A top unloading milking claw (10) includes a high-impact transparent plastic lower bowl (12) and a stainless steel upper top (14). The claw has a plurality of deflectors (50, 52, 54, 56) on the inner surface (48) of the lower bowl (12) and spaced radially outwardly of the vertical riser outlet tube (28) by an annular gap (58) therebetween. The deflectors (50, 52, 54, 56) reduce tangential velocity of milk flow along the inner surface (48) of the bowl (12) by intercepting such tangential milk flow and redirecting the intercepted milk flow inwardly and downwardly along the inner surface (48) toward the bottom of the bowl (12) to fill the space (38) between the lower end (36) of the outlet tube (28) and the bottom of the bowl (12), to maximize the air pressure differential across the surface of the milk, between the ambient air pressure within the claw and the vacuum within the outlet tube, to maximize milk flow capacity of the claw ( 10). An acceleration surface (94) having a bell-shaped curve extends from the bottom of the bowl (12) upwardly into the outlet tube (28) and provides uniform acceleration of the milk as it enters the outlet tube (28), to minimize shear stress and energy loss as the milk is directed to flow upwardly through the outlet tube (28).

The invention relates to milking claws and more particularly the top unloading type.
Top unloading milking claws are known in the prior art, and include a lower bowl, an upper top closing the bowl, and a vertical riser outlet tube extending from the top downwardly into the bowl. The outlet tube is connected to a vacuum source for drawing milk from the bowl. The lower end of the outlet tube is adjacent the bottom of the bowl and spaced therefrom by a small space through which milk flows from the bowl into the outlet tube. Milk is forced into the outlet tube by the pressure differential between the air within the claw above the surface of the milk and the vacuum within the outlet tube, which pressure differential acts across and upon the surface of the milk within the bowl.
In some claws, inlets in the top direct incoming milk flow tangentially along the inner surface of the bowl. The milk swirls around the bowl and is pushed against the outer wall by a centrifugal force component such that the milk rotates about the center of the claw at a high angular velocity. Air, which is not as dense as milk, is able to flow downwardly along the exterior of the central outlet tube to the bottom of the bowl, and then flow into the outlet tube. This detracts from the noted function of the air within the bowl, namely to provide a pressure differential to act upon the surface of the milk to force milk into the outlet tube. When the milk swirls around the bowl, and air is allowed to flow downwardly to the bottom of the bowl, the noted air pressure differential decreases, which in turn decreases milk flow capacity of the claw. Agitation of high velocity air can also cause lipolysis.


In the present invention, a switch plate cover for an electrical toggle switch comprises three components. The first is a face plate which has an orifice and two standard screw holes for mounting to the switch. The second is a shaped toggle actuator cover which fits over the toggle actuator of the switch and partially through the orifice. The third is a base plate with a rectangular orifice for passage of the toggle switch/dimmer actuator to the toggle actuator cover. The combined components of the switch plate cover are mounted onto the toggle actuator of an electrical switch by placing the orifice of the third component and the hollow vertical second component directly on top of the toggle actuator and then affixing the combined face plate assembly to the switch plate with screws. In operation, the second component is slid up or down, such that the above-mentioned rectilinear displacement causes the actuator to move from one of its positions to the other of its positions.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to the field of switch plates for lights and the like and, more particularly, to a wall-mountable switch plate cover that fit over existing toggle switches and dimmers.
2. Prior Art
Conventional toggle switches and dimmers of standard configuration are well known throughout the United States. In fact, many homes have the old-fashioned toggle switches along with the less common dimmer toggles. As people update their homes and desire to more modern looking face plates and switches, they are forced to replace the original toggle switch or dimmer, as well as the face plate. However, many homeowners and do-it-yourself-ers do not feel comfortable handling electric wiring themselves and so are forced to hire an electrician. Since many homes have a multitude of such light switches, the cost of having an electrician replace all of them with more modern switches could be cost prohibitive.
In the prior art, the face plate that is designed to cover such toggle switches and dimmer usually has a rectangular orifice to allow passage of the switch/dimmer actuator itself. (The switch/dimmer actuator is the manually operated part of the switch/dimmer or the toggle.) The portion proximate the rectangular orifice covers the remaining, aesthetically undesirable elements of the electrical wiring and switch mechanism. The toggle assembly has two standard screw holes which align with corresponding holes in the cover plate. One hole is located above and one hole is located below the switch/dimmer actuator in the center of the plate.
One of the problems encountered by persons seeking to modernize or otherwise change the outward appearance of such standard toggle switches/dimmers and face plates is that the existing infrastructure of the electrical components is so established that it impedes substantial design changes, without complete replacement of the switch/dimmer itself. Thus, the prior art method of updating such face plates merely is to replace or otherwise modify only the visible portions only of the fixtures in question. For example, while the face plate may be changed so as to coordinate with other design elements (wallpaper, wall color, carpeting and the like) in the room, in the prior art it is difficult to change the color or shape of the toggle switch actuator, since it is part of the switch/dimmer mechanism that is attached to the electrical wiring. Thus, the old actuator (which remains visible after installation of the face plate) often conflicts with the style and/or color of the new face plate. Thus, even if it were possible to obtain a variety of colored or modern switch/dimmer actuators, changing the actuator would involve total replacement of the switch/dimmer mechanism, which is a time-consuming, skilled and expensive operation.
Therefore, there is a need to find a means of updating old toggle actuators in such a way that the switch/dimmer mechanism would not have to be replaced. Specifically, there needs to be a face plate assembly that can cover existing interior electrical components in such a way which makes use of the existing electrical infrastructure while hiding the switch/dimmer actuator which would conflict aesthetically with a cover plate of a different color or design.


A thermal overload trip apparatus capable of minimizing inferiority caused by variations during manufacturing of an adjusting means and simply adjusting sensitivity by duplicating the means for adjusting a sensitivity to a trip operation current, comprising: a trip mechanism driven to a trip position by a driving force from a shifter mechanism on occurrence of an overload in a circuit; a release lever mechanism for driving the trip mechanism to the trip position by pressing it when there is the driving force from the shifter mechanism or for releasing the trip mechanism when there is no driving force, on occurrence of the overload in the circuit; an adjusting lever for operating the release lever mechanism to be horizontally moved by rotation; an adjusting knob having an upper surface having a setting groove and a lower portion having a cam portion; and a means independently adjusting the sensitivity to the trip operation current regardless of manipulation of the adjusting knob.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a thermal overload trip apparatus which is applicable to an electrical device for protecting a motor and an electrical load device, such as a thermal overload relay or a manual motor starter, more particularly, to a thermal overload trip apparatus which is capable of efficiently adjusting a sensitivity thereof using an adjusting screw without adjusting an adjusting knob and a method for adjusting a trip sensitivity thereof.
2. Description of the Related Art
An overload protecting function, a basic function of a thermal overload trip apparatus, is implemented by performing a trip operation when an overload or overcurrent within a current range satisfying a pre-set condition for the trip operation is generated in an electric circuit. The current range may refer to a current range for the trip operation according to an IEC (International Electrotechnical Commission) standard specified as an international electrical standard. For example, a condition for the trip operation is that the trip operation should be performed within two hours when a current corresponding to 1.2 times of a rated current is conducted in a circuit and the trip operation should be performed more than two hours and within several hours when a current corresponding to 1.05 times of the rated current is conducted.
The thermal overload (overcurrent) trip apparatus generally includes a heater coil generating heat when an overcurrent is generated by being connected onto the circuit and positioned near the bimetals so as to provide a driving force for a trip operation by said bimetals being bent when the heater coil generates heat, so as to act as a driving actuator. One example of the thermal overload trip apparatus using the bimetals will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2.
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a thermal overload trip apparatus in accordance with the related art, and FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a relation between an adjusting cam and a trip sensitivity adjusting range in the thermal overload trip apparatus in accordance with the related art.
In FIG. 1, a reference numeral 1 designates bimetals. Here, three bimetals are provided so as to be connected onto each circuit of three-phase Alternating Current. Thus, the bimetals are bent by heat from a heater coil (not shown) generating heat when an overcurrent is generated, and accordingly provide a driving force for a trip operation. A reference numeral 2 designates a shifter mechanism. The shifter mechanism 2 is a means for transferring the driving force for the trip operation from the bimetals 1 and is movable in a horizontal direction on the drawing by contacting the bimetals 1 in right and left directions so as to receive the driving force caused by the bent bimetals 1. In FIG. 1, a reference numeral 3 designates a trip mechanism. The trip mechanism is biased to be rotated in a direction of the trip operation by a spring (reference numeral not given). In FIG. 1, a reference numeral 4 designates a latch mechanism for releasing the trip mechanism 3 to be rotated in the direction of the trip operation or restricting the trip mechanism 3 not to be rotated in the direction of the trip operation. The latch mechanism 4 has one end portion installed to face a driving force transfer portion of the shifter mechanism 2 with each other so as to receive the driving force from the shifter mechanism 2, another end portion disposed on a rotation locus of the trip mechanism 3 so as to restrict or release the trip mechanism 3, and a middle portion therebetween supported by a rotation shaft (reference numeral not given) to be rotatable. A reference numeral 6 designates a contact point between the trip mechanism 3 and the latch mechanism 4 at the restriction position. In FIG. 1, at a position contacting one portion of the latch mechanism 4, an adjusting knob mechanism 5 is disposed to be rotatable so as to displace the latch mechanism 4 to be closer or to be distant to/from the shifter mechanism 2 resulting from changes of a contact pressure while contacting the latch mechanism 4. Here, the adjusting knob mechanism 5 includes a cam portion 9 having a varying radius of curvature of its outer circumstance, and an adjusting knob 10 coupled to the cam portion 9 or integrally extended from the cam portion 9 so as to rotate the cam portion 9. In FIG. 1, a reference character y indicates a bending displacement (bending amount) of the bimetals and indicates a pre-set displacement amount (distance) of the bending bimetals 1 when a pre-set overcurrent is conducted in the circuit. And, a reference numeral Δy indicates an allowance for trip operation and indicates a pre-set gap between the shifter mechanism 2 and the latch mechanism 4 when the shifter mechanism 2 is displaced by the pre-set bending amount y of the bimetals 1 caused by generation of the pre-set overcurrent. The allowance for trip operation is adjustable by the adjusting knob mechanism 5.
In the meantime, referring to FIG. 2, a configuration of the cam portion 9 included in the adjusting knob mechanism 5 in accordance with the related art will be described.
In FIG. 2, a reference character a indicates a cam adjustable range covering angles between a maximum trip operation insensitive adjusting position 12 and a maximum trip operation sensitive adjusting position 13. However, since a manufacturer of the thermal overload trip apparatus in the related art has adjusted an initial position of the cam portion 9 such as an initially-set position for the cam portion 11 by rotating the adjusting knob 10 of FIG. 1 during manufacturing, a range allowing a user to substantially adjust the rotation angle of the cam portion 9 is a substantially-adjustable range for the cam b. In FIG. 2, a reference character c indicates an initially-set adjusting range for the cam.
Operation of the thermal overload trip apparatus in accordance with the related art will be described.
First, the trip operation will be described. When the heater coil (not shown) generates heat by the overcurrent in the circuit, the bimetals 1 are bent and moved rightward on the drawing. Accordingly, the shifter mechanism 2 is moved rightward on FIG. 1, that is in a shifter mechanism operating direction 7 applied when the overcurrent is generated by a value obtained by adding the allowance for trip operation Δy to the bending amount y by the driving force of the bimetals 1 bent more than the value adding the allowance for trip operation Δy to the bending amount y, accordingly the latch mechanism 4 is pressed rightward and then rotated in a counterclockwise direction on the drawing. Then, the trip mechanism 3 restricted by the latch mechanism 4 is released and then rotated in the tripping direction, that is in the counterclockwise direction by an elastic force of a spring (reference numeral not given), and accordingly a succeeding switching mechanism (not shown) is operated into a trip (circuit-opening) position and then the circuit is tripped (broken), thereby protecting the circuit and a load device.
Next, a sensitivity adjusting operation for the trip operation will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2.
Under a state that the initial position of the cam portion 9 is adjusted by a manufacturer such as the initially-set position for the cam portion 11 in FIG. 2, if the user rotates the cam portion 9 of FIG. 1 in the counterclockwise direction, the latch mechanism 4 is rotated clockwise, centering the rotation shaft (reference numeral not given), that is in a trip operation sensitivity sensitive adjusting direction 8, accordingly the allowance for trip operation Δy becomes narrow and the trip operation sensitivity of the device with respect to the overcurrent becomes more sensitive.
Since the thermal overload trip apparatus in accordance with the related art has a configuration that the trip operation sensitivity is adjusted only by the cam portion and the latch mechanism, it is difficult to precisely specify relative positions between the cam portion and the latch mechanism and a driving force transfer structure thereof and relative positions between the latch mechanism and the shifter mechanism and a driving force transfer structure thereof and to install the apparatus based on a standard. Thus, the thermal overload trip apparatus in accordance with the related art has a possibility to cause defects during manufacturing that there is no allowance for trip operation or the tripping operation is not performed even if the cam portion is rotated to the maximum sensitive position.
And, since the thermal overload trip apparatus in accordance with the related art has a structure requiring disassembling and re-adjusting the relative positions between the components and the driving force transfer structure thereof when the defectiveness occurs in the manufacturing processes, it may deteriorate productivity of manufacturing.

Thermal overload trip apparatus and method for adjusting trip sensitivity thereof


An image forming apparatus includes an image forming portion, a fixing unit, a position adjustment mechanism, a number-of-printed-sheets counter, and a control unit. The image forming portion includes an image carrier, a charging unit, an exposure unit, a developing unit, and a transfer member. The fixing unit has a heated rotary member and a pressing member and heats and presses the sheet passing through a fixing nip portion. A position adjustment mechanism adjusts the width-direction position of the sheet parallel to the scanning direction of optical scanning by the exposure unit. Every time the number of printed sheets reaches a predetermined number, the control unit makes the correction unit shift the width-direction position of the sheet by a predetermined amount and changes the start position of scanning by the exposure unit on the image carrier according to the direction and amount of shift.

The present disclosure relates to image forming apparatuses provided with a fixing unit for fixing a toner image transferred to a recording medium, such as facsimile machines, copiers, and printers. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to a method for preventing degradation of a fixing member comprising a heated rotary member, such as a fixing roller or a fixing belt, and a pressing member which is in contact with the heated rotary member to form a fixing nip portion.
In image forming apparatuses using an electrophotographic system, an image carrier such as a photosensitive drum which is electrostatically charged uniformly by a charging unit is irradiated with a laser beam from an exposure device to form a predetermined electrostatic latent image in which electrostatic charge is partly attenuated. Then, a developing unit attaches toner to the electrostatic latent image to form a toner image. The toner image is then transferred to a sheet (recording medium) by a transferring means, and unfixed toner is heated and pressed by the fixing unit to make a permanent image. In this way, an image forming process is performed.
A fixing unit is a device which melts toner while conveying a sheet using a fixing member comprising a heating member (heated rotary member) such as a fixing roller or a fixing belt and a pressing member such as a pressing roller to fix the toner to the sheet. The state of wear of the surface of the fixing member changes depending on the drive time and the number of sheets passed. Continuing to use the heating member beyond its lifetime causes an image failure or a fixing failure.
As a solution, different methods for preventing the degradation of the fixing member are proposed. For example, a belt driving device, a belt fixing unit, and an image forming apparatus are known which include: a roller around which a belt is wound and which includes a displaceable roller of which end parts are displaceable; a deviation detection member which is displaced in accordance with the deviation amount of the belt; a displacing means which displaces, in accordance with the amount of displacement of the deviation detection member, the end parts of the displaceable roller in a twisting direction in which the displaceable roller and another roller lie on different planes, and a biasing means which biases the displaceable roller and the other roller in such a direction as to move away from each other in accordance with the amount of displacement of the end parts of the displaceable roller in the twisting direction. This belt driving device is aimed at preventing degradation of the belt due to buckling and wearing of the belt resulting from contact and sliding friction with the detection member.
Furthermore, some known image forming apparatuses include a temperature sensing means for sensing the temperature of the fixing unit, a measuring means for measuring the time of passage of recording materials through the fixing unit for each size, and a control means for judging the life of the fixing member based on the temperature sensed by the temperature sensing means and time measured by the measuring means.

Image forming apparatus provided with a fixing belt and sheet width position adjustment mechanism


A data sharing method includes detecting by a first data processing apparatus that is among multiple data processing apparatuses that share data, any one among a shortage of available memory, a change in remaining battery power, a change in a relative positional distance of the first data processing apparatus to a second data processing apparatus that is among the data processing apparatuses, a change in a communication speed of communication with the second data processing apparatus, and an interruption of communication with the second data processing apparatus; and transmitting by the first data processing apparatus to a third data processing apparatus that is among the data processing apparatuses, a shared portion of the data saved in the first data processing apparatus.

In the field of large-scale parallel computing machines, a system in which memory resources are shared between computers connected to a network, such as a local area network (LAN), has been proposed (see, e.g., Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. H11-15732). When multiple computers interconnected through a wired network share memory resources, the number of terminals and communication speed between terminals hardly change.
Terminals, such as cellular phones, interconnected through a radio network have memory resources of a limited capacity, which may bring about a situation where the memory capacity becomes insufficient when a business-oriented application is used.
When memory is shared between terminals interconnected through a radio network, communication tends to be unstable. This may lead to a case where when a terminal tries to access data temporarily saved in another terminal, the terminal cannot communicate with the other terminal saving the data and fails to collect the data. If such a case happens, processing of the data temporarily saved in the other terminal is suspended, arising in a problem of unstable processing.

Data sharing method and data processing system


The present invention relates to methods of inducing an immune response to cytomegalovirus (CMV) using a genetically modified CMV that is conditionally replication defective. The methods of the invention can be used to treat and/or prevent primary CMV infection, infection due to reactivation of a latent CMV and a super-infection of a different strain of CMV that had been previously encountered. The present invention also relates to a replication defective CMV which has been recombinantly altered to allow for external control of viral replication. Compositions comprising the replication defective CMV are also encompassed by the present invention.

Cytomegalovirus (CMV), also known as human herpesvirus 5 (HHV-5), is a herpes virus classified as being a member of the beta subfamily of herpesviridae. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, CMV infection is found fairly ubiquitously in the human population, with an estimated 40-80% of the United States adult population having been infected. The virus is spread primarily through bodily fluids and is frequently passed from pregnant mothers to the fetus or newborn. In most individuals, CMV infection is latent, although virus activation can result in high fever, chills, fatigue, headaches, nausea, and splenomegaly.
Although most human CMV infections are asymptomatic, CMV infections in immunocompromised individuals, (such as HIV-positive patients, allogeneic transplant patients and cancer patients) or persons whose immune system has yet fully developed (such as newborns) can be particularly problematic (Mocarski et al., Cytomegalovirus, in Field Virology, 2701-2772, Editor: Knipes and Howley, 2007). CMV infection in such individuals can cause severe morbidity, including pneumonia, hepatitis, encephalitis, colitis, uveitis, retinitis, blindness, and neuropathy, among other deleterious conditions. In addition, CMV infection during pregnancy is a leading cause of birth defects (Adler, 2008 J. Clin Virol, 41:231; Arvin et al, 2004 Clin Infect Dis, 39:233; Revello et al, 2008 J Med Virol, 80:1415). CMV infects various cells in vivo, including monocytes, macrophages, dendritic cells, neutrophils, endothelial cells, epithelial cells, fibroblasts, neurons, smooth muscle cells, hepatocytes, and stromal cells (Plachter et al. 1996, Adv. Virus Res. 46:195). Although clinical CMV isolates replicate in a variety of cell types, laboratory strains AD169 (Elek & Stem, 1974, Lancet 1:1) and Towne (Plotkin et al., 1975, Infect. Immun. 12:521) replicate almost exclusively in fibroblasts (Hahn et al., 2004, J. Virol. 78:10023). The restriction in tropism, which results from serial passages and eventual adaptation of the virus in fibroblasts, is stipulated a marker of attenuation (Gerna et al., 2005, J. Gen. Virol. 86:275; Gerna et al, 2002, J. Gen Virol. 83:1993; Gerna et al, 2003, J. Gen Virol. 84:1431; Dargan et al, 2010, J. Gen Virol. 91:1535). Mutations causing the loss of epithelial cell, endothelial cell, leukocyte, and dendritic cell tropism in human CMV laboratory strains have been mapped to three open reading frames (ORFs): UL128, UL130, and UL131 (Hahn et al., 2004, J. Virol. 78:10023; Wang and Shenk, 2005 J. Virol. 79:10330; Wang and Shenk, 2005 Proc Natl Acad Sci USA. 102:18153). Biochemical and reconstitution studies show that UL128, UL130 and UL131 assemble onto a gH/gL scaffold to form a pentameric gH complex (Wang and Shenk, 2005 Proc Natl Acad Sci USA. 102:1815; Ryckman et al, 2008 J. Virol. 82:60). Restoration of this complex in virions restores the viral epithelial tropism in the laboratory strains (Wang and Shenk, 2005 J. Virol. 79:10330).
Loss of endothelial and epithelial tropism has been suspected as a deficiency in the previously evaluated as vaccines such as Towne (Gerna et al, 2002, J. Gen Virol. 83:1993; Gerna et al, 2003, J. Gen Virol. 84:1431). Neutralizing antibodies in sera from human subjects of natural CMV infection have more than 15-fold higher activity against viral epithelial entry than against fibroblast entry (Cui et al, 2008 Vaccine 26:5760). Humans with primary infection rapidly develop neutralizing antibodies to viral endothelial and epithelial entry but only slowly develop neutralizing antibodies to viral fibroblast entry (Gerna et al, 2008 J. Gen. Virol. 89:853). Furthermore, neutralizing activity against viral epithelial and endothelial entry is absent in the immune sera from human subjects who received Towne vaccine (Cui et al, 2008 Vaccine 26:5760). More recently, a panel of human monoclonal antibodies from four donors with HCMV infection was described, and the more potent neutralizing clones from the panel recognized the antigens of the pentameric gH complex (Macagno et al, 2010 J. Virol. 84:1005).

Conditional replicating cytomegalovirus as a vaccine for CMV


A method of managing network resource usage of a mobile communications device includes initiating registration of the mobile communications device with a wireless wide area communications network. The method includes receiving a region indicator from the wireless wide area communications network in response to the initiating. The method includes selectively communicating by the mobile communications device with a second communications network according to a rules profile associated with the region indicator. The region indicator may be a country code or network code. The rules profile may be one of a plurality of rules profiles identified based on the region indicator. Individual rules profiles of the plurality of rules profiles specify at least one of time of day constraints, access point identifier constraints, and performance threshold constraints.

1. Field of the Invention
The present disclosure relates to mobile communications and more particularly to managing network usage by mobile communications devices.
2. Description of the Related Art
Mobile communications devices such as cellular telephones, smartphones, laptops, tablets, gaming systems, wearable devices, or other portable electronic communications equipment may be configured for communications using a first communications protocol (e.g., a protocol used by a wide area network) for voice and data communications. Although network coverage by a service provider in a particular region (e.g., the United States) may be ubiquitous and domestic roaming charges may be low, when the mobile communications device enters another region (e.g., crosses an international boundary), the mobile communications device may incur international roaming charges and generate substantial expense for the service provider associated with the mobile communications device. Thus, improved techniques for providing international roaming service to a mobile communications device are desired.

System and method for offload of wireless network


The present invention provides a composition for use in forming an abrasion-resistant easy-to-clean coating on a substrate. The composition according to the invention includes a mixture of a fluorocarbon polymer component and an enamel-forming component. The enamel-forming component includes at least a first lead-free and cadmium-free glass frit. The first lead-free and cadmium-free glass frit includes from about 30% to about 50% P2O5, from about 15% to about 30% Al2O3, and from about 2% to about 40% X2O where X=Na and/or K. The present invention also provides a method of forming an abrasion-resistant easy-to-clean coating on a substrate. The method includes applying the composition according to the invention to a substrate and sintering the applied composition to fuse an abrasion-resistant easy-to-clean coating to the substrate. The method can be used to apply the composition to a variety of substrate materials such as metals, glass, ceramics, and stone, using a variety of application techniques such as wet spraying, screen printing, electrophoresis, dry electrostatic deposition, wet dipping, and flow coating.

1. Field of Invention
The present invention provides a composition for use in forming an abrasion-resistant easy-to-clean coating on a substrate, and a method of forming an abrasion-resistant easy-to-clean coating on a substrate.
2. Description of Related Art
Fluorocarbon polymers, such as, for example, polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), polymers of chlorotrifluoroethylene (CTFE), fluorinated ethylene-propylene copolymers (FEP), polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF), and hexafluoropropylene (HFP), are known to have superior non-stick properties. For this reason, they have been used in a wide variety of applications, including forming non-stick coatings on articles of cookware, bakeware, iron sole plates, food contacting surfaces of small appliances, snow shovels and plows, chutes and conveyors, saws, hoppers, and other industrial containers. However, due to the inherent non-stick nature of these and other fluorocarbon polymers, it has been difficult to form non-stick coatings that adhere well to substrates such as metals and ceramics. Moreover, due to the inherent softness of fluorocarbon polymers, it has been difficult to form non-stick coatings that resist abrasion.
In an effort to overcome these difficulties, it has been the conventional practice to apply one or more base coats containing adhesive resins in order to better adhere fluorocarbon polymer top coats to substrates (throughout this specification and in the claims, the terms "base coat" and "primer coat" are used interchangeably). In general, such base coats comprise a combination of high temperature binder resins, such as polyamideimide resins, polyethersulfone resins, or polyphenylene sulfide resins, and fluorocarbon polymer resins. The performance of these conventional non-stick coating systems is based upon a stratification of the applied coatings. This stratification results in a coating that is rich in high temperature binder on the bottom and rich in fluorocarbon polymer at the top. The binder-rich bottom provides adhesion to the substrate while the fluorocarbon polymer-rich top provides a layer to which subsequent fluorocarbon polymer top coats can be fused by sintering at high temperature.
The performance of such non-stick coating systems is at best a compromise. The bottom layer of the base coats is not a purely binder resin. Considerable levels of fluorocarbon polymer resins must be included in the base coats in order to provide a layer that is sufficiently rich in fluorocarbon polymer to promote good bonding of subsequent fluorocarbon polymer top coats to the base coat. The presence of fluorocarbon polymer resins in the base coat are disadvantageous because they detract from the adhesion of the base coat to the substrate. Therefore, it has been necessary to roughen substrates by mechanical (e.g. grit blasting) or chemical (e.g. etching) means to assist holding the base coat to the substrate.
Moreover, because both the adhesive resins and fluorocarbon polymers are relatively soft, there have been difficulties in making these non-stick coatings resistant to abrasive wear. Efforts to overcome these deficiencies have included the addition of mica particles, ceramic fillers, or metal flakes to the intermediate and top coat in order to increase the hardness. The presence of these fillers can be disadvantageous. For example, incorporation of metal flakes in the applied coatings can actually promote chemical corrosion of the underlying metal substrate due to dissimilarity between the metals. Moreover, these particulate fillers cannot be incorporated into the non-stick coating at high levels because at high levels they diminish the non-stick properties of the coating and the bonding to the substrate.
Due to the limitations thus described, articles of cookware coated with conventional fluorocarbon polymer non-stick coating systems are prone to damage and abrasive wear during normal use. Cooking utensils, for example, often cause cuts, slices, or gouges in the non-stick coating, which permit acids or alkaline foodstuffs and cleaning agents to penetrate to the exposed substrate and cause corrosion. Corrosion of the underlying substrate by these materials can further weaken the adhesion of the non-stick coating adjacent to the cut or slice. Moreover, abrasive forces routinely encountered in cooking and cleaning cause the gradual removal of the soft fluorocarbon polymer top coat resulting in diminished non-stick properties. Conventional non-stick coatings simply do not adequately protect the substrate from corrosion or the fluorocarbon polymer top coat from routine abrasive wear.
Compositions are known for use in forming porcelain enamel coatings that are very resistant to abrasion and chemical wear. Unfortunately, such known porcelain enamel coatings do not possess non-stick properties comparable to fluorocarbon polymer coatings. Moreover, such known porcelain enamel coatings are generally not considered to possess so called "Easy-to-Clean" properties. Despite considerable effort, past attempts to formulate a composition that can be used to form a coating on substrates that exhibits the excellent non-stick attributes of fluorocarbon polymer coatings as well as the abrasion resistance of porcelain enamels have heretofore been largely unsuccessful.


The invention relates to a genetically modified mouse comprising a heterozygous mutation of Tardbp (TDP-43) gene in that the Asn at amino acid 390 in TDP-43 is substituted with an amino acid that is different from Asn, wherein the genetically modified mouse exhibits Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)-like phenotypes, TDP-43 proteinopathies and/or motor neuron degeneration. The invention also so relates to an isolated spinal cord motor neuron differentiated from an embryonic stem cell (ESC) that is obtained from an offspring of a genetically modified mouse according to the invention. Methods for identifying an agent alleviating and/or suppressing ALS-TDP pathogenesis are also disclosed.

While the genetic basis of 80% of ALS is unknown, at least 31 genes, including SODI and TARDBP encoding the RNA/DNA-binding protein-TDP-43, with mutations associated with ALS have been identified. A total of more than 50 missense mutations have been identified in the TARDBP gene through genetic analysis of several familial and sporadic ALS cases. Significantly, more than 95% of all ALS patients (ALS-TDP) are characterized by enhanced cleavage to generate TDP-35/TDP-25 fragments, by accumulation of ubiquitinated TDP-43, and by formation of ubiquitin (+), TDP-43(+) aggregates in the cytosol.
TDP-43 is a ubiquitously expressed heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein (hnRNP) protein that localized primarily in the nucleus and required for multiple cellular pathways including RNA metabolism and translation. Given these ubiquitous functions, aberrant expression of TDP-43 is likely to lead to multiple pathological consequences. Indeed, depletion of TDP-43 results in early embryonic lethality in mice, promotes cellular deficits such as the impairment of autophagy through down-regulation of ATG7 and alteration of fat metabolism via suppression of Tbc1d1, and causes ALS-like phenotypes in mice. Furthermore, under pathologic conditions, the total amount of TDP-43 in the diseased cells is elevated in addition to its mislocalization in the cytosol and abnormal processing as mentioned above. As the pathological consequences of abnormally high levels of TDP-43, the biogenesis of many RNAs required for neural development and synaptic function are impaired. Mutations in TDP-43 also affect the translation of Futsc/MAP1B mRNA in motor neurons and regulate neuronal mRNA trafficking.
In order to study ALS-TDP disease mechanisms, several animal models have been developed which display abnormal expression of TDP-43, either a decrease or increase compared to the wild type mice. Thus far, all studies focusing on the pathological role(s) of mutant TDP-43 have been based on overexpression approaches. Indeed, the transgenic mouse models that overexpress mutant TDP-43 under different neuronal promoters exhibited MND-like phenotype or cognition deficits with neuronal loss, and the hallmarks of TDP-43 proteinopathies. This included mislocalizaiton of nuclear TDP-43, abnormal post-translational modifications, and formation of insoluble ubiquitin (+)/TDP-43 (+) inclusions. Unfortunately, however, overexpression of wild type TDP-43 can also cause FTLD-TDP-like or ALS-like pathogenesis of the transgenic mice. It is therefore difficult to assess the pathological effects of the ALS-associated mutations of TDP-43 compared to wild type TDP-43 without appropriate control of their levels of overexpression, in transgenic animals or in transfected cell culture. White et al. recently reported the construction of a mouse model by homologous knock-in of ALS-FTD associated TDP-43 mutation, Q331K, which exhibited a subtle ALS-FTD like phenotype.
A previously unaddressed need exists in the art to address aforementioned deficiencies and inadequacies, especially in connection with ALS-TDP animal model.

TDP-43 knock-in mouse model of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis


Techniques are described for initializing a plurality of network devices with similar network configurations, such as a common management device, platform, operating system, and network hostname. In one example, a management device comprises a computer-readable medium encoded with instructions for a configlet generator module and a device manager module and a processor to execute modules stored in the computer-readable medium of the management device. The processor executes the configlet generator module to generate a bulk configlet for a plurality of network devices, wherein the bulk configlet comprises a bulk identifier. The processor also executes the device manager module to receive a network session request from one of the plurality of network devices, wherein the network session request includes the bulk identifier, and to send specific configuration data to the one of the plurality of network devices in response to the network session request.

Large enterprises often face the challenge of mass distribution and deployment of network infrastructure. For example, an enterprise may operate a number of geographically distributed facilities (e.g., offices, retail outlets, and the like) that require network connectivity to a central or main office of the enterprise and optionally to each other. In such cases, a challenge arises when the enterprise desires to install or upgrade network devices with each of the many remote facilities. For example, a central information technology (IT) administrative group of the enterprise may coordinate an effort to upgrade computers, firewalls, gateways, routers, VPN appliances, switches or other network equipment in each of the remote facilities. Such operations may require deployment and activation of hundreds or sometimes thousands of devices.
To simplify the process, the enterprise may purchase similar network devices for deployment at the remote facilities in a single mass rollout. By purchasing similar if not the same network devices, the enterprise may ease administrative burdens with respect to deploying and operating these network devices. In such cases, it is common for the enterprise to contract with the manufacturer to ship the units directly to the remote facilities. This saves shipping costs and offers the advantage of alleviating the central IT group from having the burden of physically receiving and reshipping the devices. However, when devices are shipped directly from the manufacturer to the final location at which the devices are to be deployed, it may not always be possible for a trained network administrator to be physically manipulate the devices to ensure proper installation and activation. As a result, the person who configures the devices is typically a store manager or other person who does not have experience in configuring network devices. In such cases, it may be difficult to ensure that the devices are correctly deployed and activated in a manner so as to match a centralized device management system often maintained by the IT group for remotely monitoring and managing devices in the enterprise.
Conventional methods for controlling the deployment of the devices within the remote facilities rely the creation and distribution of a device-specific "configlet" for each of the network devices being activated. A configlet is software that generally includes sufficient configuration data to deploy the particular configuration device in its target environment so as to allow the corresponding device to come online and connect to the centralized device management system. In such cases, experienced administrators of the IT group create the device-specific configlets and ship storage media (e.g., USB drives) containing each of the configlets to the corresponding remote facilities to which the respective devices where shipped. To properly manage the devices and ensure consistency with the centralized device management system, the network administrators must ensure that the correct configlets are shipped to the correct remote facilities and, therefore, applied to the correct network devices.


A level shift circuit is used to receive a low-voltage signal to generate a corresponding high-voltage signal. The circuit has a first transistor of a first type, a second transistor of a second type, a third transistor of the second type and a fourth transistor of the second type. The first transistor has a gate receiving the low-voltage signal and a source receiving a first supply voltage. The second transistor has a source receiving a second supply voltage and a drain coupled to a drain of the first transistor. The third transistor has a source receiving the second supply voltage, a drain outputting the high-voltage signal and a gate coupled to a gate of the second transistor. The fourth transistor has a source and a gate commonly coupled to receive a third supply voltage, and a drain coupled to the drain of the third transistor.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a level shift circuit, and more particularly relates to a level shift circuit used for a low temperature poly-silicon panel.
2. Description of the Related Art
Low temperature poly-silicon (LTPS) panels have the advantage of having short response times, being very bright and having high resolutions. Therefore, manufacturers are increasingly investing resources into the development of LTPS devices. With rapid development in technology, LTPS panels will possibly become very popular and replace the mainstream thin film transistor liquid crystal display (TFT-LCD) used in flat panel displays (FPD).
FIG. 1 is a circuit diagram depicting a level shift circuit of the prior art. The level shift circuit has a first PMOS transistor 140, a second PMOS transistor 130, a first NMOS transistor 110, and a second NMOS transistor 120.
A source of the first PMOS transistor 140 is coupled to a power source terminal (VDDA) 190, a gate of the first PMOS transistor 140 is coupled to a second output terminal 135, a drain of the first PMOS transistor 140 is coupled to a first output terminal 145. A source of the second PMOS transistor 130 is coupled to the power source terminal (VDDA) 190, a gate of the second PMOS transistor 130 is coupled to the first output terminal 145, a drain of the second PMOS transistor 130 is coupled to the second output terminal 135. A drain of the first NMOS transistor 110 is coupled to the second output terminal 135, a gate of the first NMOS transistor 110 is coupled to a first input terminal 115, a source of the first NMOS transistor 110 is coupled to a ground terminal (VSSA) 180. A drain of the second NMOS transistor 120 is coupled to the first output terminal 145, a gate of the second NMOS transistor 120 is coupled to a second input terminal 125, a source of the second NMOS transistor 120 is coupled to the ground terminal (VSSA) 180.
Wherein the gate of the first PMOS transistor 140 is coupled to the drain of the first NMOS transistor 110, the gate of the second PMOS transistor 130 is coupled to the drain of the second NMOS transistor 120. Therefore, when the input voltage at the first input terminal 115 turns on the first NMOS transistor 110, the first PMOS transistor 140 is turned on and there is an output voltage generated at the first output terminal 145. When the input voltage at the second input terminal 125 turns on the second NMOS transistor 120, the second PMOS transistor 130 is turned on and there is an output voltage generated at the second output terminal 135.
The level shift circuit uses CMOS transistors (PMOS and NMOS transistors), and the PMOS transistors of the CMOS transistors in the circuit are much bigger than the NMOS transistors. Thus, to integrate the PMOS transistors into the chip, the chip must be bigger. Furthermore, the cost of the design and manufacture for CMOS is much more expensive than PMOS. Therefore, a level shift circuit is needed with a new design to reduce the layout space and cost.


A switchable combiner and apparatus for providing intergrated combiner unit, which can reduce problem due to frequent substitution of unit. The apparatus for providing intergrated combiner unit includes the means of; a) dividing input signal according to basic type, redundancy type or power division/coupling type; b) switching the transmitted signal to power amplifier; c) switching the transmitted signal to the means of combining; and d) combining the transmitted signal according to basic type, redundancy type or power division/coupling type.

Cost is one of the factors that determines the quality of service in the operation of a base station. When the number of subscribers is small in the initial days, a base station uses a basic type of switchable combiner or a redundancy type of switchable combiner.
FIGS. 1A and 1B are schematic diagrams describing conventional basic and redundancy-type switchable combiners, respectively. As shown in the drawings, the conventional basic and redundancy-type switchable combiners include a plurality of power amplifiers 110, input ports 120 and output ports 130. In the basic-type combiner of FIG. 1A, the inputs and outputs of the power amplifier 110 are connected one to one to each other with a radio frequency (RF) cable so that an input should be corresponded to an output.
The redundancy-type switchable combiner, as shown in FIG. 1B, has 4:3 switches in the input and output ports 120 and 130. Therefore, even though one of the three power amplifiers 111, 113 and 115 performs malfunction, the base station can be operated normally without being broken down by switching on a route to a redundancy amplifier 116.
In FIG. 1B, the power amplifiers 111, 113 and 115 perform normal operation and the switches A, B and C are turned on among the 4:3 switches of the input and output ports 120 and 130. The switches A, B and C transmit an RF signal to the out ports 131, 133 and 135.
If one of the power amplifiers 111, 113 and 115 performs malfunction, for example, the power amplifier 113 is assumed to perform malfunction, the switch B corresponding to the power amplifier 113 is turned off at the same time, and it is connected to a redundancy port E. Thus, the reserve power amplifier 116 is operated to maintain the system normal. In this manner, when the combiner is operated in the redundancy type, only three input and output ports are used.
The basic and redundancy types of switchable combiners can be used in the early days when the number of subscribers is small. However, when the number of subscribers becomes large, these types of switchable combiners cannot be used any more due to the low transmission power. To solve this problem, a power dividing/coupling type of switchable combiner is used to increase the transmission power suitably for the increased number of subscribers.
FIG. 1C shows a conventional power dividing/coupling type of switchable combiner. As illustrated in the drawing, the conventional power dividing/coupling type of switchable combiner includes a plurality of power amplifiers 110, a switchable divider 140 and a switchable combiner 150, and the switchable combiner 150 sums up the outputs of two power amplifiers. Therefore, it can produce an output power twice as high as it used to produce with one power amplifier, whereby it can deal with the increased subscribers. However, if a base station uses a basic-type combiner of FIG. 1A or a redundancy-type combiner of FIG. 1B in the initial time and then when the number of subscribers is increased, adopts a power dividing/coupling-type combiner of FIG. 1C to accommodate more channel for the increased subscriber, the cost for changing the combiner becomes a burden on the system operator.
Meanwhile, the switchable combiner 150 is a two-way switchable combiner. When both of the switches A and B are power-on, the switchable combiner 150 is operated in two ways. Otherwise, when only one switch of them is power-on, the switchable combiner 150 is operated in one way.
FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram describing a conventional switchable combiner adopting an average matching method. As shown in the drawing, the conventional switchable combiner is what a switching function is added to a Wilkinson divider. The conventional switchable combiner is operated as described below.
Signals inputted to the input ports Pin1 and Pin2 are outputted through average matching lines 210 to an output port Pout. Here, the inputted signals receive a control signal for controlling the number of power amplifiers to be operated in the base station system, and determine to operate the combiner in one way or two ways based on the number of power amplifiers determined to be operated above.
Accordingly, when two power amplifiers are operated in the base station system, it means that the switches S11 and S21 and the switches S12 and S22 of the switchable combiner are power-on simultaneously and the switchable combiner is operated as a two-way combiner. When one power amplifier connected to the input port Pin1 is operated, it means that the switches S11 and S21 of the switchable combiner are power-on, and the other switches S12 and S22 become power-off. Thus, the switchable combiner is operated as a one-way combiner. Here, impedance Zm of the average matching line 210 is a value between the one-way combination and the two-way combination, and it is obtained from Equation 1 below.
                              Z          m                =                                            Z              0                        2                                          (                                          2                            +                              1                                      )                                              Eq        .                                          1
However, the above average matching method raises a serious problem that reflection loss and insertion loss are increased.

Switchable combiner and integrated combining apparatus for using it


A user interface for clinical personnel provides selectable views of a plurality of medical risk scores. Questions whose answers are needed for calculation of those risk scores are asked in a question and answer area of the user interface, which allows some questions to be answered based on real time patient physiological data streams that are overridable by user provided answers. Where multiple risk score calculations require answers to the same question, the user provided answer may be supplied as an answer to the corresponding question for each risk score, rather than requiring the user to answer multiple times. Sparklines may be provided with the displayed risk scores to show trends in the risk score values, and may be updated in real time based on real time physiological data streams. The display of risk scores may visually distinguish between risk scores that have been validated and those are based on unvalidated answers to the questions.

In recent years, medical care units have become more data driven, using calculated evidence-based tools to help physicians and other clinical personnel. One of the better known commercial products is the Rothman Index, which captures data found in a hospital's electronic health record (EHR) and generates a graph that synthesizes routine vital signs, nursing assessments, and lab results, producing a single value, a risk score that can be used to track patient progress and detect subtle declines in health. Other risk scores have been devised for the medical community, such as a well-known collection of calculators freely available at mdcalc.com. These calculators are independently generated, with no synergism available when using multiple calculators. A better approach to presenting risk scores has been desired.


Method and apparatus using a retention arrangement with a potting enclosure for holding a plurality of probes by their retention portions, the probes being of the type having contacting tips for establishing electrical contact with pads or bumps of a device under test (DUT) to perform an electrical test. The retention arrangement has a top plate with top openings for the probes, a bottom plate with bottom openings for the probes, the plates being preferably made of ceramic with laser-machined openings, and a potting enclosure between the plates for admitting a potting agent that upon curing pots the retaining portions of the probes. In some embodiments a spacer is positioned between the top and bottom plates for defining the potting enclosure. Alternatively, the retention arrangement has intermediate plates located in the potting enclosure and having probe guiding openings to guide the probes.

The testing of semiconductor wafers and other types of integrated circuits (ICs), collectively known as devices under test (DUTs), needs to keep pace with technological advances. Each IC has to be individually tested, typically before dicing, in order to ensure that it is functioning properly.
The demand for testing products is driven by considerations of new chip designs and higher volumes.
In particular, chips are getting smaller and they have more tightly spaced contact pads. The pads are no longer located about the circuit perimeter, but in some designs may be found within the area occupied by the circuit itself. As a result, the spacing or pitch of probe arrays required to establish electrical contact with the pads or bumps is decreasing. In addition, the requirements on planarity are increasing.
Some of the problems associated with small pitch of contact pads and their arrangement in a dense two-dimensional array are addressed in the prior art. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,881,974 to Wood et al. teaches to arrange probes in a probe card that has a substrate with a plurality of blind holes on a front face. The holes are filled with a metal to establish electrical contact for testing purposes and have closed bottoms spaced from a back of the substrate. Another approach is taught in U.S. Pat. No. 6,586,955 and U.S. Published Application No. 2002/0000815 both to Fjelstad et al. where probe cards include a layer of dielectric material provided with a plurality of cavities on a substrate. The dielectric material separates the fusible conductive material that is used to form the probe contacts. Both approaches provide ways to arrange probes that can address pads in a dense array.
In an approach that employs a housing for holding the individual probes, U.S. Pat. No. 6,566,898 to Theissen et al. teach an improved vertical pin probing device that has upper and lower spacers made of Invar. The spacers have a thin sheet of silicon nitride ceramic material held in a window in the spacer by an adhesive. The sheets of silicon nitride have laser-drilled matching patterns of holes supporting the probe pins and insulating them from the housing. The probes held in the holes can be arranged to address pads in a dense array.
Unfortunately, merely providing a geometry or method of holding probes that can address a dense array of pads is not sufficient. It is also important to ensure that the probes have suitable mechanical resilience and compliance properties. One way of addressing these mechanical issues is discussed, for example, in U.S. Published Application No. 2002/0117330 to Eldridge et al. This reference teaches structures that have improved resilience or compliance because the wire used for contact is overcoated with at least one layer of a material chosen for its structural resiliency or compliance characteristics. The probes have springable shapes and are attached to a substrate in, e.g., a probe card.
Although the prior art solutions individually address some of the problems, there is no apparatus or method that combines the requisite characteristics in a single probe card or testing apparatus. Specifically, what is needed is an electrical testing apparatus that can address densely packed pads or bumps with probes that are held securely while offering requisite mechanical properties such as resilience, compliance and reliable scrub motion to remove oxide from the pads or bumps.

Probe cards employing probes having retaining portions for potting in a retention arrangement


A three-dimensional puzzle, which consists of several mutually connected puzzle elements which result in a regular tetrahedron in the assembled state. A number of identical tetrahedron-shaped puzzle elements and a number of mutually identical puzzle elements of different sizes are provided which all have the shape of a closed spatial frame. In this case, the development is such that the inner sides of the legs of the frame-shaped elements are identical to the outer sides of the frame legs of each of the next-smaller elements or to the surfaces of the smallest tetrahedron-shaped elements. All elements are in each case connected with one another along one of their edges, specifically such that they can be folded and can be pulled apart a distance at least on one end. In this case, the elements are arranged such that they form a number of chains which have different lengths, are each placed against one another with their largest element and consist of puzzle elements which all have different sizes.

The invention is a three-dimensional puzzle game for adults and children which results in a regular tetrahedron in the assembled state. It is used for entertainment and for demonstrating a specific geometrical principle.
The main game value of known puzzles is the achieving of the more or less tricky task of creating an order out of disorder. The disassembling or mixing-up does not have any special appeal. This has the disadvantage that the interest in the puzzle will wane as soon as it is determined how it can be assembled correctly and can be solved.
The tetrahedron puzzles known from U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,565,442 and 4,323,245 as well as the tetrahedron puzzle known from German Design Patent G 88 08 167.2 also have this disadvantage. In the case of the latter, this disadvantage compensated by the fact that it can also be used for various purposes that are not game-related. In the case of the U.S. Pat. No. 4,323,245, this disadvantage is compensated by the fact that, in addition to the target shape, other bodies can also be built by means of these elements or groups of elements.
Another disadvantage of the known puzzles is that, even when they have a regular design, not much attention is paid to the geometrical principles on which the puzzles are based because the "pile of rubble" of the individual pieces stimulates thoughts on how the destroyed whole can be restored and not on according to which principle the individual pieces were shaped.
In addition, familiarity alone is a disadvantage in the case of puzzle games, and there is always a demand for new puzzles.
It is an object of the invention to provide a three-dimensional puzzle game which is surprising with respect to its unfamiliar pattern and creates particular interest. The puzzle should be entertaining not only when it is put together but also when it is taken apart. Also, the special characteristic of a tetrahedron, which is that it can be divided by only a few angular cuts into a plurality of elements shaped as regular spatial frames, is to be demonstrated in an impressive fashion.
This object is achieved by means of the characteristics described in claim 1.
The puzzle game comprises a specific number of similar elements of partly different sizes which are all permanently connected with one another to form a branched chain. The chain structure can be put together to form a filled-in regular tetrahedron.
Other objects, advantages and novel features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the invention when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.


In some embodiments, a fuel sump system may include one or more of the following features: (a) a fuel tank, (b) a fuel sump tank in fluid communication with the fuel tank to receive fuel from the fuel tank, (c) a fuel pump having an intake positioned in the sump tank to pump fuel from the sump tank to an engine via a fuel supply line, (d) a fuel return line in fluid communication with the engine for returning fuel the fuel return line being in fluid communication with the sump tank to supply returned fuel to the sump tank, (e) a fuel pressure regulator operably coupled to the return line, and (f) a transfer pump operatively coupled to the fuel tank and the sump tank for transferring fuel from the fuel tank to the sump tank.

Removal of fuel from a fuel tank of a vehicle operating at extreme attitudes presents unique challenges not present in typical automotive applications. Fuel injection systems operate with a nearly constant flow of fuel through a, typically, electric fuel pump at flow rates well in excess of the maximum engine fuel demand. These high fuel rates greatly increase the probability that air will be drawn into the pump, and thus the fuel rail, and this can cause erratic engine performance ranging from misfire to engine shut off and can in turn cause damage to the engine. Current designs to overcome this problem involve the use of two or more pickups placed on the periphery of the fuel tank. These pickups are intended to close when no fuel is present, and then reopen when fuel returns. These pickups can be placed in series, parallel, or a combination so as to increase the likelihood that at least one pickup will be submerged in fuel. If two or more pickups are simultaneously above the fuel level, or if the fuel moves in the tank rapidly enough to uncover the pickups in quick succession so that one pickup closes before the previous one opens as can happen when a vehicle is operating at extreme attitudes, then all the pickups may close and not reopen when the fuel recovers them. This can occur even with as much as 30% of the total fuel capacity of the fuel tank still present and can lead to unexpected engine shut off, and, in some cases, the inability to restart the engine even after additional fuel is added to the fuel tank. This is due to the inability of the fuel pickups to open against the vacuum created by the fuel pump intake when the intake flow is sufficiently reduced or shut off.
Fuel systems of vehicles operating at extreme attitudes need to be more reliable. Fuel systems need to provide the ability to empty the fuel tank at normal and extreme attitudes. Fuel systems also need to provide even fuel delivery for consistent vehicle performance.


This invention provides a procedure for growing oligomers via a stepwise process. The oligomers can include porphyrins, which have been previously shown to be attractive candidates for molecular-based information storage. The stepwise synthesis procedure requires no protecting groups, thus eliminating protection/deprotection reactions that add complexity to the process.

The ever-increasing demand for high-density information storage calls for new approaches for storage of information. The ability to store information in molecular structures provides perhaps the ultimate in data storage density.
The design and synthesis of redox-active molecules for surface attachment provides the foundation for the fabrication of information storage devices that function on the basis of stored charge (see, e.g., Roth et al. (2000) J. Vac. Sci. Technol. B, 18: 2359-2364; Liu et al. (2003) Science, 302: 1543-1545; U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,777,516, 6,728,129, 6,674,121, 6,657,884, 6,451,942, 6,381,169, 6,324,091, 6,272,038, 6,212,093, 6,208,553; PCT Publications WO 02/077633, WO 03/052835, WO 03/038886, etc.). Such surface-attached redox-active molecules can also be used in the fabrication of numerous other devices including, but not limited to solar cells (see, e.g., U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,407,330 and 6,420,648, U.S. Patent Publication 20040244831 A1, and the like). A key feature for the commercialization of redox-based molecular information storage is that each memory cell stores sufficient charge for reliable readout. Similarly a key feature for the commercialization of solar cells is that each cell produce adequate power. Both advantages can be achieved by increasing the packing density of redox-active molecules or molecular subunits on a particular substrate.
An attractive strategy for achieving increased charge density (redox-active unit packing) is to use the vertical dimension. In various embodiments, this can utilize a dyad, triad, or multad of charge storage molecules or subunits. One method for constructing the device would be to attach a pre-synthesized oligomer to the electroactive surface. In this approach, however, it is possible that the oligomers may aggregate and/or may not undergo facile self assembly.
An alternative approach is to grow the oligomer in a stepwise fashion. Such an assembly process, however, has heretofore required the use of protecting groups. The monomeric building blocks were prepared with at least one protecting group, and after each coupling reaction, the protecting group was removed. Thus, one cycle of coupling required three reactions: protecting group introduction, coupling, and protecting group removal. A further limitation stems from the difficulty, in many instances, of identifying suitable conditions for protecting group removal that are compatible with the protected molecules, the components in the molecular architecture under assembly, and the underlying substrate.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Stepwise growth of oligomeric redox-active molecules on a surface without the use of protecting groups

The Regents oft the University of California


An electric storage battery connector assembly, including a male connector, which includes an elongate, generally cylindrical, electrically-conductive post having a fixed end for being attached to an electrical cable and a free end. A female connector electrically communicates with a terminal of the battery. The female connector is formed of an electrically-conductive material and has a recess therein for receiving therein the post of the male connector. A cam is integrally-formed on the free end of the post of the male connector, and a cam follower is carried in the recess of the female connector for cooperating with the cam on the post of the male connector for relative rotational movement between the unlocked position where the post may be inserted into or removed from the recess in the female connector, and the locked position where the post is locked into the recess of the female connector against removal therefrom.

This invention relates to an electric storage battery connector assembly. One principal use of this novel connector assembly is for use with motive power traction batteries such as used on forklift and similar vehicles. Such vehicles generally utilize large arrays of powerful storage batteries connected by heavy-duty cables to electric traction drive motors and hydraulic motors. These batteries generally operate at 12, 24, 36 or 48 volts.
Most prior art cable connectors are integrally-formed lead housings which connect the cable to the battery terminals. These lead housings are called "lead heads" and are "burned in" at the battery factory. "Burned in" is a term which essentially refers to a type of lead welding, and results in a unitary structure. Once the cable has been burned in, it is an integral part of the battery.
If a battery cable is cut or damaged, the battery is out of service until repairs are made. This requires that the lead head be cut off of the battery and a new lead head burned in. This can require a significant amount of time and expense. In addition, equipment for welding lead is required, which not only increases expense, but also requires personnel trained in the art of lead welding. The open flame of a welding torch in the proximity of batteries which are often in a gassing state presents the possibility of an explosion if hydrogen gas being given off by the battery comes into contact with the flame. This is an obvious safety hazard.
In addition, there are many different types of lead heads in different sizes and configurations and amp capacities. In many instances, the correct replacement lead head may not be readily available.
One improvement over the typical prior art method requires the factory cable be cut at the post, and then the conventional factory lead head removed with a hollow post drill. A clamp with a connector attached is burned onto the terminal and provides a means of releasably attaching a battery cable to the battery terminal. The cable is attached to the clamp with a set screw which is tightened and loosened with a hex wrench. This system is manufactured by Brad Harrison Company, Northbrook, Ill., under the trademark "Led-Hed".
This system also presents disadvantages, since it still requires forming a lead head with molten lead, albeit only once for each battery. In addition, five different types of battery connectors.
The present invention eliminates all of these problems, by reducing repair time, reducing labor and materials costs, and improving safety.

Electric storage battery connector assembly


A gradient coil assembly (62) for use in a Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) system includes primary coils (68), shield coils (72) and a supporting structure (10) arranged between the primary coils (68) and the shield coils (72). The supporting structure (10) includes at least a supporting element (12) including a first end face (14) and at least a first recess (24) with an opening (26) in the first end face (14). The first recess (24) extends in a longitudinal direction (18) of the supporting element (12) forming a tray for receiving a passive shim bar.

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) is a medical imaging technique used in radiology to image the anatomy and the physiological processes of a subject of interest. MRI uses a magnet to create a strong, uniform, static magnetic field (i.e., the "main magnetic field") and a gradient coil assembly comprising x-, y- and z-gradient coils, respectively primary coils, to produce smaller amplitude, spatially varying magnetic fields when a current is applied to the respective coils. A gradient coil assembly further comprises an active shielding to prevent eddy currents. The active shielding comprises three corresponding active shield coils arranged beyond the x-, y- and z-gradient coils. The active shield coils have a topology in parallel with their associated x-, y- and z-gradient coils for imaging but at larger radii. Passive shiming elements, for achieving a uniform magnetic main field, are arranged between the gradient coils and the shield coils.
The known gradient coil assembly is usually manufactured in three main steps, wherein in a first main step an inner cylindrical mold comprising x-, y- and z-gradient coils is manufactured. In a second main step, an outer cylindrical mold having a larger radii than the inner cylindrical mold comprising active shield coils is molded. In a third main step the outer cylindrical mold is imposed on the inner cylindrical mold. Passive shim bar tools for providing a tray for a passive shim bar are arranged in the annulus between inner cylindrical mold and the outer cylindrical mold. Finally the annulus between the inner cylindrical mold and the outer clindrical mold is casted. However, since the annulus between the inner cylindrical mold and the outer cylindrical mold is limited, the arrangement and alignment of the passive shim bar tools for generating trays for the respective passive shim bars is difficult. Thus, manufacturing a gradient coil assembly is complicated and therefore time and cost ineffective.
A gradient coil system having at least one shim receptable space for passive shim elements between gradient coils and shielding coils is known from US 2003/0218460 A1.
JP 5738715 B2 describes a magnetic resonace imaging apparatus having a reduced thickness of a magnetic field gradient coil, while suppressing vibrations of the magnetic field gradient coil. The magnetic resonance imaging apparatus comprises magnetic field gradient coils comprising a mold part including a cylindrical inner side mold part which integrally molds main coils, and a cylindrical upper side mold part which is provided on a radial direction upper side of the inner side mold part and integrally molds shield coils. Both ends in the axial direction of the upper side mold part are projected axially toward the outside of the inner side mold part. Reinforcement ribs are attached at an interval from each other in a circumferential direction on the inner peripheral surfaces of both ends in the axial direction of the upper side mold part.
US2016/0202333A1 discloses a gradient coil for a magnetic resonance imaging system has a primary coil set in a cylindrical shape, a secondary coil set cylindrically sheathed on an outer periphery of the primary coil set, and one or more support structures located on the outer periphery of the primary coil set to support the secondary coil set in a radial direction of the gradient coil.
However, there is always a need to optimize the manufacturing process of a gradient coil assembly to reduce manufacturing time and costs.

Supporting structure for a gradient coil assembly of a MRI


The present invention is directed to preparing pyrophoric foam granules having a specific infrared signature comprising the steps of (a) mixing a composition comprising a metal salt, carbohydrate, and wetting agent into a homogenous paste, (b) extruding the composition into strands, (c) cutting or spheronizing the strands into a predetermined size or length based on a specific thermal or infrared response to produce pyrophoric foam granules and (d) activating the granules by heating the composition at elevated temperatures under an inert or reducing atmosphere until the matrix is carbonized and the metal salt is reduced.

The present invention is directed to air countermeasures that act as an infrared or thermal signature decoy. Typically, such countermeasures are composed of chemically activated metal foil, pyrophoric metal powders, and phosphorous.
U.S. Pat. No. 10,059,637 issued to Luan et al, discloses methods to prepare pyrophoric foam materials by embedding the pyrophoric material into a matrix material and casting it into a desired shape. Luan et al did not disclose how to produce a form factor that can be tailored or tuned in response to a specific thermal or infrared threat.
The present invention seeks to overcome some of these drawbacks by producing a shape factor that can be tailored in response to specific thermal and infrared applications. The process for producing such countermeasure also allows for rapid and bulk production.

Process for preparing pyrophoric foam granules

The United States of America as Represented by the Secretary of the Army


A vibration member generates a first bending vibration on a first plane and a second bending vibration on a second plane transverse to the first plane, and a moving member is driven with a combined vibration of the first and second bending vibrations generated on the first and second planes. The vibration member is machined, or made of different materials, so that the directions of respective natural vibration modes will be predetermined.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an ultrasonic vibration driven motor. More particularly, the invention relates to an ultrasonic vibration driven motor in which, when electrical energy is fed to piezoelectric elements or other electromechanical energy conversion elements of the motor, a vibration member of the motor, for example a bar or pencil type vibration motor, which clamps the electromechanical energy conversion elements from the lateral sides of the conversion elements, bends and vibrates, so that surface portions of the vibration member make a circular or elliptical movement, whereby a moving member pressed against the vibration member is driven by friction.
2. Related Background Art
In a vibration member of a bar-type ultrasonic motor, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, two pairs of phase-A and phase-B driving piezoelectric elements (hereafter, PZT) 1 and 2, and a sensor PZT 3 are clamped between vibration member structures 4 and 5, (made of an iron, copper, aluminum, or other metal having a low damping characteristic), and secured with a tightening bolt (not shown). Thus, the vibration member is axially symmetrical as a whole, and has degeneracy in which two transverse bending vibration modes have the same shape and same undamped natural frequency. Reference numerals d1 to d6 denote electrode disks. An a.sub.1 sin .omega.t driving signal is fed to the phase-A PZT 1, and an a.sub.2 cos .omega.t driving voltage is applied to the phase-B PZT 2.
Therefore, as a positional phase difference between two pairs of phases A and B is held at 90.degree., vibrations develop in the direction of an excitation force applied to PZTs. That is to say, two bending vibrations develop with a positional phase difference of 90.degree..
As a temporal phase difference between AC fields applied to these driving PZTs is held at 90.degree., a temporal phase difference between bending vibrations is retained around 90.degree.. When the strengths of the AC fields applied to the PZTs are adjusted, the bending vibrations will have the same amplitude.
As a result, portions surface of the vibrating member make a circular movement within a plane transverse to the axis. When a moving member (not shown) is pressed on the vibrating member to rub against these portions, the moving member is thus frictionally driven.
The bar-type ultrasonic vibration driven motor is shaped axially symmetrically. However, a machining error or presence of screws prevents the motor from having a perfectly axially symmetrical shape. Due to influence of heterogeneous materials or irregular clamping pressure, the degeneracy of modes is destroyed, the directions of transverse natural vibration modes are determined uniquely, and the undamped natural frequencies of the natural vibration modes differ from each other.
Since the causes of the foregoing problems are uncertain, the directions of the natural vibration modes cannot be detected in advance.
Due to the aforesaid causes, the directions of arranging the driving PZTs differ from the unique directions of the natural vibration modes. This poses the problems below.
As shown in FIG. 4, assume that the directions of the natural modes, A.OMEGA. and B.OMEGA., deviate by .DELTA..OMEGA. from the directions of phase-A and phase-B PZTs, A and B to be arranged mutually transversely.
The phase-A PZTs excite two standing waves of vibrations in the A.OMEGA. and B.OMEGA. directions according to the deviation .DELTA..OMEGA..
A response phase of a displacement deriving from an excitation force, as shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B, varies greatly with frequencies around an undamped natural frequency. Therefore, when the undamped natural frequencies in the A.OMEGA. and B.OMEGA. directions differ from each other, as shown in FIG. 5A, the bi-directional vibration phases excited by the phase-A PZTs 1 differ from each other. The phase difference is represented as .DELTA..phi..
Assuming that an A.OMEGA. direction component of an excited vibration displacement is a.times.sin (.omega.t), a B.OMEGA. direction component is provided as b.times.sin (.omega.t+.DELTA..phi.).
On the other hand, when an AC field shifted by a phase, .DELTA..psi., from an AC field applied to the phase-A PZTs 1 is applied to the phase-B PZTs 2, bi-directional vibrations (standing waves) are excited. The vibrations in the A.OMEGA. and B.OMEGA. directions are provided as b.times.sin (.omega.t+.DELTA..psi.) and a.times.sin (.omega.t+.DELTA..phi.+.DELTA..psi.) respectively, where a:b=cos.DELTA..OMEGA.:sin .DELTA..OMEGA..
In the foregoing situation; that is, when the electrode patterns of the PZTs differ from the directions of the natural vibration modes, if the phase difference .DELTA..psi. is set to an appropriate value, then the surface portions of the vibration member make a circular movement. However, .DELTA..phi. or .DELTA..OMEGA. has a nature of varying depending on a motor. It is, therefore, impossible to set .DELTA..psi. to a value causing the circular movement in practice.


Hybrid maize seeds which yield a starch having an amylose content of 80% or more are disclosed as are starches having that amylose content. Compositions including these high amylose starches are also disclosed. Fractions of high amylose starches which have been formed on the basis of granule size are shown to have enhanced dietary fiber and/or resistant starch content. Such fractions enable the preparation of food compositions of enhanced dietary fiber and/or resistant starch content.

Most common starches contain approximately 25% amylose and 75% amylopectin. Amylose is a linear glucose polymer fraction, whilst amylopectin is a branched glucose polymer fraction.
In the prior art, it has been recognized that currently available commercial starch having an elevated amylose content would impart certain desirable properties to various compositions including films, foods and industrial products. Accordingly, attempts have been made in the prior art to produce high amylose content maize. This is exemplified in AU-A-45616/89 wherein a maize seed deposited as ATCC No. 40499 is disclosed as capable of yielding a starch having an amylose content of up to 72%.
Typically, however, a commercial starch having an amylose content of 55-65% would be regarded in the art as having a high amylose content.
The present inventors whilst recognizing the utility of the commercially available so-called high amylose starches, have sought to produce a maize having a still higher amylose content.

High amylose starch and resistant starch fractions


According to one embodiment, a magnetic disk device comprises a magnetic disk, a magnetic head, a monitoring unit, and a control unit. When carrying out write of data to a first track, if an absolute difference between a light output monitored by the monitoring unit at the time of write and a light output monitored last time by the monitoring unit exceeds a predetermined value, the control unit controls a position of a write head and writes data again to the first track or a second track one track before the first track.

A magnetic disk device including a magnetic head configured to assist write of data by means of a thermal assist unit is known. In this kind of magnetic disk device, a magnetic head includes a near-field optical element. By applying light from a laser diode functioning as a light source to the near-field optical element, this magnetic head makes the optical element emit near-field light from the element tip end to thereby locally heat a medium recording layer having high perpendicular magnetic anisotropy. At the heated recording layer part, the coercive force sufficiently lowers at the time of recording, and hence a high degree of densification in recording is enabled.
However, there is sometimes a case where a phenomenon called mode hopping in which the oscillation wavelength varies due to the environmental temperature, self-heating or the like occurs to the laser diode. When this phenomenon occurs, although the laser diode is driven by a fixed laser current, the light output varies. When this mode hopping occurs during write of data, the heating range of the medium recording layer varies due to the variation in the light output. Accordingly, for example, when the heating range spreads, there is apprehension that information of the adjacent track may be erased. Such apprehension becomes more conspicuous in the shingled magnetic recording system in which overwriting is carried out.
Embodiments described herein aim to provide a magnetic disk device capable of maintaining the signal quality even when mode hopping occurs in the shingled recording system.

Toshiba Electronic Devices & Storage Corporation


A landing system is provided for accurate placing of collection optics in a microscope. In one example, a solid immersion lens (SIL) is used for light collection, and the landing system is operated to place the SIL in contact with an IC. A proximity sensor is used for determining the SIL's position with respect to the IC. The arrangement is attached to a z-motion stage. During the placement procedure, the navigation is performed in steps and at each step the compression of the SIL is measured relative to its uncompressed state. When a measured compression exceeds a preset threshold, a SIL landing is recognized. In one example, after a landing is recognized, a further compression is imparted to the SIL in order to place the SIL in a focusing distance to the objective lens.

1. Field of the Invention and
The present invention relates to a system for accurate placement of collection optics in microscopes.
2. Description of the Related Art
Various microscopes are used in the art for imaging, testing, and examination of various microstructures. A common feature of these microscopes is that the obtained resolution depends on efficient collection of light from the inspected object. Accurate placing of the collection optics is also highly important for accurate focusing on the object to be inspected. Additionally, to obtain efficient collection of light, the collection optics needs to be accurately placed with respect to the object to be imaged.
While collection efficiency is highly important for many types of microscopes, it is imperative in one particular field: probing and testing of semiconductor microchips. Microchips need to be tested during the design and during the manufacturing stages. One type of testing relies on light emission from the microchip that is generated whenever a device, e.g., a transistor, on the microchip changes state. For further information on this phenomenon and it's investigation, the reader is directed to, for example:
All-Solid-State Microscope-Based System for Picosecond Time-Resolved Photoluminescence Measurements on II–VI semiconductors, G. S. Buller et al., Rev. Sci. Instrum. pp. 2994, 63, (5), (1992);
Time-Resolved Photoluminescence Measurements in InGaAs/InP Multiple-Quantum-Well Structures at 1.3 μm Wavelengths by Use of Germanium Single-Photon Avalanche Photodiodes, G. S. Buller et al., Applied Optics, Vol 35 No. 6, (1996);
Analysis of Product Hot Electron Problems by Gated Emission Microscope, Khurana et al., IEEE/IRPS (1986);
Ultrafast Microchannel Plate Photomultiplier, H. Kume et al., Appl. Optics, Vol 27, No. 6, 15 (1988); and
Two-Dimentional Time-Resolved Imaging with 100-ps Resolution Using a Resistive Anode Photomultiplier Tube, S. Charboneau, et al., Rev. Sci. Instrum. 63 (11), (1992).
Notably, Khurana et al., demonstrated that photoluminescence emission coincides with the switching of a transistor, thereby showing that, in addition to failure analysis, the phenomenon can also be used for device debug and circuit design. See, also, U.S. Pat. No. 5,940,545 to Kash et al., disclosing a system for such an investigation.
As can be appreciated from the above-cited works, the light emission in semiconductor devices is very faint. Accordingly, various optical and detection schemes have been proposed to more efficiently collect the emission and reduce the noise, i.e., increase collection fidelity, bandwidth, and speed. For example, commercially available microchannel photomultipliers have been used to amplify the collected light by factors of a million or so. Also, avalanche diodes coupled to time- to-amplitude converters (TAC) have been used to provide high temporal resolution of the emission.
From the optics perspective, various attempts have been made to increase the collection of light and the resolution by increasing the numerical aperture (NA n*sinθ; n being the index of refraction and θ being the collection angle) of the objective lens. It has been long known that increasing the numerical aperture can be achieved by increasing the index of refraction, n, to be above that of air. One historical method for increasing n is to fill the gap between the objective lens and the object with an index matching oil. Another method is to use an immersion lens between the object and the objective lens. Of course, one may use both techniques, i.e., use immersion lens and index matching fluid. The use of the above techniques is disclosed in, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,524,694, 3,711,186, and 3,912,378. More modem discussions of immersion lenses can be found in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,634,234, 5,004,307, 5,208,648, 5,282,088 and Solid Immersion Microscopy, S. M. Mansfield, G. L. Report No. 4949, Stanford University 1992. Prior art immersion lenses are plano-convex (i.e., hemispheres). That is, the bottom surface, i.e., the surface facing the object, is flat, while the top surface, i.e., the surface facing the objective lens, is convex.
A semiconductor device of particular interest to the present invention is generally referred to as a "flip chip." Since the structure of flip chips is known, it will not be discussed here in detail. Information relating to flip chips can be found in, for example, http://www.flipchip.com and http://world. std.com/˜hycomp/flippage.html. Of specific interest is recent effort in the art to inspect such devices from the back side, i.e., from the substrate side. One problem in testing flip chips using conventional methods, such as e-beam testing, is that the metal lines are not readily accessible as in other integrated circuits. Therefore, in order to expose the metal lines to the e-beam tester, one needs to employ a forced ion beam (FIB) to "drill" through the substrate and expose the metal lines. However, with the density of today's IC's, the active devices occupy much of the "real estate" available on the substrate, thereby rendering the use of FIB impossible. Therefore, the mechanism of light emission described above has been employed also for probing flip chips from the back side. The reader is directed to these three articles, published in the Proceedings of 1998 International Test Conference (ITC 98), Oct. 18–22, 1998, Washington, D.C., IEEE Catalog No. RSOO191:
Novel Optical Probing Technique for Flip Chip Packaged Microprocessors, Mario Paniccia, Travis Eiles, V. R. M. Rao and Wai Mun Yee.
Diagnosis and Characterization of Timing-Related Defects by Time-Dependent Light Emission, Dave Vallett, Leendert Huisman, and Phil Nigh.
Contactless Gigahertz Testing, W. Mertin, A. Leyk, U. Behrike. and V. Wittpahl.
Another article of interest is Picosecond Noninvasive Optical Detection of Internal Electrical Signals in Flip-Chip-Mounted Silicon Integrated Circuits, H. K. Heinrich, IBM J. Res, Develop. Vol 34, No. 2/3 1990.
Systems for imaging flip-chips from the backside through the silicon substrate are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,208,648, 5,220,403 and 5,940,545.
However, in spite of the amount of work in the field, there is still no commercially viable system for device debug by time resolved measurements of hot electron emission, as opposed to device illumination. For example, one of the issues causing difficulties is the efficient collection of the faint light emission. Such an efficient collection requires highly accurate control and placement of the collection optics.

Optics landing system and method therefor


The present invention relates to two-component compositions containing    A) hydroxyl-containing polydimethylsiloxanes having number average molecular weights of 400 to 3000 and an average OH functionality of ≧1.8, and containing at least one structural unit of formula I)

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to two-component, polyurethane compositions containing hydroxyl-functional polydimethylsiloxanes and to their use for preparing coatings, adhesives or sealants.
2. Description of Related Art
2K (two-component) PU (polyurethane) paints and coatings combine high mechanical strength with effective resistance to solvents and chemicals. On the basis of their outstanding technological properties, 2K PU paints and coatings are employed for a multiplicity of applications from a very wide variety of fields, such as large-vehicle finishing, automotive refinish, coil coating, corrosion control, floor coating, and adhesives.
The modification of 2K PU paint systems with polydimethylsiloxanes (PDMS) is known. The high surface tension of PDMS produces specific properties, such as good surface wetting, slip resistance and an easy-to-clean surface (Reusmann in Farbe und Lack, 105, volume 8/99, pages 40-47; Adams in Paintindia, October 1996, pages 31-37).
In order to ensure effective incorporation of PDMS and to substantially prevent migration of the PDMS, organofunctional PDMS types, such as alkyleneamine- or alkylenehydroxyl-functional PDMS derivatives, are often used. Paint systems of this kind are described for example in WO91/18954, EP-A 0 329 260 or U.S. Pat. No. 4,774,278.
The amine-functional PDMS types, however, have the disadvantage that the pot life of polyurethane systems based on them is extremely abbreviated, due to the high propensity to form ureas.
Although the known hydroxyl-functional PDMS types give improved pot lives, they generally exhibit incompatibilities with the polyisocyanate component, meaning that homogeneous films cannot be produced and that crosslinking is incomplete. As a result there is free, unbound PDMS in the paint, which migrates over time from the coating and leads to a deterioration in the coating's properties.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,475,568 describes the use of copolyols obtained by reaction of epoxy- functional PDMS oligomers and primary or secondary amines as an additive for cosmetics products or fabric softeners. The use of these compounds for preparing 2K PU binders for paints and coatings is not described.
WO 2004/022619 describes the use of chain extenders for polyurea systems which are obtained by reacting epoxy-functional PDMS with amines. The reaction of epoxy-functional PDMS with hydroxylamines to form the corresponding OH-functional compounds is not described.

Two-component polyurethane compositions containing OH-functional polydimethylsiloxanes

Abstract: wherein        R is an aliphatic, linear or branched C1 to C20 radical,        R1 is a linear or branched hydroxyalkyl radical having 2 to 10 carbon atoms and        R2 is either hydrogen or a linear or branched hydroxyalkyl radical having 2 to 10 carbon atoms,            B) polyhydroxyl compounds other than A) or polyamines, and    C) polyisocyanates.

Abstract: The present invention also relates to coatings, adhesives or sealants obtained from these compositions.