A training device for digital assessment of intraocular pressure (IOP) that ncludes a body, top, bottom cover, and two legs. The body contains ten cylindrical cavities, the depth of each cavity selected such that the sloped bottom of the cavity intersects with a 0.625-inch diameter hole that is drilled into the body from the top. A thin, circular piece of latex membrane approximately one-inch in diameter is located directly over each 0.625-inch diameter hole. The bottom contains ten tapped holes, the centers of which are aligned with the centers of the cavities, each containing a threaded rod with sufficient length to permit the rod to be rotated up to move a plastic plunger sized so as to easily slide into and out of its cavity in the body without binding. Moving the rotated position of the threaded rod with respect to the bottom determines the location of the plastic plunger in the cavity. Pressurization of each latex membrane surface occurs when a spherical latex bladder containing a non-compressible liquid is inserted inside each cavity. Prior to use by the trainee, the pressure in each liquid-filled bladder is established by adjusting the position of the plunger with the threaded rod while monitoring IOP with a Schiotz tonometer. The IOP of each of the ten membranes may then be established in various configurations depending upon the objective of the training session, e.g., set from 5 mm Hg to 50 mm Hg, increasing in 5 mm increments. As the training progresses, the ten samples can be calibrated in a random fashion in order to ascertain how well the previously trained health care professional can digitally measure IOP.

Intraocular Pressure (IOP) is an extremely important characteristic of a physical state of the eye, especially in glaucoma patents. Nearly one percent of the total population of the United States suffers from this form of blindness. Glaucoma is characterized by an increase in IOP which causes visual defects and ultimately may cause irreversible blindness. As the IOP rises to abnormal levels, damage is caused to the ocular nerve and surrounding retinal tissues. The patient seldom experiences any symptoms that might indicate that the disease exists until major damage occurs.
As part of many standard eye examinations, a test of IOP known as tonometry is performed to detect the early stages of glaucoma. Tonometry broadly relates to the measurement of tension in living tissue and has special meaning in ophthalmology relating to IOP and the health of the eye. Pressure in the eye is not measured directly, but is typically inferred by measuring the eye's response to pressure exerted upon the cornea.
A measure of the pressure within the eye is conventionally obtained by indenting to a given depth or flattening to a given extent a portion of a measurement surface of the eye, usually the cornea, and then determining the amount of force required to produce the given flattening or indentation. The flattening or indentation is resisted by the resiliency of the measurement surface and by the internal pressure of the eyeball. The determined force is then converted to a measurement of IOP.
In some occasions, health care professionals are required to assess IOP digitally (i.e., with their fingertip). The ability to digitally determine IOP is critical in trauma cases where time is of the essence and proper measuring devices may not be available. Additionally, measuring devices may not be available in some locations. It has been proven that a minimal amount of training allows a health care professional to accurately assess IOP digitally. In the past, this type of training has been done on cadaveric human or animal eyes which has many drawbacks, among them being the problems associated with obtaining and maintaining human or animal tissue over long periods of time and to eliminate any possibility of disease transmission from contaminated samples.

Training device for digital assessment of intraocular pressure

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


A cable wrap which swells upon contact with water is made by coating one side of a nonwoven fabric support with a polyvinyl alcohol binding agent and then with a superabsorber powder, drying the coated fabric between contact surfaces, printing a polyacrylate binding agent plaste onto the superabsorber surface, and then drying the coated fabric. Alternatively, the cable wrap can be made by printing a polyacrylate binding agent paste onto a nonwoven fabric support, applying a polyvinyl alcohol binding agent onto the polyacrylate binding agent paste, sprinkling superabsorber powder onto the polyvinyl alcohol binding agent, and drying the coated fabric between contact surfaces.

Nonwoven cable wraps consist, as a rule, of a support layer of strong, thin nonwoven fabric coated on one side with a swelling medium, usually a powder, which upon contact with water swells abruptly to many times its initial bulk and consists, for example, of the cross-linked sodium salt of a polyacrylic acid. Such a swelling medium is usually referred to as a "superabsorber."
Water in telephone cables can lead to the failure of entire distribution networks; in the case of fiber cables it can lead to severe attenuation of the transmission output.
In plastic-insulated medium and high-voltage cables, moisture, especially in combination with contamination or air bubbles in the insulating structure and sufficiently great field strength, can cause so-called "water treeing" leading to the destruction of the insulation layer.
If the outer jacket of cables is damaged, for example when they are laid or during later road work, water can penetrate into the cable structure and propagate over long distances along the axis, especially in the shielding in power cables.
To prevent this, that is, to limit the local damage, is the purpose of a swellable cable wrap. In the case of damage, upon the entry of water, a blocking effect is produced by the rapid swelling of the wrap by the swelling medium and the resultant swelling pressure closing up voids and preventing the water from spreading out along the axis. The damage remains limited to a short distance of 1 to 2 m. For this purpose it is necessary for the reaction time of the swelling wrap to be as short as possible.
In power cables in the medium and high voltage range it is also necessary, depending on the principle of construction, that corresponding cable wraps which are disposed between the outer conductive layer and the shielding, be treated to make them electrically conductive. A permanent electrical contact between the shielding and the outer conductive layer must be assured. Such contact can be assured by the incorporation of conductive carbon black when making the wrap.
The wraps described can be either applied continuously lengthwise or wound with an overlap. Depending on the cable diameter and construction, the width of the band can be between 10 and 300 mm. Special wraps outside of this range are also possible. The thickness of the wraps can vary between 0.1 and 1 mm.
In the manufacture and handling of the wrap, to prevent the superabsorber from coming loose due to bending and creeping or to mechanical influences, coverings are used on the superabsorber, which are made of gossamer-thin nonwoven material. Also in the interest of minimizing health hazards in the workplace the superabsorber is covered with a thin nonwoven during the manufacture of such cables. This is described in the German periodical, "Drahtwelt," 2, 1989, "Quellvliesstoffe fur langswasserdichte Kabelkonstruktionen" (swelling nonwovens for longitudinally water-tight cable designs) page 14, left and right columns.
Such covering, however, has the disadvantage that the free swelling of the superabsorber is considerably hampered, since the free space available for the swelling is reduced by the covering.
In special cable designs--for example in so-called "chamber cables," in the fiber-optic cable field, or also in the case of great diameters of the shielding wires in power cables, free swelling is essential for the purpose of reliably closing up large voids. If this is not assured, the propagation of moisture lengthwise of the cable cannot be prevented with sufficient reliability.
Under the designation 3 E 111, manufactured by LANTOR BV in the Netherlands, a cable wrap is commercially available in which 15 to 40 g/m.sup.2 of superabsorber is fixed by means of a binding agent on a thin, high strength nonwoven support. The swelling agent is prevented from dropping off by applying large amounts in proportion to the amount of superabsorber to the nonwoven support. The superabsorber is pressed into the cable wrap by calander rolls to bond it more tightly.
This embodiment, which does not require any separate covering of the superabsorber and in which substantial amounts of the absorber are exposed, also has the disadvantage that the swelling is appreciably delayed upon entry of water; within 1 minute, far less than 90% of the final swelling thickness is reached since the swelling agent must first free itself from its embedded state in the binding agent by its own swelling pressure.
There are limits to reducing the amount of binding agent, because if too little binding agent is applied the superabsorber would powder off appreciably as soon as the product is transported or handled.


A wireless, passive wheel-speed and detection system is provided for measuring the rate of rotation of a rotating component of a bicycle. The detection system includes a sensor arrangement having a first portion mounted on the bicycle and a second portion mounted on the rotating component. The sensor arrangement generates an input signal representative of a revolution of the rotating component. A transmitter circuit is operatively connected to the sensor arrangement for converting the input signal to a radio frequency signal and for transmitting the radio frequency signal. A controller receives the radio frequency signal and translates the radio frequency signal to a value indicative of a rate of rotation of the rotating component.

Bike computers are often used by cyclists to monitor the time, distance and speed of a bicycle. Typically, these devices include a sensor mounted adjacent a wheel or a pedal assembly of the bicycle. A computer or display unit is mounted on the handlebars of a bicycle to provide a visual display for the rider. The computer and the sensor are hard wired together to allow for the transmission of data from the sensor to the computer. It can be appreciated that the wiring of a device on a bicycle is a time consuming task. Further, the results may not provide sufficient durability for those bicycles operated in rough terrains and may not be aesthetically pleasing.
By way of example, Tsuyama, U.S. Pat. No. 4,633,216 discloses a running data display unit for a bicycle that calculates running data such as running speed, running distance, average speed and maximum speed of a bicycle, based on pulse signals from revolution detecting devices, such as the ones provided for in Webster, U.S. Pat. No. 4,074,196. Each revolution detecting devices includes a sensor and a magnet base. The sensor is fixed at the top of a fork supporting the front wheel of the bicycle and the magnet base is fixed to a spoke of a wheel. For each revolution of the front wheel, the magnet base passes the sensor, and as a result, a lead switch in the sensor is activated so as to provide a pulse signal to a computer in the main body. A similar revolution detection device may be mounted to the crank to provide similar information to the computer. The computer and the revolution detection devices are electrically connected by means of connecting wires. Given the time required to mount the data display unit to the bicycle and to run the connecting wires between the components, it would be highly desirable to provide a detection system that overcomes the structural limitations of the prior art.
Therefore, it is a primary object and feature of the present invention to provide a wireless, passive wheel-speed and cadence detection system.
It was a further object and feature of the present invention to provide a wireless, passive wheel-speed and cadence detection system that is simple to install and inexpensive to manufacture.
It is a still further object and feature of the present invention to provide a wireless, passive wheel-speed and cadence detection system that overcomes the limitations of prior art systems.
In accordance with the present invention, a detection system is provided for measuring a cadence of an operator pedaling a bicycle. The bicycle has a frame supporting a pedal assembly. The detection system includes a cadence circuit operatively connected to the bicycle for measuring the cadence of the operator pedaling the bicycle and for generating a cadence signal corresponding to the measured cadence. A transmission circuit generates a radio frequency signal corresponding to the cadence signal and transmits the radio frequency signal to a target.
The cadence circuit includes a sensing circuit mounted one of the frame and the pedal assembly. The cadence circuit also includes an inducement element mounted to the other of the frame and the pedal assembly. The inducement element causes the sensing circuit to generate an electrical signal in response to a revolution of the pedal assembly. It is contemplated for the inducement element to be a magnet.
In a first embodiment, the sensing circuit includes a pickup coil generating an induced signal in response to the inducement element passing in proximity thereto. In addition, the sensing circuit includes a transformer operatively connected to the pickup coil for transforming the induced signal and providing the transformed induced signal to the transmission circuit as the cadence signal. The transformer has a primary coil electrically connected to the pickup coil and a secondary coil operatively connected to the transmission circuit. The transmission circuit includes an inductor and a capacitor circuit connected in parallel with the inductor. The target includes a controller connectable to the bicycle. The controller receives the radio frequency signal transmitted by the transmission circuit and converts the radio frequency signal to a cadence value for visual display.
In an alternate embodiment, the sensing circuit includes a power source for generating electrical power and a reed switch operatively connecting the power source to the transmission circuit. The reed switch is movable in response to the inducement element passing in proximity thereto between an open configuration and a closed configuration wherein the electrical power generated by the power source is provided to the transmission circuit as the cadence signal.
The bicycle also includes a fork assembly mounted to the frame and a wheel rotatably supported on the fork assembly. It is contemplated for the detection circuit to also include a second cadence circuit operatively connect to the fork assembly for generating a second cadence signal representative of a wheel speed of a wheel and a second transmission circuit for generating a second radio frequency signal corresponding to the second cadence signal and transmitting the second radio frequency signal to the target.
In accordance with a further aspect of the present invention, detection system is provided for measuring the rate of rotation of a rotating component of a bicycle. The detection system includes a sensor arrangement having a first portion mounted on the bicycle and a second portion mounted on the rotating component. The sensor arrangement generates a cadence signal representative of a revolution of the rotating component. A transmitter circuit is operatively connected to the sensor arrangement for converting the cadence signal to a radio frequency signal and for wirelessly transmitting the radio frequency signal. A controller receives the radio frequency signal and translates the radio frequency signal to a value indicative of a rate of rotation of the rotating component.
The controller includes a receiver configured to receive the radio frequency signal transmitted by the transmitter circuit. The first portion of the sensor arrangement includes a sensing circuit mounted to the bicycle and the second portion of the sensor arrangement includes an inducement element mounted to the rotating component. The inducement element causes the sensor circuit to generate an electrical signal in response to a revolution of the rotating component.
In a first embodiment, the sensing circuit includes a pickup coil that generates the electrical signal in response to the inducement element passing in proximity thereto. The sensing circuit also includes a transformer operatively connected to the pickup coil for transforming the electrical signal and providing the transformed electrical signal to the transmitter circuit as the cadence signal. In an alternate embodiment, the sensing circuit includes a power source for generating electrical power and a reed switch operatively connecting the power source to the transmission circuit. The reed switch is movable in response to the inducement element passing in proximity thereto between an open configuration and a closed configuration wherein the electrical power generated by the power source is provided to the transmission circuit as the cadence signal.
The bicycle also includes a fork assembly mounted to the frame and a wheel rotatably supported on the fork assembly. It is contemplated for the detection circuit to also include a second cadence circuit operatively connect to the fork assembly for generating a second cadence signal representative of a wheel speed of a wheel and a second transmission circuit for generating a second radio frequency signal corresponding to the second cadence signal and transmitting the second radio frequency signal wirelessly to the target.
In accordance with a still further aspect of the present invention, a method is provided for measuring a rate of rotation of a rotatable component of a bicycle. The bicycle includes a frame to which the component is rotatably mounted. The method includes the steps of detecting a revolution of the rotatable component and generating an electrical signal in response thereto that is representative of the detected revolution of the rotatable component. The electrical signal is converted to a radio frequency signal and a rate of rotation of the component is determined in response to the radio frequency signal.
It is contemplated to wirelessly transmit the radio frequency signal prior to the step of determining the rate of rotation and to transform the electrical signal prior to step of converting the electrical signal. The rotatable component may be a pedal assembly of the bicycle or may be a wheel rotatably supported by the frame of the bicycle.

Wireless, passive wheel-speed and cadence detection system


A method for aligning a printing plate, prior to imaging, on a platesetter includes the steps of: determining a leading edge of the printing plate; feeding the printing plate by the leading edge onto punch equipment resident on the platesetter; centering the printing plate on the platesetter along the leading edge; punching one or more notches along the leading edge of the printing plate according to a predetermined punch configuration; securing the leading edge and a trailing edge to a support surface of the platesetter with respect to registration pins located on platesetter; determining a location of a vertical edge of one of the notches, the vertical edge defined as being perpendicular to the leading edge; and determining a location with respect to the vertical edge of the one notch for transferring an image onto the printing plate.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates generally to a method for determining an image area to be exposed on a lithographic printing plate, and more particularly, to a method for reducing tolerances and margins of error when determining an imaging area of a lithographic printing plate on a platesetter or imagesetter.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Printing plates are imaged on internal drum, external drum and flatbed imagesetters and platesetters where an image is transferred from an imaging head to the printing plate via a laser beam. Printing plates can be black and white or they can represent color separations, such as cyan, magenta, yellow and black.
A finished printing plate is used on a printing press to transfer ink to a substrate such as paper. The mechanics of the printing press requires that the printing plate must be accurately positioned and aligned on the printing press. This is typically accomplished by aligning and engaging pins on the printing press with slots or notches that have been cut along the non-imaged edges of the printing plate. The positioning of these notches is critical with respect to the edges of the printing plates and the location of the image that is transferred onto the printing plate. Misalignment or variation in the positioning of the image on the printing plate with respect to the edges of the printing plates and the notches along the edges of the printing plates can cause problems in printing an accurate image onto the final print medium (often paper, although the same applies to any known print mediums).
The above problems associated with misalignment or variation in the positioning of the image on the printing plate, with respect to the edges of the printing plates and the notches along the edges of the printing plates, are corrected in view of the current invention as claimed and described in the following description and drawings.

Method for determining an image area to be exposed on a printing plate


A standard laboratory module for automatically producing a solution of cominants from a soil sample. A sonication tip agitates a solution containing the soil sample in a beaker while a stepper motor rotates the sample. An aspirator tube, connected to a vacuum, draws the upper layer of solution from the beaker through a filter and into another beaker. This beaker can thereafter be removed for analysis of the solution. The standard laboratory module encloses an embedded controller providing process control, status feedback information and maintenance procedures for the equipment and operations within the standard laboratory module.

The past few years have seen a burgeoning of discoveries and revelations concerning environmental travesties, from illegal dumping of hazardous materials to oil spills, to decades old improper disposal of radioactive waste. Recently, facilities of the Department of Energy have been shown to have significant quantities of radioactive and hazardous wastes stored or buried on their premises. This has all led to great public awareness and concern over the long term effects of these actions, and to creating a political climate which is headed toward mandated remediation.
It is expected that the requirements for sampling and analysis of potentially contaminated soil and water will increase sharply as governmental agencies are required to devise and defend environmentally sound remediation programs. As an example, the Department of Energy currently is making between 2 and 3 million determinations per year. This figure is expected to grow to approximately 10 million determinations per year by 1995. At a current cost of about $300.00 per determination, the costs are becoming enormous, and represent a significant percentage of the DOE budget.
Due to the presence of radionuclides in much of the DOE waste, most commercial laboratories are not equipped to perform the required analytical processes. To perform this type of determination requires special facilities and a highly trained staff. Trained chemists with the requisite environmental chemistry experience are in short supply. These problems indicate that a chemistry vastly different from current practice is needed. The magnitude of the current problem dictates a production approach to its solution using technologies that will allow existing laboratories to operate continuously, instead of for only one-third of the day.
Solving these analysis problems is the mission of the current invention, as it is one component, known by the generic name of Standard Laboratory Module (SLM), in a system which will allow determination analyses to be performed continuously, with minimum operator involvement. A Standard Laboratory Module (SLM) refers to a self-contained assembly of components which will perform a subtask of a specific sample preparation method in a standardized modular fashion. Its function is basically to receive as input a bottle of a substance for extraction, to extract the substance, draw off a sample, filter out particulate matter, and deliver the liquid to be analyzed to an output container for transfer to the next module.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to present apparatus for the automated analysis of samples.
Additional objects, advantages and novel features of the invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows, and in part will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon examination of the following or may be learned by practice of the invention. The objects and advantages of the invention may be realized and attained by means of the instrumentalities and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

The Regents of the University of California office of Technology Transfer


A method of remote control of a mobile carriage including at least one transmit and receive antenna for movement into an underground gallery connected to the surface by a shaft provided with an elevator for effecting deep storage of radioactive wastes. The method involves fitting the site with a plurality of waveguides from a control station which includes a signal generator and a signal receiver and being situated on the surface. The plurality of waveguides are disposed with at least one first waveguide at the surface extending from the control station to the entrance to the shaft. At least one second waveguide is disposed along the shaft and connected at its top end to the first waveguide. At least one third waveguide is disposed along the gallery and connected to the second waveguide in the vicinity of the entrance to the gallery. The waveguides are designed for remote tracking of the robot carriage and for controlling the elevator and at least one robot carriage carried by the elevator during vertical descent and ascent of the elevator within the shaft, and for controlling lateral movement of the robot carriage from the elevator into and within the gallery.

At present, such wastes are stored on the surface, in buildings or containers that are sealed against ionizing radiation or that are buried beneath a protective layer.
Although such methods may seem satisfactory for materials of low radioactive activity and in the short term, they are unreasonable with certain substances of high activity, or with increasing masses of such substances.
One solution consists in storing radioactive wastes at depths of several kilometers.
French patent No. 2 608 119 describes apparatus for transmitting information and/or instructions over a wide passband and/or for location purposes between a mobile and a control station for the mobile, the apparatus comprising a hollow tube running parallel to the path followed by the mobile and forming a waveguide, the tube having an emitting face which is pierced with an array of openings for passing microwave electromagnetic radiation, the mobile being provided with at least one transmit and/or receive antenna for use with microwaves disposed facing the face of the tube that is pierced by the array of openings, the hollow tube being connected to at least one microwave feed member and to a member for receiving microwaves that come from the tube.
Such apparatus enables broadband analog information and/or high bit rate digital information to be interchanged, firstly such as telephone and/or video signals, and secondly such as telemetry and/or remote control signals, and it also allows position and/or speed measurements of the mobile to be performed as it moves close to the tube forming the microwave waveguide, which tube is referred to below as a "waveguide".
The present invention relates to a method of acting remotely in an underground shaft and/or gallery, in particular for storage of radioactive wastes, by using such waveguides for transmission and remote control purposes.
It might be possible to use freely-propagating radiowaves.
However, such transmission suffers from problems of interference, in particular with underground transmission where so-called "tunnel" effects can prevent proper transmission of waves between the transmitter and the receiver.
These problems are solved by the method of the invention.

Method of acting remotely in a mine shaft, in particular in a site for deep storage of nuclear wastes


Disclosed are magenta anthraquinone dyestuffs for sublimation thermaltransfer printing of one of the formulas ##STR1## wherein R is a halogen atom, methyl or methoxy; wherein R.sub.1 is a hydrogen atom, hydroxyl, a halogen atom, alkyl of 1 to 4 carbon atoms or alkoxy of 1 to 4 carbon atoms; and wherein R.sub.2 is a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, alkyl or 1 to 4 carbon atoms or alkoxy of 1 to 4 carbon atoms, with the proviso that in formula (3) either R.sub.1 or R.sub.2 is not a hydrogen atom.

(1) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to magenta anthraquinone dyestuffs for use in sublimation thermaltransfer and to sublimation thermaltransfer sheets comprising one or more thereof.
More specifically, the present invention relates to magenta anthraquinones having good adhesion and color development properties as well as excellent fastness which can be used in a method for producing images using a thermal head for heating and sublimation transfer thereof. The anthraquinones of this application are characterized by high color density and excellent solubility when employed in sublimation thermaltransfer printing sheets, which printing sheets have high transferring speed. In these respects, this invention surpasses the prior art.
The anthraquinones of the present invention are useful for producing colored hard copies through a CRT color display, a color facsimile, a magnetic camera and the like utilizing a transfer type heat-sensitive recording system as the means for recording information.
(2) Description of the Prior Art
Japanese Patent Laid-open Publication No. 78896/1984 discloses the use of compounds represented by the following general formula (A) as a magenta dyestuff for sublimation thermaltransfer: ##STR2##
wherein X is a hydrogen atom or methyl group, and R and R' each is a methyl group, ethyl group or straight-chain or branched propyl or butyl group.
However, dyestuffs having the general formula (A) have poor light fade resistance and thus the preservation of information records employing this dyestuff is defective.
In Japanese Patent Laid-open Publication No. 131293/1985, as magenta dyestuffs for sublimation thermaltransfer there are disclosed anthraquinones which are represented by the following general formula (B): ##STR3## wherein X is an oxygen atom or sulfur atom, and A is a straight-chain or branched alkylene group, alkylene-O-alkylene group, alkylene-S-alkylene group, cyclohexylene group, phenylene group, ##STR4##
However, undesirably a great deal of energy is required to transfer this dyestuff and the cost of a machine which uses this dyestuff is thus uneconomically high.
Moreover, known 1-amino-2-phenoxy-4-hydroxyanthraquinone (CI. No. Disp Red 60), 1-amino-2-phenylthio-4-hydroxyanthraquinone (Japanese Patent Laid-open Publication No. 159091/1985) and 1,4-diamino-2,3 bisphenoxyanthraquinone (Japanese Patent Laid-open Publication No. 268495/1986) are also used, but they have poor solubility in solvents employed in an ink-based process, they have poor sublimation properties and are unsatisfactory with respect to dyestuff adhesion and fastness properties.
Moreover, these anthraquinone dyestuffs have a yellowish color and therefore magenta dyestuffs in which absorption occurs in a longer wave length range are in strong demand.
Japanese Patent Laid-open Publication No. 227093/1986 discloses an anthraquinone dyestuff, for heat-sensitive transfer recording, represented by the following general formula: ##STR5## wherein R is an alkyl of 2 to 10 carbon atoms, an alkoxy of 2 to 10 carbon atoms, or trifluoromethyl.
Japanese Patent Laid-open Publication No. 138559/1987 discloses an anthraquinone dyestuff represented by the following general formula: ##STR6## wherein R is an alkyl such that the total molecular weight of the anthraquinone is more than 350.
However, recorded images on transfer sheets which comprise a dyestuff having the above general formulas (c) and (d) do not have satisfactory light-fade resistance or color-fastness.

Sublimation thermal transfer printing sheet comprising novel magenta dyestuffs


A semiconductor integrated circuit including: N modules set in their functions in accordance with input function setting data, a circuit block having R number of I/O parts, and a module selection part for selecting R number of modules from among the N number of modules connecting the selected R number of modules and R number of I/O parts of the circuit block and connecting one module selected from among at least two modules to each of the R number of I/O parts. Each of the R number of I/O parts has a data holding part for holding a function setting data and inputting the held function setting data to the destination module, and N modules are able to replace functions of each other when the input function setting data are the same.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a semiconductor integrated circuit having a plurality of modules able to replace functions of each other, more particularly relates to a semiconductor integrated circuit reducing the drop in yield due to a fault of modules.
2. Description of the Related Art
Recent semiconductor integrated circuits are being made increasingly smaller in processing dimensions and larger in size of circuits. The drop in yield due to defects in production has therefore become serious. Therefore, the technique of previously providing redundant circuits at parts of the entire circuit and replacing defective parts by the redundant circuits to thereby prevent an entire semiconductor chip from being discarded as defective is proposed.
For example, in the method of generation of data of a logical circuit of a field programmable gate array (FPGA) described in Japanese Patent No. 3491579, the necessity of circumventing a fault is judged from fault information and logical information, and if necessary, the logical information is changed so as to replace the function of the faulty part with that of a spare part.
Further, in the semiconductor device described in Japanese Patent No. 3192220, data is transferred among a plurality of circuit modules by memory map type addressing. An ID code is assigned to each circuit module, and the ID codes are processed to control the destination of transfer of the data and thereby replace a faulty circuit module by a redundant circuit module.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


A non-skid pet bowl including a bowl having an undersurface. A layer of thermoplastic elastomer is disposed over the undersurface of the bowl, which provides the bowl with a non-skid lower surface. The non-skid pet bowl may be formed by a molding process that includes molding the bowl from a first material. Further, molding the layer of thermoplastic elastomer over the undersurface of the bowl, which provides a stronger bond between the bowl and the layer of thermoplastic elastomer.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates generally to a water or food bowl or dish for household pets and in particular to an improved non-skid pet food or water bowl including a layer of non-skid material disposed over an undersurface.
2. Description of Prior Developments
One type of bowl commonly utilized for household pets is a molded plastic bowl. The advantages of the molded plastic bowl are quite obvious: a plastic bowl is inexpensive to manufacture; it can be molded in a variety of colors; it can be easily cleaned; and it can be dropped or otherwise misused without significant damage to its structure. For these cited reasons, plastic bowls have been preferred by the typical pet owner over bowls manufactured of non-plastic materials.
While certainly preferred, plastic bowls do have some disadvantages as compared to bowls manufactured of other materials such as metallic bowls. A significant disadvantage and one that is a function of the plastic material is that plastic bowls are generally much lighter in weight than the metallic bowls. The drawback of a light bowl is that it can be easily displaced or moved by a pet while the pet attempts to eat or drink making it difficult if not impossible for the pet to successfully nourish itself. Moreover the light weight of a plastic bowl make it quite easy for a household pet to topple or turnover the bowl resulting in an unwanted mess or hazardous condition.
In order to address the insufficiency in the weight of plastic bowls, various means have been employed to manufacture a heavier and more substantial bowl. One method employed has been to mold a plastic bowl with thicker and denser plastic walls; the benefit, of course, being that the added plastic results in a heavier bowl making it less susceptible to being displaced or moved by a pet during use. Another method employed, has been to mold a plastic bowl with an inner and outer wall so as to define a chamber between the walls. Within the chamber is provided some type of ballast material such as sand or cement making the bowl substantially heavier and thus difficult to displace during use. While these methods have been generally satisfactory, these bowls are generally more complicated to manufacture and/or may require more raw material and are consequently more costly to manufacture.
In lieu of weighting the bowls, some bowls have been fitted on their underside with a small resilient non-skid plastic or rubber piece or strip which is put in place after molding is completed in a secondary operation. The resilient strip which is in contact with the ground prevents the bowl from being easily slid by providing a friction force between the strip and the contact surface (ground). This technique, however, also adds significantly to the cost and is less than completely effective because only a small surface area of the bowl is equipped with the resilient material. Additionally as the resilient strips are generally only fitted onto the bowl, over time the resilient material will expand or deform to the point where it is no longer securely fixed to the bowl. Even where an adhesive has been used continued use will eventually result in the piece or strip separating altogether from the bowl.


A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device with a bump-electrode of gold crystal is disclosed. The method includes providing a semiconductor substrate, an insulative layer, an electrode section, passivation layer on the edge portion of the electrode section, a multi-layer film, and a bump electrode of gold crystal. The method further includes heat treatment of the bump electrode to form an anticorrosive layer between the electrode section and the lower layer of the multi-layer film. Removing the unnecessary multi-layer film, the anticorrosive layer is used as a mask for etching to simplify the process of manufacturing the semiconductor device.

When use is made of a semiconductor chip with circuit elements formed thereon for large scale integration, etc., it is necessary to connect these circuit elements to external circuits. Electrodes are therefore provided on the chip and lead wires for making connections to external circuits are bonded to these electrodes. FIGS. 1A, 1B, 1C and 1D show a cross-sectional schematic view of a section to the semiconductor substrate showing steps in the manufacturing process of the conventional invention.
The process includes first providing a semiconductor substrate 10 such as silicon which includes a plurality of circuit elements and an insulative layer 11 such as SiO.sub.2 formed on the surface of the substrate. An electrode section 12 such as aluminum is then formed on the insulative layer and the electrode section is electrically connected to the circuit elements. A passivation layer 13 is then formed on the insulative layer 11 on an edge portion of the electrode section 12. The center region on the surface of the electrode section 12 is exposed to form a concave portion (FIG. 1A). A first photoresist layer 14 is then formed on the passivation layer 13. A multi-layer film 15 is then formed on the whole surface in a manner so as to cover the exposed electrode section 12. The multi-layer film includes at least two layers such as gold-titanium tungsten (FIG. 1B). A second photoresist layer 16 with a predetermined thickness necessary for forming a bump electrode on the multi-layer film 15 is formed on the multi-layer film 15 over the electrode section 12 and the passivation layer 13 and the first photoresist layer 14. The edge of the second photoresist layer 16 is inside the concave portion of the electrode section 12, and is outside the edge of the multi-layer film 15 over the first photoresist layer 14. A bump electrode 17 of gold crystal is formed on the multi-layer film 15 over the electrode section 12 by electroplating in a manner such that the surface of the bump electrode 17 is controlled to be lower than or equal to the surface of the second photoresist layer 16 (FIG. 1C). The thickness of the photoresist 16 is desired to be the same thickness as the thickness of the bump electrode formed in the later process, but since it is difficult to make the thickness of the bump electrode exactly equal to the surface of the photoresist 16, the thickness of the bump electrode is made actually lower than the thickness of the photoresist 16 in about 2 .mu.m as shown in FIG. 1C. The semiconductor substrate on which the photoresist pattern is formed are dipped in isopropyl alcohol and removed from the device by applying ultrasonic waves, and the multi-layer film 15 above and both sides of the passivation layer 13 are removed by ultrasonic waves in isopropyl alcohol (FIG. 1D). The bump electrode is then subjected to a heat treatment in an inactive atmosphere.
This process for manufacturing the conventional semiconductor device with a bump-electrode of gold crystal has the following drawbacks.
(1) It needs two photo-process and is very complex.
(2) The unnecessary multi-layer metal film cannot always be removed completely (especially when the thickness of the film is 1 .mu.m or more).
(3) Sputtering cannot be used to form a multilayer metal film so that vapor deposition must be used. (If a multi-layer metal film is formed by sputtering, the temperature of the wafer is raised up to about 300.degree. C. so that the photoresist layer will be ashed.)

Method of manufacturing a bump electrode


According to an embodiment of the present invention, a system for non-invasively characterizing a qubit device includes a characterization probe chip. The characterization probe chip includes a substrate and a characterization resonator formed on a first surface of the substrate. The characterization resonator includes a superconducting stripline, and a superconducting antenna coupled to an end of the superconducting stripline, the superconducting antenna positioned to align with a qubit on the qubit device being characterized. The characterization probe chip also includes and a superconducting ground plane formed on a second surface of the substrate, the second surface opposing the first surface. In operation, the superconducting antenna is configured to capacitively couple the characterization resonator to the qubit aligned with the superconducting antenna for characterization of the qubit.

The currently claimed embodiments of the present invention relate to systems and methods for qubit device characterization, and more specifically, to non-invasive, large scale qubit device characterization.
Today's fixed frequency quantum processors rely on very precise control of the frequencies of the processor's qubits. The uncertainty in qubit frequency is primarily a consequence of uncertainty in the Josephson junction fabrication, and the resulting critical current. Currently, even modestly small quantum processors of tens of qubits have only a very small statistical chance to be frequency collision free.
To increase the likelihood of obtaining a fully functional quantum processor, the qubits have to be individually screened. Today that screening relies on direct measurements of the Josephson junction resistance. The resistance can then be related back to the critical current of the junction. However, the relationship between the resistance and the critical current can be obscured by leakage currents in substrates, etc. Accordingly, in order to accurately characterize the qubits, the qubits first have to be screened, and then actually measured in a cryostat, fully package, to find the exact relationship for each processor chip. Characterization systems are needed that provide flexibility to and enhance the efficiency of the characterization process.

System and method for non-invasive large-scale qubit device characterization technique

INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION


The present invention provides a semiconductor device, a method of manufacture therefor, and a method for manufacturing an integrated circuit. The semiconductor device (100), among other possible elements, includes a first transistor (120) located over a semiconductor substrate (110), wherein the first transistor (120) has a metal gate electrode (135) having a work function, and a second transistor (160) located over the semiconductor substrate (110) and proximate the first transistor (120), wherein the second transistor (160) has a plasma altered metal gate electrode (175) having a different work function.

Metal gate electrodes are currently being investigated to replace polysilicon gate electrodes in today's ever shrinking and changing transistor devices. One of the principal reasons the industry is investigating replacing polysilicon gate electrodes with metal gate electrodes is to solve polysilicon depletion effects for future CMOS devices. Traditionally, polysilicon gate electrodes with overlying silicides have been used for the gate electrodes in CMOS devices. However, as device feature sizes continue to shrink, polysilicon depletion is becoming a serious issue.
Accordingly, metal gates have been proposed. However, in order to optimize the threshold voltage (Vt) in CMOS devices, metals with the appropriate work functions (e.g., from the silicon valence band to that of the conduction band) are required. For instance, the metal gates need tunable work functions for NMOS and PMOS devices similar to present polysilicon gate technology, requiring the work functions of metal gates to range from 4.1˜4.4 eV for NMOS and 4.8˜5.2 eV for PMOS (see, B. Cheng, B. Maiti, S. Samayedam, J. Grant, B. Taylor, P. Tobin, J. Mogab, IEEE Intl. SOI Conf. Proc., pp. 91–92, 2001).
Unfortunately, both material and processing issues arise while attempting to manufacture metal gates having different work functions. In one example, a different metal gate material is used for the NMOS devices and the PMOS devices. Unfortunately, the integration of two different metals in a CMOS device flow is difficult, for example requiring significant changes to the CMOS process flow. Ideally, a single metal layer would be preferred, with a portion of the single metal layer being exposed to a specific process to adjust the work function of the exposed portion. This, however, is a difficult technique to perfect.
Accordingly, what is needed is a method for manufacturing metal gate structures for CMOS devices that begins with a single metal layer and adjusts a portion of the single metal layer to have a different work function than the remaining portion, without experiencing the drawbacks of the prior art methods.

Semiconductor device having multiple work functions and method of manufacture therefor


An embodiment of the invention is directed to a radio-frequency (RF) identification tag configured to transmit at least one dynamic electronic product code (EPC) associated with at least one item, the at least one dynamic EPC configured to include at least one portion that is variable based at least in part on at least one detectable condition associated with the at least one item.

Auto-ID technology relates generally to using the Internet to track goods in a manufacturing process and/or supply chain (e.g. from manufacturer to distributor to point of sale location). One contemplated infrastructure for implementing the Auto-ID technology to transport information relating to physical objects via the Internet includes four major components: 1) electronic tags; 2) an electronic product code (EPC); 3) an object naming service (ONS); and 4) a physical markup language (PML).
An electronic tag typically is in the form of a small chip that is affixed to or otherwise integrated with an item to be tracked. Such tags may be implemented using a family of technologies that facilitate the transfer of data wirelessly between tagged objects or items and electronic readers. For example, radio frequency identification (RFID) tags have small radio antennas which are capable of transmitting data over a short range. Such RFID tags, when coupled to an RF reader network, facilitate tracking and identification of tagged items from place to place throughout all or a portion of a manufacturing process or supply chain/distribution network.
To uniquely identify tagged objects, a naming system referred to as the electronic product code (EPC) has been developed. The EPC was created to accommodate current and future naming methods, and is intended to be universally and globally accepted as a means to link physical objects to a computer network and to serve as an efficient information reference. A unique EPC assigned to an item to be tracked typically is "burned" into a memory/storage device of an RFID tag as a fixed binary number. Currently, EPCs typically are either 64 or 96 bits long. The EPC bit string is intended to uniquely identify an item by encoding the manufacturer, the product type, and the product serial number, for example.
It should be appreciated that the EPC in the RFID tag does not change as the item to which the tag is affixed goes through a manufacturing process and/or a supply chain; in particular, the RFID tag is designed to send a representation of the EPC as a fixed length and fixed content "information payload" to an RF reader or receiver. When queried (i.e., when passing an RF reader), the RFID tag wirelessly transmits a representation of the EPC to the reader, which in turn passes the received information on to one or more other processing devices for decoding the received information and subsequent routing. In the current art, components such as the savant, on object naming service (ONS) and PML server decode the tag.
The object naming service (ONS) is the "glue" which links the electronic product code (EPC) with one or more associated data files containing information relating to the tagged item. More specifically, the ONS is an automated networking service which, when given an EPC, returns one or more network addresses at which one or more data files corresponding to the tagged item may be located. In a typical system configuration, the ONS may be accessed by a computer that is local to the RF reader (and which provides user access to the system). The ONS is based on the concept of the standard domain naming service (DNS) used to identify website addresses corresponding to website names. For example, in a manner similar to that employed by the DNS, the ONS parses the EPC to decode particular information in specific fields of the EPC (e.g., the manufacturer ID, as shown in FIG. 1) so as to return (e.g., to a processor local to the RF reader) the appropriate address(es) where data is located.
The physical markup language (PML) is a standardized language protocol in which network information about physical objects is written. PML essentially is an XML-based language for databasing information about physical objects, and is designed to standardize descriptions of physical objects for use by both humans and machines. In one aspect, PML serves as a common base for software applications, data storage and analytical tools for industry and commerce. Once the ONS decodes an EPC as discussed above, it returns (e.g., to a local processor) one or more address(es) to a PML server which includes one or more databases in which are stored one or more files containing information regarding the tagged item. The local processor then may forward all or part of the EPC to the PML server, which in turn further processes the EPC to access the information in the database(s) regarding the tagged item. The PML server provides a standardized data output of the information using PML, which typically is, forwarded back to the location of the RF reader (e.g., the local processor) for user analysis.
Additional details of the Auto-ID technology may be found in the following disclosures, each of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference:
"The Electronic Product Code (EPC), A Naming Scheme for Physical Objects," David L. Brock, MIT Auto-ID Center White Paper, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 77 Massachusetts Avenue, Building 3, 449G, Cambridge, Mass. 02139-4307, published Jan. 1, 2001;
"The Compact Electronic Product Code, a 64-bit Representation of the Electronic Product Code," David L. Brock, MIT Auto-ID Center White Paper, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 77 Massachusetts Avenue, Building 3, 449G, Cambridge, Mass. 02139-4307, published Nov. 1, 2001;
"The Virtual Electronic Product Code," David L. Brock, MIT Auto-ID Center White Paper, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 77 Massachusetts Avenue, Building 3, 449G, Cambridge, Mass. 02139-4307, published Feb. 1, 2002;
"The Object Name Service, Version 0.5 (Beta)," Oat Systems and MIT Auto-ID Center White Paper, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 77 Massachusetts Avenue, Building 3, 449G, Cambridge, Mass. 02139-4307, published Feb. 1, 2002;
"The Savant, Version 0.1 (Alpha)," Oat Systems and MIT Auto-ID Center White Paper, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 77 Massachusetts Avenue, Building 3, 449G, Cambridge, Mass. 02139-4307, published Feb. 1, 2002; and
"On the design A Global Unique Identification Scheme," Daniel W. Engels, MIT Auto-ID Center, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 77 Massachusetts Avenue, Building 3, 449G, Cambridge, Mass. 02139-4307, published Jun. 1, 2002.

RF identification tag for communicating condition information associated with an item


A disk brake for industrial use, especially overhead cranes and the like includes; electromagnetic coils that upon activation are arranged for disengaging a spring-urged armature plate from contact with a multiple friction thrust disk assembly. The friction disks being in direct drive contact with the drive shaft of the overhead crane. The thrust disk between the friction disk are engaged after deactivation of the electromagnetic coils that are electrically connected in series from a parallel DC circuit driven by a tuned AC transformer and rectifier system.

1. Technical Field
This device relates to improvements in electromagnetic coil driven industrial disk brakes. More particularly, the invention relates to a brake for use with an overhead crane wherein a spring-urged braking armature is selectively pulled away from a multiple disk braking assembly by activation of electromagnetic coils.
2. Description of Prior Art
Prior art devices of this type have used a variety of different brake configurations such as direct current magnetic shoe brakes seen in U.S. Pat. No. 3,322,242 where a pair of opposing brake shoes are pivotally engaged against a drum. These brakes have maintenance problems requiring frequent adjustment and thermal limitations during service.
Caliper disk brakes provide a pair of oppositely disposed braking pads for engaging on either side of a brake disk connected to a crane hoist drive shaft as seen in U.S. Pat. No. 5,582,277.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,067,420 is directed to a disk brake for industrial use having a pair of brake blocks on either side of a brake disk with an electromagnetic release.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,520,386 is also directed to an industrial disk brake having a braking disk with two opposing armatures with attached brake shoes that are urged together against the braking disk by the action of the stack of bellevelle washers bringing the braking assembly liners for engagement with the braking disks. Deactivation of the electromagnetic coil disengages the hereinbefore described braking pads.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,253,738 discloses a safety disk brake for lifts having brake shoes and linings that are spring-urged against a brake disk. An electromagnetic counter force is exerted to lift the brake shoes from the disk releasing same.
Prior art braking assemblies upon which the improvement of the invention is based have a multiple friction plate and thrust braking assembly with a pull brake assembly and a registering armature plate assembly, for example, manufactured by Robin-Meyers, Inc.
Such DC brake assemblies require high voltage initially which has to be switched to low voltage to prevent coils from over heating. This typically results in brake creep which is undesirable.
Applicant's improvement of tuned DC circuit driven by a tuned AC transformer allows the flux in the circuit to decay very rapidly thus closing the brake instantly thus stopping the load instantly which is not possible in prior art brakes of this type.


Methods are provided for securely loading software objects into an electronic control unit. The methods include receiving a first software object comprising a second level public key certificate, a first encryption signature and a first set of software. Once the first software object is received, validating the first second level public key is validated with the embedded root public key, the first encryption signature with the first second level public key certificate, and the first set of software with the first encryption signature. When the first set of software is valid, then the first second level public key certificate and the first set of software are stored to non-volatile memory. Once stored, a consecutive software object is received comprising only a consecutive encryption signature and a consecutive set of software from the programming source. The consecutive encryption signature is validated with the stored second level public key certificate, and the consecutive set of software is validated with the consecutive encryption signature.

The use of digital signature encryption methods is common when computing devices are programmed for the first time or reprogrammed later. A digital signature is a mathematical construct for demonstrating the authenticity of a digital message or document and gives a recipient reason to believe that the message was created by a known sender, and that the message was not altered in transit. Digital signatures are commonly used for software distribution, financial transactions, and in other cases where it is important to detect forgery or tampering.
Digital signatures employ a type of asymmetric cryptography and are equivalent to traditional handwritten signatures in many respects. However, properly implemented digital signatures are more difficult to forge than the handwritten type. Digitally signed messages may be anything representable as a bitstring such as electronic mail, computer programs, certificates, data, contracts, or a message sent via some other cryptographic protocol.
In brief, a computing device to be loaded with software typically includes a root public key that is previously installed or embedded in its memory. Any new software to be loaded has a certificate embedded therein that has been signed by a corresponding root private key, or a derivative thereof, residing at a trusted entity. Herein, the derivative of the root (public, private) key is a subordinate public key.
The subordinate private key, also known as a second level private key, is used when the access to the root private key is to be minimized. The subordinate public key, also known as a second level public key, is contained in a certificate signed by the root private key and the certificate itself is delivered with the file content. The second level private key is then used to sign the file content being transferred and uploaded to the computing device.
When uploading new software files into a computing device, the embedded root public key is used to validate (or certify) that the digital certificate traveling with the software file(s) is genuine. The new software file(s) are commonly created at a remote programming tool or other type of programming apparatus. Programming tools are well known in the art and will not be discussed herein in the interest of simplicity and brevity.
The software is uploaded into the computing device using a boot loader which is an elementary software object that usually exists in the operating system kernel that performs the task of uploading and installing software into memory of the computing device. Boot loaders are well known in the art and details thereof will not be discussed in further detail in the interest of simplicity and brevity.
Once the digitally certificated file(s) are received at the computing device, the digital certificate containing the second level public key is validated by the embedded root public key. Certificate signature validation is well known in the art and details thereof will not be discussed in further detail in the interest of simplicity and brevity and will be referred to herein as "validation."
Once the digital certificate is validated, the second level public key in the digital certificate is then in turn used to validate the digital signature on the associated application software or data file. Hereinafter, the application software, data file, calibration packages, data package or "data" for system operation to be loaded into the ECU may also be referred to as the "soft part" of the file structure being loaded. The "soft part" does not refer to certificates, keys or other digital objects used for security purposes.
Conventionally, should multiple software applications, calibration packages or data files need to be loaded, the same certificate is usually attached to every data file in the soft part and transmitted repeatedly from the programming tool to the processor of the computing device. Such retransmission of the second level key certificate for every data file in the soft part requires consumption of excessive bandwidth on an already limited capacity data bus and requires unnecessary processing time for the actual re-validation by the processor. Thus, it is desirable to develop innovative methods of programming a computing device to minimize bandwidth and processor overhead used to validate a software upload.
Further, other desirable features and characteristics of the present invention will become apparent from the subsequent detailed description and the appended claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and the foregoing technical field and background.

Methods to improve secure flash programming


A method includes providing, by a server computer, a shared workspace for facilitating collaborative work by a plurality of users. The method also includes monitoring information associated with the shared workspace, the information relating to each user from the plurality of users. The method also includes determining whether a notification definition is satisfied, the notification definition based at least in part on the information associated with the shared workspace, and outputting, for display to at least one user from the plurality of users, a notification, in response to determining that the notification definition is satisfied.

The disclosure herein relates generally to generating notifications in computer software applications that facilitate collaborative work among a group of users, which are referred to herein as "shared workspaces."
Shared workspaces allow a group of users to work collaboratively on a project. For example, shared workspaces can allow shared access to files, provide task management capabilities, and provide ways for team members to communicate with one another. Access to a shared workspace is typically limited to specified users who have been granted access to the shared workspace.

Methods for generating notifications in a shared workspace


Controlled coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) fermentation production processes and methods for controlling the CoQ10 fermentation production processes are provided in the present disclosure. The processes may include growing a microbial culture of bacteria by providing a carbon source and an oxygen source for a predetermined period of time, thereby producing CoQ10-containing bacteria, carbon dioxide, and lactate in the bacterial culture. During various stages of the production process, the concentration of carbon dioxide may be maintained at predetermined levels, respectively. Alternatively or additionally, during various stages of the production process, the concentration of lactate may be maintained at predetermined levels, respectively.

CoQ10 is a lipid-soluble quinone homolog. It is mainly present in mitochondria, lysosome, Golgi body, microsome, cell membrane and the like. CoQ10 is a substance indispensable to the functional maintenance of the body. It is known to be involved in the activation of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) production as a constituent component of the electron transport system in mitochondria, antioxidant action in the body and membrane stabilization. Also, CoQ10 is one of the important enzymes involved in the mitochondrial respiratory chain. CoQ10 has been used in fields like food processing, pharmaceutics, cosmetics, or the like.
CoQ10 may be produced through a fermentation production process using a microorganism strain, such as Rhodobacter sphaeroides. The control of the fermentation production process is very important because a lack of comprehensive control may lead to fluctuations in the yield of CoQ10 from batch to batch, as to both quantity and quality. Moreover, biofilms formed by the microbes may significantly affect the transfer efficiency of materials (e.g., oxygen, a carbon source) between the microbes and the fermentation medium. Therefore, it is desirable to provide more effective methods for controlling the CoQ10 fermentation production process.

Methods for a controlled coenzyme Q10 fermentation production process

INNER MONGOLIA KINGDOMWAY PHARMACEUTICAL CO., LTD.


An electrical connector for connecting wires including dissimilar electrical conductors such as copper and aluminum conductors with the electrical connector including failure inhibiting features that can include an oxidation inhibiting coating and a sealant. To ensure that a minimum pressure contact has been achieved at the interface between the electrical connector a shearable fastener can be used to secure an electrical conductor in the electrical connector.

One of the electrical problems with numerous buildings has been the use of aluminum conductors and copper conductors in the same electrical system. Typically, an aluminum conductor is connected directly to the copper conductor through a pressure contact. While such an electrical system can work well for a number of years problems can arise as the electrical system ages.
A number of factors are believed to cause the problems of electrical failure and often fires in electrical junctions in an aluminum/copper electrical wiring system. As aluminum has a higher coefficient of thermal expansion than copper it is believed that the relative expansion between copper conductors and aluminum conductors can lead to loosing of the pressure contact between the conductors resulting in increased resistance which generates heat as the electrical current flows through the high resistance junction.
Another factor is that copper oxidizes over time to form a low resistance electrical conductive layer on the surface of the copper conductor while the oxidation of the aluminum does the opposite, namely, forms an oxidation layer of higher electrical resistance on the surface of the aluminum conductor. The increase resistance due to the presence of an aluminum oxidation layer at the junction between the aluminum and copper generates heat as the current passes therethrough. In addition, because of the different current carrying capacities of aluminum conductors and copper conductors the aluminum conductor in a electrical system may be larger than the copper conductor thus enhancing the connection loosing process as the conductors expand and contract in response to changes in temperature. As a result of various factors as well as the aging of the electrical system conditions arise that can cause fires due to presence of a junction of an aluminum conductor and a copper conductor.
The present invention provides an electrical connector for use in joining aluminum and copper conductors that minimize the occurrence of electrical system failure and the resulting fires. The system can quickly retrofitted to an existing system that uses aluminum and copper wires to thereby remove an electrical fire hazard.


The invention is directed to a hydraulic brake apparatus which includes a master cylinder having a cylinder body and a master piston slidably disposed therein for defining a pressure chamber ahead of the master piston and a power chamber behind the master piston. The master piston includes a first piston connected to a brake pedal and a second piston slidably disposed relative to the first piston. The rear ends of the first piston and second piston are exposed to the power chamber, and the front ends of the first piston and second piston are exposed to the pressure chamber. An engaging member is provided for engaging the second piston with the first piston upon forward movement of the second piston. A control piston is slidably disposed in the cylinder body ahead of the master piston to define the pressure chamber behind the control piston. An auxiliary pressure source is provided for pressurizing brake fluid to generate a power pressure, and a valve assembly is communicated with the auxiliary pressure source to regulate the power pressure into a regulated pressure in response to movement of the control piston. The valve assembly is adapted to supply the regulated pressure into the power chamber to assist the operation of the manually operated member.

1. FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a hydraulic brake apparatus for a vehicle, and more particularly to the apparatus having an auxiliary pressure source for generating a power pressure and a valve assembly for regulating the power pressure into a regulated pressure.
2. DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ARTS
As for the hydraulic brake apparatus having the auxiliary pressure source and the valve assembly, the U.S. Pat. No. 4,986,613 (corresponding to Japanese Patent Laid-open Publication No.2-41965) discloses a hydraulic braking system having an auxiliary cylinder which increases a hydraulic brake pressure from a master cylinder without causing any excessive braking force applied to wheel brake cylinders. In this system, the auxiliary cylinder is adapted to increase a hydraulic brake pressure applied to the wheel brake cylinders, when one of a hydraulic power pressure generated by the power source and a hydraulic pressure generated by a hydraulic booster is less than the hydraulic brake pressure by a predetermined difference. The auxiliary cylinder is allowed to be in its operative condition only when one of the hydraulic pressures generated by the power source, the hydraulic booster and the master cylinder is less than a predetermined value.
According to the above hydraulic braking system, the auxiliary cylinder is arranged in parallel with, but separated from the master cylinder and the hydraulic booster which are combined to be integral. Therefore, the system as a whole will be large in scale, and piping of hydraulic pressure circuits will be complicated to cause a difficulty in designing the system, which will be a great bar when minimizing the system, and which will raise its manufacturing cost.


The present disclosure provides for compositions, methods of making compositions, and methods of using the composition. In an aspect, the composition can be a reactive material that can be used to split a gas such as water or carbon dioxide.

With the steady depletion of fossil fuel reserves and the environmental impacts of fossil fuels, it is necessary to consider alternative energy pathways. Solar energy is a renewable and widely available energy resource that can be concentrated to drive high-temperature thermochemical processes (1) (references shown in Example 1). Hydrogen (H2) is a clean-burning fuel, but is currently produced from fossil fuels, i.e. methane or natural gas (2). Solar-driven thermochemical water-splitting to produce high-purity hydrogen offers an alternative renewable energy pathway and has received an increased interest in recent years (3-7). Solar-hydrogen can then be employed either directly as a fuel (in for example fuel cells) or in the production of liquid fuels (such as Fischer-Tropsch synthesis or in deoxygenation of biomass-derived chemicals) (8-11)].
While a very large number of thermochemical water-splitting cycles for the production of hydrogen has been reported (1, 12, 13), two-step metal oxide cycles are particularly promising (4, 14-18). Cerium dioxide (ceria or CeO2) as a reactive water splitting material was first proposed by Otskuka et al. in 1985 (19) but it wasn't until two decades later, that ceria was first examined at lab-scales a potentially promising metal oxide for consistent hydrogen production (20). The two-step reaction system for ceria can be described by Equations (1) and (2).
                     CeO      2          →                  CeO               2        -        δ                   +                     δ        2                             O        2                                                                     (                                    thermal                                          reduction                        ,                         TR             /                                                                                metal                                       oxide                                       regeneration                      )                                                                (     1     )                                    CeO               2        -        δ                   +                     δH        2                     O                →                  CeO       2            +                     δH        2                                       (                           water                                 splitting                  ,         WS                )                                     (     2     )
In the first thermal reduction step (TR) ceria is heated until oxygen is released. If this reaction goes to completion (δ=0.5), Ce+4 is completely reduced to Ce+3 and Ce2O3 is formed. In the second exothermic water-splitting step (WS) the CeO2-δ reacts with superheated steam to reform CeO2 and hydrogen is released. When no more hydrogen is produced, the thermal reduction step is repeated to regenerate the oxygen deficient cerium oxide and the process can be repeated for multiple cycles. Since the thermal reduction to produce Ce2O3 requires very high temperatures, exceeding the melting points of Ce2O3, it is common to run ceria-based thermochemical water-splitting cycles under non-stoichiometric conditions, i.e. (8 <0.5). Therefore, typical values for δ when using thermal reduction temperatures of 1,500 C are significantly lower than that of the stoichiometric cycle. The value of δ is directly related to the maximum amount of H2 produced in each cycle, and to the oxygen storage capacity of ceria (6). More specifically, δ is defined as the number of oxygen vacancies per mole of cerium that are formed due to the mobility of oxygen during the reduction step (Eq. 2), and is the dependent on the material structure and the conditions employed during the thermal reduction (in particular the temperature and O2 pressure) (21). The advantage of the non-stoichiometric ceria cycle is that it can be operated at considerable lower maximum temperatures, such as 1500° C., compared to the stoichiometric CeO2 cycle and direct water splitting without the use of a metal oxide (>2000° C.) (22). Furthermore, the use of a metal oxide cycle also allows efficient separation of hydrogen and oxygen since they are produced in different steps (14, 23-25).
Even under non-stoichiometric conditions, pure ceria has proven to be a very promising water splitting reactive material with reasonably high hydrogen production values (26-32) and long term stability (21,33). Some advantages of the ceria-based water splitting cycle include that the process is safe, clean, non-toxic and uses low-cost, abundant materials (20). Pure ceria has rapid oxidation kinetics (34) and can readily cycle between CeO2 (Ce+4) and CeO2-δ (Ce+4/Ce+3) without undergoing structural phase transition (26, 35). CeO2 also has a high melting point (2400° C.) and thus does not need any additional support material to alleviate severe sintering effects that can occur due to the high operating temperatures necessary for water splittingi
However, thermodynamically, pure ceria has some drawbacks due to the high reduction temperatures required to achieve large extents of reduction: a theoretical reduction extent value of δ=0.32 was found for conditions of 2000° C. and an oxygen partial pressure of 10−7 bar (21, 27). It was found also that in pure ceria, the reduction process is limited to the surface for most temperatures of interest (36). Therefore, research on ceria-based reactive materials for water-splitting have focused on dopant incorporation to increase the extent of reduction and promote reduction in the bulk of the materials (35-42). Particular focus has been devoted to Zr-doped CeO2 materials as they can increase the hydrogen production and have faster kinetics during water splitting (47) compared to pure CeO2 These favorable characteristics for the Zr-doped system may be attributed to the improved resistance to sintering these materials exhibit (48).
Along with ceria, other reducible rare earth oxides (REOs), specifically terbium oxide (terbia, TbOx) and praseodymium oxide (pradeodymia, PrOy), commonly exist in both the +III and +IV oxidation states (1.5≤x,y≤2.0) allowing them to also have high oxygen mobility and favorable reduction properties (49-52). However, TbOx and PrOy are not active in the water-splitting step, and therefore they are commonly used with CeO2 In the Tb-doped CeO2 systems, the reducibility of ceria was shown to increase with Tb content (53), but TbxCe1-xO2 materials have to our knowledge only been tested in the CO2 splitting reactions (54, 55). Pr-doped CeO2 systems have also been proposed to be useful for low-temperature oxygen storage and show a lower reduction temperature than pure CeO2 or Zr-doped CeO2 (53, 56). A few PryCe1-xO2 materials have been investigated in the thermochemical splitting of water or carbon dioxide (54, 55, 57-59). In addition, Pr and Tb have also been used as additional dopants in more complex mixed CeO2-based oxides (44, 60-65). However, while Pr and Tb can to improve the reducibility CeO2, they do not always improve the stability or the yields of the doped CeO2 materials in water or carbon dioxide splitting reactions compared with pure or Zr-doped CeO2 (54, 58, 63, 65).

Compositions, methods of making compositions, and hydrogen production via thermo-chemical splitting

University of Florida Research Foundation, Inc.


A light emitting module according to the present invention is characterized in that a light emitting device and a light-emission-side lens are held close to each other by a holding part extended from part of a stem in parallel with outgoing light of the light emitting device, and light emitted from the light emitting device is refracted. A single-fiber two-way optical communication module according to the present invention has the light emitting module and, in addition, collimate lenses close to an optical fiber and a light receiving device, and is characterized in that splitting of light to a light receiving module or coupling of light from the light emitting module is performed with parallel rays. Each of the collimate lenses condenses the parallel rays to an incident/outgoing end face of the optical fiber, condenses the parallel rays to a light receiving face of the light receiving device, and outputs, as parallel rays, outgoing light from the light emitting module.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a light emitting module realizing improved light coupling efficiency and a single-fiber two-way optical communication module having the light emitting module and used for two-way optical communication of a plurality of waves performed by a single fiber.
2. Description of the Related Art
Hitherto, in an optical fiber communication system, a two-way optical communication module is used for an access network system of telephone communication or the like (refer to, for example, Japanese Patent Application National Publication Laid-open No. 2003-524789).
In an optical communication module disclosed in Japanese Patent Application National Publication Laid-open No. 2003-524789, a light emitting module and a light receiving module which are held in a single casing transmit/receive light via a lens coupling optical device and a beam splitter disposed close to an end of an optical fiber. Each of the light emitting module, the light receiving module, and the optical fiber does not have a mechanism of adjusting the optical axis direction, and the light emitting module and the light receiving module are parts separate from the casing.
In the optical communication module, the optical axis direction of the light emitting module is not adjusted, so that the coupling efficiency varies. Since an optical filter is inserted in nonparallel rays, aberration occurs and the coupling efficiency is low. Accordingly, the light coupling efficiency of the optical communication module is low. Since the optical axis direction of the light receiving module is not adjusted, light receiving efficiency of the light receiving module is low. Consequently, in the optical communication module, the light coupling efficiency varies.

Light emitting module and single-fiber two-way optical communication module


A connection management device is communicatively connected to a plurality of server devices. A receiver receives from a terminal device a request for connection to one of the plurality of server devices. A location information extractor extracts, from the request for connection, location information indicating a location where the terminal device exists. A region determiner determines, based on the extracted location information, a region where the terminal device exists. A connection destination determiner determines, based on the determined region, which of the plurality of server devices is the server device to which the terminal device is to connect. A transmitter transmits to the determined server device the request for connection received from the terminal device.

Recent prevalence of cloud computing offers easier data transfer to and storage in various countries, regions, and the like. However, different countries, regions, and so on have different laws and regulations on data processing that are to be complied with. For example, Europe has the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). The EU GDPR is a regulation designed to improve personal data protections and prohibits transfer of the personal data outside the European Economic Area.
In view of such circumstances, techniques of processing data while avoiding risks of non-compliance with the laws and regulations are proposed. For example, Patent Literature 1 discloses a technique of determining whether or not there is a possibility that uploading of data to a server device specified by a user is non-compliant with the laws and regulations, and presenting a result of the determination.

Connection management device for connection to secure server connection management system for connection to secure server connection management method for connection to secure server and program


A poultry watering system includes a fluid conduit integrally formed with a pair of depending flanges. Each flange has a retention ledge depending therefrom and extending toward the other flange. A plurality of openings are provided in the fluid conduit. A flat sealing surface is disposed about the openings. A plurality of poultry drinkers including securement arms are provided. An O-ring is disposed about the top of each drinker. The drinkers are positioned between the flanges such that the inlet of the drinker extends through the opening and the O-ring is adjacent the sealing surface. The drinker is then rotated such that the retention arms are disposed above the ledges. In this manner, the drinker is secured to the fluid conduit and the contact between the O-ring and the sealing surface forms a water-tight seal around the opening. The drinker is also provided with a trigger pin having a tapered segment to properly center the trigger pin and resist leaking of the drinker through undesired displacement of the valve. The system further includes a bracket for joining the conduit of the watering system to a support pipe. The bracket surrounds the support pipe and the conduit and prevents rotation of the conduit. The bracket is secured about the conduit and support pipe by a locking member.

The present invention relates to watering systems for poultry and small animals.
Numerous poultry watering systems are known. Some of these systems include one or more fluid conduits suspended above the floor of a poultry house, such as the watering systems shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,221,188 and 4,491,088. Watering devices, such as nipple drinkers or cups, are typically connected to the fluid conduits and are directly actuated by the poultry.
Ultrasonic welding is often used to form fluid tight connections and solid joints between the watering devices and the conduit. For example, nipple drinker saddles are often welded to fluid conduits. An opening in the conduit is aligned with an opening in the saddle. A drinker is then locked into the saddle such that the drinker inlet is in fluid communication with the conduit. Alternatively, the drinker may be connected directly to the conduit, as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,669,077.
Once secured to a conduit and in use, it is desirable that the drinkers not leak, as leaking drinkers cause wet litter which can lead to disease in the poultry house. Ideally, the drinker will also be easy for the birds to trigger so as to encourage drinking.
It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved poultry watering system.
Another object of the present invention is to minimize production and assembly costs for poultry watering systems.
Yet another object of the present invention is to decrease the time needed to manufacture a poultry watering system.
Still another object of the present invention is to decrease the number of parts in a poultry watering system.
Yet another object to the present invention is provision of a poultry drinker that resists leaking.
Another object to the present invention is the provision of a poultry drinker that provides quick response time and is relatively easy for poultry to trigger.
These and other objects of the present invention are attained by the provision of a poultry watering system having a fluid conduit, sealing surface on the conduit and a pair of flanges integrally formed on the conduit adjacent the sealing surface. A drinker is in fluid communication with the conduit through an opening in the sealing surface. The drinker includes at least one arm engaged with the flanges so as to secure the drinker to the conduit.
According to another embodiment of the present invention, the drinker includes a projection extending into the opening in the sealing surface. The projection includes a fluid passageway having a first section and a second section, the first and second sections having different cross-sectional areas.
According to another embodiment of the present invention, the drinker further includes at least one stabilizer to resist movement of the drinker while it is attached to the conduit. The stabilizer abuts the sealing surface when the drinker is secured to said conduit.
The objects of the invention are also attained by a watering device having a housing with an inlet and an outlet. The inlet is formed in a projection extending from the housing. A passageway through the projection places the inlet and outlet in fluid communication. The passageway has first and second sections of different cross-sectional areas.
According to another embodiment of the invention, a poultry watering device has an inlet and an outlet and a lip having an opening therethrough that is in fluid communication with the inlet and the outlet. The drinker further includes a valve element for alternatively engaging and disengaging a valve seat. A trigger pin extends through the outlet and includes a tapered portion disposed adjacent the opening in the lip. The trigger pin may further include a head disposed adjacent the tapered section. The head can include a recessed area and rest on the lip. The recessed area may be placed adjacent the valve element.
Objects of the invention are further attained by a bracket for securing a conduit of a poultry watering system to a support pipe. The bracket has a first chamber for receiving the support pipe and a second chamber for receiving the conduit. The second chamber is configured to prevent rotation of the conduit. The bracket is held to the support pipe and conduit by a locking member having a projection extending through an opening in the bracket.
Other objects, advantages and novel features of the present invention will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art upon consideration of the drawings and description below.


A method of measuring the retention force of a biomedical specimen coupled to a carrier includes the measurement of the force required for magnetically decoupling the specimen from the carrier. In one embodiment, the method includes the steps of providing the specimen with an electrically conductive structure; creating an external alternating magnetic field near the specimen; increasing the amplitude and/or frequency of the magnetic field; detecting the start of the movement of the specimen on the carrier; and calculating the retention force of the specimen by determining the applied magnetic force on the basis of the parameters of the magnetic field. In other embodiments, the magnetic field may remain constant and the biomedical specimen may be moved through the field at varying speeds.

Medical procedures often require that a biomedical specimen be coupled to a carrier. For example, medical devices such as stents, markers or sleeves are generally coupled to catheters or balloons that deliver the device to a target area where the device is deployed by uncoupling the device from the carrier.
More particularly, a stent may be coupled to a catheter having a balloon at the distal end by crimping the stent on the balloon in deflated condition. The catheter is then introduced in a vessel of a patient and, when a target location is reached, the balloon is inflated, causing the stent to expand and to support the wall of the vessel as desired. Alternatively, a self-expanding stent may be coupled to the distal end of a catheter and be covered by a sheath. The catheter is then introduced in a patient's vessel and, when the target location is reached, the sheath is retracted, enabling the stent to self-expand and scaffold the vessel wall.
In this respect, it is of great importance that the medical device be properly coupled to the carrier, so to avoid the decoupling of the device from the carrier at an undesired location. In the case of a balloon-expanded stent, the stent must be coupled to the balloon and to the catheter with contact force sufficient to create an interference that will prevent the stent from sliding off the balloon while the balloon travels in the patient's vessels along its path to the target location, especially considering that friction with the vessel walls or bends in the vessel system are prone to induce such a decoupling.
An undesired decoupling of the medical device from the carrier would not only render the procedure difficult or impossible to perform, but also lodge the stent at an improper location and require a surgical procedure for removing the misplaced stent.
Known methods and systems for measuring the retention force of a biomedical specimen on a carrier are based on mechanical principles. Such methods and systems are based on mechanically impacting the structure to be measured, thereby negatively affecting the mechanical integrity of the system and a proper reading of the values to be measured. One such mechanical test is a tensile pull test, which determines the mechanical force required to pull the stent off the delivery balloon. Another such test is compressive in nature. These types of mechanical tests are described, for example, in Example 2 of U.S. Pat. No. 6,682,553 and in Example 1 of U.S. Pat. No. 6,673,102.

Method of measuring the retention force of a biomedical specimen in the form of an electrically conductive structure located on a carrier

Abbott Laboratories Vascular Enterprises Limited


The invention describes a method of heating a preform (1) characterized by a radius (R), a material thickness (t), and a material absorption spectrum, which method comprises the steps of selecting, depending on a desired temperature profile, a desired effective absorption coefficient for the preform (1) on the basis of the preform radius (R) and material thickness (t); generating a laser radiation beam (L) comprising radiation with a wavelength spectrum compiled on the basis of absorption coefficients of the absorption spectrum to satisfy the effective absorption coefficient and directing the laser radiation beam (L) at the preform (1) to heat the preform (1). The invention further describes a driving arrangement (7) for controlling a laser radiation generating unit (9) of a preform heating system (10), a preform heating system (10), and a computer program.

Nowadays, the majority of beverage containers are lightweight plastic bottles of a material such as PET (polyethylene terephthalate), manufactured in a two-step process. In a first step, so-called hollow "preforms" are created from the raw material, e.g. by a slow, high-temperature extrusion process. In a second step the 'walls' of these hollow preforms are heated again—this time to a temperature below their re-crystallization point, i.e. below about 130° C.—and then formed into the desired bottle-shapes via blow-moulding.
In most state of the art preform heating ovens, this heating is carried out using halogen lamps, for which a significant portion of the broad emission spectrum lies in the infrared region. During the heating process, heat energy is 'deposited' in the preform material. The infrared heating technique, while technically well-developed, has the drawback of limited energy efficiency. One reason for the poor energy efficiency is that the radiation emitted by the halogen lamps cannot effectively be directed or focused. The main reason, however, is the poor matching of the emission spectrum of the halogen lamps to the absorption spectrum of the preform material, which results in absorption of energy in inappropriate regions of the preform, for example in its outer surface. This results in higher temperatures in some regions of the preform wall, while other regions are insufficiently heated. For example the outside surface of the preform may become very hot while the inside surface is insufficiently heated. Furthermore, the distribution of deposited energy inside the preform wall does not necessarily result in the same distribution of temperatures on account of the thermal conductivity of the material. Such temperature gradients or hot spots make it difficult to ensure an even quality of the subsequent blow-moulding stage, and may even result in damage to the outer surface of the preform. Therefore, some prior art processes even resort to an additional cooling of the preforms during the heating-process (for example by forced-air cooling); a measure which is obviously costly and inefficient from the point of view of energy consumption, and therefore undesirable. Alternatively, in prior art ovens, an unwanted temperature gradient may be dealt with by "equilibration phases", i.e. time-delays during which thermal conduction inside the preform material should lead to an equalization of the temperatures in the preform wall. These equilibration phases typically take several seconds (up to ten). However, including these phases into the heating process means that the total process time is lengthened, thereby increasing the overall cost of the preform heating process.

Method of heating a preform, a driving arrangement, a preform heating system and a computer program