To enhance stall margin without degrading engine performance the case of the fan of a fan-jet engine is treated by incorporating a passageway to remove flow from the main flow stream. The location and amount of the low momentum flow relative to the rotor being removed is critical. The flow is removed at a judicious location downstream of the leading edge of the rotor blade and returned at a judicious location upstream of the point of removal. The amount of removed flow must be no greater than 8% of the total flow in the fan rotor. Anti-swirl vanes in the passageway and discreetly sized inlet and outlet passages of the passageway return the flow to the main stream at an increased velocity. The intake is so designed that it selectively removes only the weak low momentum flow relative to the rotor and encourages the strong mainstream flow to remain in the main gas stream.

As is well known, surge or stall is a phenomenon that is characteristic to all types of axial flow fans and compressors and occurs at a given engine operating condition and that if gone unattended could be deleterious or harmful to not only the engine's performance but to the engine itself. Hence, throughout the entire evolution from the original design through the development and the improvement stages of a gas turbine engine, those involved in this technology pay great heed to the surge characteristics of the rotating machinery to assure that the compromise between the safe operation of the engine and its performance is optimized.
Since the point at which stall may occur limits the blades operating pressure ratio for a given corrected air weight flow and since higher pressure ratios enhance its performance, the engine's operating line is dictated by a compromise between the stall line and performance. Hence, it is always desirable to be able to raise the stall line to a higher pressure ratio for a given engine operation. For example, raising the stall line can increase the stall margin between the engine's operating line, or raising the stall line permits raising of the operating line without changing the stall margin, which obviously would result in an increase in engine's performance. Other alternatives can use up the increased stall margin with reduced rotor speed, reduced blade count, reduced rotor chord length, or eliminated variable geometry to improve component efficiency or lower component weight and complexity.
Experience has shown that because there are so many factors affecting stall it is not surprising that the stall line may not match its design point. In these situations the engine's hardware is typically modified to satisfy the stall margin requirement so as to meet engine specifications. It is also not surprising that this cannot always be done without degrading engine performance. This is not to say that there aren't other advantages that are attendant an increase in stall margin.
Thus, it is ideal to be able to increase the stall margin and at the same time obtain corresponding increase in engine performance. Of course, the next best would be to be able to increase stall margin without incurring an engine performance deficit.
As is well-known, and as to be understood for purposes of understanding the invention, rotating stall is a phenomenon that occurs whenever sufficient blades or regions of the blades stall so as to occasion a complete blockage or reversal of flow of air through the fan and/or compressor. Also flow separation on the airfoils can lead to compressor stall or rotation stall which, in turn, can lead to an overall system breakdown of the flow, i.e., surge.
Hence, whenever stall occurs and is allowed to propagate throughout the entire or nearly entire blading, surge can ensue. It is important to understand that the surge problem can be corrected by either providing means for handling an incipient surge or design the engine so that the engine never operates where a stall can manifest. For example, an incipient stall may be corrected simply by reducing engine power as compared to designing the engine so that its operating parameters assure that the engine always operates below a given stall line. Also, it is well-known in the art that surge may manifest in many different forms and stall may occur in one or more blades and at different regions. The most limiting stall characteristics often occur at the tip of the blade which essentially is the type of stall being addressed by this invention. More particularly, this invention is directed to enhance the stall line so as to avoid the manifestation of an incipient stall. This will serve to prevent compressor stall although it will be understood that the treatment of the casing does not affect whether or not a rotating stall could degenerate into a surge condition.
Treatment of the casing, which sometimes is referred to as shroud or tip seal or outer air seal, to enhance the stall line is exemplified in the prior art, for example, by U.S. Pat. No. 4,239,452 granted to F. Roberts, Jr. on Dec. 16, 1980, and assigned to the assignee of this patent application. This patent discloses that axially extending skewed grooves and circumferentially extending grooves in the blade tip shroud enhance stall characteristics.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,580,692 granted to A. Mikolajczak on May 25, 1971 also assigned to the assignee common to this patent application teaches a honeycomb structure casing treatment for enhancing the stall characteristics.
Other casing treatments that are known in the prior art are, for example, disclosed in the ASME paper reported in the Journal of Fluid Engineering Vol. 109 dated May 1987 entitled "Improvement of Unstable Characteristics of an Axial Flow Fan by Air-Separator Equipment" authored by Y. Mijake, T. Inola and T. Kato, and in a paper from The School of Mechanical Engineering, Cranfield Institute of Technology in Great Britain entitled "Application of Recess Vaned Casing Treatment to Axial Flow Compressor", dated February 1988 and authored by A. R. Aziman, R. L. Elder and A. B. McKenzie. The work presented in these papers is based in part on earlier work of S. K. Ivanov disclosed in his U.S. Pat. No. 3,189,260 granted on Jun. 15, 1965.
The Ivanov patent and the Miyski et al paper, supra, both investigate properties of air separators for industrial fans that operate at relatively low speeds and low aerodynamic loadings while the Aziman et al paper, supra, investigates properties of air separators operating at similar low speeds but with aerodynamic loadings that are encountered in aerospace applications.
In the main, the teachings disclosed in the two papers and the Ivanov patent, supra, relate to mechanisms that collect rotating stall cells in post-stall operation in a significantly large recess formed in the casing, turn and reorient the flow and then reintroduce the collected air back into the main compressor flow upstream of the rotor.
Obviously, since rotating stall is a mass of cells of stalled and highly turbulent air that precesses around the rotor at a rate that is nearly half the rotating speed of the rotor and extends upstream of the rotor a significant axial distance, one skilled in the art armed with these teachings is led to believe that in order to enhance the stall line it follows that the recess should be large enough to swallow the rotating stall. Hence, knowing that rotating stall extends a significant distance upstream of the rotor and since it is a collection of a large mass of stalled air cells, a significantly large recess would be necessary in order to swallow the rotating stall. These teachings, while particularly relevant to industrial types of fans and compressors are not relevant to aircraft application inasmuch as a large recess in the casing at the inlet of the engine or in front of a compressor is intolerable. In a sense, these papers teach away from the present invention, notwithstanding the fact that both the prior art and the present invention teach means for enhancing the stall line.


Integrated circuit memory devices include an array of memory cells and a row address generator circuit which generates first and second different sequences of addresses during first and second refresh modes, respectively, and also repeats at least one of the addresses in the first sequence as an address in the second sequence when transitioning from the first refresh mode to the second refresh mode. The generator circuit may also perform the function of generating row addresses during the first and second refresh modes with the most significant bit of a row address being toggled with each consecutive row address during the first refresh mode. The first refresh mode may be a CAS-before-RAS refresh mode, the second refresh mode may be a self-refresh mode and the address in at least one of the first and second periods of the self-refresh mode may be equivalent to an address in the last period of a preceding CAS-before-RAS refresh mode when transitioning from the first refresh mode to the second refresh mode. This repetition in addressing prevents one or more row of memory cells from being skipped when transitioning from one refresh mode to another refresh mode.

Integrated circuit memory devices having volatile data storage may need to include refresh control circuits which refresh data stored in memory cells therein. For example, FIG. 1 illustrates a conventional integrated circuit memory device having refresh capability. In particular, FIG. 1 represents a dynamic random access memory (DRAM) device comprising an array 10 of memory cells which store data, a row address buffer 11 which buffers an m-bit row address, a column address buffer 12 which buffers an n-bit column address, a row address decoder 13 which selects word lines in the memory cell array 10 in response to the row address, a column address decoder 14 which selects columns of memory cells in the memory cell array 10 in response to the column address, a data input buffer 15 which receives data and a data output buffer 16 which supplies data to external devices. The DRAM device also includes a sense amplifier 17 connected to bit lines (not shown) of the memory cell array 10, an input/output gate circuit 18 for selectively connecting the bit lines of the memory cell array to data input and output buffers 15 and 16 in response to the outputs of the column decoder, and a chip control circuit 20 which receives a row address strobe signal (/RAS), a column address strobe signal (/CAS) and a write enable signal (/MWE).
Because the DRAM device provides volatile storage of data, a data refresh circuit 30 is provided for regulating refresh operations. During refresh operations, data signals stored in the memory cells are periodically amplified by the sense amplifier 17 and again rewritten into the memory cells. The refresh circuit 30 comprises a refresh timer 31 for generating the timing signals for the periodic refresh operation, a refresh control circuit 32 for controlling the operations associated with refreshing the memory device in response to the timing signals and a refresh address generator 33 for generating internal refresh addresses under the control of the refresh control circuit 32.
There are a couple of conventional techniques for refreshing data within DRAM cells. One technique is referred to as the /RAS-Only Refresh technique (i.e., ROR technique). In accordance with this technique, the refresh operations for the memory cells are performed by activating only the /RAS signal (/RAS=0) while a /CAS (Column Address Strobe) signal is maintained in a precharged level. Under the ROR mode, memory devices are adapted to receive refresh addresses from the exterior for the respective refresh operations, and address buses connected to the memory devices cannot be used for other purposes.
Another widely used technique is referred to as /CAS-before-/RAS refresh (i.e., CBR refresh). Here, when the memory cells are accessed during the period of normal operations, the externally supplied /RAS signal is activated prior to the /CAS signal. But, in order to recognize an entry into the CBR refresh mode, the /CAS signal should become active before the /RAS signal becomes active, as shown in FIG. 4. In other words, before the /RAS signal transitions from a high level to a low level, the /CAS signal transitions from a high level to a low level. Here, the refresh addresses are generated internally by the refresh address generator 33 installed in the DRAM, and external control for the refresh address generator 33 is typically not possible.
Most DRAMs are also provided with a self-refresh mode in order to reduce the amount of current consumed during the refresh operation. An initial cycle of the self-refresh mode is the same as that of the CBR refresh mode. However, in the event both /CAS and /RAS signals are active simultaneously during a predetermined period (for example, 100 .mu.s), a self-refresh operation will be performed to read out data stored in all the memory cells, amplify the data and then restore the data. During this period of operation, normal operations such as read and write operations are interrupted. The refresh timer 31 and the refresh address generator 33 in the DRAM typically operate in response to an internal clock signal and not an external clock signal. However, because the refresh time period of the self-refresh mode is generally set to a longer period than those of different refresh modes (e.g., the self-refresh time period is set to 128 ms (or longer) while the CBR refresh time period is set to 16 ms), the current consumed during self-refresh may be lower than during another refresh period. Conventional integrated circuit memory devices which utilize refresh modes are also disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,809,233, 4,939,695, 4,943,960 and 5,315,557.
The time period required for refreshing all the rows of a memory cell array is generally referred to as a refresh cycle time. For example, in a sixteen megabit DRAM having a cell array comprising 2048 rows.times.512 columns.times.16 bits, 2048 rows may be sequentially refreshed during the time interval 128 ms. In this case, the inter-cycle time interval (i.e., the refresh clock period) is approximately 62.5 .mu.s (=128 ms/2048 rows). Thus, a refresh of one row of the array (which may take 80-200 ns) can be performed during each 62.5 .mu.s time interval.
FIG. 2 illustrates a detailed configuration of the refresh address generator 33 and the row address buffer 11 of FIG. 1. Referring to FIG. 2, the refresh address generator 33 comprises m-bit binary ripple counter which comprises toggle flip-flops FF0-FFm-1 connected in series. The refresh address generator 33 generates m-bit refresh addresses CO-Cm-1. The flip-flop FF0 receives LSB control pulse signal CNTP from the refresh control circuit 32 and generates LSB address signal C0 and its complementary signal CT0. The next flip-flop FF1 receives the signal CT0 and generates the higher bit address signal C1 and its complementary signal CT1. Similarly, the remaining flip-flops FF2, FF3, . . . , and FFm-1 respectively receive the complementary address signals from the lower bit flip-flops and generate the corresponding bit address signals and their complementary address signals.
The refresh control circuit 32 controls the flip-flops FF0-FFm-1by means of an address output control signal PRCNT so that m-bit refresh addresses C0-Cm-1 can be forwarded from the flip-flops FF0-FFm-1 to the row address buffer 11. The address bit signals CO-Cm-1 output from the flip-flops FF0-FFm-1 are respectively supplied to the corresponding buffers AB0-ABm-1 in the row address buffer 11.
In general, although a plurality of refresh modes implemented in a single DRAM have different refresh times (for example, 4-256 ms) respectively, all refresh modes are provided with identical refresh cycles. However, to provide memory devices which require less power, attempts have been made to reduce the self-refresh current by designing a cycle of the self-refresh mode to be shorter than that of other refresh modes (for example shorter than the CBR refresh mode).
FIG. 3 illustrates relations between the generated refresh address signals and the word lines selected by the address signals under the CBR refresh mode and the self-refresh mode in the event the numbers of cycles per refresh period in the CBR refresh mode and the self-refresh mode are respectively set at 2K and 1K. For convenience of explanation, as shown in FIG. 3, it is assumed that memory cell array 10 includes two memory banks BANK1 and BANK2, to which a total of 2.times.1024 rows and word lines are provided. To address these 2048 rows, a row address of eleven (11) bits is required. During a CBR refresh mode of a 2K cycle, as shown in the upper part of FIG. 3, the refresh address generator 33 generates internal refresh addresses 00h (=00000000000) through 7FFh (=11111111111) sequentially. By so doing, word lines WL0-WL2047 of the two memory banks BANK1 and BANK2 are sequentially selected. On the other hand, if a self-refresh mode of a 1K cycle is provided, as shown in the lower part of FIG. 3, the refresh address generator 33 will generate the addresses 000h (=00000000000) through 3FFh (=01111111111) sequentially to select each pair of word lines WL0 and WL1024, WL1 and WL1025, . . . , and WL1023 and WL2047 in order. That is, a pair of word lines are simultaneously selected per refresh cycle in the self-refresh mode.
However, if the refresh cycle during the self-refresh mode is smaller than that of the CBR refresh mode, then at least one row or word line will not be selected when (1) only the self-refresh operation is performed, (2) the self-refresh operation is performed after completion of at least one cycle of a CBR refresh operation, or (3) another self-refresh operation is performed after completion of the prior self-refresh operation and at least one cycle of a CBR refresh operation. This means that some memory cells may not be refreshed properly if any of the conditions (1)14 (3) occur.
To illustrate, it is assumed that the CBR refresh operation of a 2K cycle and the self-refresh operation of a 1K cycle are performed in series and the initial address of the refresh address generator 33 is set to 000h. As described above, in order to change the refresh mode in a certain semiconductor memory device into the self-refresh mode, it is necessary that at least one CBR refresh cycle be performed. That is, when the CBR refresh mode of operation has been initiated and thus the /CAS and /RAS signals are maintained at low levels during a predetermined time period ( e.g. 100 .mu.s) or longer, the refresh mode of the memory device will switch to the self-refresh mode. Since the beginning cycle of the 1K self-refresh mode is the same as that of the 2K CBR refresh mode, the first word line WL0 of the memory block BANK1 shown in FIG. 3 is selected by means of the initial address 000h provided by the refresh address generator 33. Next, the successive self-refresh cycles will be performed and the refresh address generator 33 will generate the addresses 001h, 002h, . . . , 3FFh in sequence. Therefore, pairs of the word line WL1 and WL1025, WL2 and WL1026, . . . , and WL1023 and WL2047 will be selected in turn. As a result, the first word line WL1024 of BANK2 will not be selected during the 1K self-refresh term, but the word line WL1024 will be selected during the following self-refresh term.
As illustrated by FIG. 4, in the event one cycle of the 2K CBR refresh operation is performed and thereafter a 1K self refresh operation is performed, if WL0 of Bank 1 is selected in a 2K CBR cycle then WL1024 of Bank 2 will not be selected. Thereafter, upon entry into a self-refresh mode, WL1 of Bank 1 will be selected, but WL1025 of Bank 2 will not be selected. Next, WL2 in Bank 1 and WL1026 in Bank 2 will be selected, followed by WL3 and WL1027 and so on. Furthermore, as illustrated by FIG. 5, in the event one cycle of the 1K self refresh operation is performed, then one cycle of the 2K CBR refresh operation is performed and then another 1K self refresh operation is performed in sequence, then WL1021, WL1022 or WL2045, WL2046 will not be selected in the CBR and self-refresh entry cycles, respectively, if the self-refresh mode is exited at WL1020 has been selected.
Thus, notwithstanding the above-described integrated circuit memory devices, integrated circuit memory devices having improved refresh mode addressing are required so that rows of memory cells are not skipped when transitioning from one refresh mode to another refresh mode.

Integrated circuit memory devices having improved refresh mode addressing and methods of operating same


Apparatus are provided for attaching to a composite tape lamination machine in order to remove composite scrap tape material from a backing paper. When a moveable member is in one position composite non-scrap tape material on a backing paper is directed along a path to avoid a removing member and keep composite non-scrap tape material on a backing paper. When the moveable member is in another position composite scrap tape material on a backing paper is directed along a different path to contact the removing member and remove composite scrap tape material from a backing paper. Composite scrap tape material may be disposed in a scrap disposal member. Backing paper having attached composite non-scrap tape material and not having attached composite scrap tape material may be spooled using a spool roller.

One or more apparatus and methods exist for automatically preparing cassette spools wound with tape material, such as prepeg unidirectional tape, on original backing paper. This tape material may be used to form a laminate. In one existing apparatus/method, tape material on backing paper is unrolled from a supply reel, the tape material is cut into the required configuration, removed from the original backing paper, and then transferred to another release backing paper and wound onto a cassette spool. However, the transferring of the tape material to another backing paper may create problems. The tape material may lose some of its tacking ability, may not align as well on the new backing paper, may not adhere well to the new backing paper, and may have placement problems when placed on a working surface. Further, the new backing paper may tear, may delaminate from the tape, may stretch and/or have tension problems, may form wrinkles when the tape is placed onto a working surface, and/or may not allow good tacking of the tape material onto the working surface. This may cause problems with tape lifting from the working surface, or may cause wrinkles to be formed in the laminate during tape material layup. Moreover, the process of putting the tape material onto a new backing paper may require more than one machine, may increase the costs, may increase the time required, may reduce efficiency, and/or may lead to one or more other problems.
An apparatus, and/or method of removing composite scrap tape material from a backing paper, is needed to decrease one or more problems associated with one or more of the existing apparatus and/or methods.

Tape removal apparatus and process for use with an automated composite tape laying machine


An image reading apparatus includes a guide rod; a housing member having a guide part for abutting a document placed on a document table and positioning one side of the document on a table face of the document table and a first positioning part and a second positioning part projecting to the back side of the document table, when both end parts of the guide rod abut against the first positioning part and the second positioning part, the first positioning part and the second positioning part for positioning the guide rod at a position where the one side of the document positioned by the guide part and the longitudinal direction axis are parallel; a fix unit for pressing the guide rod against the first positioning part and the second positioning part; a carriage being fitted slidably into the guide rod; and a carriage drive section for moving the carriage along the guide rod.

This invention relates to an image reading apparatus and in particular to a flat-bed image reading apparatus.
Hitherto, an image reading apparatus such as a flat-bed image scanner has been known. In the flat-bed image reading apparatus, a carriage on which an optical system is mounted is moved in parallel to the table face of a document table, whereby the main scanning line is moved in its vertical direction (subscanning direction) for reading a document.
If the fit accuracy of a guide section for positioning a document within a predetermined read area on the table face of the document table and a guide rod for guiding the carriage in the subscanning direction is low, the margin of the document cannot be read or an area where no document exists appears in the margin of the read image.
However, in the flat-bed image reading apparatus in the related art, generally the guide section for positioning a document on the table face of the document table is placed in an upper housing member and the guide rod is positioned to a lower housing member and the upper housing member and the lower housing member engage with each other, whereby the guide rod is positioned relative to the guide section. If the positioning part of the guide rod and the guide section are thus largely away from each other on the structure and are placed in the separate members, it is difficult to improve the fit accuracy of the guide section and the guide rod.


A maintenance method that discharges liquid L collected in a liquid receiver 15 of a liquid ejecting apparatus includes a first step of causing a nozzle opening face 43a of a liquid ejecting head 3 to be disposed facing the liquid receiver 15 in a non-contact state and applying an electric field between both, a second step of ejecting liquid D from a nozzle 47 to the liquid receiver 15, a third step of detecting a voltage change based on electrostatic induction at the time of ejecting the liquid D to the liquid receiver 15, a fourth step of determining a liquid level height H of the liquid L collected in the liquid receiver on the basis of a result of detection of the voltage change, and a fifth step of discharging the liquid L collected in the liquid receiver when the liquid level height H reaches a predetermined height.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a maintenance method for use in a liquid ejecting apparatus such as an ink jet printer, and an ink jet printer.
2. Description of the Related Art
Liquid ejecting apparatuses have liquid ejecting heads capable of ejecting liquids as droplets, and eject various types of liquids from the ejecting heads.
Examples of typical liquid ejecting apparatuses include an image recording apparatus, such as an ink jet printer, having an ink jet recording head (hereinafter referred to simply as a recording head) as a liquid ejecting head, for performing recording by forming dots in such a manner that liquid ink is allowed to be discharged as ink droplets from nozzles (openings) of the recording head and to land on a discharge target such as recording paper.
In recent years, the liquid ejecting apparatuses have been applied not only to the image recording apparatuses but also to various manufacturing apparatuses such as an apparatus for manufacturing color filters of liquid crystal displays, etc.
In such an image recording apparatus, for example, ink stored in a liquid reservoir such as an ink tank or an ink cartridge is introduced into a pressure chamber of a recording head, and a driving signal is applied to drive a pressure generating source such as a piezoelectric vibrator, whereby a pressure change is caused to occur in the ink in the pressure chamber. By controlling the pressure change, an ink droplet can be discharged from a nozzle.
Regarding the recording head, on the basis of a driving voltage (potential difference from the lowest voltage to the highest voltage) of the driving signal supplied to the pressure generating source and a waveform thereof, a liquid amount (weight and volume) of an ink droplet discharged from the nozzle increases or decreases.
In a liquid ejecting apparatus, in order that each nozzle of the recording head may be maintained in a good state and that missing dots may be prevented from occurring in such a manner that a desired amount of ink droplets is always discharged, in a case such as before the start of recording (printing), during recording, or after finishing recording, so-called flushing processing in which, by discharging ink from each nozzle, ink having increased viscosity, etc., in the nozzle is discharged is performed
The liquid discharged by the flushing processing collects in a tray-shaped liquid receiver. When a predetermined amount of the liquid has collected in the liquid receiver, a pump is driven to discharge the liquid to a discharge ink tank. This processing is called idle suction processing (Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2006-248132).
The liquid that collects in the liquid receiver needs to be discharged before overflowing the liquid receiver. However, since the amount of the liquid that collects in the liquid receiver cannot be directly measured, conventionally, the amount of the liquid that collects is indirectly determined on the basis of the amount of the liquid discharged from the nozzle of the recording head and the number of times discharging has been performed. At this time, the liquid amount discharged from the nozzle changes according to environmental conditions such as temperature and humidity, and the liquid amount varies. Thus, the liquid amount is determined assuming the worst conditions (a case where the liquid amount is the largest).
In addition, to ensure avoidance of liquid leaking from the liquid receiver, at the time the amount of the liquid that is collecting has reached a predetermined liquid amount less than the volume (for example, approximately 80% of the volume of the liquid receiver) of the liquid receiver, the pump is driven. In addition, the volume of the liquid receiver is determined assuming that, when a liquid absorber disposed in the liquid receiver is used, the liquid absorber is clogged.
Accordingly, even if the liquid receiver can still sufficiently store liquid, the pump is driven. In other words, there is a problem in that a frequency of pump driving increases.
In particular, in a case where a driving motor for a pump for discharging (suction) liquid from the liquid receiver is also used as a driving motor for a paper feeding mechanism for feeding and expelling recording paper to a recording head, when liquid is discharged from the liquid receiver, it is necessary to interrupt recording processing including paper feeding and expelling. Thus, there is a problem in that efficiency of the recording processing decreases.

Liquid-ejecting-apparatus maintenance method and liquid ejecting apparatus


A vane for a gas turbine engine includes at least one airfoil. A first platform has a first rail located at a first end of the airfoil. A second platform has a second rail located at a second end of the airfoil. A first chordal seal is located on an axially aft surface of the first rail. A second chordal seal is located on an aft surface of the second rail and has a second radius of curvature at least partially truncated by an outer edge of the second rail.

A gas turbine engine typically includes a fan section, a compressor section, a combustor section, and a turbine section. Air entering the compressor section is compressed and delivered into the combustion section where it is mixed with fuel and ignited to generate a high-speed exhaust gas flow. The high-speed exhaust gas flow expands through the turbine section to drive the compressor and the fan section.
Gas turbine stator vane assemblies typically include a plurality of vane segments which collectively form the annular vane assembly. Each vane segment includes one or more airfoils extending between an outer platform and an inner platform. The inner and outer platforms collectively provide radial boundaries to guide core gas flow past the airfoils. Core gas flow may be defined as gas exiting the compressor passing directly through the combustor and entering the turbine.
Vane support rings support and position each vane segment radially inside of the engine diffuser case. In most instances, cooling air bled off of the fan is directed into an annular region between the diffuser case and an outer case, and a percentage of compressor air is directed in the annular region between the outer platforms and the diffuser case, and the annular region radially inside of the inner platforms.
The fan air is at a lower temperature than the compressor air, and consequently cools the diffuser case and the compressor air enclosed therein. The compressor air is at a higher pressure and lower temperature than the core gas flow which passes on to the turbine. The higher pressure compressor air prevents the hot core gas flow from escaping the core gas flow path between the platforms. The lower temperature of the compressor flow keeps the annular regions radially inside and outside of the vane segments cool relative to the core gas flow.


Volatile organic compounds or oxidizing gases are detected when the work function of a metal-organic framework is measured to produce a sensor signal.

The detection or measurement of volatile organic compounds (VOC) is of great interest for a number of applications. Examples are assessment of the air quality in rooms, the energy-efficient control of air conditioning plants, medical diagnostics, safety technology such as the detection of explosives or the monitoring of purified air. A problem with volatile organic compounds is that they come in a very great molecular variety. Important representatives are, for example, aldehydes, alcohols, amines, carboxylic acids, esters, ketones, hydrocarbons, terpenes, thiols, etc. This variety makes it difficult to realize a sensor which gives a sufficiently high sensor signal for a major part of the volatile organic compounds. Odors are often made up of a plurality of compounds which are also frequently present in very small amounts. Volatile organic compounds generally have such a low odor threshold that concentrations which are clearly perceptible to human beings are at the same time very difficult to detect technically.


A battery charger which includes an input supply terminal configured to receive a supply signal, a battery terminal configured to be connected to a battery, at least one output terminal and an electrical path between the battery terminal and the output terminal, at least one device for the detection of one alarm condition of the battery or the battery charger. The battery charger includes circuitry configured to enable the at least one detection device at timing intervals when the battery supplies the at least one output terminal.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to a battery charger.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
Nowadays mobile phones, digital cameras, notebooks, netbooks, tablets etc. have become daily used electronic devices. The power of the batteries of these electronic devices determines a length of time of use of the electronic device. Electronic devices such as mobile phones, digital cameras, notebooks, netbooks, tablets etc. should be used with corresponding battery chargers. Generally, these battery chargers (or called as power supplies) are unique to the corresponding electronic devices.
Typically, each battery charger is provided with an input terminal, such as a USB terminal, for connection to the power line for charging the battery and simultaneously powering the device connected to the battery, as shown in FIG. 1.
The battery charger 20 in FIG. 1 comprises the USB input terminal IN, a control block 10 configured to control first M1 and second M2 transistors arranged in the path between the input terminal IN and the output terminals SYS and Ld and third M3 and fourth M4 transistors arranged in the path between the input terminal IN and the battery BAT downstream the transistors M1, M2. When a supply voltage is present at the input terminal IN, the control block 10 turns on the transistors M1-M4 to provide power to the loads connected to the terminals SYS and Ld and to charge the battery BAT. When the supply voltage is not present at the input terminal IN, the control block 10 turns on the transistors M3-M4 and turns off M1-M2 so the power deriving from the battery BAT supplies the loads connected to the terminals SYS and Ld and the battery charger itself.
The control block receives an enable signal CEN an a shut-down signal SD and comprises a current modulation block adapted to control the transistor M4. Also the control block 10 is able to send an enable signal EN to a LDO block configured to supply an external load with a constant voltage by means of the output terminal Ld.
Also the battery charger comprises some protection circuits to operate the battery disconnection when a protection parameter such as the over discharge current (OCD) or the over discharge voltage (OVD) happens. For the continuous monitoring of the protection parameters the battery charger may consume a certain quantity of current, for example up to 15 microampere, which can be considered high in the case wherein a load, for example a microcontroller, connected with the battery charger has the same current consumption.


A wood chip fermentation device includes: a chip fermenter 11 that is charged with wood chips serving as a heat source and that ferments the wood chips; a temperature sensor 11a that is provided inside the chip fermenter 11 and measures the temperature inside the chip fermenter; a thermal energy extracting pipe 12 that is disposed inside the chip fermenter and extracts fermentation heat from inside the chip fermenter; a pump section 13 that supplies a medium to or takes out a medium from the thermal energy extracting pipe 12; a stirring blade 14a that stirs wood chips 10a put in the chip fermenter 11; and a discharge conveyor 15 that is disposed at a lower portion of the chip fermenter 11 and discharges fermented material. The stirring blade 14a is disposed between the thermal energy extracting pipes 12 and a rotating surface thereof is in a state of being parallel to the thermal energy extracting pipes 12. A bottom surface of the chip fermenter 11 is formed in an arcuate shape such as to follow the rotating outer peripheral surface of the stirring blade 14a. A plurality of temperature sensors 11a are installed in a vertical direction inside each chip fermenter. Control of an on-off valve of the thermal energy extracting pipe 12 is performed based on temperature information from the temperature sensors 11a.

In the past, in greenhouses for use in raising seeding, cultivation and the like, heating has been conducted by combustion of heavy oil or the like. In this case, however, there are problems such as a considerable fuel cost, and bad influences on the environment such as emission of a large quantity of carbon dioxide gas. In addition, in the heating of a greenhouse, the supply temperature at the house inlet is a comparatively high temperature and hot air is circulated by a fan or the like, so that a temperature difference is generated between the vicinity of the fan and areas far from the fan, which may influence the growth of crop.
In view of this, as a system for fermenting various kinds of organic wastes and utilizing the fermentation heat, instead of the heating by combustion of heavy oil or the like, there have been proposed various systems.
For example, an organic waste treatment system described in PTL 1 includes an organic waste crushing and mixing section, and a fermenting and composting tank having a device for pressurizing and stirring the organic wastes, in which a metallic piping is arranged at side walls of the fermenting and composting tank, cooling water is passed through the piping for heating, and the resulting hot water is circulated in a building for heating. In this system, in addition to the production of fermented compost, the hot water obtained utilizing the fermentation heat is supplied to a greenhouse.


A collection device for aquatic life and debris for a traveling water screen. The collection device allows sharing of water provided from a high pressure nozzle while shielding aquatic life from a high pressure spray produced by the high pressure nozzle. The collection device enables separate collection of items exposed to a high pressure spray and items protected from a high pressure spray while reducing water costs. The collection device includes a first compartment for collecting aquatic life collected by a water screen and a second compartment for collecting debris collected by the water screen. A shield dissipates or blocks a high pressure spray directed into the second compartment from entering the first compartment. A filter allows fluid to flow from the second compartment into the first compartment while blocking aquatic life in the first compartment from entering the second compartment.

The present invention relates generally to water screens and, more particularly, to traveling water screen systems with collection devices for collecting aquatic life and debris trapped by a water screen.
Water drawn into an industrial plant from a lake or river must be filtered to prevent debris from fouling equipment and causing damage and to protect aquatic life in the lake or river from damage. Traveling water screens are used to filter out and remove debris and aquatic life from an influent channel before the debris can enter the plant or fish impinged on the upstream face of the screen die. A typical traveling water screen comprises a motor-driven screen, such as a foraminous conveyor belt, extending laterally across the width of the channel and vertically from the bottom of the channel to a height above the level of the water to ensure that all the water flowing in the channel passes through the screen. The water screen travels a circuitous path around a motor-driven head shaft above the level of the water and a lower idle shaft in a boot section of the water screen at the bottom of the channel. The screen travels upward along the upstream portion of its circuitous path and downward along the downstream portion. A series of lift elements, such as baskets, scoops, or flights, extending outward of the screen at periodic intervals along its length lift debris or fish trapped on the upward-moving upstream portion of the water screen out of the channel for disposal in the case of debris and safe transit in the case of fish.
A variety of different types of traveling water screen systems is known, including "through-flow pattern" ("transverse flow"), "out-to-in flow pattern" ("dual flow") and "in-to-out flow pattern" ("center flow") types. In the "through-flow pattern" type, the screen panels are arranged transversely to the direction of flow of the sluice channel and the screen panels that move downwardly are arranged behind the upwardly moving screen panels in the direction of flow. In the "out-to-in flow pattern" and "in-to-out flow pattern" types of construction, the screen panels are arranged in the direction of flow of the sluice channel. In the "out-to-in flow pattern" type of construction, the contaminated water side is the outside of the upwardly and downwardly moving sections and the clean water side is the interior space between the two sections; the opposite is the case for the "in-to-out flow pattern" type of construction.
For fish handling water screen applications, it is current practice to have a dedicated collection trough for fish and a separate collection trough for debris, as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 8,092,674, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. The use of separate collection troughs prevents damage to fish by the high pressure spray water used to clean debris from the water screen.
FIG. 1 shows another water screen system of the prior art 10, comprising a water screen 11 driven by a sprocket 14 and having fish buckets 13 for collecting aquatic life. The water screen includes a trough 12 for collecting the aquatic life and debris trapped by the water screen. The trough 12 comprises a single trough for collecting and combining both aquatic life and debris from the water screen, and a deflector 16 suspended in the trough. A high pressure spray nozzle 18 directs high pressure water through the water screen 11 to push debris trapped by the water screen into the trough 12. A lower pressure spray nozzle 19 provides water for aquatic life dumped by the fish buckets. The deflector 16 blocks the high pressure spray from harming fish falling into the trough from the fish buckets 13. Water, fish, debris and other collected items freely flow below the deflector 16 across the width of the trough 12 and are collected together.

Aquatic life and debris collection device for a water screen


A bingo game sheet for playing a game in combination with a baseball game or the like, includes five rows and five columns which intersect to form a five by five matrix having twenty five zones, each of the rows and columns being associated with a particular inning number or one special event designation so that one zone becomes associated with the two inning numbers or with the one inning number and the special event designation, each zone containing indicia which corresponds to a play or event associated with a baseball game. The particular game and an arrangement of the twenty-five zones on the sheet are identified through the control number to find out the winners.

Description of Related Art
The game of baseball has now become beyond question the leading feature of the outdoor sports of the United States and even other foreign countries. Enthusiastic fans of a particular team may go to ballparks to enjoy the game, while fans may stay home or go to sports cafés or bars to watch the game broadcasted via cable television, satellite, or network such as the Internet. Some may love to see his favorite player hit a home run and feel great when seeing his favorite pitcher take a strikeout from a slugger of the opponent team.
From the aspect of the baseball business, very successful scenarios are to keep attracting many fans continuously. One game of the baseball generally takes time around two or three hours, and if the spectators and televiewers of the game keep attention to the entire game period, the commercial value of the game is much more raised. When the game is tight, the spectators and televiewers likely keep interests on the game, but when the game is of a blow-out for one team, people, particularly fans for the team unlikely coming back, may not keep watching the game until the end of the game. In some cases, a person watches the game simply because his closely associated person is watching the game, and motivation to keep watching the game in such a case may tend to decrease as the game innings proceeds further due to viewer's boring.
In a meantime, the game of bingo is frequently used in such as parties and other situation for entertaining guests and participants. To play the game of bingo, each player is provided with a card or sheet typically including a matrix of five rows and five columns defining twenty-five grid squares. Each grid square contains a single game symbol typically representing a number in the range of 1 to 75. No number in the different grid squares is the same, and the middle grid square in the third row and the third column typically contains no number traditionally referred to as the "free square." As the game proceeds, numbers are drawn, and each player places marks on the drawn numbers by punching out portions of the numbers along the perforation around the corresponding numbers. When at least one straight line of the gird squares is covered by the marked numbers, a winner may be declared to award the prize. In a certain gaming way, two or more lines may give a greater prize to the winner.
As modified bingo games, games have been known to played in conjunction with on-going competitive athletic event. In U.S. Pat. No. 4,883,636 a baseball bingo-type game is disclosed which uses a conventional pre-printed bingo playing card having nine rows which represent nine innings of a baseball game for a visiting team and nine columns which represent the same nine innings for a home team. Each resulting square in the nine-by-nine matrix is pre-printed with a baseball play. When a play on a given space is made by a player on either the home or visiting team, it is covered with a chip or marker by the contestant. As with all conventional bingo games, a winning contestant is determined when a predetermined pattern of zones or spaces is covered by markers (e.g., all the zones in a row, column, or diagonal). This game is not satisfactory for various reasons. For example, if a winner is decided by coverage of all nine zones in a row, column, or diagonal, and if such coverage ends midway, the player likely loses interests in continuing the bingo game after the coverage ends. To place markings on the card properly, the player has to pay attention to the inning number as well as the top or bottom, and if the player places the marking in a wrong zone by mistakenly identifying whether the current event is in the top or the bottom, the entire game of bingo becomes useless, and this may provide negative effects on enjoyments on the baseball game.


An absorbent article including an absorbent core having a fluid distribution layer and fluid storage layer, the fluid distribution layer being formed of two or more sub-layers. A first sub-layer has a first amount of multiple component binder fibers or crosslinked cellulose fibers, or a combination thereof. A second and/or subsequent sub-layer comprises treated or untreated pulp and a second amount of multiple component binder fibers, crosslinked cellulose fibers, or a combination thereof. The % by weight of the first sub-layer of the first amount of multicomponent binder fibers and/or crosslinked cellulose fibers is greater than the % by weight of the second or subsequent sub-layer of the second amount of multiple component binder fibers and/or crosslinked cellulose fibers.

Disposable absorbent articles such as feminine hygiene products, taped diapers, pant-type diapers and incontinence products are designed to absorb fluids from the wearer's body. Users of such disposable absorbent articles have several concerns. Leakage from products like catamenial pads, diapers, sanitary napkins, and incontinence pads is a significant concern. Comfort and the feel of the product against the wearer's body is also a concern. To provide better comfort, current disposable articles are typically provided with a topsheet that is flexible, soft feeling, and non-irritating to the wearer's skin. The topsheet does not itself hold the discharged fluid. Instead, the topsheet is fluid-permeable to allow the fluids to flow into an absorbent core.
Current disposable articles are also provided with an absorbent core, also referred to as an absorbent system, typically comprising an acquisition and/or fluid distribution layer and a fluid storage layer. The fluid distribution layer is typically placed on top of the body facing surface of the fluid storage layer and has the function of rapidly acquiring fluids excreted from the body and transferring them rapidly away from the body into the fluid storage layer. The fluid distribution layer is also used to keep exudates held in the fluid storage layer away from the skin surface during use and/or as pressure is applied to the article. This leads to a constant trade-off between effectiveness of a fluid distribution layer to draw liquid away from the surface, while still providing a comfortable and dry absorbent article.
The present invention seeks to further improve this trade-off between comfort and effectiveness in an absorbent article by providing a specifically designed absorbent core to ensure effective absorption while providing a more pleasant consumer experience.


Disclosed herein are arylpyridinone compounds and compositions useful in the treatment of ITK mediated diseases, such as inflammation, having the structure of Formula (I):

1. Field
The present disclosure relates to new arylpyridinone compounds and compositions, and their application as pharmaceuticals for the treatment of disease. Methods of inhibition of ITK activity in a human or animal subject are also provided for the treatment diseases such as those caused by inflammation.
2. Description of Related Art
The Tec (tyrosine kinase expressed in hepatocellular carcinoma) family of tyrosine kinases (TFTK) consists of five family members: Tec, BTK (Bruton's tyrosine kinase), BMX (bone marrow kinase on the X chromosome also known as ETK), RLK (resting lymphocyte kinase also known as TXK) and ITK (interleukin-2 inducible T cell kdsinase, also known as EMT and TSK). These kinases are central to the regulation of hematopoietic cell biology and more specifically the development and activity of lymphocytes and myeloid cells (Horwood et al. (2012) Int. Rev. Immunol. 31, 87-103; Boucheron et al. (2012) Int. Rev. Immunol. 31, 133-154; Koprulu et al. (2009) Crit. Rev. Immunol. 29, 317-333). The TFTK have structural similarities to other non-receptor tyrosine kinases while exhibiting some family specific motifs resulting in a diversity of domain structures associated with complex localization, scaffolding and activation mechanisms. Generally, TFTK contain an amino terminal plekstrin homology domain (PH domain) involved in lipid interactions and membrane targeting followed by a BTK homology domain (BH) that binds Zn2+ and an SH3 domain generally involved in proline rich domain binding. A phosphotyrosine binding SH2 domain and a carboxy terminal ATP binding kinase domain complete the TFTK structure (Mano, et al. (1999) Cytokine Growth Factor Rev. 10, 267-280). TFTK expression is generally limited to hematopoietic lineage cells with the exception of ETK and TEC that are expressed in the liver and endothelial cells, respectively (Smith, et al. (2011) Bioessays 23, 436-446). BMX is expressed in monocytes, granulocytes and cardiac endothelium while BTK is expressed in B cells and mast cells but not plasma cells and T cells. TEC, RLK and ITK are all expressed in T cells. To date the TFTK with the most clear biological role in T cells is ITK.
Antigen/MHC dependent activation of the T cell receptor (TCR) has been shown to transduce its signal through ITK. TCR stimulation results in the activation of the kinase LCK and subsequent phosphorylation of the immunoreceptor tyrosine-based activation motifs (ITAMs) on CD3 inducing the binding and activation of the kinase ZAP70. In turn, ZAP70 phosphorylates the adaptor proteins LAT and SLP-76, which together with LCK and other proteins forms a hetermultimeric signaling complex that activates PI3K and generates PIP3 on the plasma membrane. ITK binds to this signaling complex via SH2 and SH3 domains and to PIP3 through its PH domain, resulting in LCK dependent phosphorylation of ITK Y511 and subsequent ITK autophosphorylation of Y180. Activated ITK phosphorylates PLCγ1 that, once activated, hydrolyzes PIP2 to the second messengers IP3 and DAG. The cellular consequences of these sequelae of events include calcium mobilization and flux, PKC and MEK/ERK pathway activation, and transcriptional activation via APi, NFκactiv NFAT. As a critical enzyme in the TCR activation pathway ITK impacts T cell function in a number of ways including positive and negative selection, cellular differentiation, and cytokine production and release (Takesono, et al. (2002) J. Cell Science 115, 3039-3048; August, et al. (2012) Int. Rev. Immunol. 31, 155-165; Andreotti, et al. (2010) Cold Spring Harb. Perspect. Biol. 2, a002287 1-21).
The role of ITK in T cell function has been delineated through genetic knockdown/kinase inactivation of the ITK gene in rodents and through characterizing human ITK mutant individuals. Mice with a null mutation of the itk gene expressed a decreased number of mature T cells and a block in thymocyte development as well as a decreased TCR driven T cell proliferative response. Interestingly IL2 and CD28 signaling as well as PMA/ionomycin driven responses remained unchanged, suggesting that the ITK response is membrane proximal and stimuli specific (Liao et al. (1995) Immunity 3, 757-769). It appears that ITK is responsible for amplification of TCR signaling versus an 'on/off' switch, as dual knockdown of the T cell expressing TFTK, ITK and RLK in mice produce a more complete TCR inactivation phenotype compared with ITK genetic deletion alone (Schaeffer et al. (1999) Science 284, 638-641). In contrast to the modulatory effect that ITK appears to have on naïve T cell activation, it plays a more significant role in T helper cell differentiation. Several studies in ITK deficient mice have demonstrated a reduction in the Th2 protective response to parasitic infection (Fowell et al. (1999) Immunity 11, 399-409; Schaeffer et al. (2001) Nat. Immunol. 2, 1183-1188). This reduced Th2 response was linked to a decrease in concentrations of Th2 cytokines IL4, IL5, IL13 and IL10 (Schaeffer et al. (2001) Nat. Immunol. 2, 1183-1188) and to a reduction in RLK expression. In contrast to the ITK requirement for mounting Th2 driven responses, its impact on Th1 responses is modest. For example, IFNg production in ITK knockout cells is partially inhibited while the double ITK/RLK knockout has a more severe phenotype (Fowell et al. (1999) Immunity 11, 399-409; Schaeffer et al. (2001) Nat. Immunol. 2, 1183-1188; Miller et al. (2004) Immunity 21, 67-80). Evaluation of Th17 T helper cells in ITK knockout in vivo and in vitro studies demonstrated a reduction of IL17A mRNA and protein while having little impact on IL17F (Gomez-Rodriguez et al. (2009) Immunity, 31, 587-597). The role of ITK in cytotoxic CD8+ T cells was investigated using ITK knockout mice. Stimulation of CD8+ T cells deficient in ITK results in a reduction in activation of PLCg1, ERK and p38 MAPK and loss of Ca2+ response resulting in decreased proliferative response and effector cytokine production (IL2, IL4 and IFNg) while not impacting cytolytic capacity of these cells (Atherly et al. (2006) J. Immunol. 176, 1571-1581). In addition to the defects observed in CD4+ and CD8+ T cells, natural killer T cell development and TCR stimulated response is reduced in ITK knockout cells and animals (Au-Yueng et al. (2007) J. Immunol. 179, 111-119; Felices et al. (2008) J. Immunol. 180, 3007-3018).
Rodent genetic knockout studies reflect the impact of enzyme expression, not necessarily its catalytic activity, on biological responses. As ITK, through its multiple domain structure, has a role in scaffolding, in addition to its catalytic role. It is important to delineate the impact of blocking each of these functions on cellular biology. Kinase activity-independent ITK activities include recruitment of the guanine nucleotide exchange factor VAV to the cell membrane associated with actin polymerization (PH and SH2 domain dependent) (Atherly et al. (2006) J. Immunol. 176, 1571-1581), antigen receptor stimulation, and receptor activation of SRF (Dombroski et al. (2005) J. Immunol., 174, 1385-1392). However, ITK knockout mice expressing an ITK kinase domain deleted transgene demonstrated that the kinase domain is essential for induction of a normal Th2 response (von Bonin et al. (2011) Exp. Dermatol. 20, 41-47).
The relationship between ITK expression and activity and human disease has recently been documented in studies characterizing individuals exhibiting mutations in the gene encoding this protein and or correlation between expression and disease. The ITK gene was found to be elevated in peripheral blood T cells from patients with moderate to severe atopic dermatitis, a Th2 driven chronic inflammatory skin disease (Hao et al. (2006) FEBS Letts., 580, 2691-2697). An investigation of disease-associated single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) in seasonal allergic rhinitis identified ITK as a significant risk factor (Matsumoto et al. (2002) Int. Arch. Allergy Immunol. 129, 327-340). A human primary immunodeficiency was uncovered in siblings that died from immune dysregulation resulting in lymphoproliferation following Epstein Barr Virus (EBV) infection. This disorder was linked to a missense (R335W) mutation in the SH2 domain of ITK resulting in structural instability and reduced steady state levels of the enzyme (Felices et al. (2008) J. Immunol., 180, 3007-3018). The finding was confirmed and extended in studies that identified three patients harboring a C1764G nonsense mutation in ITK resulting in a premature stop codon and reduced expression and/or activity of the protein. These patients presented with EBV-positive Hodgkins Lymphoma (Huck et al. (2009) J. Clin. Invest. 119, 1350-1358). These two reports suggest that mutational disruption of the ITK gene in humans results in an autosomal recessive lymphoproliferative disorder and identifies this kinase as a critical modulator in T cell biology.
In addition to the human genetic data summarized above, animal models support ITK as a therapeutic target for autoimmune and inflammatory disease. ITK knockout mice demonstrate reduced airway hypersensitivity and inflammation in models of allergic asthma (Stepensky et al. (2011) Haematologica, 96, 472-476; Mueller et al. (2003) J. Immunol., 170, 5056-5063; Ferrara et al. (2004) Pulm. Pharmacol. Ther. 17, 301-308). In a murine model of atopic dermatitis, ITK deficient mice do not develop inflammation while ITK inhibition reduces the response in wild type mice (Ferrara et al. (2006) J. Allerg. Clin. Immunol. 117, 780-786). The ITK dependent regulation of TCR dependent Ca2+ mobilization and transcription factor induction makes it a critical factor in protecting against Influenza A and HIV infection and viral replication. ITK inhibitors have been shown to alter HIV replication at multiple stages and have the potential as effective HIV therapeutics (Sahu et al. (2008) J. Immunol. 180, 3833-3838).
From an oncology perspective, studies have demonstrated that ITK inhibitors selectively target the killing of acute lymphblastic T-cell leukemia and cutaneous T-cell lymphoma while normal T cells are minimally impacted (Readinger et al. (2008) Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci. USA, 105, 6684-6689). ITK is highly expressed in transformed T-cell lines relative to normal T cells and other cancer cell lines. The impact of ITK inhibition on T cell tumors was confirmed in mouse xenograph models. Cancer evasion of the immune system as a result of tumor antigen tolerance induction versus priming is critical for tumor survival. Tumors that develop a microenvironment that induces T cell unresponsiveness demonstrate altered T cell gene expression suggesting skewing to the Th2 phenotype. ITK inhibition will favor Th1 differentiation and could be used to enhance cancer immunotherapy (Gao et al. (2012) Mol. Pharmacol., 82, 938-947; Horna et al. (2007) Curr. Cancer Drug Targ. 7, 41-53).
Compounds useful as BTK inhibitors for the treatment of inflammation and immune disorders are reported in WO 2012031004 (pub. 8 Mar. 2012). Compounds described therein include arylpyridinones substituted with amino substituents.
Compounds useful as cannabinoid 2-type receptor inhibitors are reported in WO 2002053543 (pub. 11 Jul. 2002). Compounds described therein include arylpyridinones substituted with amido substituents.
Compounds useful as SYK inhibitors for the treatment of inflammation and immune disorders are reported in EP 2489663 (pub. 22 Aug. 2012). Compounds described therein include N-pyrazinyl-indoles and N-pyrazinyl-indole pyridinones substituted with amino substituents.
Compounds useful as thrombin inhibitors for the treatment of blood and coagulation disorders are reported in WO 2000026211 (pub. 11 May 2000). Compounds described therein include N-substituted pyrazinones substituted with amino substituents.

Arylpyridinone ITK inhibitors for treating inflammation and cancer

Abstract: wherein Ar, R2, R4, R5, n and X are as defined in the detailed description. Methods of inhibition of ITK activity in a human or animal subject are also provided.


Disclosed are methods that can be used to (1) measure the level of polysaccharide in a sample; (2) measure the ability of a compound to degrade a polysaccharide; (3) measure the ability of a compound to modulate polysaccharide synthesis; and (4) identify or distinguish a polysaccharide, and hence organism, for diagnostic purposes in clinical medicine or research. The invention stems from Applicant's discovery that polysaccharides have multiple binding sites for polysaccharide binding moieties (PBM, e.g., wheat germ agglutinin (WGA)). In each method, one PBM links the polysaccharide to a substrate, and a tagged PBM is used to detect the polysaccharide. All of these methods can be carried out rapidly and quickly in the wells of a microtiter plate, thus permitting high through-put screening of samples or test compounds.

The present invention relates to a quantitative assay for polysaccharides, which can be used for the rapid identification of novel antimicrobial agents.
The natural tendency of a microorganism to mutate its genome in order to achieve antibiotic resistance provides an ongoing need for the identification of new antimicrobial agents. One class of antibacterial agents acts by inhibiting synthesis of the cell wall of the targeted microorganism. Examples of antimicrobial agents that act in this manner are penicillin and nacillin, a semi-synthetic version of penicillin. The ability of a compound to interfere with the synthesis of a cell wall in vivo can be estimated in an in vitro assay of polysaccharide levels following cell wall synthesis in vitro in the presence of the compound. Because the major structural polysaccharides in the cell wall of fungi are .beta.-glucan and chitin, compounds that interfere with the synthesis of these polymers may have utility as antifungal agents.
Many of the previously described methods for measuring polysaccharide levels in a sample involve the transfer of a radioactively labeled monosaccharide from an activated sugar donor to a specific saccharide acceptor. For example, the level of chitin synthesized in a reaction can be determined by measuring incorporation of radiolabeled GlcNAc from Uridine-Diphosphate GlcNAc into the growing chitin chain. After physical isolation of the generated chitin, one can quantitate the amount of chitin by taking into account the specific activity of the radiolabeled sugar donor.


Herein disclosed is a press tool interchanging apparatus for a press machine, comprising: a tool plate arranged in a press station and including a plurality of tool clamps hydraulically actuated for clamping a press tool; a bolster plate underlying the tool plate and having a plurality of rollers adapted to appear, when lifted, above the upper surface of the bolster plate for carrying the press tool; a plurality of lifters arranged in the bolster plate and hydraulically actuated for lifting the rollers; and a plurality of pressure fluid conduits arranged in the tool plate for feeding a fluid under pressure to the tool clamps and the lifters. Thus, the tool plate is arranged with the tool clamps and the fluid conduits, and the lifters having the vertically movable rollers are mounted in the bolster plate. The pressure fluid can be pumped by jointing couplers in positions between the tool plate and the bolster plate to quicken the clamping actions thereby to shorten the tool interchanging time and to improve the working efficiency of the press machine.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a tool interchanging apparatus for a press machine and, more particularly, to a press tool interchanging apparatus using a tool plate arranged with pressure fluid conduits.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In the prior art of press working field required to have a multiple-kind little production, it has grown ordinary to interchange press tools ten and more times a day. In order to keep and improve the working efficiency of the press machine, therefore, it is one of important factors to shorten the tool interchanging time. Thus, a variety of tool interchanging apparatus have been devised. In this meanwhile, however, the press facilities are large-sized, and a mere improvement in the existing facilities could not cope with the demand of the field. Many other problems are left unsolved in that the shortening of the tool interchanging time and the spare of the man power are insufficient and ineffective. It is well known in the art, for example, to interchange the tools by moving in and out a tool plate carrying a press tool at a right angle with respect to the work conveying direction or by moving it further in parallel with the work conveying direction (as disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open Nos. 57519, 248762 and 126233/1991). Some of these disclosures uses a self-running truck which is made to run on a pair of rails. However, this tool interchanging apparatus using the self-running truck is required to reinforce the floor, on which are laid the rails, thus inviting an increase in the construction cost.
In case a tool plate carrying a press tool is to be lifted from the bolster plate of a press machine by means of built-in lifters and horizontally conveyed on a roller conveyor, it is also known in the art to use a pusher or a closed loop chain with pawls. On the other hand, an automatic clamp for clamping the press tool and a tool plate or a bolster plate usually uses a hydraulic cylinder. However, pressure fluid conduits for feeding a fluid such as oil under pressure to those lifters or auto clamps are separately arranged by metal tubes or naked high-pressure hoses.
The auto clamps or lifters have to be fed with the pressure fluid so as to position the press tool, which has been moved horizontally or vertically and seated on the stationary bolster plate of a press station, to fixe at least the lower tool member on the bolster plate and to move the press tool again.
In the press tool interchanging apparatus of the prior art, however, the operator has to enter the dangerous inside of the press machine, after he has stopped the press machine, to connect the flexible tubes of the fluid conduits of the auto clamps and the tool lifters manually for each interchange. This operation is not only troublesome but also liable to invite leakage of the pressure fluid. Another problem is to take a long time for the connection.


A hydrogen storage alloy electrode for use in electrochemical hydrogen storage cells, the electrode being in the form of a negative electrode fabricated by sintering a mixture of a hydrogen storage alloy containing manganese and an alloy containing a measured amount of manganese.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a hydrogen storage alloy electrode capable of reversibly electrochemically storing and discharging hydrogen. More particularly, the present invention relates to a hydrogen storage alloy negative electrode of the sintered type and a manufacturing method of the same.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In recent advances of electronic technology, development of compact and lightweight high performance secondary batteries of higher energy density is strongly required as a power source for portable cordless electronic equipment. In such requirement, metal hydride batteries using a hydrogen storage alloy negative electrode has been particularly noticed as a more environmentally clean energy source rather than lead-acid, nickel-cadmium or other batteries.
A conventional hydrogen storage alloy negative electrode of the non-sintering type for alkaline cells is manufactured by the steps of mixing powdered hydrogen storage alloy materials with binder agents such as polyethylene oxide, polyvinyl alcohol or the like and coating a slurry of the mixture on a conductive core plate such as a perforated (punched) metal plate. In the hydrogen storage alloy negative electrode, the binder agents must be interposed between particles of the hydrogen storage alloy materials and between the hydrogen storage alloy and the conductive core plate to retain the hydrogen storage alloy on the conductive core plate. The discharge characteristics and capacity of the hydrogen storage alloy negative electrode are deteriorated due to insulation resistance of the binder agents.
To solve the problem, there has been proposed a manufacturing method of a hydrogen storage alloy negative electrode of the sintering type, for example, in Japanese Patent Publication No. 58(1983)-46827, Japanese Patent Laid-open Publication No. 2(1990)-12765, etc. The manufacturing method disclosed therein comprises the steps of mixing powdered hydrogen storage alloy materials with powders of precursor materials, such as Co, Ni, TiNi.sub.x and the like, subjecting the mixture of the powder materials placed on a perforated metal plate to a compaction process and sintering the mixture on the metal plate in a vacuum or an inert environment to provide a sintered hydrogen storage alloy negative electrode of higher strength.
In the manufacturing process of the negative electrode, however, when the hydrogen storage alloy materials containing a measured amount of manganese are sintered after being mixed with the powders of Co, Ni, TiNi.sub.x, the manganese melts out of the hydrogen storage alloy, resulting in degradation of the composition of the hydrogen storage alloy. This decreases the discharge capacity of the negative electrode.

Hydrogen storage alloy electrode and manufacturing method of the same


A fluid dynamic bearing motor features a stationary assembly, a rotating assembly supported on the stationary assembly, a fluid dynamic bearing system in a gap between the stationary and rotating assemblies, a radial capillary seal defined proximate a first end of the journal gap, and at least one re-circulation hole extending from the radial capillary seal to a second end of the journal gap.

Disk drives are capable of storing large amounts of digital data in a relatively small area. Disk drives store information on one or more recording media, which conventionally take the form of circular storage disks (e.g. media) having a plurality of concentric circular recording tracks. A typical disk drive has one or more disks for storing information. This information is written to and read from the disks using read/write heads mounted on actuator arms that are moved from track to track across the surfaces of the disks by an actuator mechanism.
Generally, the disks are mounted on a spindle that is turned by a spindle motor to pass the surfaces of the disks under the read/write heads. The spindle motor generally includes a shaft mounted on a base plate and a hub, to which the spindle is attached, having a sleeve into which the shaft is inserted. Permanent magnets attached to the hub interact with a stator winding on the base plate to rotate the hub relative to the shaft. In order to facilitate rotation, one or more bearings are usually disposed between the hub and the shaft.
Over the years, storage density has tended to increase, and the size of the storage system has tended to decrease. This trend has lead to greater precision and lower tolerance in the manufacturing and operating of magnetic storage disks. For example, to achieve increased storage densities, the read/write heads must be placed increasingly close to the surface of the storage disk. This proximity requires that the disk rotate substantially in a single plane.
From the foregoing discussion, it can be seen that the bearing assembly that supports the storage disk is of critical importance. One bearing design is a fluid dynamic bearing. In a fluid dynamic bearing, a lubricating fluid such as air or liquid provides a bearing surface between a fixed member of the housing and a rotating member of the disk hub. In addition to air, typical lubricants include gas, oil, or other fluids. The relatively rotating members may comprise bearing surfaces with fluid dynamic grooves formed on the members themselves. Fluid dynamic bearings spread the bearing surface over a large surface area, as opposed to a ball bearing assembly, which comprises a series of point interfaces. The use of fluid in the interface area imparts damping effects to the bearing, which helps to reduce non-repeatable run-out. Thus, fluid dynamic bearings are an advantageous bearing system.
However, fluid dynamic bearing designs are susceptible to problems caused by manufacturing tolerance variations in bearing (and bearing groove) geometry. These problems include variations in pressure produced in the journal bearing and a possible entrapment of air bubbles in the fluid (where the fluid is a liquid) itself. Both of the stated problems may be avoided by providing a fluid dynamic bearing with a fluid re-circulation path to an external environment.
Therefore, a need exists for a fluid dynamic bearing design that utilizes capillary seals combined with fluid re-circulation. Furthermore, a bearing design that can do so while eliminating any air that enters the fluid bearing system is desirable to prolong motor life.

Single thrust magnetically biased fully recirculating self purging fluid dynamic bearing motor

Abstract: A single thrust shaft end bearing which pressurizes the shaft end to create an axial thrust bearing and drive bubbles in the fluid (where the fluid is a liquid) to the outer diameter of the shaft and into the recirculation path.

Abstract: The journal may be supported for rotation by dual sets of grooves; the dual groove asymmetry in the journal maintains a positive pressure between the journals.


The invention provides for methods of modifying n esterase or a lipase enzyme to introduce perhydrolase activity or to increase the already-existing perhydrolase activity. The invention also provides for methods of converting an polypeptide having predominantly esterase and/or lipase catalytic activity to a polypeptide having predominantly perhydrolase activity.

Catalytic promiscuity is the ability of the active site of one enzyme to catalyze several chemical transformations. Understanding and controlling catalytic promiscuity are key to understanding the evolution of new enzymatic activity and to design new enzyme-catalyzed reactions for synthesis. The rationale presented here, which was used to increase the perhydrolase activity in an esterase or a lipase, may be used to design other enzymes with altered nucleophile selectivity and to catalyze stereoselective oxidations.

Increasing perhydrolase activity in esterases and/or lipases


Minimum-memory-implementation is available with any depth and period in DSL interleaving/deinterleaving, always allowing the minimum amount of memory to be used in both transmitter and receiver without loss of performance or of basic triangular structure, even if the interleaver/deinterleaver parameters change dynamically. A novel cell-scheduling process ensures availability of the minimum amount of memory (or any other desired memory usage) to implement an image of the perfect triangle and works for any co-prime depth and interleaver period. Minimal memory use may be further characterized by a simple off-line method that determines an addressing order for each of the memory cells in a minimum-memory (or other) implementation of an interleaver/deinterleaver according to the invention. Time variation of interleaver depth in operation can be accommodated easily with absolute minimum memory requirement at all time instants.

1. Technical Field
This invention relates generally to methods, systems and apparatus for digital communications systems.
2. Description of Related Art
Digital communications system transmitters use modules known as interleavers and corresponding receiver modules known as deinterleavers. In Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) systems, these modules are used to increase the systems' coding gain and to improve their impulse noise correction capability. These improvements allow reliable transmission of information at data rates higher than those achievable without interleaver/deinterleaver modules. Interleaver/deinterleaver configuration parameters have previously been set before starting data transmission. Thus, the interleaver and deinterleaver modules are not in operation while their parameters are adjusted. However, it has been proposed that "dynamic" changes to the interleaver/deinterleaver parameters should be allowed even while these modules are in operation (that is, while data is being passed through these modules). Although interleaver/deinterleaver designs are known to those skilled in the art, previous systems have always had to reserve enough memory in advance to accommodate the maximum potential values of the interleaver/deinterleaver parameters.
Systems, apparatus, methods and techniques that constantly maintain used memory at a minimum, even during dynamic parameter changes, would represent a significant advancement in the art.

Adaptive Spectrum and Signal Alignment, Inc.


Embodiments of the present invention disclose a multicast packet transmission method, and also a related device and system. A multicast packet transmission method may include receiving a first Protocol Independent Multicast (PIM) protocol packet; creating an active multicast topology according to the first PIM protocol packet; receiving a second PIM protocol packet; creating a standby multicast topology according to the second PIM protocol packet, where the second PIM protocol packet carries a standby multicast identifier; setting the standby multicast topology to a disabled state; determining the active multicast topology as faulty; and enabling the standby multicast topology after the active topology is determined as faulty.

The Internet Protocol (IP for short, Internet Protocol) multicast technology implements point-to-multipoint data transmission efficiently. The multicast technology saves bandwidth efficiently, controls network traffic, relieves the load of a server, and reduces network load. Therefore, the multicast technology is applied in real-time transmission of a video service, multimedia conference, game, emulation, and so on.
The modern network service imposes higher and higher requirements on the real-time feature. For example, the services such as voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP for short, Voice over Internet Protocol), online game, and online video are very sensitive to packet loss. In the running process of the IP multicast, if a network is faulty, a unicast routing protocol needs to perform calculation first according to the change of the network topology to implement convergence, and then a multicast routing protocol such as Protocol Independent Multicast (PIM for short, Protocol Independent Multicast) Protocol reselects an inverse path (RPF for short, Reverse Path Forwarding) to forward the packet to an upstream node according to a new unicast route, and sends a request to an upstream router hop by hop, and the transmission of the multicast traffic is not recovered until a new multicast forwarding path is created. Therefore, before the new multicast forwarding path is created successfully, the multicast traffic is not transmitted normally, which leads to service interruption. Persons skilled in the art are exploring how to prevent interruption of multicast traffic transmission when the network is faulty, but no effective technical solution to such a problem has been worked out.

Multicast packet transmission method, related device and system


A semiconductor light-emitting device includes: a support; a semiconductor light-emitting element bonded to the support and comprising a first electrode, a second electrode, and a semiconductor layer including at least an active layer, at least one of the first and second electrodes overlying the semiconductor layer; and a wiring metal formed to extend from above a portion of an upper surface of the support not underlying the semiconductor light-emitting element to one said electrode overlying the semiconductor layer. The electrode is fed with power through the wiring metal.

(a) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a semiconductor light-emitting device having a light-emitting diode or the like, and particularly to a semiconductor light-emitting device used for lighting modules or lighting apparatuses, and a method for fabricating the same.
(b) Description of Related Art
Recently, as the luminance of a white light-emitting diode (hereinafter referred to as "LED") increases, the application of LEDs is greatly expanded from for indication to for illumination.
In general, the white LED has a structure in which a semiconductor light-emitting element for emitting blue or ultraviolet light in combined with a phosphor that is excited by the blue or ultraviolet light emitted from the semiconductor light-emitting element. The semiconductor light-emitting element includes a semiconductor layer comprising a p-type electrode and an n-type electrode, and the semiconductor layer has a pn junction structure formed by depositing a gallium nitride compound semiconductor layer on a sapphire substrate.
However, since the sapphire substrate has a electrical insulating property, there is a need to form an n-type electrode and a p-type electrode on a surface of the gallium nitride compound semiconductor layer that is opposite to the surface on which the sapphire substrate is formed. In semiconductor light-emitting devices employing such semiconductor light-emitting element, the following feeding method is generally used.
In a semiconductor light-emitting device using a first feeding method, a heat sink is bonded via Ag paste or the like to the surface of the sapphire substrate that is opposite to the surface on which the gallium nitride compound semiconductor layer is formed. The n-type and p-type electrodes, which are formed on the upper surface of the gallium nitride compound semiconductor layer of the semiconductor light-emitting element, are electrically connected to a feeding unit through a bonding wire. Therefore, in the semiconductor light-emitting device using the first feeding method, the n-type and p-type electrodes are fed through the bonding wire.
In a semiconductor light-emitting device using a second feeding method, a p-type electrode and an n-type electrode are formed at the upper level of the gallium nitride compound semiconductor layer deposited on the sapphire substrate. Moreover, patterned electrodes are formed on a heat sink and the patterned electrodes are flip-chip mounted using Au bumps through which the patterned electrodes are electrically connected to the p-type and n-type electrodes. Therefore, in the semiconductor light-emitting device using the second feeding method, the n-type and p-type electrodes are fed through the patterned electrodes formed on the heat sink.
The semiconductor light-emitting device using the first feeding method has the sapphire substrate interposed between the semiconductor light-emitting element and the heat sink. The sapphire substrate has large thermal resistance and thus poor heat dispersion. Therefore, the semiconductor light-emitting device using the first feeding method cannot achieve sufficient heat dispersion. As a result, when the semiconductor light-emitting device is applied to illumination or the like that requires a large mount of power, problems such as thermal saturation of light output and decrease of reliability of light output arise.
In addition, in the semiconductor light-emitting device using the second feeding method, only Au bumps serve as paths for heat dispersion and, therefore, sufficient heat dispersion cannot be achieved. As a result, also when the semiconductor light-emitting device is applied to illumination or the like that requires a large amount of power, problems such as thermal saturation of light output and decrease of reliability of light output arise.
To solve the problems, the following semiconductor light-emitting device has been proposed (see, e.g., D. Morita et al., "High Output Power 365 nm Ultraviolet Light Emitting Diode of GaN-Free Structure," Jpn. J. Appl. Phys. Vol. 41 (2002), pp. L1434-L1436).
FIG. 15 shows a cross sectional view of a known semiconductor light-emitting device.
As shown in FIG. 15, a p-side ohmic electrode 802, a pn junction structure 803, and an n-side ohmic electrode 804 are formed on a support 800, which is a heat sink and is made of CuW, with a fusion material 801 interposed between the support 800 and the p-side ohmic electrode 802. The pn junction structure 803 is a semiconductor layer which is formed by sequentially depositing a p-type gallium nitride compound semiconductor layer, an active layer, and an n-type gallium nitride compound semiconductor layer.
In this manner, over the support 800, a semiconductor light-emitting element is formed which includes the semiconductor layer (pn junction structure 803), the p-side ohmic electrode 802 underlying the semiconductor layer, and the n-side ohmic electrode 804 overlying the semiconductor layer.
On the n-side ohmic electrode 804, an Au plating layer 805 is formed which is electrically connected to a power supply pole 807 through an Au wire 806.
Now, how to complete the pn junction structure 803 will be described in detail.
First, a pn junction structure 803 on which a semiconductor layer is epitaxially grown is formed on a sapphire substrate (not shown). Then, the pn junction structure 803 formed on the sapphire substrate is peeled off therefrom using a laser lift-off technique, and the pn junction structure 803 is bonded via a fusion material 801 on a support 800. In this manner, the pn junction structure 803 formed on the sapphire substrate is peeled off therefrom by laser lift-off technique and then bonded on the support 800.
The conventional semiconductor light-emitting device allows the semiconductor light-emitting element to emit light by feeding a current to the power supply pole 807 and the conductive support 800 from outside.
In the conventional semiconductor light-emitting device, the semiconductor light-emitting element is formed via the fusion material 801 on the support 800 which is a heat sink, not on the sapphire substrate.
With this structure, the entire principal surface of the semiconductor light-emitting element is bonded via the fusion material 801 to the support 800 to achieve good heat dispersion in the semiconductor light-emitting device.
Moreover, in the conventional semiconductor light-emitting device, the semiconductor light-emitting element including the semiconductor layer (pn junction structure 803), the p-side ohmic electrode 802 underlying the semiconductor layer and the n-side ohmic electrode 804 overlying the semiconductor layer is formed over the support 800.
With this structure, the conventional semiconductor light-emitting device can reduce series resistance as compared with a semiconductor light-emitting device using a semiconductor light-emitting element which includes a semiconductor layer (pn junction structure) and p-side and n-side ohmic electrodes on the semiconductor layer. As a result, the conventional semiconductor light-emitting device can suppress heat generation therein.
However, the results of the inventors' experiments on the conventional semiconductor light-emitting device using laser lift-off technique have shown the following problems.
The pn junction structure 803 peeled off from the sapphire substrate (not shown) by laser lift-off technique is as extremely thin as several μm to over 10 μm. Therefore, during wire bonding, the semiconductor light-emitting element is deformed by application of ultrasound or local application of pressure from the tip part of a collet for wire bonding, and thereby causes cracking or chipping. As a result, there found a problem of significantly reducing yield of the semiconductor light-emitting device.
Moreover, the semiconductor light-emitting element is formed over the support 800 made of a material having a hardness lower than that of sapphire, SiC or the like. Therefore, during the wire bonding, the support 800 is easily deformed by loads placed through the application of ultrasound or local application of pressure from the tip part of the collet for wire bonding to the semiconductor light-emitting element, and thereby causes a deformation of the semiconductor light emitting element. As a result, there found a problem of generating cracking or chipping in the semiconductor light-emitting element.
Furthermore, in the case of a conventional semiconductor light-emitting device in which a plurality of semiconductor light-emitting elements are arranged in an array, power is supplied to each of the semiconductor light-emitting elements through bonding wires. Therefore, there found a problem that the larger the number of semiconductor light-emitting elements arranged in an array is, the significantly lower the yield of semiconductor light-emitting devices is.
Furthermore, the above conventional semiconductor light-emitting device requires a pad electrode on a light extraction surface of each of the semiconductor light-emitting elements. Therefore, the larger the number of the semiconductor light-emitting elements arranged in an array is, the significantly smaller the area of effective light extraction surface becomes. As a result, there found a problem that sufficient light emission efficiency cannot be obtained.

Semiconductor light-emitting device, lighting module and lighting apparatus


Fibrous structures having two or more zones, sanitary tissue products comprising such fibrous structures, and method for making such fibrous structures and/or sanitary tissue products are provided.

Since an important feature of a consumer's first impression and/or assessment of products, such as sanitary tissue products, is visual, the need to improve the consumer's visual experience with a product, such as a sanitary tissue product, for example toilet tissue is paramount. Known ways to impact the visual experience of a consumer of sanitary tissue products is to impart aesthetics and/or texture, via embossing and/or printing of ink on a surface of the sanitary tissue product and/or fibrous structure making up the sanitary tissue product.
Manufacturers continue to attempt to improve the consumer's visual experience with sanitary tissue products to provide a better experience for the consumer at the time of purchasing and/or at the time of using the sanitary tissue product. A better consumer experience via an improved consumer visual experience with a sanitary tissue product, including one or more fibrous structures within the sanitary tissue product will drive purchase of and/or consumption of the sanitary tissue product including its fibrous structures.
One problem faced by manufacturers of fibrous structures and sanitary tissue products comprising such fibrous structures is how to improve the visual experience of a consumer of the fibrous structures and sanitary tissue products comprising such fibrous structures.
Prior art sanitary tissue products exhibit single zones and/or lack a continuous unified design feature and/or exhibit a design feature that repeats within 5 inches or less in the fibrous structure's MD as shown in the Prior Art FIGS. 1A-1G.
Prior Art FIG. 1A shows a sanitary tissue product having a single zone on its surface.
Prior Art FIG. 1B shows a sanitary tissue product lacking a continuous unified design feature and also lacks a design feature that repeats greater than 5 inches in the fibrous structure's MD.
Prior Art FIG. 1C shows a sanitary tissue product lacking a continuous unified design feature and also lacks a design feature that repeats greater than 5 inches in the fibrous structure's MD.
Prior Art FIG. 1D shows a sanitary tissue product lacking a continuous unified design feature and also lacks a design feature that repeats greater than 5 inches in the fibrous structure's MD.
Prior Art FIG. 1E shows a sanitary tissue product lacking a continuous unified design feature and also lacks a design feature that repeats greater than 5 inches in the fibrous structure's MD.
Prior Art FIG. 1F shows a sanitary tissue product lacking a continuous unified design feature and also lacks a design feature that repeats greater than 5 inches in the fibrous structure's MD.
Prior Art FIG. 1G shows a sanitary tissue product lacking a continuous unified design feature and also lacks a design feature that repeats greater than 5 inches in the fibrous structure's MD.
Accordingly, there is a need for fibrous structures and/or sanitary tissue products comprising such fibrous structures that provide an improved and/or superior visual experience compared to known fibrous structures and/or known sanitary tissue products comprising such known fibrous structures and methods for making same.