A magneto-resistance effect magnetic head having a uniform bias distribution and adapted for avoiding shorting between a magneto-resistance device and a bias conductor wherein a magneto-resistance device 5 and a bias conductor 6 for applying a bias magnetic field to the magneto-resistance device 5 are interposed between a lower shielding magnetic member 1 and an upper shielding magnetic member 2. The bias conductor is embedded in a groove formed in the shielding magnetic member provided on the opposite side of forward and rear electrodes with respect to the magneto-resistance effect device.

This invention relates to a magneto-resistance effect magnetic head which may be employed for reading out information recorded on a magnetic recording medium, such as a hard disc.
Recently, developments in a magneto-resistance effect magnetic head (MR head) employing a magneto-resistance effect element (MR element) exhibiting the magneto-resistance effect, such as permalloy, are proceeding vigorously.
The MR head is designed to read out information recorded on the magnetic recording medium by detecting changes in resistance of the MR element by a signal magnetic field leaked out of the magnetic recording medium.
Such a magnetic head, which is superior to typical magnetic induction magnetic head in short wavelength sensitivity, is thought to afford high sensitivity in narrow track reproduction, short wavelength reproduction in ultra-low speed reproduction.
The MR head has an MR element 103, sandwiched between a pair of shielding magnetic members 101, 102, and a bias conductor 104 arranged on the MR element 103 for applying the bias magnetic field thereto, as shown in FIG. 1. The bias magnetic field, induced by the bias current supplied to the bias conductor 104, is applied to the MR element 103 towards the rear side from a surface 105 adapted to have sliding contact with the magnetic recording medium.
If the bias conductor 104 is provided directly above the MR device 103, the following inconveniences arise. First, waveform distortion is produced in the lone waveform A indicative of changes in the magnetic flux acting on respective positions of the MR device 103, as shown in FIG. 2. If there is any waveform distortion, linear recording density cannot be increased, such that the recording capacity of the recording medium cannot be increased. Among the causes of such waveform distortion is the non-uniformity in the distribution of the bias magnetic field.
Such non-uniformity in the distribution of the bias magnetic field is produced by the bias magnetic flux entering the MR device 103 and leaking to an underlying layer of the shielding magnetic member 101. Should there be such non-uniformity in the distribution of the bias magnetic field, the region of the MR device having high bias magnetic field strength is magnetically saturated in a short time, such that the signal magnetic flux cannot enter such region. On the other hand, should there be any variation in the intensity of the bias magnetic field, the operating point tends to be shifted to the non-linear region of the MR sensitivity characteristics, thus producing distortion in the playback waveform.
Second, if the shield magnetic member 101 is present directly below the MR device 103, the magnetic wall is shifted due to disturbance in the core magnetic domain, thus producing Barkhausen noise.

Magneto-resistance effect head with insulated bias conductor embedded in shield groove


An apparatus comprises a linear electromagnetic actuator which has a series of ferromagnetic poles, coils, and a series of permanent magnets to interact with the poles to induce movement of the actuator along a path. The poles have non-uniform configurations.

This disclosure relates to detent force correcting.
In typical linear electromagnetic actuators, for example, the detent force tends to oppose motion of the moving element of the actuator relative to the stationary element of the actuator and is sometimes overcome using energy to apply an opposing force.
One proposed way to compensate for detent force in linear electromagnetic actuators was to add additional, smaller, poles before the first and after the last poles in a series of poles. Another approach included skewing the shapes of the poles to distribute magnetic forces more evenly, as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,701,039, which is incorporated here by reference.


A microcontroller and a memory having a large storage capacity are arranged in a module having a thickness of a smart card and lateral dimensions reduced in comparison therewith, and also has first connection pads (as used for smart cards) and second connection pads consistent with an extended functionality provided for a MultiMediaCard or 9-pin SD, for example. The module is personalized with an apparatus provided for smart cards and is used in a housing for a standardized memory card.

In comparison with chip cards, specifically with the smart card, a MultiMediaCard is distinguished by a significantly larger storage capacity. Unlike the smart card, however, there is no personalization facility allowing use of the card to be restricted to a limited group of people or allowing the card user to be identified. Such personalization takes place on smart cards in specially provided apparatuses which are matched to the standardized chip card formats, particularly ID-1 or ID-000 in line with ISO7816.
If MultiMediaCards are to be used for particular security-critical applications, they need to be personalized in the same way as the smart cards. To change over the conventional apparatuses to MultiMediaCards, considerable effort is required which is linked to considerable costs. It would therefore be desirable to have a way of personalizing MultiMediaCards easily and inexpensively as well.

Security memory card and production method


A sample delivery apparatus which can by used to repetitively deliver a sample to a process or an analyzer, either automatically or on demand. The sample delivery apparatus can be sealed under an inert atmosphere, thus minimizing the possibility of changes in the sample due to, for example, evaporation, hydrolysis, or oxidation. The design of the apparatus is such that only the volume of the actual sample delivered is consumed. Therefore, a large number of samples can be delivered with minimum consumption of the sample material. The sample delivery apparatus can be used to deliver both liquid and gaseous fluids. The present sample delivery apparatus is especially useful as an automated method for delivering a sample to calibrate on-line analyzers used to monitor chemical processes.

The present invention is a sample delivery apparatus which can by used to repetitively deliver a sample to a process or an analyzer, either automatically or on demand. The sample delivery apparatus can be sealed under an inert atmosphere, thus minimizing the possibility of changes in the calibration standard due to, for example evaporation, hydrolysis, or oxidation. The design of the apparatus is such that only the volume of the actual sample delivered is consumed. Therefore, a large number of samples can be delivered with minimum consumption of sample material. The sample delivery apparatus can he used to deliver both liquid and gaseous fluids. The present apparatus is especially useful as an automated method for delivering a sample to calibrate on-line analyzers used to monitor chemical processes. A variety of indirect and direct methods exist for calibrating on-line analyzers In a typical indirect method, a sample is periodically collected from the process stream, analyzed in a separate analyzer, and the on-line analyzer adjusted to agree with the off-line analysis. This method is subject to errors resulting for example, from compositional differences in the sample analyzed in the online analyzer and the sample analyzed in the off-line analyzer, from compositional changes in the sample collected for off-line analysis due to handling, and from random variation in both the off-line and on-line analysis.
The direct method of calibration avoids many of the sources of error incurred in the indirect method of calibration by introducing a prepared standard directly into the analyzer. Typically, direct calibration is done by flushing and filling the analyzer's sampling system with a calibration standard delivered from a pressurized reservoir. However, this procedure is wasteful since only a minor portion of the standard is used for calibration with the majority of the standard being consumed in flushing the sample system. An alternative direct calibration method involves injecting the calibration standard into the analyzer through an auxiliary septum-type inlet system by means of a syringe. Although syringe injection is less wasteful, it risks exposure of the calibration standard to the atmosphere, which can cause changes in composition when reactive materials are involved.
The biggest problem with the described calibration procedures is that they are manual in nature. As a result, they are time consuming and potentially hazardous. Consequently, the calibration of on-line analyzers have tended to be done infrequently and even when conducted the results are often inaccurate.
Therefore, an objective of the present invention is to provide an apparatus which can automatically and repetitively provide a sample of a material to an analyzer or a process. Another objective is to provide an apparatus which can be maintained under substantially inert conditions during multiple deliveries of a sample. Finally, it is an objective of the present invention to provide an apparatus which minimizes the total amount of sample required and essentially eliminates the loss of sample due to flushing of the cell used to deliver the sample.

Apparatus for delivering a calibration standard


Juice extractor, is disclosed, for crushing fruits or leaves, or root of green vegetable for extracting green juice, wherein, considering the incomplete juice extraction of the related art juice extractor, the present invention is provided with thread end portions and vacant portions at a rear portion of a screw for enhancing a crushing effect, and a fore end portion with reduced diameter at a fore end thereof, to which fore end a juice extracting member having detachable extracting net member and mounting member is coupled for secondary extraction, that improves a juice extraction efficiency, whereby further improving a pressing effect of the raw material for extracting juice, which provides a better yield, allowing an easy removal of remnants accumulated inside of the juice extracting components, to maintain the extractor clean, reducing a ratio of elasticity degradation caused by a prolonged use, and using in making noodle, as an alternative use.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a juice extractor, and more particularly, to a juice extractor in which structure of a fore end and top edges of screw is improved for improvement of a crushing efficiency of the screw, a net member with a net and fitting member with packing both in an extracting member are made detachable for easy handling, and a secondary juice extraction between the fore end of the screw and the extracting member is made available for improving a juice extracting efficiency.
2. Background of the Related Art
In general, the juice extractor extracts green juice by crushing fruits, leaves, or roots of green vegetable. As shown in FIG. 1, the juice extractor is provided with a driving unit M having a motor for providing a driving power, and a housing H connected to the driving unit M for accommodating a juice extracting device. The housing H has a hopper HP for introducing raw material therethrough at a top thereof, a juice outlet E at a bottom thereof, and a fastening cap C with a discharge opening W formed therein fastened at a fore end of the housing H for discharging remnants remained after producing juice.
The juice extracting device in the housing H has a screw as a major component for crushing the raw material. There is a related art juice extractor with two screws for rotating the two screws on the same time to crush a raw material and extract juice. However, this related art juice extractor has problems in that the structure is complicated, crushing strength is weak, and sliding of the two screws produces metal particles that are entrained into the juice.
Accordingly, as shown in FIG. 6, one of related art juice extractor of a single screw design is provided with a juice extracting member 40 fitted at an outer circumference of a fore end of the screw S having a juice extracting net 41 of stainless steel for pressing the crushed raw material onto the juice extracting member 40 to extract juice. That is, in this related art juice extractor, raw material introduced through the hopper HP in the housing H is crushed and transported forward, and pressed onto the juice extracting member 40 fastened to the fore end of the screw S, for extracting juice. The extracted juice can be obtained through a juice outlet E, and remnants after extraction of juice is discharged through the discharge opening W formed in the fastening cap C fitted at the fore end.
However, these related art juice extractor has not be adequate in the crushing of the raw material introduced into the juice extractor and has a low extraction efficiency because the pressed and crushed raw material by rotating action of the screw S is not pressed adequately while passing through a funnel form of sloped juice extracting net 41. And, there have been drawbacks that raw materials, such as vegetable or fruits should be cut into small pieces before introduction into the hopper H and removal of accumulated remnants between small spaces in the juice extracting member 40 is not easy. And, a juice extracting packing 42 with the remnant discharge opening at a center fitted at the fore end of the juice extracting member 40 for an increased juice extracting efficiency is involved in degradation of elasticity from prolonged use, particularly at the center portion with the opening at which the pressing force is the strongest, which degradation of elasticity drops the pressing force. And, moreover, these related art juice extractor have been merely used as a juice extractor and food crusher.


A signal detector for detecting a biosignal with approximately known morpogy in a complex input signal (ECG), in particular for the detection of QRS complexes in an electrocardiogram. The detector has circuitry for detecting the maximum amplitude (PEAK) of the detected signal complex within a predetermined time window, with a threshold value discriminator, a detector parameter preselection circuit for determining an initial value for the detector parameter characterizing the detector sensitivity, which parameter determines the detector threshold value when responding to a detection signal in dependence on the maximum amplitude and a detector parameter timing circuit for adjusting a predetermined time dependence of the detector parameter and thus the detection threshold value. The predetermined time dependence has at least in a first time domain a step-by-step reduction of the detection threshold value up to a lower limit value that is determined in dependence on the maximum amplitude and/or in a second time domain a step-by-step increase with preset steps (STEPS) up to an upper limit value determined in dependence on the maximum amplitude.

The present invention relates to a signal detector for detecting specific biosignals, in particular for detecting QRS complexes or P-waves in an electrocardiogram.
The detection of specific biosignals in a disturbed signal train is a problem of high diagnostic and therapeutic relevance, e.g. in the field of cardiology and neurology. Thus, the identification of the individual segments of an electrocardiogram--the P-wave originating with the auricle, the QRS complex originating with the heart chamber and, if necessary, also the T-wave of the electrocardiogram that originates with the chamber--as well as the correct determination of the time interval between signal segments with the same origin are of central importance to the detection and successful treatment of arrhythmias, specifically for the classification of tachyarrhythmias and the correct function of pacemakers and defibrillators.
In the simplest case, the detection of the QRS complex in an ECG signal occurs through a comparison of the ECG signal with a predetermined threshold value, which is above an assumed level of signals with a different origin. If the ECG signal exceeds the threshold value, a detection signal indicating the appearance of a QRS complex is emitted.
One problem in this case is that the signal level of the ECG signal is subject to fluctuations, which can lead to false detections.
The fact that the QRS complexes can have very different amplitudes for certain arrhythmias and in the course of a pacemaker therapy is taken into account according to U.S. Pat. No. 4,940,054 by programming in three different sensitivity or threshold values as well as a preset sequence for the use of these varied threshold values. However, this solution has a very limited potential and is hardly advantageous, particularly for a fluctuating interference signal level.
A QRS detector with automatic threshold value adaptation is described in German Patent 2 805 482, for which the detection threshold for the amplitude of the R-waves follows and, after a R-wave appears, is lowered exponentially in each case with a time constant that is predetermined by the components of the analog circuit. This solution is also very inflexible, owing to the fixed time behavior on the component side.
A R-wave detector is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,117,824, for which the detection threshold automatically follows the R-wave amplitude and in each case is lowered linearly, starting with the moment a R-wave appears until the following R-wave appears. The initial threshold value is then set again to a predetermined share of its amplitude. However, a R-wave evoked by a pacemaker pulse is ignored, and the linear lowering is continued for a predetermined time interval to be able to detect possibly following R-waves with low amplitude (such as can occur with tachyarrhythmias induced by pacemakers). However, this solution also has little adaptability to the various use/interference signal constellations.
The signal detector shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,339,820 has a refractory interval, and the detection sensitivity is adjusted automatically. If a predetermined initial detection threshold (detection event) is exceeded, the signal detector starts a refractory interval, during which no further detection events can occur, so as to prevent that an individual QRS complex is detected falsely more than once. In addition, the signal detector determines the amplitude for the QRS complex during the refractory interval. The threshold value is subsequently set to a new value (preferably 75% of the amplitude) in dependence on the previously determined QRS complex amplitude. Subsequently, the threshold value is lowered step-by-step with a timing control. The lowering of the threshold value stops if either the following QRS complex is detected or the threshold value has reached a preprogrammed lower limit value.
However, the input signal fluctuations often do not or not only impact the specific useful signal, but (also) other signals, among other things interference signals. In such a case, it can occur that the known signal detector lowers the threshold value below the level of the nonspecific signals, which leads to false detections. In addition, a method which provides exclusively for the lowering of the detection threshold is not sufficiently differentiated for a detection of specific signals in complex signal sequences.
It is therefore the object of the invention to create a signal detector of the aforementioned type, which permits an automatic adjustment of the detection sensitivity or amplification to avoid false detections for a fluctuating level of the useful signal as well as the interference signal segments and which also allows a detection of specific useful signals within complex signals.

Biotronik Mess- und Therapiegeraete GmbH & Co. Ingenieurbuero Berlin


The basic embodiment of the present invention comprises an optical fiber having cores and a claddings, and core-extensions, wherein the individual core-extensions are built onto the core end facets in a shape of the diverging horn-like structure, with the sectional area increasing gradually as the individual core-extensions extend farther away from the core end facets to merge together and form a common core-extension for light mixing and coupling. The core-extension may be made of a photo-reactive material to be shaped after the diverging radiation pattern of light emitted from the core end facets.

The most common optical waveguide is the fiber with a round-shaped core supported by a round-shaped cladding. The next common optical waveguide is a planarized waveguide in which light-guiding channels are fabricated near the surface of an usually right-angled optical substrate. Guided light resides mostly inside the core. The sectional dimension of the fiber core is typically less than ten microns (0.01 mm) in single-mode fibers, and usually less than 200 microns even in the multimode fibers. Accordingly, connecting and coupling (mixing) of light between two or more fibers present enormous technical challenge. As a result, the prices for connectors and couplers for optical fibers are quite expensive, especially when compared to the counterpart components for microwave cables. Since the connectors and couplers are among the most frequently used components in the optical fiber communication, the high component price has impeded the expansion of the optical fiber communication into the broader applications, such as picture-phone, computer networking, and cable television.
Planarized waveguides are patterned on the flat top surface of a bulk optical substrate using microlithography. Accordingly, many of the useful optical functions, such as core tapering and light coupling, may be realized on planarized waveguides.
On the other hand, the fiber is drawn from molten glass or plastic materials into a hair size and shape at a high speed. Accordingly, it is not easy to incorporate tapering and light coupling functions into the optical fiber body. To make a fiber coupler, it is necessary to perform an additional fabrication with strands of fiber. The first multimode fiber star coupler or light mixer available in early 1970's comprises one linear array of fibers butted against the one side of a narrow and long rectangular cavity, and the other linear array butted against the opposite side of the cavity. Light from any of the fibers spreads inside the cavity while propagating the long length, and uniformly illuminates the array of the fibers on the opposite side. Advantage of this coupler is the simple construction and wavelength independence of the coupling ratio. The drawback of such a fiber star coupler is that the core occupies only a fraction of the sectional area due to its roundness and the existence of the cladding around each core. Accordingly the excess loss, due to the so-called packing density factor, is inherently high even with multimode fibers, and cannot be used at all for the single-mode fibers due to the extremely small core-to-cladding area ratio, which is about one to a hundred.
An alternative approach, so-called biconical fused coupler, was used from early 1970's for multimode fibers, in which fibers are twisted, thermally softened, and pulled very slowly, until the light guided in the core leaks out of the core into the cladding due to the size decrease in the pulled-and-fused area. Once the light resides in the cladding area it is freely spread into the claddings of other neighboring fibers, that have been fused together in the pulling process. The cladding modes return to the cores as the fiber sizes increase in the second half of the fused section. This process relies on the taper being gradual and smooth, ensuring an adiabatic mode transformation between the core modes and cladding modes. As the single-mode fiber began its dominance over the multimode fiber in the interferometric fiber sensor area starting about 1975, the requirement for single-mode coupler emerged. However, the processing technology of the biconical fused coupler mentioned above was not good enough to produce single-mode fiber coupler in that period. The first published single-mode star coupler was made by Sang K. Sheem, one of the inventors of the present invention disclosure, by twist-and-etch technique, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,264,126. For a few years in the late 1970's, this coupler was the only single-mode fiber coupler available. However its use was limited only to the laboratory environment, because it was very difficult to ruggedize the coupler either by an epoxy potting or thermal fusing of etched fibers. The outputs kept oscillating between fibers during the ruggedization process, and the final split ratio was rather unpredictable.
In the early 1980's, the single-mode fiber displaced the multimode fibers almost completely in the fiber optic market. The industry kept improving the biconical fused coupler technique until it became good enough even for the single-mode fibers. A series of invention disclosures have been made along the way, for example in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,798,438, 4,842,359 of Imoto, et. al., and 4,961,617 of Shahidi, which use the fused-tapered technique in modified forms. However it has remained as a very delicate process, especially when the number of the input or output fibers exceeds two. The largest number of ports for single-mode fiber couplers available today have four inputs and four outputs, or so-called (4.times.4), and one input and seven outputs (1.times.7). To get a larger channel numbers, a number of (2.times.2) couplers are cascaded. This results in a extensive labor and high price.
The two kinds of single-mode fiber coupler embodiments mentioned above, the twist-and-etch coupler and the biconical fused coupler, which are sometimes called all-fiber couplers, inherently suffer from wavelength and polarization dependence of the coupling ratio due to the interferometric nature of the coupling mechanism. The dependence may be reduced by making the path lengths of the member fibers as equal as possible, and minimizing any factor that destroys the circular symmetry of the sectional shape or internal strain in the coupling region.
As an alternative approach, light coupling may be performed by optical channel waveguides fabricated on a bulk optical substrate. Examples of such a coupler design and its variations include U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,566,753 of L. Manscheke, 4,653,845 of Y. Tremblay and et. al., 4,904,042 of C. Dragone, 4,950,045 of T. Brichenno. This method of using planarized waveguides, being the most expensive way, is employed almost exclusively for fabricating single-mode fiber couplers with the number of input/output ports larger than (4.times.4) or (1.times.7). The production process involves the fabrication of the planarized channel waveguides, then cutting and polishing the end facets of the substrate to make them flat, smooth, and sharply cornered at the connecting interface, then aligning ten-micron fiber cores to the several-micron waveguides in an end-butt fashion with better than one or two micron accuracy, and then gluing down the fibers in the aligned positions, and making sure that the fibers do not move more than one or two microns while the glue is being cured. The difficulty of the tedious process steps is reflected in the high price of such a single-mode fiber star coupler.
Thus, there is a keen need to devise an embodiment for manufacturing multi-port fiber couplers, especially for the single-mode, that does not require these tedious fabrication and piecewise assembly steps.

Optical fiber coupler with overlapping core-extensions, and manufacturing methods of the same


A coin slide extension for a coin chute assembly. A pivotal lever is connected to a mounting bracket secured to the end of an extension plate. The lever pivots over a starting mechanism upon inward movement of the coin slide, and operatively engages the starting mechanism upon outward movement. The lever abuts a stop during outward movement to prevent the lever from pivoting over the starting mechanism. In an alternative embodiment, an extension plate has two spaced apart contact legs between which a reciprocating lever of a ratchet mechanism is disposed. One leg moves the reciprocating lever to a ready position and the other moves it to an activation position.

A coin chute assembly may typically include a stationary housing having a horizontally oriented guide track, a vertically oriented mounting plate and a baffle positioned over a set of blocking dogs. A coin slide is slidably mounted in the guide track of the housing to move into and retract from the housing. Slots provided in the upper surface of the coin slide support a requisite number and denomination of coins in a vertical, longitudinally oriented position. Without the coins, the coin slide is prevented from moving inwardly beyond a point where the blocking dogs catch a bar mounted on the coin slide. The coins coact with a sizing block mounted in a forward end of the baffle to push the blocking dogs downwardly, thus facilitating further inward movement of the coin slide. Eventually, a fixed finger of an extension mounted on the coin slide engages an "on" switch timer or other structure provided for activation of the machine.
After the coins pass under the sizing block, a pawl mounted in the side of the coin slide comes into cooperative engagement with a rack mounted on the side of the guide track. The pawl and rack provide a ratchet mechanism that prevents the coin slide from being retracted until after the coin slide moves inwardly to a point where the coins fall into a coin box.
Generally, at the point where the coin slide is extended far enough to engage the start mechanism of the associated machine, such as a dryer, washer, vending machine, etc., the coins have not yet dropped through the slots in the coin slide and into the coin box. At this point, a tampering customer can pry backwards on the handle of the coin slide, using the top edge of the meter case or "shoe-box" for leverage. After prying with sufficient force, the coin slide pawl is damaged or broken so that the coin slide can be freely reciprocated. Once this occurs, the "customer" can receive a free start by pushing the coin slide inwardly sufficiently to activate the machine, without reaching the point where the coins fall into the coin box. Then, the coin slide is retracted to retrieve the coins.
Generally, the amount of coin slide travel necessary to effect activation of the machine is relatively slight. Once the ratchet mechanism is broken or otherwise disarmed, the tampering customer can leave the coin slide in, even after discharge of the coins into the coin box, and start the machine by reciprocating the coin slide in and out a relatively short distance. As long as the coin slide is not retracted far enough to re-engage the blocking dogs, free starting can occur indefinitely. This problem is at least partly attributable to the generally short "engage-to-start" stroke of the slide extension. Normally, the activation finger is fixed and need only contact a timer or switch mechanism for a relatively short travel distance of the coin slide.
A coin chute assembly having the aforementioned features including the coin slide and blocking dogs is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,502,584 to Lambiris. A coin slide extension assembly capable of use on the coin slide of the Lambiris patent is found in U.S. Pat. No. 3,872,958 to Greenwald et al. Both of these patents are incorporated herein by reference. Other U.S. patents describing general features of coin slides and anti-tampering mechanisms include U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,947,186 to Greenwald; 4,131,190 to Gitlin; 4,588,064 to Monfredi 4,651,861 to Lambiris; 4,828,096 to Gitlin et al; and 5,074,396 to Gitlin et al, the disclosures of which are also incorporated herein by reference.


A surface modified electrode is provided. The surface modified electrode includes a glassy carbon electrode (GCE) and a nanomaterial disposed on the glassy carbon electrode. The nanomaterial comprises carbon nanotubes (CNTs), and at least one of thallium oxide nanoparticles (Tl2O3.NPs), thallium oxide (Tl2O3) nanopowder, and thallium oxide carbon nanotube nanocomposites (Tl2O3.CNT NCs). A polymer matrix is configured to bind the glassy carbon electrode with the nanomaterial. A method of preparing the surface modified electrode is also disclosed. The surface modified electrode can be implemented in a biosensor for detecting a biological molecule, like choline.

Choline (2-hydroxy-N,N,N-trimethylethanaminium) is a water-soluble ammonium molecule required for different biological functions. It is an important predecessor of the acetylcholine neurotransmitter that is concerned for muscle and memory control. Few important phospholipids, such as phosphatidylcholine, that are responsible for trans-membrane signaling and the structure of the cell membrane, can be synthesized from choline. Primary diagnosis of brain disorders, such as, parkinson's and alzheimer's disease can be analyzed clinically through quantitative assessment of choline. Increased level of choline has been reported to cause an enhanced threat of cancer and DNA damage. Hence, monitoring the choline level is critical in many cases.
Conventional methods for determination of choline, like chemiluminescence, fluorescence, and proton nuclear magnetic resonance suffer from drawbacks such as complexity in operation, long detection times, and high cost. Electrochemical sensors based on enzymatic approach is one of the progressive techniques for the detection of choline in natural science areas such as environmental, industrial, and clinical aspects since it offers rapid, cheap, and simple operation but its dependency on the enzymatic environment makes the application restricted. Owing to such drawbacks, there exists a need to provide a simple, cost-effective, reliable, method for non-enzymatic detection of choline with a short response time.

Surface modified electrodes, and methods of preparation thereof


An electronic musical instrument has a processing circuit for adding a reverberation tone after volume control using expression data generated upon operation of an expression pedal to generate tone data which does not vary the attenuation characteristics of the reverberation tone by operation of the expression pedal. The volume control and reverberation tone addition are implemented by a digital signal processor. Auditory sense correction of the volume control is also done by exponentially transforming expression data.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an electronic musical instrument and, more particularly, to a technique suitably used in an electronic musical instrument comprising an effect adder that adds acoustic effects such as a reverberation tone or the like to the input tone signal.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Conventionally, in an electronic musical instrument such as an electronic organ, addition of acoustic effects such as reverberation, and the like can give profoundness and depth to tones like in acoustic musical instruments, and such effects are important factors in colorful musical expressions. For this purpose, in most of conventional electronic musical instruments, for example, a microprocessor (CPU) controls the operation of an effect adder to add acoustic effects.
Such electronic organ or the like normally comprises an expression pedal that accentuates tones by controlling the overall volume. Furthermore, the electronic organ comprises a MIDI terminal for receiving an external MIDI signal to play, and a sequencer for performing an auto-play in accordance with a predetermined sequence pattern. The volume is controlled along with the progress of a music piece in accordance with such data.
FIG. 9 shows an example of the arrangement of a conventional electronic musical instrument comprising a reverberation device, expression pedal, and the like. As shown in FIG. 9, a reverberation device 2 comprises a DSP (digital signal processor) 1, and makes predetermined calculations of a digital tone signal input from a tone generator 10 using various coefficients, thereby adding a reverberation effect.
The tone signal added with the reverberation effect by the reverberation device 2 is mixed by an adder 3 with the tone signal to which the reverberation is not effected. The mixed signal is supplied to a D/A converter 15. The tone signal is converted into an analog signal by the converter 15. The analog tone signal is supplied to a loudspeaker 18 via a VCA (Voltage Controlled Amplifier) 19, master volume 16, and amplifier 17, thus producing actual tones.
The VCA 19 controls the overall volume (accent) on the basis of the operation of an expression pedal (to be referred to as an EXP pedal hereinafter) 7, a MIDI signal input from an external device (not shown) to a MIDI terminal 13, or a sequence pattern supplied from a sequencer 14.
For example, data of the operation amount (to be referred to as EXP data hereinafter) of the EXP pedal 7, which has been A/D-converted by an A/D converter 8, is temporarily supplied to a CPU 9. The EXP data is converted into an analog signal by a D/A converter 20, and the analog signal is supplied to the VCA 19. The VCA 19 controls the volume of an analog tone signal supplied from the D/A converter 15 in accordance with the signal corresponding to the operation amount of the EXP pedal 7 and supplied from the D/A converter 20, and outputs the controlled signal.
The MIDI signal or sequence pattern includes data corresponding to the EXP data, and such data is supplied to the D/A converter 20 as in the above-mentioned case. The EXP data converted into an analog signal is supplied to the VCA 19. The VCA 19 controls the volume of an analog tone signal supplied from the D/A converter 15 in accordance with the signal supplied from the D/A converter 20, and outputs the controlled signal to the next stage.
However, in the conventional electronic musical instrument, the reverberation tone added by the reverberation device 2 is influenced by changes in volume based on the EXP data from the EXP pedal 7, MIDI terminal 13, or sequencer 14, resulting in unnatural attenuation characteristics. This problem will be explained below with reference to FIG. 2.
(a) of FIG. 2 shows changes in operation amount data of the EXP pedal 7, i.e., the state wherein the EXP pedal 7 begins to be released from the pressed state at time A, is fully released at time B, begins to be pressed again from time C, and is fully pressed at time D. (b) of FIG. 2 shows a tone signal to which reverberation is not effected. (c) of FIG. 2 shows a tone signal added with the reverberation effect.
As shown in (b) of FIG. 2, when the EXP pedal 7 has been fully pressed, a tone signal (to be referred to as an original tone hereinafter) output from the tone generator 10 is directly output from the VCA 19 to the master volume 16, as denoted by reference numeral 21. On the other hand, when the EXP pedal 7 is fully released, the volume of the tone signal is suppressed by the VCA 19, and that signal is output, as denoted by reference numeral 22.
The volume control using the EXP pedal 7 is done for not only the original tone but also the reverberation tone. More specifically, as shown in (c) of FIG. 2, when the EXP pedal 7 has been fully pressed, the reverberation tone added to the original tone is directly output without suppressing its volume, as denoted by reference numeral 23. On the other hand, when the EXP pedal 7 is gradually released, the volume of the reverberation tone added to the original tone is suppressed according to the operation amount of the EXP pedal 7, and the suppressed tone is output.
For example, when the EXP pedal 7 is gradually released from time A to time B, the volume of the reverberation tone is suppressed during this interval, as denoted by reference numeral 24. As can be seen from (c) of FIG. 2, when the EXP pedal 7 is released while the reverberation tone is being added, the reverberation tone converges quicker than that obtained by pressing the EXP pedal 7, resulting in an unnatural tone.
When the EXP pedal 7 is pressed from time C to time D, the volume of the reverberation tone, that has been suppressed by the VCA 19 before pressing, is not suppressed after pressing. That is, after the EXP pedal 7 is pressed, the reverberation tone (the same as that denoted by reference numeral 23) added to the original tone is output without suppressing its volume, as denoted by reference numeral 25. This is no longer a reverberation tone but is a very unnatural tone that never occurs in natural environments.
As described above, in the conventional electronic musical instrument, when the operation amount of the EXP pedal is changed during addition of the reverberation effect, the reverberation tone added by the reverberation device 2 is influenced by changes in volume by the EXP pedal 7, thus outputting a very unnatural tone. The same applies to plays based on a MIDI signal or sequence pattern. That is, the reverberation tone should have a given attenuation constant that simulates the play sound field, but is unnaturally influenced by the operation of the EXP pedal.

Electronic musical instrument with independent control of expression and effect


Set the first temporary attitude of an end effector for a plurality of work points (step S3). Determine the attitude of an articulated robot at one-end first work point out of a plurality of work points (step S4). Determine the attitude of an articulated robot at the other-end final work point out of a plurality of work points (step S5). Set the second temporary attitudes of an end effector respectively for the other work points so that the attitude of an end effector gradually changes from the first work point toward the final work point (step S6). Correct the first temporary attitude with the second temporary attitude (step S7).

For directly operating an articulated robot installed on a production line to teach the articulated robot working attitudes, the operator who is familiar with operating the articulated robot needs to work at the site of the production line. Therefore, the working time is limited and the operation is inefficient. Since it is necessary to perform the teaching process while the production line is being shut off, the operating rate of the production line is reduced.
In recent years, teaching off line (off-line teaching) has been practiced in order to perform the teaching process efficiently or increase the operating rate of the production line. Specifically, a model of an articulated robot, a workpiece to be worked and surrounding structures is constructed on a computer, and teaching data is generated using the model. Thereafter, the teaching data is supplied to the articulated robot on site. In this manner, it is possible to generate teaching data efficiently without shutting off the production line.
Production lines have been required to increase their productivity. To meet the requirement, attempts are made to shorten the cycle time of articulated robots. Under the circumstances, there has been proposed a technology for calculating attitudes of an articulated robot at respective working points in a working sequence, selecting attitudes of the articulated robot for short moving times and reduced end effector attitude differences, thereafter calculating an attitude of the articulated robot at a final working point in a reverse working sequence, and comparing the calculated attitude of the articulated robot at the final working point with the attitude of the articulated robot at a final working point in the working sequence, and correcting the calculated attitude of the articulated robot (see, for example, Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2003-94363). The proposed technology is preferable because it can shorten the cycle time of operation of the articulated robot for increased productivity.
There has also been proposed a method of automatically setting the insertion path and attitude of an end effector with respect to a workpiece for generating teaching data for the articulated robot (see, for example, Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2002-239955 and Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2002-239957).
According to the process disclosed in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2003-94363, since teaching data is established mainly for the purpose of reducing the end effector attitude differences, the moving path between working points for the end effector may not be smooth. When the end effector works successively on the successive working points, the time to apply the end effector to the first working point and the time to remove the end effector from the final working point are not sufficiently taken into account. As a result, the overall cycle time may be increased, and the operator may need to correct the teaching data on a trial-and-error basis.
Teaching data is generated by establishing working points and a working sequence of an articulated robot with respect to a workpiece, determining robot attitudes at the respective working points, then establishing working details for the workpiece at the respective working points as working attributes, and establishing moving processes between the working points as moving attributes. Data of the robot attitudes at the working points occasionally includes tool coordinate data representative of the attitudes of an end effector mounted on the tip end of the robot.
Off-line teaching does not require the production line to be shut off. If off-line teaching is performed inefficiently, however, it is necessary to use the teaching computer for a long period of time, and a large burden is posed on the operator who performs the teaching process. An articulated robot to be trained is positioned in the vicinity of a given conveyor line for welding vehicles that are conveyed on the conveyor line. However, the vehicles conveyed on the conveyor line may not be limited to one type. When the type of vehicles to be processed by the articulated robot is to be changed, new teaching data needs to be generated.
There has been proposed a technology applicable where there is existing teaching data. According to the proposed technology, if the existing teaching data includes data that can be used on a preferential basis to provide an attitude for a new working point, the data is utilized (see, for example, Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2003-117864). The proposed technology is preferable because new teaching data can be generated using existing teaching data.
According to the technology disclosed in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2003-117864, however, the portion of the existing teaching data that can be utilized as new teaching data is limited, and the existing teaching data may not be utilized if workpieces change their shape. Under the circumstances, it has been desirous to further effectively utilize existing teaching data.    Patent document 1: Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2003-94363    Patent document 2: Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2002-239955    Patent document 3: Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2002-239957    Patent document 4: Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2003-117864

Teaching data preparing method for articulated robot


The present invention provides a constant on time controller packaged in one single package for controlling a buck converting circuit to convert an input voltage into an output voltage. The constant on time controller includes an input voltage detecting circuit, an on-time determining circuit and a driving circuit. The input voltage detecting circuit receives a bootstrap voltage to generate an input voltage detecting signal indicative of the input voltage. The on-time determining circuit receives the input voltage detecting signal and generates an on-time signal in response to the input voltage detecting signal and the output voltage. The driving circuit controls the buck converting circuit according to the n-time signal.

(1) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a constant on time controller, and more particularly relates to a constant on time controller for deciding a constant on-time period according to a bootstrap voltage.
(2) Description of the Prior Art
FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a conventional buck converting circuit and a constant on time controller. The buck converting circuit comprises a high-side transistor M1, a low-side transistor M2, an inductance L and a capacitance C. The high-side transistor M1 is coupled between an input voltage Vin and a switching node, and the low-side transistor M2 is coupled between the switching node and a ground potential. The inductance L and the capacitance C are connected in series between the switching node and the ground potential for filtering a voltage of the switching node into an output voltage Vout. The constant on time controller controls the switchings of the high-side transistor M1 and the low-side transistor M2 of the buck converting circuit, and a duty cycle of the high-side transistor M1 decides a ratio of the output voltage Vout to the input voltage Vin.
The constant on time controller comprises comparators 8 and 10, a SR flip-flop 9, a capacitance 11, a transistor 12, a resistance 13 and a driving circuit 19. One terminal of the resistance 13 is connected to the input voltage Vin, and another terminal thereof is connected to the capacitance 11. A non-inverting terminal of the comparator 8 and an inverting terminal of the comparator 10 receive a reference voltage Vref. An inverting terminal of the comparator 8 receives the output voltage Vout, and triggers a set terminal S of the SR flip-flop 9 when the output voltage Vout is lower than the reference voltage Vref for enabling the SR flip-flop 9 to generate a high level signal at an output terminal Q. At this moment, the driving circuit 19 turns on the high-side transistor M1 and cuts off the low-side transistor M2. At the same time, the SR flip-flop 9 generates a low level signal at an inverting output terminal Q to cut off the transistor 12. The capacitance 11 starts to be charged at this time. When a voltage of the capacitance 11 is raised to the reference voltage Vref, the comparator 10 outputs the high level signal to a reset terminal R of the SR flip-flop 9 for enabling the SR flip-flop 9 to output a low level signal at the output terminal Q and a high level signal at the inverting output terminal V. At this moment, the driving circuit 19 cuts off the high-side transistor M1 and turns on the low-side transistor M2. Besides, the transistor 12 is simultaneously turned on to discharge the capacitance 11 to zero through the transistor 12, so as to be ready for the output voltage Vout to be lower than the reference voltage Vref again. Thus, when the buck converting circuit is in a stable state, the output voltage Vout is substantially equal to the reference voltage Vref.
The aforementioned circuit uses the resistance 13 to generate a current proportional to the input voltage Vin for charging, the capacitance 11 to reach the output voltage Vout. Therefore, in each cycle, the charging time period of the capacitance 11 is proportional to the ratio of the output voltage Vout to the input voltage Vin, i.e., the constant on time period is proportional to the ratio of the output voltage Vout to the input voltage Vin.
However, the constant on time controller has to additionally add a pin connected to the input voltage Vin for obtaining the information of the input voltage Vin, thus increasing the packaging cost of the constant on time controller.


A portable computer is configured to receive programming that is automatically updated by a subscription service. The portable computer includes a facility to connect to one or more subscription services on or through a host computer. The portable computer identifies itself to the subscription service and automatically receives updates for any services registered to it. A log file records information and stimuli received by the portable computer. The subscription service uses the log file to update subscriptions. One embodiment of the portable computer is configured to fit within a shell representing a character or object associated with a subscription. The portable computer may include one or more interface ports allowing the portable computer receive stimulus from sensors in the shell and or to activate transducers in the shell. In one embodiment of the invention, the portable computer is coupled to a cellular telephone.

The present invention relates to portable computing devices and in particular to a portable computing device which is configured to automatically download information from an electronic subscription service.
Electronic pets such as Tamagotchi devices have been on the market for several years. These virtual pets live a virtual life in a small form factor computer. They tend to force a level of interaction with their owners by demanding to be fed, exercised or entertained. Their owners satisfy the demands of their xe2x80x9cpetsxe2x80x9d by pressing buttons on the small computer. Even today, children and many adults can be found carrying around their favorite electronic animal, be it a dog, a bird or a xe2x80x9cpocket monster.xe2x80x9d
U.S. Pat. No. 5,971,855 to Ng entitled APPARATUS AND METHOD OF COMMUNICATING BETWEEN ELECTRONIC GAMES describes an electronic game apparatus that is preprogrammed to simulate a pet, a fighter or a farm with a set of farm animals. The game devices described in this patent may be linked to each other for interactive play or may be linked to an internet web site via a serial port connected to a personal computer.
When they are linked to a the personal computer, the preprogrammed game may be updated or modified by downloading data from the web site using the personal computer. For example a pet who has xe2x80x9cdiedxe2x80x9d due to lack of care from the owner may be revived. In addition, a pet or fighter may receive xe2x80x9ctrainingxe2x80x9d to allow it to compete better with other pets or fighters in play between two game units.
Although the web-site linkage allows a user to update or slightly modify the preprogrammed game, the basic premise of the game can not be changed. Consequently, after a period of time, the user may become bored with the game and cease to use the device.
Other types of portable electronic devices exist such as personal digital assistants (PDAs). These devices are typically much more robust in their processing capabilities than the hand-held games described above. A typical PDA includes a small computer having a processor (e.g. a Motorola 68328 microprocessor), a memory (e.g. 10 megabyte random access memory (RAM)), a touch-sensitive liquid crystal display, input buttons and a speaker. The computer is controlled by an operating system, for example the Palm(trademark) OS 3.0 for the Palm Computing(trademark) PDA.
The operating systems for some PDAs include data communications facilities that are compatible with a global information network (e.g. the Internet). The PDAs made by Palm Computing, for example, include program code that receives and transmits messages in TCP/IP format. Personal digital assistants having this capability may connect to an internet service provider directly through a modem, without needing to be connected through a host computer. Currently, PDAs may be connected to the global information network via special internet service providers that provide access to web sites having much of the same information that is available at a conventional web site but in a format more appropriate for the small screen of a PDA. This information includes, for example, stock quotes, news reports and weather forecasts.
This type of hand-held connectivity is not limited to PDAs. The current generation of digital cellular telephones also connects to special web pages on the global information network. These web pages are specially formatted for the cellular telephone and allow a user to request specific information. Responsive to the request, the information is sent to the telephone where it may be viewed by scrolling the display using, for example, up and down menu control buttons on the cellular telephone.
Both cellular telephones and PDAs also have games. In PDAs, at least, the games may be downloaded from the global information network. As with the system described in the above-referenced patent, however, these games may be downloaded only by connecting the PDA to another computer. In addition, each game operates according to a fixed program eventually causing the user to become bored and seek another game.
The present invention is embodied in a portable hand-held computer configured to be coupled to a remote computer to receive a subscription service.
The exemplary portable computer includes a facility to connect to one or more subscription services. The portable computer identifies itself to the site and automatically receives updates for any services with which it is registered.
According to one aspect of the invention, the portable computer includes a log file that records information entered into the portable computer since the last connection. The subscription service reads the log file and uses the information to update subscriptions.
According to another aspect of the invention, the portable computer is configured to fit within a shell, the shell representing a character or object associated with one or more of the subscriptions.
According to yet another aspect of the invention the portable computer includes at least one interface port that mates with a corresponding interface port in the shell, the interface port allowing the portable computer to receive sensor input from, or provide control signals to the shell.
According to another aspect of the invention, the portable computer is coupled to a cellular telephone and the subscription service is automatically accessed so when the cellular telephone is registered with the network.
According to another aspect of the invention, the subscription service is one of a comic strip, a virtual pet, a puzzle, a continuing narrative, and an interactive narrative.

Portable electronic subscription device and service

Matsushita Electrical Industrial Co., Ltd.


The present invention relates to methods and compositions for modifying mucous membranes. In particular, the present invention relates to treating diseases associated with mucous membranes by changing the intrinsic chemical composition and/or physical features of a target mucous membrane.

Mucous membranes have epithelial constituents that possess an intrinsic surface chemistry and the most superficial layer of cells have nano through micron scale topographic features in the form of microvilli and microplicae. The topographic features interact with the thin fluid films in intimate association with the cellular constituents and likely contribute to the relative stability of the thin films. It is known that these surface topographic features can be altered in disease states of the ocular surface and such alterations may contribute to thin film instability. Thin films of fluids, including but not limited to tears, saliva, gastrointestinal coatings, thin films associated with the respiratory tract (nasal passages, trachea, bronchi, bronchioles and alveoli) and cervico-vaginal secretions and thin films associated with the rest of the female reproductive tract, cover the cellular elements of mucous membranes in all vertebrate species. Tatematsu et al., Bone Marrow Transplant. 2012 March; 47(3):416-25. doi: 10.1038/bmt.2011.89. Epub 2011 May 16. The secretions covering mucous membranes come from a variety of sources, and have three broad classes of constituents. The glycosaminoglycan (or mucous) layer; aqueous components containing soluble species such as proteins, sugars, salts and osmolytes; and in the case of tears and to a degree other mucous membranes, a lipid-containing component. The mucous membrane thin films come from cells embedded in the mucous membranes (or proximal to the mucous membranes) or from glandular structures. Water forms the basis of lubrication in the human body, but is unable to provide sufficient lubrication without additives. The importance of biolubrication becomes evident upon aging and disease, particularly under conditions that affect secretion or composition of body fluids. Insufficient biolubrication, may impede proper speech, mastication and swallowing, underlie excessive friction and wear of articulating cartilage surfaces in hips and knees, cause vaginal dryness, and result in dry, irritated eyes. Biolubrication is due to a combination of structure and glycosylation of adsorbed protein films, providing an important clue to design effective therapeutics to restore biolubrication in patients with insufficient biolubrication. Veeregowda et al., PLoS One. 2012; 7(8):e42600. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0042600. Epub 2012 Aug. 15.
As a non-limiting example, a widely accepted model of the tear film that coats the ocular surface is one that is comprised of three major constituents; an oily layer derived from glands that line the lid margin (Meibomian or tarsal glands); an aqueous layer derived from lacrimal and accessory lacrimal glands (with admixed soluble proteins as well as admixed lipids and mucins); and a mucin layer derived from goblet cells associated with the conjunctiva as well as mucins that originate from the epithelial cells themselves. See FIG. 1. The mucin constituents form a layer immediately adjacent to the cellular elements of the ocular surface and are thought to associate to a degree with the glycocalyx of the most superficial epithelial cells, as well as being admixed in the thicker aqueous component. The mucin elements are thought to be important for maintaining the stability of the tear film by affecting the surface tension of the cellular interface. The aqueous layer is the thickest component of the tear film and contains a variety of solutes for maintaining ocular health. Immunoglobulins, lysozyme, transferrin, antimicrobial peptides and other constituents assist in controlling bioburden and decreasing the risk of infection. Mucins can also be admixed within this layer. Additionally, growth factors, cytokines and other cytoactive factors are found within the aqueous layer. The oily layer is the outermost layer and provides lubrication as well as decreasing rates of evaporation of the aqueous component of the tear film.
A number of diseases and conditions are associated with dry or dysfunctional mucous membranes. These are exemplified by, but not limited to, dry eye, dry mouth, vaginal drying and diseases involving deficiencies/dysregulation in respiratory thin film coatings. What is needed are safe, effective, and flexible means for treating dry or dysfunctional mucous membrane diseases as well as therapies aimed at improving the performance of non-diseased mucous membranes, that are mediated through alteration of the chemical and or biophysical attributes (including attributes associated with equilibrium and dynamic events in mucous membrane systems) of mucous membranes and/or employment of topical agents that are specifically designed for augmenting thin film (e.g., tear film and thin film coatings of the oral, alimentary, female reproductive and respiratory tracts) performance and its interaction with the cellular constituents of the mucous membrane (such as the ocular surface). In some embodiments, this novel therapeutic platform will employ topical agents specifically chosen to improve surface film performance through interactions with a cellular surface or mucous membrane system surface whose surface chemistry and or biophysical attributes have been altered. In other cases, the topical agents will facilitate the beneficial interaction of existing components of the thin fluid films intimately associated with the cellular constituents of mucous membranes to provide beneficial effect (including to facilitate transport of the existing component to a new location in the mucous membrane system). Broad characteristics indicative of improving the health of the mucous membrane would be an increase in thin fluid film stability (e.g. in the case of the ocular surface an expanded tear break up time), decrease in cellular damage, increased comfort or satisfaction with performance of mucous membrane on the part of the patient, a decrease in the number of application of other palliative coatings and or surface active agents and a decrease in clinical symptoms. In the case of the use of surfactants with RDS in infants, an improved therapeutic effect of administered surfactants as determined by a variety of patient outcomes including but not limited to an increased therapeutic benefit, decrease in the number of re-treatments needed and a decrease in the time required for mechanical ventilatory assistance. The methods should be adaptable without regard to the type of the mucous membrane, or the nature of the patient population, to which the subject belongs.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Methods and compositions for modifying mucous membranes


The invention relates to a method and a circuit arrangement for adjusting the level and/or dynamic range of an audio signal in a transmission system and particularly in a mobile station. According to the invention, the level of acoustic noise in the environment of a terminal (10, 12) and the level and noise level of a received signal are measured (123) and the level and/or dynamic range of the reproduced signal are adjusted (121, 122) according to the results from said measurements. The solution according to the invention helps reduce the effect of noise in the signal transmitted on the transmission channel (11) and of the acoustic noise in the environment of the terminal (12) on the intelligibility of the reproduced information.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a method and a circuit arrangement for adjusting the level and dynamic range of an audio signal in a transmission system and particularly in a mobile station.
2. Description of the Prior Art
There are several factors related to mobile telephone systems that deteriorate the quality of a speech signal transmitted via a transmission path. A received audio signal consists of a "payload" signal, such as speech, and noise. The latter may be electrical noise from a transmitter or transmission channel, interfering signals connected to the transmission channel from external sources or it may be caused by acoustic noise in the information source environment. The received noise signal and ambient noise in the environment of the receiving equipment reduce the intelligibility of the transmitted speech reproduced by the mobile phone. Furthermore, the levels of aforementioned noise signals and the level of the speech signal may vary, which makes it even more difficult to follow the reproduced speech.
A signal received by a mobile phone typically has a large dynamic range, ie. the difference between the highest and lowest signal level during a certain period of time is great. When the dynamic range of the received signal is large, it is hard to discern speech reproduced at the lowest signal levels from the noise signal and background noise, and at the highest signal levels the speech becomes disturbingly loud. In addition, at high signal levels the speech signal may be distorted in the receiver circuits, especially in the output amplifier and loudspeaker.
It is known several methods to attenuate interference and noise. U.S. Pat. No. 5,241,689 discloses a mobile telephone system in which audio signals from various sources arriving in a base station are converted to a predetermined amplitude level before the signal is sent to the radio channel. The intention of this arrangement is to make maximal use of the radio channel dynamic range and it does not essentially solve the other problems mentioned above.
It is known from patent documents EP 113615 and EP 514813 to compress the signal to be transmitted, or to narrow down the dynamic range of the signal to be transmitted before transmission and to expand it at reception with a corresponding reverse function. The compression algorithm parameter information is sent by means of a separate signal. The intention of this solution is to reduce the effect of noise accumulated in the signal transmitted on the transmission path especially in the uplink direction, ie. when transmitting a signal from a mobile phone to a fixed communication network. However, the method does not solve the other problems mentioned above.
From patent document EP 0 600 164 it is known a method wherein the compression parameters of a compression performed to a signal are adjusted in response to the noise level and the level of the signal from the microphone. The intention of the arrangement is to attenuate exceptionally strong microphone signals before transmission. This method improves the quality of the signal transmitted by a mobile phone but it cannot improve the reproduction quality of the signal received by a mobile phone.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,070,527 describes a method in which the level of a speech signal received from a transmission channel is compressed between two predetermined extremes. The system is intended to be used in conjunction with a headset in telephone exchanges to limit the reproduced speech signal below a maximum level determined by health authorities. The system uses for compression a feedback in which a peak value is defined for the speech signal, the defined value is compared to a predetermined limit value and the input signal amplification is controlled such that the resulting signal stays between the set limit values. In addition, the system includes a time constant according to which a signal at its upper limit value is reduced to the lower limit value. When the system uses peak value measurement instead of power measurement, the output signal level is limited below a predetermined value in all situations. This arrangement makes it easier to follow a received signal in a noisy environment and prevents the reproduction of signal levels too high. However, the arrangement does not solve problems caused by noise included in a received or transmitted signal.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,208,866 discloses an arrangement relating to a car stereo equipment, wherein the sound volume of the receiver is automatically adjusted in response to the ambient noise level. If this solution were applied in a mobile communication system, it would have the disadvantage that if the level of noise included in the received signal were high, the speech reproduced by a mobile station would in any case be masked by noise included in the received signal and by ambient noise.
Thus, none of the prior art methods mentioned above can solve all aforementioned problems related to the reproduction of an audio signal. Furthermore, combining said prior art solutions would result in a complex implementation which would result in a significant increase in the manufacturing costs when applied to mobile phones, for example.

Method and circuit arrangement for adjusting the level or dynamic range of an audio signal


Devices and techniques include process steps for preparing various microelectronic components for bonding, such as for direct bonding without adhesive. The processes include providing a first bonding surface on a first surface of the microelectronic components, bonding a handle to the prepared first bonding surface, and processing a second surface of the microelectronic components while the microelectronic components are gripped at the handle. In some embodiments, the processes include removing the handle from the first bonding surface, and directly bonding the microelectronic components at the first bonding surface to other microelectronic components.

Microelectronic elements often comprise a thin slab of a semiconductor material, such as silicon or gallium arsenide, commonly called a semiconductor wafer. A wafer can be formed to include multiple integrated chips or dies on a surface of the wafer and/or partly embedded within the wafer. Dies that are separated from a wafer are commonly provided as individual, prepackaged units. In some package designs, the die is mounted to a substrate or a chip carrier, which is in turn mounted on a circuit panel, such as a printed circuit board (PCB). For example, many dies are provided in packages suitable for surface mounting.
Packaged semiconductor dies can also be provided in "stacked" arrangements, wherein one package is provided, for example, on a circuit board or other carrier, and another package is mounted on top of the first package. These arrangements can allow a number of different dies or devices to be mounted within a single footprint on a circuit board and can further facilitate high-speed operation by providing a short interconnection between the packages. Often, this interconnect distance can be only slightly larger than the thickness of the die itself. For interconnection to be achieved within a stack of die packages, interconnection structures for mechanical and electrical connection may be provided on both sides (e.g., faces) of each die package (except for the topmost package).
Additionally, dies or wafers may be stacked in a three-dimensional arrangement as part of various microelectronic packaging schemes. This can include stacking a layer of one or more dies, devices, and/or wafers on a base die, device, wafer, substrate, or the like, stacking multiple dies or wafers in a vertical or horizontal arrangement, and various combinations of both.
Dies or wafers may be bonded in a stacked arrangement using various bonding techniques, including direct dielectric bonding, non-adhesive techniques, such as ZiBond® or a hybrid bonding technique, such as DBI®, both available from Invensas Bonding Technologies, Inc. (formerly Ziptronix, Inc.), an Xperi company (see for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,864,585 and 7,485,968, which are incorporated herein in their entirety). Respective mating surfaces of the bonded dies or wafers often include embedded conductive interconnect structures, or the like. In some examples, the bonding surfaces are arranged and aligned so that the conductive interconnect structures from the respective surfaces are joined during the bonding. The joined interconnect structures form continuous conductive interconnects (for signals, power, etc.) between the stacked dies or wafers.
There can be a variety of challenges to implementing stacked die and wafer arrangements. When bonding stacked dies using a direct bonding or hybrid bonding technique, it is usually desirable that the surfaces of the dies to be bonded be extremely flat, smooth, and clean. For instance, in general, the surfaces should have a very low variance in surface topology (i.e., nanometer scale variance), so that the surfaces can be closely mated to form a lasting bond.
Double-sided dies can be formed and prepared for stacking and bonding, where both sides of the dies will be bonded to other substrates or dies, such as with multiple die-to-die or die-to-wafer applications. Preparing both sides of the die includes finishing both surfaces to meet dielectric roughness specifications and metallic layer (e.g., copper, etc.) recess specifications. For instance, conductive interconnect structures at the bonding surfaces may be slightly recessed, just below the insulating material of the bonding surface. The amount of recess below the bonding surface may be determined by a dimensional tolerance, specification, or physical limitation of the device or application. The hybrid surface may be prepared for bonding with another die, wafer, or other substrate using a chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) process, or the like.
A handle wafer can be used to hold the die during the processing steps, which may be temporarily glued to one side of the die during processing and removed afterwards. However, adhesive bonding often does not provide the uniformity necessary for precise thinning of wafers to silicon thicknesses of 1 to 10 um, nor does it typically allow for processing at temperatures above 250 C. Additionally, the adhesive layer is typically too compressible to support adequate planarization by chemical mechanical polishing (CMP).

DBI to Si bonding for simplified handle wafer


A glass sheet processing apparatus includes a first gantry assembly that extends across a glass sheet in a cross-machine direction. The first gantry assembly includes a processing head that moves along a length of the first gantry assembly and includes a laser comprising an optical arrangement positioned in a beam path of the laser providing a laser beam focal line that is formed on a beam output side of the optical arrangement. A second gantry assembly extends across the glass sheet in the cross-machine direction. The second gantry assembly includes a processing head that moves along a length of the second gantry assembly.

Various methods and apparatuses for severing glass sheets are known. One illustrative method employs lasers, which by virtue of wavelength and power that are strongly absorbed by the glass material, or after the first interaction make the material strongly absorbent, can then ablate the material. Another method is a specifically directed, laser-induced crack formation in which a trace on the surface is first strongly heated by the laser and immediately thereafter, this trace is cooled quickly (e.g., by a water jet) such that the thermal stresses thereby achieved lead to crack formation, which may be propagated through the thickness of the material (mechanical stress) in order to sever the material.
In some known cutting processes, a glass cutting apparatus including X/Y (sometimes referred to as 2D) positioning tables may be used. For example, a carrier may be used to transport the glass sheet between processing locations. The X/Y positioning table of the glass cutting apparatus may be mounted with the carrier and the glass sheet located thereon. The carrier may then by moved by linear actuators in both X and Y directions in a horizontal plane while a stationary process head including a laser directs a laser beam onto the glass sheet for the cutting operation.
While the above-described process may be suitable for cutting the glass sheet, the handling of the individual glass sheets on carriers can be time-consuming and can be less suitable for higher volume operations. The scrap from the cutting operation typically remains on the carriers thereby introducing another step where the scrap must be removed from the carrier.

Substrate processing station for laser-based machining of sheet-like glass substrates


An electronic device includes an upper housing that has a display unit on an upper surface; a lower housing that supports the upper housing so as to enable sliding; a movable plate unit that is disposed on an upper surface of the lower housing to enabling sliding; and a movement mechanism that causes the movable plate unit to slide in a direction opposite to that of the upper housing, coinciding with a sliding of the upper housing with respect to the lower housing. The movement mechanism causes, during transition into a closed state, the movable plate unit to move beneath the upper housing such that an upper surface of the movable plate unit is hidden and causes, during transition into an open state, the movable plate unit to move in the direction opposite to that of the upper housing, exposing the upper surface of the movable plate unit.

A conventional mobile information terminal apparatus has a display unit in respective housings that are foldably coupled to one another and that when unfolded, provide a screen of a large display size (see, e.g., Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2003-298700). Further, in the housing of a main display unit of a mobile telephone, two sub-display units are accommodated that are adapted to be pulled out from the housing (see, e.g., Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2007-124025). Another conventional mobile communication terminal has a display unit in respective housings that are vertically stacked on one another and that when unfolded, causes the display units to be flatly arranged side by side (see, e.g., Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2009-71588). Still further, a displaying apparatus has two display units coupled to one another to enable one display unit to be stacked on the display surface of the other display unit and to move around the other display unit to remain on the back thereof (see, e.g., Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2009-109943).
In addition to the foldable electronic devices, sliding-type electronic devices are also present. A sliding-type electronic device transitions between a closed state and an open state consequent to an upper housing thereof sliding on the lower housing thereof. In the closed state, the upper housing overlaps the lower housing and therefore, the upper surface of the lower housing is hidden beneath the upper housing. In the open state, the lower housing and the upper housing are shifted with respect to one another, whereby the upper surface of the lower housing is exposed.
Nonetheless, with a conventional sliding-type electronic device, the upper housing overlaps a portion of the lower housing in the open state and therefore, the area of the exposed portion of the upper surface of the lower housing is smaller than the area of the upper surface of the upper housing. Therefore, a problem arises in that display units of, for example, the same size cannot be disposed in the exposed portion of the upper surface of the lower housing and the upper surface of the upper housing.


There is disclosed a flow control mechanism for a downhole tool and a downhole tool incorporating the flow control mechanism. In one embodiment, a flow control mechanism (202) is disclosed for controlling a centralizer (200). The flow control mechanism (202) comprises a body (212) defining a fluid chamber (234); an inlet flow path (292) for fluid flow into the chamber (234); at least one tool flow path (294) for fluid flow between the chamber (234) and at least part of the downhole tool (200); an exhaust flow path (297) for fluid flow from the chamber (234) to a fluid exhaust (240); and control means including a control member (218) mounted for movement within the chamber (234) for controlling flow into and out of the chamber (234) along the inlet flow path (292), the at least one tool flow path (294), and the exhaust flow path (297). The mechanism (202) controls flow to a piston (214) of the centralizer (200) for centralizing the centralizer (200) within, for example, a tubular (211) in the bore hole.

To comply with safety regulations and to monitor the inclination of well boreholes, among other reasons, the hole may be surveyed periodically during drilling. It is important, for example, that the location of the drill bit relative to the mouth of the hole is known so that a relief well can be drilled in the event of a blow-out.
It is presently known to measure the inclination of a drilled hole using one of four types of devices. The first type of device is a drift indicator, the second is a magnetic single shot device, the third is a mechanical measuring-while-drilling device (MMWD), and the fourth is a directional measuring-while-drilling device (DMWD).
The first two types of device (the drift indicator and the magnetic single shot device) have been used for more than 50 years. They require a person drilling a well to lower the device into the hole, wait for the device to perform a reading, raise the device from the hole, and then check the measurement taken by the device. Frequently, a second measurement is required to confirm the accuracy of the first measurement. These devices are very expensive to use because the drilling procedure is halted while the device is being used to survey the hole.
The third type of device (the MMWD) has been used for more than 40 years. It is located above the drill bit in a purpose-built collar. This device uses a swinging mechanical pendulum to measure the inclination of the device with reference to the vertical plane. This inclination reading is linked to a mechanically activated plunger which, when activated, produces a pulse which is transferred to the surface. Each pulse represents 0.5 degrees of inclination. This provides a measurement of the verticality (the downhole inclination) of the hole.
The fourth type of device (the DMWD) is similar to the MMWD but conveys information about the inclination of the hole by means of binary code rather than by mechanically activated pressure pulses. At the drilling console, the code is received, decoded and the results are displayed to the drill operators. The DMWD has a number of disadvantages associated with it. For example, it usually needs at least one trained engineer to operate it correctly and it is more expensive than the other devices.
Presently, the most commonly used device is the MMWD device. It is relatively inexpensive to run and does not require an additional trained engineer to operate it. However, these devices are not very accurate or reliable. They are also very expensive to make because they are housed in collars which can cost more than the combined cost of the component parts inside them. A further disadvantage of these devices is that they are sometimes lost downhole, that is, they have to be abandoned, for example, in situations where the bottom hole assembly becomes stuck.
In the oil and gas exploration and production industry, a wide range of downhole tools are used for performing specific functions in the downhole environment. Many of these tools are fluid pressure activated and include relatively complex flow control mechanisms for controlling activation of the tool. Frequently these tools require a positive fluid flow for activation, for example, flow past the tool when located in a borehole.
Other tools, such as centralisers which are used for centralising a secondary tool in tubing in a well borehole, are mechanical and may include, for example, fins such as rubber fins or sprung arms. Where rubber fins are used, the fins are dimensioned to be a close fit within a tubular in which the centraliser is located whilst sprung arms are compressed inwardly on location of the centraliser within the tubular. In both cases, this acts to centralise a body of the centraliser and thus a tool coupled to the centraliser, such as a drill bit, within the tubular. However, fixed dimension centralisers such as these create potential problems when subsequently removed from the borehole, as a tool such as a packer, valve or jar may have been located in the borehole above the centraliser, these tools restricting the diameter of the borehole and making it difficult to withdraw the centraliser.
It is amongst the objects of embodiments of the present invention to obviate or mitigate at least one of the foregoing disadvantages.

Flow control mechanism for a downhole tool


A core rod is utilized in the process of forming a core in a metal casting. The core rod has a length and opposite ends The core rod is generally round in cross-section along at least a portion of the length of the core rod proximate at least one of the ends configured for use in forming the core of the metal casting. The core rod is made from a precipitation-hardenable alloy including about 40.0 to 75.0 wt. % Ni, about 0.0 to 25.0 wt. % Co, about 10.0 to 25.0 wt. % Cr, and about 0.0 to 20.0 wt. % Fe. A method for forming a core within a metal casting includes the steps of providing a precipitation-hardenable alloy core rod having a length and opposite ends; packing sand around at least one end of the core rod to form a sand core with core rod; placing the sand core with core rod into a mold; pouring molten metal into the mold and around the sand core with core rod; and producing a metal casting having a core and a uniform sidewall thickness in a range of +/−0.060 inches. An improved casting produced by the disclosed method and core rod is also disclosed.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is directed to a precipitation-hardenable alloy core rod utilized in castings to keep the cores straight and concentric with the outer surfaces of the castings, the improved casting formed with the precipitation-hardenable alloy core rod, and the associated manufacturing method.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Typically, foundries that are manufacturing castings with internal cavities place cores into the molds to create this cavity. Cores and core rods (metal reinforcement rod) have been used by foundries for hundreds of years. However, they use inexpensive materials such as cold rolled steel or other cold worked materials as core rods in their cores. The problem is that when these cold worked materials are subjected to the high temperatures of molten metal which surrounds the core, the material stress relaxes and twists, bows, or bends. This causes the core to also bow or bend which causes the core, or hollow cavity inside a casting, to not be concentric with the outside surface of the casting. This condition is known in the foundry industry as a core shift.
One type of casting that can have core shift problems is a beryllium-copper plunger tip manufactured for the die cast industry. Beryllium-copper has a melting temperature of approximately 2300 degrees Fahrenheit. A plunger tip is used to inject or push molten metal such as molten aluminum or molten magnesium into a die or mold. This process is done under intense pressures approaching 30,000 pounds per square inch. While all of this is taking place, water is flowing through the inside of the core of the plunger tip as a method of cooling the tip.
The cooling of the plunger tip, and the concentricity of the cooling chamber core is critical, because the plunger tip is designed to push the molten aluminum or magnesium through a shot sleeve, which is a steel tube. The tip is run at a very tight clearance relative to the sleeve to prevent the molten metal from getting wedged between the plunger tip and shot sleeve, which would lead to premature failure. If the concentricity is off, the plunger tip can have portions which congregate heat in the heavy sections which can lead to a thermal breakdown, heat cracking, of the beryllium copper used in form the casting. Another problem with heavy cross sections is thermal expansion of the plunger tip, which can cause the plunger tip to swell and seize in the shot sleeve.
Yet another reason for the concentricity of the plunger tip's cooling chamber (casting cavity) being very critical, is that the die cast plants (end user) that purchases the plunger tip cut the plunger tip down to smaller diameters and re-use it. After a plunger tip fails due to wear from being used in an injection machine, the die casters machine the tip down to a smaller diameter and places it back into a smaller machine. This can happen several times. The danger is that if the concentricity is off, the plunger tip can have a thin sidewall or thin front face, which could collapse from the high pressures. If this were to happen, the internal cooling water could come into contact with the molten aluminum or molten magnesium that could result in an explosion and possible injury of the machine operator.
The thought process thus far in the die cast industry for a solution to the core shift problem in castings has been to increase and use the largest diameter cold worked steel core rod as possible. The belief was that the increased diameter of the steel core rod equated to greater strength that would in turn solve the core shift problem. This approach to solving the problem failed to recognize the actual problem causing the core shift in the castings. Core shift in the castings is not caused by actual physical bending of the core rod, but by the stress relaxing of the mechanical stress that is built up in the metal of the cold worked steel core rods during their manufacturing process. The stress relaxing of the cold worked steel core rods is a more significant issue for castings that are poured at higher temperatures, such as the approximately 2300 degrees Fahrenheit at which beryllium-copper melts, for castings that are machined over time to progressively smaller dimensions with progressive thinner walls between the casting exterior of the internal cooling chamber core, such as with plunger tips, and for castings being used in a manufacturing process, such a molten metal injection molding machines, were a casting failure can have significant consequences to the manufactures, injection molding machine, and machine operator.
Additionally, there are limitations as to the diameter of the core rods (reinforcing rods) that can be used in the manufacture of a particular casting due to the physical size limitations of the parts being cast by the foundry. For example, if a foundry is trying to cast a casting with a 0.5 inch diameter hole leading to a core, it is physically impossible to place a 0.75 inch steel rod inside the core for strength.
What is needed is a core rod and associated manufacturing method that will reliably produce castings that do not have the core shift problems previously experienced in various foundry castings. In particular, a plunger tip with improved concentricity of the core within the casting is needed to allow the end user to maximize the life of the plunger tip through additional uses by machining the plunger tip to smaller diameters. Plunger tips with a more reliably uniform sidewall thickness and face thickness are needed to increase safety by minimizing the chance of the plunger tips collapsing under the high pressures of the die casting or injection molding machines.

Precipitation-hardenable alloy core rod, plunger tip having a uniform side wall thickness, and method of forming same