A waterproof and breathable lining structure includes a sheet-like waterproof and breathable foaming cushion layer made of a composition of a predetermined amount of low density polyethylene (LDPE) and a predetermined amount of foaming agent such as azodicarbonamide (ADCA), and a fabric lining layer integrally adhered to one side of the cushion layer to form the lining structure. The cushion layer is made by a process including the steps of: (a) palletizing raw materials including the low density polyethylene and the foaming agent such as Azodicarbonamide (ADCA); (b) extruding the palletized raw material to make a solid sheet; (c) cross-linking the solid sheet by an E-beam to form an irradiated matrix; (d) foaming the irradiated matrix into the sheet-like foaming cushion layer.

1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates to a kind of lining structure, more particularly, relates to a lining structure employing a kind of an irradiation cross-linked, foam sheet product, which is water repellent and air breathable to be used in shoe making and garment industry.
2. Description of Related Arts
Commonly, people desire to seek a pair of dry and comfort shoes. This is due to the fact that dry feet make a huge difference when walking in the rain or in a wet working environment. Likewise, waterproof garments are also under heavy requirements in different applications especially in rainy regions. People wish to keep drier by remaining waterproof after exposures to a wet circumstance, particularly those people who frequently encounter to contaminants such as perspiration, oils, fuels, rains, detergents, and so on.
Thanks to the development of the modern chemistry industry, waterproof products are available, such as the traditional water repellent fabric bases on polyurethane chemistry which may degrade with exposure to cold, flexing, and chemicals. Instead, the GORETEX™ and SYMPATEX™ materials utilize a fundamentally different bi-component membrane technology than traditional fabrics by combining the breathability with the durable waterproofness.
Undertaken an exercise of intensity while wearing waterproof or water-resistant clothes, people would feel uneasiness. Under that kind of condition, body moisture evaporated from the skin for the purpose of cooling is unable to escape due to the overlying barrier that is the fabric of the garment.
As a result, these current waterproof materials, such as GORETEX™ or SYMPATEX™, could allow perspiration vapor to escape from the garment and shoe, so the wearer feel more comfortable. In other words, GORETEX™ and SYMPATEX™ fabric allows more sweat vapor to be released than other waterproof fabric alternatives so wearer could stay drier and cooler in warmer, wetter conditions. It is worth to mention that this sweat vapor transferring also helps prevent conductive heat loss in cold weather by keeping wearer's body and clothing layers drier.
In short, the current materials have the property that water vapor in the air may pass through its pores, but liquid water may not, commonly said to be 'breathable'. So through the wonders of physics and chemistry, the same impenetrable water barrier actually transport perspiration, so user's body could breath.
Currently, the production of these current waterproof fabrics is mainly based on the laminating processes. Among those products, GORETEX™ from W. L. Gore, an American company, and SYMPATEX™ from Europe are undoubtedly dominating ones on the market. Both GORETEX™ and SYMPATEX™ employed the laminating process which involves a process in which a layer of lining film is adhered onto a layer of fabric.
However, this kind of current waterproof material also suffers some drawbacks. First of all, the production process is too expensive to be afforded by common consumers. This is due to the fact that the application of these laminating equipments cannot be applied using existing textile production processes. Second, synthesis of the lining film is costly and garments with this waterproof modification are significantly expensive like luxury goods. Meanwhile, although SYMPATEX™ is 100% waterproof, it is essential that the outer fabric also has a water repellent finish. Otherwise, the outer fabric would soak up the water and the garment would become unnecessary heavy.
As a result, it is highly desirable to develop an inexpensive lining structure, which is capable of being used in shoe making and garment industry as a substitute alternative material, wherein said lining structure is water proof and air breathable, and preferably, made of cheaper traditional waterproof materials.

Breathable and waterproof lining structure for footwear and garment


An image communication apparatus includes a central processing unit for verifying at least a password, entered by an operator, against authentication information stored in an external storage to authenticate the operator. When the operator is authenticated, sender information corresponding to the operator is read from the external storage. When the sender information is inappropriate, the image communication apparatus prevents the operator from transmitting image data.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to image communication apparatuses and, more particularly, to an image communication apparatus and method for transmitting image data, designated by an operator, to the outside.
2. Description of the Related Art
Apparatuses for scanning an image and transmitting the scanned image and apparatuses for transmitting a stored image each practically use a function of authenticating an operator according to an authentication procedure and permitting only the authenticated operator to operate the apparatus.
In the above-mentioned apparatuses, after the operator is authenticated according to the authentication procedure, the operator generally sets sender information by himself or herself. The operator needs the sender information in image transmission.
Some of the above-mentioned apparatuses also include a function of obtaining sender information corresponding to an authenticated operator from a user management system after the operator is authenticated according to the authentication procedure, and utilizing the obtained sender information in image transmission. When sender information is not properly obtained, the operator sets sender information by himself or herself.
In the above-mentioned conventional apparatuses, when the operator sets sender information and transmits an image, the operator may set false sender information. Disadvantageously, it results in poor security.


A display apparatus is provided. The display apparatus includes an image receiver which receives an image, an image processor which divides the received image into a left-eye image and a right-eye image and processes the same, an image output device which alternatingly outputs the left-eye image and the right-eye image, and a controller which calculates a difference in a pixel value between the left-eye and right-eye images based on units relating to the pixels that constitute the left-eye and right-eye images, detects a crosstalk generating area by using the calculated pixel value difference and a preset response speed of a display panel, and controls so that the detected crosstalk generating area is displayed distinguishably from at least one other area.

1. Field
Aspects of the exemplary embodiments relate to a display apparatus and control method thereof, and more particularly, to a display apparatus for displaying a three dimensional (3D) image and a control method thereof.
2. Description of the Related Art
Three dimensional (3D) image technology is considered to be the core base technology of the next-generation 3D image multimedia information communication, as such technology is applicable in a variety of areas including, for example, information communication, broadcasting, medicine, education, training, the military, computer games, animation, virtual reality, computer-aided design (CAD), and industrial technology, and commonly required in these areas.
The illusion of depth is perceived by humans based on a combination of a variation of thickness of eye lens with respect to a location of an observed object, an angular difference between respective lines of sight for each of a left eye and a right eye and the observed object, a respective difference of each of a location and a shape of the observed object as perceived by each of both eyes, a disparity generated in accordance with the movement of the object, and other mental effects and memories.
Among these, the "binocular disparity," which is generated due to respective locations of a human's two eyes at a distance of approximately 6 to 7 cm in horizontal direction, functions as the most important element that contributes to the illusion of depth. The binocular disparity causes the human to view an object at two different angles, which cause two different images to enter the respective eyes, so that the two images are transmitted to the brain where the two pieces of information are precisely fused with each other to provide a perception of a 3D image.
A 3D image display may generally be categorized into a glass type of display which employs special-purpose glasses, and a non-glass type of display which does not employ the glasses. The glass type may be categorized into a color filter type which separates and selects images using color filters complement to each other, a polarizing filter type which divides an image into left-eye and right-eye images by using a light shading effect by the combination of polarizing devices which are orthogonal to each other, and a shutter glass type which provides a sensation of depth by alternatingly shielding left and right eyes in accordance with the synchronous signal which projects left-eye and right-eye image signals onto a screen.
Typically, a conventional display may frequently experience crosstalk while displaying left-eye and right-eye images due to response speed of a display panel. In particular, the amount of crosstalk generally increases as the gradation of left-eye and right-eye images increases.
However, since an area having crosstalk is not indicated, it is difficult to solve the defects in making or editing contents, particularly in the monitoring process for broadcasting.

Display apparatus and control method thereof


The present invention refers to a composition comprising a solution which in turn comprises an amino acidic chain gelatin polymer derived from natural sources of cold-adapted marine species, at a concentration from 1% to 20% (w/v), which optionally further comprises a polymerizing initiator such as a photoinitiator, and is chemically functionalized to become reactive to polymerization or crosslinking in presence of free radicals. This composition is especially useful for 3D printing, extrusion systems (additive fabrication), spray systems, casting, micro- and nano fibers fabrication systems (electrospinning, solution blow spinning) or microfluidics.

In the biomedical field, new bio fabrication technologies allow the production of biomaterials, such as scaffolds, beads, engineered tissues, devices and micro-devices for therapeutic or diagnostic purposes. Some of these (bio fabrication or biomanufacturing) technologies comprise the use of techniques such as 3D bio-printing, extrusion systems (additive fabrication), spray systems, casting, micro- and nano fibers fabrication systems (electrospinning, solution blow spinning) and microfluidics, amongst others. In food science some of these technologies are also used, in particular extrusion and spray systems.
The use of these techniques or technologies requires the control of the state of aggregation and polymerization or crosslinking of the biomaterial. In this sense, biomaterials are initially handled in its liquid state and then through the control of polymerization/crosslinking the final product is obtained at a more solid state. In this regard, high-performance functioning of these technologies is highly dependent on the rheological properties of the biomaterial at the liquid state and the level of control that the system has over the transition into a more solid state, taking into account that functionality of the final product in any given particular application is dependent on the mechanical, physicochemical and biological properties of the biomaterial at the solid state. In other words, high-performance of these technologies requires specific rheological properties before polymerization/crosslinking, control of polymerization/crosslinking and mechanical properties of the polymerized or crosslinked biomaterial.
Indeed, high precision biomanufacturing technologies (such as inkjet bioprinting, spraying-coating and microfluidic derived systems) require compositions enabling the control of the state of polymerization/crosslinking of the biomaterial, with specific rheological properties in order to allow formation of very small drops (pL) or to avoid high flow resistance within micro-sized channels. Thus, the ideal composition will have specific rheological properties (resulting for instance in good jetting capability when conducting 3D bioprinting) prior to cross-linking/polymerization and good mechanical properties once the biomaterial is in a solid state. Ideal compositions will have prior to the cross-linking/polymerization step: Newtonian fluid behavior, a viscosity between 25-10 cP and stability at different share rates and/or temperatures. Preferably the ideal composition will also have low surface tension (25-30 mN/m).
The biomedical field demands a number of physicochemical and biological properties that influences the results of the therapeutic or diagnostic applications. Some of these properties are related to control of the microenvironment of the cellular components and a direct interaction of the biomaterial with the cells that derived in specific biological responses and active remodeling of the biomaterial in response to cell biological activities. These properties are also listed as control delivery of biologically meaningful elements, cytocompatibility, bioactivity and biodegradability. On the other hand, in the alimentary field, there is a need for specialized and cost-efficient technologies for deposition of food coatings such as spray systems or beads fabrication for supplementation of encapsulated vitamin or other active compounds.
Unfortunately, both of these fields are limited in performance due to the suboptimal rheological nature and control of polymerization/crosslinking of the majority of the biomaterials used thus far.
In recent years there has been an increasing interest in finding gelatin sources alternative to mammalian gelatins (e.g. porcine and bovine). In particular, fish gelatins have been proposed as an alternative but an important challenge to be overcome are its inferior rheological properties. This limitation has been attributed to the lack of proline rich regions of the collagen/gelatin of cold water fish (Karim A A et al: Food Hydrocolloids 2009, 23(3), 563-576; Gomez-Guillén M C et al: Food Hydrocolloids 2011, 25(8) 1813-1827).
With the aim of providing fish gelatin polymers with improved mechanical properties the induction of intra- and inter-molecular cross-linking has previously been reported. Chiou B S et al: Polymer 2006, 47(18), 6379-6386 describes traditional gelatin cross-linking methods adding cross-linking agents (i.e. glutaraldehyde and/or genipin) to the gelatin containing composition. The time required to obtain optimal cross-linking with this strategy is in the range from hours to days.
Besides, J. B. Yi et al: Journal of Food Science 2006, 71(9), E376-E383 describes fish gelatin cross-linking using enzymatic transglutaminase (i.e. MTGase). This document teaches that the time required for the obtaining of a gel with suitable viscosity through cross-linking with enzymatic transglutaminase is in the range of minutes.
Accordingly, it exists the need to obtain a gelatin composition with suitable rheological properties for high precision biomanufacturing technologies which further to cross-linking results in a composition with good mechanical (compressive and/or tensile) properties, preferably, wherein the cross-linking time is decreased to the range of seconds to a few minutes, for instance a maximum of 5 minutes.
Therefore, new biomaterials for use in these technologies are urgently needed. Consequently, there is still a need for novel highly bioactive biomaterials that can create structurally complex scaffolds with the desired geometry, biological and physical properties for optimal application in biomedicine and food.

Gelatin polymer derived from natural sources of cold-adapted marine species and uses thereof


A filtration system comprising a filter cassette having integrated ultrasonic transducers incorporated therein, and a method for using the same. The integrated system of filters and transducers can be hardened for use in hazardous environments, and is particularly suitable for the implementation of sonication in cross flow filtration processes further integrated with a manufacturing process. The system provides cost savings both in terms of less equipment and space for cleaning processes on the manufacturing floor.

Disclosed is a filtration system that utilizes cross flow filtration. More specifically, the present invention relates to an integrated filtration system utilizing ultrasonic assisted cross flow filtration, which system is further integrated with a manufacturing process.
Filtration is a commonly used technique to separate dispersed components from liquids or gases by various separating means such as semi-permeable membranes and other layers or stacks of material containing different perforations. The perforations usually serve to exclude filtered components by size. The most common filtration of dispersed components involves the separation of solids from fluids, and vice versa, through the use of fluid treatment elements, such as filters. Various filtration techniques have been tried in the past, but clogging of filters can be a problem particularly in industrial applications where flow rates are important for process and production rates. Flow rates can diminish upon clogging of the filter through which the fluid passes. Prior art shows different approaches in addressing these problems, either by providing different treatment media, such as polymeric, ceramic or metal filters, or by providing declogging techniques for a given treatment medium, such as electrostatic discharging, heating or ultrasonic agitation.
As described by Haq in U.S. Pat. No. 6,702,941, of the various types of filtration techniques, a type known as "dead-end treatment", introduces the fluid dispersion to be filtered, or treated, into a fluid treatment element, such as a membrane filter, and the entire amount or substantially all of the fluid passes through the fluid treatment medium of the fluid treatment element to be filtered or otherwise treated. In another type of fluid treatment, known as cross flow filtration, a fluid to be treated is introduced into a fluid treatment element and is made to flow along the surface of a fluid treatment medium of the fluid treatment element. This flow of fluid along the surface is referred to as cross flow. Only a portion of the fluid passes through the fluid treatment medium to be filtered or otherwise treated, while the remainder of the fluid is discharged from the fluid treatment element without passing through the fluid treatment medium. In cross flow filtration, the fluid (feed) stream runs in tangential direction to the filter, such as a membrane filter, for example, establishing a pressure differential across the membrane, causing some of the particles to pass through the membrane. As the remaining particles continue to flow along the membrane, they have the effect of "cleaning it". The untreated fluid may be recirculated for another pass at the filter element. In contrast to the perpendicular flow of dead-end filtration technique, the use of a tangential flow prevents thicker particles from packing or building up a "filter cake".
The fluid which is introduced into the element for treatment is referred to as process fluid; the fluid which passes through the fluid treatment medium is referred to as filtrate; and the fluid which is discharged from the fluid treatment element without passing through the fluid treatment medium is referred to as retentate. The cross flow of fluid along the surface of the fluid treatment medium generates a fluid shear force in the fluid adjoining the fluid treatment medium which slows the rate at which particles accumulate on the fluid treatment medium. However, even though cross flow filtration may improve filtration performance in certain applications, the filtration process may further need be augmented by vibrating the filter media or by flow pulsing/reversing for cleaning the filter. Polymers and other chemicals have also been used to reduce caking of solids on the filter media, and additionally, filter-aids like anticoagulant additives have been used to increase flow rates.
Another highly effective technique for enhancing filtration involves ultrasonic cleaning, which is described by Vadoothker in U.S. Pat. No. 6,221,255. Ultrasound is in this arrangement a mechanical form of energy with frequencies above 18 kHz. It can impact solids, liquids, and gasses under appropriate conditions causing either temporary or permanent physical and chemical changes. High frequency (500 kHz) ultrasound waves have been used to bombard aqueous and organic suspensions. This impact breaks the molecules and provides chemically active radicals free to react with other radicals and molecules. Ultrasound has also been well recognized as useful in cleaning applications. As the basis for this serves the ability of ultrasound to vibrate its target to loosen dirt and solids away from the contact surface. Ultrasound applications today abound in medical diagnostics, process control, soldering, and numerous mechanical biological and chemical areas.
The contents of the entire prior art references cited herein are incorporated by reference.
Although ultrasound applications today abound in fields such as diagnostics, process control, soldering and numerous mechanical, biological and chemical areas, the use of sonication needs to be made more adaptable to filtration processes, and hence more practical and cost effective. Usually, when ultrasound transducers are contemplated for use in filtration, they are introduced as an adjunct to the whole process, and therefore are cumbersome. What is needed is a compact and portable filtration system with well integrated ultrasound transducers that, as a whole system, can be made to be more adaptable for use in different applications under different conditions.
For example, certain process sectors on a manufacturing line require special areas delineated from others because of their hazardous nature. These process sectors may also use fluids that require cleaning through filtration. In such situations, the process fluid is normally piped from the hazardous process sector to a separate filtration station outside or adjacent the hazardous sector. Consequently, the various components of a cleaning system, including filters, ultrasonic transducers, pumps and piping required for transferring fluids from the hazardous sector to the filtration station, and vice versa, involve complicated and costly equipment and space. It is desirable, therefore, to be able to bring into such a process sector a compact and portable filtration system that can easily be adapted to be used in that particular process sector on the manufacturing line. Thus, there exists a need for an apparatus or a system that takes advantage of the excellent cleaning properties of ultrasound transducers and integrates them into itself in such a manner so as to improve cleaning process fluids in an efficient and effective way, in particular, in cross flow filtration systems operating in hazardous environments.

Integrated dual cross flow filtration and ultrasonic transducer assembly


A remotely controllable door operator system permitting active and passive use of a door includes a transmitter, a receiver, a master timing sequencing mechanism, a clutch-regulated prime mover that can actively move the door, and a mechanism that senses whether the door is fully closed. The door operator is controllable by depressing a single button on the transmitter, which sends a signal to the receiver. If the sense mechanism determines the door is fully closed, the receiver causes the timing mechanism to cause the prime mover to disengage the door latch and to commence actively opening the door for a first time period. The timing mechanism may be user adjusted to control the extent of the door opening by adjusting the length of the first time period.

It is known in the art to equip a hinged or swinging door, or a sliding door with a door operator. As used herein, "operator" shall refer to a non-passive mechanism that produces some movement in a door. Thus, a motor coupled to produce door motion will be deemed an operator, whereas a door-closing coiled spring is not an operator. Further, as used herein, a device that opens a door but does not have integrated door-closing capability will be deemed a door opener.
Operator-equipped doors are frequently found in commercial establishments such as airports, malls or supermarkets where manual operation of the door may be inconvenient to users. Understandably, handicapped individuals, including bedridden and wheel-chair confined individuals, would greatly benefit from operator-equipped doors in their homes and businesses. Unfortunately, however, many factors make it unfeasible for such individuals to benefit from operator-equipped doors.
Many door operators are pneumatically, hydraulically, or electro-mechanically driven, and typically require substantial operating current and/or voltage. Installation of such an operator can include substantial modification to the door, the door frame, and indeed the structure wherein the door and door frame are mounted. Installation of such an operator frequently requires a building permit as well as the services of a skilled professional technician installer. As a result, "do-it-yourself" installation is generally precluded, especially by handicapped persons. The resultant cost of permits, equipment, and labor often prevents handicapped individuals from purchasing door operators for use at home and at work. In addition, conventional door operators often are expensive to maintain.
The installation of door operators is generally costly since different models are normally required depending upon whether the door is left-hinged or right-hinged, and/or whether the door swings inwardly or outwardly. This includes several different door operator linkage configurations which depend upon the operative placement thereof relative to the door. Hence, unless the operator technician first views the premises whereat installation is to occur, both the left-hinged and right-hinged models, as well as a variety of hardware, must be at hand to ensure that installation can be completed.
Moreover, the present door operators are generally large, bulky units which employ high torque, low rpm electric motors which require a minimal amount of gear reduction. This combination is utilized because the device must be capable of being back-driven manually when not powered. Motors of this type are typically large when compared to high rpm motors of equivalent horse power. Due to the large size of the magnets necessary to generate such a high torque at a low rpm, the motor and associated gear reduction mechanisms are relatively large. Often, these bulky door operators are too large to mount directly to the door and must be mounted on or above the door lintel. This may decrease the overall aesthetic appeal, and, without substantial structural modification, may preclude installation and operation of the unit altogether. For example, in a retrofit installation where the upper portion or edge of the door is at or very near the ceiling, the amount of space provided between the door lintel and the ceiling may be insufficient to mount the unit.
Operators utilizing smaller high rpm motors achieve some reduction in size but must increase the ratio of gear reduction to bring about appropriate opening and closing speeds. This has an unfortunate result of substantially increasing the force required to manually move the door when the operator is not powered. This high mechanical resistance precludes the utilization of a spring to bring about the closing of the door which must close under power. Thus, this type of operator must operate in the power mode at all times for all users due to the fact that the internal mechanisms are highly resistant to manual operation. A power outage can render a door thus equipped into a frozen state potentially trapping people in hazardous situations. Typically, operators utilizing door closure spring mechanisms, which are often internally mounted, use low revving high torque motors, and close doors with internal spring mechanisms. Such a spring is compressed during the opening cycle. During the closing cycle, the spring force must be sufficient to close the door, while counteracting the resistance forces caused by the motor and counter-rotating the series of gears (the gear train) coupled to the electric motor. However, this spring force must not be so large as to prevent or substantially impair manual operation of the door, especially for physically impaired individuals. These opposing limitations often result in poor closing performance in windy conditions.
Moreover, in an electrical outage, an individual attempting to further open or close the door may have to exert substantial manual force to overcome the resistance forces generated by the gear train, motor and/or internal or external door check spring. The magnitude of such resistance forces can exceed what a child, a frail or especially a handicapped person can exert. As a result, such individuals may be trapped within a room whose exit includes an operator-equipped door that is so frozen or inoperable to those individuals.
More recently, clutch mechanisms have been introduced between the motor assembly and the driving linkage assemblies. These mechanism are typically employed so as to cause slippage of the mechanisms when encountering obstructions in the powered opening and closing of the door. However, these arrangements most often act in conjunction with external or internal door closing springs for automatically closing the door. A typical example of these mechanisms may be found in U.S. Pat. No. 3,874,117 to Boehm which discloses a door opener (i.e., incapable of closing the door) that is to be used in combination with a standard hydraulic or mechanical door check for door closure. During its activity as a door opener the door is opened, and after passage has occurred, the clutch deactivates allowing a pre-existing spring mechanism to close the door.
This allows better closing characteristics than found in the previously described devices in which the drive-motor counter rotates during closing. Though Boehm's device was an improvement, it was cumbersome in that it required a separate mechanism to close the door. During a power outage, the Boehm system still presents an impediment to manual operation by individuals of limited physical capability because they must overcome the resistance caused by the mechanical doorcheck.
Prior art door operators further tend to preclude passive operation of the door. By passive operation it is meant that when not in the process of being moved by the door operator, the door should be manually movable by a user as though the door were not equipped with an operator or a spring-type closing mechanism. U.S. Pat. No. 5,018,304 to Langoria discloses an operator whose primary purpose is the moving of massive heavy radiation doors which are not readily movable by manual means. Langoria provides an emergency back-up power supply system so that egress may be maintained in the event of a power outage as manual use is extremely difficult. Langoria discloses the use of a clutch which has the purpose of selectively isolating the motor from the massive load. The slippage of the clutch accommodates this need. The clutch in Langoria's invention is engaged at all times either by line voltage or the back-up power supply system. It is never disengaged. The use of the clutch in Langoria is similar to that found in situations where the acceleration of large masses must be smoothly controlled. Examples of this can be found on industrial conveyor belts and on merry-go-rounds. In normal use Langoria's operator precludes manual operation of the door.
Many public buildings are required to have fire doors that are fully open normally but must close automatically in response to a fire alarm signal. This is most commonly achieved by the use of spring type door checks in conjunction with electromagnetic hold open devices which release with the loss of energizing current. After the fire alarm signal has ceased, these doors must again be fully opened. Reopening such doors is typically accomplished manually, a time consuming process if a great many doors are involved. Further, reopening such doors can require exerting a force sufficient to counter a spring bias used to close the doors. The magnitude of this force may in fact preclude non-muscular individuals and many handicapped individuals from being able to reopen the doors to escape a fire. In addition, fire doors that are operator-equipped can consume substantial electrical power in a hold open mode, and typically require an emergency standby power supply to maintain opening capability in the event of power interruption during a fire. In the absence of emergency standby power, even fire doors equipped with an operator can become a dangerous barrier to persons trapped within a room.
It is also known in the art to provide a door with an operator that may be remotely controlled by a user. Pressure sensing or light interrupt photodiode sensing mechanisms are commonly found in supermarket or airport doors, for example. U.S. Pat. No. 5,095,654 to applicant Eccleston discloses a radio controlled pneumatic door operator wherein depressing a single button on the remote control radio mechanism sequentially operates a deadbolt mechanism and door latch on the door and then causes the door to open. The door remains open until such time as the remote control button is again depressed, whereupon the process reverses. The disclosed mechanism could be attached without substantially modifying the door.
While the Eccleston mechanism was a boon to handicapped persons, it was basically a "go/no-go" control mechanism that, like other prior art door operators, did not readily permit a user to partially open or partially close a door.
In summary, what is needed is an inexpensive, low voltage powered door operator that can be installed by an untrained person without substantial modification to the door, door frame, or premises whereat it is used. To help minimize costs and make such operators readily available for purchase by handicapped persons, such an operator should function with various combinations of door configurations including a left-hinged or right-hinged door, and installation should not require expensive permitting procedures.
Further, to facilitate its use by handicapped and non-handicapped individuals, such a door operator should be remotely controllable, and should permit both active and passive use of the door, even in the event of a power interruption or another emergency.
Finally, such a door operator should also be operable in the same manner as a fire door closing device, and respond similarly in the interruption of operating electrical power. However, such a door operator should provide active operation capability to allow persons, including disabled persons, to exit a conflagration otherwise barred by a door.

Remotely controllable automatic door operator permitting active and passive door operation


A method for hot docking and hot undocking a portable computer and a docking station. The portable computer and docking station are physically coupled via a shared PCI bus and an expansion connector. Varying length pins in the expansion connector generate docking and undocking handshaking signals used by microcontrollers in the portable computer and docking station. The portable computer and docking station are functionally connected via low on-resistance switches located in the portable computer. Following a docking event, closure of the switches connects the portion of the shared PCI bus in the docking station with the PCI bus in the portable computer. When the switches are open, the PCI busses are functionally isolated. Both the portable computer and the docking station also include a local arbiter for arbitrating and granting bus control requests from devices coupled to the shared PCI bus. These local arbiters may be placed into an idled state by either the operating system (through system BIOS) or by the microcontrollers. The arbiters are idled during docking and undocking events in order to inhibit bus cycles on the PCI bus, thereby preventing cycles from being lost. Following completion of a hot docking or undocking event, Plug-and-Play system reconfiguration is carried out so that all system resources may be recognized and properly utilized by the operating system.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates in general to a laptop computer and associated docking station, and more particularly to a method of hot docking and undocking without the need to place the computer system in a standby or suspended mode.
2. Description of the Related Art
Performance improvements in microprocessor and memory systems have resulted in computers so powerful that they are now capable of performing tasks that before could only be performed by large mainframe computers. Technological change has been especially swift in the area of portable computers, where power consumption efficiency is balanced against features, cost, size, weight and performance. Design choices are particularly challenging since many computer users desire the portable computer to provide functionality similar to that of a desktop unit. The term "portable computers" is used broadly to denote the class of computers powered by battery or solar power. Those familiar with portable computers will recognize other labels such as: luggable, laptop, notebook and hand-held. These categorizations are used to designate certain marketing segments of the larger portable computer market.
Many options are available to the computer system designer. While simply designing around the highest performance processor available goes a long way towards providing a high performance product, it is not enough in today's market. The processor must be supported by high performance components and a high performance I/O (input/output) bus. Several standardized I/O buses are available to the system designer including: ISA (Industry Standard Architecture); EISA (Extended Industry Standard Architecture); and PCI (Peripheral Component Interface). Today's computers are typically designed with some combination of the three to provide the user with the performance of PCI and backward compatibility to ISA or EISA. These three buses are familiar to those skilled in the art.
Certain performance criteria also involve special features of the computer that distinguish one manufacturer's computer from a competitor's. These added features can result in increased size and weight. For example, software and multimedia documents can require large amounts of storage, and a very high capacity hard disk drive is often necessary. High capacity disk drives, however, are usually larger and heavier than is desirable for a portable computer. It is also desirable to have the ability to add functionality to the portable computer. Typical expansion bays, however, can also compromise a portable system's size advantages.
One known method of providing extra features without negatively impacting size and weight is through the use of an expansion base unit (also referred to as a docking station). An expansion unit is a non-portable unit that typically operates from AC power and resides on the user's desktop. When the user is working at the desk, the portable computer plugs into the expansion unit to provide added functionality. For example, the expansion unit may have a network interface unit for connecting to a local area network, a high capacity disk drive, a CRT, a full-size keyboard, a floppy or CD-ROM drive and other peripherals.
The connection between the portable computer and the expansion base unit is typically proprietary since no standard has yet evolved. One known way to couple the portable computer to the expansion base unit is through the existing I/O bus. In a portable computer having a PCI bus and an ISA bus, either bus might be used to connect to the expansion base unit. For highest performance, the PCI bus is preferable.
Current methods of connecting portable computers to docking stations are less than ideal. Using what is known as "cold docking," the user must close all applications and turn off power to the system prior to any undocking/docking actions. This type of docking requires a re-boot in order for the portable computer to recognize peripherals in the docking station. In addition, upgrading the docking station with new peripheral cards means that the user must possess enough technical savvy to understand interrupts and direct memory access (DMA) and be able to physically set configuration jumpers.
The new Plug-and-Play (PnP) standards have made docking and undocking somewhat easier. In systems incorporating "warm docking" capabilities, the portable computer must be placed in a "suspend" or "standby" state prior to docking/undocking. Entry into a standby state is normally accomplished by pushing a button or hot-key on the portable. In a typical standby state, the state of the system is stored in system memory, all devices are placed in a low power state if possible, with power being removed from the floppy drive, the hard drive and most ports. Bus clocks are also disabled, although a lower frequency clock remains active to maintain system memory. By utilizing Plug-and-Play features, the portable computer is able to recognize and activate peripherals when it exits the standby state and without the need to re-boot. The time spent in the standby state, however, is often longer than desirable.
In many docking systems, the portable computer is configured to automatically exit standby mode after a predetermined amount of time. This amount of time must be sufficient for completion of the motorized docking/undocking action, as well as an additional safety margin. Additional time is therefore added to the docking/undocking process because of the requirement to go into standby mode. Currently, no efficient method exists for docking/undocking without first suspending or completely powering off the portable computer system.

System incorporating hot docking and undocking capabilities without requiring a standby or suspend mode by placing local arbiters of system and base into idle state


A low cost millimeter wave (MMW) module for a microwave monolithic integrated circuit (MMIC) includes a carrier board formed of a dielectric material and having at least one MMIC die mounted thereon and at least one interface line, such as a 50 Ohm microstrip interface line. A base plate is formed of a material that has a higher unmatched coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) than the carrier board and supports same. A housing is mounted over the carrier board and engages the base plate. The housing has at least one subminiature coaxial connector (SMA) interface mounted thereon. A flexible circuit interconnect, such as a fuzz button, connects the subminiature coaxial connector and MMIC die through the interface line. A thermal interface member is positioned between the carrier board and base plate to aid in heat transfer between the base plate and housing and the lower CTE carrier board.

This invention relates to millimeter wave modules (MMW), and more particularly, this invention relates to a millimeter wave module for microwave monolithic integrated circuits (MMIC).
Millimeter wave (MMW) modules are becoming more commonplace as increasing use is made of millimeter wave transceivers and similar millimeter wave devices. Often, these modules are used with various transceiver designs having different transmitter and receive circuits that make use of a number of different microwave monolithic integrated circuit (MMIC) chips or die. Many of the MMIC chips are formed from Galium Arsenide (GaAs). These chips are often attached on an alumina, i.e., aluminum oxide, or similar dielectric substrate. Because of the extreme tolerances and necessity for thermal matching, millimeter wave modules typically use an expensive coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) matched housing material, such as copper tungsten (CuW) or aluminum: silicon carbide (AlSiC) to mount Galium Arsenide MMIC chips and the alumina or similar dielectric substrates. CTE matching is required to prevent the MMIC chips and the substrates on which they are attached from cracking as the housing material shrinks and expands during extreme temperature variations.
Most millimeter wave Galium Arsenide MMIC dies or chips and the accompanying substrates have a Coefficient of Thermal Expansion (CTE) that is between about 4 and 6 ppm/deg. Centigrade. This has required the use of similarly matched housing materials, such as the copper tungsten or aluminum silicon carbide materials. Unfortunately, the lower cost housings, such as formed from aluminum and other similar metallic or other materials, have a very high coefficient of thermal expansion, greater than about 20 ppm/deg. Centigrade. As greater uses are made for millimeter wave modules, such as millimeter wave transceivers, it would be advantageous if a unique structure and method could be found that interfaced an inexpensive aluminum or other housing and the substrate and MMIC chip material, both having different coefficients of thermal expansions, without damaging or impacting the performance of any MMIC or other material used in the module and/or transceiver.
The present invention advantageously provides a unique structure and method to interface a housing and substrate material, both having a different coefficient of thermal expansion, without damaging or impacting the performance of the MMIC chip, RF interconnects and other material components. In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, a millimeter wave (MMW) module for a microwave monolithic integrated circuit (MMIC) includes a carrier board formed of a dielectric material and having at least one MMIC die (chip) mounted thereon, and at least one interface line. A base plate is formed of a material that has a higher, unmatched coefficient thermal expansion (CTE) than the carrier board. The base plate supports the carrier board.
A housing is mounted over the carrier board and engages the base plate. This housing has at least one waveguide or subminiature coaxial connector interface, also commonly referred to as an SMA connector, mounted thereon. A flexible circuit interconnect connects the subminiature coaxial connector(s) and the MMIC die through the interface line. A thermal interface member is positioned between the carrier board and base plate to aid in heat transfer between the base plate and housing and the lower CTE carrier board.
In still another aspect of the present invention, the flexible circuit interconnect comprises one of fuzz buttons or spring loaded self-adjusting interconnects, including the use of modified forms of pogo pins and similar spring segments and resilient members. The carrier board preferably, but not necessarily, comprises a plurality of layers of low temperature transfer tape (LTTT) to form a multilayer substrate board. The base plate and housing are formed from a material such as aluminum and/or similar metallic material. The thermal interface member comprises a heat transfer gasket that is formed from one of at least a phase change material, thermally conductive elastomer, or thermally conductive paste. Fasteners can secure the base plate and housing together.
In yet another aspect of the present invention, at least one alignment member is mounted on the base plate. The carrier board has a guide receiver that receives the alignment member for aligning the carrier board relative to the base plate without damage due to CTE mismatch. At least one alignment member includes an alignment pin. The housing is preferably formed of a material having a coefficient of thermal expansion substantially matching the base plate. The interface line comprises at least one 50 Ohm microstrip interface line as is commonly used and compatible with the 50 Ohm SMA interfaces and fuzz buttons.

Millimeter wave module (MMW) for microwave monolithic integrated circuit (MMIC)


A pad for preventing patient entrapment between a mattress supported by a bed frame and a bed rail movable with respect to the bed frame. The pad includes an elongate rail side opposite an elongate mattress side, a frame bottom connecting bottom edges of the rail side and the mattress side, a corner connecting the mattress side to the frame bottom, and at least one pair of elastic straps extending from the corner. Each distal end of each elastic strap is detachably securable to the other distal end and the pair of elastic straps are securable around either the bed frame or the bed rail.

In hospital nursing homes, it is common to provide bed rails that extend above the mattress level to prevent patients from rolling out of the bed. Known bed rails may either pivot away or move slidably downward to allow a patient to get out of bed or for hospital staff to care for the patient.
Recently, concerns have been raised regarding the needs for bed rails in view of the possible safety hazards. It has been recorded that patients have become asphyxiated between the bed rail and the side of the mattress as shown in FIG. 1 or in the triangular space created by the right angle of the bed rail and headboard when the mattress corner curves. This gap allows patients to bury their face against the mattress as their body slips downward. Trapped persons in this position do not have anything to grab to pull themselves upward, and one arm is usually pinned under their body. This is especially problematic for bed-ridden patients who are too weak to pull themselves from the gap.
It has also been reported that patients may slide either on their abdomen or on their back through the slot between head and foot rails. This results in the patient becoming lodged between the space between the rails and the bedframes. As a result, their body is trapped in an inverted position with their head and neck jammed into a hyper-flexed or hyper-extended position by the floor.
One sure way to prevent the aforementioned problems is to develop standards for beds, rails, and mattresses as an integrated and total system for hospital care. Studies have revealed that the key dimensions of beds, rails, and mattresses vary greatly. This results in spacing between the head and foot rails of between 15-33 centimeters. Studies have shown that gaps of 6 centimeters maximum are needed to prevent death or severe injury from the examples noted above. It will also be appreciated that mattress thicknesses vary by as much as 5 centimeters and that mattresses become softer with age and shrink during refurbishing. Moreover, one-quarter of mattresses are replaced each year, whereas a bed lasts for 20 years. Accordingly, mattresses are often purchased from companies other than the bed manufacturer. Since there are more than 100 manufacturers of beds and side rails in the United States market, this problem is quite prominent. The non-specific relationship of mattresses, rails, and bedframes and variations in sizes of these items, allows the lateral distance from the mattress to the rails and headboard and the vertical distance from the mattresses to the top of the rails to vary widely.
Some other attempts at preventing entrapment include bolsters or long pillows that sit up on the mattress adjacent the bed rail. Unfortunately, this does not prevent the patient from becoming lodged between the bolster and the mattress. It also common for these pillows or bolsters to be placed on the floor during care of the patient and thus, the mattress becomes contaminated and must be cleaned.

Gap-filling pad disposable between a mattress and a bed rail


The present application provides a method of repairing a diseased vessel having a plurality of branch vessels extending therefrom. The method includes locating a vessel to removal from blood flow. A single incision is made to provide access to the vessel. Branch locating stent grafts having radio opaque edges are placed in a plurality of branch vessels branching from the located vessel. A single main vessel stent graft is placed in the vessel temporarily occlude the branch locating stent grafts that subsequently are located using the radio opaque edges. The surgeon punctures the wall of the main vessel stent graft at the edges to provide an access port from the main vessel stent graft to the branch locating stent grafts and finally places a plurality of branch connecting stents corresponding to each of the plurality of branch locating stent grafts.

1. Field
The technology of the present application relates to vascular surgery and, more particularly, a methodology for using vascular stents grafts in bypassing or removing portions of vascular anatomy from circulation and/or reconstructing vascular anatomy.
2. Background
The circulatory system comprises many different parts, one of which is the vascular system. Blood vessels can develop various problems, diseases, or other pathology that frequently requires surgical repair.
Two common conditions include vascular blockage, such as, for example, blood clots, and aneurysms. Blockage is generally repaired surgically by, for example, bypass surgery, a balloon catheter, or the like. Surgeons conventionally treat aneurysms by surgically removing the aneurysm. Some aneurysms can be treated using endovascular methodologies including placing a stent graft, but frequently endovascular treatment using a stent graft is not possible because branch vessels become occluded. These and other conventional procedures for correcting vascular pathology are not particularly satisfactory. Thus, it would be desirous to develop apparatuses and methods that allowed for endovascular repair of the vascular system.

Methods for placement of vascular stent grafts and vascular stents


An information processing system which includes a center server and a movable body performing a communication with the center server, includes a fuel efficiency information obtainment unit which obtains information on fuel efficiency when the movable body moves in a first direction heading toward the other direction from one direction in a predetermined section and obtains information on fuel efficiency when the movable body moves in a second direction heading toward one direction from the other direction in the section; a comparison unit which compares the fuel efficiency in the first direction with the fuel efficiency in the second direction; and a slope estimation unit which estimates a slope of the section based on a difference between the fuel efficiency in the first direction and the fuel efficiency in the second direction.

In the related art, as a method for estimating a slope, it is known that an actual fuel efficiency is computed based on a travel distance and the fuel amount actually supplied to an engine while a vehicle travels, reference fuel efficiency with respect to a vehicle speed is computed from a fuel efficiency map, and the slope is estimated based on such computation result (for example, refer to Patent Literature 1).

Information processing system and information processing device


A state machine method and system are provided for determining non-causal channel equalization thresholds. The method comprises: receiving a non-return to zero (NRZ) data stream encoded with forward error correction (FEC); setting x=0; in State 0, adjusting a third threshold (Vopt) in response to corrected bit errors; if x=0, setting a first and second threshold equal to the third threshold; in State 1, if x=0, simultaneously adjusting the first threshold and the second threshold, to minimize the total number of corrected bit errors; in State 2, following State 0, adjusting the first threshold, independent of the second threshold, to minimize the total number of errors; in State 3, following State 0, adjusting the second threshold, independent of the first threshold, to minimize the total number of errors; and, adding 1 to x and returning to State 0.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention generally relates to digital communications and, more particularly, to systems and methods for minimizing the effects of inter-symbol interference in a non-return to zero (NRZ) data channel by sequentially establishing a plurality of bit decision thresholds in a non-casual decision circuit.
2. Description of the Related Art
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a signal recovered from a binary symmetric, non-dispersive channel in the presence of symmetric noise (prior art). Conventionally, the signal is filtered with a transfer function matched to the signaling waveform (in this case a one unit step) and thresholded at the voltage level most likely to yield the transmitted bit. To recover the transmitted information, a hard decision must be made as to the value of the received bit.
As a function of the filtering process, and sometimes as a result of the transmission process, pulse spreading occurs. That is, the energy associated with a bit spreads to neighboring bits. For small degrees of spreading these effects of this can be limited to the nearest neighbors with modest degradation in performance.
Three basic types of pulse spreading exist. The first possibility is that both the neighboring bits are a zero (no neighboring bits are a one). The second possibility is that only one of the neighboring bits (either the preceding or subsequent bit) is a one. Alternately stated, only one of the neighboring bits is a zero. The third possibility is that both neighboring bits are one. For each of these cases the likelihood of error in determining a bit value can be minimized if a different thresholds are used for different bit combinations.
FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating received waveforms that are distorted in response to the inter-symbol interference resulting from energy dispersion (prior art). The value at the output of the filter varies with each bit, and is essentially a random process, due to the non-deterministic nature of the information, and pseudorandom scrambling that is often used in the transmission of NRZ data streams. However, received bits can be characterized with probability density functions, as shown. Without knowledge of the neighboring bits, a single probability density function can be extracted that represents the random behavior of the input over all conditions and all sequences. However, conditional probability density functions can be defined for the three cases mentioned above. Namely, probability density functions can be defined for the cases where there are zero neighboring ones, only one neighboring one, and two neighboring ones.
If the bit value decision process could be made using the knowledge of the decision made on the preceding decoded bit, and with a measurement of a subsequent decoded bit, then the corresponding probability density function could be selected to make a more accurate decision on the current bit decision. However, the cost and accuracy of conventional analog-to-digital (A/D) conversion circuits make such a solution impractical.
The degree of dispersion exhibited by a channel, and hence the separation of the conditional probability density functions, varies in response to a number of fixed and variable factors. Effective dispersion mitigation techniques must therefore be easily optimized to the channel and somewhat adaptive to changes in the channel due to aging, temperature changes, reconfiguration, and other possible influences.
The above-mentioned problems, in separating the conditional probability density functions of the three bit sequence scenarios, are exasperated when the noise distribution is not symmetric. That is, the energy distributions for "1" bits and "0" bits are different.
FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a signal recovered from a binary symmetric, non-dispersive channel in the presence of asymmetric noise (prior art). There are differences in the shapes of the "1" and "0" probability density functions. Because of the overlap of the two functions, the values of thresholds are not necessarily the same as the values of the thresholds established for the symmetrical noise distribution case in FIG. 1.
It would be advantageous if inter-symbol interference (ISI) caused by energy dispersion in a received NRZ data channel could be minimized.
It would be advantageous if the bit decision thresholds could be modified to take account of the dispersed energy in the neighboring bits in the NRZ data stream.
It would be advantageous if the above-mentioned inter-symbol interference modifications could also take into account the effects of an asymmetric noise distribution.
It would be advantageous if the above-mentioned ISI modifications could be performed in a simple, non-computationally intensive manner.

System and method for adjusting a non-return to zero data stream input threshold


Disclosed are specific mutants of L3 and transgenic plants that produce them. The plants exhibit increased resistance to fungal toxins that target ribosomal L3 protein. Also disclosed are transgenic plants that co-produce L3 mutant and an RIP protein, and exhibit increased resistance to various fungal toxins and viruses, while reducing toxicity normally associated with production of the RIP. Uses of the L3 mutants in animals are further disclosed.

The subject of plant protection against pathogens remains the area of utmost importance in agriculture. Many commercially valuable agricultural crops are prone to infection by plant viruses and fungi capable of inflicting significant damage to a crop in a given season, and drastically reducing its economic value. The reduction in economic value to the farmer in turn results in a higher cost of goods to ultimate purchasers.
Fungal pathogens contribute significantly to the most severe pathogen outbreaks in plants. Plants have developed a natural defense system, including morphological modifications in their cell walls, and synthesis of various anti-pathogenic compounds. See, e.g. Boller, et al., Plant Physiol. 74:442-444 (1984); Bowles, Annu. Rev. Biochem. 59:873-907 (1990); Joosten, et al., Plant Physiol. 89:945-951 (1989); Legrand, et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 84:6750-6754 (1987); and Roby, et al., Plant Cell 2:999-1007 (1990). Several pathogenesis-related (PR) proteins have been shown to have anti-fungal properties and are induced following pathogen infection. These are different forms of hydrolytic enzymes, such as chitinases and β-1,3-glucanases that inhibit fungal growth in vitro by destroying fungal cell walls. See, e.g. Boller, et al., supra; Grenier, et al., Plant Physiol. 103:1277-123 (1993); Leah, et al., J. Biol. Chem. 266:1464-1573 (1991); Mauch, et al., Plant Physiol. 87:325-333 (1988); and Sela-Buurlage Buurlage, et al., Plant Physiol. 101:857-863 (1993).
Several attempts have been made to enhance the pathogen resistance of plants via recombinant methodologies using genes encoding pathogenesis-related proteins (such as chitinases and β-1,3-glucanases) with distinct lytic activities against fungal cell walls. See, e.g., Broglie, et al., Science 254:1194-1197 (1991); Vierheilig, et al., Mol. Plant-Microbe Interact. 6:261-264 (1993); and Zhu, et al., Bio/Technology 12:807-812 (1994). Recently, two other classes of genes have been shown to have potential in conferring disease resistance in plants. Wu, et al., Plant Cell 7:1357-1368 (1995), reports that a transgenic potato expressing the Aspergillus niger glucose oxidase gene exhibited increased resistance to Erwinia carotovora and Phytophthora infestans. The hypothesis is that the glucose oxidase-catalyzed oxidation of glucose produces hydrogen peroxide, which when accumulates in plant tissues, leads to the accumulation of active oxygen species, which in turn, triggers production of various anti-pathogen and anti-fungal mechanisms such as phytoalexins (see Apostol, et al., Plant Physiol. 90:109-116 (1989) and Degousee, Plant Physiol. 104:945-952 (1994)), pathogenesis-related proteins (Klessig, et al., Plant Mol. Biol. 26:1439-1458 (1994)), strengthening of the plant cell wall, (Brisson, et al., Plant Cell 6:1703-1712 (1994)), induction of systemic acquired resistance by salicylic acid (Chen, et al., Science 162:1883-1886 (1993)), and hypersensitive defense response (Levine, et al., Cell 79:583-593 (1994)).
In addition to the studies on virus resistance in plants, ribosome inactivating proteins (RIPs) have been studied in conjunction with fungal resistance. For example, Logeman, et al., Bio/Technology 10:305-308 (1992), report that an RIP isolated from barley endosperm provided protection against fungal infection to transgenic tobacco plants. The combination of barley endosperm RIP and barley class-II chitinase has provided synergistic enhancement of resistance to Rhizoctonia solani in tobacco, both in vitro and in vivo. See, e.g., Lea, et al., supra; Mauch, et al., supra; Zhu, et al., supra; and Jach, et al., The Plant Journal 8:97-109 (1995). PAP, however, has not shown antifungal activity in vitro. See Chen, et al., Plant Pathol. 40:612-620 (1991), which reports that PAP has no effect on the growth of the fungi Phytophthora infestans, Colletotrichum coccodes, fusarium solani, fusarium sulphureum, Phoma foreata and Rhizoctonia solani in vitro.
Lodge, et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 90:7089-7093 (1993), report the Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated transformation of tobacco with a cDNA encoding wild-type pokeweed antiviral protein (PAP) and the resistance of the transgenic tobacco plants to unrelated viruses. Pokeweed antiviral protein (PAP) is a 29-kDa ribosome inactivating protein that catalytically removes two adenines and a guanine from the sarcin/ricin (S/R) loop of the large rRNA (Endo et al., J. Biol. Chem. 263:8735-8739 (1988); Hudak et al., J. Biol. Chem. 274:3859-3864 (2000) and disrupts binding of elongation factors to the ribosome (Montanaro et al., Biochemical J. 146:127-131 (1975); Osborn et al., European J. of Biocham. 193:401-407 (1990)). Aside from this demonstration of broad spectrum resistance to viruses, it has been demonstrated that when expressed in transgenic plants, PAP also confers broad spectrum antifungal (Zoubenko et al., Nature Biotechnol. 15:922-996 (1997); Zoubenko et al., Plant Mol. Biol. 44:219-229 (2000)) activity. It has also been shown that PAP recognizes its ribosomal substrate by binding to L3 (Hudak et al., J. Biol. Chem. 274:3858-3864 (1999)).
Lodge also reports, however, that the PAP-expressing tobacco plants (i.e., above 10 ng/mg protein) tended to have a stunted, mottled phenotype, and that other transgenic tobacco plants that accumulated the highest levels of PAP were sterile. U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,756,322 and 5,880,322 teach PAP mutants that when produced in plants exhibit less toxicity than wild-type PAP and exhibit biological activities (e.g., resistance to viruses, fungi and other pests) akin to wild-type PAP. It has also been reported that PAP II and PAP II mutants exhibit reduced phytotoxicity compared to wild-type PAP. See Wang, et al., Plant Mol. Biol. 38:957-964 (1998).
The trichothecenes are a family of low molecular weight sesquiterpenoid mycotoxins synthesized by various Fusarium species of fungi. Deoxynivalenol (DON) produced by F. graminearum or F. culmorum that causes fusarium head scab of wheat is a worldwide problem for human health concern and poses a major impact on animal production if present in feeds (Miller et al., Nat. Toxins 5:234-237 (1997)). Other trichothecenes include fusarenon X, trichothecin, verrucarin A, nivalenol, trichodermin, T-2 toxin and diacetoxyscirpenol (DAS). Trichothecenes inhibit peptidyl transferase reaction of protein synthesis by binding to the 60S ribosomal subunit. In addition, they cause membrane damage (Feinberg et al., C. S. 1989. Biochemical mechanism of actions of trichothecene mycotoxins. Pages 27-36 in: Trichothecene mycotoxixosis: Pathophysiological effects, Vol. 1. V. R. Beasley, ed. Boca Raton, Fla., CRC Press. Khachatourians, Canad. J. Physiol. Pharm. 68:1004-1008 (1990); Miller et al., Nat. Toxins 5:234-237 (1997)). Mitterbauer et al., 7th International Congress of Plant Pathology, Edinburgh, Scotland, 5.4.6. (1998) demonstrate that trichothecene resistance in the yeast, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, could result from either alterations in the target of trichothecenes, the ribosomal protein L3 or the increased drug efflux due to over-expression of a membrane transporter protein encoded by the PDR5 gene.
L3 is a highly conserved ribosomal protein that participates in the formation of the peptidyltransferase center that in turn allows elongation of the ribosome along the messenger RNA (mRNA). Hampl, et al., J. Biol. Chem. 256:2284-2288 (1981); Noller, J. Bacteriol. 175:5297-5300 (1993). L3 also plays an essential role in the catalysis of peptide bond formation. See, Green, et al., Annu. Rev. Biochem. 66:679-716 (1997). This is an essential step in protein synthesis in yeast, animals and higher plants. L3 is encoded by the rpl3 gene. Trichodermin, a substituted 12,13-epoxytrichothecene, is known to inhibit peptide bond formation by binding to the peptidyl transferase center. A mutation in the Rpl3 gene, designated tcm-1, which contains a single amino acid substitution of tryptophan to cysteine at position 255 (i.e., W255C) was initially identified in yeast by conferring resistance to trichodermin (Fried, et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 78:238-242 (1981)). U.S. Pat. No. 6,060,646 to Harris, et al., teaches modified peptidyl transferase (L3) genes that provide resistance to trichothecene mycotoxins, such as the tcm-1 gene. Transgenic plants transformed with genes encoding L3 proteins are disclosed in WO 00/39291. The L3 proteins include wild-type L3, spontaneously occurring mutants and other non-naturally occurring mutants. It also teaches plants transformed with L3 genes and genes encoding ribosome inactivating proteins such as PAP.
Studies by Muhitch et al., Plant Science 157:201-207 (2000) demonstrated that tobacco plants transformed with either the Saccharomyces cerevisiae gene PDR5, which encodes a multi-drug transporter, or with the Fusarium sporotrichioides gene TRI101, which encodes a trichothecene 3-O-acetyltransferase, showed increased tolerance to the trichothecene 4,15-diacetoxyscirpenol (DAS). Even more recently, Harris et al., Physiol. Mol. Plant. Path. 58:173-181 (2001), showed that transgenic tobacco tissues transformed with a modified Rpl3 gene from rice displayed resistance to DON.

Transgenic plants expressing L3 delta proteins are resistant to trichothecene fungal toxins


A hybrid blade wind turbine device formed of at least a pair of straight outer airfoil blades, and a pair of inner helical wing blades, as supported for rotation within a safety protective cage structure, which wind turbine can be mounted in the vertical, horizontal, or other aligned operational positions. The inner helical half wing blades, being preferably somewhat shorter than the length of the outer airfoil blades, act to “regularize” the swirling wind regime flowing through the hybrid wind turbine, so as to maximize the efficiency of the outer airfoil blades. The helical half wing blades can be formed of individual segmented vane segments to provide improved operational capabilities for the overall hybrid wind turbine. To best harness annualized available wind conditions, the hybrid wind turbine can be customized, through modification of the number of vane segments, the selection of the specific shape of the outer airfoil blades, and the specific operational positioning of the outer airfoil blades. Alternatively, the helical half wing blades can be formed as generally smooth-walled blades.

Various known designs of wind turbine structures include the common propeller blade type turbine, the so-called Darrieus blade type turbine, and the so-called Savonius blade type turbine.
Several Savonius or "S"-rotor blade designs are known, including those typified in Canadian Patent No. 1,236,030, EPO Publication No. 0040193 B1, French No. 961,999, German No. 187865, Japanese Publication No. 60-090992, Swedish No. 65,940, WIPO No. WO/99/04164, and U.S. Pat. Nos. 1,697,574 and 4,293,274. Each of those various Savonius-type blade designs have inherent limitations, including the limitation of noise during operation, excessive vibration during operation, a tendency to "run away" during elevated wind speed operations and often excessive drag created during rotation of the leeward or non-wind-gathering portion of the blade's movement.
Further, various Darrieus-type turbine blade designs are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 1,835,018, 2,020,900, 4,112,311, 4,204,805 and 4,334,823. However, these Darrieus-type designs also have inherent deficiencies, including that only the middle one-third of their blade length (at least for curved Darrieus blade versions) efficiently creates power; that the farther the distance from a curved blade to its axis of rotation, the greater the likelihood, especially in large scale power generation units, of a Darrieus type unit going into harmonic vibration and self-destructing; that all such Darrieus-blade type units are not self-starting, but need assistance in starting; and that in many wind conditions they can, on a periodic basis, use up more energy than they actually produce. Without proper controls and/or mechanical braking systems, Darrieus type units (like Savonius units) have been known to "run away" during elevated wind speed conditions.
Further yet, there have been attempts at combining a bucket-shaped Savonius-type drag blade system with a Darrieus-type curved lift blade system, as found in U.S. Pat. No. 3,918,839, and in Tanzawa, et al., "Dynamic Characteristics of the self-controlled Darrieus-Savonius Hybrid Wind Turbine System," Proceedings of the CSPE-JSME-ASME International Conference on Power Engineering, Vol. 1, (1995), pp. 115–121 ("Tanzawa"). Yet in U.S. Pat. No. 3,918,839, significant difficulties arose relative to the operational, i.e., rotational, stability of the unit at high wind speeds. In Tanzawa, the addition of a Savonius bucket rotor to start the Darrieus rotor resulted in a reduction in the total turbine power and high braking torque at higher rotational rates. There were also the above-noted inherent problems present in all separate Darrieus and Savonius-type blade systems.
Most available wind turbine designs have problems of excessive noise and vibration, often self-destruct in high wind conditions, some require separate start-up, braking or stopping mechanisms, and many are not considered safe, readily insurable or building-code permitted, at least not for use in congested urban settings.
Thus, there has been an ongoing need for a wind turbine design that can be successfully incorporated into various building and tower structures, that produces minimal noise and vibration during operation, is capable of starting up and operating in each of low speed, steady, gusty, and high speed wind conditions, has a built-in self-regulation via an inherent structural geometry against over-speeding runaway conditions, is formed of blade designs that operate in essentially all wind conditions and produce moderate drag during full rotational operation, which is easy to manufacture and ship, and which can be housed in a safe operating package for use in crowded urban settings.


An air ride suspension assembly or kit is provided for converting a leaf spring suspension arrangement on a motor vehicle having a solid rear axle to one supported by an air ride suspension assembly is disclosed in order to leverage the benefits of such air ride suspension systems to the conversion suspension assembly is disclosed. A leaf spring is removed and replaced with an upper support arm which is secured to the pre-existing leaf spring attachment sites on the chassis. A mount is then attached to the rear solid axle to which multiple connections are made from the upper support arm including an air bladder. The air ride conversion system can be supplied as a kit for installation by owners of vehicles where they routinely move heavy loads directly with the vehicle or by towing.

A solid rear axle employing a leaf-spring suspension system as the means of attaching the solid rear axle to the chassis of the vehicle is a standard solution employed in a wide range of original equipment supplied motor vehicles such as cars, pick-up trucks and SUV's. Such leaf-spring suspensions provide, during normal usage, for the vehicle chassis to remain relatively level to the ground whilst variations in surface height are absorbed by the leaf-spring suspension in conjunction with shock absorbers. However, when subjected to increased loading, which is generally experienced only or predominantly at the rear axle of the vehicle, then these leaf-spring suspensions allow for the chassis to move downwardly towards the axle under the loading whilst maintaining the suspension's properties of isolating the chassis from the variations in the surface height within the design range of the suspension. However, the result is a chassis that is tilted downwards from front to back such that the vehicles headlights and driver's default vision are elevated away from their normal positions.
In contrast, larger articulated tractor-trailer units and heavy duty trucks typically exploit and are originally equipped with air ride suspension systems which supports the solid rear axle to the vehicle chassis and which include an air ride control system for controlling the air flow into and out of the air bladders in the air ride suspension assembly such that the air ride suspension system maintains the spacing between the axle and chassis at a predetermined distance, or within a predetermined range, regardless of the weight loading experienced by the axle. Accordingly, air ride suspension assemblies of this nature characteristically avoid unwanted rear end depression of the vehicle chassis when undergoing or experiencing increased or heavy loading over the rear axle. As such, air ride suspension systems offer enhanced performance relative to leaf spring suspensions for SUVs, trucks etc. when loaded and/or towing substantial weights.
However, despite the existence of air ride suspension systems, most leading selling SUVs and trucks are only sold by their original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) with leaf spring suspension systems. Accordingly, there exists a requirement for after-sales conversion by owners and operators of motor vehicles equipped with conventional leaf spring suspension systems to air ride suspension assembly thereby providing improved load handling and operational characteristics for their vehicles.
Other aspects and features of the present invention will become apparent to those ordinarily skilled in the art upon review of the following description of specific embodiments of the invention in conjunction with the accompanying figures.


An encoder that can detect the presence of noise occurring within the encoder. The encoder is constructed by incorporating within the same apparatus: a movement detecting unit for detecting the movement of a moving body; a signal processing circuit for processing a movement detection signal supplied from the movement detecting unit, and thereby producing an encoder signal representing the position and/or the amount of displacement of the moving body; and a noise detecting unit for detecting noise superimposed on the movement detection signal. According to this encoder, a noise voltage generated within the encoder via a stray capacitance is detected within the encoder and is output as noise data, so that the noise level can be detected without requiring the use of an external measuring device. Further, by outputting encoder data and noise data occurring at the same instant in time, the reliability of the encoder data can be judged based on the condition of the noise level.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an encoder such as a rotary encoder, a linear scale, and the like, and, more particularly, to an encoder that can output the information of noise level.
2. Description of the Related Art
Encoders are well known in the prior art as devices for detecting the moving position or the amount of displacement of a moving body, and can be roughly classified into two types: rotary encoders are encoders that detect the angle of rotation or the amount of rotation; and linear scales are encoders that detect the position or the amount of displacement from a reference position along a path.
Generally, an encoder is mounted on the housing of a driving device such as a motor that drives a moving body.
An encoder contains a circuit board, and a signal processing circuit is mounted on this circuit board. Usually, there is no direct electrical connection between the circuit board contained in the encoder and the housing on which the encoder is mounted, but they are electrically connected indirectly via a stray capacitance.
In this case, if a potential variation due to noise, etc. occurs on the housing side, the encoder circuit may be affected via the stray capacitance, to cause an error in the position data or displacement amount data that the encoder outputs.
FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram for explaining a prior art encoder. In FIG. 11, the encoder 101 comprises a movement detecting means 102 for detecting the movement of a moving body 10 and a signal processing circuit 103 for generating an encoder signal by processing the movement detection signal supplied from the movement detecting means 102; here, the signal processing circuit 103 is mounted on a circuit board 106.
The movement of the moving body 10 driven by a driving device 11 such as a motor is detected by the movement detecting means 102, and the encoder signal is generated by the signal processing circuit 103.
FIG. 12 is a schematic diagram for explaining how the prior art encoder is mounted on a housing. The encoder is mounted on the housing 13 of the driving device (hereinafter referred to as the motor) via an encoder flange 103a provided on the encoder. The encoder flange 103a is fixed to the motor housing 13 with flange fixing screws 103b, and the circuit board 106 is fixed to the encoder flange 103a with circuit board fixing screws 103d. Here, a rotating slit 103c is mounted between the circuit board 106 and the encoder flange 103a.
FIG. 13 shows one example of noise occurring in the motor housing. In the prior art, as shown in FIG. 12, for example, the noise is measured by directly measuring a noise potential with a potential measuring means 104 connected between the motor housing 13 and a 0-volt point on the circuit. The measured noise potential is used to take remedial measures against the noise based on the level of the noise potential.
Further, as a technique for detecting noise contained in the encoder signal, it is known to detect noise introduced in an encoder line along which the encoder signal is sent to the control unit (refer to Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2000-258481).
There is no direct electrical connection between the signal processing circuit in the encoder and the housing on which the encoder is mounted, but they are electrically connected indirectly via a stray capacitance.
Accordingly, if the motor is not properly grounded, noise (potential difference) occurs in the housing. This noise may affect the encoder circuit via the stray capacitance, causing an error in the position data or displacement amount data that the encoder produces.
In the prior art, the potential of the motor housing is directly measured using a measuring device, and remedial measures are taken to reduce the noise by making a judgment based on the noise level obtained through the measurement.
The technique for measuring the noise introduced in the encoder line connecting between the encoder and the control unit is known in the above-cited Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2000-258481, but the technique disclosed in the above-cited document is one that addresses communication system-related noise, and therefore, cannot measure the noise occurring within the encoder.
As the noise occurring within the encoder is included in the encoder signal itself, it is not possible to discriminate the noise from the signal representing the position data or displacement amount data of the moving body and, once output on the encoder line, the noise cannot be measured with the technique disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2000-258481.

Encoder for detecting position or displacement of moving body


A process for purification of a hydroxycarboxylic acid by distillation, comprising: distilling a hydroxycarboxylic acid solution containing a high-boiling point hydroxy compound comprising at least one species selected from the group consisting of alcohols and phenols having a higher boiling point than the hydroxycarboxylic acid. As a result, a hydroxycarboxylic acid suitable as a starting material for production of a polyhydroxycarboxylic acid can be obtained. The purified hydroxycarboxylic acid is further polycondensed to provide a hydroxycarboxylic acid oligomer, which is de-polymerized to provide a cyclic ester comprising a dimer of the hydroxycarboxylic acid, and the cyclic ester is converted into a polyhydroxycarboxylic acid by ring-opening polymerization thereof.

Polyhydroxycarboxylic acids (aliphatic polyesters), such as polyglycolic acid and polylactic acid, can be degraded or decomposed by microorganisms or enzymes present in natural environments including soils and sea waters and are accordingly noted as biodegradable polymer materials exerting little load to the environments. Further, as polyhydroxycarboxylic acids are degradable and absorbable in vivo, they are also used as polymeric materials for medical use, such as surgical sutures and artificial skins.
Among the polyhydroxycarboxylic acids, polyglycolic acid is excellent in gas-barrier properties inclusive of oxygen gas-barrier property, carbon dioxide gas-barrier property and water vapor barrier property and also excellent in heat resistance and mechanical strength, so that the development for various use thereof as a single material or in a composite form together with another resin material is undertaken in the fields of packaging materials, etc.
A polyhydroxycarboxylic acid can be synthesized by dehydro-polycondensation of a hydroxycarboxylic acid, such as glycolic acid (hydroxyacetic acid) or lactic acid (hydroxypropanoic acid), whereas in order to effectively produce a high-molecular weight aliphatic polyester, there has been generally adopted a process of synthesizing a bimolecular cyclic ester of the hydroxycarboxylic acid and subjecting the cyclic ester to ring-opening polymerization. For example, the ring-opening polymerization of glycolide (i.e., bimolecular cyclic ester of glycolic acid) provides polyglycolic acid, and the ring-opening polymerization of lactide (i.e., bimolecular cyclic ester of lactic acid) provides polylactic acid.
In any case, as a starting material for a polyhydroxycarboxylic acid with a high molecular weight and little abnormal linkage content, a hydroxycarboxylic acid is required to have a high purity to some extent, but an industrially available hydroxycarboxylic acid is inevitably accompanied with impurities actually. For example, glycolic acid obtained by carbonylation of formaldehyde in water, in the presence of an organic acid and sulfuric acid as catalysts, contains glycolic acid dimer or oligomer formed by ester-forming dehydrocondensation of glycolic acid and di-glycolic acid (OCCH2COOH)2) that is a dimer formed by ether-forming dehydrocondensation of glycolic acid as major impurities in addition to residues of the catalysts. Then, minor components such as the catalyst residues and ionic impurities can be easily separated and removed industrially by such means as adsorption or ion exchange, but a separate means is required for removal of organic impurities. For example, Patent document 1 listed below describes that a 70% industrial-grade glycolic acid aqueous solution typically shows the following composition:
glycolic acid62.4 wt. % glycolic acid dimer8.8 wt. %di-glycolic acid2.2 wt. %methoxyacetic acid2.2 wt. %formic acid0.24 wt. %.
As general methods for purification or refining by separation of organic materials, unit operations, such as distillation and crystallization, are known. The application of such a purification or refining method to purification of a hydroxycarboxylic acid is, however, accompanied with an inherent difficulty that a hydroxycarboxylic acid readily causes polycondensation under heating. In view of this, distillation involving heating as an essential factor has been considered basically difficult to be adopted, and the purification has been conventionally performed principally by way of crystallization (Patent documents 1-3 listed below). The purification of a hydroxycarboxylic acid by crystallization is generally performed by cooling of an aqueous solution. However, as the solubility of a hydroxycarboxylic acid, particularly glycolic acid and lactic acid, in water is very high, the cooling is required down to 10° C. or below at the minimum or down to below the ice point for recovering the crystal at a high yield, thus requiring a large-scale refrigeration system. Further, the purity of the crystal depends on the operation of solid-liquid separation, so that a large-scale solid-liquid separation apparatus, such as a centrifuge. Thus, the purification by crystallization involves a difficulty that a large-scale apparatus and a high running cost are required, thus resulting in a high purification cost.
With respect to lactic acid having a lower thermal polycondensability than glycolic acid, there has been proposed a method of performing the distillation while replenishing water in order to keep a low concentration of the lactic acid in the aqueous solution thereof (Patent document 4 below). However, this distillation method for purification of hydroxycarboxylic acid is accompanied with an energy loss due to distillation of a large volume of water which has a lower boiling point and a higher vaporizability than hydroxycarboxylic acid and also an increased cost for recovering the hydroxycarboxylic acid by way of condensation of the resultant hydroxycarboxylic acid aqueous solution, thus also involving a problem regarding the purification cost.
Patent document 1: JP-A 6-501268
Patent document 2: WO2003/064366
Patent document 3: JP-A 2006-169185
Patent document 4: JP-A 2002-128727

Method for purifying hydroxycarboxylic acid, method for producing cyclic ester, and method for producing polyhydroxycarboxylic acid


The present invention relates to a semiconductor device including a substrate layer, a metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistor (MOSFET), a backgate region, an isolation layer and a diode. The MOSFET includes a gate region, a source region and a drain region. The source and drain regions are embedded in the backgate region, which includes a voltage input terminal. The isolation layer is located between the backgate region and the substrate layer and has a doping type opposite that of the backgate region. The diode includes a first terminal connected to the isolation layer and a second terminal coupled to an isolation voltage source.

Isolated metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistors (MOSFETs) differ from conventional MOSFETs in that isolated transistors include a voltage isolating layer between a substrate and a transistor well (backgate). An advantage of the isolated transistor is that different bias potentials may be applied to the substrate and the backgate simultaneously. For example, a common application of isolated transistors involves setting the substrate to Ground, e.g., 0 volts, while applying a supply voltage, e.g., −8 volts, to the backgate. The isolation layer electrically isolates devices situated within the same substrate. Transistors and other semiconductor devices may be formed on the same substrate and operated at different voltages without interfering with each other. FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a conventional semiconductor device 10 including an isolated NMOS transistor, which includes an n-type source region 11, an n-type drain region 12 and a gate 13. The NMOS transistor is formed within a p-type backgate which includes a heavily doped p+ region 14 to which a bias voltage may be applied. An n-type isolation layer 16 separates the backgate from a substrate 17 which includes a heavily doped p+ region 18 to which a substrate bias voltage may be applied. A resistor Riso 19 couples the isolation layer 16 to an isolation voltage Viso. A substrate voltage VSS is applied to the region 18 while a supply voltage VL is applied to the source 11 and the backgate region 14. The transistor may be activated by applying a bias voltage Vgate to the gate 13. The drain 12 is connected to an output Vout.
Although isolated MOSFETs are intended to provide complete electrical isolation, in practice complete isolation cannot be achieved because of parasitic circuit elements. Under certain operating conditions, the parasitic elements contribute to electrostatic discharge (ESD) and/or latchup failure in the device. ESD and latchup cause many failures in integrated circuits (ICs) including ICs that utilize isolated MOSFETs. Because ESD and latchup are independent and often competing factors in IC design, improved ESD performance often results in a corresponding worsened latchup performance, and vice versa.

Electro-static discharge and latchup resistant semiconductor device


Increasing performance of planar inductors used in broadband applications is described. In one implementation, an apparatus includes a high Quality factor (Q) value spiral planar inductor etched directly into a printed circuit board. A ferrite structure is attached to the printed circuit board and located in proximity to the high Q value spiral planar inductor. The ferrite structure increases the Q of spiral planar inductors, but without the inconvenience and expense of a wire wound terroidal inductors. Various shaped ferrite structures may be used in conjuction with the spiral planar inductors. Additionally, in certain implementations, the ferrite structures are configured to rotate about axis permitting the inductors to be tuned, even after components have been installed on a printed circuit board.

"Broadband" generally refers to methodologies used to send and receive data over high-speed networks. Broadband, as opposed to narrowband, usually implies a bandwidth capability where there is voice quality movement of data. Broadband is commonly associated with, although not limited to, a way of connecting a local computer or other device to a high-speed network, such as the Internet.
Broadband connections, whether through cable, digital subscriber lines, optical, wireless, or satellites, typically involve the use of some type of interface module, such as a modem, for handling bi-directional transmissions of data. Many interface modules use various types of filters to remove information content such as high and/or low frequencies, for example. These filters usually include one or more high quality factor (Q) torroidal inductors. "Q" represents the efficiency of an inductor in terms of storing a magnetic field.
Torroidal inductors having high Q values are discreet parts typically fabricated by manually wrapping wires around ferromagnetic cores. Most automatic "pick-and-place" techniques are not available for torroidal inductors due to their fragile nature and the precision needed to wind and place wiring around ferromagnetic cores. Accordingly, the fabrication process is labor intensive and can lead to high manufacturing costs. There are also problems associated with correctly installing them on a printed circuit board, because automatic pick-and-place is not typically available. All these problems can lead to higher manufacturing costs.
Once inductors have been installed on a printed circuit board, it is very difficult, if not impossible, to effectively tune operating characteristics associated with the inductor, such as flux, Q values, and reactance. Thus, tuning of torroidal inductors is extremely limited after they are installed on a printed circuit board.