed so as to connect the transistor regions 980 or the gates 990 to first wiring layers 201 through contact VIAs 101, whereby logic cells are formed.
The logic cells 900A and 900B constituted as described above have an arbitrary number of connecting pins 954 for connecting the logic cells to each other and are connected to each other through contact VIAs 112, second wiring layers 202, contact VIAs 123, and a third wiring layer 203. If required, it is possible to form logic cells of multi-layered wiring by connecting the first wiring layers 201 and the second wiring layers 202 through the contact VIAs 112 and the second wiring layers 202 and the third wiring layer 203 through the contact VIAs 123. In most cases, ordinary logic cells can be formed by using up to third wiring layers 203. In this case, it is appreciated that the logic cells are connected by using further upper wiring layers.
In producing the above-described gate array cells, the process of producing up to the base cells 940A and 940B is completed when the logic design of an LSI starts and a mask for wiring layers is produced (master slice system). From then, the remaining wiring process can be carried out, which results in a shortened development period and a reduction in the design cost of an LSI.
However, the configuration of the conventional gate array LSI and a production method thereof have the following problems.
Multi-layered wiring tends to be increased in the number of the wiring layers along with a recent finer process. For example, as shown in FIG. 9, when a functional block 400 is designed with five wiring layers and the logic cells 900A and 900B composed of a gate array have three wiring layers including connections between the logic cells, the logic cell 900B is connected to the functional block 400 through a contact VIA 134, a fourth wiring layer 204, a contact VIA 145, a fifth wiring layer 205, and a connecting pin 955.
Therefore, the period of a wiring process increases, and when logic corrections are needed, the number of correction masks increases, which prevents the shortening of a development period and the reduction in design cost that are characteristics of a gate array LSI.

Semiconductor integrated circuit device and method of producing the same

Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.


In a vibration welding structure for fixing an attachment to an instrument panel (12), a first projection (70) resiliently deformable in a predetermined vibrating direction is provided on the instruction panel (12) so as to project from the instrument panel (12) toward an air conditioner duct (15). A first fitting groove portion (72) is formed in the air conditioner duct (15) for fitting engagement with a distal end portion (70a) of the first projection (70). Further, a first positioning mechanism (74) is provided between the instrument panel (12) and the air conditioner duct (15) for positioning the air conditioner duct 15 in a direction perpendicular to the vibrating direction.

1. TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to vibration welding structures for fixing an attachment to an instrument panel.
2. DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART
Generally, in motor vehicles, an air conditioning duct is fixed to the back side of an instrument panel that is provided in front of a vehicle compartment, and cool or warm air is blown out from the air conditioning duct, through air blowoff apertures of the instrument panel, into the vehicle compartment.
As one method for attaching the air conditioning duct to the instrument panel, Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. HEI-11-321287 for "Air Conditioning Duct and Method for Manufacturing and Installing the Air Conditioning Duct" discloses vibration welding one example of the disclosed vibration welding will be explained below with reference to the drawings.
FIGS. 16A to 16C are views explanatory of the conventional vibration welding structure for fixing an instrument panel attachment, and the following description will be made with the terms "instrument panel" and "air conditioning duct", used in the laid-open publication, replaced with other terms "base member" and "attachment", respectively.
As shown in FIG. 16A, a plurality of ribs 153 are formed on opposite end portions 151 and 152 of the base member 150, and the base member 150 is set in place with the ribs 153 oriented upward.
Then, the attachment 155 is positioned over the base member 150 and then lowered as depicted by arrows, so that opposite end portions 156 and 157 are placed on the ribs 153 of the base member 150.
Then, as shown in FIG. 16B, the attachment 155 is vibrated in a direction of arrows while a predetermined pressing force F is applied to the opposite end portions 156 and 157 of the attachment 155.
Due to the vibration of the attachment 155, friction heat is produced in contacts 158 between the ribs 153 of the base member 150 and the opposite end portions 156 and 157 of the attachment 155.
Then, as shown in FIG. 16C, the ribs 155 of the base member 150 and the opposite end portions 156 and 157 of the attachment 155 are vibration-welded together, so that the attachment 155 can be securely fixed to the base member 150.
Here, in order to vibration-weld the base member 150 and attachment 155, there is a need to freely vibrate the attachment 155 in an arrowed direction shown in FIG. 16A. Thus, if the attachment 155 is set on a predetermined position of the base member 150 with commonly-used positioning members, then vibration of the attachment 155 would be significantly restricted by the presence of the positioning members so that the attachment 155 can not be vibrated freely in the arrowed direction.
Because the attachment 155 to be vibration-welded to the base member 150 cannot be positioned properly with the commonly-employed positioning members as noted above, it is necessary for a human operator to set the attachment 155 on an appropriate position of the base member through a visual check or otherwise.
Consequently, the operations for setting the attachment 155 on the predetermined position of the base member tend to be time-consuming and impose a heavy load on the human operator, thereby undesirably preventing improved productivity.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a vibration welding structure for fixing an instrument panel attachment which allows the attachment to be readily set on a predetermined position of the instrument panel without imposing a heavy load on a human operator.

Vibration welding structure for fixing instrument panel attachment


A transmission type photocathode includes a light absorption layer 1 formed of diamond or a material containing diamond as a main component, a supporting frame 21 for reinforcing the mechanical strength of the light absorption layer 1, a first electrode 31 provided at the plane of incidence of the light absorption layer 1, and a second electrode 32 provided at the plane of emission of the light absorption layer 1. A voltage is applied between the plane of incidence and plane of emission of the light absorption layer 1 to form an electric field in the light absorption layer 1. When light to be detected is made incident and photoelectrons occur in the light absorption layer 1, the photoelectrons are accelerated to the plane of emission by the electric field formed in the light absorption layer 1, and emitted to the outside of the transmission type photocathode.

There have been hitherto known a photocathode used to detect light to be detected having a prescribed wavelength, and an electron tube having the photocathode. The photocathode has a light absorption layer for absorbing light having a prescribed wavelength and emitting photoelectrons. Light to be detected is made incident to the light absorption layer, and the incident light to be detected is converted to photoelectrons, whereby the light to be detected can be detected. Various kinds of semiconductor materials are used for the light absorption layer, and polycrystalline diamond has been disclosed as a material having a high quantum efficiency for photoelectrical conversion of ultraviolet light in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication (Tokukai) No. H10-149761.
In connection with recent high semiconductor integration design, miniaturization of semiconductor integrated circuits has been rapidly promoted. At present, photolithography is greatly expected as a method of manufacturing minute semiconductor integrated circuits, and research into light sources is advancing from an ArF excimer laser to lasers having shorter wavelengths such as an F2 laser, etc. In connection with developments of techniques using light having shorter wavelengths such as ultraviolet light, etc., photodetectors for monitoring ultraviolet light have been required.

Transmission type photocathode including light absorption layer and voltage applying arrangement and electron tube


A copy machine is configured to determine a set of one or more resources that are both external to the copy machine and available to process one or more portions of a copy job initiated at the copy machine. The copy machine is further configured to display, on a graphical user interface, one or more user interface objects that indicate one or more functions provided by the one or more resources.

For some time now, copy machines have been capable of automatically reproducing images that are displayed on surfaces such as paper. A typical copy machine includes a scanning module and a printing module. The scanning module is capable of generating data based on images that are displayed on a surface. Inversely, the printing module is capable of generating images, based on data, and permanently displaying those images on a surface. A copy machine may also include a raster image processor that receives image data and rasterizes the image data for output to a printing module. By feeding, into a printing module, data that was generated by a scanning module, a copy machine can reproduce an image that is displayed on a surface. The task of reproducing images that are displayed on one or more surfaces may be referred to as a "copy job."
A copy job may involve more than the mere reproduction of images onto surfaces. A copy job may also involve specified manipulations of those images and surfaces. For example, a user of a copy machine may specify that reproduced pages be stapled, punched with holes, and/or bound together with rings or some other binding mechanism.
Some copy machines may provide functions that other copy machines do not provide. A person desiring to make use of functions provided only by certain copy machines is required to locate an available one of those copy machines. Information regarding the availability, functionality, and locations of copy machines can be difficult to obtain. Even when such information can be obtained, it may be outdated and inaccurate.
For example, a person may call numerous shops that are listed in an area telephone book before finding a shop that has a copy machine that can punch and staple papers. The personnel at the called shops may be relatively uninformed as to shop resources. Some of the telephone numbers may not even be correct. Eventually, if the person is lucky, he may locate a shop within reasonable distance that has a copy machine that provides desired functions.
Upon arriving at the shop, the person may discover, to his frustration, that, immediately before his arrival, the needed copy machine broke or became occupied by someone else who planned to use the copy machine for a long period of time. Meanwhile, other copy machines, at the shop or even at the location that the person departed from, sit idle because they cannot provide the desired functions. Moreover, despite their ability to provide one or more of the desired functions of the unavailable copy machine, other available resources, such as some printers, may also remain unused because they lack any mechanism to scan a copy job.
One potential solution to the problem is for the person to obtain for himself a copy machine that provides all of the desired functions. However, such a solution is frequently not economical. Additionally, due to changing technology, even the most sophisticated copy machines eventually become obsolete. Furthermore, such a solution wastes a sufficient scanning module of a copy machine that does not provide all of the desired functions.
Based on the need to more easily access resources that provide desired functions, a copy machine that automatically locates and shares resources that currently provide specified functions is highly desirable.

Copier with job sharing and forwarding capability


Apparatus and methods for sharing bookmarks are provided. Bookmarks may include queries to a chatbot or other interactive application. A server may include a shared bookmark controller and a personal computing device may include a user bookmark controller. A user may save a bookmark and share the bookmark with a chosen recipient. The user bookmark controller may send the bookmark and the identity of the recipient to the shared bookmark controller. The shared bookmark controller may then send the bookmark to the recipient and record whether the recipient saves or rejects the bookmark. Bookmarks may be collated and categorized into groups, and entire groups may be shared.

Consumers, customers, employees and other users interact and use chatbots and other interactive software applications billions of times per day. These interactions may take place online/in the cloud or in an internal intranet. Atypical interaction may be a query to a chatbot, along with the response to the query. Many interactions/queries may be repetitive. Saving repetitive interactions as bookmarks may save time and increase productivity.
Sharing repetitive interactions as bookmarks may also save time and increase productivity of employees, as well as increase customer/consumer contentment. Call center agents may share bookmarks with customers. IT professionals and HR professionals may share bookmarks with employees. Employees may share bookmarks with each other.
Supervisors/managers may share bookmarks with subordinates for training or help. Current applications may not permit seamless and easy sharing of the bookmarks.
Therefore, it would be desirable for apparatus and methods for sharing bookmarks among users of particular software applications.

Apparatus and methods for bookmark sharing


An attachment connection is provided including a thin-walled hose line connected with a carbon-containing attachment part of a carbon-containing iron alloy with a carbon component C >0.5% and a weld connection is provided between the hose line and the attachment part.

The present invention relates to an attachment connection for thin-walled hose lines with a carbon-containing attachment part of a carbon-containing iron alloy with a carbon component C>0.5%, in particular, made from cast iron.
Furthermore, the present invention relates to a method for connecting a thin-walled hose line to a carbon-containing attachment part, of a carbon-containing iron alloy with a carbon component C>0.5%, in particular, made from cast iron.
In particular, in the case of exhaust-gas systems for motor vehicles with internal combustion engines, it is known to screw hose line parts of the exhaust gas system, in particular, in the form of metal bellows, through the use of V-clamps onto attachment parts of the exhaust-gas system made from carbon-containing materials, such as cast iron or the like. Alternatively, plug-in connections or FEY-ring connections can be used in this region. The known attachment parts can involve, in particular, exhaust manifolds.
Such known solutions have clear disadvantages especially with respect to ever higher sealing requirements (up to pressures of 10 bar), such that leaks are often produced in the region of the attachment connection.
In addition, the known attachment connections require a relatively large installation space in the axial direction, which has a disadvantageous effect on the flexibility to be achieved in the hose line to be used. In particular, if this is formed as a bellows, then the installation space required for the attachment connection limits the number of possible bellows corrugations at the top. Associated with this are relatively high wear and a correspondingly short service life of the known attachment connections.
From WO 2005/026600 A1, a metal tube and a method for its production are known, in which a metal shaft tube together with a surrounding braid are material connected via radial welding with a connection part, wherein the connection part as well as the shaft tube and the metal braiding are produced in stainless steel.

Attachment connection, and method of connecting a thin-walled hose line to a carbon-containing attachment part


An enclosure assembly configured to enhance accessibility to a drive unit of a vehicular agricultural applicator is provided. The enclosure assembly generally includes a housing, and a hinged panel pivotal about an axis defined by a hinge assembly between an open and a closed position with respect to the housing. The axis is generally aligned in a fore and aft direction. The enclosure assembly further includes an arm pivotally coupled at the hinged panel and movable between a stowed position and an extended position. In the folded position, the arm is retained in a slot at the hinged panel. In the extended position, the arm is in general vertical alignment engaged at the housing so as to hold the hinged panel in the open position.

1. Field of Invention
The invention relates to a drive unit enclosure assembly and, more particularly, to an agricultural applicator with a drive unit and an associated enclosure assembly having a first hinged panel and a second hinged panel configured to enhance access to the drive unit.
2. Related References
Numerous types of self-propelled vehicular agricultural applicators are available today. A certain known self-propelled vehicular agricultural applicator is also referred to a "floater." The floater is a large vehicle that uses large, oversized floatation tires to carry the vehicle across firm to muddy agricultural environments. The chassis assembly of the floater generally includes three or more floatation tires. One particular chassis assembly includes a pair of rear floatation tires and a pair of front floatation tires. The chassis assembly is configured to support one or more bulk storage tanks or bins of product for application in an agricultural environment, usually before planting in the spring or after harvest in the fall. The types of agricultural products e.g., fertilizer, herbicide, pesticide, nutrients, etc. can vary. The floater can also be utilized to tow various agricultural implements.
However, these floater-type of agricultural applicators have drawbacks. For example, certain known floater-type vehicular agricultural applicators include an enclosure for a drive unit mounted toward a rearward end of the chassis assembly and behind a cab relative to a forward direction of travel of the agricultural applicator. A raised platform or walkway is provided from the cab to the drive unit enclosure. The drive unit enclosure typically includes a single-piece hood operable to be opened so as to provide access to the drive unit. The single-piece hood generally does not provide adequate access to routine service points (e.g., air filter, oil level dipstick, engine valve backlash, etc.) of the drive unit. In addition, the single-piece hood generally extends the length of the drive unit and therefore is too heavy and cumbersome for a single person to move between a closed position and an open position.
Thus, there is a need for an enclosure for a drive unit configured to enhance ease of access to routine service points of the drive unit, and that is operable for a single person to readily move between an open and closed positions.


A method, a computer system and a computer program product for a computer system for transforming general On-line Analytical Processing (OLAP) hierarchies into summarizable hierarchies whereby pre-aggregation is disclosed, by which fast query response times for aggregation queries without excessive storage use is made possible even when the hierarchies originally are irregular. Pre-aggregation is essential for ensuring adequate response time during data analysis. Most OLAP systems adopt the practical pre-aggregation approach, as opposed to full pre-aggregation, of materializing only select combinations of aggregates and then re-use these for efficiently computing other aggregates. However, this re-use of aggregates is contingent on the dimension hierarchies and the relationships between facts and dimensions satisfying stringent constraints. The present invention significantly extends the scope of practical pre-aggregation by transforming irregulare dimension hierarchies and fact-dimension relationships into well-behaved structures that enable practical pre-aggregation.

On-line Analytical Processing (OLAP) systems, which aim to ease the process of extracting useful information from large amounts of detailed transactional data, have gained widespread acceptance in traditional business applications as well as in new applications such as health care. These systems generally offer a dimensional view of data, in which measured values, termed facts, are characterised by descriptive values, drawn from a number of dimensions; and the values of dimension are typically organised in a containment-type hierarchy. A prototypical query applies an aggregate function, such as average, to the facts characterised by specific values from the dimensions.
Fast response times are required from these systems, even for queries that aggregate large amounts of data. The perhaps most central technique used for meeting this requirement is termed pre-aggregation, where the results of aggregate queries are pre-computed and stored, i.e., materialised, for later use during query processing. Pre-aggregation has attracted substantial attention in the research community, where it has been investigated how to optimally use pre-aggregated data for query optimisation [7,3] and how to maintain the pre-aggregated data when base data is updated [19, 24]. Further, the latest versions of commercial RDBMS products offer query optimisation based on pre-computed aggregates and automatic maintenance of the stored aggregate when base data is updated [30].
The fastest response times may be achieved when materialising aggregate results corresponding to all combinations of dimension values across all dimensions, termed full (or eager) pre-aggregation. However, the required storage space grows rapidly, to quickly become prohibitive, as the complexity of the application increases. This phenomenon is called data explosion [4, 21, 27] and occurs because the number of possible aggregation combinations grows rapidly when the number of dimensions increase, while the sparseness of the multidimensional space decreases in higher dimension levels, meaning that aggregates at higher levels take up nearly as much space as lower-level aggregates. In some commercial applications, full pre-aggregation takes up as much as 200 times the space of the raw data [21]. Another problem with full pre-aggregation is that it takes too long to update the materialised aggregates when base data changes.
With the goal of avoiding data explosion, research has focused on how to select the best subset of aggregation levels given space constraints [1, 9, 11, 26, 28, 32] or maintenance time constraints [10], or the best combination of aggregate data and indices [8]. This approach is commonly referred to as practical (or partial or semi-eager [5, 11, 29]) pre-aggregation. Commercial OLAP systems now also exist that employ practical pre-aggregation, e.g., Microsoft Decision Support Services (Plato) [18] and Informix MetaCube [13].
A new database operator that generalises aggregations for the N-dimensional data space is disclosed by Jim Gray et al. "Data Cube: A Relational Aggregation Operator Generalizing group-By, Cross-Tab and Sub-Totals", Data Mining and Knowledge Discovery 1, 1997, and solutions are proposed on how to integrate this operator on the execution and SQL-language level. It is mentioned that irregular dimension hierarchies renders the pre-aggregation impossible but no solution to this problem is provided.
The premise underlying the applicability of practical pre-aggregation is that lower-level aggregates can be re-used to compute higher-level aggregates, known as summarisability [16]. Summarisability occurs when the mappings in the dimension hierarchies are onto (all paths in the hierarchy have equal lengths), covering (only immediate parent and child values can be related), and strict (each child in a hierarchy has only one parent); and when also the relationships between facts and dimensions are many-to-one and facts are always mapped to the lowest levels in the dimensions [16]. However, the data encountered in many real-world applications fail to comply with this rigid regime. This motivates the search for techniques that allow practical pre-aggregation to be used for a wider range of applications, the focus of the present invention.

Method and systems for making OLAP hierarchies summarisable


A lawn mower comprising a frame, an engine mounted on the frame, and a cutting deck mounted on the frame. A wheel mounting structure is pivotally connected to the frame and rear wheels are mounted on the wheel mounting structure wherein the pivotal movement of the frame with respect to the wheel mounting structure raises and lowers the frame with respect to the wheels thereby raising and lowering the cutting deck. A lever mechanism is provided for pivoting the frame with respect to the wheel mounting structure to thereby raise and lower the frame with respect to the wheel mounting structure and a rod and plurality of holes are provided for fixing the position of the frame with respect to the wheel mounting structure at any of a plurality of predetermined positions. The lawn mower has hand controls for controlling a wheel driving system with a motor coupled to each wheel and a safety mechanism is provided to prevent extreme turning which may result from the movement of the hand controls to extreme positions. Further, the front wheels of the lawn mower are positioned in an area in which the rotating blades cut from front to rear to thereby provide more even cut of the grass.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is directed to a lawn mower, and more particularly, to a lawn mower in which the rear wheel mounting structure is pivotally connected to the lawn mower frame and in which a lever engaging apparatus is provided for raising and lowering the frame with respect to the wheels. Further, the invention is directed to a lawn mower which enables the independent control of the drive wheels along with a safety mechanism.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In prior art lawn mowers, the wheel mounting structure is bolted to the lawn mower frame, and in order to raise or lower the frame to thereby raise or lower the mower's cutting deck, it is necessary to remove the bolts and raise the frame with respect to the wheels and then re-bolt the frame to the wheel mounting structure. This arrangement makes it difficult to raise and lower the cutting height of the lawn mower, particularly when this structure is used on large commercial-type lawn mowers.
Another problem which occurs in commercial-type lawn mowers having a plurality of cutting blades, is that the front wheels push down the grass and then the cutting blade, as it rotates from front to rear, passes over the top of the bent grass and does not cut it. This results in the uneven cutting of the grass, leaving the grass longer in the areas that the wheels have travelled over.
In prior art commercial lawn mowers in which the rear drive wheels are independently driven by hydraulic pumps associated with each rear wheel, the operation of the hydraulic pumps and thus the drive wheels is controlled by hand controls located on the hand grips of the lawn mower. A linkage extends from the hand grips to the hydraulic pump structure. In the prior art mowers, the linkages are located towards the outer sides of the mowers and are exposed, and thus, are subject to be hit by bushes, shrubs and other structures which the lawn mower may come in contact with during a cutting operation.


A method and apparatus for limiting the fuel to an internal combustion engine to reduce emissions of the engine. Means responsive to one or more operating conditions of the engine are provided for adjustably setting the maximum open position of a throttle of the engine so as to reduce and limit the maximum fuel volume flow rate to the engine. The operating conditions include the fuel flow rate called for by an accelerator, the condition of the transmission of a vehicle in which the engine is installed, the slope or incline on which the vehicle is located, the vehicle speed, and the speed and direction of any wind.

The invention relates to a fuel limiting apparatus for an internal combustion vehicle and, more specifically, to an apparatus used to modify an internal combustion vehicle so that the maximum rate of fuel supplied to the engine is restricted according to a preselected schedule dependent upon the speed of the vehicle, the gear state of the transmission, or other operating conditions.
In the manufacture of internal combustion vehicles, the engines are typically sized to provide power to meet the maximum requirements of the particular application and design constraints of the vehicle. Operating conditions of the vehicle, however, vary over a wide range of power demands, particularly when considerations are made for fuel economy and reduction of polluting emissions from the vehicle. For example, as is well known, substantial amounts of fuel are wasted by full acceleration starts wherein the engine is over-fueled under the transient conditions. It is just being understood and appreciated that such full acceleration starts also result in substantial increases of emissions from the engine, particularly in the form of hydrocarbons and particulates. In an over-fuel condition, the engine is unable to burn fully all of the fuel with the result that uncombusted hydrocarbons are emitted. Such conditions also reduce the temperature of the combustion chamber which leads to an increase in the formation of particulate emissions.
The use of the full capacity of the engine power, particularly for high acceleration at low speeds, produces excessive stresses on the engine, the drive train of the vehicle, the suspension, and other components. While these effects have been long recognized and discouraged both by public agencies as well as private fleet owners, there has been heretofore no suitable way of forcing compliance with the recommended guidelines.

Fuel limiting method and apparatus for an internal combustion vehicle