A new natural mixture of primary fatty acids of high molecular weight ranging from 24 to 38 carbon atoms, especially those ranging between 26 and 36 carbon atoms and more especially those of straight chain of 26, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35 and 36 carbon atoms. This mixture has a relative composition of each fatty acid that is highly reproducible batch to batch and it is extracted from sugar cane (Saccharum officinarum, L.) wax. This mixture of fatty acids has specific pharmacological properties that supports its use as an active component of pharmaceutical formulations used as hypocholesterolemic and against hypercholesterolaemia type II, as antiplatelet, anti-thrombotic and anti-ischemic. This mixture of primary fatty acids is also effective in the inhibition of the development of gastric ulcers induced by different agents.

This invention relates to a new mixture of primary fatty acids with straight chains of 26, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35 and 36 carbon atoms. This mixture shows a relative composition of the fatty acids that is highly reproducible from batch to batch and it is extracted from sugar cane (Saccharum officinarum L.) wax, and can be used for the treatment of type II hypercholesterolemia, as antiplatelet agent, as anti-thrombotic, as anti-ischemic agent as well as protective and/or curative agent against gastric ulcers.
There are other mixtures of fatty acids that has reported biological properties, such is the case of the one reported in U.S. Pat. No. 5,284,873 in which is claimed a pharmaceutical composition for combatting prostate affections, in which the active principle is a fraction of fatty acids obtained from the fruits of Sabal Serrulata, with oleic acid as the main one, followed by lauric and palmitic acids, being the one with the greater number of carbon atom eicosenoic. In the U.S. Pat. No. 5,502,045 is claimed a method of reducing the cholesterol levels in serum using an ester formed by a-sitostanol and a 2 fatty acid from 2 to 22 carbon atoms. Also, claims a method of formation of such esters, being the effective daily dose of 0.2 to 20 g of the ester. Although, in the U.S. Pat. No. 5,444,054 is reported a method of treating ulcerative colitis in which one of the fractions used is an oil that contains certain fatty acids from 18 to 22 carbon atoms, but unsaturated. Not close to this patent application are the U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,505,933 and 4,687,783 in which are claimed mixtures of fatty aldehydes derived from fatty acids, for the treatment of patients with multiple sclerosis as well as neurological and dermatological diseases, the inventors claims a daily dose of 100-400 mg/kg of body weight of the patients.
In the last decade, numerous patent have appeared which report the omega-3-poly-unsaturated fatty acids have an effect on serum cholesterol and blood platelet aggregation, such is the case of U.S. Pat. No. 4,526,902 where it is claimed a pharmaceutical composition for the treatment of thrombo-embolic conditions in which the active principle are unsaturated eicosapentaenoic and docohexacnoic fatty acids together with linoleic acid, linolenic acid and its derivatives. Also, in the U.S. Pat. No. 5,502,077 is claimed a composition of fatty acids for the treatment or prophylaxis of multiple risk factors for cardiovascular diseases, where the 80% in weight corresponds with omega-3 fatty acids, its salts or derivatives thereof, being the main ones eicosapentaenoic and docohcxacnoic acids. In EPO patent 0 422 490 A2 it is claimed a pharmaceutical composition for inhibiting the absorption of cholesterol, containing triglycerides formed, preferably, by a mixture of saturated fatty acids from 20 to 24 carbon atoms, but they should be administered in a daily dose of 2 to 10 g. Also, in the Japanese patents 55092316 A and 56115736 A. of Tokiwa Shizeru et al, is reported the demonstration as well as the isolation and purification of an agent for diminishing cholesterol composed by a mixture of highly unsaturated fatty acids, especially eicosatrienoic and docosatertraenoicacids. In other Japanese patents (publication # 1290625 A, 02053724 A, 02243622 A and 04169524 A) claimed different pharmaceutical formulations, such as an improver of cerebral function or for the treatment of degenerative disease, or for lowering cholesterol in blood and for having Serum lipid-improving activity in which are presents as active principle, mixtures of fatty acids, especially eicosapentaenoic and docosahexacnoic acids, in a daily dose that varies from 500 mg/kg of body weight to 0.5-30 g.
As it has been shown, these patents claims mixture of fatty acid with specific biological properties, some of them closely related with the ones claimed in the present patent application. But, the composition of these mixtures significantly differs from the one claimed in these patent application and, also, the proposed daily dose to be used in these treatments in higher than the one claimed in the present patent application.
The present invention is related mainly with the pharmaceutical industry, particularly with the development of pharmaceutical formulations with specific properties, because them could be used as hypocholesterolaemic and hypolypoproteinaemic, anti-platelet anti-thrombotic, anti-ischemic drugs as well as in the prevention of gastric and duodenal ulcers induced by different agents.
These formulations contains, as active principle, a natural mixture of primary fatty acids of high molecular weight ranging from 24 to 38 carbon atoms, especially those ranging from 26 to 36 carbon atoms and more especially those of straight chain of 26, 28,29,30,31,32,33,34,35 and 36 carbon atoms, obtained from sugar cane wax (named MFASCW).
Drugs with specific pharmacological properties, based in the uses of primary fatty acids of high molecular weight (from 26 to 36 carbon atoms) obtained from, vegetable or animal waxes as active principles has not been reported previously, but it is known that primary fatty alcohols of high molecular weight obtained from sugar cave wax shows the same pharmacological properties. In EPO patent 0 488 928 A2 is claimed a mixture of fatty alcohols of high molecular weight for the treatment of hypercholesterolaemia and hyperlypoproteinaemia, type II that., also, in patent WO 94/07830 is claimed the use of the same mixture as antiplatelet agent, anti-ischemic, anti-thrombotic as well as in the prevention of gastric and duodenal ulcers induced by different agents.
The procedure for the obtention of this mixture of primary fatty acids of high molecular weight in the present invention is based in an homogeneous saponification of sugar cane wax with concentrated solutions of alkaline and earth-alkaline hydroxides, especially those of low molecular weight and more especially those of sodium, potassium and calcium. The concentration of the alkaline solution must be such that the ratio in weight of the corresponding hydroxide with that of the wax to be processed must be over 5% on, especially from 8 to 25% and more specifically from 15 to 25%. Saponification process lasts for a period over 30 min and more especially between 1 to 5 hours. The solid, obtained in this step, is processed using a conventional solid-liquid extractor, where the M.F.A.S.C.W., in salt form, is isolated from the rest of the components by extracting these components using the adequate organic solvent choose among ketones from 3 to 8 carbon atoms, alcohols from 1 to 5 carbon atoms, hydrocarbons from 5 to 8 carbon atoms, haloforms as well as aromatic compounds including mixtures of them. Some preferred solvents used in the present invention are the following: acetone, methyl-ethyl ketone, pentanone, hexanone, terbutanol, ethanol, methanol, 2-propanol, butanol, hexane, pentane, isopentane, ciclohexane, heptane, chloroform, 1,2 dichloroethane, dichloromethane, trichloroethane, trichloromethane, 1,2,3 trichloropropane, benzene, toluene, phenol, p-methyl toluene and others.
The mixture of primary fatty acids of high molecular weight in salt form is purified by succesive recristalizations in an adequate organic solvents or in aqueous solutions, choosen among ketones from 3 to 8 carbon atoms, alcohols from 1 to 5 carbon atoms, hydrocarbons from 5 to 8 carbon atoms, as well as aromatic compounds, including mixtures of them. Some preferred solvents used in this step of the process acetone, methyl-ethyl ketone, pentanone, hexanone, terbutanol, ethanol, methanol, 2-propanol, butanol, hexane, pentane, heptane, octane, ciclohexane, benzene, toluene, phenol, p-methyl toluene and water between others.
An step in the purification of this mixture of primary fatty acids of high molecular weight consist in refluxing the components in an adequate organic solvent, choose among ketones from 3 to 8 carbon atoms, alcohols from 1 to 5 carbon atoms, hydrocarbons from 5 to 8 carbon atoms as well as aromatic compounds including mixtures of them and, immediately, hot filtering the fatty acids salts.
In the final step of this process the free fatty acids are regenerated using an acid solution, that could be prepared using mineral acids and/or organic acids to be choose among hydrochloric acid, sulphuric acid, nitric acid, perchloric acid, acetic acid and oxalic acid among others. The yield of fatty acid is between 10 to 40%, while the purity of the M.F.A.S.C.W. is in the general range from 85 to 100%, more especially between 90 to 99%, determined using gas chromatography and/or volumetric chemical analysis.
The M.F.A.S.C.W. obtained in the present invention is a mixture of primary fatty acids of high molecular weight ranging from 26 to 36 carbon atoms, more especially the one of 26, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35 and 36 carbon atoms. In Table I is reported the qualitative and quantitative composition of this M.F.A.S.C.W.
The daily dose of M.F.A.S.C.W. to be used for the treatment of the different diseases has been established between 1 to 100 mg per day and the most adequate route of administration is oral solid dosage-form such as tablets, gragees or capsules. Also, this drug could be administered orally or parenterally or topically considering the uses claimed in the present invention.
The pharmaceutical formulation, used in the oral route contains as active principle from 0.5 to 25.0% in weight of M.F.A.S.C.W. This dose is obtained by mixing M.F.A.S.C.W. with different excipients such as disintegrators, agglutinants, lubricants, sliders or just fillers.
One of the objects of the present invention is to isolate and purify the natural mixture of primary fatty acis with high molecular weight ranging from 26 to 36 carbon atoms from sugar cane wax, especially the mixture of straight chain fatty acids of 26, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35 and 36 carbon atoms.
Other of the objects of this invention is to use this natural mixture of fatty acids, in relatively low doses, as a component of pharmaceutical formulations used as hypocholesterolemic and hypolipidaemic drugs. Also, one of the objects of the present invention is the development of pharmaceutical formulations that contains M.F.A.S.C.W. as active principle in order to be used as anti-ischemic and anti-thrombotic drugs, administered orally, topically or parenterally.
Finally, in a whole picture of M.F.A.S.C.W. profile, and proposed as active principle for pharmaceutical formulations, this mixture is innocuos, and very well tolerated, representing an important advantage. Thus, results obtained in toxicological assays carried out in rodents report absence of toxicity related with the M.F.A.S.C.W.. No side effects have been detected in subjects treated with the product which is object of the present invention. The object of the current invention shall be described in detail in the following pages. References will be made to examples of accomplishments that are not limited to the scope of the said invention.

Mixture of primary fatty acids obtained from sugar cane wax


The invention provides a control device for mutually monitoring two microcomputers at a low cost while reducing a parts number and doubly monitoring abnormality in each of the microcomputers. The control device transmits a reset signal to a main microcomputer and resets the main microcomputer when a frequency of a first pulse signal deviates from a normal frequency range determined by a frequency calculating means, in which the first pulse signal is output from the main microcomputer, and the frequency calculating means calculates a frequency of the first pulse signal by an input of the first pulse signal to a sub microcomputer. The control device transmits a reset signal to the sub microcomputer and resets the sub microcomputer when a frequency of a second pulse signal deflects from a normal frequency range, by an input of the second pulse signal to the main microcomputer from the sub microcomputer.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a microcomputer runaway monitoring device.
2. Description of the Conventional Art
There has been conventionally known a microcomputer runaway monitoring device which makes microcomputers including a main microcomputer and a sub microcomputer execute processes in parallel, and detects and resets an abnormality in each of the corresponding microcomputers between both the microcomputers. The microcomputer runaway monitoring device is proposed, for example, in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 63-313247 and Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2005-49312.
The conventional microcomputer runaway monitoring device as proposed in the documents is structured, for example, as shown in FIG. 4, such that in a clocking device which actuates a main microcomputer 1a operating in a first operation cycle on the basis of a clock signal output from a first oscillation element 4a, and a sub microcomputer 2a operating in a second operation cycle on the basis of a clock signal output from a second oscillation element 5a in parallel, and carries out a predetermined clocking processing by the main microcomputer 1a and the sub microcomputer 2a, the main microcomputer 1a has a unit configured to output a first pulse signal having a predetermined frequency according to the clocking processing on the basis of the first operation cycle, the sub microcomputer 2a inputs the first pulse signal and has a frequency calculating unit configured to calculate a frequency of the first pulse signal according to the clocking processing on the basis of the second operation cycle, and the sub microcomputer 2a outputs a first pulse signal (Pu1_sig) to the main microcomputer 1a. The main microcomputer 1 is structured such as to calculate a frequency of the first pulse signal (Pu1_sig), stop an output of a second pulse signal (Pu2_sig) in relation to a watch dog timer (WDT) 3 so as to output a reset signal (RS_sig) to a reset terminal (RSTm) of the main microcomputer 1a and a reset terminal (RSTs) of the sub microcomputer 2a from the watch dog timer (WDT) 3 in the case that the calculated frequency (Pu1_fc) deviates from a normal frequency range.
However, according to the microcomputer runaway monitoring device as proposed in the documents mentioned above, in the case that the abnormality is detected in any of the main microcomputer or the sub microcomputer, both of the main microcomputer and the sub microcomputer are simultaneously reset, so that there is a problem that the normal microcomputer is also reset. Further, in the case that the abnormality is generated in the main microcomputer, it is impossible to discriminate whether the sub microcomputer is normal or abnormal.
Further, in the microcomputer runaway monitoring device as proposed in the documents mentioned above, it is necessary to synchronize the frequencies of the main microcomputer and the sub microcomputer in relation to the oscillation elements used in an oscillating circuit, and it is necessary to use the oscillation elements having the same material and the same frequency capacity as the oscillation elements used in the main microcomputer and the sub microcomputer. Accordingly, a total cost increase is caused in the case that an expensive oscillation element is used in one as well as a limitation of parts selectivity is caused.


A process for converting a high-boiling fraction resulting from the reaction of methyl chloride with silicon metalloid in a process typically referred to as the "direct process" to monosilanes. The process comprises forming a mixture comprising a low-boiling fraction comprising monosilanes and a high-boiling fraction comprising polymeric silicon containing compounds and contacting the mixture with hydrogen gas in the presence of a catalyst effective in promoting conversion of the polymeric silicon containing compounds to monosilanes. The process results in conversion of the high-boiling fraction to monosilanes. At least a portion of the catalyst present may be formed in situ during conduct of the direct process and isolation of the fractions.

The present invention is a process for converting a high-boiling fraction, resulting from the reaction of methyl chloride with silicon metalloid in a process typically referred to as the "direct process", to monosilanes. The process comprises forming a mixture comprising a low-boiling fraction comprising monosilanes and a high-boiling fraction comprising polymeric silicon containing compounds and contacting the mixture with hydrogen gas in the presence of a catalyst effective in promoting conversion of the polymeric silicon containing compounds to monosilanes. The present process results in conversion of the high-boiling fraction to monosilanes. At least a portion of the catalyst required for conduct of the process may be formed in situ during conduct of the direct process and isolation of the fractions.
In the preparation of methyl chlorosilanes by the direct process a complex mixture is formed which is typically distilled to separate methylchlorosilanes from other components present in the mixture. After the methylchlorosilanes are distilled from the mixture, remaining are monosilane and disilane by-product fractions. The monosilane fraction which boils below about 45.degree. C. is hereinafter referred to as "low-boiling fraction" and the disilane fraction which boils above about 80.degree. C. is hereinafter referred to as "high-boiling fraction." In current commercial operations for performing the direct process, the high-boiling fraction alone can constitute as much as five weight percent of the resultant product. Therefore, it is desirable to convert the high-boiling fraction along with the low-boiling fraction into commercially desirable products to reduce by-product disposal and to improve raw material utilization.
The "direct process" is well described in the patent literature, for example, in Rochow, U.S. Pat. No. 2,380,995 and Barry et al., U.S. Pat. No. 2,488,487. The high-boiling fraction remaining after the monosilanes overhead distillation is a complex mixture comprising higher boiling silicon containing compounds which have, for example, SiSi, SiOSi, and SiCSi linkages in the molecules. The high-boiling fraction may also contain particulate silicon and metals or compounds thereof. Typical high-boiling residues obtained from the direct process distillation product are described, for example, in Mohler et al., U.S. Pat. No. 2,598,435 and Barry et al., U.S. Pat. No. 2,681,355.
Wagner, U.S. Pat. No. 2,606,811, teaches a hydrogenation process where a compound containing a halogen and the Si--Si bond is heated to a temperature of at least 300.degree. C. in the presence of hydrogen. The resultant products are monosilanes.
Atwell et al., U.S. Pat. No. 3,639,105, describe a process where hydrosilanes are produced by contacting a disilane with hydrogen gas under pressure and heating the mixture in the presence of a transition metal catalyst such as palladium on charcoal. Atwell et al. state that the disilane may be part of a mixture from the direct process. Atwell et al. further report that when the disilane was a methylchlorodisilane, the resulting product contained about four to 28 weight percent methyltrichlorosilane. Generally, organotrihalosilanes such as methyltrichlorosilane have limited commercial usefulness and for this reason limit the usefulness of the process described by Atwell et al.
Neale, U.S. Pat. No. 4,079,071, describes a process for preparing hydrosilanes in high yields by reacting methylchloropolysilanes with hydrogen gas under pressure at a temperature of from 25.degree. C. to about 350.degree. C. in the presence of a copper catalyst. Neale states that the methylchloropolysilanes can be those typically created as direct process by-products. Useful copper catalysts described by Neale include copper metal, copper salts, and complexes of copper salts with organic ligands. In some cases, Neale reports that up to 29 weight percent methyltrichlorosilane was formed.
Ritzer et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,393,229, describe a process for converting alkyl-rich disilanes in a residue obtained from the manufacture of alkylhalosilanes to halogen-rich polysilanes. The process comprises treating an alkyl-rich disilane-containing residue with an alkyltrihalosilane or silicon tetrahalide in the presence of a catalyst and a catalytic amount of a hydrosilane reaction promoter at an elevated temperature. Ritzer et al. teach aluminum trichloride as a useful catalyst in their process when used with a hydrosilane promoter. Ritzer et al. further teach that the resulting halogen-rich polysilanes can, in a separate step, be cleaved to form monosilanes.
Bokerman et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,175,329, describe a process for the production of organosilanes from the high-boiling residue resulting from the direct process that results in a net consumption of organotrichlorosilane. In the process, the high-boiling residue is contacted with an organotrichlorosilane and hydrogen gas in the presence of both a hydrogenation catalyst and a redistribution catalyst.
Ferguson et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,430,168, describe a process for the production of monosilanes from the high-boiling residue resulting from the "direct process." The process comprises forming a mixture comprising an organotrihalosilane and high-boiling residue in the presence of hydrogen gas and a catalytic amount of aluminum trichloride. The process results in consumption of the organotrihalosilane and conversion of the high-boiling residue to useful monosilanes.
The present invention provides a process where a high-boiling fraction comprising polymeric silicon containing compounds resulting from producing methyl chlorosilanes is converted into commercially useful monosilanes. The present inventors have discovered that by forming a mixture comprising a low-boiling distillation fraction comprising monosilanes resulting from the reaction of methyl chloride with silicon metalloid and a high-boiling distillation fraction comprising polymeric silicon containing compounds, that the high-boiling fraction is converted to useful monosilanes. Furthermore, at least a portion of the catalyst in the present process can be formed in situ during conduct of the direct process and isolation of the resulting monosilanes.

Process for converting polymeric silicon containing compounds to monosilanes


The invention relates to a method for controlling and/or regulating a drive train in a vehicle with an engine and a gearbox, especially an automatic gearbox, whereby depending on a warning signal and a stopping request of the driver an engine stalling aid is launched. The invention also relates to a drive train for a vehicle with an engine and a gearbox, especially an automatic gearbox, especially for carrying out said method.

The present invention relates to a method for the control and/or adjustment of a drive train of a vehicle having an engine and a transmission, especially an automatic transmission in which the transmission is controlled via a transmission controller and the engine is controlled via an engine controller. Moreover, the invention relates to a drive train for a vehicle having an engine and a transmission, especially an automatic transmission, a transmission controller being provided for the control of the transmission and an engine controller for the control of the engine.
In a drive train of a vehicle, especially having an automated transmission system, such as an automated shift transmission (ASG), an uninterrupted shift transmission (USG) or a twin clutch transmission (DKG), dry clutches and electromotive actuators may preferably be used. A significant advantage of a system of this type is that when there is a fault, such as a power failure at the transmission control device, the self-inhibiting clutch actuators ensure a retention of the current clutch state. Thus, the drive train transmits exactly the torque to the wheels that is required at the moment of the failure.
However, if the driver intends to stop with the drive train engaged when there is a failure of the transmission actuator, he must stall the engine using the brake.
In particular with high-performance engines, this may cause problems.

Drive train and method for controlling and/or regulating a drive train

LuK Lamellen und Kupplungsbau Beteiligungs KG


The present invention relates to the use of the pituitary adenylate cyclase activating peptide (PACAP) as a molecular adjuvant for vaccines. Among other applications, these vaccines may be used in the protection against infectious agents such as viruses, bacteria and ectoparasites affecting mammals, birds and aquatic organisms. The PACAP, combined with a particular antigen, demonstrates its effectiveness as adjuvant increasing the host immune response against that antigen. This type of response can be observed when the vaccine compositions or combinations that include PACAP are administered orally, by injection, or by immersion baths, in case of aquatic organisms.

The main objective of vaccination is to induce a specific and effective immune response against a pathogen that also produces protection against infection and/or a disease and results in its elimination. The concept that the immune response against a particular antigen can be improved by the addition of certain compounds in the vaccine formulation was shown about 100 years ago, when the aluminum salts were introduced into the formulations and were called "adjuvant" (G. Leroux-Roels (2010) Vaccine 28S C25-C36).
Traditional vaccines consist of inactivated or attenuated pathogens, or toxins derived from these microorganisms. Although the use of inactivated or attenuated pathogens has high immunogenicity, currently is unattractive in vaccinology because of the high toxicity of these preparations.
Therefore, there is growing interest in adjuvants in the research related to the development of new generations of vaccines based on recombinant protein subunits, synthetic peptides and deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) plasmids. These new vaccine variants, although less toxic, are mostly less immunogenic when they are administered without an immunostimulatory adjuvant. Due to this reason, in recent years has increased the need for safer and more potent adjuvants (Saenz et al. (2010) Vaccine 28 (47): 7556-7562).
Although the use of adjuvant is well known, the manner in which they act is less clear. It is considered that, in general, they increase the effectiveness of vaccines through several mechanisms including: 1) increased antigen processing and presentation by dendritic cells, 2) induction of a "danger" signal by signaling pathways mediated by receptors that recognize patterns associated pathogens, such as the "Toll" receptors, and 3) by activating co-stimulatory signals that activate lymphocytes. These mechanisms are triggered by cytokine induction and up-regulation of the expression of appropriate co-stimulatory signals (Secombes (2010) Fish & Shellfish Immunology, 409-416).
Several endogenous molecules and proteins (Yin and Kwang (2000) Fish & Shellfish Immunology 10, 375-378; Lingnau et al. (2007) Expert Rev Vaccines 6 (5): 741-6; Zhang et al. (2010) Vaccine 28: 5114-5127) have been studied as adjuvants. Also, it is known that certain immunostimulating peptides can act as an adjuvant in vivo, stimulating the immune response of protein or peptide antigens (Saenz et al. (2010) Vaccine 28 (47): 7556-7562).
PACAP belongs to the superfamily of secretin/glucagon/vasoactive intestinal peptide (Miyata et al (1989) Biochem Biophys Res Commun 164: 567-574). It is a multifunctional neuropeptide which plays important roles as neurotrophic and hypophysiotropic factor, as a neurotransmitter, neuromodulator and vasodilator molecule in mammals (Arimura A. (1998) Japanese Journal of Physiology 48: 301-31). It has been demonstrated its role in the cell division and differentiation and also in the cell death (Sherwood et al. (2000) Endocrine Review 21: 619-670). This peptide exists in two molecular forms of 38 (PACAP38) and 27 (PACAP27) amino acids (Miyata et al. (1990) Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications 170:643-8). The biological actions of PACAP are exerted through a family of three VIP/PACAP receptors that belong to the secretin G-protein-coupled receptor: the type I receptor, which is highly specific for PACAP and is named as PAC-1; and type II receptors, which exhibit the same affinity for PACAP than for vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP), which are known as VPAC-1 and VPAC-2 (Vaudry et al. (2000) Pharmacol Rev 52: 269-324).
PACAP is widely distributed in various tissues, including those related to the immune system, although the presence of this peptide and its receptors in cells of the immune system in mammals has only been partially elucidated (Gaytan et al. (1994) Cell Tissue Res 276:223-7, Abad et al. (2002) Neuroimmunomodulation 10:177-86). PACAP modulates the inflammatory response through the regulation of the interleukin-6 (IL-6) and interleukin-10 (IL-10) (Martinez et al. (1996) J Immunol 156 (11):4128-36; Martinez et al. (1998) J Neuroimmunol 85 (2): 155-67), Martinez et al. (1998) J Leukoc Biol 63 (5): 591-601).
In activated macrophages, PACAP inhibits the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines and stimulates the production of anti-inflammatory cytokines, thus allowing the homeostasis of the immune system. Additionally, it is known that PACAP reduces the expression of the co-stimulatory molecules B7.2/B7.1 and the subsequent activation of T helper cells (Th). On the other hand, PACAP inhibit in activated macrophages the production of IL-6 through its PAC-1 receptor, suppressing inflammation (Martinez et al. (1998) J Neuroimmunol 85 (2): 155-67, Martinez et al. (1998) J Leukoc Biol 1998, 63 (5): 591-601). The inhibitory action of PACAP over IL-6 transcription in response to intense inflammatory stimuli helps the tissue protection and the immune system homeostasis (Martinez et al. (1998) J Neuroimmunol 85(2):155-67; Martinez et al. (1998) J Leukoc Biol. 1998 May; 63(5):591-601). In contrast, PACAP induce the expression of B7.2 and promotes cellular differentiation to Th2 in non-stimulated macrophages (Delgado and Ganea (2001) Arch Immunol Ther Exp (Warsz) 49(2):101-10). The presence of PACAP in the lymphoid organs of ducks has been reported (Squillacioti et al. (2005) Anatomia, Histologia, Embryologia. Volume 34, Issue Supplements 1, page 49).
The use of PACAP in mammals, as a therapeutic agent for treating autoimmune diseases such as septic shock, rheumatoid arthritis and Crohn's disease, has been proposed (Gomariz et al. (2006) Ann. NY Acad. Sci 1070: 51-74). It is known that in autoimmune diseases there is an uncontrolled immune response against substances and tissues of the organism. In this regard, PACAP prevents inflammation in animal models of autoimmune diseases, through a proper balance of cytokines and chemokines and its receptors, through the recruitment of immune cells and by regulating the generation and activation of Th1 cells and the cytokines which these cells secrete.
Moreover, it is known that molecules involved in the immune system homeostasis, such as "Toll" receptors, are essential for activation of the innate immune response, which boosts the adaptive immune response. However, this response may lead to the pathogenesis of acute and/or chronic inflammation, autoimmunity, and cancer (Gomariz et al. (2010) Current Pharmaceutical Design 16: 1063-1080). In this regard, it is known that the VIP-PACAP system is involved in the regulation of the expression of genes encoding these receptors (Gomariz et al. (2006) Ann. NY Acad. Sci 1070: 51-74). Therefore, both peptides may induce disturbances in the regulation pathways of production of these receptors.
PACAP attenuates the circulating levels of cytokines mediated by the endogenous molecule HMGB1 (high mobility group box 1) (Tang et al. (2008) International Immunopharmacology 8 (12): 1646-1651), and inhibits their release. It is known that HMGB1 molecule and its derived peptides are capable of acting as adjuvant, enhancing the immune response against a peptide antigen and protein (Saenz et al. (2010) Vaccine 28 (47): 7556-7562).
The knowledge about the function of PACAP in the modulation of the fish immune response is limited to studies performed by our research group. We demonstrated that the recombinant Clarias gariepinus PACAP administrated by immersion baths or by injection not only promotes growth but also stimulates innate immune parameters (lysozyme, nitric oxide derived metabolites and antioxidant defenses) and acquired immunity (IgM) in larvae and juveniles fish (Carpio et al. (2008) Fish and Shellfish Immunology 25:439-45; Lugo et al. (2010) Fish and Shellfish Immunology 29:513-520). These properties of PACAP were described in the international patent application WO2007/059714, "Neuropéptidos para el cultivo de organismos acuáticos".
At present, in the field of human and veterinary medicine, there is still interest in identifying compounds that may be used as safe and more potent adjuvants that may be incorporated into existing vaccines, and in those which are under development.

Use of the PACAP as a molecular adjuvant for vaccines

CENTRO DE INGENIERIA GENETICA Y BIOTECHNOLOGIA


An identification token is provided which includes a radio frequency identification (RFID) integrated circuit (IC), an antenna and a switch. The switch is normally in a first state and is actuatable by a user's finger to a second state different from the first state. The identification token includes a conductive connection connected to at least one of the RFID IC and the antenna. The identification token is enabled to send and receive signals so long as the conductive connection is unbroken. The identification token is subjected to a personalization process and the conductive connection is broken after or during the personalization process. After the conductive connection is broken, the switch operates to switch the identification token between operative and in operative states. Before the conductive connection is broken, the switch is actuatable but actuating the switch does not change the state of the identification token.

Many payment cards, such as credit or debit cards, are being deployed with contactless or proximity technologies. For example, MasterCard International Incorporated has developed specifications and guidelines for its member banks to issue PayPass® payment cards. These payment cards have a radio frequency identification (RFID) chip and an antenna encapsulated in the plastic payment card body. The payment card body has the payment card number and other information embossed on one face and may have a magnetic stripe on the other face of the card. A cardholder may simply wave or tap the payment card on a contactless point of sale device to complete a purchase transaction.
In some situations, it may be desirable to provide an "on/off" switch in the payment card that allows the cardholder to selectively disable operation of the RFID chip. Unfortunately, the use of such a switch makes it difficult to manufacture and personalize the card.

Method and apparatus for personalizing contactless card with switch


There is provided a printing apparatus which performs printing by an ink jet method, including: an ink jet head which ejects ink droplets; and a driving signal output portion which outputs a driving signal that causes the ink droplets to be ejected from the ink jet head. The ink jet head includes: a nozzle which ejects the ink droplets; an ink chamber which stores ink to be ejected from the nozzle; and a piezoelectric element which causes the ink droplets to be ejected from the nozzle. The piezoelectric element causes all of the ink in the ink chamber to be ejected from the nozzle by being displaced corresponding to the driving signal.

In the related art, an ink jet printer which performs printing by an ink jet method is widely used (for example, refer to Internet URL http://www.mimaki.co.jp). In the ink jet printer, printing is performed by ejecting ink droplets from nozzles of an ink jet head. In addition, a driving element which causes the ink droplets to be ejected from the nozzles is provided at a position of the nozzles of the ink jet head. As the driving element, for example, a piezoelectric element or the like is widely used.

Printing apparatus, ink jet head, and printing method


An imaging system is disclosed for imaging recording media. The imaging system includes an input opening through which recording media may be input to the imaging system, and an imaging unit for imaging the recording media that is received through the input opening. The imaging unit provides a calibration image on the recording media. The imaging system also includes a calibration image receiving unit for receiving image data representative of the calibration image. The calibration image receiving unit produces imaging unit calibration adjustment data. The imaging system also includes an imaging unit adjustment controller, and an output opening. The imaging unit adjustment controller adjusts the imaging unit responsive to the imaging unit calibration adjustment data. The recording media exits the imaging system through the output opening.

The invention generally relates to the field of imaging systems, and specifically relates to systems and methods for providing plates (e.g., lithographic or flexographic plates) in a plate making system.
In many pre-press imaging systems, such as imagesetters or platesetters, a plurality of sheets or plates (hereafter referred to as plates) of recording media are separately exposed by an imaging source. Each plate may provide a pattern for a different color (e.g., yellow, magenta, cyan and possibly black), and these plates must be registered with one another during printing of the final multi-color image. The recording media to be imaged by a pre-press imaging system is commonly supplied in web form or in discrete plates. The recording media may include photosensitive material, radiation sensitive material, thermally sensitive material, or any other type of imageable material.
During imaging, a movable optical carriage is typically used to displace a laser system or other imaging source in a slow scan direction along a stationary or moving, curved or planar, media support surface (e.g., an external drum, and internal drum, a flatbed, or other support surface). The imaging source exposes a supply or recording media supported on, and held against, the media support surface. Generally, the imaging source includes an optical system for scanning one or more lasers or other radiation beams, each modulated by a digital information signal, over the recording media to record an image onto the recording media. Generally, the information signal is recorded onto a supply of recording media mounted about the external drum by displacing the imaging source relative to the media support surface, e.g., an external drum. This may be accomplished in a number of ways, including rotation of the external drum in combination with a lateral translation of the imaging source, etc. In certain systems, the external drum is rotated while the imaging source is displaced in discrete steps or continuously along the length of the external drum to record data onto the recording media.
Calibration of the imaging system is typically performed during a set-up procedure that occurs either at the manufacturer or at a user's site. Calibration typically involves analyzing an imaged plate after the plate has been processed by a chemical processor that is used to develop the image on the plate.
There is a need, therefore, for an improved system and method for calibrating imaging systems, and in particular, for calibrating pre-press imaging systems responsive to variations in imaging media.

System and method for calibrating an imaging system during imaging


An electric power steering device is configured to transmit an auxiliary torque to a steering unit of front wheels, and includes: an operator; an electric motor configured to generate the auxiliary torque in accordance with at least a steering torque generated by input from the operator; the steering unit of front wheels which includes a pinion shaft; and a rotation terminating mechanism which provides a motion terminating end of the operator, the rotation terminating mechanism being disposed between the operator and the pinion shaft.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an electric power steering device in which an auxiliary steering force is imparted from an electric motor to a steering unit of a vehicle such as an automobile.
2. Description of the Related Art
An electric power steering device is a device in which an electric motor generates an auxiliary torque in accordance with a magnitude of a steering torque, and the auxiliary torque is transmitted to a steering unit, to thereby reduce a steering effort required by a driver for steering.
In a general electric power steering device, in order to prevent a steering turn of wheels from exceeding a certain range, a rack shaft has rack ends and a rack housing portion for containing the rack shaft has housing ends, with the rack end and housing end on the same side forming a rack end mechanism. When a steering wheel is turned to a predetermined angle to the right or left from a neutral position and an angle of steering turn of the wheels reaches the maximum (hereinafter, this angle of the wheels, as well as angle of the steering wheel or the like that imparts this angle of the wheels, is referred to as "rack end angle"), in either of the right and left rack end mechanisms, the rack end and the housing end are brought into contact with each other, and thus the wheels cannot perform further steering turn in the same direction.
Accordingly, when the steering wheel is turned close to the rack end angle and then a large steering torque is applied to the steering wheel, the steering wheel soon reaches the rack end angle and the wheels cannot perform further steering turn, and thus the driver may input a larger steering torque. In accordance with this larger steering torque, a larger auxiliary steering force is imparted from the electric motor to the steering unit, which may lead to a large impact on the rack end mechanism, or a large overload on rack-and-pinion gears, resulting in large impact noise, damage or deformation of components, or the like. Furthermore, due to a rotational kinetic energy caused by inertia moment of the electric motor, overshoot of the electric motor rotation may occur, which may also lead to a large impact or large overload on components, such as rack gear, resulting in damage or deformation.
In order to solve these problems, for example, Japanese examined patent publication No. 6-4417 discloses a device in which, when a steering angle (amount of operation) of a steering wheel reaches a predetermined angle at a position near the rack end angle, a target current value is reduced as the turning angle of wheels increases, and when the turning angle of wheels reaches the rack end angle, the target current value is set to zero, to thereby prevent the rack end mechanism from suffering a large impact.
However, in the device of Japanese examined patent publication No. 6-4417, when the steering wheel is turned in an opposite direction at a position near the rack end angle, a target current value is limited until the turning angle becomes the predetermined angle or less, and thus a sufficient auxiliary steering force in accordance with the steering torque cannot be supplied to the steering unit. As a result, the steering wheel becomes heavier, a practical rack end angle to which the driver can operate the steering wheel becomes smaller, and the steering wheel cannot be turned to the rack end angle which is mechanically set.
In order to solve this problem, Japanese unexamined patent publication No. 2006-248252 (see paragraphs [0038] and [0047]) discloses a device in which, when the wheels are at a certain turning angle θ1 or more near the rack end angle, and when a rotational speed ωM of the motor is a set value ω1 or more, a gain of a steering torque value T is reduced.
In addition, when the steering angle (amount of operation) is a certain value or more near the rack end angle, and only when the steering wheel is further tuned away from the home position, a feedback gain of an electric motor angular velocity is increased.
However, in the technique disclosed in Japanese unexamined patent publication No. 2006-248252, when the rack end of the rack shaft and the housing end of the housing, on one of the right and left sides, are brought into contact with each other, and the driver turns the steering wheel further away from the home position, the torque sensor detects a steering torque and thus the motor generates an assist torque in a direction of turning further away. As a result, a stronger force is further applied to the rack end and housing end which have been already brought into contact with each other. In addition, when an absolute value of a rotational speed ω of the motor is smaller than a set value |ω1|, or when the rack end is brought into contact at a high rotational speed ω of the motor, the rotation of the electric motor may undergo overshoot due to the kinetic energy by the inertia moment of the electric motor, and thus components, such as rack gear, may still suffer a large impact or overload. Accordingly, even when the steering wheel is further turned away from the home position under a situation where the rack end and the housing end are already brought into contact, in order to prevent a problem in a mechanical normality of the steering unit which may otherwise be caused by this load, it is necessary to reinforce the motor, the deceleration mechanism (worm gear, worm wheel gear), the rack gear, the pinion gear, the bearing, the housing and the like. Moreover, due to the overload on the motor, the motor may be burnt out.
Therefore, it would be desirable to provide an electric power steering device in which the rack-and-pinion gears do not suffer overload (overload is suppressed), the assist is limited at a position near the rack end, and the components are prevented from suffering impact.


A drive unit for an aircraft ground wheel associated with a brake unit for braking the ground wheel includes: a driving motor drivingly coupleable to the ground wheel; and a cooling system including at least a drive cooling unit configured to generate a drive cooling air stream for cooling the drive unit and a brake cooling unit configured to generate a brake cooling air stream by sucking in air from the brake unit. A method of controlling such drive unit in which the cooling system is driven by the driving motor of the drive unit includes: decoupling the driving motor from the ground wheel and increasing the rotational speed of the driving motor to increase the amount of generated drive cooling air, when an operating condition of the ground wheel and/or of the drive unit is switched from a propulsion mode to a non-propulsion mode.

Aircraft—also referred to as airplanes herein—use their main engines such as gas turbine, turbo-fan or turbo-prop engines for taxiing on the ground, usually on an airfield or a maneuvering area of an airport. As the main engines of airplanes are not designed to operate efficiently in a low power state, such as needed during the taxiing operation, such maneuvering of the aircraft consumes a lot of fuel. Also the main engines produce noise that increases the overall noise emission at an airport.
Alternatively, special vehicles, such as aviation tugs or pushers, may be used to drag or push airplanes for moving on the ground. However, since such special vehicles are expensive themselves as well as the employment thereof has to be paid for, and such vehicles are not available in large numbers at most airports, they are commonly only used for short distances, e.g. for the push-back operation from a gate. Thus, up to now, the main engines are still used for most of the taxiing, which causes above described disadvantages.
Solutions for taxiing of aircraft are already known. For instance, DE 10 2008 006 295 A1 discloses an electric motor mounted onto a running gear leg of an aircraft. The electric motor comprises a motor shaft parallel to the axle of the ground wheels of the running gear. The motor shaft can be moved axially to engage/disengage with the wheel structure of the aircraft running gear.
WO 2009/086804 A1 discloses a motor for driving the wheels of an airplane landing gear, particularly a nose landing gear, which is disposed in the base of the landing gear strut or is installed as a wheel hub motor in the wheel hub or rim. In order to eliminate a heavy and complex transmission between the motor and the wheel, the motor is configured as a hydraulic motor or electric motor and sup-plied with energy via the landing gear strut.
WO 95/29094 shows a system for driving the landing gear of an aircraft, in which both wheels of a nose gear are drivable through a differential gear assembly or, alternatively, at least one wheel of each main landing gear assembly is driven by an electric or hydraulic motor powered by the auxiliary power unit (APU) of the aircraft.
Although improvements could be achieved with the afore-mentioned approaches, it has been found that—especially for large commercial aircraft—these approaches did not yield satisfying results in terms of providing the necessary power to drive the aircraft without the help of the main engines. A particular aspect concerns to efficiently use the highly limited space available in the proximity of the ground wheels at the undercarriage of an airplane for such drives.
Several locations for installation of a drive unit to one or more ground wheels of the undercarriage of an airplane—also called running or landing gear—have been investigated. Basically, a drive unit may be installed at a mounting location inside or outside with respect to the undercarriage, i.e. seen by an observer from the undercarriage, of a respective ground wheel. The inside mounting location is preferable in terms of transmitting mechanical forces into the undercarriage and for establishing the required electrical, mechanical and any other connections. However, the integration of the drive unit at the inside mounting location is complex due to the very limited space. This particularly applies in cases where a brake unit is to be provided. The outside mounting location is preferable with regard to the space requirement. However, airplanes (e.g. airplanes used on short routes) are often equipped with a brake fan at the outboard mounting location, wherein as brake fan a blower unit or exhauster unit may be used, which produces an air flow for cooling the brake unit associated to the respective ground wheel. The brake fan is mandatory and may not be removed. In smaller aircraft having only one wheel associated with the leg of the undercarriage, the brake fan may also be installed on the same side as the brake unit, as e.g. shown in U.S. Pat. No. 6,615,958 B1.
Finally, yet importantly, the drive unit associated to one or more ground wheels itself needs active cooling, since such drive unit comprises a high power density required for moving the airplane by supplying torque to the associated ground wheel. Preferably, cooling of the drive unit is performed by air to avoid in-tegration of a cooling system using fluids such as water or any other coolant. That is to say, the brake unit and the drive unit both require air cooling. However, the exhausted hot air from the brake unit already has high temperature and thus, may not be used to cool the drive unit. Further the hot air from the brake unit is contaminated with brake dust may impair the drive unit when entering it.

Drive unit for aircraft landing gear with integrated cooling


An aligning unit is provided with a tray having a placing surface on which sheet-like transfer materials discharged with printing applied thereto are held stacked, a first restricting member movable back and forth along an advancing direction of the transfer material being discharged onto the tray while facing the front end of the transfer material with respect to the advancing direction, and a second restricting member for defining the rear end position of the transfer material with respect to the advancing direction. The transfer materials stacked on the tray are aligned by the first restricting member being moved back and forth along the advancing direction. The first restricting member includes a contact surface extending substantially vertically above the placing surface of the tray, and an inclined surface extending from the contact surface toward the placing surface and inclined downward along a direction opposite to the advancing direction.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an aligning unit for aligning transfer materials after printing and an image forming apparatus such as a copier, a printer or a facsimile machine provided with such an aligning unit.
2. Description of the Related Art
In an image forming apparatus, stapling of binding a plurality of transfer materials into a bunch, perforation or like post-processing is sometimes applied to transfer materials (paper sheets, resin films, etc.) after printing. For such a post-processing, image forming apparatuses have been conventionally proposed which are each provided with an aligning unit constructed such that a plurality of transfer materials (e.g. paper sheets, resin films) discharged to a tray defined in a main body of the image forming apparatus (called as an intermediate tray below in order to be distinguished from a discharge tray to be described later) are aligned, a resulting bunch of the transfer materials is moved to a post-processing position, and the bunch of the transfer materials after the post-processing is moved from the intermediate tray to a specified position to be discharged to a discharge tray (see, for example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2002-68578).
Such an aligning unit stacks the printed transfer materials discharged on the intermediate tray while positioning them with respect to forward and backward directions and transverse directions. The aligning unit includes restricting members opposed to each other. While one restricting member restricts the transfer materials at one end, the other restricting member is slid to restrict the transfer materials at the other end, thereby aligning the transfer materials. Thereafter, the aligned transfer materials are moved to the post-processing position for post processing such as stapling.
Here, in the case of, e.g. thermally fixing a toner image to the transfer material, an end portion of the transfer material discharged onto the intermediate tray is, in some cases, largely curled upward depending on the material of the transfer material, a hygroscopic state thereof or the like. If the transfer material is curled in such a way, it might not be aligned to a correct position upon being positioned.
A known construction taking such a problem into consideration is such that an oblique wall inclined toward the opposed restricting member as it extends from a placing surface of the intermediate tray toward the upper end is formed atop the slidable restricting member (see, for example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2002-114433). By this construction, the transfer material placed on the intermediate tray can be suitably aligned even if it is curled upward.
However, the above construction has a problem that the transfer material cannot be properly aligned if it is curled downward. Further, in a mode of performing alignment (sliding movement of the restricting member) every time one transfer material is conveyed, if only the conveyed transfer material is displaced from an alignment position when one transfer material is conveyed anew to the intermediate tray already bearing a plurality of transfer materials thereon, a part of the transfer material displaced from the alignment position is locally curled downward (hangs down) depending on the material of the transfer material. If alignment is performed in this state, the newly conveyed transfer material is sandwiched between the restricting member and the plurality of transfer materials placed (already aligned) at the alignment position and might be buckled.

Aligning unit and image forming apparatus


A method of dilating a paranasal sinus ostium of a patient, which includes inserting a catheter having at least one balloon into a sinus ostium having an ostial wall, inflating the balloon by supplying fluid thereto such that the balloon exerts a force on the ostial wall, determining at least one parameter of the balloon, establishing an amount the balloon can be inflated without fracturing the sinus ostium based at least in part on the determined parameter of the balloon, and dilating the sinus ostium by inflating the balloon to an amount that does not exceed the established amount.

The removal of unwanted and/or life threatening biological material from interior portions of bodily cavities, such as organs, vessels, articular joints and structures, sinuses, and various bodily lumens, is a very common procedure in various medical specialties and disciplines, such as pulmonology, cardiology, urology, gynecology, gastro-enterology, neurology, otolaryngology, orthopedics, and general surgery. Recently, balloon catheters have been employed to release sinus congestion. Accordingly, various instruments and methods have been employed to perform these procedures, which are generally well known in the art.
The nasal cavity (or nasal fossa) is a large air filled space above and behind the nose in the middle of the face. The floor of the nasal cavity, which forms the roof of the mouth, is made up by the bones of the hard palate: the horizontal plate of the palatine bone posteriorly and the palatine process of the maxilla anteriorly. To the front of the nasal cavity is the nose, while the back blends, via the choanae, into the nasopharynx.
The paranasal sinuses are hollow cavities in the skull connected by small openings, known as ostia, to the nasal canal. Each ostium between a paranasal sinus and the nasal cavity is formed by bone covered by a layer of mucosal tissue. Normally, air passes into and out of the paranasal sinuses through the ostia and into the nasal canal.
The paranasal sinuses include the maxillary sinuses, the frontal sinuses, the ethmoid sinuses, and the sphenoid sinuses. The maxillary sinuses are also called the maxillary antra and are the largest of the paranasal sinuses. They are located under the eyes, in the maxillary bones. The frontal sinuses are superior to the eyes, in the frontal bone, which forms the hard part of the forehead. The ethmoid sinuses are formed from several discrete air cells within the ethmoid bone between the nose and the eyes. The sphenoid sinuses are in the sphenoid bone at the center of the skull base under the pituitary gland. Sinusitis is an inflammation of the sinus lining commonly caused by bacterial, viral and/or microbial infections; as well as, structural issues such as ostial blockage. Symptoms include nasal congestion, facial discomfort, nasal discharge, headache, and fatigue. Sinusitis can be considered acute (last 4 weeks or less) or chronic (12 weeks or longer).
Sinusitis affects 29.3 million people each year, making it one of the most common health problems in the U.S. according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention National Center for Health Statistics, Summary Health Statistics for U.S. Adults: National Health Interview Survey, 2009 (2010). It is responsible for great healthcare expenditures and a significant loss of workplace activity.
Another common ailment affecting the nose and paranasal sinuses is nasal polyps. Nasal polyps are benign masses that grow from the lining of the nose or paranasal sinuses. Nasal polyps often result from chronic allergic rhinitis or other chronic inflammation of the nasal mucosa. Nasal polyps are also common in children who suffer from cystic fibrosis. In cases where nasal polyps develop to a point where they can obstruct normal drainage from the paranasal sinuses, they can cause sinusitis.
Various drugs have been used to treat sinusitis, including antibiotics and corticosteroid sprays. However, with the use of intranasal sprays, most of the spray does not actually enter the affected sinuses. Accordingly, introduction of drugs directly into the sinuses has been proposed. For instance, U.S. Pat. No. 7,361,168 to Makower et al. discloses implantable devices that may be positioned within a naturally occurring or man-made cavity or passageway in a nostril, nasal cavity, sinus, etc. via balloon catheters.
Functional Endoscopic Sinus Surgery (FESS) is the most common surgical procedure for clearing blocked sinuses. However, the procedure involves removing bone and tissue, which can lead to post-operative pain, scarring and bleeding. The use of balloon catheters in sinus surgery can minimize or eliminate many of these drawbacks.
One method involves creating a new opening from a sinus into the nose to dilate a sinus ostium or duct, or to excise a sinus. U.S. Pat. No. 7,854,744 to Becker discloses methods of performing balloon catheter astronomy of the maxillary ostium, middle meatal maxillary ostium, and inferior meatal ostium and a method of performing ethmoidectomy of the anterior ethmoid sinus, posterior ethmoid sinus, and sinusotomy of the frontal sinus. The methods generally involve pushing a balloon catheter through the ostia into the desired sinus cavity, inflating the balloon to 9 bar for 20 seconds, and deflating the balloon. This may be repeated. After final deflation, the catheter is removed from the enlarged ostium. The catheters employed by Becker utilize stainless steel catheters with radia of 0.13 inches, length of 4 to 10 inches, and wall thickness of at least 0.035 inches. The catheter tip contains a curved distal tip with an angle of 70° to 180°. The distal tip contains a balloon formed of polyethylene terephthalate with a length of 4 mm to 30 mm and working inflated diameter of 2 mm to 15 mm. The balloon has a distal neck and distal tapered region that is adhered to the distal tip of the catheter using an adhesive, such as cyanoacrylate.
In at least some procedures wherein it is desired to position a balloon catheter in the ostium of a paranasal sinus, it is necessary to advance the balloon catheter through complicated or tortuous anatomy in order to properly position the balloon catheter within the desired sinus ostium. Also, there is a degree of individual variation in the intranasal and paranasal anatomy of human beings, thus making it difficult to use the stiff-shaft preshaped balloon catheters of Becker for use in all individuals. The Becker patent describes the necessity of having available a set of balloon catheters, each having a particular fixed angle so that the physician can select the appropriate catheter for the patient's anatomy.
Accordingly, a series U.S. Patents to Chang et al. (e.g. U.S. Pat. No. 7,727,226) disclose methods utilizing flexible balloon catheter devices for use in ENT procedures. Exemplary methods for improving drainage from a paranasal sinus that has a natural ostium comprise inserting a guidewire to a position near the ostium, using the guide to advance a balloon catheter within the ostium and using the balloon to dilate the natural ostium. A sizing balloon situated around the dilating balloon may be inflated using an imageable inflating medium, such as saline with radioopaque contrast agent or carbon dioxide gas. The distal region of the sizing balloon is imaged to enable the operator to estimate the size of the anatomical opening or the diameter of the narrowest region in a tubular anatomical region. Chang et al. also provide methods for treating mucocysts or other flowable substance containing structures located in the sinus by penetrating the structure, compressing the structure with, for example, the balloon of a balloon catheter to force the contents out of the opening formed by the penetrator, advancing the penetrator into the sinus and opening in the cyst, and positioning the balloon in the sinus using the balloon to force the contents out of the opening formed by the penetrator.
A common risk, however, with the above described methods and apparatus is the possibility of under or over-inflation of the balloon portion of the catheter. In the case of under-inflation, the effect of the catheterization on the ostium may be insufficient and therefore require additional treatments, adding to procedure times and increasing the risk of complications. In the case of over-inflation, the balloon catheter can fracture the ostium, leading to restenosis.
Imaging modalities, such as those used with a sizing balloon, cannot assess information regarding pressure or volume of inflated balloons. Variation in constriction responses associated with the nature of an obstruction highlight the importance of control over dilation set-points such as the rate of dilation, pressure, volume and the diameter of the inflated balloon. Many patient maladies are simply not remedied by these procedures because the methods are not efficient, safe, and reproducible, and/or the instruments employed lack the appropriate physiological measurement and/or feedback necessary to ensure the safety, efficacy, and reproducibility of the procedure.
Further, simple pressure control means, such as those described in US 2003/0105483 to Hudson et al., are not optimal because they only involve controlling pressure to a pre-set level through valve caps. The pre-set can prevent extreme over-inflation, but requires the user to approximate a pre-set value and does not allow for real time monitoring and feedback as the balloon is within a nasal or paranasal lumen. The pre-set also does not account for under-inflation when the diameter of an ostium is larger than anticipated.
Hence, there is a significant need for systems and methods for deforming the sinus ostia that are capable of accurately and directly determining in vivo the size and optionally the compliance of areas of the nose, nasal cavities, and paranasal sinuses, such as the ostia. Such systems and methods should be relatively simple to accommodate a single-use strategy.

Biofeedback controlled deformation of sinus ostia


A nozzle mechanism for a vacuum cleaner. The mechanism has a sliding base with an intake opening, and a suction conduit connector for a vacuum cleaner. Disposed between the intake opening and the connector is an air feed channel, in the path of which is disposed a turbine chamber having a turbine that can be driven by intake air. The turbine serves for driving a brush roller for mechanically cleaning floors. A second intake opening is provided that is connected to the turbine chamber via an intake channel that is independent of the first intake opening. The air for driving the turbine is supplied to the turbine chamber at least partially via the second intake opening and the intake channel.

The present invention relates to a vacuum cleaner nozzle mechanism having a sliding base with a suction or intake opening, a suction conduit connecting means for a vacuum cleaner, an air feed channel for establishing communication between the intake opening and the connecting means, and a turbine that is driven by drawn-in air and serves to drive a brush roller that is rotatably mounted in the vicinity of the intake opening.
Not only for the vacuum cleaning of textile floor coverings, but also for cleaning smooth floor surfaces, the force of the air stream that is flowing into the vacuum cleaner nozzle mechanism is not adequate for loosening dirt particles that adhere to the surface that is to be cleaned. For this reason, a mechanical action, preferably via a rotating brush, is necessary, especially for cleaning textile floor coverings. This rotating, roller-like brush can be driven not only by an electric motor as well as by a friction gear, or by an air turbine. Where an air turbine is used, the intake air stream that flows through the nozzle mechanism is utilized to drive the turbine wheel, which is mounted in a turbine chamber. The rotation of the turbine wheel is transferred directly to the roller brush via a belt drive. Driving the rotating brush roller via an air turbine is particularly advantageous, since air turbines have a very straightforward construction and hence are very economical, and the air stream that is required for driving the turbine is available as the intake or suction air stream. In contrast, with an electric drive system, in addition to the expense for the electric motor, there also exists the problem of not only providing power from the vacuum cleaner to the nozzle mechanism, but also doing so in an absolutely safe manner.
These reasons have led to the significant use of air turbines for driving the rotating brush roller. Unfortunately, heretofore known vacuum cleaner nozzle mechanisms have the shortcoming that the drive power of the air turbine is frequently significantly reduced due to the fact that the intake opening of the nozzle mechanism rests very tightly i.e. in a nearly sealing manner on the floor surface that is to be cleaned, especially with textile floor coverings, thereby greatly reducing the suction or intake air stream that is trying to flow in. In addition, the contact pressure of the nozzle mechanism against the surface that is to be cleaned is increased by the partial vacuum that builds up in the suction region, as a result of which the intake air stream that is flowing in through the suction or intake opening is restricted even further, so that the turbine wheel, and hence the brush roller that is to be rotated, frequently cease to rotate, thereby preventing any mechanical cleaning action.
With the heretofore known vacuum cleaner nozzle mechanisms that have a rotating brush roller, the speed of the rotating brush roller can be varied, even to the point of stopping the roller, by deflecting the air stream that is flowing onto the turbine wheel.
Due to the forward and backward operating movements of the nozzle mechanism during a cleaning process on the floor surface that is to be cleaned, and due to the often varying surface condition and density of the textile floor covering, the intake air stream that is flowing through the suction or intake opening into the nozzle mechanism constantly fluctuates, as a consequence of which the rotational performance of the brush roller, and hence the cleaning capacity thereof, is unsatisfactory, which the person that is operating the vacuum cleaner frequently cannot immediately recognize.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a vacuum cleaner nozzle mechanism of the aforementioned general type that, regardless of the floor condition and the distance between the sliding base and the floor, always allows an adequate suction or intake air stream to flow in for driving the air turbine in the turbine chamber.


For the engraving of a pattern into the surface of a work piece by a laser beam which is directed onto the surface and controlled in its intensity in a location-dependent manner in dependence on the pattern, one surface area of a design pattern is, first of all, scanned optically or mechanically, and the surface information which is thus obtained is converted into electrical control signals. The laser beam is, by these control signals, controlled in a surface area which corresponds to the surface area of the design pattern. Different patterns can be engraved rapidly and easily by changing the design pattern. The scanning of the design pattern can be carried out finely and with high resolution, so that the engraving also has a correspondingly high resolution. The pattern of the design patterns can be as irregular as desired, so that complicated and irregular patterns can be engraved.

The invention relates to a process for engraving a pattern into the surface of a work piece.
A device and a process for contact-free engraving by means of a laser is known from the patent document U.S. Pat. No. 4,156,124. A laser beam is, by means of a mask apparatus, directed onto the surface of a work piece. The said mask may be either transparent or reflective. The laser beam is transmitted by means of an optical device, and the image of the mask is thus cast onto the surface of the work piece. The mask and the work piece are held in parallel to one another at a fixed distance and position. The source of the laser beam is moved relative to the mask and the work piece surface, so that the laser beam migrates over the mask and, as a result, the surface of the work piece. By means of the mask, the intensity of the laser beam is changed in a manner which is dependent upon location and, consequently, the effect of the laser beam on the surface into which the pattern thus presented through the mask is engraved, as well. Only simple and rough patterns can be engraved by means of such a process and such an apparatus. In addition, the production of the masks is complicated and expensive. The masks are limited, so that only limited patterns can also only be engraved.
A device for the engraving of different types of letterings into a surface is known from the patent document U.S. Pat. No. 4,734,558. The ray coming from the laser is expanded to a parallel beam, which proceeds through a mask which can be controlled in a manner specific for location, and which mask acts as a screen, and corresponds to the lettering which is to be engraved. The image of the mask is cast onto the surface which is to be engraved. The mask is a light valve in the form of a liquid crystal, the permeability of which is controlled, in a manner dependent on location, by an image which is cast by the screen of a cathode ray tube onto the liquid crystal. The image on the cathode ray tube, which corresponds to the character which is to be engraved, is supplied by a microcomputer. Several stored memories to be engraved, which can be selected by means of switches which can be activated by hand, are stored in the memory in this microcomputer.
In this known device, therefore, metallic masks are replaced by an optical mask which is controlled by means of a mask generator. The characters which are to be engraved are of a simple nature, and must first be stored in memory in the mask generator by means of a special program.
A process which is essentially similar to the type which has just been described, in which the mask is likewise variable, is already known from the patent document DE 42 13 106 A1. The variation is brought about by means of a different digital control. The engraving is carried out in successive layers, one after the other. The numerical control of the mask permits only simple mask images, and thereby simple engraving patterns as well. The numerical control is brought about, for example, by means of one or several rotating aperture disks, the aperture images of which come to cover a specific configuration. The patterns are thus always regular. Small image elements are thus assembled into larger image fields in which, because of their regularity, they make a seamless transition into one another. Irregular patterns, such an assembly of image elements into larger image fields, is not possible without the appearance of visible boundary lines.
A process is the type which is stated in the introductory portion of claim 1 is known from the patent document U.S. Pat. No. 4,629,858, in which a pattern on a sheet of paper is scanned by line by line and the intensity of a laser is controlled by the scanned signal, and is, in the same manner, directed line by line over a work piece in the shape of a carpet, so that a deep pattern which corresponds to the pattern of color on the paper pattern is burned into the surface of the same. The design pattern thereby has a size which corresponds to the size of the work piece. The processing of a work piece which has a surface which is larger than that of the design pattern is thus not possible.
A process is known, from the patent document U.S. Pat. No. 3,739,088, which operates in accordance with the same principle as the process which has been stated above, and which is used for the production of printing plates. Here, too, the surface of the design pattern obviously corresponds to the surface of the printing plate which is to be produced.
The task which forms the basis of the invention is that of describing a process of the type for engraving a structure into the surface of a work piece by means of a laser beam which is directed onto the surface and controlled in its intensity in a location-dependent manner in dependence on the structure, which can be carried out in a simple manner and is also suitable for complicated and, in particular, irregular patterns and by means of which a surface on the work piece, which is larger than that of the design pattern, can be engraved.
The task which forms the basis of the invention is solved by means of the concept of storing depth contour information which is obtained from the surface sample in memory and the depth contour information which is stored in memory is recalled at least two times and at least two surface areas which adjoin one another on a boundary line are thereby engraved on the work piece.
The basic concept of the theory in accordance with the invention consists of the fact that the surface information which is obtained from the design pattern is stored in memory and is recalled at least two times, and at least two surface areas on the work piece which adjoin one another on a boundary line are thereby engraved. The surface area on the work piece which is scanned by the design pattern can thereby be doubled or multiplied as desired. It is thus not in one direction only that several patterns, which each correspond to the surface area which is being scanned, engage into one another in series, but also in two directions, so that the total surface which is engraved is correspondingly enlarged. If the pattern which has been scanned in the surface area of the design pattern is simple and/or if the boundaries of the surface area are selected favorably, then a boundary line does not appear between two surface areas which adjoin one another on the work piece. If the patterns do not insert into one another without a transition and in an invisible manner at a boundary line between two surface areas which adjoin one another, then, in accordance with one suitable further development of the invention, it is advantageous if the surface information which is stored in memory is, upon the second recall, read backwards and, if applicable, during further recalls, it is read alternately forward and backwards, in such a manner that, during the engraving, a mirroring of the sample is carried out at the boundary line or the boundary lines.
In all cases in which the surface information corresponding to the surface area of a design pattern is recalled at least two times, it is suitable for the surface information to be processed into the information areas which are adjacent to the boundary line or to the boundary lines between the surface areas on the work piece, in such a manner that a transition which is continuous and as invisible as possible for the human eye, is produced in the area of the boundary line. This processing can essentially be carried out in any manner, such as, for example, controlled by an operating person under visual control, which can be simply a handicraft process. One particularly suitable form of implementation of the processing consists of the fact, however, that the surface areas which correspond to the scanning surface area of the design pattern on the work piece are, by means of a corresponding recall of the surface information, preferably overlapping in time, which is stored in memory, brought to overlap on the boundary line or on the boundary lines, and that, the control signals in this area of overlap are continuously reciprocally lowered or raised, in such a manner that an essentially continuous and invisible transition of the pattern is formed over the boundary line. This means, in other words, that a cross-fading of the patterns is brought about in the area of the boundary line or of the boundary lines.
One other manner of implementation of the process, in accordance with the invention, for obtaining an invisible transition between adjacent engraved surface areas on the work piece in a manner which is similar to the form of implementation which has been stated above consists of the fact that the control signals for the laser beam are continuously attenuated or increased again in a transition area, adjoining with the boundary line, on both sides of the boundary line, whereby transition control signals are added to the control signals in the transition area, which are derived from the surface of the information of the design pattern, and then reversed as the control signals in the transition area are continuously raised and lowered again, in such a manner that an essentially continuous, invisible transition of the pattern is formed over the boundary line.
A natural pattern, particularly the grain of a natural leather pattern, can suitably be used as the design pattern. The work piece may be an embossing roller, particularly one for the continuous embossing of a sheet of thermoplastic foil. The forms of the process, which bring about a boundary-free transition of the pattern on a boundary line can, with particular advantage, be used for this process. An embossing pattern which is continuous over the circumference of the embossing pattern can thus be produced. If the embossing is supposed to take place in dependence on a natural design pattern, such as, for example, the grain pattern of a natural leather pattern, then the embossing surface must be a negative of the natural design pattern. In order to attain this, it is suitable, in accordance with one form of implementation of this further embodiment of the invention, to invert the control signals for the laser beam.

Process for engraving a structure into the surface of a work piece with a laser


Treatment tools for the mechanical treatment of high-consistency fibrous material, and preferably for dispersing waste paper. The treatment tools are provided with teeth and are moved past one another with tight spacing so that the fibrous material disposed between treatment tool may be subjected to high shearing forces. Because of the intense loading of the teeth, the teeth may be arranged together in groups. The groups utilize at least one intermediary piece positioned between adjacent teeth to form at least a corresponding closed gap between the adjacent teeth of the treatment tools. As a result, a higher mechanical strength of the teeth is achieved and a large through flow area is offered for the material to be treated.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a device for the mechanical treatment of high-consistency fibrous material that may include two treatment tools mounted for relative movement therebetween. The treatment tools may include a plurality of coaxially arranged rows of raised teeth, the rows of teeth for each treatment tool being received in a corresponding space in the other treatment tool. The teeth in each coaxially arranged row may be interconnected by intermediary pieces positioned to form at least a closed gap.
2. Discussion of the Background Information
A treatment device for mechanical treatment of high-consistency fibrous material has been disclosed, for example, in German Patent No. 30 47 013, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. This device, which is suited for dispersing waste paper, is used to intensively process the material in a mechanical and thermal fashion so that unwanted materials contained therein can be removed from the fibers, ground, and/or brought below the limit of visibility. In general, with devices for mechanical treatment of high-consistency fibrous material, the fibrous material is not processed in a suspension that can be pumped, but rather in the form of a doughy or crumbly high-consistency material, preferably with a dry content between 20 and 40%. In this manner, considerably higher shearing forces can be transmitted to the fibrous material, without a significant change in fiber length being correspondingly produced. In many cases, the action of the mechanical treatment is further reinforced by heat, e.g., by setting a fibrous material temperature of 90.degree. C. or higher.
As a result of the high consistency that the fibrous material has during treatment, an intensive mechanical treatment is possible, even though the teeth of the treatment tools that move in relation to one another do not touch, but rather move past one another at a spacing of approx. 1 mm or more. In the process, considerable forces are exerted on the teeth, in particular at the foot of the tooth. Due to lever action, in addition to the shearing forces on the teeth, the tooth foot is engaged by a high moment that rises with increasing tooth height. Further, higher teeth are advantageous since the available through flow cross section is essentially proportional to tooth height. This is why, using one device, a correspondingly greater quantity of material can be treated in the same amount of time with equally high intensity. With larger machining units, a higher economy can almost always be achieved with regard to investment and operational costs.
For prior art devices for mechanical treatment of high-consistency fibrous material, tooth heights that can be achieved in the prior art depend on the manufacturing process. Thus there are cast arcs, which are assembled by being placed against one another into a closed, annular rotor set or stator set. For technical casting and forming reasons, with components of this kind produced for example using the sand is casting process, the gap width and tooth width cannot fall below 6 mm, and the tooth height mostly is not permitted to be more than 30 mm. Devices which are produced in a process of this kind can only have a comparatively low material hardness. The other working process is based on closed individual rings into which the gaps must be milled. These rings are assembled in concentric disposition into a complete rotor set or stator set. Because of the milling process, the gaps can be intrinsically smaller than in casting, but limitations arise due to strength requirements. Nevertheless, milled set rings can be produced with higher teeth than if they are cast. The high manufacture costs of milling, though, are disadvantageous.

Device and treatment machine for the mechanical treatment of high-consistency fibrous material


A system and method for erasing a block of data in a plurality of memory cells includes clamping one of a digit line and an I/O line in a sensing circuit of a memory device to a fixed logic level. The memory cells of the block of memory cells are selected and refreshed to the fixed logic level. A sense amplifier includes a clamping circuit adapted to connect one of a digit line and an I/O line to a fixed logic level in response to an erase signal during a refresh of the selected block of memory cells.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to electronic memories and, more particularly, to memory devices and methods for performing an erase or preset of volatile memory elements.
2. State of the Art
Memory cells, and in particular dynamic random access memory (DRAM) cells, need to be refreshed from time-to-time to restore leaking charge and thus maintain a logic state therein. Conventionally, a DRAM refresh process is initiated by a processor or controller coupled to the memory device by supplying an appropriate control signal to a command or control interface of the memory device. More recently, DRAMs hide some forms of refresh from the processor.
In contrast to dynamic memory devices that require periodic refreshing of the memory cells, static memory devices that do not require refreshing of the memory cells have also become commonplace. However, static random access memory (SRAM) devices require more transistors and circuitry to maintain the stored charge. Because of the additional circuitry and the increased area associated therewith, design tradeoffs are frequently undertaken to determine an appropriate form of memory for a system. One developing form of a hybrid memory device has become known as a pseudo static random access memory (PSRAM) device. Accordingly, a PSRAM device includes desirable characteristics of both DRAM devices and SRAM devices, namely, the low cost and large capacity of a DRAM device with the simplified interface and integration of an SRAM device. The PSRAM device provides an improved memory cell density by employing higher density dynamic memory cells but also requires periodic refreshing in order to maintain the stored charge at levels sufficient to determine the logic state stored therein.
To accommodate these refresh requirements, PSRAM devices incorporate refresh circuitry which is "hidden" within the memory device and thus relieves the system designer of the burden of programming a controller or processor to periodically execute the refresh process. This hidden-refresh process within PSRAM devices must be periodically performed within the PSRAM device.
Data values stored in memory devices deteriorate over time if the quantity of charge stored therein is not timely refreshed. On a system power-up process, the data value stored in the memory device may be indeterminate. Therefore, there is a need to erase or set an initial value within the memory devices during initialization. Furthermore, the data values stored in memory devices may be highly confidential and desirably erased when the usefulness of the stored data values becomes obsolete. Accordingly, there is also a need to provide a method and system for efficiently erasing or setting groups of data values in a memory device.


Systems, methods and apparatuses involving a chip-to-chip communication channel, for reducing Far End Crosstalk (FEXT) through the novel concept of controlling FEXT magnitude and polarity of a component inside a channel, vias or within a connector by implementing broadside and edge couplings to offset cumulative FEXT in a channel, via-connector-via subsystem or a connector. The example implementations described herein can be applied to a chip-to-chip communication channel, mezzanine connectors, backplane connectors and any other connectors requiring via routing, and connector itself that can benefit from FEXT reduction.

Field
Systems, apparatuses, methods and example implementations described herein are generally directed to systems for reducing Far-End Crosstalk (FEXT) and, more particularly, to the reduction of FEXT in electrical connectors and plated through holes that are transmitting differential signals.
Related Art
As demand for higher bandwidth continues to grow in telecommunication industry, each device may require more computational power and routing capability. The data rate for each signal channel continues to increase, as does signal density. As a result, unwanted noise, or electromagnetic coupling occurring between neighbor channels significantly increases. For high-speed applicability and reduction in noise compared to single-ended data lines, differential signaling has become a preferred related art method for data transmission.
For the differential victim pair being considered, unwanted electromagnetic coupling (e.g., crosstalk) from neighboring aggressor pairs occurs throughout the data transmission path when at least one of these neighboring pairs is active. When an aggressor's transmitter and victim's receiver are physically far away from each other (located at different chips, for example), crosstalk induced in the same direction as the signal is called far-end crosstalk, or FEXT.
In general, the chip package, connector, and vias are dominant sources of FEXT, due to the close proximity of signal lines. Several attempts at reducing FEXT in the via field on the Printed Circuit Boards (PCBs) have been made by increasing spacing, adding ground between differential pairs, tightening coupling within a differential pair or balancing inductive and capacitive coupling coefficients. In an example related art implementation, two adjacent pairs of vias are made symmetric and equi-distanced to reduce the FEXT of the via itself.
However, such related attempts have increased consumption of allocated real estate, imposed difficulty in design and implementation, and been relatively insufficient in reducing cumulative total FEXT, particularly in higher frequency systems. Therefore, there is a need for additional ways to reduce total FEXT.

Method and apparatus for reducing far-end crosstalk in electrical connectors


In a disk drive, a disk medium includes servo areas on which servo data is recorded and data areas on which data is recorded. In each of data tracks in, e.g., an outer radius of the disk medium, the inclination θ2 of the servo data recorded on the servo areas is smaller than the inclination θ1 of the data recorded on the data areas.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to a disk drive, and more particularly, to a servo write technique that improves in head positioning accuracy.
2. Description of the Related Art
In the field of a disk drive that-is typified by a hard disk drive, recently, the disk drive has dramatically increased in recording density in order to meet a demand for its large capacity and downsizing.
In a disk drive, generally, the recording density (TPI: track per inch) of data tracks formed on a disk medium is heightened to improve the recording density of the disk medium. This is achieved by improving head positioning accuracy.
The head positioning accuracy necessitates improving both a servo control system for head positioning control and a servo track write technique for recording servo data for the head positioning control.
In the servo control system, a head is positioned in a target point on the disk medium in accordance with servo data read out of the disk medium by the head.
The servo track write technique is one for accurately writing servo data in specified areas (servo areas) on the disk medium usually using a servo track writer (STW) that is exclusively used for the technique.
The STW has a problem that the skew angle of the head erases servo data of adjacent tracks to cause an erase area. In the STW and disk drive, generally, the head is loaded onto a rotary actuator and configured to seek in the radial direction of the disk medium.
The skew angle is the absolute value of the inclination of the head with regard to the data tracks on the disk medium. The erase area occurs because one end of a magnetic gap of a write head protrudes toward an adjacent track.
The STW usually writes servo data while moving a servo head at ½ or ⅓ track intervals on the disk medium. Thus, the erase area becomes much easier to occur and results degrading the signal quality of servo data recorded on the disk medium. If, moreover, the TPI of the disk medium increases, the proportion of erase areas to data tracks also increases, with the result that the adverse affect of the erase areas becomes large.
In the field of a disk drive, a drive using a perpendicular magnetic recording method has recently been developed as a technique of increasing the recording density further. A disk drive of a perpendicular magnetic recording type employs a single pole type head as a write head. Even using such a single pole type head, an erase area is generated by the skew angle as described above.
A method of reducing the above erase area due to the skew angle of a head is proposed (see, for example, Jpn. Pat. Appln. KOKAI Publications Nos. 2000-268516 and 2001-189062).
According-to the method in the above Publications, servo data is written by seeking a head from the outermost radius of a disk medium to a position in the radial direction of the medium in which the skew angle is 0°. In other words, the respective operations are performed separately and selectively.
In the method in the above Publications, since all erase areas generated on the disk medium are overwritten, they can be deleted. However, no servo data can be recorded on an area close to the position in which the skew angle is 0°, thereby generating an area that cannot be used as a data track.
In the perpendicular magnetic recording method, it has been confirmed that an erase area can be reduced by devising a method of designing the pole of a single pole type head. In other words, since the width of the erase area is proportionate to the thickness of the pole, the erase area can be reduced by thinning the pole. If, however, the pole is thinned, the area of the pole decreases to lower the capability of recording of a write head.
There is another method of reducing an erase area by tapering a head into a trapezoid. In this method, too, however, a greatly tapered head reduces the area of the pole and thus lowers the recording capability of a write head. It is not easy to manufacture a greatly tapered trapezoidal head from its practical aspects.

Method for servo writing and disk drive with servo control system